Best Mattress for Platform Beds: Reviews and Buyer’s Guide

Platform beds are a great way to enjoy a good night’s sleep without a mattress foundation. Some mattress types, including memory foam mattresses, don’t need a box spring and function perfectly when placed directly on a platform bed.

While it’s true some mattresses are fine with no foundation, frame, or box spring, placing your bed directly on the floor could lead to damage. On the floor, the mattress is exposed to dust mites and bacteria, unlike if it were on a platform bed. Our article reviews the best mattresses for platform beds and how to find the right one.

Best Mattresses for Platform Beds

The Amerisleep AS3 is one of the best mattresses for a platform bed. A platform bed complements the AS3’s already excellent support, so you can fully enjoy the mattress.

You can enjoy the AS3 mattress for up to 100 nights, risk-free. If you don’t like the mattress after a month, Amerisleep will issue a full refund.

A generous 20-year warranty backs the Amerisleep AS3 mattress. Amerisleep fully covers the mattress for the first ten years. During the last ten years, Amerisleep will repair or replace the bed at a prorated charge.

How Lying Down Feels

The AS3 has a medium feel, which is perfect for most sleepers. The surface reduces pressure points without feeling too firm or too soft. Side and combination sleepers especially will love the consistent support, no matter what sleeping position they’re in.

Underneath the top layer is a layer dedicated to targeted support, ensuring that instead of one feel across the whole surface for different parts of the body, the mattress will feel soft and firm as needed. Heavier parts such as the shoulders and hips can gently sink in, while the back and other areas will be thoroughly supported.

Inside the Mattress

The top layer contains Bio-Pur®, a plant-based memory foam that’s more responsive and breathable than traditional memory foam. Bio-Pur® cushions the shoulders and hips without trapping heat for a comfortable sleep. Bio-Pur® also has little to no off-gassing odor because manufacturers replace some petroleum with castor oil. Less chemical smell means you can breathe easier.

The transition layer is Affinity incorporated with HIVE® technology. HIVE is a unique sleep technology: hundreds of hexagonal-shaped segments are formed into five support zones for enhanced pressure relief. You’ll love the softness under your shoulders and hips, and firmness under the head, back, and legs.

The base layer is Bio-Core®, a stable support foam. Bio-Core® evenly supports the body on the surface without developing soft spots. You’re less likely to experience back pain with durable Bio-Core®.

SEE ALSO: Amerisleep Mattress Review

For those with an active lifestyle, the Zoma Mattress is a popular choice. Cooling foam layers relieve pressure points without trapping heat, and the medium feel makes the Zoma Mattress perfect for side and back sleepers.

For those who prefer an “on top of the mattress” feel from springy support, there’s also the Zoma Hybrid. It features a similar construction, with the primary design difference being a coil base that structures the mattress.

The Zoma Mattress includes a 100-night sleep trial. If you decide the bed isn’t a good fit after giving yourself time to adjust to it, Zoma will give you a full refund.

Zoma provides customers with a 10-year warranty, covering sags deeper than an inch.

How Lying Down Feels

The balanced surface of the Zoma Mattress ensures you rest comfortably on the mattress instead of feeling stuck inside it, yet without depriving you of the cradling feel that draws so many shoppers to memory foam. The areas of the mattress directly under the head, shoulders, and leg will quickly move to hug the body, while the midsection will feel less yielding for better support.

Even after hours of lying on the mattress, it should still feel cool to the touch, thanks to the gel infusions spread throughout the top layer. Heat is whisked away from the sleeper thanks to these infusions, while the cover fabric lets air flow through and carry this heat off.

Inside the Mattress

The comfort layer is gel memory foam. The layer conforms to the body, relieving pressure points and dissipates body heat for a cooler night’s sleep. The gel memory foam layer contains Triangulex™ technology—hundreds of triangle-shaped segments form three support zones. Areas under the back and hips feel firmer, and areas under the head, shoulders, and legs feel softer.

The transition foam is durable and responsive Reactiv™. Reactiv™ gives the bed bounce and encourages spinal alignment, reducing the risk of back pain.

Support+ is the base foam. The Support+ layer is built to withstand regular wear and tear, so you can enjoy durable support without sagging for years to come.

SEE ALSO: Zoma Mattress Review

If you’re looking for a softer mattress, the Amerisleep AS5 Hybrid is another excellent platform bed option. The Amerisleep AS5 Hybrid has a plush surface for maximum comfort without sacrificing support. You’ll love the soft, conforming feel of memory foam without feeling stuck.

Amerisleep allows customers to try out the AS5 Hybrid for up to 100 nights. You can return the mattress for a full refund if you’re not satisfied after 30 nights.

The AS5 Hybrid comes with Amerisleep’s 20-year warranty, one of the best in the mattress industry. Amerisleep takes full financial responsibility for any manufacturing defects and sagging greater than an inch.

How Lying Down Feels

The soft feel of the AS5 Hybrid is immediately noticeable when you stretch out across its surface, quickly conforming to meet the body’s curves. While it’s easy to imagine yourself sinking ever so slightly into a personal cloud when you lie on the AS5, the mattress still responds within seconds to a sleeper through the combination of pocketed coils and responsive foams.

Inside the Mattress

The comfort layer is Bio-Pur®, Amerisleep’s exclusive plant-based memory foam. Bio-Pur® contours to the body’s curves, but quickly bounces back to its original shape—you won’t sink too deep and feel trapped. Plus, Bio-Pur® won’t trap body heat, so you’ll sleep cooler.

The Active Flex is the transition layer—a highly responsive, super-soft foam that automatically adjusts to shifting weight. Active Flex enhances Bio-Pur®’s pressure relief for a comfortable mattress.

Instead of Bio-Core®, the AS5 Hybrid contains a layer of pocketed coils to bolster body support. The pocketed coils form a 3-zone support system, where the top and bottom sections have more give under the head, shoulders, and legs, while the middle section provides more support to the back and hips.

The Vaya Mattress is a great option for those on a budget. You can score a queen size Vaya Mattress for only $599—other mattress retailers charge at least $1000 for their traditional memory foam mattress models. With Vaya, you’ll get the same high-quality you can expect from high-end mattress companies but at an affordable price.

You can try out the Vaya Mattress risk-free for 100 nights. If you don’t love the mattress after 60 nights, Vaya will help you donate the bed and give you a full refund.

Vaya backs their mattresses with a 10-year warranty, financially covering the bed in case of a defect or sags greater than an inch.

The brand also offers the Vaya Hybrid, an excellent mattress for platform beds and for sleepers who prefer a springy feel. However, as a hybrid mattress, it does cost a little bit more than the original Vaya, so many budget shoppers might prefer the lower-priced Vaya Mattress that offers similar amounts of comfort.

How Lying Down Feels

While it’s rated as a medium mattress that can perfectly complement any sleep style, many reviewers noted how it tends toward the softer end, edging toward a medium-soft for some. This is excellent for sleepers who seek a pressure-relieving cushion on a limited budget, as the Vaya will move to meet curves and embrace sensitive areas.

Inside the Mattress

The Vaya Mattress contains two foam layers—Vaya Comfort Foam and Vaya Support Foam. Vaya Comfort Foam is a 3-inch thick foam layer that molds to your body without causing you to feel hot. Manufacturers inject more air pockets into the foam’s structure, increasing airflow for a cooler sleep. Traditional memory foam is dense and contains fewer air pockets than Vaya Comfort Foam, so there’s a higher risk of overheating.

The Vaya Support Foam supports the body without developing soft spots. Vaya Support Foam also reinforces the bed’s shape for an even surface to encourage spinal alignment. Both of these foam layers have met with the approval of CertiPUR-US®, a third-party organization that ensures poly-foam is produced without certain ingredients and with low VOCs.

SEE ALSO: Vaya Mattress Review

Those looking for an all-natural and eco-friendly mattress that doesn’t skimp on comfort should look no further than the Natural 11 by Nolah. This mattress features all-natural foams and textiles and uses recycled steel to create a mattress with fewer toxins and a smaller carbon footprint. Not that you’d ever know it, as this is one of the most comfortable mattresses around!

How Lying Down Feels

Latex is a springy foam, and when you add pocketed coils into the mix, you get a mattress that’s as bouncy as an innerspring bed without all the noise or motion transfer. This is a fantastic thing for active sleepers who like to toss and turn but don’t like to wait for memory foam body impressions to bounce back.

Natural latex is also an extremely breathable foam. So latex foam combined with coils means a mattress that keeps air circulating throughout it all night. This means you won’t have to worry about waking up in a sweat when you sleep on the Natural.

Mattress Construction

The Natural starts off with a Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) certified organic cotton cover. This breathable and hypoallergenic cover naturally fights moisture buildup and resists allergens like dust mites and mold.

Underneath the cotton cover, you’ll find the all-natural, ethically harvested wool fire barrier. Not only does this wool provide natural fire retardation without the need for chemical additives. It also offers even more temperature regulation and pressure relief.

Next, we get to the first all-natural Talalay latex layer. This comfort layer of perforated latex contours almost as well as memory foam while springing back into place much faster. Natural latex, unlike memory foam, also contains no petroleum products. So you won’t have to worry about off-gassing with this mattress.

Underneath the comfort layer sits another layer of natural Talalay latex. This firmer and denser transition layer provides a buffer between the coil support core below and the comfort foam above.

Finally, you’ll find the patented HDMaxTM Tri-ZoneTM support coil system. These coils offer 25 percent more support than your average coil system. They also are arranged into three distinct zones to offer each area of your body its ideal mix of pressure relief and support.

The pocket coil support core is supported itself by a cotton and wool foundation layer. This layer protects the bottom of the coils from damage and increases the overall stability of the mattress.

SEE ALSO: Nolah Mattress Review

Many people nowadays know that innerspring mattresses aren’t the best. They can’t contour. They don’t relieve pressure. And they transfer motion all over the bed.

However, for those who love the bounce and breathability offered by innerspring beds, the Saatva Classic is one of the few options out there that retains these qualities while fixing innerspring shortcomings at the same time.

How Lying Down Feels

The Saatva Classic bounces like an innerspring. So if you love the feeling of flopping on the bed only for it to bounce your body upward, you can get that from this mattress. The Classic is also just as breathable as a traditional coil mattress. So you can enjoy tons of cooling air flowing underneath your body.

On the flip side, the Classic is also highly contouring and cushioning, thanks to its innerspring hybrid design. That means when you lie down to go to sleep, the bed will adapt to the shape of your body just like any other hybrid.

Mattress Construction

The first layer of the Classic is the highly contouring three-inch Euro top. This top features Lumbar ZoneTM quilting to offer extra support to the middle third of your body (the heaviest part). The Euro-top is covered with a highly breathable organic cotton cover to wick away sweat and promote cooler sleep.

The next layer of the Classic is the high-density memory foam layer. This memory foam offers enhanced lumbar support to keep the middle of your body lifted. It also provides excellent pressure relief and protection from the adaptable coils below.

The first support layer of the Classic is a highly adaptable layer of individually wrapped pocketed coils. These coils are just like the coils in a standard hybrid mattress. That means they can all move independently of one another to adapt to your form. This fixes the issue of low adaptability inherent to open coils systems.

Below the contouring and adaptable pocketed coils, you’ll find the breathable and bouncy open coil support core. This second support layer is the layer that keeps the Classic responsive and breathable like any innerspring mattress.

Finally, both these support layers are surrounded by four high-density foam rails. These rails offer superior edge support and also add stability to the coil cores. This increases the longevity of the Classic to several years beyond the typical life expectancy of an innerspring mattress.

SEE ALSO: Open Coil vs Pocket Spring Mattresses

Those who know they want an all-foam mattress should check out the luxurious and cooling GhostBed Luxe. This memory foam mattress boasts seven layers of cooling comfort to keep even the hottest sleepers cool all night long. It also sports pressure-relieving foam to keep side sleepers’ joints pain-free.

How Lying Down Feels

This medium-feel mattress has multiple layers of pressure-relieving foam and a high-density support core. So it offers support and fights sinkage to keep you lifted onto the top of the mattress without sacrificing pressure relief for those who need it.

The Luxe also features a plethora of cooling technologies to give the mattress a cool-touch feel and keep it cool all night. So not only will you feel a delightful and crisp chill when you lie down on the mattress. Your skin will also get lots of help maintaining an ideal sleep temperature throughout the night.

Mattress Construction

The Ghost Ice fabric cover starts off the Luxe. This ultra-breathable and ultra-cooling cover is made with phase-change material that reacts to your body heat to help diffuse it away. The cover also has a thin layer of gel memory foam and a layer of cool burst fiber woven directly into it to enhance its thermoconductivity and breathability.

Directly beneath this layered cover is the Ghost Ice layer. This proprietary material helps transfer heat to keep the core of the mattress cool. The Ghost Ice layer is aided in its cooling efforts by the two-inch gel swirl memory foam comfort layer. This memory foam doesn’t just transfer heat. It also offers superior pressure relief to tired joints.

Next comes the Ghost Bounce layer. This layer bounces like latex without the allergy risk. So active sleepers who can’t have or don’t want a latex mattress should consider this springy and buoyant foam as an alternative.

Finally, the Luxe’s durable high-density base layer provides ideal support to the rest of the mattress. This tough foam is also responsible for the 25-year life expectancy of the Luxe. It fights sagging and soft spot development for over two decades!

SEE ALSO: Best Mattresses for Allergies

Side sleepers looking for a mattress that offers tons of pressure relief without sacrificing support should consider the Helix Midnight Luxe. This medium-feel mattress offers lots of cushioning and cradling foam while still maintaining buoyancy to fight sinkage and keep you lifted onto the sleeping surface.

How Lying Down Feels

As a medium mattress, the Midnight Luxe offers an even balance of support and pressure relief. Its multiple layers of foam offer lots of pressure relief to side sleepers’ shoulder and hip joints. This helps prevent pain in these sensitive pressure points.

At the same time, the coils in the support layer help to prevent you from sinking down into the mattress. So heavier sleepers and combo sleepers don’t have to worry about that stuck feeling you can get with a softer mattress.

The Midnight Luxe also features some of the best cooling technologies on the market. So hot sleepers won’t have to worry about the layers of memory foam overheating.

Mattress Construction

The Midnight Luxe starts off with the premium quilted pillow top wrapped in your choice of either ultra-breathable TENCELTM or ultra-cooling GlacioTex fibers. Directly underneath the cooling pillow top lies a layer of high-density, pressure-relieving Memory Plus Foam. This foam offers a fantastic mix of buoyancy and cushioning.

Underneath the memory foam comfort layer lies the Gel Visco layer. This layer helps to increase both the cushioning power and support of the mattress. It also works to add bounce into the comfort layer, so you don’t have to worry about body impressions or slow response time.

Right before you get to the pocketed coil support layer, you’ll find a layer of high-grade polyfoam to provide ergonomic support and contour. This layer also helps the mattress transition from foam to coils.

The support layer is made of zoned coils that offer softer support under your shoulders and firmer support under your hips to help keep the spine aligned and the heavier areas of your body lifted into place. Higher-tension coils around the perimeter provide excellent edge support.

Finally, the base foam layer of this mattress offers support to the coils and increases the overall life expectancy of the mattress. The base layer also provides stability and increases motion transfer control.

SEE ALSO: How Long Does a Mattress Last?

Why Choose a Platform Bed?

Platform beds have a flat, even surface to support most mattresses without a box spring. Platform beds give the mattress more height, so it’s easier getting out of bed in the morning. Plus, platform beds create under-bed storage for personal belongings—some models even include built-in drawers and shelves.

Bed Height

Placing the mattress on a platform bed instead of the floor means you’re less exposed to dust mites and bacteria. Those with allergies may experience fewer sleep disruptions from allergic reactions, like coughing and sneezing.

The added height makes it easier to climb in and out of bed, especially for tall people. Tall individuals may feel more comfortable resting on a sturdy platform bed that’s higher than 16 inches. Shorter individuals may prefer a low profile platform bed.

Storage

Not only does a platform bed’s height lend more space underneath the bed for storage, but some manufacturers make standard platform beds with built-in storage. The extra shelves and drawers give you more storage space with more walking room in a living area. Platform beds are an excellent choice for studio and one-bedroom apartments where space is limited.

Support

Most types of mattresses need a flat surface to rest on to provide the best support. A platform bed may have wooden slats or solid panels, depending on the brand. If a platform bed has slats, make sure they’re no more than 3 inches apart—slats spaced further than 3 inches could cause sagging or soft spots.

How to Find the Best Mattress for a Platform Bed

To ensure long-lasting comfort and support, make sure you buy a high-quality mattress for a platform bed. Otherwise, you could end up with a sagging mattress and disrupted sleep. Take time to do the research before committing to a potential mattress, including figuring out the right firmness and mattress size, and checking the available sleep trials, return policies, and warranties.

Firmness

The right firmness level depends on your preferred sleeping position and body weight. These factors help you find the right balance between comfort and support for better sleep.

Sleeping Position

Your body needs a specific amount of cushioning to align the spine, depending on your sleeping position. Stomach sleepers need the least amount of cushioning because for them, a softer surface misaligns the spine and leads to back pain. The best mattress for stomach sleepers should be medium-firm to firm to keep the body resting on top of the bed.

Side sleepers are the opposite and feel most comfortable resting on a soft to medium bed. The softer surface provides extra cushioning under the shoulders and hips, areas with high-pressure buildup.

Back sleepers experience the least pressure because lying on the back places the body in a neutral position. The best mattress for back sleepers will have a medium to firm surface to cradle the hips and prevent the shoulders from sinking too deep.

Combination sleepers find the best comfort on a medium to medium-firm mattress. Combination sleepers toss and turn at night, switching between two to three sleeping positions—a medium surface maintains spinal alignment, no matter the sleeping position.

Body Weight

Body weight is the next factor to consider when choosing the right firmness level. We divide body weight into three groups—light, average, and plus-size.

Lightweight sleepers weigh less than 130 pounds and don’t have enough weight to press down into the mattress. A soft bed enables body contouring for lightweight sleepers.

In contrast, plus-size sleepers weigh more than 230 pounds and feel most comfortable on a firmer surface. The firmer feel gives needed support without sagging.

Average weight sleepers, or those who weigh between 130 to 230 pounds, don’t need to choose a bed based on their weight; instead, they can choose a firmness based on their sleeping position.

Mattress Type

Most mattress types pair nicely with a platform bed, including memory foam, innerspring, hybrid, and latex. Remember that some mattress types may need additional support from a mattress foundation, like a bunkie board or box spring.

Memory Foam

Memory foam is a popular mattress choice because it provides optimal pressure relief. The dense material softens under body heat and weight and molds to any body shape.

A solid or slatted platform bed is perfect for memory foam mattresses. Just make sure the slats are spaced no more than three inches apart, so the dense material is evenly supported. A slatted platform may be more ideal because it allows more airflow around the mattress.

Innerspring

Innerspring mattresses are common in most households and popular in college dorms and hotel rooms. Unlike memory foam, innerspring beds have an open structure, enabling more airflow into the mattress. Innerspring coils have a bouncy surface, so changing positions is easier.

Innersprings pair nicely with platform beds, but you’ll need the additional support from a box spring. A box spring offers solid support and an even sleep surface for innerspring mattresses.

Hybrid

Hybrid mattresses combine memory foam and innerspring coils, fusing conforming pressure relief with bouncy support. Some hybrid models contain a layer of latex instead of memory foam. If you’re torn between memory foam and innersprings, a hybrid is the perfect solution.

Hybrid mattresses are heavier than other mattress types because they contain more materials, but hybrids pair well with platform beds. Most platform models are built to support at least 450 pounds.

Latex

Latex shares similarities with memory foam, including body-contouring, but latex is more responsive than memory foam. The slight bounce prevents the body from sinking too deep and encourages spinal alignment. Latex is also firmer than memory foam, so a latex mattress might be a better choice if you have back pain.

Platform beds evenly support latex mattresses—you don’t have to worry about soft spots.

Sleep Trial, Return Policy, and Warranty

A mattress is a long-term investment you want to enjoy for years to come. Sleep trials, return policies, and warranties protect you from paying for mattress repairs or replacements due to manufacturing defects. Avoid a mattress if it doesn’t come with these policies. You could end up with a poorly made bed that needs to be replaced after a few years of regular use.

A sleep trial gives you time to try out your new mattress at home, usually  90 to 120 nights. If you don’t like the bed, most mattress companies will issue a refund. You can also exchange the bed for a different model.

If a sleep trial isn’t available, then the next best thing would be the return policy. Return policies aren’t as long as sleep trials, but they give you around 30 days to test out a new mattress. If the bed isn’t a good fit, the company should give you a refund.

A mattress warranty generally lasts ten years, though some companies offer extended warranties, lasting 20 years. Warranties cover manufacturing defects and sags deeper than 1 inch, depending on the company. Keep in mind that a mattress warranty only applies to the original purchaser and can’t be transferred to a third party.

FAQs

How thick should a mattress be for a platform bed?

The best mattress thickness for a platform bed should be at least 10 inches. A 10-inch mattress contains enough layers to support most body types without sagging properly. Plus size sleepers may want to upgrade to a 12-inch thick mattress instead for needed support. Beds thinner than 10 inches are more likely to prematurely sag because the materials wear out sooner.

Can you put a mattress directly on the bed frame?

You can, but it depends on the type of bed. For instance, memory foam, latex, and hybrid mattresses contain dense foam layers and don’t need a box spring. Make sure the bed frame slats are at most 3 inches apart to prevent sagging. If the slats are more than 3 inches apart and you’re not able to buy a new bed frame, place a ¾-inch thick piece of plywood between the mattress and frame—the plywood has a flat surface for even support.

However, innerspring mattresses need a box spring and shouldn’t be placed directly on the bed frame. The steel coils inside a box spring act as shock absorbers and prevent innerspring coils from sagging.

How do you keep a mattress from slipping?

The best way to keep a mattress from slipping is placing a non-slip pad between the mattress and bed frame. The rubber matting gives needed friction to hold the bed in place. Another method is adding Velcro strips underneath each corner. Carpet tape works too, but only as a temporary solution because it isn’t as durable as a rubber mat or Velcro.

Is it okay to use a box spring on a platform bed?

You can use a box spring on a platform bed, but you don’t need one. Platform beds are designed to support a mattress without a box spring, but a box spring is a good idea if you have an innerspring mattress. The box spring better supports innerspring beds than other mattress types and gives the mattress more height, making it easier to climb in and out of bed.

How much bigger should a bed frame be than a mattress?

A bed frame should be the same size as your mattress. For example, a queen size mattress will fit inside a queen size platform bed frame. Buying a bed frame bigger than your mattress leaves sizable gaps and could cause the mattress to slide off the frame. A small bed frame could damage the mattress.

Conclusion

Platform beds are an excellent choice with most mattresses, including memory foam, latex, and hybrids. Platform beds can support most body types, yet their lightweight structure is easy to transport, a nice benefit for those who frequently move. The best platform bed supports the mattress and your body weight without a box spring.