Best Motion-Isolating Mattresses of 2023

When you sleep alone, motion isolation is probably not all that high on your radar. However, couples and parents who cosleep with small children likely realized motion isolation is a big deal as soon as they started sharing a mattress. This is why the best mattress for couples has to be good at controlling motion transfer.

Virtually all mattresses claim to control motion transfer but finding ones that say they do versus finding ones that actually do can feel like a hassle. The good news is all the mattresses on the following list can back up their claims of motion isolation!

Best Motion-Isolating Mattresses of 2023

Couples looking for a mattress that provides lots of bounce underneath their bodies while simultaneously isolating that motion to keep it away from their partner should check out the AS3 by Amerisleep. This jack-of-all-trades mattress offers something for everyone, making it the best mattress for couples who need lots of versatility!

All Amerisleep mattresses come with free shipping, a 100-night trial period and a 20-year warranty.

How Lying Down Feels

Lying down on the AS3, you will notice right away how cooling and responsive it is. This is thanks to a combination of durable and supportive foams, a cooling and breathable cover, and Amerisleep’s proprietary plant-based memory foam. All these elements work together to make this a bouncy and pleasantly chilly sleep surface.

Inside the Mattress

The AS3 starts off with the Refresh cover. This cover is infused with minerals that help it convert your body heat to far infrared energy. This not only helps it diffuse heat, but it also helps surround your body with healthy and sleep-improving energy.

Next, you’ll find a comfort layer of Bio-Pur® foam. This plant-based memory foam swaps petroleum products for plant oils, which makes it more cooling and more responsive than traditional memory foam without sacrificing memory foam’s motion-isolating or contouring abilities.

Underneath the comfort layer, a layer of transition foam adds pressure relief and support to the sleep surface. This foam has hexagonal cutouts across its surface to create five separate support zones.

Finally, a layer of durable base foam provides support and helps increase the overall durability and stability of the mattress.

SEE ALSO: Amerisleep Mattress Review

One of the best memory foam hybrids on the market, the Zoma Hybrid was designed to be a performance mattress that offers you the most recuperative sleep possible. It’s one of the best mattresses for couples with active lifestyles and those who like to toss and turn.

The Zoma Hybrid includes free shipping, a 100-night sleep trial and a 10-year warranty.

How Lying Down Feels

Lying down on the Zoma, you’ll notice it’s more responsive than most memory foam hybrids. This is all thanks to the Reactiv™ transition layer that bounces back underneath your body without transferring motion. This layer also offers tons of buoyant pressure relief to fight sinkage and protect you from pressure exerted by the coils below.

Inside the Mattress

The Zoma Hybrid starts off with an airy and breathable cover that offers a plush feel even as it keeps air flowing around your body. The cover works with the thermally conductive gel memory foam comfort layer to draw heat away from your body and dissipate it from the mattress.

Next, the Reactiv™ layer helps ensure the sleep surface is ultra-buoyant and ultra-responsive. This means active sleepers can toss and turn to their hearts’ content without transferring that motion to their partners.

Finally, a layer of pocketed coils offers dynamic and adaptable support that responds to your movements while keeping your motion isolated to your side of the bed. These adaptable coils also offer lots of contouring to ensure you get the best spine-aligning support.

SEE ALSO: Zoma Mattress Review

Couples and individual sleepers shopping on a budget should check out the best mattress for couples on a budget: the Vaya Mattress. This memory foam mattress offers high quality at a great price. It’s also a fantastic mattress for side sleepers looking for a bit of extra support without sacrificing the pressure relief they need.

The Vaya Mattress comes with free delivery, a 100-night sleep trial and a 10-year warranty.

How Lying Down Feels

The Vaya Mattress combines ultra-contouring, ultra-porous comfort foam with highly durable and dense base foam. This creates a highly versatile medium-feel mattress that works for combination sleepers and heavier side sleepers or side sleepers with back pain alike. That means this versatile mattress can accommodate partners with divergent sleep needs.

Inside the Mattress

The Vaya Mattress is able to maintain quality at an affordable price by keeping a simple, two-layer design. The first layer is the porous and contouring Vaya Comfort Foam. This memory foam keeps the sleep surface cool because it features millions of air pockets that keep air flowing all night. This adaptable foam also offers tons of pressure relief.

Under the comfort layer, the Vaya Base Foam provides the support and durability in this mattress. This base foam keeps you lifted onto the sleep surface and aligns your spine to relieve back pain and improve sleep.

All this comfort is wrapped in a breathable and cooling cover that keeps air flowing through the foam and creates a plush sleep surface. This makes the Vaya the best mattress for couples on a budget.

SEE ALSO: Vaya Mattress Review

The Zoma Boost is a one-of-a-kind luxurious hybrid mattress that takes comfort and support to the next level. Designed to help you achieve deeper sleep, the Zoma Boost offers a thick foam top feel that many shoppers find outperforms top-of-the-line traditional pillow tops. The surface cushion is quick to relax as you lie down to rest, while the motion-isolating coils keep two sleepers comfortably rested.

Purchase of the Zoma Boost includes free shipping, a 100-night sleep trial and a 10-year warranty.

How Lying Down Feels

The cushioning surface of the Zoma Boost isn’t without significant bounce, so you can sink in when you lie down but feel buoyed when it’s time to move out of bed or you want to change position. When you and your partner flop onto the bed after a long day, the cooling materials are quick to relax you while the foams ease away lingering tension and prevent new pressure from building up.

Inside the Mattress

One of the standout features of the Zoma Boost is its ultra-cool fabric cover, engineered for a soft and breathable feel. Unlike other mattress covers that can feel heavy and thick to the touch, the cover is light and offers a pleasantly chill, giving you the sensation of sleeping on a cool, refreshing cloud.

The Zoma Boost relies on a combination of hypersoft foam and graphite-infused memory foam that conform to your body’s contours for comfort.  The quilted top layer of hypersoft foam is 2 inches thick, hugging your body and relieving tension. And the graphite infusion works with the cover fabric to keep you cool throughout the night.

The transition layer is Reactiv™ foam, engineered to deliver latex-like bounce and create a smoother surface feel. With Reactiv™, there’s no need to worry about sinking too far into the surface.

The core of motion-isolating pocketed coils are sturdy and strong, able to support the above foam layers with ease and keep the sleeper comfortably buoyed. The sides are reinforced for enduring edge support, too.

All in all, the Zoma Boost stands 15 inches tall, with handles on the sides for easier lifting. This is great not just for first setting up the mattress but also when it’s time to change the sheets. Additionally, all foam layers inside the mattress are certified by CertiPUR-US®, ensuring that you’re sleeping on a bed that’s not only comfortable but also safe and environmentally friendly.

When you sleep with a partner, you both tend to sleep hotter. This means couples need a mattress that can stand up to overheating even better than your average cooling mattress.

If you feel like sleeping next to your partner is more like sleeping next to a giant hot water bottle, check out the thermally conductive and breathable Nolah Evolution 15. This is potentially the best mattress for couples on the market.

The Nolah Evolution 15 ships free and comes with a lifetime warranty and a 120-night sleep trial. The trial can be removed before checking out for greater savings.

How Lying Down Feels

Lying down on the Evolution, you’ll find its sleep surface is cool to the touch. You’ll also notice this pleasantly chilly feeling doesn’t dissipate while you’re sleeping. This is all thanks to the Evolution’s combination of sleep technologies that draw heat away from your body and push it out of the mattress.

Inside the Mattress

The Evolution starts with a cooling ArcticTex™ cover that pairs breathable organic cotton with heat-dissipating fibers to ensure the sleep surface is cool. The cover sits directly on top of a cooling quilted Euro topper that draws heat away as you sleep on it. The AirBreath™ heat escape gusset underneath then dissipates heat drawn away by the Euro topper.

Underneath this cooling combination sits a comfort layer of thermoconductive, graphite-infused memory foam that helps to pull away any residual heat that doesn’t get dissipated by the layers above. Beneath this comfort layer, there are two layers of high-resilience and high-density foam to increase buoyancy and fight sinkage.

Finally, the pocketed coil support core offers three zones of comfort with reinforced coils around the edges and in the center to provide both lumbar and edge support. These coils are good for couples as well, thanks to the fact that they offer 25 percent more support than an average coil support core, as well as the superior motion isolation of pocketed coils.

SEE ALSO: Nolah Mattress Review

If you’re looking for a motion-isolating mattress for couples made of all-natural organic ingredients, check out the Spindle Mattress. Not only does this Dunlop latex mattress offer fantastic motion isolation. It also provides non-toxic, organic slumber.

How Lying Down Feels

The Spindle is a 100 percent Dunlop latex mattress, so the first thing you’re going to notice about it is just how buoyant it is. Dunlop latex is very dense and springy. This means the foam can fight sinkage and also spring back underneath your body as soon as you move – all while controlling motion transfer.

Inside the Mattress

The Spindle starts with a cover made of circular knit organic cotton fabric and filled with organic wool batting. The breathable organic cotton keeps air flowing, while the plush wool adds another layer of pressure relief. These organic textiles also provide a fire barrier that’s free of harsh chemicals.

Next, come the three layers of Dunlop latex. Each layer has a different firmness level: soft, medium, and firm. These layers don’t come in any set order. Rather, you stack them yourself based on the firmness level you want.

For a firm feel, you can stack the soft layer on the bottom and the firm layer on top. For a soft feel, do the opposite. Or you can play around with different arrangements until you find the right iteration of medium that works for you. This means the Spindle is one of the best mattresses for couples because partners can work together to find a firmness.

SEE ALSO: Best Mattresses Without Memory Foam

If you’re looking for the best mattress for couples where one or both partners are on the heavier side, say hello to the Saatva HD. This ultra-supportive and buoyant mattress was designed with heavier sleepers in mind.

Saatva will set up a delivery appointment so a team can set up your mattress for free. The Saatva HD also comes with a 365-night trial period and a lifetime warranty.

How Lying Down Feels

Right away, you’ll notice the buoyancy of the HD’s sleep surface. This ultra-supportive mattress is intended to fight sinkage and ensure your spine stays aligned, even if you’re on the heavier side. Don’t be fooled, though, as the HD still sports plenty of foam layers to offer adequate pressure relief.

Inside the Mattress

The HD is one of the few innerspring mattresses that can still isolate motion transfer because of its combination of foams and offset coils. This means it may be the best innerspring mattress for couples on the market.

The HD starts with a hand-tufted cover and a three-inch quilted Euro top to offer contouring and pressure relief right off the bat. The cover and topper sit on top of a five-zoned natural latex comfort layer that offers buoyant support to fight sinkage.

Next up, a layer of high-density memory foam improves the motion isolation and contouring abilities of the HD. This high-density foam sits on top of a transition layer of durable and firm foam that provides a buffer between your body and the coils.

Finally, the support core is made of responsive and contouring offset coils. Offset coils are better able to adapt than traditional innerspring systems, and they also isolate motion better. The motion isolation is enhanced by a set of firm foam edge support rails that add stability and durability to the support core.

SEE ALSO: Best Tempur-Pedic Mattress Alternatives

Those looking for the best mattress for couples who both sleep on their sides should consider the Helix Midnight Luxe. This mattress provides plenty of relief and protection for your pressure points, but it’s buoyant and supportive enough to keep both partners from sinking into the sleep surface.

How Lying Down Feels

The Midnight Luxe offers a great balance between buoyancy and cradling. This is perfect for couples whose extra weight necessitates more support but whose side-sleeping ways mean they cannot sacrifice pressure relief.

Inside the Mattress

The Midnight Luxe offers you the option of two cooling covers: thermally conductive GlacioTex or breathable TENCEL. Whichever cover you choose, it will rest on top of a premium cooling pillow top and a layer of cooling gel memory foam that draws heat away from your body and deeper into the mattress.

The two-layer transition of this mattress consists of high-density Memory Plus foam to give the sleep surface a buoyant feel without sacrificing contouring. Then, a layer of firm, high-grade polyfoam provides seamless progression to the coil layer.

The pocketed coil support core provides zoned support that offers enhanced lift in the middle. This keeps your lumbar region lifted without eliminating pressure relief for your hip and shoulder joints.

SEE ALSO: Best Casper Mattress Alternatives

Another of the best mattresses for couples with active lifestyles, the Bear Elite Hybrid is designed for performance. Its copper infusions fight allergens and heat buildup, and its motion-isolating pocketed coil core is adaptable and supportive.

The Bear Elite Hybrid ships free and comes with a 120-night sleep trial and a lifetime warranty.

How Lying Down Feels

The Elite Hybrid offers three different feels: soft, medium, and firm. This means you get to choose how lying down on this mattress feels. Those who want more support (like stomach sleepers) can go with the ultra-supportive firm. Side sleepers who need more pressure relief can choose the soft. Couples with different sleep positions might do well with the versatile medium.

Inside the Mattress

The Elite Hybrid starts with a cooling cover made using a combination of PCM fabric and Celliant fibers that work together to create a cool-touch feel.

This cool feel is enhanced by the copper-infused memory foam comfort layer. Copper memory foam helps enhance your sleep by fighting microbial growth that can trigger allergies and preventing heat buildup within your mattress.

Next up, you’ll find a layer of dynamic transition foam that helps enhance the mattress’s responsiveness and maintain motion transfer control all at once.

Finally, a support core made of individually wrapped coils provides adaptability and lift. Reinforced perimeter coils also offer edge-to-edge support, which is perfect for couples who need every inch of their mattress to have even support.

SEE ALSO: Best Purple Mattress Alternatives

Another amazing cooling mattress for couples, the Brooklyn Bedding Aurora Hybrid offers lots of cooling technology to help you and your partner fight overheating and sleep cool all night. It also comes in less common sizes, perfect for anyone who wants a motion-isolating bed in their RV or camper.

The Brooklyn Bedding Aurora Hybrid includes free delivery, a 120-night trial period, and a 10-year warranty.

How Lying Down Feels

This mattress was designed to keep your skin at the ideal sleep temperature of 88 degrees, which is three degrees cooler than the average skin temperature. This means you’ll notice the cool-touch feel of your sleep surface right away.

Inside the Mattress

The Aurora starts off with a cooling GlacioTex cover that gives you cooling on contact. Right under the cover rests a comfort layer of CopperFlex™ memory foam that features phase-change technology that enhances the heat-fighting properties of the copper infusions to keep your sleep surface even cooler.

Next, a transition layer of memory foam helps increase the contouring of the mattress. Depending on the feel you choose, this foam may be soft, medium, or firm.

The firmness level you choose also decides which transition layer is under the memory foam layer. For the soft and medium versions, you’ll get a layer of gel swirl memory foam to enhance cooling. For the firm version, you’ll get a layer of VariFlex™ material that enhances lift.

No matter which firmness you choose, your Aurora will come with a support layer made of up to 1,032 Ascension™ coils arranged into zones that offer targeted support to your body.

SEE ALSO: Mattress Sizes and Dimensions

Those who want the best mattress for couples that offers flippable firmness should check out the Layla Hybrid. If you don’t know which firmness works best for you and your partner, you can change things up with a flip of this mattress.

Purchase of a Layla Hybrid comes with free shipping, a 120-night sleep trial and a 10-year warranty.

How Lying Down Feels

The feel of this mattress depends on which side you lay it on. If you lay it on the soft side, your sleep surface will be medium-soft (or around a 4 of 10 on the firmness scale). If you lay it on the firm side, you will get a true firm mattress (7). This means side sleepers and stomach sleepers alike can enjoy the Layla.

Inside the Mattress

Starting with the soft side up, the Layla Hybrid features an uber-soft cover with cooling hexagonal air channels woven into the fabric.

Directly underneath this cover, you’ll find a layer of copper-gel memory foam. Copper-infused memory foam fights overheating and microbial growth all at once because copper is a thermally conductive mineral that creates a hostile environment for icky things like bacteria, mold, and mildew.

Next, you’ll find a layer of max airflow support foam that helps dissipate the heat drawn down by the copper memory foam. This layer sits directly on top of the pocketed coil support layer that makes up the adaptable and motion-isolating core of this mattress.

The mattress then moves to the firm side with another layer of firmer max airflow support foam and a final layer of copper memory foam. These layers are also wrapped in the same cooling and plush cover.

SEE ALSO: Best Mattresses for Guest Room

How to Find the Right Motion-Isolating Mattress for You

When it comes to motion isolation, not all mattresses are made equal. Some mattress types isolate motion quite well while still remaining able to respond to your movements and bounce back when you change positions.

Some mattress types isolate motion well but aren’t all that responsive. And some mattress types are highly responsive but terrible at motion isolation. The best mattresses for couples offer balanced responsiveness and motion isolation.

Material

A mattress’s material and construction is the factor that decides how well it isolates motion transfer. The material is also the factor that most strongly influences the responsiveness of the mattress. Different foams and coil types have different levels of responsiveness and motion isolation.

Memory Foam

Memory foam makes a great mattress for couples because it is incredibly good at motion isolation, but it’s not the most responsive of foams. This special type of flexible polyurethane foam was originally designed by NASA to cushion and support the human body during high-speed flight. However, now, it’s mainly used as a bedding material.

Memory foam mattresses totally control motion transfer. It also contours to your body in a way that other mattress materials just can’t. It can follow the curve of your spine, compressing under your heavier parts and rising to meet the curve in your waist.

This means memory foam offers the most pressure relief compared to other materials of similar firmness, and it’s also fantastic at aligning the spine. Many sleepers choose a memory foam mattress for back pain and other chronic pain conditions.

This flexibility also means memory foam is the perfect material for sleepers who don’t like to move around a lot, but it might not be the best for those who love to toss and turn. It will conform to your body’s shape, but when you move, you may have to wait a few seconds for it to bounce back. This can be annoying for active sleepers.

Memory foam may also not be the ideal material for hot sleepers. Gel or mineral infusions and open-cell construction help make memory foam much cooler than the sweltering memory foams of yore, but this synthetic foam is still not as breathable as its natural counterpart (latex), and even gel memory foam mattresses can retain heat.

This may not bother you if you don’t sleep hot, but if you heat up like a Dutch oven at night, consider latex foam as an memory foam alternative.

SEE ALSO: Do Memory Foam Mattresses Need Box Springs?

Natural Latex

If you want a foam that can isolate motion and bounce back underneath you, all without the help of springs, natural latex may be your best option. This natural foam is much more responsive than memory foam, and much more breathable to boot. This makes latex mattresses great for couples who sleep hot.

Natural latex comes from the sap of the rubber tree, and its properties as a natural rather than a synthetic foam make it much springier than petroleum-based memory foam. Couples who get a latex mattress can toss and turn all they like without disturbing each other or dealing with body impressions.

Natural latex is also naturally good at shedding heat. It’s highly breathable, so it can pull cool air in and push hot air out all night long, without the need for mineral or synthetic gel infusions. This means even the hottest sleepers won’t be able to heat up a natural latex mattress.

However, there is a tradeoff for all this breathable springiness. Part of the reason latex is so responsive is it wants to retain its own shape. This means it won’t be as flexible or contouring as memory foam, so it might not be the best mattress for pressure points.

Latex foam can still adapt to your body’s shape, but not quite as well as memory foam. Most sleepers won’t notice the difference, but side sleepers, especially, might feel that a latex mattress is not quite as pressure-relieving as a memory foam mattress of comparable firmness.

Other issues with latex include its potential to trigger allergies and its price. Of course, it goes without saying those with latex allergies should avoid sleeping on latex mattresses. But natural latex is also tough to harvest and is limited in supply, and the cost of a fully organic latex mattress can be quite steep.

This makes latex mattresses more expensive upfront than any other mattress type. Some of that expense will be offset by the fact that latex is the most durable mattress, but you can still expect to pay a pretty penny upfront.

Hybrid

When it comes to the ideal combination of motion isolation and responsiveness, hybrid mattresses might just beat out all other mattress types. Hybrids combine a support core of pocketed coils with at least two inches of comfort foam on top. The foam in hybrids can be memory foam or latex foam, but they should all have a pocketed coil support core.

Pocketed coils are so amazing for motion isolation because they can all move independently, thanks to the fact that they’re individually wrapped. This means they’ll spring back underneath your body as soon as you move, but they will not transfer motion to the rest of the sleep surface because only the coils directly underneath your body respond to its movements.

The other great thing about pocketed coils’ independent movement is it makes them adaptable in the extreme. Each coil can compress and rise to meet your body according to its shape, giving hybrid mattresses the ability to contour from top to bottom.

That means just about every sleeper can enjoy a hybrid mattress, from side sleepers who don’t move around at all to active sleepers who love to toss and turn. Thus, hybrid construction makes for potentially the best mattress for couples of all mattress types.

Those who want extra contouring can opt for a memory foam hybrid, which combines layers of memory foam with the pocketed coil core. Meanwhile, those who want to increase their bed’s bounce can choose a latex hybrid.

The springy latex will work with the bouncy coils to make the mattress almost as responsive as (and much more motion-isolating than) an innerspring mattress.

The main issues with hybrid mattresses don’t have anything to do with the way they feel. They have to do with more practical concerns, such as durability and cost. Hybrid mattresses have issues with durability in comparison to foam mattresses.

Pocketed coil mattresses will not last as long as beds with base foam. They lose tension and wear out more quickly, which means you’ll have to replace most hybrids sooner than most memory foam mattresses.

Couple their decreased durability with their increased upfront costs, and you’ve also got the most expensive mattress type on the market over time. Some may prefer a motion-isolating mattress without springs instead.

Innerspring

When it comes to motion isolation, innerspring mattresses come in dead last on this list of mattress types, and by a long shot. This is because they feature open coil support cores.

Unlike pocketed coils, which all come in their own individual fabric case, open coils have no encasement and are also wired together with steel cable. This means they cannot move independently of one another and instead move as a unit.

This, in turn, means that innerspring mattresses amplify motion and transfer it all over the sleep surface. Couples who sleep on innerspring mattresses will be transferring motion to their partners all night.

Another major problem with open coil support cores is the fact that they are wired together means they cannot contour very well. This translates into a mattress that tends to sag underneath the heaviest parts of your body rather than compressing under the heavier parts and rising to meet the lighter parts.

So not only do innerspring mattresses transfer motion all over the bed, but they also do not align your spine the way that they should. This means it’s best for just about everyone, but especially couples, to avoid this mattress type. Innerspring construction does not make a good mattress for couples.

Firmness

Mattress firmness is measured on a scale from one to 10, with 10 being the firmest. However, you will almost never find a mattress softer than a three or firmer than an eight. This is because most people don’t want mattresses that have absolutely no support or absolutely no compression. It’d feel like sleeping on a deflated bag or a piece of plywood.

Sleep Position

The factor that decides your firmness needs the most is your sleep position. How you sleep determines how your body contacts the bed and how your spine lines up. This, in turn, determines how much compression and support you’re going to need while you sleep.

Back Sleepers

Back sleepers need a combination of support and cushioning that allows the sleep surface to keep the body from sinking while still compressing under the buttocks and rising to meet the lumbar region. Only this balance allows a mattress for back sleeping to follow the curve of the spine to support it and keep it aligned.

This is why medium-firm mattresses (6) are typically best for back sleepers. These mattresses have a balance of lift and pressure relief that has slightly more lift. This creates a sleep surface that’s contouring enough to follow the spinal curvature and supportive enough to prevent the body from sinking.

Combo Sleepers

Combo sleepers don’t strongly prefer any sleep position. Rather, they can choose a different position from night to night or even flip around multiple times in the same night. This means they need a versatile mattress that can accommodate most sleep positions without being made for any single one.

Medium mattresses fit this bill the best. These mattresses for combination sleepers offer an even balance between support and pressure relief. They can protect your joints when you’re on your side and offer enough lift for some stomach sleeping. Medium mattresses also make some of the best mattresses for couples because their versatility can accommodate multiple sleep positions.

Side Sleepers

Side sleepers need much more pressure relief than any other type of sleeper. This is because sleeping on your side causes the ball joints in your shoulders and hips to contact the sleep surface. When this happens, your body weight pushes down on these pressure points, squishing them into the bed.

An overly firm mattress can exert pressure on the joints, causing pain. This is why side sleepers need either soft to medium mattresses (3 to 5). These mattresses for side sleeping absorb pressure rather than exerting it, which can help alleviate pain in the hips and shoulders associated with sleeping on your side.

Stomach Sleepers

Stomach sleepers have the opposite problem of side sleepers when it comes to the best mattresses. Without a responsive mattress for stomach sleeping, lying on your stomach causes your pelvis to sink into the sleep surface. When that happens, it overarches the back and causes lower back pain, usually right where the spinal column meets the pelvis.

This means stomach sleepers need the firmest mattresses of all sleep styles (7 to 8). Firm mattresses offer tons of lift and support to ensure your pelvis stays on top of the sleep surface and your spine remains aligned.

Body Type

Your sleep style decides your baseline firmness, meaning the firmness level that corresponds to your sleep position is the one you should start with. You’ll go up or down from there based on your body type.

Generally, the mattress industry has decided that the average human weight range is between 130 and 230 pounds. This means mattresses are designed with this weight range in mind. If you fall into this range, you don’t have to consider your body type when choosing a mattress.

Just go with your baseline firmness. If you fall outside this weight range, you’ll need to take that into account.

Petite Sleepers

Petite sleepers are those who weigh in at less than 130 pounds. At this weight, you can have trouble getting enough compression out of your mattress to offer you appropriate pressure relief. Go down at least one firmness level from the level that corresponds to your sleep position to correct this when picking a mattress for lightweight sleepers.

For instance, back sleepers tend to need medium-firm mattresses. However, a petite back sleeper might need to go down to a medium mattress to get the same level of contouring and support.

Plus-Size Sleepers

Plus-size sleepers fall above 230 pounds, and they tend to have the opposite problem of petite sleepers. When you are on the heavier side, you tend to compress your mattress too much. This can result in inadequate support. That means you’ll need to go up a firmness level from the one that corresponds to your sleep position when browsing mattresses for heavy people.

For instance, side sleepers generally need soft mattresses to get adequate pressure relief, but a heavier side sleeper might need a medium-soft or even a medium mattress to get enough support to keep the spine aligned.

Saving on a Motion-Isolating Mattress

Larger mattresses with motion-isolating features can cost a fair amount. so it’s smart to take advantage of the year’s big mattress sales.

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FAQs

What’s the best motion-isolating mattress material?

There are several different mattress materials that isolate motion very well. So the one that’s right for you just depends on what you’re looking to get out of your mattress.

For instance, those looking for fantastic motion isolation and deep compression should consider memory foam mattresses. Memory foam controls motion transfer and adapts to your body shape for ultimate pressure relief. So if you don’t move around much while you sleep, check out this material.

Those who like to toss and turn while they sleep should check out latex or hybrid mattresses. If you want an all-foam mattress, latex can bounce back underneath your body while still isolating motion. Those who want coils should consider a hybrid mattress. Pocketed coils can move independently, which makes them fantastic at controlling motion transfer and adapting to you.

How can I get a mattress that’s responsive and controls motion transfer?

If you want a responsive mattress that both springs back into place underneath your body and yet doesn’t transfer motion around the bed, check out either natural latex or hybrid mattresses.

Latex is a naturally springy foam that bounces back into place as soon as pressure is taken off it. This means there’s no lag time for body impressions to bounce back.

Hybrid mattresses, meanwhile, get their responsiveness from their coils. Pocketed coils are all individually wrapped, which means they can move independently. This, in turn, means they can bounce back underneath you without sending motion traveling all over the bed.

Which firmness level is best at isolating motion?

Firmness level doesn’t have much to do with motion isolation. The material and construction of the mattress are what decides how good it is at isolating motion. Partners looking for the best mattresses for couples should choose a hybrid or all-foam model, but they can have whatever firmness level they want.

The best firmnesses for couples depend on what sleeping position each partner adopts during the night. If partners have similar sleep styles, they can get the firmness that corresponds to their sleep style. For instance, two stomach sleepers can just get a firm mattress.

Partners with divergent sleep styles – say, a back sleeper and combo sleeper – may need to compromise with a medium mattress. Couples with highly divergent sleep needs – like side sleepers and stomach sleepers – may need to do a split king.

Are split kings better at motion isolation?

The best mattress for couples of all might just be the split king mattresses. Not only are these beds the best at isolating motion (as they’re made of two different mattresses), but they also allow sleepers with divergent needs to get exactly what they want while still sharing a bed.

For example, a hot side sleeper can get a soft memory foam twin XL mattress on their side of the standard king bed, while their active combo sleeper partner can get a medium latex hybrid. Couples can even use different settings with a split king adjustable bed.

What mattress types should I avoid if I need optimal motion isolation?

If you want a motion-isolating mattress, the one mattress type to avoid is the innerspring bed. Innerspring mattresses have open coil systems. These coils are all networked together using steel cables.

This means they cannot move independently of one another and will amplify motion and transfer it all over the sleep surface. Thus, innerspring mattresses do not make the best mattresses for couples. And considering their reduced adaptability and durability, they’re not exactly the best mattresses for anyone.

Bottom Line

Partners shopping around for the best mattress for couples should always consider motion transfer one of their top priorities. The good news is that plenty of the best mattresses nowadays are fantastic at isolating motion.

Just remember, stick with foam or hybrid mattresses, get the firmness level that works with your sleep position, and consider a split king if your sleep needs are too different.