- We spent more than 1,000 hours researching and testing the top mattresses on the market and consulting with 21 sleep experts to compile our recommendations.
- Our testers evaluated more than 100 models and recorded our findings on a 42-question standardized testing form to identify standout features and services, document issues with each product, and describe our personal experience lying on each mattress.
- We paid close attention to specific considerations that sleepers of all ages seek, as identified by respondents in our survey of 600 mattress owners. This included price, features, and the setup process.
- We included hybrid and foam mattresses that work well with platform beds.
- We regularly update our content because we are constantly testing new platforms and keeping pricing and services up to date.
- Learn more about how we tested the best mattresses for platform beds.
Key takeaways
- The Saatva Classic is our pick for the best mattress for platform beds overall because it offers great pressure relief and support and caters to most sleepers. It also has good edge support, which maximizes usable sleep space and prevents sagging.
- Most mattresses work well with platform beds, but the best mattresses will offer good support, durability, and comfort.
- Mattresses for platform beds can cost around $1,000–$2,700 or more, depending on size, construction, and materials.
Creating a comfortable sleep environment is just as important for our minds as our bodies. Sleep deprivation can negatively affect your mood, reduce your energy levels,, and lead to unhealthy coping strategies that negatively impact mental health.
A good sleep routine can enhance mental health and behavioral outcomes across all ages, says Karlee Martineau, a board-certified behavior analyst at Greensboro, North Carolina-based Sunrise ABA & Autism Services. “In children, sufficient sleep enhances attention, learning, and memory, while sleep deprivation can cause irritability, hyperactivity, and concentration issues, mimicking ADHD. For adults, quality sleep supports mental clarity, emotional stability, and physical health, with lack of sleep leading to stress, anxiety, and poor decision-making.”
If you’re having trouble sleeping, there are plenty of steps you can take to improve how well you sleep at night. Choosing the best mattress for your platform bed may be one of them.
To find you the best mattresses for platform beds, our Handbook Team tested and evaluated more than 100 mattresses, considering affordability, ease of setup, and features needed for different sleep styles. Read on to see our top picks.
4 best mattresses for platform beds of 2024
- Saatva Classic: Best mattress for platform beds overall
- The WinkBed: Best hybrid mattress for platform beds
- Cloverlane 15″ Foam Premium Plush: Best foam mattress for platform beds
- Brooklyn Bedding Aurora Luxe Cooling: Best firm mattress for platform beds
Saatva Classic: Best overall mattress for platform beds
Why Saatva Classic is our pick for best overall
The Saatva Classic is our best overall pick because it’s a well-constructed mattress suitable for most sleep styles. Our testers say it has good cooling features while offering pressure relief and strong edge support (5 out of 5). Saatva says this mattress is ideal for a platform bed with a solid surface or horizontal slats spaced less than four inches apart.
Who may want to use the Saatva Classic: Back and stomach sleepers of any body type and average-weight (130–250 pounds) and higher-weight (more than 250 pounds) side sleepers.
Who may want to avoid the Saatva Classic: Lighter-weight (under 130 pounds) side sleepers.
Saatva Classic tester insights
With a score of 5 out of 5 for overall support, our testers say the Saatva Classic’s luxury firm model offers comfort and support for most sleeping positions. We gave it a firmness Brands rate mattress firmness on a scale from 1 to 10, with 10 being the firmest. score of 7 out of 10, just above the industry standard of 6.5 for medium-firm. This is slightly firmer than the brand’s 6 out of 10 firmness rating.
The mattress features a breathable cover, which our testers say feels soft and cool, and a three-inch plush pillow top for comfort and pressure relief (4 out of 5). Just below the surface sits a layer of high-density memory foam in the center of the mattress for lower back support.
Next are two layers of coils—a top layer of individually wrapped coils that our testers say contour to their curves and movements and a bottom layer of tempered steel support coils for durability. The coils are firmer in the middle of the mattress to keep the spine neutral and reinforce the lower back. High-density foam rails encase the bottom layer of coils, which, according to our testers, provides excellent edge support Edge support is the bed’s strength and stability around the perimeter. (5 out of 5).
When we lie on the Saatva Classic, there isn’t much sinkage While some softer mattresses offer good contouring sinkage, sinkage is also a result of wear and tear. Foam materials especially sink over time, resulting in a sagging feeling, which provides less support. . Our weight feels evenly distributed, and we feel more “on” than “in” the mattress. The mattress has a bouncy feel, which makes it easy for sleepers to change positions throughout the night. However, it has a lower-than-average motion isolation The containment of movement on one area of a mattress so it doesn’t impact other areas. score of 2 out of 5. This means you may feel your partner’s movements at night if they shift or move.
From one of our Saatva Classic testers:
“As a combination sleeper, I appreciate how well the Saatva Classic responds to movement. I was able to reposition myself throughout the night with minimal effort.”
Read our in-depth Saatva mattress review for more information.
The WinkBed: Best hybrid mattress for platform beds
Why The WinkBed is our pick for best hybrid
The WinkBed (softer model) is a soft and supportive hybrid mattress A type of mattress made with both foam layers and spring layers. made of cooling gel-infused memory foam Memory foam that contains small gel pods designed to draw heat away from the body. and individually wrapped coils, earning our top choice for best hybrid.
Who may want to use The WinkBed: Back and side sleepers of all body types and lighter-weight (less than 130 pounds) and average-weight (130–250 pounds) stomach sleepers.
Who may want to avoid The WinkBed: Higher-weight (more than 250 pounds) stomach sleepers.
The WinkBedtester insights
The WinkBed earns high scores in most categories, including edge support (4.5 out of 5), pressure relief (4.5 out of 5), motion isolation (5 out of 5), and cooling (4 out of 5).
Our testers say The WinkBed’s softer firmness model offers a medium feel, scoring it 5 out of 10 for firmness. There is a little sinkage when lying on the mattress, but we still feel well-supported in all sleeping positions.
The mattress’s pillow top has three layers of gel-infused foam that contour the body and offer pressure relief, while the layer of individually wrapped zoned coils underneath offers targeted lower back support and reduces motion transfer. That’s why we think it’s one of the best mattresses for back pain.
The WinkBed outperforms other hybrids in motion isolation. During testing, our weight is well distributed, and movement on the other side of the bed is barely noticeable, which couples or light sleepers may appreciate.
Our testers say the mattress feels responsive Good responsiveness means the mattress has a bouncier surface that responds to pressure or the sleeper’s movements, making it easier to move around and switch positions but note minimal bounce. Higher-weight sleepers typically experience more sinkage and could find it harder to switch positions.
Buying an online mattress can be daunting since you can’t try it out beforehand. That’s why we appreciate the unique exchange policy offered by WinkBeds, which allows you to try out two different mattresses. If your first choice isn’t a good fit, you can request another firmness level for $49. After exchanging for another WinkBed mattress, you then have a new 60-night trial period which starts when you receive the new bed.
According to WinkBeds, this mattress works best with platform beds with rigid center support.
From one of our WinkBed testers:
“The mattress’s pillow top gently cradles my body but doesn’t sink too much. It offers a good balance between soft and firm.”
Cloverlane 15′′ Foam: Best foam mattress for platform beds
Why Cloverlane 15′′ Foam is our pick for best foam
The Cloverlane Foam 15″ is our top choice for the best foam platform mattress because it’s well constructed with quality materials like therapeutic gel memory foam Memory foam that contains small gel pods designed to draw heat away from the body. and natural latex. We like how the mattress’s extra-thick 15-inch height makes it easy to get in. You can also find this mattress in our roundup of the best luxury mattresses.
Who may want to use Cloverlane 15′′ Foam: Back and side sleepers of all body types and lighter-weight (under 130 pounds) and average-weight (130–250 pounds) stomach sleepers.
Who may want to avoid Cloverlane 15′′ Foam: Higher-weight (more than 250 pounds) stomach sleepers.
Cloverlane 15′′ Foam tester insights
Cloverlane rates the Premium Plush model as a 4 out of 10 for firmness, but we find it slightly firmer, scoring it a 5 out of 10—although both scores put this mattress on the softer side. According to our testers, the mattress offers multiple plush layers that gently hug the body, offering a high level of pressure relief (4.5 out of 5). It also offers great motion isolation (4.5 out of 5), making it a good choice for couples who don’t want to disturb each other while sleeping.
We appreciate that the mattress also offers good edge support (4 out of 5), which is helpful for couples who want to utilize the mattress’s entire surface.
Our testers feel well supported when lying on their stomachs and say the mattress keeps their back straight and weight evenly distributed when on their sides and backs. There is some delay in responsiveness, and with a poor bounce, people with mobility issues or those needing help changing position at night may want to opt for a different mattress.
From one of our Cloverlane 15″ Foam Premium Plush testers:
“This mattress is my favorite for side sleeping out of all the mattresses I’ve tested.”
Read our in-depth Cloverlane 15′′ Foam Premium Plush mattress review for more information.
Brooklyn Bedding Aurora Luxe Cooling: Best firm mattress for platform beds
Why Brooklyn Bedding Aurora Luxe Cooling is our pick for best firm
The Brooklyn Bedding Aurora Luxe Cooling is the firmest mattress in our review, earning our pick for best firm platform mattress. It may also be a good option for those who sleep hot due to its advanced cooling technology.
Who may want to use Brooklyn Bedding Aurora Luxe Cooling: People who sleep hot and prefer a mattress on the firmer side and all sleepers of all body types.
Who may want to avoid Brooklyn Bedding Aurora Luxe Cooling: Couples easily disturbed by movement may want something with better motion isolation.
You may may consider
Sleepers looking for a more plushy or supportive mattress may consider the Brooklyn Bedding Aurora Luxe Cooling mattress’s soft or firm models to better meet their sleep style or preferences.
Brooklyn Bedding Aurora Luxe Cooling (medium model) tester insights
The Brooklyn Bedding Aurora Luxe Cooling mattress is the firmest in our review, receiving a 7.5 out of 10 for firmness during testing. We gave this mattress high cooling (5 out of 5) and edge support (4.5 out of 5) scores and above-average bounce (3 out of 5) and overall support (3.5 out of 5) scores.
The brand incorporates cooling features into most layers, including the GlacioTex cover, which is constructed with cool tech fibers designed to remove excess heat from your sleep surface, and cooling-infused foam on the top comfort layer.
Although this mattress is firmer, our testers say it provides a lot of contour. Their lower back was well-supported while on their backs, and they felt cushioned on their sides, earning this mattress an overall pressure relief score of 5 out of 5. Lighter-weight and average-weight stomach sleepers should also feel supported on their stomachs, with our testers noting their hips stayed elevated and spine aligned.
Although this mattress has a low bounce score, our testers say it’s pretty easy to move around because the material is responsive. However, they do note that because the top layer is synthetic, your sheets might shift around when switching positions.
From one of our Brooklyn Bedding Aurora Luxe Cooling testers:
“I love how well-rounded this mattress is, especially the pressure relief. Although it’s not as supportive as other mattresses, its firmness helps counteract that, making it good for almost all sleepers.”
Read our in-depth Brooklyn Bedding mattress review for more information.
How we test and choose the best mattresses for platform beds
The Handbook Team has researched many mattresses online and in person and hand-selected about 130 (and counting) of the best models to test. We’ve also surveyed 1,200 total shoppers (in two 600-people surveys) and interviewed recent mattress customers to understand the buying process and how their new bed has impacted their sleep quality, physical health, and mental wellness.
First-hand testing experience
The Handbook Team hand-tests every mattress we review. We evaluate brands and models by recording our findings on a 42-question standardized testing form to identify standout features and services, document issues with each product, and describe our personal experience lying on each mattress.
For this review, we focused on tests and scores related to how well each mattress performs on a platform bed. We considered factors like edge support, firmness, and weight distribution when narrowing down our four picks.
Mattress surveys and interviews
We pay close attention to specific considerations that sleepers of all ages seek, as identified by respondents in our surveys of 1,200 people. These include price, features, and the setup process. We also interview real people to better understand the motivations behind shopping for a new mattress and the benefits of purchasing one.
For example, we included two mattresses that offer free white glove delivery (in-home delivery and setup) since more than 41 percent of people in one of our surveys told us it’s highly important to them.
Objective and honest ratings
We use information from our surveys, focus groups, and expert interviews to determine the most important features in our brand and mattress testing scorecards.
To make our list, every model in this review must score at least 4 out of 5 in edge support and pressure relief. We also consider motion isolation, bounce, cooling, overall support, and firmness. Our roundups cater to different needs, so we filter the best mattresses uniquely to fit each review.
We also weigh the following factors to determine an overall rating for each brand we recommend.
| Factor | Weight | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Customer Service | 15 percent | Customer care center hours, support options |
| Brand Reputation | 10 percent | Years in business, lawsuits, class actions against this company |
| Features | 20 percent | Size options, firmness options, weight capacity, add-ons included (free sleep accessories) |
| User Experience | 35 percent | White glove delivery, CERTIPUR-US certifications, risk-free trials |
| Affordability | 20 percent | Price, warranty, promotions |
Learn more about our mattress testing and review methodology.
How to choose a mattress for platform beds
Most mattresses, including memory foam, latex, and hybrid designs, work well with platform beds. For the most comfortable sleep experience, it’s important to consider your personal needs and those of your family.
The best mattress for a platform bed should have good support, especially around the edges, to prevent sagging. Your body type and sleep position are also important when choosing a mattress.
Side sleepers need a mattress that follows their curves and keeps their spine straight. If it’s too firm, pressure can build under the hips and shoulders, but if it’s too soft, it won’t give enough support. Back sleepers usually need a medium-to-firm mattress, while stomach sleepers typically do better with a firmer one to keep their spine aligned.
Lighter-weight sleepers (under 130 pounds) often do better with softer mattresses, while higher-weight sleepers (over 250 pounds) tend to need firmer support.
Other things to consider include overall cost, cooling features, mattress height, and motion isolation to reduce sleep disruptions.
What are platform beds?
Platform beds have risen in popularity over the past few years thanks to their affordability, minimalist design, and strong support that eliminates the need for a box spring. They’re usually made of slatted wood, solid wood, or metal and are lower in height than traditional beds, sitting anywhere from six inches to 18 inches off the ground.
Can you use any mattress for a platform bed?
Platform beds are versatile and can support nearly all mattresses, including hybrid, foam, latex, and innerspring designs. If your platform bed is slatted, make sure the slats are spaced close enough (typically less than four inches) to properly support the mattress. Queen and larger mattresses require a platform bed with adequate center support, such as a center leg that touches the floor.
Can you use a box spring with a platform bed?
Most platform beds are supportive enough on their own and don’t require a box spring. However, if you want to add height to your bed or feel more comfortable with a box spring, you can typically use it with a platform bed.
Best mattress height for a platform bed
The best mattress height for a platform bed depends on your personal preference. Thicker mattresses may make it easier for taller sleepers to get in and out of bed, while lower beds may be better suited for shorter people or those who share a bed with pets or children.
How to make a platform bed more comfortable
If you find your platform bed too firm or low to the ground, here are several ways to make it more comfortable:
- Add a mattress topper: A good quality memory foam or featherbed mattress topper can add plushness and contouring to increase comfort. A mattress topper can also add a few inches to your mattress for those who prefer a higher bed height.
- Change your mattress: Choosing the best mattress for your sleep style and body type can improve comfort and sleep quality.
- Invest in high-quality pillows: Swapping out your old pillows with new, high-quality ones that match your sleep position and body temperature can make your platform bed feel more comfortable.
- Elevate the bed: If your platform bed feels too low, you can add a box spring underneath or use higher bed risers to raise the top of your bed. Buying a thick mattress can also help add height.
What are the disadvantages of platform beds?
Platform beds tend to have a low profile, which can be a disadvantage for people who prefer a taller bed and those who have mobility issues and need a higher height to get in and out with ease. This lower height can also make it harder to store items underneath.
The solid or slatted base provides a firmer sleeping surface, which might feel too firm for people used to softer beds.
Our final verdict
Our overall pick for the best mattress for platform beds is Saatva Classic because it checks most of the boxes we’re looking for—offering overall support, edge support, durability, and comfort for most sleeping positions. With three firmness options and two height choices, this mattress can accommodate a variety of sleep preferences.
Ultimately, the best platform mattress for your needs depends on many factors, so we included memory foam and hybrid models with various prices and features like motion isolation and cooling. If you’re unsure which mattress to choose, we recommend selecting one with a trial period. All the mattresses in this review allow you to try them out for at least 120 nights before making a final decision.
Compare the best platform bed mattresses of 2024
| Price | $1,395–$2,990 | $1,149–$2,049 | $999–$2,598 | $999–$2,464 |
| Our firmness rating* | 7/10 | 5/10 | 5/10 | 7.5/10 |
| Material | Innerspring hybrid | Hybrid | Memory foam | Hybrid |
| Warranty | Limited lifetime | Limited lifetime | Limited lifetime | 10 years |
| Trial period | 365 nights | 120 nights | 365 nights | 120 nights |
| Recommended for | Back and stomach sleepers of all body types and average-weight and higher-weight side sleepers | Back and side sleepers of all body types and lighter-weight and average-weight stomach sleepers | Back and side sleepers of all body types and lighter-weight and average-weight stomach sleepers | Sleepers of all body types |
*Our firmness rating is based on hands-on testing
Frequently asked questions
Choosing a mattress the same size as your platform bed is the best way to keep your mattress from sliding. Using non-slip pads or rubber grips can also prevent sliding by creating friction.
Hybrid mattresses, which combine foam and coils, tend to work best with slats because they offer a good combination of support and pressure relief. Memory foam, latex, and innerspring mattresses can also be used with slatted platform bed frames.
Pairing a memory foam mattress with a platform bed can optimize support and comfort. Memory foam tends to perform best on platform beds with a solid surface or closely spaced slats, which help prevent sagging and maintain the mattress’s shape over time.
Generally speaking, a platform mattress should be around 12 inches, but it can be as thick as 14 inches or higher, depending on personal preference.
- Scott, A. J., Webb, T. L., Martyn-St James, M., Rowse, G., & Weich, S. (2021, September). Improving sleep quality leads to better mental health: A meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials. Sleep Medicine Reviews, 60, 101556. Link