There are a lot of questions when shopping for a mattress. Do you sleep on your back, or are you primarily a stomach sleeper? Are you looking for a foam mattress, an innerspring mattress or a hybrid mattress (innerspring with a foam layer)? Do you prefer a soft mattress, a firm mattress or a medium-firm one? To help make things easier, CNET has spent years testing the best mattresses on the market. I’ve rounded up seven of my recommendations for the top full-size mattresses below.Â
What is the best full mattress?Â
The Layla Hybrid mattress is our top pick for the best full mattress overall due to its impressive features. Including its soft cover, the mattress is made of several layers of copper-infused gel memory foam, support foam and individually wrapped coils. The copper-gel memory foam helps to keep sleepers cool at night and the coils keep the motion transfer to a minimum. What makes this mattress stand out is that the Layla Hybrid is flippable; one side is soft and the other is firm.
Video: Best full mattresses for 2024
Watch CNET video producer Owen Poole review the best full size mattresses for 2024.Â
Best full mattresses of 2024
Mattress price scale:
$ = Budget: $799 and below
$$ = Average: $800 to $1,699
$$$ = Premium: $1,700 and up
These reflect MSRP or list prices. Sales might make a mattress less expensive, but are always changing.
Why we chose the Layla Hybrid mattress:
The Layla Hybrid has it all. This mattress is constructed of several layers, including a gel memory foam, airflow support form and individually wrapped pocketed coils that add extra support and just enough bounce. The mattress felt soft and comfortable, but also supportive like it was contouring my body in all the right places without sinking too much. This hybrid mattress also had very little (if any) motion transfer. I wasn’t disturbed or jolted awake when my partner tossed and turned.
The middle layer of the Layla Hybrid is made from copper-infused memory foam, which is designed to absorb and disperse heat so you stay cool while you sleep. The copper is also antimicrobial, so it fights off bacteria and other icky things that can build up in the mattress over time. One of the biggest things that sets the Layla Hybrid apart is the fact that it’s a flippable full-size mattress. Not only that, one side of the mattress is soft and the other side is firm, so you can test out both sides of mattress firmness to find out which one is right for you.
Pros:
Flippable with a soft and a firm side
Great for all body and sleeper types
Made of gel memory foam and pocketed coils
Cons:
A little expensive for budget shoppers
Combination sleepers might find the bed to have a little resistance
Read our Layla Hybrid review.
Layla Hybrid
* Pricing based on Queen model
Cocoon by Sealy
Type Cooling memory foam mattressFirmness Medium to medium-firm or 6Trial 100 nightsWarranty 10-year warrantyPrice$$
Cocoon by Sealy Chill
35% off + free pillows and sheets applied in cart
* Pricing based on Queen model
Why we chose the Helix Midnight Luxe mattress:
The Helix Midnight Luxe is an excellent mattress for when you’re not really sure what you want, or which type of mattress is best for you. When it comes to firmness, this mattress is rated a 4 to 7 out of 10, which means that its firmness level is roughly equal parts soft and firm and may work well for most sleepers.Â
A true hybrid mattress, the Helix Midnight Luxe is made from a combination of high-density memory foam, gel visco and pocketed coils. This combination provided excellent lumbar support and relief from the aches and pains that I had been dealing with from other mattresses. It was equally comfortable whether I was sleeping on my side or back — something that can be difficult to find. I also found The Helix Midnight Luxe to be plushier than other bed-in-a-box type mattresses. It has a breathable premium quilted top that provides an additional comfort layer of cushioning that feels more reminiscent of a traditional mattress but without any motion transfer. Read more in our full Helix mattress review.Â
Pros:
Comfortable for all sleeping positions
Great for those looking for a luxury mattress
Made with a premium pillow top
Cons:
May be too soft for heavier back and stomach sleepers
Expensive
Helix Midnight Luxe
Amerisleep
Type Memory foam hybridFirmness 7 or Medium-firmTrial 100 nightsWarranty 20-year prorated warrantyPrice$$
Amerisleep AS2 Hybrid
Lindsay Boyers/CNET
Why we chose the Purple Restore Hybrid mattress:
The Purple Restore Hybrid mattress is a dream. With its proprietary Purple Grid, it’s different from any other mattress I’ve tried — in all the best ways. Unlike memory foam, which is the foundation of many of these direct-to-your-door mattresses, the Purple Restore Hybrid bed is made from a hyper-elastic polymer grid formation that feels strong and supportive, but somehow still soft and plush.Â
The grid gives way to your body, expertly contouring and alleviating pressure where you need it most like it was made just for you. I immediately felt weightless, almost like I was floating on this full-size mattress. This Purple mattress also felt bouncier than the others, but it was still able to provide motion isolation and prevent motion transfer. While it’s comfortable in all positions, this Purple mattress is especially great for stomach sleepers since it has enough give to make sure your neck and spine stay aligned.
Pros:
Made of a grid-like latex that is bouncy and breathable
Great for pressure relief
Most sleeping positions will find this mattress comfortable
Cons:
Budget shoppers should look elsewhere
Not for those looking for a traditional mattress
Lindsay Boyers/CNET
Type Latex HybridFirmness 7 or medium-firm with the pillow top (9 or firm without)Trial 365 nightsWarranty 25-year limited warrantyPrice$$$
Avocado Green
* Pricing based on Queen model
Casper
Type Poly foam mattressFirmness 6 out of 10 or mediumTrial 100 nightsWarranty 10-year limited warrantyPrice$$
The Casper mattress is one of the most popular bed-in-a-box mattresses and for good reason. It’s a simple, accommodating foam mattress that feels like a giant marshmallow. It doesn’t use traditional memory foam, so it’s much easier to switch positions on and it bounces back quickly when pressure is removed.Â
The Original Casper mattress has three layers, the center of which is made with a zoned support design to provide targeted support and pressure relief where you need it most. I’d rate it around a medium on the firmness scale, making it suitable for all sleeping positions from side, back, stomach and combination. For a safe pick that many people find to be comfortable, go for the Casper. The hybrid model is going to be more supportive and durable for people who weigh over 230 pounds.Â
Pros:
Great for all sleeping positions
Made of poly foam that has more bounce than traditional memory foam
Has a zoned support design for optimal pressure relief
Cons:
Heavier people should opt for the hybrid model
Petite side sleepers may find it a little firm
Read our Casper Original review.
Casper Original
What to consider when buying a full mattress
When looking for the best full mattress, here are a few things to keep in mind.Â
Firmness
The firmness of a mattress is dependent on your body type. If you are petite or an average person, your body will exert less pressure on a mattress, making it feel firmer. If you are a heavier sleeper, a mattress will feel softer. An average sleeper will find a medium firmness to be comfortable.
Support
Especially if you deal with back pain, you want a supportive mattress. A memory foam mattress is generally less supportive than a hybrid mattress that has both foam and coils. Petite and most average-size sleepers will still find memory foam mattresses supportive. If you are a heavier sleeper, opt for a hybrid or an innerspring mattress.
Edge support
The edges around your mattress should also be supportive. That way, you won’t roll off your bed in the middle of the night. You can test edge support by sitting on the edge. If you feel like you’re going to slip off, you might want a bed with better edge support.
Other mattresses we’ve tested
All of the beds above have been tested by our CNET Sleep editors, but we’ve also reviewed over 200 other beds. With that being the case, it can be difficult to narrow down the top favorites. The beds below are other mattresses we’ve tested that are also worth considering in your search for a new mattress.
Puffy Lux mattress: Side sleepers would also really enjoy the thick and luxurious Puffy Lux mattress. It’s just as comfortable as it looks and its cloud logo is a good indication of what you’re getting yourself into. It’s soft and pressure-relieving as it gently wraps around the curves of your body. The main comfort foam is memory foam, but it’s more light and airy than it is dense. I’d rate this mattress around a 4 out of 10 on the firmness scale or a medium-soft, so it’s mostly for people who favor their side.
Allswell mattress: Looking for the best value? The Allswell mattress is the bed-in-a-box model from Walmart, and in true Walmart fashion, it’s extremely wallet-friendly. It’ll cost less than most regular foam mattresses, which is rare since hybrid beds are known to be more expensive. It’s a little on the firmer side, around a 6 out of 10 on the firmness scale or a medium-firm.
Tuft & Needle mattress: The Tuft and Needle bed is a simple, two-layer foam mattress without any special bells and whistles. I think it’s a great mattress for kids, teenagers, your kid going off to college or a money-saving individual. It’s pretty wallet-friendly, and it’s arguably just as popular as the Casper mattress. It has a similar neutral-foam feel that most people find comfortable.
How we tested the best full mattresses
Our CNET Sleep editors have spent countless hours testing each mattress on our many best lists. When we test mattresses, we have an established process that assesses key factors like firmness, feel, construction, performance, price, cooling properties and warranty information. We test how strong the edge of the bed is by sitting and lying on the edge. We test motion transfer by rolling across the mattress with a glass of water by the edge. We do this for all beds we test.
CNET editors pick the products and services we write about based on editorial merit. When you buy through our links, we may get a commission.
A full-size mattress measures out to 54 inches wide and 74 inches long, which is 4.5 feet wide and 6.25 feet long.Â
A premium full-size mattress will range around $700 to $1,400, but there are plenty of options under $1,000 like Casper or Tuft and Needle. Full-size beds are more affordable than queen or king-size mattresses, but are still suitable for couples who want to share a bed.Â
A full mattress is worth considering if you have a smaller space or you’re a single person who likes to spread out (since a twin mattress doesn’t provide much room). If you’re a co-sleeper, you should be able to fit snugly, but a queen mattress would be more suitable.
