Finding the best hybrid mattress depends on your sleeping position, weight, sleep temperature, and budget. Hybrid mattresses combine many of the benefits of traditional memory foam and innerspring mattresses without much compromise. Hybrid mattresses usually use a memory foam top layer with a supportive coil spring bottom layer. This provides the great breathability and cooling associated with innerspring mattresses plus the contouring abilities of memory foam that adapts to the shape of your body, minimizing unsupported areas of your spine and legs. 

Hybrid mattresses are versatile enough for any sleeping position but are especially great for back and stomach sleeping positions, heavy sleepers, and those of us who tend to sleep hot. If you’re in one or more of those groups you should consider a hybrid mattress in your research and shopping process, especially if you’ve had issues with either a traditional innerspring mattress or a pure memory foam mattress.

• Breathability - Perhaps one of the most significant advantages of a hybrid mattress is breathability. The hybrid mattress innerspring layer represents 70% to 90% of the thickness of the mattress, resulting in a lot of open air that circulates and pulls heat away as you sleep while still providing a lot of support. While the outer layer of most hybrid mattresses is still memory foam, this layer is thin in comparison with a solid memory foam mattress.
• Durability - With its innerspring base layer, hybrids are known for durability and longevity. Low-density foam base layers found in memory foam mattresses can break down more quickly and start to leave a depression after years of use. 
• Support for Heavier Sleepers- If you’re over 220 pounds, a hybrid mattress can provide more adequate support than even a firm memory foam mattress.
• Bounce/Spring Back - Hybrid mattresses offer bounce, also known as spring back or response. When you compress the surface of the mattress, it won’t bounce or spring back at you. This can be a pro for some and a con for others. Bounce and spring back provide the following benefits:
  • It makes entering and exiting the bed easier
  • It allows combination sleepers to flip, roll, or change sleeping positions with minimal effort
  • It makes private bedroom activities more exciting and easier to perform
• VOC Exposure - If you’ve researched memory foam mattresses you may have come across concerns around VOC exposure. While hybrid mattresses still use memory foam, it’s much less than solid memory foam mattresses. There still aren’t any studies showing that VOC exposure from mattresses poses any threat to adults, the theory here is that a reduction in memory foam in your mattress reduces the risk even further. If you want to learn more about VOCs, read my guide on memory foam mattresses where I dive into this topic more deeply.

• Cost - Generally hybrid mattresses are more expensive than traditional innerspring, solid memory foam, or latex mattresses. However, there are some relatively inexpensive hybrid mattress options that we’re big fans of if you’re on a budget. While they are often more expensive than other options, quality hybrid mattresses shouldn’t break the bank.
• Motion Transfer - This is one of the reasons many make the switch to memory foam, especially couples. We all remember the commercials of the glass of red wine resting on one side of the mattress while someone is jumping on the other side to show how essentially no motion is transferred to your partner. While hybrid mattresses are better than traditional innerspring mattresses in terms of motion transfer, they will never be able to compete with a solid memory foam mattress.
• Noise - Every hybrid mattress has been designed to prevent or minimize the classic metal squeaks and creaks from the innerspring layer of the mattress. Many of the springs are lined or pocketed to prevent them from rubbing against one another, but noise could always develop, especially over a long period of time when the linings may wear down. Hybrid mattresses with memory foam outer layers should help to deaden and dull any noise originating from the innerspring section of the mattress if it does develop.

Like all our mattress recommendations we like to review what goes into ideal sleeping and how you can get the best sleep out of your mattress. A good sleeping position is all about getting your spine into a neutral position. Hybrid mattresses are suitable for all sleep positions, but let's go over some common trouble areas for each sleep position when on a hybrid mattress:

• Side Sleeping - Side sleeping is very common and it’s a position that can easily create problems. Often, side sleepers run into issues due to the varying shape of the side of their bodies, which requires more support from the mattress. Hybrid mattresses are known to be firmer and offer less contouring than generally needed for side sleepers, especially if you are light in weight or generally prefer a softer mattress. The two main trouble spots are your neck and lower back. The pressure points of your shoulders and hips need to sink in quite a lot to allow the surrounding areas to be supported without a gap between them and the mattress. This is one of the reasons we usually recommend memory foam mattresses for side sleeping. You can read my guide on memory foam mattresses or the best mattresses for side sleeping to learn more about matching your mattress to this sleeping position.
• Back Sleeping - Back sleeping is the best match for a hybrid mattress. The extra firmness and support from the innerspring/memory foam combination make them well-liked by back sleepers everywhere. Back sleeping is the top-recommended sleeping position for achieving a correct spinal alignment but there are a few trouble spots for your neck and lower back. Many back sleepers tend to use a pillow that is too thick. This effect can be compounded for heavyweight sleepers that sink into their mattresses. The lower back can be vulnerable as well, especially for lightweight sleepers. It may be worth elevating your knees with a foam roll or thick pillow. This helps rotate your hips and relieve tension on your lower back.
• Stomach Sleeping - While stomach sleeping isn't recommended by any medical professional, its a position that is fairly common. Fortunately, a hybrid mattress can actually benefit stomach sleepers. But as we mention in other guides, getting your spine into neutral alignment while sleeping on your stomach goes beyond your mattress choice. Try placing a thick pillow below your hips and switch to a very thin pillow (or no pillow at all).
• Combination Sleeping - Hybrid mattresses are great for combination sleepers. One of the main benefits is the level of bounce or response created by the innerspring. This makes switching positions easier and increases the chance that you’ll stay asleep during the transition. Switching sleep positions on a memory foam mattress requires a lot more effort. The overall versatility of the hybrid mattresses to adapt to all sleeping positions makes it a natural choice for combination sleepers.

Hybrid mattresses sound cutting-edge but the technology that goes into them is actually quite old. Essentially, hybrid mattresses combine two elements from two different traditional mattress designs: memory foam and innerspring mattresses.

Each mattress is different from one another but most hybrid mattresses are two layers at a high level:

• Innerspring Bottom Layer - This is the classic layer of springs all interconnected at the bottom and top by a metal netting. Although this is an old technology most coils are now lined or pocketed to prevent noise and improve comfort. Some mattresses even include a variety of coils that are designed to improve the edge support of the mattress or give support where your body is positioned.
• Foam Top Layer - Most often memory foam but can be latex or some kind of infused memory foam like gel or copper. This layer is around 2” thick. In higher end hybrid mattresses this layer can actually be more than one layer designed to support and contour to your body.

When it comes to buying a hybrid mattress you have more options than ever before. With the emergence of compressing and shipping a mattress in a box, the mattress has become another household item you can buy either online or in a store.

Buying on Amazon is familiar to millions of online shoppers and it should come as no surprise that Amazon and other big online retailers (Wayfair, Overstock, etc.) sell a ton of mattresses. Buying through Amazon means you usually get the fastest shipping and order processing time, as well as great customer service as well as Amazon’s return policy. For many people buying online is their preferred way of shopping, so why should buying a mattress be any different?  There are many hybrid mattresses available on Amazon. We’ve noticed that sometimes you can get a better deal on Amazon than dealing directly with the mattress company themselves - usually this is temporary so it pays to check both. The mattress business is very competitive though, so keep an eye on all retailers to get the best deal. Keep in mind that by buying on Amazon or other online retailers you may miss out on promotional freebies offered by the mattress company when you buy directly from them. 

Just as memory foam helped the mattress business move online, this trend now applies to every type of mattress, including hybrid mattresses. Many predominantly memory foam mattress companies are seeing the value in offering their customers hybrid mattress options. Buying online directly from the mattress company is often one of the least expensive ways to get your mattress. They can offer you the lowest price, frequently run sales, and throw in promotional freebies like bedding, pillows, and other products they make. It’s also common to save upwards of $100 to $200 when you buy direct on the mattress company website. Many mattress companies run sales on their websites on Labor Day weekend, Cyber Week, Christmas, New Year, and Memorial Day weekend, among others.

While more people are buying their mattresses online, there are still plenty of physical stores selling mattresses. You can find hybrid mattresses for sale at Macy's, Costco, Sam's Club, Walmart, and IKEA. There are also dedicated furniture stores like Ashley Homestore that sell mattresses. The main and possibly only advantage of buying in a store is the ability to try the mattress out before you buy it. If you want to try a mattress out in person we recommend visiting a store to test it out then shopping around for the best price and delivery cost combination after you’ve decided on the mattress you want.

As the mattress business has become more and more competitive, companies have pretty much taken all risk away from you as a consumer in buying a new mattress. This has had a big impact on shipping, trials, warranties, and returns.

You may be thinking that only memory foam mattresses can be compressed and shipped to your door in a box, but hybrid mattresses also benefit from this. While hybrid mattresses are generally more expensive, they are almost always sold online with free shipping.

When it comes to buying a new hybrid mattress, there is a seemingly unlimited and often extended trial period offered by competing mattress companies. At one time it was 90 days, then 120, then 180, now a few brands are even offering a full year of risk-free sleeping.

Warranties have become a large selling point for top mattress companies. It’s very common to find hybrid mattresses with 10-year warranties and a few offering limited lifetime warranties. However, pay attention to the fine print. Some warranties do not apply if the surface of the mattress is indented past a certain threshold. However, most reputable brands want to make you happy.

If you are unhappy with your mattress, most brands will enable you to return it. Due to the size of the mattress, especially ones that arrive compressed in a box, logistically you can’t simply print a return label and have UPS pick it up. Most often than not if your mattress is still in good condition they will facilitate donating the mattress to a charity. In the case that the mattress has a defect and can’t be donated, some brands will arrange a trash service to come to your house and remove the mattress. This, unfortunately, means it will end up in a landfill. If you’re wondering about this process and alternatives to throwing away your mattress, read our guide on mattress disposal.

• Dreamcloud - Dreamcloud makes a premium luxury hybrid mattress that starts at around $1,000. The Dreamcloud mattress combines innerspring, memory foam, and gel materials to create an innovative hybrid mattress that’s well-liked by our team. Dreamcloud stands by its products with a lifetime warranty and a full year trial. They frequently run promotions on their website and as of writing this, you can save up to $200 on a mattress purchase.
• Saatva - Saatva is another premium hybrid mattress company that makes use of two different layers of coil springs, making it quite unique. What we like about their classic mattress is the availability of 3 firmness options, so regardless of their weight or sleeping position everyone should be able to find the right mattress here. Many other brands try to go middle-of-the-road when it comes to firmness trying to appeal to most people. Saatva does it right by having multiple firmness options to choose from.
• Avocado - Avocado Mattress is known for its USA-made organic mattresses that eliminate any concerns of VOCs, off-gassing and give buyers extra peace of mind when they go to sleep. Their mattresses are one of the few options that are 100% organic certified and don’t use any traditional synthetic foams. They also make use of green tea extract in their green tea mattress. They recently started offering a vegan conscious mattress that even has PETA's stamp of approval. Avocado products are great for organic and environmentally-focused shoppers.
• Linenspa - Linenspa is a budget-focused mattress company that seems to offer the only affordable hybrid mattress. By affordable we mean extremely affordable, often for less than $200 depending on the mattress size you choose. Linenspa’s hybrid mattress is currently the #1 bestselling mattress on Amazon and there’s a reason for that. In addition to their super budget-focused option, they also offer latex and gel foam hybrid options at a slightly higher price point. If you’re on a tight budget and want a hybrid mattress, Linenspa mattresses should be part of your research.