At Slumberland, we work with many couples who come into our showroom frustrated because it’s so difficult to find a mattress they can agree on. Most couples have different body types as well as different softness preferences and sleeping positions. We hear things like, “I like a bed firm, but my husband likes a soft mattress” or “The bed sinks as soon as he climbs in” and “I’m a side sleeper but she’s a back sleeper.” And that’s not to mention snoring.
To complicate matters, one party may have a medical condition, such as sciatica or fibromyalgia, which affects how they’ll sleep at night or what they need from their bed to be comfortable.
The good news is that there are mattresses available that work really well for couples — even when your other half has vastly different needs than you do.
In this post, we share our go-to recommendation for the best mattress for couples — the Tempur-Pedic ProAdapt®. We explain why couples love sleeping on it, which goes into what makes Tempur-Pedic unique in the mattress industry. Then we cover some commonly asked questions that we get in our showroom, such as “What is the ideal bed size for couples?” and “Which type of mattress is better for partners?”
A quick note: At Slumberland, we reinvented how couples can shop for mattresses. By using a universal rating system, couples can easily compare key features like pressure relief, back support, and feel across all different brands and mattress types. This makes it easier to find the right mattress for both of you. You can learn more by reading our guide on how to shop for mattresses or by visiting a Slumberland location.
The Best Mattress for Couples — Tempur-Pedic ProAdapt® Medium
All other factors being equal, our staff of sleep experts would start a couple on the Tempur-Pedic ProAdapt® Medium. If the medium isn’t the right choice for you, there are several other Tempur-Pedic ProAdapt options to consider (such as going softer, firmer, or even picking a hybrid mattress version of the ProAdapt Medium).
But what makes the entire Tempur-Pedic mattress line-up so good for couples is that its advanced TEMPUR® – foam cradles each person individually. Because TEMPUR® foam is dense and supportive it promotes motion isolation (so when your partner gets in and out of bed you’re not likely to feel it). Plus, TEMPUR® foam is a very high quality memory foam that’s built to last — every Tempur-Pedic mattress comes with a 10-year mattress warranty but plenty of our customers report keeping their bed for much longer.
Below, let’s look at what makes the Tempur-Pedic ProAdapt® Medium our go-to-pick for couples.
- The ProAdapt series comes with Tempur-Pedic’s dual cover system. This means you can actually unzip the cover and wash it at home if you’d like. This helps keep the mattress feeling fresh and clean, something both parties can always agree on.
- Beneath the cover is Tempur-Pedic’s original TEMPUR® Comfort layer. Tempur-Pedic’s advanced TEMPUR® foam responds to your body in a way no other mattress does. This is because TEMPUR® reacts to your natural body heat, as well as your weight and shape. This helps both you and your partner get the comfort you need from your mattress.
- Then there’s a layer of TEMPUR-APR™. APR stands for advanced pressure relief. This layer of foam has the right density to support you and your partner.
When you lie on a Tempur-Pedic, you’re getting a unique and custom feel that’s based on your body type. it’s a bit like getting multiple mattresses in one — that’s how adaptable TEMPUR® foam is. This also means that as your body and needs change (such as gaining or losing weight), your Tempur-Pedic mattress will adapt to you.
Best Mattress for Couples who Sleep Hot — TEMPUR-LuxeBreeze®
Sometimes couples can agree on at least one thing— that they both hate sleeping hot at night.
We take these couples over to the Tempur-Pedic Breeze collection. There are two different types of Breeze mattresses, the ProBreeze® and the LuxeBreeze®. The ProBreeze® can help you feel up to 3 degrees cooler, while the LuxeBreeze® can make you feel up to 8 degrees cooler.
We like to start our customers on the LuxeBreeze® because it’s our pick for the best cooling mattress on the market. The Tempur-Pedic LuxeBreeze® is available in a soft or firm mattress.
A quick clarification here about mattress firmness levels: Tempur-Pedic mattresses adapt to you. It supports you the same whether you choose a soft, firm, or medium mattress. The firmness level just describes the overall feel of the mattress. A soft mattress will have more “give” in it, where you get on the mattress and feel it adapt to you immediately. A firmer Tempur-Pedic will adapt to you more slowly.
Both Breeze models use PureCool+ technology. This is Tempur-Pedic’s phase changing material (PCMs). Phase change material is temperature sensitive — if it encounters heat, it responds by cooling you down. When you put your palm on a layer of PCMs, you can feel it working immediately — it’s like a cool refreshing sensation comes over your hand.
Both Breeze models also use a highly breathable layer of foam called TEMPUR-CM+ material. CM stands for climate management. By putting this extra breathable layer of foam as the first layer of foam Tempur-Pedic is promoting airflow. When air can flow freely through a layer of foam, heat doesn’t get trapped, creating a cool sleeping environment.
Beneath the TEMPUR-CM+ layer — and exclusive to the LuxeBreeze model — Tempur-Pedic uses a layer of ventilated foam. By ventilating the foam with air holes, Tempur-Pedic has created a breathable mattress from the cover to its core, which is why it can feel up to 8 degrees cooler when you sleep.
The Complete Tempur-Pedic Collection
As we said, in our showroom we like to start couples on the Tempur-Pedic ProAdapt™ but based on how they respond to the mattress, we may recommend a different Tempur-Pedic altogether.
Here’s a brief look at what Tempur-Pedic offers.
- TEMPUR-Adapt® –This entry level Tempur-Pedic line uses an extra soft comfort layer and Tempur-Pedic’s original pressure-relieving TEMPUR® support layer to provide comfort and support. Plus, like all other Tempur-Pedic mattresses, it has a cool-to-touch cover to help you and your partner stay cool.
- TEMPUR-ProAdapt® – Features Tempur-Pedic’s dual cover system (a zip-off cover that is machine washable), along with an extra soft comfort layer and advanced pressure-relieving support layer.
- TEMPUR-LuxeAdapt® – The LuxeAdapt® is like the ProAdapt® but uses a tighter cell structure in its support layer. This makes it even more conforming and cushioning.
- TEMPUR-ProBreeze® – The ProBreeze uses phase change material (PCMs) to keep you cool. Combined with a very breathable layer of TEMPUR® foam, the ProBreeze can help you and your partner feel up to 3 degrees cooler.
- TEMPUR-LuxeBreeze® – The LuxeBreeze does what the ProBreeze does but adds a ventilated version of Tempur-Pedic’s advanced pressure-relieving foam. This helps the LuxeBreeze feel up to 8 degrees cooler.
To get a customized recommendation, visit a Slumberland showroom today.
Commonly Asked Questions by Slumberland Customers
What is the Ideal Bed Size for a Couple?
There are three ideal bed sizes for a couple:
A couple can fit on a full size mattress, but it’s relatively small at 53” x 75”. If you divide that in half, it means each partner is getting only 26.5 inches of sleeping space, which is a foot and half narrower than even a twin size bed. Plus, a full size is only 6 feet and a quarter long, which means the average adult is at risk for having their feet hang off the ends of the bed.
So when most couples get a mattress, they get a queen size bed or bigger.
A queen size mattress is 60” X 80”, which means you get room both height-wise and width-wise. When you upgrade to a king size bed, you have the same length, but you’re gaining sixteen inches in width. This gives you plenty of room.
Sometimes couples think a California king size bed is the “biggest bed size” available, but that isn’t true. A California king is a simply 4 inches longer, but also 4 inches narrower than a standard king size. So it depends on where you need more room. If you need more length (as in you’re significantly taller than six feet) or if your bedroom is made for a more narrow bed, then a California king is a good option.
Can You Get a Mattress with Two Different Firmnesses?
Couples sometimes come into Slumberland distressed because one of them wants a firm mattress and one prefers a soft mattress. Often this difference can be solved by finding a mattress that’s supportive for both parties. But sometimes a couple just needs a different firmness (such as one partner sleeps on their side and another sleeps on their back and has bad back pain).
In this case, you can get a split king mattress. A split king is two twin extra long mattresses that can sit side by side on the same mattress foundation or adjustable bed frame. If you get a split king, one person can have a firm mattress and one can have a soft mattress.
But there are some drawbacks to consider. With a split king there will be a small (usually half an inch to an inch) gap between the two mattresses. This may not be a big deal for some, but it could also be a dealbreaker, especially for couples who prefer to sleep in the middle of the bed.
Which Type of Mattress is Best for Couples?
There are three main types of mattresses:
- Foam mattresses — This includes memory foam, latex foam, and poly-foam.
- Innerspring coil mattresses — This is what most people think of when they think of a mattress.
- Hybrid mattresses — This is when a bed uses both foam and coils, roughly at a 50/50 split.
At Slumberland we make it easy to find out which type you prefer. At the front of every Sleep Solutions department, you can do a Rest Match. This is where you try three different mattresses, one for each type (memory foam, innerspring, and hybrids). Once you know which type you prefer, you can easily shop our selection of mattresses. That’s just one of the ways we make mattress shopping easier — to learn about the others, you can read our guide on shopping for a new mattress.
And while nothing beats trying the mattress in person, below we look at general types for couples picking a mattress type.
The best mattress type for couples will generally be a memory foam mattress or a hybrid mattress that uses layers of memory foam for comfort and support. This is because memory foam is contouring and can adapt to each person’s individual needs.
However, if a couple has similar preferences and needs, then they can consider a latex mattress, which will be bouncier than a memory foam bed or a coil mattress.
But if you’re considering a coil mattress, make sure you get one with individually wrapped coils. By individually wrapping coils, you cut down on motion transfer. That means if your partner moves throughout the night, you’re less likely to feel it.
Still — even with individually wrapped pocketed coils — innerspring mattresses are the worst mattress type for stopping motion transfer between partners.
Finding the Best Mattress for Couples at Slumberland
Customers often get frustrated shopping for a new mattress, and overwhelmed by the sheer number of options. It doesn’t help that most of the time, two people won’t have the same needs from their mattress.
These complications are what make Tempur-Pedic the best mattress for couples. TEMPUR® foam is designed to reduce the pressure you and your partner feel on your pressure points by adapting to each of your bodies individually.
There are 5 main types of Tempur-Pedic mattresses and each of them are designed for a different level of comfort and cooling. Between those 5 types, you and your partner will find a mattress that works for both of you, especially when you visit a Slumberland showroom for a personalized sleep solution for you and your partner.
