During our years of mattress testing, we've perfected a process that focuses on a few key factors: firmness and feel, durability and performance. We rate each bed with the average sleeper in mind.
Firmness and feel
Firmness and feel are the first things we evaluate. They help narrow down the beds that are right for you. Think of firmness as how hard or soft the mattress is. Feel is where we come in handy with mattresses. How does the bed bounce back when we move on it? Does it have the traditional feel of memory foam mattresses or is it more like a living latex foam? The firmness and feel of each bed is noted in our reviews.
Durability
We can judge the durability of a mattress based on what it is made of. Pocket coils help hybrid mattresses last longer than full-foam mattresses because they have more structure. All-foam mattresses are more susceptible to giving. That's why many people decide to spend a little more and get a hybrid mattress.
Edge support
When we say edge support, we're talking about how firm the perimeter of the mattress is. The best hybrid mattresses tend to perform fairly well in this category. While testing, we lay on each edge of the bed to determine how firm it was. There is no good support for the edges if we think we can get away.
Motion isolation
Motion isolation is important for people with a partner who moves around at night. You don't want that movement to wake you up. We jump and bounce on the bed to test how much movement travels through the bed. Additionally, we put a glass of water on the mattress and roll towards it to see if it turns over.
Temperature
Sleeping hot is one of the most common annoyances that people face. We look at the materials and construction of the mattress to assess how warm or cool the bed sleeps. Certain materials like gel memory foam and phase-changing covers can help keep you warm at night.
CNET editors select the products and services we write about based on editorial merit. When you make a purchase through our links, we may receive a commission. Read more at how we test mattresses.