Best Mattress for Athletes of 2025

If you’re physically active, a good night’s rest is an especially important part of your recovery routine. Whether you run, bike, swim, or lift weights, a mattress that reduces pressure in your most sensitive areas and helps your body recover overnight can be an invaluable investment. And if your bed does not share these qualities, you might wake up feeling stiffer and more strained than before you turned off the light.

Why Sleep Is Important for Physical Activity

For athletes and physically active individuals, quality sleep is just as important as training and nutrition when it comes to performance. 

Lack of proper rest can lead to slower reaction times, decreased endurance, and a higher risk of injury, making it harder to perform at your best. A supportive, pressure-relieving mattress can improve sleep quality by promoting muscle recovery, reducing joint strain, and ensuring proper spinal alignment, so you wake up feeling refreshed and ready to take on your next challenge.

How to Choose a Mattress for Athletes

Some mattresses are designed specifically with athletes and other physically active people in mind. They are constructed with pressure-relieving comfort layers, support materials that won’t sag too much, and innovative covers engineered to alleviate aches and pains even after your toughest days at the gym.

As you shop for a new mattress, you’ll undoubtedly notice plenty of marketing hyperbole, such as “universal comfort,” “forever lifespan,” or “the perfect bed.” Ignore this jargon. You should select a new mattress based on your personal preferences and needs as a physically active person. The factors below should be your most important considerations.

Firmness Level

Firmness is measured on a 1-10 scale, with 1 being the softest and 10 the firmest. Softer mattresses usually conform more closely, so if you experience frequent pressure points or you sleep on your side and want better spinal alignment, a bed with a 3 to 5 rating will probably be most comfortable. Lighter people also tend to prefer softer beds. 

Firmer mattresses do not contour as much, but they keep sleepers on an even plane using high-density foam, coils, and other supportive materials. This makes them well-suited for heavier people who sink too much on softer beds, especially back and stomach sleepers who need extra reinforcement.

If your firmness preferences fluctuate, then a mattress with adjustable firmness might be the way to go. Many couples also have different preferences, and in these cases, we recommend a mattress with dual-firmness. This allows you and your partner to enjoy your preferred balance of comfort and support.

Pressure Relief and Contouring

Some people want a deep body cradle while others like to sleep on a flush, even surface that barely sinks. If you’re unsure which contouring level is best for you, online sleep trials can also help you narrow down your ideal setting.

If you experience pressure points due to physical activity or other reasons, you should seek out mattresses that conform closely enough to your body without sinking, sagging, or losing support. Consider your body type and sleep position, as well.

Temperature Regulation

A mattress with good breathability and moisture-wicking properties prevents overheating. Hybrids have good airflow because of their coil systems, and latex promotes breathability by not conforming too closely.

Temperature regulation ensures that the body can maintain a balanced temperature, promoting deeper, more restful sleep, which is essential for muscle repair, reducing inflammation, and boosting overall energy levels.

Thickness

Mattress thickness affects support and ease of getting on and off the bed. Athletes’ needs vary, but body type and sleep position are key factors for choosing the right mattress. Low-profile mattresses (under 10 inches) may not be supportive enough for heavier people, while high-profile ones (over 12 inches) tend to be softer and easier to get on and off. Medium-profile mattresses (10-12 inches) offer a balance of comfort and support.

Our recommendation: Test out a few different mattress profiles either in a brick-and-mortar store or using online mattress brand sleep trials. These experiences can help you decide which profile range will be most suitable for your needs and active lifestyle.

Price

While high-end mattresses often come with advanced cooling, pressure relief, and zoned support, budget-friendly options can still provide the essential features needed for quality rest. 

Look for the best value rather than just the lowest price, prioritizing materials and construction that enhance muscle recovery, improve spinal alignment, and regulate temperature. A mattress is an investment in long-term health and performance, so finding a balance between affordability and quality ensures better sleep without unnecessary spending.

Quality of Materials

Mattress materials are linked to durability. High-density foam, organic latex, thick coils, and other components will probably last longer than materials of lesser quality. Materials also impact breathability, pressure relief, edge support, and other performance factors.

Edge Support

A mattress with reinforced edges provides a stable sleep surface, preventing excessive sinkage when sitting or lying near the perimeter. This is especially beneficial for larger or more muscular individuals, as it maximizes usable space and ensures better support when getting in and out of bed. Additionally, good edge support enhances durability, ensuring the mattress maintains its shape and structure over time.

Ease of Movement

A bed that allows for smooth position changes prevents sleepers from feeling “stuck,” which is especially important for those with sore muscles or joint stiffness. Responsive materials, such as latex or hybrid designs with pocketed coils, provide a balance of contouring and support without excessive sinkage, making it easier to shift positions or get out of bed after an intense workout. Choosing a mattress that promotes easy movement helps athletes avoid discomfort and maintain undisturbed, high-quality sleep for optimal recovery.

What Type of Mattress Is Best for Athletes?

Mattresses can use a wide array of materials, but most models can be classified as one of the five main types. Individual mattress models may have some variations, but most mattresses in the same category share some similar traits.

Hybrid

Definition: Hybrid mattresses combine a coil core with a comfort system that may contain memory foam, polyfoam, latex, microcoils, wool, or a combination of materials. This design aims to fuse the benefits of multiple types of mattresses without as many potential drawbacks.

Highlight: Balanced Pressure Relief and Temperature Regulation. Hybrid models are typically a good fit for athletes because they strike a balance between cushioning and support. They usually have thick comfort layers that can help relieve aches and pains while their coils provide good pushback.Their coil cores also allow good airflow.

Foam

Definition: Memory foam and polyfoam are the most common materials used in all-foam models. Most use memory foam in their comfort systems, though models can be constructed entirely of polyfoam for a firmer, springy feel.

Highlight: Pressure-Relieving Hug. Foam mattresses, especially those that use memory foam, are known for their hug. This close contouring can help redistribute the sleeper’s weight to ward off pressure buildup, so foam mattresses can be a good fit for athletes with sore muscles.

Innerspring

Definition: Innerspring models are a more traditional design made primarily of springs. While the bulk of an innerspring is its coil core, some also contain thin comfort layers. Since they have been on the market for a long time, innersprings also tend to be more affordable.

Highlight: Breathability. Air flows through coil systems, so innerspring models tend to be quite breathable. Innerspring models don’t conform closely and have a traditional, bouncy feel that some sleepers prefer. That said, if you tend to experience pressure points, an innerspring may not provide enough cushioning for you.

Latex

Definition: Latex foam is made using the sap of rubber trees, and there are also synthetic and blended versions. There are two main types depending on how the latex is processed. Talalay latex has a bouncier feel and is generally more breathable, making it a popular choice for comfort layers. Dunlop latex is usually denser and more durable. It may be used in a comfort layer or support core.

Highlight: Contouring Without Much Sinking. Latex tends to compress over a wider area when weight is applied. It usually contours enough for good pressure relief, but it doesn’t allow as much sinking as all-foam models. Many sleepers liken this to a floating sensation.

Airbed

Definition: Airbeds get their name from the air chambers that serve as their support system. A crank, app, or remote is used to fill and empty the chambers to change the bed’s firmness level. Some airbeds also contain thin comfort layers for extra cushioning on the surface of the bed.

Highlight: Adjustability. The chambers of an airbed are usually easy to fill or empty, and doing so adjusts the firmness of the bed. The flexibility of airbeds can be helpful for athletes whose firmness preferences might change depending on their training regimen. Many airbeds use separate air chambers on either side of the bed, so they’re also a good fit for couples with different firmness preferences.

How Athletes Can Get Better Sleep

If you’re a physically active person, there are many ways to optimize your sleeping environment apart from choosing the right mattress. These include maintaining a comfortable sleep temperature and reducing your exposure to outside noise. You can also invest in additional products to enhance your sleep experience.

Pillows

Pillow selection is, arguably, just as important as mattress selection. The right pillow provides enhanced support to your head, neck, and shoulders, and also supports the spine. The wrong pillow can have the opposite effect, leading to added aches and pains, as well as spinal misalignment.

The best pillow will offer enough cushioning to fill the gaps between your head and shoulders. Pillows fall into three general loft, or thickness, categories: 

• Low loft: less than 3 inches
• Medium loft: 3 to 5 inches
• High loft: more than 5 inches 

When choosing a pillow loft, be sure to consider your bed’s firmness level. A softer bed will conform more closely, causing you to sink beneath the surface, so a low-loft pillow might provide sufficient padding. For a firm mattress that contours very little, a high-loft pillow to fill the extra space may be the best option.

The best pillow loft also depends on your sleep position. While preferences vary by person, the table below lists optimal loft for most people based on how they sleep.

Sleeping Position	Recommended Pillow Loft
Back	Medium
Side	Medium to high
Stomach	Low

Also, be sure to consider pillow fill and density. Fill refers to the materials inside the pillow, and density refers to how heavy these materials are. Some fills have a higher density and will not compress as easily, creating a more stable and supportive surface for your head. Less dense materials will sink and conform closely, and may not provide enough neck support – especially if you are a physically active person dealing with neck or shoulder discomfort.

Mattress Toppers

A mattress topper is a layer of cushioning that rests on top of the bed’s surface. Toppers are designed to change the firmness of a sleep surface. Most toppers make the surface feel softer, but some can add a firmer feel. For this reason, toppers are widely used for pull-out beds, RVs, and other sleeping areas where the mattresses are less than ideal.

A topper may also be helpful if you are dissatisfied with the firmness of your mattress, but can’t return or exchange it because your sleep trial has expired. Many mattresses adopt a different feel over time, and those with thick foam layers may lose shape as the material begins to deteriorate. Most toppers measure 2 to 5 inches thick, so using one is basically equivalent to adding a fresh comfort layer to your mattress. Toppers are also generally inexpensive, especially compared to buying a new bed.

Toppers tend to have shorter lifespans, so using one is, in all likelihood, a short-term solution to a permanent mattress problem. However, these layers may provide more comfort and pressure relief than your bed’s comfort layer, especially if you are physically active and want your sleep surface to promote physical recovery.

Sleep Hygiene

Healthy sleep habits are important for everyone, but athletes requiring recovery may find them especially advantageous. Try the following tips to help improve your sleep quality.

• Stick to a consistent sleep schedule with regular sleep and wake times.
• Make sure your room is dark and quiet, and use a sleep mask and/or earplugs if needed.
• Avoid caffeine late in the day.
• Don’t exercise vigorously within one hour of bedtime.
• Cut out alcohol and avoid heavy meals too close to bedtime.
• Wind down before bed with a relaxing routine like journaling, yoga, or reading.
• Get plenty of sunlight, especially first thing in the morning

How We Test: Your Comfort Is Our Science

Our industry-leading product testing team cares deeply about improving your sleep. Having a holistic understanding of a mattress’s role as part of a sleep system is paramount to our testing process. Since a bed’s comfort and feel depend largely on body weight and sleeping position, our testing team represents a wide range of body types, sleep positions, and comfort preferences.

In our Seattle-based Test Lab, we use an objective, hands-on process to evaluate mattresses across performance categories. The following are the key guidelines that inform our performance ratings. Our ultimate goal is to ensure you have all the information you need to make the best purchase decision for you.

How We Determine Our Overall Scores

To determine a mattress’s overall score, we assign weighted percentages to performance categories based on how important they are to the individual sleep experience. For instance, areas like pressure relief and temperature control tend to matter more to people than something like off-gassing, and because more people sleep on their side and back than on their stomach, we weigh those positions more heavily.

Dive Deeper – Mattress Guides by Sleeper Type

If you’re not certain any of these choices are the right one for your needs, you can read through our recommendations categorized by sleep styles.