Leesa vs. Saatva Mattress Comparison

Overall Rating

8.0

Leesa Original

Bottom Line

An all-foam design that’s both contouring and responsive.

Check Price on Leesa.com

20% off + 2 free pillows with mattress purchase

Full Mattress Review

VS

Overall Rating

9.4

Saatva Classic

Bottom Line

A luxurious pillow-top mattress with the added perk of free White Glove delivery.

Check Price on Saatva.com

Up to $600 off

Full Mattress Review

Our Testing Team’s Take

Our testing team has created a unique methodology for testing mattresses over the past eight years. We rigorously evaluate each mattress in our Seattle Test Lab using various tools and technologies. These include pressure-mapping bads to determine if pressure points develop when people lie on the bed, heat guns to detect how warm a surface feels, and different weights to measure how well a mattress isolates movement.

In addition to objective tests, we also use subjective tests to help you find the best mattress for you personally. Our testing team members represent  a wide range of body weights and sleep position preferences. When we’ve concluded our in-house tests, we’ll take the mattresses home and try them out for several weeks in our own bedrooms. These hands-on experiences can help shoppers identify if a mattress will align with their unique needs and preferences.

Our Verdict

Because the Leesa Original and the Saatva Classic are different types of mattresses, they have different strengths and weaknesses. Like many foam models, the Leesa Original scores highest in motion isolation and pressure relief. While the Saatva Classic also alleviates pressure well it doesn’t isolate as much motion as the Leesa Original. That said, the Saatva Classic does stand out in terms of off-gassing, edge support, and temperature regulation.

Jeremy Klein

Senior Product Testing Manager

Side sleeper

160 lbs.

Nightly melatonin user

“The Leesa Original feels comfortable right off the bat. When lying on my side, I felt moderate contouring of my shoulders and hips, and I woke up without any aches or pains.”

Some sleepers will prefer one bed over the other because of the way they want their mattress to feel. The Leesa Original gives the body a bit of a “hug,” while the Saatva Classic has more bounce. 

A person’s body weight and sleep position preference may also determine which of these beds they prefer. The Leesa Original works best with side sleepers weighing up to 230 pounds and back sleepers weighing less than 130 pounds. Because the Saatva Classic is available in three firmness options, virtually everyone can find an option that provides the support their body requires.

Brad Nehring

Senior Product Analyst

Side sleeper

215 lbs.

Sleeps with a weighted blanket

“The Saatva Classic is one of the sturdiest mattresses around. I also like how cool it sleeps. There’s hardly any heat retention from the foam layers and the cover is nice and breathable. If there’s one major downside, I’d say it’s motion transfer — the surface is pretty bouncy, and you’ll feel some movement during the night if you sleep with a partner.”

Construction and Materials

The Leesa Original and Saatva Classic do not have much in common when it comes to construction and materials. The Leesa Original is an all-foam bed with a polyester blend cover, while the Saatva Classic is an innerspring mattress that contains some polyfoam and memory foam in the comfort system.

Leesa Original Breakdown

On our firmness scale, the Leesa Original is a 5 out of 10, or a medium. The 10-inch profile allows space for four layers, which include the cover. Leesa states that the Original’s cover has been designed to cool sleepers off, and it is made of 87% polyester and 13% viscose. Polyester is a synthetic fabric, and viscose is a partially synthetic fiber derived from wood pulp.

Underneath the Leesa Original’s cover is a 2-inch comfort layer made of polyfoam. This layer hugs the body a bit and has also been ventilated with holes that allow for airflow. Next, a 2-inch layer of memory foam adds cushioning while also keeping sleepers from sinking all the way down to the support core. The support core measures 6 inches thick and consists of high-density polyfoam that stabilizes the mattress and keeps it firm.

Leesa notes that all of the foams in their mattresses are CertiPUR-US certified, meaning they do not contain formaldehyde, heavy metals, potentially dangerous flame retardants, or certain phthalates. The Leesa Original is also GreenGuard Gold certified, which ensures that it emits a low level of volatile organic compounds (VOCs).

Saatva Classic Breakdown

The Saatva Classic is available in two profile heights and three firmness levels, which the company calls “comfort levels.” These choices rate as soft (3), medium firm (6), and firm (8) on our 10-point firmness scale. The profile options are 11.5 inches and 14.5 inches. 

The Saatva Classic’s cover is made of hypoallergenic organic cotton that has been infused with Guardin, a botanical-based treatment intended to inhibit mildew and bacterial growth. The first comfort layer is polyfoam quilted directly into the cover, which forms a European-style pillow-top and adds softness to the surface. 

Beneath it sits a layer of CertiPUR-US certified memory foam with Lumbar Zone technology designed to keep the spine aligned and relieve pressure. This layer is firmer beneath the lower back area for lumbar support. The transitional layer consists of pocketed microcoils made from recycled steel. These coils contour to the body’s curves and movements to relieve pressure and provide a bit of bounce. High-density foam rails encase the microcoils for edge support.

The support core contains larger innerspring coils made of tempered steel. This layer provides most of the bed’s firmness and promotes airflow for cooling. Innerspring beds tend to sleep cool, largely because of the space around their coils.

Mattress Sizing and Weight

Both the Leesa Original and the Saatva Classic are available in the following sizes: twin, twin XL, full, queen, king, and California king. Additionally, the Saatva Classic comes in split king and split California king. Split size mattresses are two mattresses placed next to each other and used as one bed. These mattresses virtually eliminate motion transfer, making them a good option for couples that share a bed.

The Leesa Original’s 10-inch profile is comparable to the Saatva Classic’s 11.5-inch option. The latter is also available in a 14.5 profile, which requires a deep-pocket fitted sheet. The Saatva Classic weighs nearly 40 pounds more than the Leesa in its thinner profile, but both beds require the strength of two people when being lifted or carried.

Performance Ratings

The Leesa Original and Saatva Classic have different standout features. The Leesa excels at isolating motion because its foam components absorb movement and vibrations. The Saatva Classic scores a bit below average in this area because coils are bouncy and facilitate motion transfer. However, the Saatva Classic is available in split sizes, so couples that are particularly worried about feeling each other’s movements may still find peace on this bed.

The Saatva Classic has stronger edge support than the Leesa Original due to its two coil layers, as well as a high-density foam perimeter. Edge support can help sleepers use the full surface of the bed and feel more secure when sitting or lying along the perimeter. 

The Saatva Classic also performs better than the Leesa Original when it comes to temperature regulation. Airflow through its coil layers helped the Saatva receive a near-perfect score on this measure. Hot sleepers will be grateful. That said, the Leesa Original does a decent job of dispersing heat for a foam mattress.

A person’s body weight and sleep position preference may greatly impact which of these beds works best for them personally. The Leesa Original scored well among side sleepers weighing less than 230 pounds and back sleepers weighing less than 130 pounds. Stomach sleepers and people over 230 pounds didn’t find the bed quite as comfortable. Virtually all sleepers could find comfort on the Saatva Classic, but body weight and sleep position preference determine which firmness level and profile is best for them.

These two mattresses have very different feels. The Leesa Original conforms to the body, giving the sleeper a “hug.” In contrast, the Saatva Classic is bouncier, and sleepers feel like they are sleeping “on,” rather than “in,” the mattress. While neither design is superior to the other, most people have a preference in terms of which they find more comfortable.

Full Reviews: Other Leesa and Saatva Models

Leesa Original

Overall Rating:

8.0 /10

Price Range:

$659 – $1,229

Mattress Type:

Foam

Firmness Options:

Medium (5)

Leesa Original Hybrid

Overall Rating:

8.5 /10

Price Range:

$839 – $1,439

Mattress Type:

Hybrid

Firmness Options:

Medium Firm (6)

Leesa Sapira Hybrid

Overall Rating:

8.9 /10

Price Range:

$1,349 – $2,299

Mattress Type:

Hybrid

Firmness Options:

Medium Firm (6)

Saatva Classic

Overall Rating:

9.4 /10

Price Range:

$1,195 – $2,690

Mattress Type:

Innerspring

Firmness Options:

Soft (3), Medium Firm (6), Firm (8)

Saatva Latex Hybrid

Overall Rating:

8.8 /10

Price Range:

$1,395 – $3,040

Mattress Type:

Latex Hybrid

Firmness Options:

Medium Firm (6)

Saatva Rx

Overall Rating:

8.7 /10

Price Range:

$1,696 – $3,732

Mattress Type:

Hybrid

Firmness Options:

Medium Soft (4)

Mattress Pricing

The Saatva Classic costs more than double the price of the Leesa Original. It is an innerspring mattress with a microcoil layer and the steel alloy used to make innersprings and microcoils costs much more to manufacture than foam, which is a synthetic material that isn’t as expensive to produce. 

Differences in policies also help account for the price difference between the Saatva Classic and Leesa Original. Saatva offers a 365-night sleep trial, compared to Leesa’s 100-night sleep trial.  Saatva also offers White Glove Delivery for free, while Leesa charges an extra fee for this service.

What Customers Are Saying

Customers rave about both the Leesa Original and Saatva Classic online. The Leesa Original generally receives praise for providing comfort and easing pressure points. Customers also often point out that it’s easy to set up and provides good value for its cost.

The Saatva Classic is often described as a luxury mattress by customers, and those who have purchased it report being very happy with their decision. Many describe feeling unsure about the cost at first, then realizing it was the best mattress they’d ever owned after having it for a while. Customers who have owned the Saatva Classic for several years and had to use the warranty report that Saatva makes the process easy and has top-notch customer service.

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