Mattress Foam Comparison: Find the Best Type for Your Sleep

When you’re shopping for a new mattress, the mattress foam, the layered material that shapes how your body sinks, supports, and sleeps. Also known as bedding foam, it’s the core reason some mattresses feel huggy and others feel springy. Not all foams are made equal. The type of foam under your sheets can make or break your sleep—especially if you have back pain, sleep hot, or share the bed with a partner who moves a lot.

There are three main types you’ll see: memory foam, a slow-reacting material that molds to your body shape and holds pressure points. Also known as viscoelastic foam, it’s great for side sleepers who need cushioning around hips and shoulders. Then there’s latex foam, a bouncier, more responsive option made from natural rubber or synthetic blends. Also known as natural latex, it’s cooler, more durable, and ideal for people who hate the sinking feeling of memory foam. And don’t forget polyfoam, a budget-friendly, high-density foam that offers basic support but breaks down faster than the others. Also known as polyurethane foam, it’s often used as a base layer in cheaper mattresses or blended with memory foam to cut costs. Each one affects how long the mattress lasts, how much heat it traps, and how well it handles motion transfer.

If you’re torn between a plush feel and solid support, hybrid mattresses mix foam with coils—giving you the contouring of foam and the bounce of springs. But even in hybrids, the foam layer matters most. A thick memory foam top might feel amazing at first but sag over time. A latex top will last longer and stay cooler. Polyfoam? It’s fine for short-term use, but don’t expect it to hold up after a couple of years.

What you need depends on your body, your sleep style, and your budget. If you’re a side sleeper with joint pain, memory foam might be your best bet. If you’re hot-natured or move around a lot at night, go for latex. If you’re on a tight budget and plan to replace your mattress in three years, polyfoam can work—but don’t pretend it’s the same as the others.

Below, you’ll find real comparisons from people who’ve tested these foams side by side—how they held up after six months, which ones woke them up at night, and which ones actually made their back pain better. No fluff. Just what works—and what doesn’t.