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Waterbed Reviews & Ratings → Based on Data From 259 Actual Owners
Page last updated May 25, 2010
What You Need To Know
Waterbeds as a group have a comfort rating comparable to memory foam, latex and air mattresses, but better than innerspring beds.
Waterbeds have three times more disadvantages than advantages, according to owners.
There appears to be no difference in satisfaction between hard-sided and soft-sided models.
See how waterbeds compare to other types of beds in our detailed mattress comparison.
About Our Research
Sleep Like The Dead gathered reviews and comments on waterbeds from 259 actual owners. The sources of this data were dozens of online message boards. For more information about our research methodology and why it is highly credible, click here. Read more mattress reviews and ratings based on data from over 8,800 actual owners.
More info based on owner experiences
Mattresses and sex comparison
Mattress warranties: what you should know
Buying a mattress online: what you should know
Mattresses and back pain research
Waterbed Ratings Overview
Ratings are based on a sample size of at least 250 owners of various brands. Click on a link in the left column to see how waterbeds compare to other mattress types for that particular issue.
79% |
Waterbeds essentially tie with memory foam, latex and air beds in regard to comfort satisfaction. | |
Fair-Excellent |
Punctures are somewhat common but can be repaired. Overall, longevity is often as good if not better than other mattress types. | |
| Price (queen) | $200-$1800 | Often less expensive than other mattress types. |
Good |
More expensive models may offer more "bang for the buck." | |
Poor |
The heaviest type of bed when full. | |
| Adjustable firmness | Good | Can adjust firmness by adding or removing water. |
Good-Excellent |
Reduced allergies can be a benefit of waterbeds because dust mites can't enter them. | |
Poor-Good |
Wave-reduction models provide better motion isolation than free-flow models. | |
Good |
Off gassing usually not an issue. | |
Good |
Heater regulates bed temperature and can be adjusted to suit owner preference. | |
| Easy to get used to | Fair | Sleeper usually requires a few nights to adjust. |
Poor-Fair |
For the majority of owners, waterbeds are viewed as no better than average on this issue. | |
Fair-Good |
Not a strong advantage, but a significant number of owners report benefits. | |
Fair |
Generally quiet if air is removed from inside. | |
| Warranties | Fair-Good | Most are 10-20 year limited with first few years non-prorated. See mattress warranties: what you should know. |
Excellent |
Never required. |
Comfort
Out of the 259 waterbed owners included in the data, 204 said the bed was comfortable and 55 said it was uncomfortable. In other words, 79% of the owners found the bed to be comfortable and 21% did not.
Comfortable |
199 Owners | ||
Uncomfortable |
52 Owners | ||
For perspective, the percentage of waterbed owners finding their bed comfortable (79%) is higher than the top-selling innerspring mattress brands, similar to airbeds and memory foam mattresses, and latex beds.
Waterbed Positives
This section lists and describes five positives of waterbeds, according to owners. See glossary below for more information.
Durable / Long Life |
32 Owners | ||||
Temperature
control |
31 Owners | ||||
Reduces
pain |
27 Owners | ||||
Dust
mite resistant |
10 Owners | ||||
Adjustable
firmness |
10 Owners | ||||
Glossary
1. Durable / long life
With good maintenance, waterbeds
can last for years and even decades without a loss of comfort. While they are susceptible to punctures, leaks can be repaired without needing to buy a new mattress.
2. Temperature control
The heater makes the bed more comfortable and can be adjusted
to suit one's temperature preference.
3. Reduces pain
The bed alleviates or even eliminates body pain, such as back
pain.
4. Dust mite resistant
A bed that is dust mite resistant is made of materials that
are less likely to attract dust mites. (The shedded skin and
feces of dust mites are recognized to be the main cause for
asthma, hay fever and other allergies.) The vinyl surface of
a waterbed is dust mite resistant, unlike innerspring mattresses.
(Air beds and memory foam beds are also dust mite resistant,
although likely to a lesser degree than waterbeds.)
5. Adjustable firmness
Water can be added or removed which will result in harder or
softer firmness.
Waterbed Negatives
This section lists and describes 15 negatives of waterbeds, according to owners. See glossary below for more information.
Leaked |
25 Owners | ||||||||||||
Causes pain |
21 Owners | ||||||||||||
Maintenance |
17 Owners | ||||||||||||
Difficult
to move / set up |
17 Owners | ||||||||||||
No
motion isolation |
17 Owners | ||||||||||||
Sheets
come off |
14 Owners | ||||||||||||
Heavy |
12 Owners | ||||||||||||
Heater
broke |
12 Owners | ||||||||||||
Difficult
to get up off |
12 Owners | ||||||||||||
Can't
sit up on |
9 Owners | ||||||||||||
Requires
a heater |
8 Owners | ||||||||||||
Cost
of heating |
8 Owners | ||||||||||||
Causes
sea sickness |
7 Owners | ||||||||||||
Not
flat if different weight |
6 Owners | ||||||||||||
Noise |
4 Owners | ||||||||||||
Glossary
1. Leaked
The waterbed was punctured (often by a cat) resulting in water leaking out of the bed.
2. Causes pain
The bed causes back pain or other body pain.
3. Maintenance required
A water conditioner needs to be added occasionally and the water level in the mattress needs to be maintained.
4. Hard to move and set up
Moving the bed is difficult and time consuming since you must drain the bed to move it and then refill it.
5. No motion isolation
The movements of one person are clearly felt by another person on the bed.
6. Sheet come off
Finding sheets that fit properly is difficult, often resulting in sheets that do not fit well.
7. Heavy
A waterbed can weigh as much as 1,000 pounds or more when full with water.
8. Heater breaks
The heater used to keep the water warm broke, and discomfort from being too cold resulted.
9. Can't sit up
Sitting up is uncomfortable because one sinks dramatically toward the bottom or foundation.
10. Hard to get up off
Getting out requires extra effort, especially for the aged, sick, heavy or pregnant.
11. Requires a heater
The water often needs to be heated to ensure a comfortable sleeping surface.
12. Cost of heating
Heating water requires much energy, often resulting in higher electricity costs.
13. Causes sea sickness
The motion of the bed causes sea sickness-like symptoms.
14. Not flat if different weight
Having two people sleep on the bed who have very different weights cause the lighter person to roll toward heavier person.
15. Noise
The water inside the bed can be heard (swishing, sloshing) when the sleeper moves.
Waterbed Mattress Brand Ratings
We do not currently rate individual waterbed brands. This is mainly because most owners in our research did not mention or were unaware of their brand. Also, there is currently no reason to rate the brands since, based on the limited waterbed brand data we have collected from owners, there is little if any difference between brands in terms of comfort, longevity and other factors.
Major waterbed manufacturers / brands include: American National Manufacturing, Strobel Technologies, Boyd Specialty Sleep, Sterling Sleep Systems and Innomax.
All of these companies have a "B-" Better Business Bureau rating except for Sterling and Innomax who have "A" ratings.