Mattress Types and Sex Suitability: Ratings and Comparisons You Can Actually Trust – 2018
No commission • No endorsements • Based on owner experiences • Since 2008 • More
Based on data gathered from over 640 actual mattress owners, the different mattress types are rated and compared in regard to their suitability for sex.
The findings show what is often but not always true. A particular brand, model, individual
mattress or individual person's experience may differ from these findings.
Mattress Type Sex Comparison
| Inner Spring | Memory foam | Hybrid | Foam | Air | Latex | |
| Easy to move on | A- | d | C- | B- | B | C+ |
| Bouncy | A- | D- | C- | C+ | c+ | B |
| Comfortable | D+ | B- | A- | B | C+ | B+ |
| No Bottoming Out | B- | B- | A- | C- | C- | B- |
| Allows discretion | C- | A | B | B- | d+ | B+ |
| Durable | D+ | A- | C+ | B+ | d+ | A- |
| position Variety | B- | C- | A- | C+ | c | B- |
| Whole bed suitable | C+ | C- | B+ | C- | D+ | B- |
| Allows fast climax | B- | b | B- | C+ | c | B- |
| fluid, Stain cleanup | D | D | D | D | B | C |
| Overall Rating* | B- | C- | B- | C+ | C | B |
* Determined by averaging the above ratings.
GLOSSARY
Easy to move on
The mattress is easy to move around on and sex can be performed with minimal effort. Ease of movement tends to be prevented by dense mattresses that are highly pressure sensitive and conforming or that don't always have or maintain a flat, level surface.
Bouncy
The mattress has a bouncing effect – as opposed to being motion absorbing. Most people say that a mattress bounce can help them get into a rhythm for many sexual positions and thus increase enjoyment.
Comfortable
The mattress puts minimal pressure on knees, elbows, hands, buttocks, etc. and does not restrict movement resulting in strained muscles.
No Bottoming Out
The mattress is thick and / or dense enough to provide adequate cushion through the full range of sexual motion – especially motion from a position, such as sitting, that uses a relatively small surface area of the mattress.
Allows discretion
Sex can take place on the mattress with no one in the next room being aware because the mattress is energy absorbing, heavy and silent.
Durable
The mattress can withstand repeated and passionate use without breaking or coming apart in some way.
Position Variety
The mattress is well suited for many sexual positions. Those mattresses that are supportive from edge to edge, easy to move on, have adequate height, and keep pressure points minimized tend to allow for the greatest position variety.
Whole bed suitable
The entire top surface of the mattress is sex friendly. In other words, the entire surface is and remains flat, level, supportive, comfortable and easy to move on. A partition or gap in the middle of the mattress, mattress sagging, hard sides, or lack of edge support can limit the area that is suitable for sex.
Allows fast Climax
The mattress provides "traction," namely a sinking-in, molding-to-the-body effect, which allows for more efficiency of movement and potentially faster and easier climax.
Fluid, Stain Cleanup
Fluid penetration, staining or soiling of the mattress can be effectively dealt with either through replacement or flipping of the top comfort layer or through manual cleaning.
INNERSPRING MATTRESSES
Innerspring mattresses use innerspring coils to provide support. 70% of innerspring mattress owners who commented on the subject say their mattress is average or better for sex. The remaining 30% believe it to be poor or below average.
TOP ADVANTAGES of sex on an Innerspring mattress
1. BOUNCE. Nearly all innerspring mattresses have at least some bounce. This can help partners get into a rhythm which can increase enjoyment.
2. EASY TO MOVE ON. Innerspring beds are often easy to move and change positions on unless they have a thick, dense pillow top / foam comfort layer or have significantly sagged.
3. POSITION VARIETY. Innerspring beds are often suited for a variety of positions given that they tend to have at least average edge support and that the entire surface is often usable.
TOP DISADVANTAGES of sex on an Innerspring mattress
1. LACKS DISCRETION. Innerspring mattresses, especially cheaper models, may not be as solid, stable, silent or energy absorbing as other bed types. Consequently, it is possible that sex may be heard by others in a nearby room.
2. LACKS COMFORT. Some innerspring mattresses, especially firmer models or those with comfort layers that have become compressed, can lack pressure-relieving ability. This may result in an inability to comfortably hold a certain sexual position for an extended time.
3. LACKS DURABILITY. Innerspring mattresses are more likely than most other mattress types to develop problems with use and wear, such as collapsed or protruding springs and a compressed comfort layer.
4. DIFFICULT CLEANUP. If no mattress protector is used, fluids or soiling may penetrate the mattress. Cleaning and removing such problems may be difficult. Such problems may also void the warranty.
MEMORY FOAM MATTRESSES
Memory foam mattresses consist of memory foam over support / base foam. About 61% of memory foam mattress owners who commented on the subject report their mattress to be average or better for sex. The remaining 39% believe it to be poor or below average. It is important to note that low- and medium-density memory foam mattresses tend to be viewed as somewhat more suitable for sex than high-density memory foam mattresses, such as certain Tempur-Pedic models. (What is memory foam density?)
Some memory foam bed owners love their bed for
sex but hate it for sleep, and vice versa. In addition, it seems that people who are willing to adjust their sexual
practices to suit the bed, as opposed to fighting it, are
more happy with its suitability for sex.
TOP ADVANTAGES of sex on a memory foam mattress
1. DISCREET. Because memory foam mattresses are often motion absorbing, solid and heavy, they tend to be stable and silent during sex. This may allow sex to take place with no one in the next room being aware of it.
2. COMFORTABLE. The mattresses tend to have adequate cushion so that knees, butt, elbows, hands, etc. don't get uncomfortable from pressure.
3. FASTER CLIMAX. The conforming properties and minimal bounce of memory foam may allow for more efficiency of movement, resulting in faster and easier climax for some.
TOP DISADVANTAGES of sex on a memory foam mattress
1. LITTLE OR NO BOUNCE. Because a memory foam mattress is motion absorbing, it has – depending on its materials and construction – little to no bounce. Some owners say that limited bounce makes it difficult to get into a rhythm and can cause sex to seem awkward.
2. DIFFICULTY OF MOVEMENT. Some owners say that the foam's conforming properties can make moving on the mattress somewhat difficult thereby discouraging partners from changing positions easily and often. A person may also tire and exert themselves more quickly. It should be noted that lower-density memory foam mattresses tend to be easier to move on than higher-density varieties.
3. LACK OF EDGE SUPPORT. Many memory foam mattresses, especially lower-priced ones, lack edge support. This means that having sex near an edge, especially for larger people, may result in one or both persons sliding or rolling off the bed.
4. DIFFICULT CLEANUP. If no mattress protector is used, fluids or soiling may penetrate the mattress. Cleaning and removing such problems may be difficult. Such problems may also void the warranty.
HYBRID MATTRESSES
Hybrid mattresses most often consist of memory foam over innerspring coils. About 74% of hybrid mattress owners who commented on the subject report their mattress to be average or better for sex. The remaining 26% believe it to be poor or below average.
TOP ADVANTAGES of sex on a Hybrid mattress
1. COMFORTABLE. The mattresses often have enough cushion and pressure relief from their memory foam content to ensure that knees, butt, elbows, hands, etc. are comfortable.
2. POSITION VARIETY. Hybrid mattresses tend to allow for good position variety given that they are supportive from edge to edge, usually not overly difficult to move on, and keep pressure points minimized.
3. DISCREET. Because hybrids are often heavy, they tend to be stable and silent. This may allow sex to take place with no one in the next room being aware of it.
TOP DISADVANTAGES of sex on a Hybrid mattress
1. LIMITED BOUNCE. While hybrids provide more bounce than memory foam mattresses, they still may not provide the degree of bounce preferred by some.
2. DIFFICULTY OF MOVEMENT. While not a major disadvantage for most owners, the memory foam's conforming properties can make moving on the mattress somewhat difficult thereby discouraging partners from changing positions easily and often. A person may also tire and exert themselves more quickly.
3. DIFFICULT CLEANUP. If no mattress protector is used, fluids or soiling may penetrate the mattress. Cleaning and removing such problems may be difficult. Such problems may also void the warranty.
FOAM MATTRESSES
Foam mattresses consist mostly or entirely of regular foam. About 70% of owners who commented on the subject report their mattress to be average or better for sex. The remaining 30% believe it to be poor or below average.
TOP ADVANTAGES of sex on a Foam mattress
1. DURABILITY. Foam mattresses overall tend to have better-than-average durability allowing them to withstand repeated and passionate use.
2. COMFORTABLE. Foam mattresses often provide enough cushion and pressure relief to keep knees, butt, elbows, and hands comfortable. This allows a person to stay in certain positions longer without fatigue or discomfort.
3. EASE OF MOVEMENT. Foam mattresses tend to not be difficult to move on.
TOP DISADVANTAGES of sex on a Foam mattress
1. WHOLE BED NOT SUITABLE. Due to foam mattresses often not having strong or even average support near the edges of the bed, the whole surface may not be adequately supportive for sex.
2. LIMITED BOUNCE. While not a major disadvantage for most owners, foam mattresses have only limited bounce or springiness.
3. MAY BOTTOM OUT. Foam mattresses are usually one inch thinner than the average mattress. This can cause, especially for heavier people, the mattress to lack adequate cushion through the full range of sexual motion – especially motion from a position, such as sitting, that uses a relatively small surface area of the mattress.
AIRBEDS
Airbeds use air chambers to provide support. About 65% of airbed owners who commented on the subject report their mattress to be average or better for sex. The remaining 35% believe it to be poor or below average. (The clear majority of owners who commented on the subject are Sleep Number bed owners.)
TOP ADVANTAGES of sex on an airbed
1. SUPPORTIVE. With proper adjustment, airbeds can offer a high degree of support which can make it easy to move on the beds and change positions.
2. COMFORTABLE. The beds often to an above-average extent provide enough cushion so that knees, butt, elbows, hands, etc. don't get uncomfortable from pressure. This may allow a person to stay in certain positions longer without fatigue or discomfort.
3. CLEANUP. In the case of fluid penetration, staining or soiling, the top comfort layer can often be removed. This allows for it to be thoroughly cleaned, replaced or flipped. Also, fluids and soiling cannot penetrate the air chambers.
TOP DISADVANTAGES of sex on an airbed
1. WHOLE BED MAY NOT BE SUITABLE. Airbed owners, especially Sleep Number Bed owners, say the beds have a partition, trench or intrusion in the middle where the two air chambers meet. This, they say, makes it difficult and uncomfortable to be in the middle of the bed and causes them to have sex on one side or the other which may not leave enough room. (The middle problem can often be minimized by having both sides of the bed set with a high firmness level.) Other owners, while not directly mentioning sex, say that the middle does not allow them to spoon or cuddle with their partner comfortably.
2. LACKS DISCRETION. Airbeds are often relatively lightweight, and can lack the solidity, stability and motion absorption of other mattress types. Consequently, it may be possible for sex to be heard by others in a nearby room.
3. LACKS DURABILITY. Unlike most other mattress types, airbeds are not fully integrated in that they can be disassembled into separate, individual components. As a result, with use and wear the components may need occasional adjustment and reintegration.
LATEX MATTRESSES
Latex mattresses consist of latex from top to bottom. About 72% of latex mattress owners who commented on the subject report their mattress to be average or better for sex. The remaining 28% believe it to be poor or below average.
TOP ADVANTAGES of sex on a latex mattress
1. DISCREET. Because latex mattresses tend to have above average solidity and weight, they are usually stable and silent during sex. This may allow sex to take place with no one in the next room being aware.
2. COMFORTABLE. Latex mattresses often provide enough cushion and pressure relief to keep knees, butt, elbows, and hands comfortable. This allows a person to stay in certain positions longer without fatigue or discomfort.
3. EASE OF MOVEMENT. Unlike memory foam, latex tends to not be difficult to move on. The development of deep body impressions, however, can undermine ease of movement.
4. CLEANUP. In the case of fluid penetration, staining or soiling, the top comfort layer can sometimes be removed. This allows for it to be thoroughly cleaned, replaced or flipped.
TOP DISADVANTAGES of sex on a latex mattress
1. LIMITED BOUNCE. The degree of bounce that a latex mattress has tends to depend mainly on whether it is Talalay- or Dunlop-processed latex. Talalay tends to provide significant bounce while Dunlop does not. Overall, however, latex mattresses perform similar to the average mattress on this issue.
2. BODY IMPRESSIONS. As many as 17% of latex mattress owners report that their bed develops body impressions where they sleep resulting in at least a somewhat uneven mattress surface. The lack of a flat, level surface can potentially make sex difficult and uncomfortable to perform.