Best Mattresses for Platform Beds (2021 Review)

Switching to a platform bed can be a great way to give your bedroom a sleek new look. You’ll even get a bit of extra storage space. A box spring won’t be necessary anymore, though you can keep using one if you prefer to sleep in a taller bed.

But which is the best mattress for platform beds? Are there any special considerations? This article will help you figure out which mattress to get for your updated bedroom.

It’s important to keep in mind that platform beds have weight limits. We took that into consideration while compiling our list of the best options out there. Additionally, we have answered some questions you may have about platform beds.

Let’s start with three highly-rated mattresses with different firmness levels.

Table of Contents

Our Top Choice
The Runner-Up
Best Latex Option
Mattresses That Didn’t Make the Cut
Platform Beds
Mattresses for Platform Beds
Conclusion

Our Top Choice: LinenSpa 8″ Memory Foam and Innerspring Hybrid Mattress

Review:

The LinenSpa Hybrid Mattress is the best mattress for platform beds of any kind.

Since this mattress is lighter than many comparable products, you probably won’t go over your bed’s weight-bearing capacity even if you want to use it along with a box spring. But a box spring certainly isn’t necessary. Even if your platform bed has wide-set slats, this mattress will maintain its shape without sag.

Innerspring mattresses are a traditional choice with a number of excellent qualities. They offer a lot of support and are fairly cool as well. LinenSpa combined this design with high-quality memory foam, which means it provides a good amount of pressure relief.

Here is a run-down of the upsides and some downsides of going with this mattress.

Pros:

A Great Choice for Any Back Problems or Other Pain Issues

This mattress is considered medium-firm, so it’s a good fit for side sleepers and back sleepers alike. The six-inch steel innerspring coils provide great spinal support. Above the coils, there is a sturdy 1.5-inch layer of foam, topped with high-quality memory foam.

Hence, you will find that sleeping on this mattress is a soft and comfortable experience. Pressure points will no longer be a concern.

Quieter Than a Coil Mattress

Comfort doesn’t just extend to the firmness of the sleeping surface. You can enjoy this mattress even if you normally can’t sleep on coil beds due to the squeaking and creaking. Not only are these coils quiet, they are great for decreasing motion transfer, so you won’t notice your partner moving around during the night.

Cooler Than Memory Foam

Do you worry about overheating? Slatted platform beds are a great choice for people who sleep hot. But whatever kind of bed you may have, this mattress will keep you cool because of the constant air circulation among the coils.

Safety

LinenSpa products are CertiPUR-US certified. Their products are great options for health-conscious and environment-conscious buyers.

Durability

One of the biggest appeals of innerspring beds is that they can endure extended use without losing their shape. This heavy-duty mattress is a great choice for people with higher than average body weight.

Affordability

Hybrid mattresses are an extremely popular choice because they combine the benefits of coils and memory foam. The LinenSpa 8’’ Hybrid is a relatively affordable hybrid mattress, and quality-wise it’s a cut above the rest. You can also make use of the generous 10-year warranty in case anything goes wrong.

Cons:

The Edge Support Isn’t Ideal

Not every sleeper requires edge support. But if you hate the thought of sinking into your mattress when you sit on the side of your bed, this mattress may not be right for you. In general, you should look for more than average edge support when you’re using a platform bed.

It Takes a While to Expand

This isn’t the best mattress for emergencies, as the foam layers need some time to gain shape after unpacking. The chemical smell may be an issue for a while too.

May Be Too Firm for Some

It’s important to note that only the top layer of this mattress is composed of memory foam and there is a considerable amount of firmer foam underneath. While this provides a lot of structural support and durability, you may find this mattress too firm for comfort.

Materials Analysis:

The cover of this mattress is quilted memory foam, which is somewhat breathable and has a pleasant texture as well. Other materials include a polyester fiber-rayon fiber mix as well as polyurethane foam. Since the 6-inch springs are made from tempered steel, they’ll keep the mattress firm and springy even after years of use.

Who It’s Best for:

We recommend this mattress to anyone looking for a firmer-than-average mattress to go with their platform bed. It’s both long-lasting and affordable. Sleepers who overheat easily will appreciate it as well.

Because the LinenSpa Hybrid Mattress is a lightweight choice, you can easily put a box spring beneath it. This will also make up for the poor edge support.

To learn more about this mattress, click the button below.

The Runner-Up: LUCID 10-Inch Gel Memory Foam Mattress

Review:

Memory foam is one of the best options when it comes to platform beds. It doesn’t weigh as much as latex does and it’s softer than coil mattresses. Additionally, memory foam mattresses usually have enough structural support to make up for the lack of a box spring.

The LUCID Gel Memory Foam Mattress is medium-firm but it’s softer than our previous option. It’s particularly great for side sleepers since the memory foam will take care of your pressure points for you.

If you like sinking into your bed, this mattress is a good choice. At the same time, the gel content will keep it from overheating too much.

So what are the best features this product has to offer? And what are the downsides?

Pros:

Breathable Cover

While the structure of your platform bed can take care of overheating for you, it doesn’t help with perspiration. The LUCID mattress has a great anti-moisture design that can help with that problem.

The top layer is made of a special polyester fabric that lets your skin breathe more easily. Beneath that, there is a layer of gel beads. The beads diffuse both your body heat and any unpleasant odors, which will leave you feeling fresh when you wake up in the morning.

Soft Enough to Be a Good Fit for Pain Issues

While this mattress has enough structural support to perform well without a box spring, it’s also soft enough to relax your muscles and relieve your frame of pressure.

A Very Generous Warranty

The manufacturer offers a 25-year warranty which covers most types of repairs.

Relatively Light

This is a mattress that won’t put too much weight on your platform bed, so you can use it with a box spring as well.

Cons:

Becomes Softer Over Time

If you prefer a firmer mattress, this one isn’t the best choice for you. We don’t recommend it to most back sleepers either. While the mattress probably won’t sag, the surface will keep getting softer over time.

Outgassing Is an Issue

Unfortunately, it will take a while until this mattress stops emitting chemical smells. Since it also needs some time to gain its shape, you shouldn’t go for this option if you want to use your new mattress immediately upon purchase.

Materials Analysis:

The top layer is breathable gel-infused memory foam with polyester blend cover. Hence, this mattress is extremely pleasant to the touch even without a mattress protector.

What keeps it from sagging? The bottom layer is 7.5 inches of high-density foam. While this may not provide enough firmness to give you reliable edge support, it’s firm enough to ensure your mattress won’t get deformed by your slatted platform bed, even if the slats are set far apart.

Who It’s Best for:

We recommend this mattress to anyone who wants to sleep cool on a relatively soft memory foam surface. Side sleepers are particularly likely to benefit from using this mattress. You will be able to use it even if your platform bed comes with low weight restrictions.

Click the button below for more information.

Best Latex Option: Sunrising Bedding Hybrid Natural Latex Innerspring Mattress

Review:

Latex is a popular option because it’s durable and because it’s a great choice for drawing away excess body heat. However, latex mattresses aren’t always a good choice for platform beds because they tend to be heavier than other types of mattress. Additionally, they can sag down between the slats if the slats are wide-set.

Be that as it may, we have found a high-quality latex mattress that could be the perfect fit for your bed. The bottom layer of this mattress is composed of independently pocketed coils. Thus, you will have the comfort of latex but the mattress is somewhat lighter than expected with a structure of its own.

Here is a quick look at the manufacturing process involved:

Let’s take a look at the pros and cons of this hybrid mattress.

Pros:

Durability

The Sunrising Bedding Hybrid Mattress is made to last. The coils are great at handling weight distribution and the latex is durable enough not to change shape or sag over time.

Great Edge Support

Sleepers who love a firm mattress will enjoy everything about this bed. It’s easy to sit on the edge without sinking in.

A Cool Sleeping Surface

Latex sleeps a lot cooler than memory foam and the coils have a great cooling effect as well. Sleeping on this bed is a refreshing experience and you’ll never feel like you’re sinking down into quicksand.

An Extended Testing Period and a Generous Warranty

Getting a mattress with a testing period is an extremely good choice. After all, it’s impossible to tell in advance whether the firmness will be right for you. You may also need a while to make sure your initial impression was correct.

Sunrising Bedding offers a test period of 120 days as well as a twenty-year warranty in case of any manufacturing defects.

Cons:

The Firmness

If you have back or shoulder pain, you may not be able to use this mattress without a topper. Additionally, it tends to get even firmer with time. Definitely not recommended to anyone who prefers sleeping on a soft surface.

The Weight

While this mattress isn’t as heavy as some other latex options, you should make sure to check your platform bed’s weight limit first. We don’t recommend using the Sunrising Bedding Hybrid Mattress with a box spring. Additionally, setting it up can be challenging for some.

Materials Analysis:

Talalay latex is considered softer and bouncier than other types of latex. It’s also durable and can handle body heat quite well.

Each tempered steel coil in this mattress is individually encased. This contributes to the long-term durability and also takes care of distracting squeaking noises.

Who It’s Best for:

If you want a very firm mattress that will give you a lot of support, this mattress could be the best choice for you. We particularly recommend it to people with heavy frames and to anyone who requires high-quality edge support. Since there is an extended testing period, you can try this mattress out before you commit to it.

Click the button below to learn more before you decide whether this is the best mattress for you.

3 Mattresses That Didn’t Make the Cut

Here are three quality choices we took into consideration. Any of these could work for you under certain circumstances.

Like the LUCID 10, the HOFISH 10-Inch Gel-infused Memory Foam Mattress is a great choice if you want to go for gel memory foam. Not only is it fairly light, it also provides a great degree of support while still feeling soft and pleasant. It’s important to note that this mattress overheats easily and it also tends to sag a little over time.

If you want comfort at an extremely affordable price, you may want to consider waterbed mattresses such as the InnoMax Sanctuary Free Flow Full Wave Waterbed Mattress. This mattress molds exactly to the curves of your body and you even get to modify the firmness levels by changing the amount of water inside. However, this option is much too heavy for most platform beds.

Finally, the Milliard Tri-Folding Mattress is a great ultra-light option for occasional use in your guestroom. Your guests will sleep easily on the foam, and you will also have the option of taking this mattress with you wherever you go. We nonetheless don’t recommend it as a long-term solution, as it’s neither comfortable nor durable enough for everyday use.

Platform Beds: Pros and Cons

Is a platform bed a good choice for you? Here are some of the most important upsides and downsides you should keep in mind.

Pros:

Style

Many platform beds are minimalist and elegant enough to make any bedroom look more modern. If you want a more traditional look, you can also go for a legless platform bed.

Storage Space

Since there is no box spring, you can use the area beneath your bed to store your belongings. This also makes platform beds a great choice for guest bedrooms.

Affordability

Getting a platform bed can be the best option if you’re on a tight budget. After all, you won’t have to invest in box springs. You can find comfortable platform beds in any price range, though their durability may vary.

Slatted Platform Beds Have an Effective Cooling Design

If you decide to go for a model that has wooden or metal slats, you will find that your mattress doesn’t heat up as easily during the night. The increased airflow simply takes care of any accumulated body heat. This is a great choice for people who have to deal with night sweats and other conditions.

Cons:

Weight Restrictions

While they’re a great choice for children’s bedrooms, it’s important to consider that platform beds can’t bear too much weight. You may find traditional beds both safer and more comfortable if you weigh more than average, though there are certainly ways to make a platform bed work for you too.

Platform Beds Are Lower Than Traditional Ones

If you have knee issues or any other health problems that make it more difficult for you to stand up from a low surface, you should be careful about buying a platform bed. Since knee pain affects one in four adults in the US, this is the biggest downside of platform beds.

Placing a box spring underneath your mattress is a good way to make your sleeping surface higher. However, box springs are heavy, so the weight restrictions become a potential problem once again.

Mattresses for Platform Beds

How do you choose the best mattress for platform beds?

First, it’s important to clarify that you can use any type of mattress on your platform bed. Memory foam mattresses and coil mattresses are both popular options, but you can go for latex or other material as well. You just need to be careful and take a few things into account.

Here are the most important questions you should ask before you commit to a mattress:

How Much Does the Mattress Weigh?

Latex mattresses are considerably heavier than memory foam ones. You should make sure your bed can bear the load before committing to a mattress.

Does the Mattress Sag?

Your platform bed provides you with a considerable amount of structural support. However, slatted platform beds can be a little uncomfortable. Once again, latex isn’t ideal, as it can sag if the slats are far apart.

Memory foam mattresses go well with slatted platform beds because they could use the extra cooling effect. However, they can sag between the slats as well. It’s a good idea to go for a firmer than average memory foam mattress.

What About Edge Support?

If you don’t want to use a box spring, you might want to seek out a mattress with adequate edge support. Getting up from a low surface is a lot easier when it’s firm enough to let you sit comfortably.

Conclusion

Shopping for a platform bed isn’t too different from shopping for a traditional box spring bed. The main difference is that there’s a weight restriction you have to factor in.

When you opt for a great mattress such as the LinenSpa 8″ Memory Foam and Innerspring Hybrid Mattress, you’ll be able to sleep in style. Not only will you feel cool and comfortable throughout the night, but you can also rest easy knowing that your new bed is going to stay in top shape for a long time.