Perhaps initially written off as a fad ala water beds, memory foam mattresses have carved out a large foothold in the mattress market. Introduced to Americans as a great accomplishment of European engineering, the Tempurpedic mattress company began marketing memory foam mattresses in the United States in the late 1990s. While the memory foam was refined by Swedish researchers according to the company, NASA is actually credited with the invention of memory foam. Memory foam mattresses are known for their ability to support spine angles thanks to the resistant material that can match the body’s contour. Memory foam mattresses are also highly regarded because they absorb the transfer of energy caused by movement; in other words, getting in and out of bed will not disrupt your partner’s sleep. On the downside, memory foam mattresses are quite costly and average 15 to 20 percent more expensive than quality spring mattresses.

While innerspring mattresses remain the most popular form of mattress in the United States, they come in varying degrees of quality, which can greatly affect the comfort of the bed. Innerspring mattresses come in a variety of materials but all of them have springs in the mattress core, which support the body during sleep. These springs are set to varying degrees of firmness depending on personal choice. High-end innerspring mattresses are expensive, almost always come with a plush pillow top for additional padding, and are typically regarded as extremely comfortable. Lower-end innerspring mattresses often lack the additional comfort of a pillow top and many consumers complain that the springs can cause uncomfortable “pressure points” during sleep.

A relatively new advancement in the mattress industry first introduced by Serta, the adjustable firmness mattress allows consumers to customize firmness levels via an electronic control. Further advancements of the adjustable firmness model allow for two distinct firmness settings per bed, allowing consumers and their sleeping partners to have two different mattress firmness levels. Consumers can expect to pay a premium for these technologically advanced beds, however, as some are selling for 30 to 40 percent more than quality innerspring mattresses.

While air mattresses are typically used by travelers or to accommodate houseguests, it is not uncommon for consumers to find air mattresses more comfortable than many models of innerspring mattresses. Firmness is fully adjustable in air mattresses by simply increasing or decreasing the amount of air within the mattress. It should be noted that air mattresses often have problems holding top pressure for lengthy periods; therefore most air mattresses require constant inflation. Portable air mattresses are relatively inexpensive and can serve as a great convenience for frequent travelers.

Latex mattresses have been gaining in popularity recently and are expected to give the memory foam market serious competition. Latex mattresses are favored by many because of their all-natural materials as opposed to synthetic memory foam. Synthetic memory foam mattresses are covered in a PBDE fire retardant, which contains known carcinogens. In addition to health concerns, latex mattresses are reported to have faster rebound times when compared to memory foam mattresses. Most latex mattresses come with a cotton cover similar to most innerspring mattresses. Unfortunately for the consumer, latex mattresses are extremely expensive, costing over 60 percent more than quality innerspring mattresses.