An innovative, breathable alternative to traditional all-foam beds.
Logan FoleyEditorial Director
Logan Foley
Editorial Director
Logan is a Certified Sleep Science Coach with a deep understanding of what it means to struggle with sleep. Her years of experience researching and testing sleep products – including mattresses, natural sleep aids, and bedding – are critical to her role helping lead the editorial team. As a chronic insomniac, she aims to bring her findings to anyone struggling with getting adequate rest. Her expertise is in creating informative, trustworthy, and useful health content. When she’s not testing mattresses or researching CBT-I, she enjoys spending time in the sunshine with her husband and her dogs Pepper and Winston.
Our team at Sleep Foundation conducts extensive hands-on tests for each mattress to provide you with the most reliable, data-driven recommendations and reviews. Below are key guidelines that inform our testing methodology:
Our testers lie on the surface of each mattress to evaluate factors such as contouring and support. We also use specialized tools to measure performance criteria like pressure relief, heat retention, and motion isolation.
We test each mattress using various sleep positions to observe whether a mattress is better suited for side, back, or stomach sleeping. We roll around the surface and sit on the edges to gauge ease of movement and perimeter support.
We have tested hundreds of mattresses and bring years of experience in the mattress industry to the test lab. Our testing team covers a wide range of sleep preferences, sleep positions, and body types. This helps us represent as many sleeper types as possible in our reviews.
Edges of the Purple aren’t as strong as those found on some other beds
Sleepers over 230 pounds might prefer a firmer mattress
The original Purple mattress was the first of three mattress types offered by the Purple company. It’s an all-foam mattress measuring 6 out of 10, or medium firm, on the firmness scale and sold at budget price-points. The Purple is known as a cooling, low-cost, high-value mattress.
The largest difference between the Purple and the Purple Hybrid and Purple Hybrid Premier options is that the Purple has a polyfoam support core, while the hybrid models have pocketed coil support cores. The Hybrid and Hybrid Premier models also come in firm (7) and medium (5) or medium firm (6) options, respectively. The other Purple mattresses come at a higher price-point than the original Purple.
The Purple Grid is a unique technology present in all Purple mattresses. This grid of hyper-elastic polymer sits in the comfort layers, allowing for cooling airflow and bringing a responsive feel to the bed.
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Testing Team Takeaways
To test the Purple Mattress, we had three people on our testing team each take the bed home with them for one week. Here are their initial observations.
Brad Nehring
Senior Product Analyst
215 pounds
Side sleeper
Always sleeps under a weighted blanket
Purple’s signature buckling column gel is definintely a unique material that you’ll either love or hate, but I personally really like the feel. As a side sleeper, I appreciate that it relieves pressure well and helps prevent heat buildup.
Daniel Noyed
Senior Product Editor
165 pounds
Back sleeper
Likes to dunk head in bowl of ice water in the morning
I’m a bit of a dork when it comes to the Purple. The Purple Grid is just a cool piece of mattress technology that delivers both exceptional cooling and deep cushioning.
Jeremy Klein
Senior Product Testing Manager
160 pounds
Side sleeper
Nightly melatonin user
The Purple’s unique “grid” design really sets it apart from traditional all-foam beds on the market. As someone who sleeps hot and enjoys deep cushioning, this mattress nicely checks both boxes.
Purple Video Review
Watch the video below to see how the Purple Mattress performed when put to the test in our lab.
Sleeping Style and Body Weight
Purple Mattress
Sleeper Type
Under 130 lbs
130-230 lbs
Above 230 lbs
Side Sleepers
7/10
8.5/10
7/10
Back Sleepers
6.5/10
8/10
6.5/10
Stomach Sleepers
5/10
6.5/10
5/10
Side Sleepers
The Purple mattress excels at providing a mix of support and pressure relief to lighter side sleepers. Side sleepers need their hips and shoulders to sink into a mattress a bit to maintain spinal alignment, but not too far, or they’ll experience increased pressure. Side sleepers also need a mattress to have a supportive transitional layer so they don’t develop pressure points in their shoulders or hips. The Purple has the right mix of contouring and support to relieve pressure in most side sleepers under 230 pounds.
Heavier side sleepers, on the other hand, are unlikely to find enough support in the Purple. A mattress of a higher firmness level would be a better choice for this group, and more likely to provide them with the firmness and spinal alignment they need. The Purple rates 6 out of 10 in terms of firmness, and heavier side sleepers might prefer a bed that rates 6.5, 7, or higher instead.
Back Sleepers
Back sleepers who weigh less than 130 pounds find the Purple mattress provides them enough lumbar support and pressure relief. Most back sleepers in that weight group will enjoy the bed. Some sleepers between 130 and 230 pounds also find a nice mix of support and pressure relief in the Purple, though some might prefer a firmer mattress.
Most heavier back sleepers will want a firmer mattress. To this group, the Purple mattress feels too soft, and is unable to properly support their back throughout the night. The heavier a sleeper is, the less supported they will feel by the Purple Mattress. They might feel as if they are sinking too far down into the mattress, or as though they aren’t supported evenly.
Stomach Sleepers
Across all body weights, stomach sleepers find the least comfort in the Purple mattress compared to sleepers with other sleep position preferences. That said, stomach sleepers who weigh less than 130 pounds enjoy the Purple mattress the most. This mattress could be a good option for lighter sleepers who sleep in a combination of positions, including their stomachs. Most sleepers who only sleep on their stomachs, however, could likely find another mattress that better fits their needs
Most stomach sleepers prefer firmer mattresses, and need to be well-supported in order to avoid the development of pressure points. Too soft or too firm of mattresses can put strain on the necks, shoulders, and lower backs of stomach sleepers. Heavier stomach sleepers will almost definitely feel discomfort while sleeping on the Purple. A firmer mattress would be a better option for stomach sleepers over 130 pounds.
Mattress Performance
In addition to the hands-on feedback from our team, we conduct a number of quantitative tests in our Test Lab. The below ratings are based on the experience of our testers.
Motion Isolation
8
/ 10
The Purple’s grid layer absorbs movement as well as traditional memory foam or polyfoam. I don’t imagine couples will experience too many motion-related disruptions on this mattress. – Danny
The Purple excels at isolating motion, which is common for an all-foam mattress. Strong motion isolation generally appeals to people who share a bed. When one person moves around or gets on or off the bed, their motion will not transfer across the surface of the mattress, disturbing the other sleeper.
Innerspring mattresses, some latex beds, and hybrids with pocketed coils generally do not isolate motion as well as all-foam beds. Memory foam comfort layers in particular are known to greatly reduce motion transfer across a mattress. The Purple Grid operates similarly, allowing sleepers to put weight on one part of the mattress without affecting other parts.
Pressure Relief
8
/ 10
Since I mostly sleep on my side and weigh about 215 pounds, I need light cushioning to prevent pressure from building. The Purple does a decent job, but I’d personally prefer a slightly more supportive sleep surface. – Brad
Pressure relief is another area in which the Purple mattress shines. The Purple Grid helps relieve pressure, so sleepers don’t find themselves developing pressure points while lying down. The Purple Grid contours to the body, providing a cushiony feel. The transitional foam beneath that layer helps keep sleepers from sinking too far into the mattress.
Pressure relief is important to all sleepers, but those who experience pain tend to find it particularly important. A pressure-relieving bed can reduce pain throughout the night. Side sleepers also require pressure-relieving beds so they don’t develop pressure points in their hips and shoulders, which commonly occurs on too-firm mattresses
Temperature Control
7
/ 10
Even though it’s basically an all-foam bed, the Purple has really strong temperature control. The Purple Grid technology goes a long way toward keeping the bed cool through the night – you can feel the gaps in the gel columns where the air flows through the bed! I slept on the Purple without a sweat. – Danny
The Purple Mattress does an excellent job of staying cool throughout the night, largely due to the Purple Grid technology contained in its upper-most comfort layer.
Foam, particularly memory foam, tends to trap heat. All-foam mattresses are known for sleeping hot. The Purple Grid makes the Purple mattress stand out from other all-foam mattresses in the area of temperature control.
Because the Purple Grid has open spaces within it that allow airflow, heat can move away from the body rather than stay trapped in the Purple mattress. As a result, sleepers will be less likely to wake up because they feel too hot and more likely to get a good night’s sleep.
Edge Support
6.5
/ 10
The Purple doesn’t feel particularly strong along its edges. I noticed some sinkage when getting on and off the mattress — not an excessive amount, but noticeable all the same. – Jeremy
The Purple rates average in terms of edge support, which is common for an all-foam mattress. Edge support refers to how strong the edges of a mattress are in response to weight being placed on them. Mattresses that contain innersprings or pocketed coils tend to have stronger edges than all-foam beds.
Some all-foam beds have weaker edges than the Purple mattress. Poor edge support makes it so sleepers are unable to use the full surface of the bed because to do so would put them at risk of rolling off the bed. Strong edge support helps make getting in and out of bed easier.
Ease of Movement
5
/ 10
I didn’t encounter much resistance when moving across the Purple, but I could see people who weigh more than me running into deeper sinkage issues. – Jeremy
Ease of movement rates medium on the Purple, due to the mattress being both conforming and responsive. Generally, the more closely a mattress contours to the body, the more it inhibits movement. Highly conforming foam layers develop impressions as they cradle the body, and it can take a few seconds for those impressions to “bounce back.”
The Purple allows for easier movement than many mattresses that contain memory foam comfort layers. Because the Purple Grid is both conforming and responsive, it allows for more movement than highly conforming memory foam. Innerspring and latex mattresses tend to allow for the most ease of movement.
Off-Gassing
5.5
/ 10
It’s not surprising since it’s essentially an all-foam bed, but the Purple did have a noticeable odor when it was first unboxed. The off-gassing dissipated quickly but this is something to keep in mind if you’re sensitive to smells. – Brad
Off-gassing occurs with the Purple mattress, as is to be expected, but the process isn’t as extreme as that found with other all-foam beds. Off-gassing is a process that involves volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in a manufactured product becoming gas and floating out of the product into the air. Generally, this process is most noticeable immediately after manufacturing and is accompanied by a chemical smell.
Memory foam and polyfoam are the mattress components that tend to off-gas the most. The Purple mattress off-gasses less than some of its competitors due to the Purple Grid, which allows for airflow that more quickly clears off-gassed VOCs.
The Purple is an all-foam mattress available in one firmness level, which is medium-firm. Sold at affordable prices and delivered directly to your door, the Purple is a good option for customers seeking comfort on a budget. Through the use of Purple Grid technology, the Purple mattress provides sleepers a mix of contouring and responsiveness. It’s available in twin, twin XL, full, queen, king, California king, and split king sizes.
The Purple’s comfort layers are made up of 2 inches of Purple Grid on top of a 3.5-inch polyfoam (1.8 PCF) layer. Its support core is made of 4 inches of high-density polyfoam (2 PCF). Combined, these layers excel at providing pressure relief to sleepers. The cover is made of a polyester-viscose blended fabric. Altogether, the Purple measures 9.25 inches in height, which is average and fits standard sheet sets.
The Purple Grid is a unique technology created by the Purple company that consists of hyper-elastic polymer molded into a grid shape. The Purple Grid contours to the body like memory foam, but feels more responsive. Spaces in the grid allow for airflow, making the Purple a cooling mattress. All-foam mattresses tend to trap body heat, but that isn’t a problem with the Purple.
This review contains detailed information about the Purple mattress. Find out how people of different body weights and sleep position preferences enjoy the bed. Also, learn how the Purple mattress rates in terms of motion isolation, pressure relief, temperature control, edge support, ease of movement, and off-gassing. Finally, see where you can buy the Purple mattress and how Purple handles shipping, returns, and warranties.
Firmness
Medium Firm – 6
Mattress Type
Foam
Construction
The Purple mattress consists of a layer of the proprietary Purple Grid over a comfort layer and support core that are both made of polyfoam.
Cover Material:
67% Polyester, 29% Viscose, 4% Lycra
Comfort Layer:
2″ Purple Grid 3.5″ polyfoam (1.8 PCF)
Support Core:
4″ polyfoam (2 PCF)
Mattress Prices and Sizing
The original Purple mattress is a quality bed sold at affordable prices. The Purple costs less than half of the Purple Hybrid and Purple Hybrid Premier options and is priced comparably to competitors’ similar direct-to-consumer all-foam beds. The presence of Purple Grid technology elevates the cost of the Purple above some other budget-priced all-foam mattress offerings, however.
The Purple mattress is available both online and in stores. Purple sells the mattress directly to consumers from their own website. It’s also found on Amazon.com.
In-person stores that sell Purple mattresses include Mattress Firm, Macy’s, and a variety of furniture stores. Purple maintains a map on their website through which customers may search for nearby stores.
Purple mattresses are available to be shipped to all 50 states and Canada.
Shipping
Purple ships to the contiguous 48 United States for free using FedEx ground. Customers in Hawaii, Alaska, and Canada can also order Purple beds, but must pay a shipping fee. International shipping outside of Canada is unavailable.
The Purple arrives compressed and rolled into a long, purple tube-shaped package. It’s delivered to your front door, so you must bring it inside and move it to wherever you’ll be using it.
Additional Services
Purple doesn’t offer white glove delivery on their original Purple mattress, nor do they offer old mattress removal. Customers must set up the Purple mattress themselves and arrange to have any old mattresses removed. Like most compressed mattresses, the Purple can take up to a day to fully expand.
Sleep Trial
Purple offers customers a 100-night sleep trial. They require customers to break in the mattress for at least 21 nights prior to initiating a return, however. After the break-in period, customers may return the mattress for a full refund, at no cost. Customers may call Purple to initiate the return process.
Warranty
The Purple mattress comes with separate warranties for the cover and the rest of the mattress. The cover warranty lasts for 2 years. During that time, the mattress’s cover will be repaired or replaced if it is defective. The customer must pay for any shipping costs associated with repairing or replacing the cover under the warranty.
The interior mattress warranty lasts 10 years. It is non-transferrable and begins the date of purchase. The warranty doesn’t cover body indentations that are less than 1 inch deep. Customers are responsible for any shipping costs associated with fulfilling the warranty.
Still have questions?
Our product experts have extensive experience testing just about every sleep product on the market. Send an email to [email protected] or call us at (877) 672-8966 with your questions and we’ll help you find exactly what you’re looking for.
Logan is a Certified Sleep Science Coach with a deep understanding of what it means to struggle with sleep. Her years of experience researching and testing sleep products – including mattresses, natural sleep aids, and bedding – are critical to her role helping lead the editorial team. As a chronic insomniac, she aims to bring her findings to anyone struggling with getting adequate rest. Her expertise is in creating informative, trustworthy, and useful health content. When she’s not testing mattresses or researching CBT-I, she enjoys spending time in the sunshine with her husband and her dogs Pepper and Winston.
