Foam vs Hybrid Mattress: Which Mattress Type Should You Choose? (2024)

Updated: November 18, 2024

Brook Bell

Sleep Content Strategist

When it comes to choosing a new mattress, the decision between a hybrid mattress vs memory foam can be daunting. Both offer unique benefits and cater to different sleep preferences.

Foam mattresses, constructed solely from foam layers, provide excellent motion isolation and pressure relief, making them ideal for light sleepers or those with body aches. On the other hand, hybrid mattresses combine foam layers with coil systems, offering a balance of support, breathability, and bounce.

In this article, we’ll delve into the characteristics of foam and hybrid mattresses, comparing their construction, pros, and cons to help you make an informed decision.

Breakdown: Hybrid vs Foam Mattress

Category	Hybrid Mattresses	Foam Mattresses
Cost	$1,000–3,000+	$500–2,000+
Feel	Balanced feel with a higher level of bounce and responsiveness	Can contour around your body or allow you to lie on top, depending on foam density
Advantages	Good balance between support, bounce, and breathability	Excellent motion isolation and pressure-point relief
Disadvantages	Can be noisier due to the presence of inner coils Can be heavier, making it difficult to move the mattress Motion isolation isn’t as good as foam mattresses	Can trap heat, especially in mattresses with a softer feel Often lack edge support Less bounce than hybrids, making it more difficult to change positions
Best for…	Sleepers preferring more bounce and support as they sleep Those who tend to sleep warm Those who prefer a traditional mattress feel	Light sleepers Those seeking pressure relief Those with partners who move around a lot while sleeping

Foam Mattresses

Foam mattresses like Douglas, Octave, and Juno offer several advantages, including better motion isolation and superior pressure-point relief compared to many hybrids. They also come in a wide range of foam types to suit different preferences.

diagram of foam mattress showing cooling gel foam premium foam and motion isolation support foam layers Text says the mattress is best for couples and back pain and the mattress is known for motion isolation and pressure point relief Description states that foam layers of different densities are stacked to provide perfectly balanced comfort and support

Foam Mattress Materials

Foam mattresses typically feature multiple layers of foam, including memory foam, gel foam, poly foam, or latex foam.

Poly foam typically offers excellent support and breathability. It can also have widely different firmness levels, depending on foam density. Poly foam can be less expensive to produce than other types of foam, so it’s often used in affordable mattresses.
Memory foam adapts to different amounts of pressure and contours to the body’s shape, letting you sink into the mattress somewhat. This can create a “hugging” effect while you’re lying down. You may notice heat trapping in closed-cell memory foam, but open-cell foam (and advanced cooling features) help increase airflow.
Gel foam is a variation of memory foam that uses gel to move heat away from your body while you sleep. The gel can be infused or layered on top of the foam, depending on the manufacturer. The result is usually a cooler sleep that allows you to still enjoy all the body-contouring benefits of memory foam.
Latex foam, which can be natural or synthetic, provides a responsive feel and better temperature regulation than other types of foam due to its open cell structure. This type of foam is long-lasting and can be more expensive than other foams, but it’s often worth the investment.

Some foam mattresses also include extra cooling features to prevent heat trapping and ensure a comfortable, more refreshing night’s sleep. For example, Octave Vista, our pick for best cooling mattress, comes with a cooling nanofibre cover to pull sweat away from your body, copper-infused memory foam treated with phase-change material for temperature balance that adapts to temperature fluctuations, and multi-zone support foam with breathable air channels for air circulation.

Foam Mattress Pros & Cons

Pros	Cons
Excellent motion isolation Superior pressure-point relief Various foam types to suit different needs Often come with advanced cooling features	May retain heat Less edge support Potential for off-gassing Less water-resistant and more difficult to clean

Hybrid Mattresses

Hybrid mattresses like Logan & Cove combine foam comfort layers with coil support systems to offer a balanced sleep experience. They provide a balanced feel with a combination of foam contouring and coil support, paired with durable construction and enhanced breathability.

diagram of hybrid mattress showing cooling gel foam premium foam and wrapped pocket coil layers Text says the mattress is best for heavy people and hot sleepers and the mattress is known for pressure point relief and bounce Description states that different materials like foam and coils combine to give you all the benefits of those materials

READ MORE: Hybrid mattress vs memory foam

Hybrid Mattress Materials

Hybrid mattresses use inner coils, often made of steel, combined with at least one layer of foam that’s at least 2″ thick. Often you’ll find several foam layers and multiple coil layers, especially in quality hybrids like Logan & Cove Frontier.

We have already explored different types of foam in this article, such as memory foam, latex foam, and poly foam. Let’s go over the different types of coils you might see in a hybrid mattress.

Bonnell coils are shaped like an hourglass and typically wired together to form a single unit. They’re less durable, supportive, and motion-isolating than other coil types.
Pocket coils are individually wrapped in fabric and operate independently, making them whisper-quiet and excellent at contouring to your body.
Micro coils are similar to (and often paired with) pocket coils, but much smaller. This type of coil provides added contouring and responsiveness.
Offset coils are interconnected like Bonnell coils but not as rounded, and they have better motion isolation and support.
Continuous coils are rows of circular connected wires. They’re durable, but they don’t provide good motion isolation, are less comfortable to sleep on, and are fairly noisy.

what is a hybrid mattress illustrations showing the coil design for bonnell coils pocket coils offset coils continuous coils and micro coils

Hybrid Mattress Pros & Cons

Pros	Cons
Balanced contouring and support Enhanced breathability Durable construction for long-lasting comfort and support Suitable for a wide range of sleepers, including combination sleepers and heavier people	Coils can be noisy, especially with lower-quality models Higher price point than foam mattresses Reduced motion isolation compared to foam mattresses Heavier weight can make them challenging to move or rotate

Should you choose a foam mattress vs hybrid mattress?

The choice between foam and hybrid mattresses depends on individual preferences, sleep habits, and budget considerations.

Choose a foam mattress if you’re looking for exceptional motion isolation and pressure relief. This type of mattress is especially good for light sleepers and people with chronic pain. Foam mattresses are often less expensive, too, which is great for mattress shoppers on a budget.

A hybrid mattress may be a better choice if you need a balance of support, breathability, and responsiveness. It’s also a good fit if you and your partner have different sleep preferences.

READ MORE: How to choose a mattress

Ultimately, consider your unique sleep needs and preferences when choosing between these two popular mattress types to ensure a restful night’s sleep.