A platform bed is a great way to give your mattress a stronger foundation, keep your sleep surface lifted off the floor, or just spruce up the aesthetic of your bedroom. That being said, some mattresses work better with such a structure than others. That’s why we rounded up a list of the best mattresses for platform beds.
Not only do all of the below products work with an added sleep foundation — many of the brands even have their own platform beds available online, with bundle options frequently available. In addition to compatibility, each mattress has its own unique features and strengths.
Our Verdict: What’s the Best Mattress For Platform Beds?
Our expert reviewers chose the WinkBeds mattress as the best mattress for platform beds due to its various firmness levels, durability, and great edge support for all kinds of sleepers.
Our Top Picks for the Best Mattress for Platform Beds
- WinkBeds – Editor’s Pick
- GhostBed – Best Cooling Mattress
- Nectar – Best Memory Foam Mattress
- Helix Midnight – Best Hybrid Mattress
- DreamCloud – Best Firm Mattress
- Nolah – Best Queen-Size Mattress
- Bear – Best Mattress for Athletes
Compare Best Mattresses for Platform Beds
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| WinkBed Mattress | GhostBed Mattress | Nectar Mattress | Helix Midnight Mattress | DreamCloud Original Mattress | Nolah Original 10" Mattress | Bear Mattress | |
| Rating | |||||||
| Firmness | Multiple firmness options | Firm: 8/10 | Medium-firm: 6.5/10 | Medium-firm: 7/10 | Firm: 7.5/10 | Soft: 6/10 | Medium-firm: 6.5/10 |
| Material | Hybrid | Foam | Foam | Hybrid | Hybrid | Foam | Foam |
| Cooling | ✓ | ✓ | -- | -- | ✓ | -- | ✓ |
| Sleep Position | Combination | Back & Stomach | Back & Side | Back & Side | Back | Back & Side | Back & Side |
We recommend this mattress for the following sleeper types: Financing options are available for this mattress. With its classic innerspring feel, the WinkBed has a ton of responsiveness and support. We recommend this mattress for the following sleeper types: Financing options are available for this mattress. With its classic innerspring feel, the WinkBed has a ton of responsiveness and support. We recommend this mattress for the following sleeper types: Financing options are available for this mattress.WinkBed Mattress
Material
Hybrid
Trial Period
120 nights
Shipping Method
Free shipping
Firmness
Multiple firmness options
Warranty
Lifetime warranty
Price Range
$$$$$
Hot Sleepers
If you often overheat while you sleep, this mattress should help you stay cool.
Back Pain
This bed is perfect for anyone suffering from back pain.
Back Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight and average weight back sleepers.
Side Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight and average weight side sleepers.
Stomach Sleeping
Ideal for average weight stomach sleepers.
Financing Options
WinkBed Mattress
Material
Hybrid
Warranty
Lifetime warranty
Firmness
Multiple firmness options
Shipping Method
Free shipping
Trial Period
120 nights
Price Range
$$$$$
Hot Sleepers
If you often overheat while you sleep, this mattress should help you stay cool.
Back Pain
This bed is perfect for anyone suffering from back pain.
Back Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight and average weight back sleepers.
Side Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight and average weight side sleepers.
Stomach Sleeping
Ideal for average weight stomach sleepers.
Financing Options
WinkBed Mattress
Material
Hybrid
Firmness
Multiple firmness options
Trial Period
120 nights
Warranty
Lifetime warranty
Shipping Method
Free shipping
Price Range
$$$$$
Hot Sleepers
If you often overheat while you sleep, this mattress should help you stay cool.
Back Pain
This bed is perfect for anyone suffering from back pain.
Back Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight and average weight back sleepers.
Side Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight and average weight side sleepers.
Stomach Sleeping
Ideal for average weight stomach sleepers.
Financing Options
A platform bed is going to add support to a mattress. And if you like your sleeping surface extra-supportive, we highly recommend one of the models from WinkBeds. Whether you choose Softer, Luxury Firm, Firmer, or Plus, you’re getting a hybrid mattress with a classic innerspring feel, thanks to a tall layer of bouncy, individually wrapped coils.
What Makes The WinkBeds Stand Out?
- The mattress’ coils are zoned, meaning there are different levels of support for different parts of the body. This helps prevent back pain.
- The Plus model is specifically designed for heavy sleepers, who should get all the support they need when it’s paired with a platform bed.
- For some softness and pressure relief, the WinkBed has a Euro-style pillow-top with a gel infusion in the foam.
Read our full WinkBeds mattress review to learn more. If you aren’t interested in the WinkBeds mattress, check out our list of the best mattresses of 2023 for more great options!
We recommend this mattress for the following sleeper types: Financing options are available for this mattress. Hot sleepers should have nothing to worry about on this all-foam bed, which has a breathable cover and a comfort layer of cooling aerated latex. We recommend this mattress for the following sleeper types: Financing options are available for this mattress. Hot sleepers should have nothing to worry about on this all-foam bed, which has a breathable cover and a comfort layer of cooling aerated latex. We recommend this mattress for the following sleeper types: Financing options are available for this mattress.GhostBed Mattress
Material
Foam
Trial Period
101 nights
Shipping Method
Free shipping minus HI and AK
Firmness
Firm: 8/10
Warranty
20-year warranty
Price Range
$$$$$
Hot Sleepers
If you often overheat while you sleep, this mattress should help you stay cool.
Back Pain
This bed is perfect for anyone suffering from back pain.
Back Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight back sleepers.
Stomach Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight stomach sleepers.
Financing Options
GhostBed Mattress
Material
Foam
Warranty
20-year warranty
Firmness
Firm: 8/10
Shipping Method
Free shipping minus HI and AK
Trial Period
101 nights
Price Range
$$$$$
Hot Sleepers
If you often overheat while you sleep, this mattress should help you stay cool.
Back Pain
This bed is perfect for anyone suffering from back pain.
Back Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight back sleepers.
Stomach Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight stomach sleepers.
Financing Options
GhostBed Mattress
Material
Foam
Firmness
Firm: 8/10
Trial Period
101 nights
Warranty
20-year warranty
Shipping Method
Free shipping minus HI and AK
Price Range
$$$$$
Hot Sleepers
If you often overheat while you sleep, this mattress should help you stay cool.
Back Pain
This bed is perfect for anyone suffering from back pain.
Back Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight back sleepers.
Stomach Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight stomach sleepers.
Financing Options
Simply put, the all-foam GhostBed sleeps cool — almost supernaturally so. There’s a breathable cover, plus a comfort layer of aerated latex foam that keeps a low temperature. And when placed over the slats of a platform bed, there’s plenty of room for additional airflow.
What Makes The GhostBed Stand Out?
- Overall, it has a firmer-than-average feel that’s a great fit for stomach sleepers and some average-weight back sleepers.
- The GhostBed’s responsiveness also makes it a good fit for combination sleepers.
- GhostBed has several different platform beds available on their website, and you can often take advantage of a mattress/foundation bundle.
Read our full GhostBed mattress review to learn more. If you aren’t interested in the GhostBed mattress, check out our list of the best cooling mattresses for more great options!
We recommend this mattress for the following sleeper types: Financing options are available for this mattress. Made entirely of foam, the Nectar gives sleepers a slow, sinking sensation with lots of pressure relief. We recommend this mattress for the following sleeper types: Financing options are available for this mattress. Made entirely of foam, the Nectar gives sleepers a slow, sinking sensation with lots of pressure relief. We recommend this mattress for the following sleeper types: Financing options are available for this mattress.Nectar Mattress
Material
Foam
Trial Period
365 nights
Shipping Method
Free shipping
Firmness
Medium-firm: 6.5/10
Warranty
Lifetime warranty
Price Range
$$$$$
Joint Pain
This bed is perfect for anyone suffering from joint pain.
Hip Pain
This bed is perfect for anyone suffering from hip pain.
Back Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight and average weight back sleepers.
Side Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight and average weight side sleepers.
Financing Options
Nectar Mattress
Material
Foam
Warranty
Lifetime warranty
Firmness
Medium-firm: 6.5/10
Shipping Method
Free shipping
Trial Period
365 nights
Price Range
$$$$$
Joint Pain
This bed is perfect for anyone suffering from joint pain.
Hip Pain
This bed is perfect for anyone suffering from hip pain.
Back Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight and average weight back sleepers.
Side Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight and average weight side sleepers.
Financing Options
Nectar Mattress
Material
Foam
Firmness
Medium-firm: 6.5/10
Trial Period
365 nights
Warranty
Lifetime warranty
Shipping Method
Free shipping
Price Range
$$$$$
Joint Pain
This bed is perfect for anyone suffering from joint pain.
Hip Pain
This bed is perfect for anyone suffering from hip pain.
Back Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight and average weight back sleepers.
Side Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight and average weight side sleepers.
Financing Options
Lovers of memory foam tend to appreciate the material’s slow-sinking feeling — a sensation you’re bound to experience on the Nectar. Right away, there’s a thick layer of gel memory foam for contouring and pressure relief, balanced out by firmer foams underneath. You’ll get even more support with a platform bed to give you a slight lift.
What Makes The Nectar Stand Out?
- It’s a medium-firm mattress that should be an ideal fit for back sleepers and side sleepers.
- The Nectar is fantastic at isolating motion, which makes it a standout option for couples who share a bed.
- Nectar also produces many different platform beds and sleep foundations, including an Adjustable Base.
Read our full Nectar mattress review to learn more. If you aren’t interested in the Nectar mattress, check out our list of the best memory foam mattresses for more great options!
We recommend this mattress for the following sleeper types: Financing options are available for this mattress. The Helix Midnight creates a blend of comfort and support with its Memory Plus foam and a layer of individually wrapped coils. We recommend this mattress for the following sleeper types: Financing options are available for this mattress. The Helix Midnight creates a blend of comfort and support with its Memory Plus foam and a layer of individually wrapped coils. We recommend this mattress for the following sleeper types: Financing options are available for this mattress.Helix Midnight Mattress
Material
Hybrid
Trial Period
100 nights
Shipping Method
Free shipping
Firmness
Medium-firm: 7/10
Warranty
10-year warranty
Price Range
$$$$$
Couples
This bed has great motion isolation so you will not feel your partner tossing and turning at night.
Back Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight and average weight back sleepers.
Side Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight and average weight side sleepers.
Financing Options
Helix Midnight Mattress
Material
Hybrid
Warranty
10-year warranty
Firmness
Medium-firm: 7/10
Shipping Method
Free shipping
Trial Period
100 nights
Price Range
$$$$$
Couples
This bed has great motion isolation so you will not feel your partner tossing and turning at night.
Back Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight and average weight back sleepers.
Side Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight and average weight side sleepers.
Financing Options
Helix Midnight Mattress
Material
Hybrid
Firmness
Medium-firm: 7/10
Trial Period
100 nights
Warranty
10-year warranty
Shipping Method
Free shipping
Price Range
$$$$$
Couples
This bed has great motion isolation so you will not feel your partner tossing and turning at night.
Back Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight and average weight back sleepers.
Side Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight and average weight side sleepers.
Financing Options
All of Helix’s mattresses are hybrid beds constructed with a combination of foam and springs. The Midnight is their most popular model, likely because it falls right in the middle in terms of firmness. With its blend of proprietary Memory Plus foam and individually wrapped coils, there’s a mix of comfort and support here that’s primed and ready for a platform bed.
What Makes The Helix Midnight Stand Out?
- A wide range of sleepers should be comfortable on the Helix Midnight, including back sleepers and side sleepers.
- If the Midnight isn’t for you, you can take a sleep quiz on Helix’s website for more customized options.
- Helix has a range of platform beds made from different materials, from white wood to natural wood.
Read our full Helix Midnight mattress review to learn more. If you aren’t interested in the Nectar mattress, check out our list of the best hybrid mattresses for more great options!
We recommend this mattress for the following sleeper types: Financing options are available for this mattress. This luxury hybrid’s combination of individually wrapped coils and two comfort layers creates a firmer-than-average mattress that’s ideal for back sleepers. We recommend this mattress for the following sleeper types: Financing options are available for this mattress. This luxury hybrid’s combination of individually wrapped coils and two comfort layers creates a firmer-than-average mattress that’s ideal for back sleepers. We recommend this mattress for the following sleeper types: Financing options are available for this mattress.DreamCloud Original Mattress
Material
Hybrid
Trial Period
365 nights
Shipping Method
Free shipping
Firmness
Firm: 7.5/10
Warranty
Lifetime warranty
Price Range
$$$$$
Hot Sleepers
If you often overheat while you sleep, this mattress should help you stay cool.
Seniors
This bed is perfect for senior sleepers.
Back Sleeping
Ideal for average weight back sleepers.
Financing Options
DreamCloud Original Mattress
Material
Hybrid
Warranty
Lifetime warranty
Firmness
Firm: 7.5/10
Shipping Method
Free shipping
Trial Period
365 nights
Price Range
$$$$$
Hot Sleepers
If you often overheat while you sleep, this mattress should help you stay cool.
Seniors
This bed is perfect for senior sleepers.
Back Sleeping
Ideal for average weight back sleepers.
Financing Options
DreamCloud Original Mattress
Material
Hybrid
Firmness
Firm: 7.5/10
Trial Period
365 nights
Warranty
Lifetime warranty
Shipping Method
Free shipping
Price Range
$$$$$
Hot Sleepers
If you often overheat while you sleep, this mattress should help you stay cool.
Seniors
This bed is perfect for senior sleepers.
Back Sleeping
Ideal for average weight back sleepers.
Financing Options
If you’re looking for a firm mattress, you might be dreaming of the DreamCloud — a luxury hybrid bed that scores a 7.5/10 on the firmness scale. To give you some context, the industry standard for medium firm is 6.5. While the firmness and support come from a layer of individually wrapped coils (and potentially the slats of a platform bed!), you should also get some pressure relief from not one, but two comfort layers, with the second made up of soft memory foam.
What Makes The DreamCloud Stand Out?
- The mattress’ firmness and support make it an especially good match for back sleepers.
- With its breathable cashmere-blend cover and airflow-promoting coils, the DreamCloud sleeps cool and is a good option for hot sleepers.
- The company boasts its own platform bed made of bevel wood, available in three different colors.
Read our full DreamCloud mattress review to learn more. If you aren’t interested in the DreamCloud mattress, check out our list of the best firm mattresses for more great options!
Sold at a value price, this all-foam mattress uses a proprietary material called AirFoam that’s soft, contouring, and breathable. Sold at a value price, this all-foam mattress uses a proprietary material called AirFoam that’s soft, contouring, and breathable.Nolah Original 10" Mattress
Material
Foam
Trial Period
120 nights
Shipping Method
Free shipping
Firmness
Soft: 6/10
Warranty
Lifetime warranty
Price Range
$$$$$
Nolah Original 10" Mattress
Material
Foam
Warranty
Lifetime warranty
Firmness
Soft: 6/10
Shipping Method
Free shipping
Trial Period
120 nights
Price Range
$$$$$
Nolah Original 10" Mattress
Material
Foam
Firmness
Soft: 6/10
Trial Period
120 nights
Warranty
Lifetime warranty
Shipping Method
Free shipping
Price Range
$$$$$
As comfortable and eye-pleasing as it is, a platform bed is going to cost you some money. But if you opt for the all-foam Nolah, you’ll have an easier time saving up for the additional cost. That’s because after discounts, a Queen-size is currently under $1,000. In addition to its cost effectiveness, the Nolah has a medium firmness that should appeal to back sleepers and side sleepers.
What Makes The Nolah Stand Out?
- The comfort layer is made up of a proprietary material called AirFoam — Nolah’s more responsive and breathable take on memory foam.
- The AirFoam isolates motion quite well, making this mattress a good fit for couples who don’t want to disturb each other at night with their movements.
- The sleep foundations available from Nolah include a platform bed and two different adjustable bases with a massage function.
Read our full Nolah mattress review to learn more. If you aren’t interested in the Nolah mattress, check out our list of the best queen mattresses for more great options!
We recommend this mattress for the following sleeper types: Financing options are available for this mattress. Boasting a cover made of Celliant — a material that may assist with blood flow and recovery — Bear appeals to those with an active lifestyle. We recommend this mattress for the following sleeper types: Financing options are available for this mattress. Boasting a cover made of Celliant — a material that may assist with blood flow and recovery — Bear appeals to those with an active lifestyle. We recommend this mattress for the following sleeper types: Financing options are available for this mattress.Bear Mattress
Material
Foam
Trial Period
120 nights
Shipping Method
Free shipping
Firmness
Medium-firm: 6.5/10
Warranty
Lifetime warranty
Price Range
$$$$$
Hot Sleepers
If you often overheat while you sleep, this mattress should help you stay cool.
Back Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight and average weight back sleepers.
Side Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight and average weight side sleepers.
Financing Options
Bear Mattress
Material
Foam
Warranty
Lifetime warranty
Firmness
Medium-firm: 6.5/10
Shipping Method
Free shipping
Trial Period
120 nights
Price Range
$$$$$
Hot Sleepers
If you often overheat while you sleep, this mattress should help you stay cool.
Back Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight and average weight back sleepers.
Side Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight and average weight side sleepers.
Financing Options
Bear Mattress
Material
Foam
Firmness
Medium-firm: 6.5/10
Trial Period
120 nights
Warranty
Lifetime warranty
Shipping Method
Free shipping
Price Range
$$$$$
Hot Sleepers
If you often overheat while you sleep, this mattress should help you stay cool.
Back Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight and average weight back sleepers.
Side Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight and average weight side sleepers.
Financing Options
As a brand, Bear appeals to athletes with a cover made of Celliant — a material that some studies show to assist with blood flow and recovery. It’s also an extremely breathable material, meaning that the Bear’s flagship mattress sleeps cool, especially when placed over the airflow-promoting slats of a platform bed.
What Makes The Bear Stand Out?
- Even though it’s all-foam, the Bear has a medium-firm feel from its combination of thick memory foam and firmer poly foam at the bottom.
- The memory foam layer has an infusion of gel, which also assists with cooling after a strenuous workout.
- You can browse five different bed frames and platform beds on Bear’s website.
Read our full Bear mattress review to learn more. If you aren’t interested in the Bear mattress, check out our list of the best mattresses for athletes for more great options!
What Is a Platform Bed?
A platform bed is essentially a flat surface that you can place your mattress on, thus creating an even sleep foundation. This helps give you additional comfort, as well as the proper support for a neutral spinal alignment while you rest.
So what exactly is a platform bed made of? It depends! The term itself has become a sort of catch-all for any flat sleeping surface that doesn’t use a box spring. Let’s go over a few of the most notable constructions and materials.
- Solid: A solid platform bed has a square perimeter with a single piece of wood or metal in the middle as a foundation.
- Slatted: The more freewheeling cousin to the solid platform bed, the slatted platform bed still has the square frame (usually made of metal or wood). But instead of a solid piece of material as the foundation, it has a series of slats that you can unroll and place over the frame. You then place the mattress on the slats. These slats are also usually made of metal or wood.
- Metal: A metal platform can be either solid or slatted. They tend to be lighter-weight than platform beds made entirely of wood.
- Wood: Wooden platform beds are known for their durability, although this means that they tend to be heavy and difficult to transport. Like metal beds, they can also be solid or slatted.
- Upholstered: An upholstered platform bed usually comes with a headboard (some have a footboard, too), with fabric stitched over the entire frame. They can be solid or slatted, and are a great way to add style and more plushness to your sleeping experience.
- Adjustable bases: While adjustable bases are technically a different beast altogether, they’re still an excellent way to create a supportive, even sleeping foundation — one that moves, to boot. Luxurious and high-tech, they often come with additional bells and whistles such as massage functions and charging ports for your devices. Read more about them in our roundup of the Best Adjustable Beds.
Do You Need a Box Spring For a Platform Bed?
The beauty of a platform bed is that you don’t need a box spring. Rather, it’s a more convenient substitute for having to pair your mattress with both a box spring and a bed frame. Think of it as a ready-to-use product, with no additional accessories required.
Once you’ve found the best mattress for a platform bed — and the platform bed to go with it, of course — simply open the box, set up, and get to sleeping!
RELATED: What’s the Difference Between a Box Spring, Foundation, & Platform Bed?
Cooling Properties of Platform Beds
Another bonus of a platform bed is that it can help your mattress sleep a little bit cooler. All platform beds keep the mattress elevated off the floor — a much more breathable setup than just placing the bed on the ground. And if your platform bed has slats, these create plenty more room for airflow throughout the mattress.
Summary
Here’s a summary of our top picks for the best mattresses for platform beds of 2022:
| Mattress | Best For |
| WinkBeds | Editor’s Pick |
| GhostBed | Cooling |
| Nectar | Memory Foam |
| Helix Midnight | Hybrid |
| DreamCloud | Firm |
| Nolah | Queen-Size |
| Bear | Athletes |
FAQs
Does a platform bed make a mattress firmer?
In short, no. It does, however, create more support for the mattress and anyone who’s lying on it. Remember, firmness and support are two different things. Firmness has to do with the feel of the bed, while support has to do with the foundation — how much of a lift you’re getting, how much weight a mattress can handle, etc. If you’re looking to make your mattress firmer, we recommend looking into a firm mattress topper.
What size mattress works with a platform bed?
Most of the time, a 10″ or 12″ mattress will be a good fit for a platform bed.
Are all types of mattresses compatible with platform beds?
For the most part, yes. It’s rare that you’ll find a mattress type that won’t fit on a platform bed. At the same time, some mattresses are more comfortable on platform beds than others. Anything with a comfort layer of foam in it (i.e. every mattress in this roundup) is going to work especially well, as the softness and pressure relief keep you from feeling the firm surface below. Also, every brand on this list has its own platform bed available, meaning that all of the mattresses are easily paired with an additional sleep foundation.
How far apart should the slats be on a platform bed?
If your platform bed uses slats, you want them to be no more than 2.75″ apart from one another. Also, make sure they all have the same distance between them. This creates an even foundation and leaves plenty of room for airflow.
Does a platform bed need a box spring?
Nope! A platform bed is a more supportive alternative to a box spring — not an addition. Once you’ve set it up, just place your mattress on it and enjoy a good night’s rest!
