Costco is America’s most popular bulk warehouse store. You can get nearly anything you can imagine—and a lot of things you never expected—at Costco. While you may have thought of Costco primarily as a place to buy bulk food, printer ink by the box, and that jumbo bottle of antacids, it turns out that Costco mattresses can be a great deal, too.
A Caveat
The thing about mattresses is you must shop wisely. Some things are a real steal; others are no cheaper, and sometimes even more expensive, than you might pay elsewhere. Costco mattresses are no exception.
If you choose the right Costco mattress, you will get a great deal. If you choose the wrong one, you may cash out for something you’ll hate in just a few months. The key to avoiding this is to know which Costco mattress is the right one for you. Our review will help you navigate the offerings and find out which brands to choose and which brands to avoid.
image via Flickr
What Mattress Brands Does Costco Carry?
Costco has a relationship with several mattress brands, including some big names you have heard before, such as Simmons Beautyrest, Tempur-Pedic, Sealy, Eight, Brentwood Home, Comfort Tech, and more. Don’t be fooled into thinking that just because you’ve heard of the brand before that it’s the best one for you. The mattress market is always in flux and new brands are being developed all the time. Costco mattresses are no different, and it’s important to do your research before you make a purchase as large as a mattress.
Costco Mattress Types
There are a couple of different ways of understanding mattress types:
Firmness
A soft mattress usually gives a great deal and feels a bit like a hug when you fall into it. These are better for side sleepers, younger people, and people who don’t weigh too much. A mattress with medium firmness is the most popular type. However you sleep and whatever you weigh, you will probably be okay with a medium-firm mattress, although a firmer or softer mattress might be more comfortable. Heavier people and people who sleep on their stomach tend to prefer firm mattresses.
Material
Mattresses these days are usually composed of foam, latex, or inner-spring coil. Sometimes a mattress may be a combination of two of these. Coil mattresses are the most common and usually the cheapest. They’re usually the coolest to lie on, and they often come with a pillow top that makes them extra comfortable. The cheapest coil mattresses are usually low quality, so with springs, it’s always a good idea to get the best you can afford.
Memory foam mattresses are the current popular favorite. The biggest complaint with them is that they sleep hot, but manufacturers are working to change that and the situation has improved in recent years. This mattress type reduces pressure points and absorbs movement, making them a great mattress for couples.
Latex mattresses are firm and bouncy. They offer consistent support across the entire bed and have a similar comfort level to a memory foam bed. People with back pain particularly appreciate a fine latex mattress.
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Pricing
The price you pay will depend, of course, on the size you want. Twins are typically the cheapest, but you don’t actually pay all that much more to go up to a queen, or even a king. The cheapest price we found at Costco for a twin was about $500. The cheapest king was $650. If you want, you can go up to about $1,100 for one of the more expensive king mattresses. Expect the queen size mattresses to be between $100 and $150 more than twins of the same make.
How They Compare
We looked at five different Costco mattresses to see how they compare with each other. We considered the comfort level offered by each one. We also considered how durable they are because no one wants to be replacing a mattress more often than they have to. We also considered pros and cons offered by people who own them and looked into the design quality and what kind of warranty each mattress comes with. The four we chose to compare are the following:
- Novaform Plush Memory Foam 12″ Mattress
- Comfort Tech Elite Aurora 12″ Medium Mattress
- Simmons Beautyrest 14” SurfaceCool Gel Memory Foam Mattress
- Eight Sleep Mars+ System 11″ Hybrid Sleep Tracking and Temperature Control Mattress
Novaform Plush Memory Foam 12″ Mattress
The Novaform is a foam mattress that offers different firmness levels based on your choice. Each one comes with six inches of base foam and then three inches of the patented “Air Channel” foam and three inches of ultra-soft memory foam. This mattress evenly distributes body weight and never needs to be flipped or rotated.
Price – $550-$900
Expect to pay about $550 for a full size and up to around $900 for a king.
Comfort (****)
Interestingly, many users initially don’t care for this mattress. They report finding it too firm, even when ordering the softest model. Yet most of them seem to change their minds after using it for a few weeks. They report that, over time, they notice they’re not tossing and turning as much. Those with back and neck issues experience improved sleep.
Durability (***)
This is a cheaper mattress, so it’s not surprising it doesn’t have the best durability in the world. Also, heavier users may experience problems with this mattress.
Design Quality (****)
This is a well-made mattress. Although it feels firm initially, most people find that is just the thing for back support and comfortable sleep. Unlike some other foam mattresses, it does not sleep too hot.
Warranty (*****)
This mattress comes with a 20-year warranty—twice the length of the industry standard.
PROS
- Inexpensive
- Great for those who need a firm mattress
- Very little off-gassing odor
- Good return policy
CONS
- Too firm for some
- Not durable
- Very little off-gassing odor
- Not as good for larger people
Comfort Tech Elite Aurora 12″ Medium Mattress
This is a budget Costco mattress that isn’t sold outside of Costco stores. The mattress comes with eight inches of base foam, three inches of “Serene foam,” and one inch of “Aurora foam.” It is CertiPUR-US certified.
Price – $500-$650
This is one of the cheapest mattresses you can get, but many users like it and speak highly of it despite the budget price.
Comfort (****)
The initial feel of this mattress is great. It has better edge support than many mattresses do, and the overall support is firm and comfortable.
Durability (***)
Durability is where this mattress falls down. It’s made with cheaper materials and those materials don’t last for the long haul. Many who found the mattress comfortable at first reported that it stops being so comfortable after just a short while. However, some users feel that the price still makes it worth buying.
Design Quality (***)
This is a budget mattress made with budget materials for those who can’t afford top-of-the-line brands. It’s one of the best mattresses you can get for this price, but that doesn’t mean it’s one of the best mattresses you can buy at all. If you are young and don’t weigh too much, this mattress could be a real steal. It may disappoint others.
Warranty (****)
This mattress has a fairly standard 10-year industry warranty. This does not cover normal wear and tear.
PROS
- Very little motion transfer makes it great for couples
- Inexpensive
- Supportive for most people
CONS
- Runs warm
- Off-gas smell may last a few days
- Many find it too firm
Simmons Beautyrest 14” SurfaceCool Gel Memory Foam Mattress
The Beautyrest is billed as a memory foam mattress, but it’s actually a crossover. The bottom is pocketed coil innerspring surrounded by memory foam. More memory foam goes in on top of that. It comes with a removable cover and is CertiPUR-US certified. The topmost layer of gel memory foam contains aluminum designed to conduct body heat away from you so you sleep more comfortably.
Price – $500-$800
The twin runs close to $500, and the king is about $800. Look for occasional deals to get a better price.
Comfort (***)
This is one of the most heavily advertised mattresses around, yet when it comes to comfort, many people find it lacking. Many report initial satisfaction only to experience back and neck problems not long into the life of the mattress.
Durability (***)
This mattress doesn’t last very long, and when you’re paying as much as this mattress costs, you expect a little more durability.
Design Quality (**)
Simmons is a big name, and they should stand behind their mattress. Instead, there are widespread reports of problems early on in mattress life and a lot of trouble getting replacements.
Warranty (***)
The warranty is for 10 years, which is fairly standard in the industry. However, many users report difficulty getting Simmons to honor this warranty.
PROS
- Multiple options for firmness level
- Popular and respected brand
- Comfortable
CONS
- Expensive
- Durability issues
- Simmons may not honor the warranty
Eight Sleep Mars+ System 11″ Hybrid Sleep Tracking and Temperature Control Mattress
Eight sleep may be the coolest Costco mattress you’ll run across. This is one of the first companies to use “smart mattress” tech, which allows you to control your mattress from your phone. You can control the warmth of the bed, track your sleep, connect your bed to your whole house, and set a smart alarm, which automatically wakes you during the lightest part of your sleep.
Price – $1,000-1,100
These are the prices for a queen, a king, or a California king. Costco doesn’t carry Eight Sleep mattresses in smaller sizes most of the time.
Comfort (*****)
People love these mattresses for their comfort level. Lots of people who experienced back and neck pain on other mattresses report no such difficulty with their Eight Mars bed. This mattress gets bonus points for being able to warm up before you get in it on those cold nights.
Durability (****)
The company hasn’t been in business long enough to earn five stars here. So far, the mattresses seem durable and a good value for money.
Design Quality (****)
Most people love this mattress and its quality design. The combination of coils and foam is just right, and the tech works perfectly right out of the box.
Warranty (****)
The mattress comes with an industry standard 10-year warranty, but there’s also a 100-night trial period so you can see if this is the right mattress for you. Note that the sleep tracker tech only comes with a one-year warranty.
PROS
- Lots of options
- Smart cover
- Cheaper than other sleep technology
- Comfortable
- No off-gassing
CONS
- Hard to find smaller mattress sizes at Costco
- No financing options
- Expensive
Conclusion
Costco mattresses might not be what Costco is most famous for selling, but it’s possible to find your next great night’s sleep at this warehouse store.
Budget Option
If you need to spend as little as possible but still get a decent mattress, then go for the Comfort Tech Elite Aurora. We give this Costco mattress three stars out of five. It’s cheap, comfortable, and reasonably durable for the price.
A Better Bet
However, if you have more to spend, there’s no reason not to go up to the Novaform Plush Memory Foam. This mattress isn’t that much more expensive than the budget option, but you get a 20-year warranty and a mattress that helps people sleep a lot better. We’d give this mattress a solid four out of five stars.
image via Pexels
Do Not Buy
We can’t recommend the Simmons mattress on this list, despite the big name brand involved. It’s too expensive for the quality and durability, and too many users report issues with getting Simmons to honor the warranty. Our rating? Two stars out of five.
The Best
If you’ve got the money, go for the Eight Sleep Mars mattress. It’s a little pricey, but not nearly as expensive as other mattresses with similar tech. The Mars is durable, comfortable, and well-designed. We think it’s worth four-and-a-half stars out of five.
If you’re ready to upgrade your mattress, then check out all the Costco mattresses available near you. You’re sure to find just the one you need for the perfect night’s sleep!