Saatva Classic Mattress review 2024: A year-long test

Saatva Mattress review in brief

The Saatva Classic mattress is an award-winning luxury innerspring hybrid that has become one of the most sought-after beds in the world. It's Saatva's flagship mattress, designed to suit all sleepers in need of deep pressure relief, full body support and oodles of pain-reducing comfort.

Saatva offers a 365-night sleep trial with the Saatva Classic, so we decided to put that to the test by spending a whole year reviewing this luxury bed. Spoiler-alert: after in-depth testing and extensive consumer review research, we rank the Saatva Classic as the best mattress in the world.

We've reviewed the Saatva Classic in all key areas according to our mattress methodology: pressure relief, temperature regulation, support and comfort, edge support, and build quality (durability). It has scored consistently high test marks in every key area, and is simply the best Saatva mattress money can buy right now.

For our Saatva Classic mattress review, we slept on the Luxury Firm version. Two of our reviewers slept on a queen size luxury firm Saatva Classic for two weeks, and our third tester slept on it for a whole year to capture long-term review data. This is what we discovered...

Saatva Classic specs

MSRP: $1,295 to $2,790 at Saatva
Sale price: From $895 to $2,440
Type: Hybrid innerspring
Materials: Coils, foam
Firmness (/10): Plush Soft (3), Luxury Firm (5-7) or Firm (8)
Depth: 11.5 or 14.5 inches
Trial period: 365 nights
Warranty: Lifetime

From the start of our review process we found the Saatva Classic extremely comfortable. This is a mattress you sleep 'on top of', rather than sinking in too much. Our Luxury Firm version was firmer than we expected, but no less comfortable for it, striking the perfect balance of cushioning for pressure points and support for the spine. While it kept us cool and comfortable, we did note a little motion transfer, which could be an issue for particularly light sleepers who share a bed.

We also caught up with another Saatva Classic owner to see how it was holding up, and were pleased to learn that after 12 months of use, it was still performing incredibly well. Although the sleep feel softened up a little, overall support remained strong, and edge support nice and sturdy, with no signs of weakening. One of the features our reviewers were most impressed by was the pressure relief – this was evident from the first night and just as effective several months down the line.

Price-wise, the Classic sits at the lower end of the premium bracket – and we expect another price drop during the forthcoming Presidents' Day mattress sales. We think it offers strong value for money, delivering the kind of luxurious experience you'd expect from a much more expensive mattress. Deals crop up regularly, too, and it's worth timing your purchase to make sure you get the lowest price (we'll expand on this in the Price section of our review). Free white glove delivery and setup in a room of your choice, a 365-night trial and a lifetime warranty boost value for money – you won't find a more comprehensive or generous set of extras with any other mattress brand.

Saatva Mattress: from $1,295 $1,095 at Saatva
There are always Saatva mattress deals on the Classic, with discounts from $200 to $350. The price of all Saatva mattresses has been increasing this past year, but with a discount you can get a queen Classic for $1,695 (was $1,995). That's a great price for a handmade luxury mattress with free set up in your bedroom and free old mattress removal. Plus, you get a year's trial and a lifetime warranty.View Deal

Saatva Classic mattress dimensions

The Saatva Classic mattress weight limit is up to 600lbs in total, so up to 300lbs per side of the mattress. The dimensions are as follows:

• Saatva Classic twin dimensions: 38'' x 75''

• Saatva Classic twin XL dimensions: 38'' x 80''

• Saatva Classic full dimensions: 54'' x 75''

• Saatva Classic queen dimensions: 60'' x 80''

• Saatva Classic king dimensions: 76'' x 80''

• Saatva Classic split king dimensions: 76'' x 80'' (two Twin XL)

• Saatva Classic Cal King dimensions: 72 x 84''

Saatva Classic mattress review: Design

• Luxury hybrid innerspring mattress

• 3 firmness options (soft, medium firm, firm) and 2 heights

• Design is mostly springs, with a little foam and pillow top

The Saatva Classic is a hybrid innerspring mattress, made from a combination of foams and coils. One area where this mattress stands out immediately is the level of customization on offer. You can pick from three different firmness levels: soft (Saatva calls it 'Plush Soft'), medium ('Luxury Firm') and Firm.

You can also choose from two depths: 11.5 inches and 14.5 inches. The difference here is purely in spring height, and the pricing is the same regardless which one you go for. Sizes range from twin all the way up to split California king. For our Saatva Classic mattress review, we tested the 11.5 inch Luxury Firm version.

Inside the Saatva Classic, there are five distinct tiers. On top, you'll find a 3-inch thick Euro pillow top made from organic cotton, with zoned quilting in the central third for extra lumbar support. The pillow top is designed to cushion your body, and has an antimicrobial fabric treatment to help it stay fresh.

In the centre third of the mattress, beneath the pillow top, is a layer geared specifically towards keeping your spine in healthy alignment (we rate the Classic amongst the best mattresses for back pain). This section is the only part of the mattress to use memory foam – CertiPUR-US certified, of course.

Next, a layer of individually wrapped 14.5-gauge recycled steel coils is designed to contour to your body, providing tailored support and easing pressure points, while reducing motion transfer across the mattress. There are firmer in the central third, to support the lumbar.

These sit on top of a strong, durable base of 13-gauge tempered steel support coils that have been oven heated and aim to prevent the mattress from sagging over time. Together, these two coil layers create a responsive, dual support system that help air flow through the mattress, keeping you cool at night. A foam encasement wraps around the perimeter, offering edge support and helping stabilize the entire mattress.

Saatva has an excellent reputation as a bed brand, backed up by a range of industry accolades – including a sustainability award from the Business Intelligence Group – and thousands of good user reviews, too. We consider it one of the best queen size mattresses around.

The Classic is Saatva's flagship model, and the most popular of the brand's range of nine options. Other options in the lineup include a couple of memory foam models (head to our Loom & Leaf review for more on one of those), a dual-sided latex mattress, and options for bigger bodies and for children (you can see the brand's three top-sellers compare with our Saatva Classic vs Loom & Leaf vs Latex Hybrid faceoff). Finally, for smaller budgets, there are a range of toppers to choose from. We've tested the Saatva Graphite topper and Saatva Foam topper, but there's also a latex option and a micro-coil option.

Saatva Classic mattress review: Support & comfort

• 3 firmness options – we tested the Luxury Firm (7/10 rating)

• Outstanding pressure relief

• Traditional sleep feel – you lie on top, rather than sinking in

The Saatva Classic mattress is available in three firmness levels – Plush Soft, Luxury Firm, and Firm. Saatva describes the Plush Soft as being contouring with a body-hugging feel, stating that it is ideal for lighter weight sleepers and side sleepers. The Luxury Firm is the brand’s most popular comfort level and supports all sleep positions. It's also suitable for co-sleepers who have different firmness preferences and sleep styles.

Finally, the Firm offers a 'floating' feel and is suited to those who prefer a very firm mattress, including stomach sleepers and heavier body weights (note: this bed is designed to support sleepers weighing up to 55lb – if you need something sturdier, there's the similar Saatva HD, one of the best mattresses for heavy people). We rate this version amongst the best firm mattresses around.

If you choose the wrong firmness, you can swap it for another option during the 365-night trial period, but note there is a $99 fee for exchanges or returns (more on this in the Delivery & setup section).

For our review, we put the Luxury Firm version to the test and found it firmly supportive, while still offering excellent pressure relief. The sleep feel is fairly traditional – this is a mattress you lie on top of, near the surface, rather than sinking in. The pillow top cover is cushioned, without too much sink, and the mattress' dual-coil system delivers a buoyant feel with a little bounce.

Saatva classifies the Luxury Firm mattress as medium, and says it measures between 5-7 out of 10 on the firmness scale (with 10 being the firmest). We found that the mattress initially falls on the firm side of medium-firm, classing it between 7 and 7.5 out of 10.

Two of our reviewers slept on the Saatva Classic luxury firm mattress for over two weeks, and having been used to innerspring mattresses, it took no time to break in or adjust. It was extremely comfortable and supportive from the first night. They found that their lower spines and pressure points – including shoulders, hips and knees – felt cushioned and supported, with their weight distributed evenly. We give this model very high marks for side and back sleeping in particular.

If you're used to memory foam mattress, it may take you a little time to get used to the slight bounce of the springs, but otherwise you should find very little adjustment needed.

Saatva Classic mattress review: Performance

• Some slight motion transfer, but still suitable for most couples

• Strong temperature regulation – doesn't trap heat

• Edge support is sturdy

Two of our reviewers slept on the Luxury Firm Saatva Classic for two weeks, and another two reviewers tested the Saatva mattress for over a year to get a longer-term picture. During our review period, as well as judging the comfort and support on offer, we also assessed the mattress in key areas of performance including motion isolation, temperature regulation, edge support and durability. Here's what we discovered during the review process…

Motion isolation

The trade off for that more responsive, slightly bouncy sleep surface is that the Saatva Classic doesn't isolate movement as well as, say, an all-foam model. We noted a little motion transfer during our testing period. While it wasn't enough to disturb our testers' sleep, and would still recommend this mattress to most couples, it is something to be aware of if you have a particularly restless partner who's prone to lots of tossing and turning at night. (As a rule, memory foam mattresses are better at motion isolation than anything with springs, although it does vary from model to model.)

Temperature regulation

There was no uncomfortable heat retention with the Saatva Classic. Our reviewers all found the temperature remained neutral throughout the night, with the mattress not becoming too hot or too cool at any point.

As a rule, foams can struggle with trapping body heat, while coils do not. There's only a little bit of foam in the Saatva Classic, compared to plenty of springs, creating lots of space for air to circulate freely. So we're not surprised that this model performs well when it comes to temperature regulation. The fact that the cover is made from cotton, which is a naturally breathable material, will help matters too.

Edge support

Edge support refers to how sturdy a mattress feels around its perimeter. Sturdy edges make getting into and out of bed much easier, and enable you to make use of the full sleep surface. The Saatva Classic mattress offers excellent edge support. Our reviewers could sleep right up to the edge without it sagging or feeling like they might roll off.

Durability

As you'll discover in our 'One year on' section, the Saatva Classic holds up very well in terms of durability. However, one aspect to watch out for is body indentations over time. These are unavoidable with most mattresses, and while the Saatva Classic's steel coils will do much to protect against this, the Euro pillow top (although denser than a standard pillow top) is likely to imprint eventually, when you're sleeping on it for six-eight hours each night.

The risk is a lot lower here than for a pure foam mattress, but we would recommend rotating your Saatva mattress regularly, especially for the first six months, and trying not to sleep in exactly the same spot each night.

Saatva Classic mattress review: Price

• Regular discounts up to a maximum of $350 off

• Queen $1,995 at MSRP, but usually discounted to $1,695

• Comes with free luxury shipping and a lifetime warranty

The Saatva Classic mattress sits at the lower end of the premium price bracket. Unfortunately, prices have risen a few times since we first reviewed this mattress (it's far from the only brand to have to bump up its prices). While the Classic isn't as strong value for money as it once was, we think it's still an excellent investment, and the quality justifies that slightly higher price.

You can almost always avoid paying MSRP, too. Like most mattress brands, Saatva almost always has some kind of deal running. We track prices and deals patterns closely and record our findings on our Saatva mattress sales page. We see 12% or 15% off fairly regularly, or sometimes it's a tiered money-off system, with bigger price-drops on pricier models. Often, the result is a similar price on most models, but do pay particular attention if you're after the twin bed size (this is included in some offers but not in others.)

Here's the MSRP for each size, alongside the kind of deal price you can expect to actually pay:

• Twin: MSRP $1,295 (this has increased from $1,095)

• Twin XL: MSRP $1,395 (usually on sale for $1,195)

• Full: MSRP $1,895 (usually on sale for $1,595)

• Queen: MSRP $1,995 (usually on sale for $1,695)

• King: MSRP $2,495 (usually on sale for $2,195)

• Split king: MSRP $2,790 (usually on sale for $2,440)

• Cal king: MSRP $2,495 (usually on sale for $2,195)

• Split cal king: MSRP $2,790 (usually on sale for $2,440)

To help amp up value, Saatva has really gone to town when it comes to extras. Customers will get a full year's trial period and lifetime warranty (which match the best you'll find anywhere), as well as free white glove delivery and setup in your room of choice, and free old mattress and foundation removal too (which all other brands charge for, as far as we're aware). And of course you can pick your height and firmness level at no extra charge, too. You won't find better perks with any other mattress.

When is the best time to buy the Saatva Classic?

Using the queen bed size as the benchmark, the lowest price we've recorded was $1,345 in early May 2022. That was the result of a special Tom's Guide discount. Due to the rising prices, we're not expecting to see those kinds of lows again. In 2023, the queen Classic has been $1,695 most of the time.

Some brands bump up their discounts in the sales events that accompany national holidays – so it's worth checking around Labor Day, Presidents' Day, the 4th of July and Memorial Day, if it suits when you need to buy. However, the very best time to buy is in the Black Friday mattress deals in late November – these traditionally deliver the lowest prices of the year.

How does the pricing compare to competitor mattress brands? The Classic is roughly in line with what we think are the best luxury mattresses around, bar the Tempur-Adapt mattress, which is more expensive.

Frequent mattress sales muddy the waters a bit, but based on what you'll usually pay, the Classic is in the same price bracket as the Purple Plus mattress, the WinkBed mattress and the GhostBed Luxe. While all of these scored well in our reviews, all have shorter trial periods than the Saatva Classic, and only the WinkBed offers customization options (and even then, only in terms of firmness, not height).

Saatva Classic mattress review: Delivery & setup

• Free white glove delivery to room of choice

• Delivered flat rather than vacuum packed

• $99 fee for exchanges and returns

One key area where Saatva stands out is that unlike many of its online-only rivals, the Saatva Classic mattress isn't a mattress in a box. That means it won't arrive rolled up in a package on your doorstep, but instead is shipped flat.

To make this more manageable, Saatva offers free white glove delivery as standard: a local shipping company will hand-deliver and set up your mattress in the room of your choice, and remove your old mattress (for free) too, if you want. As well as being ultra-convenient, this approach also means the brand is able to include more springs in the design, resulting in that bouncy, traditional innerspring feel you read about in the Comfort section of our review. This is the most generous and comprehensive delivery offering we've come across – some bed brands offer similar things, but not for free.

All of Saatva's mattresses come with a 365-night risk-free trial, so you have plenty of time to decide if the Classic is right for you. Trials of a year are rare in the industry, and you won't find any that are longer than that. If you choose not to keep the mattress for any reason, Saatva will collect it, donate it to a Veteran's shelter and refund your money – less a $99 processing fee. You can also exchange your mattress for a different firmness level or depth for the same $99 fee during your trial period.

Those processing fees are pretty unusual, and one of the few things we'd mark Saatva down on. None of Saatva's closest competitors charge a fee for exchanges or returns.

Saatva ships its mattresses with a non-prorated lifetime warranty. If there's a defect within the first two years, you'll get a free replacement. From year three onward, Saatva will repair or replace your mattress; you'll just need to pay a $149 processing fee.

Saatva Classic mattress review: Year-long test

Saatva Classic mattress tester Diana Kelly Levey has slept on the mattress for over a year now. She recently wrote about here long-term test experience and whether she thinks the Saatva mattress is worth buying in the Black Friday sales.

Diana Kelly Levey

A freelance writer, content marketing writer, and digital strategist, Diana Kelly Levey lives in Long Island, NY, with her husband, son and adopted dog. We asked what her mattress is like a year later - and if anything has changed.

TG: How long have you had the Saatva Classic mattress?
Diana Kelly Levey: A little over one year.

What firmness score would you give it?
DKL: It felt like a 7 [out of 10] when I first got it. I might say it's about 6.5 now. It felt quite firm at first after sleeping on a seven-year-old innerspring mattress so the support was noticeable. Now, it still feels supportive but not quite as firm, but I'm okay with that.

What's it like to sleep on? 
DKL: You sleep on top of this mattress. I’m a side sleeper and stomach sleeper, but when we got this I was in my second trimester of pregnancy so I needed to sleep on my side. I noticed the support and pressure relief instantly. In terms of temperature, I don't think it sleeps warm or cool.

My husband mostly sleeps on his back and switches to his side. He has back pain and was experiencing more aches on our old mattress. Once we started sleeping on the Saatva he noticed some of that pain decreasing.

Is there any motion transfer? Has this changed over time?
DKL: Motion transfer was one of the main reasons I sought out this mattress. My husband and I sometimes have opposite sleeping schedules and I didn’t want one person getting out of bed to wake up the other person.

With the initial firmness of the mattress, I didn’t feel any movement on my side of the bed when he would get in or out. Now, I’d say the pressure change in the mattress feels a little different if I'm awake and he gets in or out, but when I’m sleeping well and he gets up, I don’t notice it at all.

How good is the edge support on the Saatva mattress?
DKL: Edge support was important to me as well, and the Saatva Classic offers that in spades.

We got a king-size mattress so we’d each have more room to spread out. My husband is 6'3" and spends a lot of time sleeping near the edge of the bed, and so far it's still firm and supportive. I put my side through the wringer, bouncing and rocking a screaming newborn while sitting on the side of the bed and it's still firm.

How well has the Saatva Classuc aged in the time you've had it?
DKL: I like it more as the firmness has decreased a bit – I’m sleeping on top still, but sink in a bit more. It's challenging to say though because I was pregnant when I first got this so sleeping was a different experience. (The support and pressure relief was amazing during pregnancy, but getting in and out of a bed that's over 3 inches higher was a bigger challenge later in pregnancy.)

Would you recommend this mattress to others?
DKL: Yes, it's very supportive and comfortable but also plush with the pillow top. It’s good for couples, people who sleep in different positions, and those looking for a medium firm option from an innerspring mattress that has a pillowtop.

What score would you give it out of 10? 
DKL: I’d give it an 8 because it offers good pressure relief, customer service was great and I liked their white glove delivery service. It’s also nice that there wasn’t any off-gassing and we could sleep on it right away. I’m hoping it holds up well since it was a costly purchase, but with a 15-year warranty, I felt comfortable making the decision. Not knowing how well it holds up in a few years keeps me from giving it a 9 or 10.

Saatva Classic mattress review: User reviews

• Rated 4.8/5 stars from nearly 6,000 reviews for the Saatva Classic

• Some had to change firmness before finding the right one

• Lots of reviewers found it eased their back pain

Our reviewers loved the Saatva Classic mattress, but all mattresses feel different from person to person. Your experience will depend on your body shape, size, weight, whether you sleep hot, what type of mattress you previously slept on and your own personal preferences, too.

To build a more rounded review of what the Saatva Mattress is like to sleep on for most people, we dug into the customer comments on the Saatva site, to seek out any recurring themes. While there are tens of thousands of comments, Saatva doesn't separate by model, making it very difficult to tell which mattress a customer is talking about.

That said, the Classic is the bestseller in the Saatva range, and an average score of 4.8 out of 5 from approximately 6,000 user views (May 2023) is impressive.

There are plenty of comments from those who suffer from back or joint pain, and who found the Saatva mattress eased or even alleviated that pain completely. Reviews paint a positive picture for longevity, too – lots of people have posted 1-, 2- or even 5-year reviews, and say their mattress has held up impressively well, and remains extremely comfortable.

(There are a handful of reviews saying the mattress had started to develop sleep indentations, but we don't know which model these comments relate to.) Saatva’s customer service receives glowing praise throughout, with users commenting on expertise, speed of response and willingness to help.

Of the negative comments we found, almost all are to do with the mattress being softer or firmer than expected (you can swap out for another firmness level if you pick wrong, although you will incur that $99 processing fee). It's notable that even when customers weren't super happy with their mattress, they still spoke highly of the customer service they received from Saatva, and found the exchange process smooth.

Should you buy the Saatva Classic mattress?

To the important part of our Saatva Classic mattress review: should you buy one? It's a resounding yes from us. If you're looking for an extremely comfortable high-end hybrid that provides noticeable support across the entire mattress and on the edges, doesn't retain heat, and has minimal motion transfer and gentle bounce, the Saatva Classic mattress is an excellent choice.

We like the customization options, and Saatva's willingness to help customers find exactly the right version too. Even in light of inflation, it's still well priced within the luxury market, with the added convenience of free white glove delivery, which leaves nothing for you to do but make the bed. The 1-year trial is also a nice perk – it's well beyond the industry average (120 nights) and will allow you to gauge performance of the mattress across all seasons.

If you're seeking comfort, design and all-round great value, the Saatva Classic is the best-value luxury mattress you can buy, and an excellent choice for most people.

Saatva Classic mattress review: 3 best alternatives

The DreamCloud Hybrid

If the Saatva is out of your budget, check out the DreamCloud – another luxe-feeling hybrid mattress yet for a mid-range price. This model contains more foam than the Saatva, so you'll get more of that memory foam squishiness. You don't have the option to pick your firmness or height preference here, and we think that lightweight sleepers might find it a bit too firm. Head to our DreamCloud mattress review to find out more.

The WinkBed

The WinkBed also comes in a variety of firmness levels, but also offers a fourth option for heavier bodies and is around $400 cheaper for a queen than the Saatva. In our WinkBed Mattress review we praise its deep comfort for side and back sleepers, and especially those with back pain thanks to its lumbar support section. The trial period is just 120 nights compared to Saatva’s year-long trial, but that’s still ample time to test it.

Purple Plus

As with The DreamCloud you don't have the option to pick a firmness level here, but the bouncy, stretchy GelFlex grid is great at delivering softness and support. This mattress excels when it comes to pressure relief too, and is a great choice if you want more of the body contouring feel of memory foam with none of the heat-trapping side effects. While the sleep feel is not 'traditional' like the Saatva, it will bounce back instantly. Head to our Purple Plus mattress review to find out more.

Saatva Classic mattress review: FAQs

Where can you buy the Saatva Classic mattress?

The Saatva Classic is only available to purchase via Saatva itself, so you won't find these luxury mattresses in any third party retailers – whether in store or online. Saatva has 12 different Viewing Rooms located across America for you to view and test the Classic (and other Saatvas) in person, with every bed available to purchase from the Saatva website.

Does the Saatva Classic mattress come in a box?

No, the Saatva Classic is not a mattress in a box and instead ships 'flat', just like a traditional mattress. Saatva offers free White Glove Delivery on all of its mattresses, including the Classic. Free White Glove Delivery means you'll get the Classic delivered direct to your bedroom and set up by Saatva's mattress installation team.

If you arrange it in advance, they will also remove your old mattress and bed frame, along with any packaging the Classic is wrapped in. That's exceptional value for money considering you can get a queen size Saatva mattress on sale for around $1,695.

The day before your new mattress arrives, Saatva's delivery partners will call you with a four-hour window for delivery. All Saatva mattresses are made to order so it isn't always possible to expedite delivery.

Is the Saatva Classic mattress non-toxic?

The Saatva Classic is made without fiberglass or toxic chemical flame retardants. Instead the company opts for a plant-based thistle plump flame barrier. Elsewhere you'll find organic cotton, a botancial antimicrobial treatment to stop the growth of mold and bacteria, plus recycled steel coils to cradle your body.