After years of testing mattresses, we’ve developed tests that evaluate key factors in a mattress.

Hardness and feel

You can think of firmness as how firm or soft your mattress is when you lie on it. We’ve tested hundreds of mattresses and have an extensive catalog to compare with every new bed we test.

When it comes to assessing how we feel, we get handy with the bed. When we press on the bed, we watch what the material does. Does it take a second to rebound like traditional memory foam, or is it quick and bouncy like latex foam?

Durability

Mattresses don’t last forever, and you want to buy one that lasts. Based on its construction, we assume how well the mattress will withstand nighttime use. Beds with steel coil bases generally last longer than all-foam mattresses.

motion isolation

Motion isolation refers to a mattress’s ability to dampen surface movement. This is a big deal for those who sleep with a partner or pet that moves around at night. We jumped and bounced on the mattress for motion isolation and to see how much motion was detected. We would also put a glass of water next to the bed and roll and bounce on the edge of the bed. If it doesn’t tip over, the mattress has good motion isolation.

edge support

The edge support of a mattress refers to the strength of the perimeter of the bed. We lay and sat on the edge of the mattress to assess its firmness. If we feel like we’re going to fall, the edge of the bed isn’t supportive.

temperature

Hot sleepers need to look for a mattress with cooling technology. Many mattresses claim to have it, but we know the difference between marketing and a cooling structure that actually keeps you cool.

Our CNET Sleep editors select the beds and other products we write about based on editorial merit. When you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. Learn more about how we test mattresses.