The original Purple mattress launched a new kind of bed-in-a-box: one with unique materials and a very unique feel. Consumers gave this unusual mattress a chance, and thus one of today’s most popular online mattress brands (Purple) was born.
Will the original Purple offer high-quality sleep? Read on for our unbiased Purple mattress review!
Purple Mattress
Purple is an innovative mattress that is a great fit for all three sleeping positions and doesn’t sleep hot.
Material
Hybrid
Trial Period
100 nights
Shipping Method
Free shipping
Firmness
Medium-firm: 6.5/10
Warranty
10-year warranty
Price Range
$799 - $1998
We recommend this mattress for the following sleeper types:
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.
Stomach Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight stomach sleepers.Financing Options
Financing options are available for this mattress.
Purple Mattress
Purple is an innovative mattress that is a great fit for all three sleeping positions and doesn’t sleep hot.
Material
Hybrid
Warranty
10-year warranty
Firmness
Medium-firm: 6.5/10
Shipping Method
Free shipping
Trial Period
100 nights
Price Range
$799 - $1998
We recommend this mattress for the following sleeper types:
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.
Stomach Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight stomach sleepers.Financing Options
Financing options are available for this mattress.
Purple Mattress
Purple is an innovative mattress that is a great fit for all three sleeping positions and doesn’t sleep hot.
Material
Hybrid
Firmness
Medium-firm: 6.5/10
Trial Period
100 nights
Warranty
10-year warranty
Shipping Method
Free shipping
Price Range
$799 - $1998
We recommend this mattress for the following sleeper types:
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.
Stomach Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight stomach sleepers.Financing Options
Financing options are available for this mattress.
Purple Mattress Review: An Overview
The key to the Purple’s success is its proprietary Purple Grid. This is made of a hyper-elastic gel polymer and it’s unlike any other mattress material. It’s firm and pressure-relieving at the same time and, honestly, it’s hard to describe! The Purple Grid is durable, making this a great long-lasting mattress (it should last about 7 to 10 years). A queen size Purple mattress comes in at $1399.00, making it an excellent mattress for the money.
Because this is such a unique mattress, it’s more likely to appeal to certain types of sleepers. Here’s a quick look at who might like the Purple, and who might not.
Who Is the Purple Mattress Best For?
- Back sleepers who require plenty of spinal support and pain relief
- Heavier-weight side sleepers who will activate the Purple’s gel grid
- Hot sleepers who are looking for a mattress that sleeps cool
- Those who want one of the best mattresses for the money
Who Is the Purple Mattress Not Recommended For?
- Light- and medium-weight side sleepers will find that the original Purple feels too firm
- Folks who want a mattress with a traditional feel
- Folks who want to sink into their mattress
Purple Mattress Video Review
Want to take a closer look at the original Purple mattress? Check out our in-depth video review! Our reviewer, Marten, will assess this bed’s construction and share his experiences with sleeping in multiple positions on the Purple.
Purple Mattress Firmness and Feel
When shopping for a new mattress, it’s critical to consider a bed’s firmness and feel. These factors have a big impact on whether a mattress will feel comfortable for different types of sleepers.
RELATED: Best Pillows for Every Type of Sleeper
How Firm Is the Purple?
We ranked the Purple a 6.5 out of 10 on the firmness scale. The industry standard for medium firmness is 6.5, so this suggests the Purple is right around medium-firm.
Note that a sleeper’s perception of a bed’s firmness varies a bit depending on their weight. In this case, heavier-weight sleepers might find the original Purple feels softer, while light- and medium-weight folks might find it to be on the firmer side.
Sleeping on the Purple Mattress
The Purple felt like a fantastic match while back sleeping. The Purple Grid collapsed under our butts to provide some pressure relief, while the grid stayed upright everywhere else, creating plenty of support.
Moving to our sides, we experienced some pressure relief around the hip and shoulder. Note that lighter-weight folks might not experience as much pressure relief in this position.
The Purple mattress felt like a great match while we were stomach sleeping. It offers plenty of support, keeping the hips elevated and aligned with the spine. It’s one of the best mattresses for stomach sleepers and best mattresses for combination sleepers.
What Does the Purple Feel Like?
The original Purple mattress has a unique feel that’s simultaneously squishy and firm. This is thanks to the mattress’s proprietary hyper-elastic gel polymer grid, which collapses when enough pressure is applied (for pressure relief) and stays upright everywhere else (for support). There’s no other mattress that feels quite like this one.
Average Weight Sleepers – 130 lbs – 230 lbs
Most average-weight sleepers should find the original Purple to be a great mattress for back sleeping (though folks who are on the lightest end of the spectrum might not get enough pressure relief). Side sleepers who are on the heavier side of the spectrum should be heavy enough to collapse the gel grid and enjoy pressure relief around the shoulder and hip. Lighter-weight folks will probably feel that the bed is too firm in this position. Average-weight stomach sleepers should enjoy the Purple’s supportive nature.
RELATED: Best Mattress for Back Pain
Heavyweight Sleepers – Over 230 lbs
The Purple should be a great match for many heavyweight back sleepers. However, folks who weigh 300 pounds or more might need to look for a more supportive mattress with coils. Heavyweight side sleepers should enjoy plenty of pressure relief on the Purple because they’ll activate the gel grid enough to collapse it and experience cradling relief. As with back sleepers, many heavyweight stomach sleepers could feel well-supported. Folks weighing 300 pounds or more will want a more supportive mattress.
Lightweight Sleepers – Under 130 lbs
Lightweight back and side sleepers should find that the original Purple feels too firm because they won’t be heavy enough to collapse the gel grid and enjoy pressure relief. The Purple should provide plenty of support for lightweight stomach sleepers. It is actually the best mattress for lightweight sleepers who prefer something firm.
Purple is an innovative mattress that is a great fit for all three sleeping positions and doesn’t sleep hot.
Get up to $300 off premium mattresses
Purple Mattress Construction
Now that we’ve assessed what it feels like to lie on top of the Purple, let’s take a look under the hood (or, er, fabric cover). We’ll assess the original Purple’s construction and review how these construction elements might affect performance.
Cover
The Purple SoftFlex cover is thin, breathable, and stretchy enough to move with the Purple’s gel grid. This means it shouldn’t interfere with the grid’s performance.
Comfort Layers
The first main comfort layer is composed of 2″ of the proprietary Purple Grid. The grid is made from a hyper-elastic gel polymer that remains firm and supportive until enough pressure is applied, at which point the grid will collapse for some pressure relief. There’s a foam encasement wrapped around the edges of the gel grid, strengthening the mattress’s edge support.
Below the gel grid, there’s a layer of soft, responsive foam. This layer adds some additional pressure relief to the mattress.
Support Layer
The original Purple’s base layer is made from a firm, supportive foam that provides structure and support for the mattress overall.
Mattress Height
The original Purple mattress is 9.5″ tall.
Purple Mattress Size Options and Price
To see the most up-to-date size and pricing information for the original Purple mattress, check out the chart below.
| Size | Dimensions | Price |
| Twin | 38" x 75" | $799.00 |
| Twin XL | 38" x 80" | $999.00 |
| Full | 54” x 75” | $1199.00 |
| Queen | 60" x 80" | $1399.00 |
| King | 76" x 80" | $1799.00 |
| California King | 72" x 84" | $1799.00 |
| Split King | 76" 80" | $1998.00 |
Make sure to read our Purple Hybrid Premier mattress review as well as our Purple vs Purple Hybrid Premier comparison and don’t miss out on this great deal:
Purple is an innovative mattress that is a great fit for all three sleeping positions and doesn’t sleep hot.
Get up to $300 off premium mattresses
Purple Mattress Performance
Here’s where the rubber really meets the road! We put the original Purple mattress through a range of tests to assess its performance with regards to temperature regulation, motion transfer, edge support, and more. Let’s see how it did.
RELATED: Purple Pillow Review
Sleeping Hot or Cold
The Purple does a fantastic job of regulating temperature. In fact, it should provide a temperature neutral sleeping surface. The gel grid and breathable cover allow tons of room for airflow, so this mattress shouldn’t overheat. This makes it ideal for folks who are prone to sleeping hot. See our best cooling mattresses for more like the Purple.
Motion Transfer
Because the gel grid is responsive and fairly bouncy, the mattress doesn’t do a great job of absorbing motion transfer. Folks who sleep with a partner might consider a different mattress for couples.
Edge Support
We found the edge support on the original Purple to be pretty good. A foam encasement runs around the perimeter of the gel grid to help shore up edge support. We felt like we could sit and lie down near the edge while still feeling secure.
Durability
Thanks to the durable hyper-elastic polymer in the gel grid, this should be a long-lasting mattress. This means it should be a great long-term investment.
Off-Gassing
We didn’t observe any significant off-gassing from the Purple mattress. With some newly unboxed memory foam mattresses, there will be a heavy chemical smell, but we did not notice this with the Purple.
Noise
This doesn’t seem like a noisy mattress at all. We didn’t observe any notable noise when we moved around or changed positions at night.
Sex
When people seek out a mattress for sex, they’re typically looking for a bed that makes it easy to move around. The Purple mattress should be a great fit because its bouncy and responsive feel makes it easy to switch positions on top of the mattress.
Purple Mattress Company Policies
Now we will walk you through the policies that come with the Purple mattress. You never know, the fine print may have a bigger impact on your purchase decision than expected.
Warranty
The Purple mattress comes with a 10-year warranty. Learn more about the warranty on Purple’s website.
Sleep Trial
A 100-night sleep trial will give you enough time to decide whether or not the Purple mattress is the right fit for you.
Return Policy
If you’ve slept on the Purple mattress for at least 21 days and still don’t love it, you may return the mattress within the 100-night sleep trial. If the Purple mattress is clean and undamaged, you will be refunded the full product price of the mattress less the value of any discount, interest accrued, and/or shipping charges.
Complaints
We suggest reviewing our mattress guides before deciding what’s best for your body type and sleep habits. While a firmer mattress like the Purple may be a great fit for heavier people, or stomach and back sleepers, it won’t be the best fit for lightweight sleepers or side sleepers looking for a plush mattress.
Purple is an innovative mattress that is a great fit for all three sleeping positions and doesn’t sleep hot.
Get up to $300 off premium mattresses
How Does the Purple Compare to Other Mattresses?
Anyone who’s considering the Purple mattress probably took a peek at other major brands in the bed-in-a-box space, such as Casper or Nectar. Let’s review how the Purple stacks up against these other popular options.
Compare Purple to other mattresses on our mattress comparison page.
Casper vs. Original Purple Mattress Comparison
The Casper and Purple mattresses vary significantly in their construction. The original Casper mattress features an all-foam construction and a Zoned Support system that’s firmer near the middle of the mattress and softer near the head and foot. As noted above, the Purple is primarily constructed from the brand’s proprietary hyper-elastic gel polymer.
RELATED: Purple vs Tempur-Pedic
These construction differences produce very different feels. The original Casper has a balanced foam feel that’s responsive and bouncy. As we’ve discussed, the Purple has a squishy-yet-firm feel that’s also bouncy and responsive.
These mattresses also differ slightly in terms of their firmness levels. We ranked the Purple at 6.5/10, while we ranked the Casper a touch firmer at 7/10.
The mattresses are most similar when it comes to price. Depending on discounts and coupons, both mattresses should cost around $1,000 or so for a Queen size.
Who Should Get the Casper?
- Folks who like a balanced foam feel
- Back sleepers
- Light- and medium-weight combination sleepers
Who Should Get the Purple?
- Hot sleepers because the Purple’s materials allow for more airflow
- Folks who want a more durable mattress
- Heavier-weight side sleepers
Curious about the Casper? Learn more in our in-depth Casper mattress review.
Nectar vs. Original Purple Comparison
The Nectar and Purple mattresses have very different constructions and materials, which is most evident in their comfort layers. The Nectar’s comfort layers feature multiple layers of memory foam, while the Purple features a hyper-elastic gel polymer.
RELATED: Purple vs Tuft and Needle
These materials create different feels. Thanks to its memory foam, the Nectar has a slow-moving feel offering plenty of pressure relief and body contouring. Once again, the Purple is bouncy, responsive, and simultaneously squishy and firm.
The firmness ranking for these mattresses will depend a bit on the weight of the sleeper in question, but we ranked both of these beds around a 6.5/10.
The Nectar and Purple are also very similar in terms of price, although the Purple costs around $100 less.
Who Should Get the Nectar?
- Folks who like a memory foam feel
- Lighter-weight sleepers
- Side sleepers who need plenty of body contouring
Who Should Get the Purple?
- Heavier-weight sleepers
- Folks who want a more durable mattress
- Combination sleepers
Want to know more about the Nectar? Check out our comprehensive Nectar mattress review.
Purple is an innovative mattress that is a great fit for all three sleeping positions and doesn’t sleep hot.
Get up to $300 off premium mattresses
Overall Rating
Purple Mattress FAQs
Still have questions? We’ve got answers to some of the most commonly asked questions about the original Purple mattress.
What is the Purple mattress made of?
The Purple mattress features a unique hyper-elastic gel polymer in its comfort layer. This forms the proprietary Purple Grid that is breathable, supportive, and comfortable at the same time. This rests on two layers of support foam.
How much does the Purple mattress weigh?
It does depend on which size mattress you purchase, but a Queen-size Purple mattress weighs 110 lbs.
How long do Purple mattresses last?
Purple mattresses are very durable thanks to the gel grid. They should last for approximately 7 to 10 years.
Do you need a box spring with a Purple mattress?
Nope! You do not need to use a box spring with a Purple mattress. It's okay to lay it directly on a base.
Can you flip a Purple mattress?
No, the Purple mattress is not flippable. Flipping the mattress would result in sleeping on the firmer base layer instead of the gel grid.
Where can you try a Purple mattress?
Purple mattresses are available to try and buy in select mattress stores like Mattress Firm, Macy's, and Rooms to Go. You can find a mattress store near you that carries Purple mattresses by searching here. If you are not near a retail location, Purple also offers a 100-night trial with a mattress purchase. If you still don't love your mattress after 21 nights, you can begin a mattress return for a full refund within the 100-night trial period.
