Looking for an affordable memory foam mattress? Consider the Zinus Cooling Gel Memory Foam bed! It comes in four thicknesses and costs less than $1,000.
Will this value bed offer sound sleep? Read our unbiased review to find out! We’ll cover everything about the Zinus Cooling Gel Memory Foam mattress, including its firmness, feel, construction, temperature regulation, performance, and much more.
Zinus Cooling Gel Memory Foam Mattress
The Zinus Cooling Gel Memory Foam is a value mattress that is a great option for side sleepers and couples.
Material
Foam
Trial Period
100 nights
Shipping Method
Free shipping
Firmness
Soft: 6/10
Warranty
10-year warranty
Price Range
$254 - $683
Zinus Cooling Gel Memory Foam Mattress
The Zinus Cooling Gel Memory Foam is a value mattress that is a great option for side sleepers and couples.
Material
Foam
Warranty
10-year warranty
Firmness
Soft: 6/10
Shipping Method
Free shipping
Trial Period
100 nights
Price Range
$254 - $683
Zinus Cooling Gel Memory Foam Mattress
The Zinus Cooling Gel Memory Foam is a value mattress that is a great option for side sleepers and couples.
Material
Foam
Firmness
Soft: 6/10
Trial Period
100 nights
Warranty
10-year warranty
Shipping Method
Free shipping
Price Range
$254 - $683
Zinus Cooling Gel Memory Foam Mattress Overview
The Zinus brand is known for making value mattresses emphasizing comfort. They have many great models like the Zinus Cooling Copper Hybrid mattress. The brand also infuses its mattresses with natural ingredients such as charcoal, green tea, and olive oil. It uses CertiPUR-US certified foams to eliminate chemical flame retardants, formaldehyde, and phthalates. We’ve reviewed many Zinus mattresses and have been impressed by their comfort and value.
The Zinus Cooling Gel Memory Foam mattress is an all-foam bed that uses memory foam and incorporates cooling features. It comes at a value price and in four different thicknesses: 8”, 10”, 12”, and 14”. We reviewed the 12” model.
Who Might Like the Zinus Mattress?
- Couples who are looking for a mattress that minimizes motion transfer
- People who are looking for a cheap mattress
- Side sleepers
- Folks who want to choose from multiple thickness options
Who Might Not Like the Zinus Mattress?
- People who are looking for a long-term investment or luxury mattress
- Heavy-weight sleepers and other folks who require a supportive mattress
- People who don’t like a memory foam feel
RELATED: Memory Foam Vs Hybrid Mattresses
Zinus Video Review
Get up-close-and-personal with the Zinus mattress in our in-depth video review! Our reviewer, Joe, will assess each layer of this bed’s construction and share his experiences with sleeping in every position on this mattress.
Zinus Cooling Gel Memory Foam Mattress Firmness and Feel
To kick off the in-depth portion of this review, let’s take a look at the Zinus’s firmness and feel. These factors have a big influence on whether this mattress (or any bed!) will suit your sleep position(s) and preferences.
How Firm Is the Zinus?
We ranked the firmness on the 12” Zinus model around 6 out of 10 on the firmness scale. The industry standard for medium-firmness is 6.5/10, so this suggests the Zinus is a bit softer than average. The mattress is constructed with several inches of memory foam on top, so you sink in to enjoy pressure relief and body contouring.
Note that firmness is subjective. You might rank this mattress a touch firmer or softer than we did based on your body weight and personal preferences. For instance, heavier-weight sleepers may find this mattress feels a bit firmer. Also note that each thickness option will have a slightly different firmness.
Sleeping on the Zinus
We experienced decent support while back sleeping on the Zinus. The memory foam conformed to the shape of our body, and our hips didn’t sink in too far. That said, heavier-weight back sleepers will probably prefer the 8” or 10” models, which might feel a bit more supportive.
We felt very comfortable while side sleeping on the Zinus. We sank into the memory foam comfort layer and felt pressure melt away from our shoulder and hip. Folks who want even more pressure relief could consider the 14” model, but the 12” is also a great fit for this position.
This mattress is decidedly too soft for stomach sleepers. Our hips sank too far into the memory foam, which tugged the spine out of alignment. People who prefer this position should look for a mattress for stomach sleepers.
What Does the Zinus Mattress Feel Like?
The Zinus Cooling Gel Memory Foam mattress has a classic memory foam feel. While it feels a bit firm at first, the mattress slowly responds to body weight and allows the sleeper to sink in. This is not a bouncy mattress, so it’s a bit difficult to move around and change positions once the mattress has contoured to your body.
Average Weight Sleepers – 130lbs – 230lbs
Average-weight back sleepers should obtain adequate spinal support on this mattress. Average-weight side sleepers will probably love the pressure relief of the Zinus’s memory foam. Opt for the 12” or 14” model to get the most pressure relief. This mattress is not supportive enough for average-weight stomach sleepers.
Heavyweight Sleepers – Over 230lbs
Heavier-weight back sleepers could find decent spinal support on the 8” or 10” models of this mattress, but the 12” and 14” models are probably not supportive enough due to their thick comfort layers. Heavier-weight side sleepers could enjoy enough pressure relief (especially on the thicker models), although some folks might press through the softer layers into the firmer support layers underneath. The Zinus is not supportive enough for heavyweight stomach sleepers, who might want to consider a mattress for heavy people.
Lightweight Sleepers – Under 130lbs
Lightweight back sleepers should enjoy a blend of comfort and support on the Zinus. Lightweight side sleepers will most likely love the pressure-relieving memory foam on this bed. Lightweight stomach sleepers will probably want to look for a more supportive mattress.
Zinus Cooling Gel Memory Foam Mattress Construction
Let’s pop the hood (or cover!) on the Zinus and take a look at what’s inside! We’ll detail each layer of this bed’s construction and reveal how different materials affect feel and performance.
Cover
The Zinus’ cover is made with thin, soft, and stretchy fabric. It doesn’t really affect the overall feel of the mattress.
Comfort Layers
The primary comfort layer on the 12” model of the Zinus is made from 3” of gel memory foam, which offers pressure relief and body contouring. The gel infusion helps the memory foam sleep cooler. Underneath the gel memory foam, there’s a 2” transition layer that’s a bit firmer. This helps ensure that sleepers don’t push through to the firmer support layer underneath.
Support Layers
Underneath the 12” Zinus’s transition layer, there’s a 3.5” layer of high-density foam. Beneath that, there’s another 3.5” layer of high-density base support foam that gives the mattress its structure. Both of these base layers have air channels cut into them to allow for some airflow through the mattress.
Mattress Height
The Zinus comes in four thickness options: 8”, 10”, 12”, and 14”.
Zinus Cooling Gel Memory Foam Size Options and Price
Curious about the latest size and pricing information for the Zinus 12″ mattress? Take a peek at the chart below!
| Size | Dimensions | Price |
| Full | 54" x 75" | $483.00 |
| Queen | 60" x 80" | $559.00 |
| King | 76" x 80" | $677.00 |
| California King | 72" x 84" | $683.00 |
To get the best deals, make sure to use our mattress coupons.
The Zinus Cooling Gel Memory Foam is a value mattress that is a great option for side sleepers and couples.
Get the best deal
Zinus Cooling Gel Memory Foam Mattress Performance
We ran this bed through a bunch of tests to assess its temperature regulation, motion transfer, edge support, and more. Let’s see how it performed!
Sleeping Hot or Cold
All-foam mattresses are known for sleeping hot, but the Zinus combats this with several cooling design features. It includes gel infusions and perforations to stimulate airflow and dissipate heat. Sleepers shouldn’t feel too hot on this bed. Check out our best cooling mattresses for more options.
Motion Transfer
Memory foam does a great job of handling motion transfer, so we weren’t surprised to learn that the Zinus excels in this area. The memory foam absorbs movement and minimizes disturbances across the surface of the bed, so this should be a great mattress for couples.
Edge Support
While memory foam is great for controlling motion transfer, it doesn’t always have the best edge support. This proved true for the Zinus. The edges collapsed quite a bit when we sat and laid down near the sides of this mattress.
Durability
The Zinus is designed to be a value mattress, and it’s not the most durable bed around. If you’re looking for a long-term investment, check out our roundup of long-lasting mattresses.
Off-Gassing
There might be some initial off-gassing from this mattress. That should dissipate within a few days. The Zinus is made with CertiPUR-US certified foams, which means it’s more eco-friendly than conventional foams and is low in volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
Noise
We didn’t observe any notable noise from the Zinus. Because this is an all-foam mattress, it should stay noise-free over the long-term.
Sex
The best mattress for sex makes it easy for partners to change positions. Because the Zinus has a slow-moving feel and allows sleepers to sink deeply into it, it’s not the best match. Partners might have some difficulty moving around on top of this bed.
Overall Rating
Curious to see how the Zinus performed by the numbers? We did the math for you below!
Company Policies
If you choose to purchase the Zinus Cooling Gel Memory Foam mattress, here’s a quick overview of the policies you’ll encounter.
Warranty Info
The Zinus Cooling Gel Memory Foam mattress comes with a 10-year limited warranty.
Sleep Trial
The Zinus comes with a 100-night sleep trial.
Return Policy
Zinus offers full refunds on mattresses returned within the 100-night trial period. The brand will ask you to prove that you’ve donated or otherwise disposed of the mattress prior to issuing a refund.
How Does the Zinus Cooling Gel Memory Foam Compare to Other Mattresses?
Curious how the Zinus stacks up against its competitors? We’ve pitted the Zinus against two of the most popular all-foam beds around: the original Casper and the Layla. Let’s see how these beds stack up.
Check out our other Zinus mattress comparisons to see how Zinus compares.
Zinus vs the Original Casper Mattress
Both the Zinus and the original Casper are all-foam mattresses, but they still vary a bit in their construction. The Zinus layers memory foam over firmer foams, while the Casper contains a proprietary Airscape foam over a zoned layer of memory foam and a sturdy base poly foam. The Casper’s zoning makes the mattress a bit firmer near the center (for extra spinal support) and softer near the head and foot (for added pressure relief). The Zinus does not contain zoning.
These beds also have different firmnesses. We ranked the 12” Zinus around 6/10, or softer than average, while we ranked the Casper firmer than average at around 7/10.
Another difference? Feel. The Zinus has a classic, slow-moving memory foam feel, while the Casper has a balanced and much more responsive foam feel. It’s easier to move around on top of the Casper, while the Zinus allows sleepers to sink farther into the comfort layers.
These beds also differ when it comes to price. A 12” Queen-size Zinus starts at a value price of $559.00, while a Queen-size Casper costs much more at $1495.00for full price.
Who Should Get the Zinus?
- People who are looking for a budget-friendly mattress
- Side sleepers
- People who prefer a softer mattress
- Folks who want the slow-moving feel of memory foam
Who Should Get the Casper?
- Back sleepers
- People who want a firmer and more supportive mattress
- Folks who prefer a balanced foam feel
- People who want a more durable bed
See the full Zinus vs Casper mattress comparison.
Zinus vs Layla Mattress
The Layla is a very popular memory foam mattress. It’s flippable, so it offers two firmness options in a single bed. Much like the Zinus, the Layla layers memory foam over more supportive foams. However, the Zinus is not flippable.
The Zinus comes in four thicknesses, each with a single firmness. We ranked the 12” model around 6/10, or softer than average. We ranked the soft side of the Layla right around the same (6/10), while we found the firm side to be very firm at around 8/10.
Both of these mattresses have a slow-moving memory foam feel. The Zinus and the soft side of the Layla allow sleepers to sink deeply into the bed, while the firm side of the Layla is much less enveloping.
One of the biggest differences between these two beds is price. A Queen-size, 12” Zinus costs $559.00 for full price, while a Queen-size Layla costs much more at a full price of $1099.00.
Who Should Get the Zinus?
- People who are looking for an affordable mattress
- Folks who want to choose from multiple thicknesses
Who Should Get the Layla?
- People who need a mattress for hip pain
- Folks who want a longer-lasting mattress
- People who want a flippable mattress
Learn more about the Layla in our in-depth Layla mattress review.
Zinus Mattress FAQs
Still musing about the Zinus mattress? Maybe this will help! We’ve put together answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about this bed.
Is the Zinus mattress any good?
Yes. We think the Zinus mattress is a good value for people prioritizing price. The Zinus also performed well while side sleeping and for couples. Check out our roundup of the best cheap mattresses, if you'd like to compare other affordable options.
How much is the Zinus mattress?
The Zinus 12" Cooling Gel Memory Foam mattress is about $559.00 for a Queen-size. However, with discounts or during sales, this price could go up or down.
Is the Zinus mattress good for couples?
Yes, the Zinus mattress performed very well our motion transfer tests. Keep in mind that memory foam does an excellent job of isolating motion.
When can you sleep on a new Zinus mattress?
It can take up to 72 hours for a new Zinus mattress to expand to its full height; however, it is safe to sleep on your mattress the first night.
Joe Auer
Joe Auer is the editor of Mattress Clarity. He mainly focuses on mattress reviews and oversees the content across the site.
He likes things simple and take a straightforward, objective approach to his reviews. Joe has personally tested nearly 250 mattresses and always recommends people do their research before buying a new bed. He has been testing mattresses for over 5 years now, so he knows a thing or two when it comes to mattress selection. He has been cited as an authority in the industry by a number of large publications.
Joe has an undergraduate degree from Wake Forest University and an MBA from Columbia University.