Summary: This unbiased Purple Mattress review features our team of Sleeping Ninjas’ analysis and in-depth look at this popular mattress. Disclosure: Sleeping Ninjas has an affiliate relationship with some companies where we get a small percentage of sales if you click over from our site.
Purple Mattress is a mattress company that ships direct to consumer. Unlike the countless other mattress-in-a-box companies, Purple Mattress is actually a mattress in a bag—it arrived rolled up in a tube.
The Purple Mattress stands out from the crowd. First, because of its unique purple color. And second, because of its unique top layer construction (more on that, later). The mattress company is the brains behind that famous raw egg video—well known both in and out of the mattress game.
The mattress comes in a few different iterations. The Original Purple is a basic foam construction, with the purple grid on top. The second incarnation still features that grid but layers it on top of a coiled base.
We’ll start off by saying that Purple can get a whole lot more expensive than peers like Casper, Tuft and Needle and Leesa. But, the unique materials offer something a little different.
In this Purple Mattress Review, let’s take a look at the key features of this mattress and how it stacks up against the competition.
Table of Contents
Purple Mattress Review Rundown—The Primary Features
Quite a conforming mattress, the Purple easily molds, and contours to your body.
The Original Purple is 9.5 inches thick and is made from three layers, two foam, and the hyper-elastic polymer.
The top layer brings both cooling and comfort to the table. While the flexible material doesn’t look like it would be the most supportive, it contours to your body, reducing pressure no matter what position you prefer. Additionally, the material reduces motion transfer
The second layer brings transitional support to the mix. It’s 3.5 inches thick and made from a soft polyurethane foam. This layer works with the top layer to support sleepers whether they sleep still or move around quite a bit.
The bottom layer is a four-inch polyurethane foam layer. It works to provide a solid foundation for the bed.
So, what do they all do?
Let the Air Flow Freely
According to the official Purple website, the purple polymer’s column design allows air to move freely. Because of its ability to keep the body off the heat-trapping foam beneath it, sleepers can rest assured that they’re not going to wake up sweating. Not only does this make consumers feel more comfortable all night long, it extends the life of the mattress by keeping it clean.
Cool sleep
As mentioned above, the free-flowing air means the mattress reportedly sleeps cooler than competing mattresses made from foam, latex, or traditional innerspring materials.
According to both the manufacturer and the sleepers who have tried it, the Purple is really effective at keeping night sweats at bay.
Offloads the Pressure
The patented purple polymer grid means that consumers receive spine support while they sleep. The idea here is, this is the support you’d get with a much harder mattress, combined with the pressure relief you’d get with a softer bed. The best of both worlds, it’s safe to say that this mattress is a boon for back-support–at least based on the claims.
You’ll notice when you press on the mattress that the initial feel is that hyper-elastic polymer grid. The material is bouncy and responds quickly when you put weight on it.
If you push harder on the surface, you can kind of make out the layer of foam underneath. That said, the mattress provides pretty decent support.
Regarding firmness, this will change depending on body type. Sleepopolis found that their sleep testers gave this an average score of 6/10, so it’s a little firmer than average for most people.
The New Purples vs. the Old Purple
Here’s where things might get a bit confusing. Purple sells several mattresses. The OG Purple, which will always be available. The Purple 2, 3, and 4.
A quick look at the updated Purple:
The main differences between the four different Purples is the thickness. All mattresses still incorporate their signature violet-hued smart grid but opt for coils instead of the foam. The graphic below showcases the construction, here:
And from the website, here’s a side by side comparison of the old vs. the new:
Photo credit: Purple
The polyurethane grid is a uniform 2” in the original mattress, while 2, 3, and 4 refer to the thickness of the mattress. The 4” thickness you’ll get on the Purple 4 makes for a softer bed.
Beneath the purple polyurethane layer, the new Purples change things up a bit. The original is made up of just two more layers, a comfort layer made from high-density foam, as well as a support layer made from firmer high-density foam.
By contrast, the new Purples come equipped with 7.5” custom coils. sandwiched between two layers of polyurethane foam.
Which Purple is the Best Purple?
Well, it’s tough to say. Everyone’s body is different and a what makes a mattress comfortable has a lot to do with weight, proportions, age, and more.
People who sleep on their back and stomach may find that the original Purple best meets their needs. This model is the firmest and is made with the highest concentration of foam. Meaning, it’s also the best choice for people who don’t move around much.
The Purple 2 brings more bounce to the table. It still leans toward the firm side of the spectrum, but it’s a bit plusher than its predecessor. This option is ideal for people looking for a happy medium between.
All Purples from 1-4 are good choices for hot sleepers. That polymer grid really does a good job boosting airflow. But, heavier people may find that the new Purples are much more supportive than the first iteration, due to the added coils and thicker grid.
Edge Support
If you’re sleeping alone, you likely won’t give edge support much thought. Sharing with a partner, on the other hand, means that you’ll rely on the outer edges of the bed from time to time.
Edge support may not sound like a big deal to those who don’t know much about mattresses. But, it’s essential–edge support is what makes you feel like you are in bed securely, not like you’re going to fall out of the bed. Online reviewers found that the bed didn’t provide much support when they sat on the edge or rolled outward.
Sinkage
With the Purple, you get a sense that you’re really laying on top of the mattress, you’re not sinking into it. This sounds like a good thing, but some people prefer that super soft, pillowy feeling, and you’re not going to find that here, not even with the plusher models.
That said, the lack of sinkage you’ll get with the Purple means you’re getting more support, which may provide some relief to those with back pain or other issues.
The mattress can support up to 600 pounds, distributed over two sleepers. So, this may be a better bet for people who are overweight.
Customer Service Perks
Like many of its competitors, Purple Mattress comes with a 100-night guarantee. If you don’t like it, Purple guarantees a full refund.
On top of the 100-day guarantee, Purple Mattress comes with a 10-year warranty. The site specifically mentions that if there are any “manufacturing mishaps,” they will replace the mattress. Unfortunately, we don’t know if Purple will replace those mattresses that are damaged by the owner or those that wear out in that 10-year time frame. Technically, 10-years exceeds the maximum amount of time you should keep a mattress on hand, so hypothetically, you could keep getting mattresses for life.
Because the company has only been in business since 2013, it’s hard to get a good sense of whether or not they’ll honor the warranty, no questions asked.
Unlike other brands, Purple comes with free white glove delivery. They’ll set up your bed and take your old mattress away, at no extra charge, so you’re getting a pretty hands-off approach here.
The product is made in the US, and ships straight out of Utah. The company makes a point of mentioning the importance of American jobs—so we could see this being a factor for some shoppers who prefer a homegrown bed.
Presumably, this means that Purple will replace your mattress if anything happens to it from here on out.
Shipping Details
All Purple Mattresses come with free shipping and free returns. Additionally, all consumers receive free white glove delivery. Meaning, they’ll carry your bed to the desired room and set it up.
They’ll even haul away your old mattress, so you don’t have to call heavy item pick up or deal with this on your own.
How to Buy
Purple Mattresses are available directly from the official website. You’ll order and check out just like any other e-commerce platform.
It’s worth pointing out that you will also need to buy a foundation. The website sells a standard base—a metal foundation that promises not to squeak, as well as a power base. The power base is an adjustable bed frame which hooks up to an app you can use to “optimize your health.”
Amazon is also selling the Original Purples. Though the Twin costs the same as it does on the website, you may be able to get a discount on the King or Cali King.
About The Price
The Purple Mattress pricing varies considerably. The original mattress starts at $699, that’s for the Twin XL, your smallest size.
The most expensive is the Purple 4, California King, which will cost you over $3400. Sure, mattresses can easily top $5,000, but it’s hard to imagine any scenario where it makes sense to spend this much on a new bed.
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What Are the Purple Cons?
Some Say it’s Too Firm
The mattress was designed to provide support for all parts of the body, thanks to the smart grid. It seems to have those bases covered quite well. However, the original mattress might be too firm for many sleepers due to the memory foam base. If you’re a side sleeper or someone who likes a bit more bounce, the original might not be for you.
Feels Like You’re Laying On Top of The Mattress
One of the key features of this mattress is the fact that it sleeps cool. It does this by creating a separation between you and the bulk of the bed. The foam or coils naturally trap heat, so, by adding this barrier, you’re avoiding both the heat and some of the comfort you’d get with a standard mattress.
It’s Not Cheap
Part of the allure of these bed-in-a-box companies is the affordability. Purple’s original bed is reasonably priced, but when you’re looking at the larger beds of the second generation, you’re paying premium prices.
Add one of the bases to the mix and you’re on your way to a new car. Now, we understand that the purple grid is a unique value proposition—and as such, adds to the cost. The problem is, there’s nothing to compare this to, so it’s not clear if this is a good deal.
About the Company
Purple Mattress has a decidedly wholesome feel. Owned by a pair of Mormon brothers, the company website offers plenty of information about who these people are and what they set out to do by adding their own solution to the crowded bed-in-a-box space.
Brothers Tony and Terry Pearce have been in business together since 1989. In that time, the duo has created high-tech carbon sporting goods, as well as wheelchairs and other innovations in the manufacturing and design space.
The signature purple polymer came before the mattress. The brothers developed this technology back in the 90s, and other companies used the patented materials in items as diverse as squeeze ball toys and wheelchair cushions and gel insoles. Come 2013; the Pearces set their sights on developing a mattress that brought high tech cushioning to the table for a cool, comfortable sleep.
From a reviewing perspective, the mattress gets pretty high marks across the various mattress review blogs. Real customers on Amazon, Consumer Reports, The BBB, and beyond? With these folks, it’s more mixed bag than anything else.
A lot of people felt that this mattress, in particular, was too hard toward the center part of the mattress and too squishy along the edges. Additionally, while the makers of the mattress claim to enable free movement during sleep, that didn’t seem to be a universal experience with the mattress. One customer felt irritated by the 130 pounds of “floppy goo,” claiming it’s nearly impossible to move.
How Long Will the Purple Last?
Unfortunately, the company has only been in place for about five years, so those first customers may be starting to consider an upgrade. But, there have been some complaints about the original Purple, with customers claiming the mattress loses its luster pretty quickly.
One customer said the mattress started sagging after just six months of use. Another said the bed was comfortable for about a year, then, again started sagging. Unfortunately, this seems to be the case for a lot of consumers–it’s unclear if these people are very overweight, or if there are other issues at play.
That said, several other reviewers loved the bed. We just don’t know how long the honeymoon period will last—those who cited a degradation in quality reported feeling as if the mattress lost its ability to provide support.
Purple Mattress Review Conclusion: Has Purple Cracked the Comfort Code?
After looking more closely at this Purple mattress review, it’s hard to give this one a conclusive rating. Upgrading to the 2,3, or 4 may well be worth the extra dough, as customers reported the newer models were far more comfortable than the old one. That said, it comes down to whether you’re a coils person or a foam lover.
Memory foam is a divisive material. For those who like a firm mattress, the original Purple is quite affordable and seems to be a good fit for people who like sleeping on their stomach and back. That said, the support seems to hold steady toward the middle of the bed. The original doesn’t have great edge support, which may be a problem if you share your bed with a partner or get frequent visits from kids and pets.
Ultimately, we liked that Purple has a long track record of providing high-quality customer service. People who didn’t like the bed stated that the company did a great job facilitating the return or exchange for a different model. That said, the fact that so many people mentioned the original model starts breaking down after six months gives us some pause. Thus endeth this Purple mattress review.
See also our in-depth comparison of Purple vs Casper, Purple vs Leesa, and Purple vs Tuft and Needle.
Sleeping Ninjas rates Nectar as a top pick for the best mattress under $1000.
For the record, if you haven’t seen the egg commercial, you can check it out here.
Stephanie Larson, a freelance writer and editor, received her bachelor’s degree in business management from the University of Phoenix. She is an active contributor in the travel, education, home, and parenting space. When she’s not writing for U.S. News and World Report, you can find her reading a book, in an airport, on her way to Disneyworld.