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We’ve all been there. You’re moving into a new home, and your old mattress feels like a million pounds trying to move it up three flights of stairs. Once settled onto a bed frame, it either takes a great deal of effort on your end or the muscle power of two people to flip, rotate, or move the mattress for routine maintenance.
So much could be resolved by simply choosing a bed with a lighter weight.
That’s why I’ve compiled a list of my top 3 best lightweight mattresses in 2023, along with ways to choose a suitable light weight queen mattress for your home.
A Quick Preview
 | Best Overall - Editor’s Pick Puffy Mattress | Check Current Price Read more about this mattress |
 | Best Lightweight Queen Mattress Amerisleep AS3 | Check Current Price Read more about this mattress |
 | Best Cheap Lightweight Mattress Zoma Start Mattress | Check Current Price Read more about this mattress |
Our Review of the 3 Best Lightweight Mattresses in 2023
Best Overall — Editor’s Pick — Puffy Mattress
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Check Current PriceGet $750 OFF and free luxury bundle worth $600 (pillows, sheets)
Highlights
- 48 pounds in weight for a Queen size make this mattress super easy to move, install and maintain.
- Thick compressions ensure you’re cushioned and cradled for adequate pressure relief.
- Slow-adaptive comfort layers absorb movement, which may be of benefit if you sleep with a partner.
The Puffy is my best lightweight mattress in 2023 due to its minimal weight, soft comfort lakers, and slow-adaptive foam. Being only 48 pounds for a Queen size mattress, the Puffy is the lightest mattress on my list and is a suitable option if you’re looking for an easy-to-move mattress. I never had trouble adjusting the Puffy from its box to my bed during my review. In addition, the Puffy boasts thick comfort layers that I found to be fully body-encompassing, reaching and molding to the spine's curves with sinkages measured at 2.5 inches. This is more sinkage than the Amerisleep AS3 by 0.32 inches, a similar, heavier all-foam model. This makes Puffy a lighter and more cradling option.
The Puffy also offers impressive, slow-adaptive layers, which I measured at 1.7 seconds for a full bounce-back from compressions. From my test, I sank into the layers for better weight redistribution and pressure relief. It also helps to absorb motion from a partner, helping you rest better with fewer disturbances.
What I Don't Like About This Mattress
One feature I don’t like about this mattress is that it may not have the best integrity to handle heavier weights over 230 pounds for a long time due to its softness.
Read our full Puffy mattress review for more information.
Best Lightweight Queen Mattress — Amerisleep AS3
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Highlights
- Bio-Pur® foam is breathable, helping to channel away heat and keep your temperature neutral.
- 96 pounds of weight for a Queen is moderately light, helping ensure you don’t struggle in installation and maintenance.
- Zoned support gives targeted pressure relief via its HIVE® layer, so you feel supported even while on your side.
The Amerisleep AS3 is my best lightweight queen mattress due to its moderate weight, Bio-Pur® foam, and zoned support. The AS3 is about 80 pounds heavier than the Puffy and Zoma but is still light enough, as I never had issues shifting this mattress around during my review. On top of being lightweight, the AS3 is also quite breathable. It uses a unique Bio-Pur® foam that I noticed helps draw away heat as it’s moisture-wicking and open-celled. From my tests, 85.6 degrees Fahrenheit was the recorded temperature I registered on the mattress after lying on it for 15 minutes, which is enough to keep your temperature neutral.
Another feature I like about the Amerisleep AS3 is its zoned HIVE® support system, which I found to relieve my spine effectively. It’s firmer in the spine and leg areas while cradling more in the shoulder and hip areas for better comfort and relief.
What I Don't Like About This Mattress
One feature I don’t like about the AS3 is that, due to its slow-adaptive layers, it may feel too slow and not responsive enough if you prefer quick and easy movement in bed.
Read our full Amerisleep AS3 mattress review for more information.
Best Cheap Lightweight Mattress — Zoma Start Mattress
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Highlights
- Cost-effective pricing makes this mattress one of the best options if you’re in a new home or dorm.
- Utilizes a zoned layer system for ergonomic, targeted support.
- 75 pounds of weight makes this mattress slightly heavier than the Puffy but still light enough to move quickly.
The Zoma Start is my best cheap, lightweight mattress due to its budget-friendly pricing, light weight, and zoned support system for adequate pressure relief. The Zoma Start is well-priced, $700 cheaper than the Puffy and Amerisleep AS3. Like the Amerisleep AS3, though, the Zoma Start offers a zoned support layer that I found, during my review, to be cradling in the shoulder and hip areas but firm where I needed it in the spine and leg areas. Zoma Start offers enough pressure relief for its price point with a measured sinkage of 2.07 inches from my tests (the average is 2.3 inches).
Additionally, the Zoma only weighs 75 pounds. This is 27 pounds heavier than the Puffy. However, the Zoma’s cost-effective pricing and zoned support feature more than make up for the slight extra weight, which I never found challenging to move during my tests.
What I Don't Like About This Mattress
One thing I don’t like about this mattress is that the edges may not feel as supportive due to its soft layers if you’re a heavier sleeper over 230 pounds.
Read our full Zoma Start mattress review for more information.
Our methodology - Why I Picked These Mattresses
The best lightweight mattresses tend to be between 40-100 pounds, enabling you to move them quickly in transportation situations and take care of and maintain them at home. They also must have all the features of a luxury memory foam mattress, such as high-density memory foam, comfort layers that relieve pressure, and a reasonable price point.
When choosing mattresses for my list of reviewed products, I focused on mattresses between 40-100 pounds and all-foam mattresses without using coils, which can become quite heavy. I also picked mattresses with sinkages of at least 2 inches, as this provides adequate pressure relief. I only considered mattresses under $1400 and chose the Zoma specifically because of its reasonable price point of under $700. Other factors were also considered when I reviewed my mattresses, such as how cooling they were, how motion-isolating they were, and how bouncy their layers were.
How to Choose the Best Lightweight Mattresses
To choose the best lightweight mattress, it’s essential to keep the following factors in mind:
- The mattress weight.
- Material.
- Firmness.
- Support.
- Breathability.
- Price.
Mattress Weight
When choosing a lightweight mattress, you will want to look for mattresses between 40-100 pounds (for a Queen size), as anything over 100 pounds is considered heavy. The mattress weight affects many aspects, such as moving the mattress while changing homes and moving it through hallways and doorways. It also affects aspects like setting up your mattress for the first time and maintaining it via flipping or rotating it. This is why knowing how much a mattress weighs before choosing it is essential. Also, knowing that weight is a by-product of quality, not a quality determinator, is key in choosing the right one (1). A mattress can be heavy but made up of materials that will sag quickly over time, so looking at all aspects of a mattress will help you avoid this.
Mattress Material
The material of the mattress can impact the weight, as mattresses without springs tend to be lighter in weight and avoid heavier materials like latex or coil systems. High-quality foam, such as high-density memory foam, is typically the better route as these provide more comfort while remaining lightweight.
Ensuring the mattress doesn’t sacrifice quality for less weight is also essential. For example, the Amerisleep AS3 is a mattress with a decent weight and a mattress without fiberglass. Fiberglass is a known toxin that can harm the body.
Mattress Firmness
The mattress firmness also affects your sleep quality, as well as the lightness of the mattress. Some mattresses, like the Zoma Start and Puffy, may have the same firmness rating of 6.5, but have drastically different weights. Ideally, you will want to look for a mattress with a medium-firm feel while also considering the weight.
Considerably softer mattresses are not recommended, as they may cause unnatural twisting, leading to back pain (2). The firmness also plays a role in a mattress’s longevity, as the best durable mattresses tend to be firmer and can handle more pressure for a longer time.
Mattress Support
The supportive qualities of a mattress can also affect a mattress’s weight, as some support systems, like coils, can be much heavier than foam cores. You will want to look for a mattress with lighter support systems that can effectively re-distribute weight and align your spine, like the Puffy. Or, as an added feature, they should have zoned support, like the Amerisleep AS3 or Zoma Start.
Mattresses with more robust support are typically classified under at least 10-year or even a lifetime warranty for the mattress. This is due to the extra support, which provides a more solid base and can handle your body’s pressure and weight for longer.
Also Read: Best Mattress for a Lightweight Person
Mattress Breathability
The breathability of a mattress can determine how light it is, as coil systems tend to be more breathable but are often heavier than their all-foam counterparts. Light weight queen mattresses that use open-cell foam, breathable covers, and cooling gel foam (such as the Puffy and Zoma) can help prevent heat from building up at night and promote better sleep.
Mattress Price
Lightweight mattresses may have a wide range in price, but that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy all the luxury features of a memory foam mattress that’s also lightweight. For example, the Zoma Start is well priced at under $700 and still offers several foam and memory foam layers for cushioning and pressure relief. Typically, mattress price ranges from $700 - $1800.
Where to Find the Best Lightweight Mattresses in 2023
Some of the best places to find lightweight mattresses are:
- Online manufacturers.
- Local mattress stores.
- Speciality mattress stores.
Online Mattress Manufacturers
Many online mattress manufacturers offer mattresses at a reasonable price and a more comprehensive selection. You can browse from the comfort of your home, and most websites have sleep experts available via live chat in case you have any questions. The convenience of shopping online also allows you to check the product specs to know if the mattress is lightweight, its reviews to see if previous customers like it, and have the mattress delivered to your home. This means you don’t have to deal with heavy items. You can also ask to have your mattress delivered to your apartment or condo door, making things much easier.
Local Mattress Stores
Local mattress stores offer a smaller selection of mattresses than you’ll find online. Still, they allow you to test the mattress you are considering in person, giving you a hands-on feel that can help you make an informed decision. They also have knowledgeable staff to help point you in the right direction.
Speciality Mattress Stores
Specially mattress stores are both local and online. They typically offer a smaller selection of mattresses made up of natural or organic materials that may also be lightweight. If you’re looking for a chemical or toxin-free mattress that is also easy to move, a specialty mattress store may be your best option.
Also Read: Best Motion Isolation Mattress for a Restless Partner
What to Avoid When Choosing Lightweight Mattresses
When choosing a lightweight mattress, it’s essential to avoid factors such as:
- Sacrificing quality for weight.
- Mattress thinness.
- Mattress material.
- Sacrificing a new mattress for an old one.
Sacrificing Mattress Quality for Weight
Some mattresses are pretty light, but this could be due to low-density foam, which breaks down and forms impressions more quickly over time. Always choose a mattress that uses high-quality materials, like high-density memory foam.
Mattress Thinness
A thinner mattress may be an excellent way to avoid selecting a too-heavy mattress, but thinner mattresses may not provide enough support. Always look for a mattress at least 8 inches thick, giving enough sinkage and support for better sleep.
Mattress Material
Mattresses that are made up of materials such as innerspring, latex, or a mix of memory foam and coils, all tend to be on the heavier side, which can be cumbersome. Always stick to mattress materials such as all-foam, as this tends to be the lightest material while providing a comfortable, supportive sleep surface.
Sacrificing a New Mattress for an Old One
When choosing a new mattress, you must be willing to let go of the old one, especially if it’s older than 10 years old. Research has shown that although your bed does not double in weight after 10 years, some weight is added simply due to the number of dust mites, skin cells, and other fluids that have built up over time (3).
F.A.Q.
What type of mattress is the lightest?
Airbeds are the most lightweight mattresses; however, they are also the least durable and are meant to be used as a temporary solution. For a more durable solution, memory foam mattresses tend to be the second-best option regarding lightness.
Are foam mattresses light?
Memory foam and foam mattresses may not be the lightest; however, they are lighter than latex and some innerspring mattresses, making them the better option.
Conclusion
When choosing the best lightweight mattress, it doesn’t have to include countless hours testing and returning mattresses or finding out on a moving day that your new mattress is heavier than you’d like. By knowing the weight of an ideal lightweight mattress, which is under 100 pounds, as well as what materials make a bed lighter, such as foam, you’ll be well on your way to choosing the right mattress that will be easy to move, set up, and care for.
In my opinion, the Puffy is my best lightweight mattress as it is made of all-foam, it is the lightest weight in my list compared to the other models, like the Amerisleep AS3, and it offers thick amounts of cradling sinkage that can help re-distribute weight and release tension.
Do you have a preferred lightweight mattress? Let us know in the comments below!
References
- Early Bird by Amerisleep (2023.) How Much Does a Mattress Weigh? Retrieved from: https://amerisleep.com/blog/how-much-does-a-mattress-weigh/
- Harvard Health Publishing (2021.) What type of mattress is best for people with low back pain? Retrieved from: https://www.health.harvard.edu/pain/what-type-of-mattress-is-best-for-people-with-low-back-pain
- Furniture Today (2014.) Bed weights don’t double but hygiene study needed. Retrieved from: https://www.furnituretoday.com/mattress-bedding-news/bed-weights-dont-double-hygiene-study-needed-2/
Our research
27
Mattresses Considered
112
Hours of Research
2
Sleep Experts Consulted