Best Futon Mattress Reviews – Based on 7,100+ User Reviews – 2023 Update

Best futon mattress – Top 5 compared

Futon Mattress Reviews

Best overall – DHP Premium futon mattress review

Best futon mattress for sleeping – Serta Cypress

Signature Sleep Essential futon mattress review

Home Life Premium

Serta Chestnut – bonded foam core

Honorary mention –
Classic Brands Brown futon mattress

This mattress fell short from being included in the top five best futon mattresses by the thinnest of margins, so we felt it’s only fair to give it a place as an honorary mention.

It features a coil innerspring structure, with each of the coils being wrapped individually, making it one of the best futon mattresses we reviewed in terms of durability.

The finish is microfiber, and we feel like it’s sturdier and less stretchy than the microfiber we’ve seen used in sub-par products. Whether you like the finish will probably depend on the way you use it – with or without a cover.

Superior microfiber finish, but more expensive

It’s the thickness of the material that makes it easier to clean and maintain.

The bottom line is that, in terms of quality it stands its ground compared to any of the above listed models.

The fact that the overall rating is slightly lower is mainly because of the fact that it’s the most expensive option of listed, so its rating in the category of value for money is 84 / 100.

Types of futon mattresses explained

All the types, sizes, materials…we know it can be confusing to keep track of it all. So, let us present the information about types of futon mattress in a more synoptic and reader-friendly way.

Reference tips on choosing the best futon mattress

Adjusting the size

We don’t mean to sound cliché, but this one comes down to your purpose and needs.

Most common sizes are twin and full and not many companies make them in queen-size.

If you already own a frame

The most likely scenario if you’re a long-term user will be that the lifespan of the frame will be longer than that of the mattress

If you need a replacement you’re faced with a choice.

You can either keep the frame you own, if you’re satisfied with it, or you can start from scratch or choose both a new frame and mattress.

The cost of the mattress alone, for the better ones, can reach that of a new one-piece futon – if you think that might be an option for you you can see our guide on best futons here.

Feel of the cover

With most modern pieces, the cover that you made of cotton, microfiber or micro suede.

The products we looked at are not water-proof and if that’s a factor you’ll probably need to a water-resistant add-on.

The good news here is that this provides you with a chance to choose the colors and patterns that will tie-in with the color scheme and the style of the space.

Choosing the right thickness

In terms of style, wooden frame will look better with the more substantial, thicker mattress. On the other hand, metal frames are better paired with a lustrous mattress that’s not as tick.

Types of futon mattresses explained

Shape retention

This one is fairly subjective and we did mention that some of the coil-based models will hold shape very well, but you shouldn’t take that at face value.

Generally speaking, a one piece, foam-based products will be better in terms of shape retention.

Frequency of use

For a guest bed, one that will be used occasionally for weekend sleepovers, you might save a few bucks by getting a cheaper model.

These will usually be filled with cotton, which tends to compact and form lumps with frequent use, but will do just fine for a guest bed.

If the futon is one of the centerpieces and used daily as a sofa and nightly as a bed , we would recommend going with something better and more durable, like the DHP or the Serta Cypress.

Best futon mattress for sleeping

As you could see in the ratings, we think that the most comfortable and the best futon mattress for sleeping is the Serta Innerspring. It’s at the sweet spot between the support of the Bonell coils and the plush layer of the foam, which is the most important factor for sleeping on a futon mattress.

The balance is just right to keep your spine aligned and that goes for most body types, since it has just enough “give” to make the pressure points in the shoulders and hips minimal.

For kids

The choice here will be easier and will not make a significant dent in your budget since you can go with lighter, less expensive mattresses.

The cheaper options here are wool or cotton-filled.

For wooden frames

Wooden frames are the most popular choice because they look more stylish than metal.

Hardwood

A frame made of hardwood like cherry, maple, hickory or oak will call for special considerations.

If you make the mistake of pairing them with a thin mattress you will likely end up feeling uncomfortable with the hard wooden slats “protruding”.

To make sure you don’t feel the hardwood compressing against your body while sleeping, go with the sturdier innerspring mattress that’s at least 7 inches thick.

FAQs about our picks for the best futon mattress

FAQs about the DHP Premium

The specifics of the foam

The foam used here is free of any potentially harmful chemicals -Polybrominated Biphenyl Ethers (PBDE), TDCPP (1,3-dichloro-2-propyl) phosphate, which is a known flame retardant, and TCEP (tris(2-carboxyethyl)phosphine).

The manufacturing also includes no ozone-depleting agents, lead, mercury or traces of heavy metals.

Emissions and off gassing

This DHP has a very low admission level of volatile organic compounds (under 0.5 parts per tri-million, which is some standards set by the CentriPut-US).

Foam filling used for the DHP meets standards of flammability set by CPSC (Consumer Product Safety Commission) in their laboratory test manual for flammability as per the last update.

Is the cover machine-washable?

It doesn’t include an additional cover and arrives as you see it in the images. To protect the mattress you probably need some set some sort of fitted cover that you can machine wash.

Is it comfortable for heavy people?

It’s pretty firm, so you will not see a lot of sinking, but the foam is thick enough -to the point that you don’t feel the coils if even if you’re in the heavier side or arresting sleeper.

With that said, heavy person who’s a sidesleeper and prefers a loftier, soft surface might not find it uncomfortable for long term sleep.

The bottom line is that it is not as comfortable as a regular mattress, especially goes for a heavy person. If you’re looking for something truly comfortable you can see our guide best mattresses for heavy people here.

What kind of frame to use?

We would recommend a metal frame with a minimal incline for the backrest.

It’s an innerspring mattress and, as you can see in the product specs, is pretty heavy and works best with the metal frame.

The most important part about this is that this type of frame will keep that safety in place.

An important consideration here is choosing a frame with slide-guards (these are usually placed on the front of the frame).

Is it comfortable used as a bed?

Among the products we looked at, this DHP is the closest as it gets to the comfort of a regular mattress – 91% of people, according to our stats, described it as comfortable when used for sleeping.

Choosing the cover

The cover that comes with DHP is part of the mattress but company makes covers for specific sizes. With that said, if you don’t want to spend any more money, pretty much any cover that fits the height of the mattress will do.

Another option that will work well are deep-pocketed fitted sheets.

If you go with the later, we would recommend going a size up and getting a Queen cover. This will give you the versatility to use a topper or a pad if you want to make it more comfortable.

The versions available

Apart from the 8 “ that were talking about here, there is also a thinner model (a 6-inch).

For most people the 6-inch version will be the better choice if the futon is used as a couch most of the time, simply because it’s easier to fold up.

But people who will be frequently using it as a bed will find the 8-inch model more comfortable.

Arrival and unboxing

As most mattresses these days, it’s sealed in a plastic bag to make it more compact for shipping.

It’s only expands when you open the bag.

We would recommend being careful when cutting the plastic so that you don’t cause any damage to the mattress.

Once opened and expanded, in becomes pretty firm and sturdy so the answer to the one of the more commonly asked questions (which is whether you can fold it up and store it) is probably a “no.”

What colors can you choose from?

It comes in seven colors: tan, cobalt, merlot red, chocolate brown, charcoal and black.

If you want more color options you can always get an extra cover.

The loook without a cover?

It looks pretty stylish so even if you don’t get an extra throw for it, the mattress itself paired with a good frame is still pleasing to the eye and will work with most spaces.

Can it sleep two people?

The answer to that depends on your weight and size -for 2 people of average build we would say yes.

For those on the heavier side (over 400 pounds combined) it still might be good to sleep on, but we don’t have enough data to judge whether it will retain shape under this weight in the long run.

Can be used without a frame?

Some models are designed to be “broken” into three parts so that they can be placed in the floor with the lower two parts used for sitting and the top third used for your back.

In this case we don’t think that’s an option, becauseit’s an innerspring mattress designed with comfort in mind (over versatility).

Weight limit

We have seen no listed weight limit with this DHP. But, based on our experience and analysis of the materials we would say that you’d see no problems with the structural integrity in the weight range of up to 400 pounds.

In terms of sleep, yes, it can be used without a frame by placing it directly on the floor.

Is it waterproof?

The finish is microfiber so if you spill something on it you would have to react quickly and remove the liquid -to make it water resistant we would recommend getting an extra waterproof cover to protect it.

Is there a tie or some other type of fixture to keep it in place?

There is no fixture like added straps of fabric that you would tie to the frame, but based on our tests, it’s less prone to slipping towards bottom side compared to similar products.

With that said, if you do see the issue it might be smart to use a linen on the frame -this will further minimize the chances of slipping.

The simplest way to make sure that it stays in place is to use it with a frame made by the same company -a good example of that the DHP Aiden metal frame.

We’d go as far as saying that this is the perfect frame for this DHP  – it comes in brown or silver, which complement the colors.

More importantly, it features two metal plates at the bottom that will prevent any slipping.

Is it resistant to cats and dogs?

Having in mind that the finish material is microfiber we wouldn’t describe it as resistant to pets and you’ll probably need extra protection. If you’re looking for a cat-proof couch you can see our full guide here.

Maximizing the lifespan

Since the bottom and the top are identical, it’s adviceable to flip it occasionally to minimize the wear and prolong its lifespan.

FAQs about the Serta Cypress

Firmness on our scale

Based on what we’ve seen and the measurements that we we’ve done after 1, 3 and 6 months of use we would give it a seven out of 10 on our firmness scale.

A bonus tip for improving support

Since this is a durable mattress and will probably be with you for a long time, it’s only common sense to take some extra measures to minimize potential structural issues.

Our tips here would be is adding a few slats beneath the bottom surface or, even better, using a piece of plywood between the base and the mattress.

Volatile organic compounds & off gassing

From all the products we looked at the Serta Cypress probably had the lowest initial odor and off-gassing is practically nonexistent.

Subjectively speaking, we would say that the Serta Cypress has the most natural “feel” from all the models we reviewed.

Compacting

The initial thickness is 8 inches but, like any innerspring model, it will slightly compact with prolonged use.

To lower the effects of material compacting, we would recommend both flipping and rotating it every now and then.

This will even out the wear and tear and increase longevity.

FAQs about the Serta Chestnut

Off gassing

We have seen a slight odor that lasts about a few hours after opening the package and we wouldn’t say it’s a significant issue.

Simply air it out for an hour or two after un-boxing and the odor goes away.

Ideally, you would give it a day to fully “plump” and set.

Shape retention

According to our measurements and tests we’ve seen no significant sagging, which is common with models that are not innerspring-based.

Yet, the ratings in shape retention are lower than the top 2 best futon mattresses (the DHP and the Cypress).

Our current rating of the Serta Chestnut futon in the category of shape retention is 88 out of 100.

What kind of base to use?

Both metal and wooden frame will work, as long as they are bi-fold.

We would not recommend it for tri- fold frames. Although it is pretty soft and yields well when folded, it’s not soft enough for a tri-fold.

What you might see initially is a slight gap (between the armrests of the frame and the edges of the mattress).

As it sets in and expands, those gaps will be filled.

Used as a couch

Compared to other products, the Serta Chestnut is a bit thinner, which makes the folding easier.

With sub-par models, we often see “breakage” in the middle of the mattress (when folded up and down on daily basis) but we’ve seen no similar issues with this Serta.

Storage

As opposed to innerspring models, this Serta is easier to fold and pack for storage. You can even fold it into a role and use a vacuum plastic bag.

Is the cover removable removal and machine-washable?

No, the cover is fixed, it doesn’t feature any zippers so it can’t be removed or machine-washed.

Sliding

Since the coils are pretty sturdy and there’s many of them (close to 300), it will be more difficult to keep it in place when, especially while it’s new.

What might help is adding a sure-grip material to the top of the frame or going with the frame that features slip-stops.

Keep it in place gets easier after a few weeks or months (depending on how often you use it).

Support

The Chestnut is not as suppotive as the inner-coil based models. For sleeping, you can improve the support by adding a few slats underneath – this will help with weight distribution.

Aftermath

Initially, it took about 5 months to put it to put this guide together.

From that point on, we made sure to stay on top of things by updating it with new relevant information on quarterly basis.

We do it because the market is volatile and we see new arrivals practically every month, but it’s our policy to wait until the product has “aged” and we have enough information to go on.

If you have a specific situation we haven’t addressed above, feel free to use the comment sections to ask us anything – we reply to all comments within a day.