What Is a Hybrid Mattress? Everything You Need to Know

You’re shopping for a new mattress because your old one is getting saggy and lumpy, and you run into an interesting type at your local mattress store. What is a hybrid mattress? 

What is it made out of? Does it offer all the pros of other mattresses without the cons? 

Let’s answer all of those questions! 

What Is a Hybrid Mattress?

Hybrids fit different sleepers by combining coils from traditional mattresses with comfy foam layers. Having trouble choosing a bed? A hybrid might be best. 

Hybrid mattresses offer an excellent combination of support and comfort. 

The coils in the support layer do a fantastic job of keeping your spine aligned, while the various transition and comfort layers add to the cozy feeling. It relieves pressure well, has almost no motion transfer, and offers supportive edges.

Hybrid Mattress Construction

But what are hybrid mattresses made from? What makes them so unique and comfortable? 

Hybrid beds have multiple layers – a base layer, a support layer, a transition layer, and a comfort layer. The support layer is usually filled with innerspring coils, while the comfort layer is made from foam. 

In this multi-layer bed, the support and comfort layers are crucial. Here’s what you need to know about them.

Comfort Layers

The comfort layers in a hybrid bed are made from foam to provide maximum comfort. 

Many types of foam can be used in a hybrid mattress, including: 

• Memory foam: offers good contouring and relieves pressure, but it traps heat unless it’s gel-infused memory foam.
• Polyfoam: molds to the body but is firmer than memory foam.
• Latex: molds to the body and offers pressure relief, but it’s firmer and more responsive. 

Memory foam layers and different materials make hybrid mattresses good for a lot of people. Just choose your favorite combination, and you’ll certainly get a comfortable night’s sleep! 

Also, some hybrid mattresses have a layer of microcoils under the comfort layer. The microcoils are there to give more support and breathability, which is something memory foam usually needs. 

Support Layers

The support layer in a hybrid mattress is filled with steel coils. 

Hybrid mattresses use pocketed coils, or Marshall soils, instead of traditional innerspring coils. These individually wrapped coils provide support but minimize motion transfer and noise. 

All coils add breathability, which means hybrid mattresses are better at temperature regulation than a traditional mattress without coils.

Some other coil types include: 

• Bonnel coils: hourglass-shaped coils connected
• Continuous coils: made of a single wire, making them durable but with a lot of motion transfer.
• Offset coils: similar to Bonnel coils, but the offset grid makes for better motion isolation. 

What Does Sleeping on a Hybrid Mattress Feel Like?

As mentioned, hybrid mattresses provide both support and comfort. Foam layers conform to your body, while the coils of traditional innerspring mattresses align your spine. 

Hybrid mattresses are medium-firm, providing pressure relief and some breathability. They’re also bouncy and have some motion transfer. 

Not all hybrids are the same, though. Some could have thinner comfort layers, while others have zoned support for your back. 

Other Mattress Types

Now that you know the basics of hybrid mattresses, let’s look at how they compare to other mattress types. 

Hybrid Mattresses vs. Foam Mattresses

Foam mattresses include memory foam mattresses and latex mattresses, and neither is built with coils. 

An all-foam mattress conforms to the body, creates a pressure point relieving surface, and isolates motion. However, traditional memory foam mattresses trap heat. Hot sleepers should go for other memory foam mattresses with cooling technology, like gel-infused foam.

Latex makes for slightly better cooling mattresses, but only if it’s natural. Synthetic latex is very good at heat retention, which is something hot sleepers won’t like.

The memory foam layer gives a hybrid mattress all of the benefits of a foam mattress, but the layer of coils adds support and helps you sleep cooler.

Hybrid Mattresses vs. Innerspring Mattresses

Traditional innerspring mattresses are the oldest type in the mattress world. In fact, innerspring mattresses are bought most frequently, but they’re not everybody’s favorite. 

Steel coils provide support, and a thin layer of material provides comfort. This makes a traditional innerspring mattress supportive, bouncy, and great at temperature regulation. However, an innerspring mattress lacks pressure relief and has a lot of motion transfer. 

In comparison, hybrid mattresses are softer due to their thicker comfort layers. They have coils like an innerspring mattress, but they’re mostly pocket coils, which isolate motion better and add to the cooling features. 

How to Choose a Hybrid Mattress

Choosing the right mattress depends on your preferences and body type. Here are some things that will help you pick the best mattress. 

Support

Having a supportive mattress is crucial for your spinal health. A bed that doesn’t align your spine can cause more pain and harm your health. 

Always try your mattress out and ensure your spine stays aligned when you sleep in your preferred position. Lucky for us, hybrids are usually very supportive. 

Firmness

Mattress firmness is rated on a scale of one to ten; most people like a medium-firm mattress. Since firmness is subjective, you can’t assume you’ll like a firmness level just because others do. 

Besides preference, firmness levels are also connected to sleep positions and body type. Most hybrids fall into the medium category. 

Pressure Relief

Do you suffer from back pain, hip pain, or any other joint pain? A lot of people do, and a mattress can have a significant impact on making it worse or better. 

Different sleep positions have different pressure points, and a good mattress is supposed to relieve pressure. For example, side sleepers stress their hips and shoulders, so they need a bed to ease tension in those areas. 

Since hybrid mattresses are usually made with memory foam, foam, and latex foam, all pressure-relieving materials, you’ll be OK. 

Motion Isolation

Are you a light sleeper? Do you share a bed with your partner and wake up whenever they toss and turn? Then it would be best to have a mattress with good motion isolation. 

Unfortunately, coils are notorious for transferring motion. But lucky for us, the pocketed coils used in most hybrid mattresses are made to hinder that motion transfer. 

Edge Support

Besides the regular old support, supportive edges also matter! Older adults, heavy-weight sleepers, or anybody who likes to sit or sleep near the edge of their bed should get a mattress with good edge support. 

Regarding edge support, mattresses with coils do a better job because they have more robust steel around the edges. This gives innerspring mattresses excellent edge support. 

Hybrid mattresses also tend to have good edge support, but there is a layer of foam on top of that support core! 

Sleeping Position

The perfect bed for you also depends on how you sleep; this is where spinal alignment comes into play. 

What is your primary sleep position? Here’s what you need for it:

• Back sleepers: it’s pretty easy for back sleepers to keep their spine aligned; they need a mattress that will mold to their back but let their hips and shoulders sink just a little bit. Zoned support can be a good choice for back sleepers. 
• Side sleepers: they need a mattress that supports their spine while letting their hips and shoulders sink in. It should also relieve pressure. Side sleepers can go for a memory foam hybrid mattress with a soft comfort layer. 
• Stomach sleepers: they need a firmer mattress that won’t let their hips sink in too much. A hybrid mattress with latex or polyfoam can be a good choice for stomach sleepers. 

Body Type

Choosing the right hybrid mattress also depends on your body type and how you put pressure on the bed. Here’s what you need to know: 

• Under 130 pounds often benefit from a softer comfort layer for optimal pressure relief.
• Between 130 and 230 pounds: They need a balance of contouring and support. Medium-firm can be a good choice. 
• Over 230 pounds: They may require additional support from a firm sleep surface and a coil support core, as they tend to sink further into the mattress. Medium-firm and firm mattresses might feel more comfortable for heavier people. 

Budget

Hybrid mattresses fall into a wide price range but aren’t exactly budget-friendly. You can find very high-quality budget mattresses in the medium price range, and you can always look for deals and coupons online. 

Hybrid Mattresses – Pros and Cons

Hybrid mattresses are great, but the truth is that they have both advantages and disadvantages. Here’s what those are. 

Pros

• Great combination of support and comfort
• Suitable for many sleeping positions and body types 
• Wide price range 
• Coils add to the breathability
• Possibility of zoned support 

Cons

• More expensive than a traditional memory foam or innerspring mattress 
• Regular memory foam might trap some heat
• They don’t have perfect motion isolation 

Who Should Buy a Hybrid Mattress?

The right combination of support and comfort makes a hybrid mattress good enough for all sleeping positions, body types, and preferences. 

If you’re a hot sleeper, you should know that memory foam traps body heat. And if you’re a very light sleeper, know that hybrid mattresses typically have some motion transfer, but not as much as a traditional spring mattress.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does a Hybrid Mattress Need a Box Spring?

Traditional mattresses need a box spring for extra support, but many hybrid mattresses today don’t. You can use a slatted foundation or a bunkie board! 

However, whether your mattress needs a box spring depends on the manufacturer. Check the mattress care instructions to ensure you’re using the proper support. 

How Much Does a Hybrid Mattress Cost?

Hybrid mattresses can get costly, but they also have the quality to back them up. You can find a Queen hybrid mattress in the price range of $1,200 to even $5,000. 

How Long Does a Hybrid Mattress Last?

Hybrid mattresses tend to last around 7 to 10 years, and they’re usually made from different materials that are made to last.

Taking care of your hybrid mattress can extend its lifespan. For example, you should rotate it every three months! It all depends on the bed. 

Is a Hybrid Mattress Firm or Soft?

A hybrid mattress combines firm and soft layers to create a medium-firm feel, balancing between a regular plush bed and a firm memory foam mattress. 

However, the exact firmness level depends on the comfort layer’s materials! It’s the best of both worlds for a great night’s sleep.

Final Thoughts

So, what is a hybrid mattress? Simply put, a hybrid mattress is the best of both worlds!

It’s created to give you support and comfort and suits many different people. Is it the right choice for you? 

Have a good night’s sleep!