Nectar Mattress review: One of the best mattresses you can buy for under $1,000

We tested the Nectar Mattress, a mid-range mattress priced around $700. It stays cool and has a medium firmness for cushion and support.

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In my six years as Business Insider's sleep reporter, I've tested over 90 mattresses ranging from $200 to $14,000. I've learned that to get a truly quality mattress that will last you a decade, you should expect to spend at least $1,000. That said, you can certainly get a solid night's sleep for less: Take the Nectar Memory Foam Mattress, which retails for $700 for a queen and is one of the best mattresses we've found for under $1,000. 

While testing the Nectar mattress, I had some of my best nights of sleep. It's an all-around great budget option, performing well in my tests and coming backed by a lifetime warranty and a 365-night home trial. Its medium firmness works for all sleep styles, and couples will appreciate the motion isolation, heat dissipation, and edge support. If you're considering the Nectar, we've outlined everything you need to know before buying below.

 

Design

The Nectar Mattress features a two-piece cover. The top is quilted poly-blend with polyethylene, designed to offer a cool-to-the-touch feel. The bottom cover keeps the foam layers in position so they don't shift. While the cover is technically removable, Nectar cautions against it because they're hard to put on again, and it voids the warranty.

The three foam layers are CertiPUR-US certified. The top foam layer is pressure-relieving gel memory foam. The next layer helps keep your spine aligned and promotes airflow for a cooler sleep. And, the bottom foam layer gives the bed durability and support.

Our review of the Nectar Mattress

Setup

The Nectar Mattress arrives at your door in a box the size of a mini fridge. Included are setup instructions and a letter opener-style cutter. The setup was more manageable than most beds thanks to the light weight of the mattress; just 66 pounds, significantly less than the 105-pound average of mattresses I've tested.

I just dumped it out of the box onto my adjustable bed frame. Then, I carefully cut through the plastic, making sure not to damage the mattress. The whole process took less than five minutes.

There was a mild initial odor, but that dissipated, and the mattress expanded to full size by the time I went to bed 10 hours later.

If you want to skip setting the mattress up yourself, Nectar offers "Premium In-Home Setup" for $199. With this service, Nectar works with a local service provider to set up your mattress in your home and remove your old mattress.

Comfort

The Nectar Mattress is medium, or average, firm. While testing it, I was most comfortable sleeping on my side, but I wasn't uncomfortable on my stomach or back. 

I sleep wearing the Garmin Forerunner 945 watch. Each morning, it assigns me a sleep score based on how much deep, REM, restless, and overall sleep I get. While testing the Nectar, my average was above my overall average for the year, and I even hit a new high score. The bed objectively helped me sleep well.

I wouldn't rank the Nectar among the most comfortable mattresses I've tested. I had to shift positions frequently during the night as I grew stiff from my spine not maintaining a neutral position. Still, I could drift back to sleep easily once I found a new position. The Nectar is comfortable enough for all but the pickiest of sleepers.

Heat dissipation

To test heat retention, I use a laser thermometer to measure the surface temperature of the mattress right before lying down and after I get up to gauge how cool it stays. Then, I take another measurement two minutes later to assess how well it dissipates heat. The Nectar was about average in how cool it stayed, increasing by about 19 degrees, from 70 to 89 degrees Fahrenheit, while I lay on it. Yet, it did an incredible job of dissipating heat, among the best I've seen, dropping by more than 15 degrees.

Subjectively, there were a few nights when I needed to add an extra blanket because it felt so cool. The Nectar is a solid option for hot sleepers.

Motion isolation

I measure motion isolation in two ways. I drop a bowling ball from 4 feet above the mattress so that it lands a foot from a soda can. If the can stays upright, the bed has excellent motion isolation. If it falls, the motion transfer could use improvement. I also use a vibrometer to measure the vibrations on the other side of the bed.

The Nectar demonstrated outstanding motion isolation by both measurements and my subjective experience. The can didn't tip when I dropped the bowling ball, and the vibrometer registered less intense vibrations than most mattresses. Based on our tests, we'd expect you're less likely to have disturbed sleep on the Nectar mattress when your partner shifts at night.

Edge support

Couples benefit from good edge support, which gives them more room to spread out comfortably. When lying on the edge of the Nectar, I felt fully supported, and I had to roll quite far before I actually fell off the bed — my standard test. I also used a yardstick to measure how much the mattress sank as I sat on it. It sank 3 inches, less than the 3.5-inch average for mattresses I've tested.

Trial period and warranty

Nectar's home trial is 365 nights and provides a "forever warranty." Several brands match these, but I don't know of any with longer trial periods or warranties.

You will receive a full refund if you choose to return your mattress during the trial period. This is impressive, as other brands have loopholes, like return shipping or restocking fees. Nectar does not.

The warranty, however,  has loopholes, including:

• Only valid for the original purchaser of the mattress
• Void if you remove the cover
• If the mattress is more than 10 years old, Nectar can repair (not replace) it and charge you shipping both ways.

Who should buy the Nectar Memory Foam Mattress?

The $700 Nectar Memory Foam Mattress is the best mattress I've tested for under $1,000. I'd recommend you go with this bed if you have a similar budget and know you like a mattress with medium firmness and are a hot sleeper or share a bed with someone else. The firmness appeals to a broad range of sleepers, the bed dissipates heat well, and the motion isolation and edge support cater to couples.

What are your alternatives?

Nectar offers its signature mattress in a hybrid version with individually wrapped pocket coils for added durability and support. The brand also has Premier and Premier Copper lines in all-foam or hybrid styles. I tested the $1,250 Premier Copper, which uses copper fibers and phase change material to help keep you cool. However, I wasn't impressed: It didn't dissipate heat nearly as well as the original. Still, the pressure relief was better.

According to the graphic on the Nectar site, the $950 Premier offers better comfort, support, and cooling than the original. It also features cooling phase change material. I haven't tested it yet, but I will update this review when I do.

If I had $1,200 to spend, I'd consider the more dynamic DreamCloud Premier Hybrid. And, as the budget increases, I'd turn to the top three most comfortable mattresses I've ever slept on: the Leesa Sapira Hybrid, Tempur-Pedic Tempur-Cloud, and Sleep Number i8.

If $700 is too steep, you can find other lower-priced mattresses in our best cheap mattress guide. If you're interested in mattresses with similar features, check out the best cooling mattress guide or the best mattress for side sleepers. While there are plenty of viable and highly reviewed alternatives in our comprehensive best mattress guide, those looking specifically for foam mattresses like the Nectar will want to visit our best foam mattress guide. Also, check out our guides to the best mattress for back pain and the best hybrid mattress.

The bottom line

At $700, you won't find a better bed than the Nectar. I've tested 13 mattresses at this price or lower, and none compare. It has excellent edge support, motion isolation, heat dissipation, and a medium firmness that will appeal to back, stomach, and side sleepers. You can return it within 365 days if you don't like it. If you do like it, you're covered for a lifetime.