Saatva Classic Mattress Review 2023: Industry Expert’s Report And Bullet Points

Updated on January 16, 2023

Marc Anderson

My detailed Saatva Classic Mattress Review takes an in depth look at one of the web’s popular innerspring hybrid mattress. At $1,695 in queen, this 11.5″ tall luxury innerspring is not your typical “bed in a box” because Saatva, the manufacturer, doesn’t ship their mattresses rolled and compressed.

If you’ve ever wanted to try one out, you’ll quickly learn that this Austin and New York City based company strictly sells their mattresses online. One of only a few hybrid mattresses that includes only a minimal amount of foam to act as comfort and support elements, The Saatva Classic Mattress relies on a unique configuration of two separate coil modules built into them to provide both comfort and support elements.

Quick Overview Of The Saatva Classic Mattress

The Saatva Mattress Company sells direct-to-consumer luxury mattresses and is not found in retail showrooms. The concept is that the direct to consumer model saves money buy avoiding the traditional middleman and warehousing cost factor which is passed on to the consumer. This way, a consumer can own a luxury, resort grade mattress for a reasonable price.

As a manufacturer myself for over 25 years creating famous online brands, I know how many online retailers and brick and mortar chains are forced to use lower quality materials to compete.

The Saatva Classic combines two layers of pocket coils, two layers of a high density foam, and a layer of memory foam. You can choose from three firmness options, unlike most online mattress brands, including Plush Soft, Luxury Firm, and Firm. After testing, we found that The Plush Soft is about 4 on a 10-point firmness scale where 10 is extremely firm), the Luxury Firm falls at about 5-7, and the Firm version falls at about 7-8.

*Note: For bigger bodies and couples, I recommend opting for the Luxury Firm and Firm option, as the softest model might be too soft when cuddling in the middle and at the edge.

All Saatva Mattresses are delivered intact, and are delivered just as they left the workman’s bench in the factory. They do not roll, compress, or vacuum package their mattresses, as the company believes that mashing a mattress down can potentially damage the mattress.

All of their products are shipped to your door in a large box by Saatva’s network of delivery crews who personally install and setup each mattress. The cost for this is included in the price you pay for the mattress. A queen costs $1,696, and a king costs $2,079.

The Saatva Classic Mattress is also available in two height options: 11.5 inches and 14.5 inches. While the 11.5-inch version falls in the average thickness range, the 14.5-inch option is high-profile, so it may require deeper sheets.

This review will discuss the Saatva Classic Mattress in details, including how it’s made, how it performs, prices, customer service, warranty, and shipping information. Here’s how we sized up the three levels of firmness options and what you might consider:

Instead of relying on a “cake recipe” of stack of never ending foam slabs, Saatva’s technology relies on a pocketed coil layer and a flexible continuous coil system that contours your body and provides pinpoint comfort, pressure relief and support.

The pillow top piece is quilted with an organic fabric along with memory foam, and there is layer of pressure absorbing foam directly underneath, but there is no foam used in the foundation or in the supportive part of the design.

The Saatva Classic Mattress can support up to 300 lbs. on either side, so it’s ideal for couples yet soft and yielding enough for people with differing preferences.

It is available in your choice of Plush Soft, Luxury Firm, or Firm options, each being slightly different due to tensioning of the innerspring coils inside.

All three of the options are designed to be more durable, less subject to depressions, and provide continuous lift and support without forming impressions over time, as warranted in the company’s 15 year warranty. All of the components used in the production of this mattress are made in the USA, down to the fabric, thread, and foam components used in its construction.

What The Saatva Classic Mattress Offers That’s Unavailable Anywhere Else.

Our Saatva Classic Mattress distinguishes and discusses the web’s most popular luxury mattress that you can’t buy in retail stores. Despite the fact that Saatva, an American based mattress manufacturer, doesn’t sell their beds online, they don’t pre-compress their boxes by mashing them down and squeezing them into a box.

At $1696 in queen, it’s about a third of the price of higher end “luxury” retail brands that in my opinion, can’t quite deliver on underlying support, pain and pressure relief issues, or durability. Saatva offers a straight up lifetime warranty that covers the defects that are pretty typical, like indentations and wear and tear.

Each mattress is handmade by an in-house staff of craftspeople, and each customers mattress is placed into a standard mattress sized box corresponding to size, hand delivered, and setup in your home, untouched and in original factory size and shape.

Here’s are a few of the quick thoughts I came away with after reviewing The Saatva Classic Mattress:

• Love, love, love the option of three firmness levels, which keeps you from feeling like you’ve rolled the dice and eliminates buyer’s remorse. Few Saatva mattresses are returned because of this. Choose Plush Soft, Luxury Firm, or Firm. The Plush Soft option falls about 6.5 out of 10, with 10 being very firm with little compression or immersion, Luxury Firm about 8, and Firm about 8.5- pretty firm but not like a carpeted floor.
• Great for couples, chronic pain and pressure (choose as soft as you can take it for pain), primarily because of two synchronized coil systems inside. Most brands have only one unit. Also has additional tensioning wire support frame in coil unit that provides gentle, piston like lumbar support.
• Your nose is next to an organic cotton pillow top fabric, not buried in synthetic materials that include chemically treated fire barriers.
• You can sit on the edge of The Saatva Classic without sliding off or sinking.
• Turning is effortless (even on the Plush Soft version) keeping light sleepers asleep, instead of tossing and waking up their partner. This was a big bullet point for me.
• Free shipping, setup, removal of old bed. If you can’t handle lugging a mattress around, it’s a really cool feature and benefit of the Saatva Brand.

According to Saatva, a mattress relying largely on a coil design, and using minimal amounts of foam layers, lasts much longer, is far more supportive and durable, and is an investment rather than a repetitive purchase. It is surprisingly very affordable ($1,696 for a queen sized Saatva Classic Mattress).

Built with a lot of design emphasis on the pillow top section, it’s engineered to offer an initial body soothing sensation that cradles you just enough to put you to sleep and keep you there.

With breathable organic cotton that is quilted to respond and react to body movements, it’s hand quilted and assembled by American craftspeople.

The company also provides something unusual that I really like, as a mattress designer myself Instead of using a chemically soaked fire barrier material, Saatva uses a natural, thistle pulp fiber based fabric which meets strict fire barrier codes required for all mattresses.

Take a look at my in depth report and the results from our own third party testing on The Saatva Classic Mattress.

Test Results And Performance Characteristics

According to the Saatva website, the model we tested, their “luxury firm” model, is the most frequently purchased version. We tested and reviewed it and rated it 6.5 out of 10 on our firmness scale, and also ranked it based on 1-10 scores (10 being stellar, 5 being fair) based on performance variables that help to determine comfort and support for several scenarios (solo sleeper, couples, heavier people, edge support and more), customer support, length of trial period, warranty.

Let’s Go Over My 10 Datapoint Rankings: Does It Outperform Other Brands?

1. Overall Comfort: 9 out of 10

Since The Saatva Classic Mattress is available in three different firmness options, each of the models is going to feel a bit different. The options are Plush Soft, Luxury Firm, and Firm. Based on our firmness scale of 10 offering minimal compression and immersion, and 1 being plush, cradling and very body contouring, I would rank them as follows:

• Plush Soft: 4.5 out of 10, immersive, easily compressible, sinks significantly at hips and shoulder, but not excessive. Owners report that turning and edge support is pretty good (note that all three models have a perimeter foam edge for sitting and transfer support that is the same on all three models). Definitely a “panda’s belly” feel for those seeking luxurious softness.

• Luxury Firm: I’d give it a 6.5 out of 10, this models offers significant resistance when you bury your fist into it, and has about half of the immersion when on your side than the plush soft version. If you want firm but still seek some yielding and give that makes it easier to move and change positions, or if you are a light sleeper, or a couple who tends to gather in the middle of the mattress, this option is a great choice.

• Firm: A solid 8 out of 10, quite firm, little immersion, though still easy on hips and shoulders because of the pillow top design. If you are a back sleeper, a larger person or couple, or if you have slept on traditional firmer innerspring mattresses before, this is a good option. For couples though, especially if one person prefers a slightly softer option, opt for the Luxury Firm version.

2. Support: 9 out of 10

All three versions of the Saatva Classic Mattress are made with identical components except for modifications in the top layer of pocketed coils. Underneath the pillow top in each version of firmness is a layer of CertiPUR-US®  certified high-density memory foam followed by a few hundred individual 14.5-gauge coils (884 in a queen) and what Saatva calls its ‘active wire’. Both the memory foam and the active wire are responsible for enhancing support and providing pressure relief. Meanwhile, the individual coils work together to contour to your body’s shape and movements, as well as providing breathability and better airflow.

I’d rate Saatva overall as being one of the most conscientious brands as far as their ability to develop new models that consistently offer superior support. While The Saatva Classic is ideal for anyone seeking an alternative to the high priced big name retail brands in stores, they offer other models, including The Saatva HD Mattress, specifically designed to support larger people, and couples with higher combined weights of 400lbs and more.

For spine alignment, neck positioning, and leg support, The Saatva Classic Mattress outperformed virtually any other brand of mattress I’ve reviewed, whether sold in retail stores or online. This is due to the use of the continuous coil superstructure at the very bottom of the mattress which is super effective at pushing weight to the side and away from your body.

Combining that feature with the independent pocket coil just above, which control small areas of pressure and movement much like the keys on a piano, the total effect provides for better pressure and pain relief no matter what position you are lying.

If you are a belly sleeper, though, most owner reviews seem to prefer the two firmer options so that you don’t end up “swaybacked” while immersed in the torso area- the plush option is probably not the best fit unless you weigh less than 130-140 pounds. Opt for the medium or firmest versions if you are a belly/side sleeper, otherwise simply use my guidelines based on sleep position preference.

The Saatva Classic Mattress provides what I believe to be the most optimized support qualities in virtually any mattress I’ve reviewed.

3. Solo Sleeper: 8.5

If you are on the hunt for a really luxurious mattress that you are going to keep a while, and you want to make a mattress investment rather than just a purchase, this mattress should likely be a strong consideration. For the money, at $1,695 in queen, and $2,120 in king, it’s going to bring you more discernible comfort and more gratifying support than any luxury innerspring brand you can find online, or even in retail settings.

When you compare popular foam mattresses sold in a “bed in a box” format, you might find brands that sell for right around $600-800, but anything that will deliver worthy comfort and support, and won’t compress or mash down over time might be hard to find.

The worst part is, that as a solo sleeper, you’ll need to either solicit some help to move and maneuver your compressed mattress, which is going to be wedged inside of a tight box, to get in on your bed frame.

A bed in a box mattress can still weigh 80-125 lbs, and if you are by yourself, it’s a lot of work, much more so that in the lovingly edited videos which show couples or two guys manhandling their scrunched up mattress out of the box. The Saatva brand offers a totally upside down concept- even with online shipping.

Saatva does not compress and roll up their mattresses. If you order The Saatva Classic Mattress, it will arrive in exactly the same configuration it was in while it was being handcrafted for your order. Shipping is free and included in the price, as is in home setup.

As part of what the company describes as White Glove setup, every customer also has the option to have their old mattress removed at no charge. Honestly, if you are a solo sleeper, free shipping, setup, and old mattress removal is a real value added proposition.

Say you ordered a “bed in a box” slab of foam kind of mattress, but wanted to hire a setup service to install your mattress and take away your old mattress. The cost could easily top $250, and in some settings, such as New York or San Francisco, we were quoted as much as $500 or more for this service.

4. Couple Experience: 9 out of 10

Keep in mind that we reviewed a queen size Saatva Classic Mattress and also sampled many online reviews as well as conducted our own testing for couples. From a comfort perspective, depending upon which level of firmness you choose, couples responded highly to snuggling and spaced apart sleeping, describing the mattress with comments like “inviting, with no sense of crowding or getting stuck”, and experiencing a comfortable level of immersion without feeling trapped.

I’ve reviewed hundred of foam mattresses that are the typical variety of “bed in a box” style where couples find it difficult to find a mattress where this a tradeoff between settling on too firm an option to keep from collapsing in the middle.

That’s why the “good old reliable” innerspring concept has stood the test of time and mattress engineers at Saatva realized that you cannot roll up and mash down certain kinds of coil systems without damaging them, something I’ve found to be true also.

For couples who prefer a much firmer sleep surface, the Firm option is certainly going to belly up to the bar. I’ve built custom mattresses for people who claim that they have never been able to find a mattress firm enough to accommodate them, particularly when they are plus sized people.

And while Saatva’s HD Mattress is specifically designed for this market, the Saatva Classic Mattress offers a slightly less rigid option-but still firmer than almost any other hybrid I’ve reviewed tested after 25 years in the business.

Why the 8 out of 10 then? If anything, for most couples the softer, more plush model is likely going to be way too soft, as it is fairly immersive and not a good option. The Luxury Firm and Firm versions totally make up the difference, though and are ideal even when couples are snuggled up in the middle.

5. Edge Support: 10 out of 10

Singlehandedly the best edge support over all that I’ve seen for any mattress, regardless of type, including hybrid and all foam mattresses. Saatva uses a high density foam “rail” that wraps the entire perimeter of the mattress to provide excellent support for sitting and getting in and out of bed.

The rigid foam rail built into the side of the Saatva Classic Mattress provides support when sitting or transferring, and it also prevents deterioration and mashing of the pillow top and pocketed coil edge.

The continuous coil unit does not have sit directly at the edge of the mattress either, and the foam rail contains it to prevent damage to the outer fabric.

It is unlikely that you will find this feature in any rolled and compressed bed in a box option because mashing and compression could easily damage this component.

People with disabilities should also consider this mattress as a viable option. You can also check out my Best Mattress For People With Disabilities page for enhanced information. It’s one of few options that include free shipping, setup service, and removal of existing bedding, and Saatva also offers a full line of products like sheets, mattress protectors, adjustable bases, and other top of the bed products.

6. Sex And Intimacy: 9 out of 10

Actually, 7 out of 10 is not bed for an intimacy rating, as people who consider this an important option when mattress shopping re pretty picky. Generally, more bouncy surfaces like Natural Latex Mattresses are preferred as are mattresses with better immersive qualities, allowing for better “grip” on bodies, as sliding around on a mattress during intimacy is generally a negative factor.

For cuddling in the middle, all three versions of The Saatva Classic Mattress are pretty decent, though and unless this consideration is super important, I’d still consider it. Some reviewers have mentioned that if they prefer a firmer mattress for intimacy, they opt for the Luxury Firm or Firm options.

7. Bounce, Liveliness, And Motion Transfer: 9.5 out of 10

We found that the Saatva Classic Mattress offer noteworthy benefits when it comes to dampening motion transfer, a common complaint from couples, especially when there are light sleepers and restless sleepers in the mix.

The pilowtop section, which has quilted form an and organic outer fabric covering, has a lot of motion dampening ability. Generally mattresses made with smooth-top coverings, where the fabric is not quilted and is very thin, will transfer motion directly to the surface.

Many people want a mattress with a lot of bounce and spring action to it, as it is much easier to turn on surfaces that are highly responsive. For excellent motion dampening, though, pillowtop mattress are hard to beat. When you combine a pillowtop mattress with an innerspring support system you create the perfect storm of subtle bounciness without the jiggle factor that keeps light sleepers awake.

8. Cost vs. Value Delivered: 9.5 out of 10

If you’ve read anything online at all about Saatva Mattresses, you already know that is considered a luxury online brand. You can’t buy them in retail stores, though the company makes it extremely easy to order a mattress online, have it shipped and set up in your home, and offers an outstanding, 365 day no questions asked trial period.

When you consider the cost, and factor in the concierge level delivery and the complimentary setup service you receive, I find the value of The Saatva Classic Mattress to be extremely high. Also, with a lifetime warranty that covers workmanship and defects (including depressions, rutting, and upholstery), online reviews by actual owners reflect confidence and trust in the brand.

9. Trial Period, Warranty, Customer Service 10 out of 10

Saatva’s premium delivery and setup service, factory and fulfillment network of 15 strategically located facilities helped drive up my score for this category.

The turnaround time of 9-21 days to receive your mattress is acceptable considering each mattress is made to order and not rolled and compressed, collecting dust in a dusty warehouse.

Customer service is something I thoroughly checked out too, with 6 different chat questions regarding pretty technical questions being answered rapidly and effectively.

Best part about their customer service: NO BOTS on the chat line. Genuine human beings. That alone is worth a healthy five stars!

10. Shipping And Delivery Experience 10 out of 10

Shipping and delivery is typically reliable with most online mattress companies, but with enhanced services, the ability to coordinate production and scheduling in home setup services takes some effort. I did it for years with my own online mattress companies.

Even more difficult is handling COI’s (certificates of insurance) often required by co-ops, apartment buildings, and condos before a delivery can be made. Saatva will handle that for you provided you send them a copy of the building COI prior to delivery date, a really nice feature that takes the consumer out of the loop.

Detailed Features Of The Saatva Classic Mattress

The Saatva Classic Mattress has a simple formula designed to deliver support where you need it, including the torso, where most pressure problems are found.

A quilted hypoallergenic and very breathable pillow top is situated right up top. It’s organic and doesn’t seem to trap heat- a real problem with pillow top options in general.

The use of pocket coils above an additional superstructure of firmer, tempered steel coils is pretty innovative and my experience with this kind of design prevents sinking and makes turning effortless.

Ten years ago, the big difference with innerspring mattress design was the lack of attention to edge support and to zoned areas of the body that needed better overall “pushback” to give better support.

We investigated how The Saatva Classic Mattress can vary in firmness, since the importance of having a softer and inviting initial body contact feel right up top was one of the hallmarks of the brand. Regardless of which level of firmness you choose, Plush Soft, Luxury Firm, or Firm, you’ll get similar pressure and pain relief, even if you and your partner weight up to 200 lbs. each or so.

I’ll be honest, for bigger bodies and larger couples, I’d recommend checking out The Saatva HD Mattress since it is specifically designed with a stiffer coil structure and design approach to prevent collapsing into the middle of your mattress. This often a failure of big retail brands, and many dissatisfied customers return so-called luxury innerspring mattresses because of this flaw.

The Saatva Classic Mattress was created to deliver body conforming comfort on a more durable and longer lasting mattress.

Because it doesn’t rely on layer upon layer of foam, it can provide better weight distribution and pressure relief by offering both a motion dampening superstructure at the bottom along with pinpointed, body conforming cushiness and support up to.

The primary concern with many all foam mattresses sold online in a “bed in a box” format is that they tend to compress or develop ruts and indentations, especially when used as a primary mattress, for couples, and by heavier people.

By using carbon steel, “coil on coil” construction, along with a 3″ pillow top section to control the degree of firmness in the mattress, you can choose between 3 differing options.

Because of this design, changing positions is much easier than on foam mattresses, where you often need to dig your way out, especially in situations where couples tend to migrate towards the center of the mattress.

The Saatva Classic Mattress also has a built in perimeter foam edge rail, and we found that sitting and transfer is really easy, unlike foam mattresses, where sliding off your mattress is a fairly common online complaint.

Safer, Chemical Free Foams, Recycled Steel, And Organic Cotton Fabric

When a customer places an online order for a Saatva Classic Mattress, it is custom made to order in one of their 15 facilities in the USA.

The outer fabric is organic cotton, and all foam materials, including those used in the quilted pillow top, the memory foam layer, and the high density foam used in the perimeter edge foam which wraps the entire mattress, is safe, clean and purchased from vendors using Certi-PurUS® foams.

For the two coil systems used in the design, including the pocketed coils near the top, and the superstructure underneath, recycled tempered steel is used.

Since minimal amounts of polyurethane foam and most of the support and comfort layers rely on the coil system, The Saatva Classic Mattress is a good option as a hypoallergenic sleep surface that feels luxurious, but is offered at an affordable cost.

Available In Two Different Heights, For Taller Or More Petite People

The Saatva Classic Mattress is available in three different levels of firmness, which helps you dial in a more customized feel. The company also offers each of the three firmness option in two different heights as well. Often, people 5’4″ or under have a bit more of a difficult time getting in and out of a tall mattress, especially when you place it on top of a foundation and the underlying frame or platform.

I always advise doing a test yourself, and find out the ideal finished height, the height of everything stacked up, so that you can comfortably get in and out of bed (this is called transfer ability). Saatva also sells several foundation and adjustable base options here to choose from as well to pair with The Saatva Classic Mattress.