The original Purple mattress debuted in 2016 and has been one of the most sought after beds ever since. This is a 3-layer mattress consisting of a 2-inch Purple Grid comfort layer and poly foam transition and support layers. In total, this medium-firm mattress has a thickness of 9.5 inches.
What makes it unique is its comfort layer, which features Purple’s patented Hyper-Elastic Polymer and grid technologies. Hyper-Elastic Polymer is a body-conforming gel-like substance that is soft, responsive, and incredibly supportive. Again, unlike typical mattresses that feature a block of foam, this comfort layer has a grid-like structure with thousands of pockets that promote airflow.
According to the manufacturer, this mattress should reduce pressure points and motion transfer while sleeping cooler than memory foam.
So, is the Purple mattress worth it? Is it durable? Who does it fit best? That’s what we’ll be finding out in this Purple mattress review.
Purple brand at a glance
Purple is a US mattress manufacturing company owned by Tony and Terry Pearce. These two co-founders are brothers with 20+ patents related to cushioning materials, hyper-elastic polymers, and fluids.
The birth of the Purple mattress started with the invention of the Mattress Max in 2013. This is a type of machine that is capable of molding gridded mattress layers as opposed to the traditional blocky layers of foam.
Purple has its manufacturing plants in Grantsville and Alpine. It says that it uses CertiPUR-US certified foam only, and its patented Grid does not contain any known toxins.
This manufacturer has a total of 4 mattresses as of now, but we’ll only review the original bed in this post. As the table below shows, the significant difference between the Purple mattress and Purple 2, 3, and 4 is that the new mattresses are hybrids and, therefore, have an encased coil support structure.
| Mattress | Comfort Layer | TransitionLayer | SupportStructure | Base |
| Original Purple | 2” Hyper Elastic Polymer Comfort | 3.25” Poly foam | 4” Poly foam | – |
| Purple Hybrid 2.0 | 2” of Hyper Elastic Polymer | 1/2″ Poly foam | 7.5” encased coils | 1” HD Poly foam |
| Purple Hybrid Premiere 3.0 | 3″ Hyper-Elastic Polymer | 1/2″ Poly foam | 7.5″ individually wrapped coils | 1″ poly foam |
| Purple Hybrid Premiere 4.0 | 4″Hyper-Elastic Polymer | 1/2″ Poly foam | 7.5″ pocketed coils | 1″ HD Poly foam |
Who do we recommend the Purple mattress for?
- Lightweight and average weight individuals ( 230 lbs or less)– due to the softness of the 2-inch comfort layer, our mattress review team believes that heftier individuals will sink uncomfortably into the mattress, which could lead to pressure points.
- People who prefer the hug of memory foam but value sleeping ON the mattress– the Hyper-Elastic Polymer comfort layer of this mattress feels like memory foam in most aspects. However, it has excellent resilience that holds the sleeper afloat.
- Petite and medium-sized couples– the ability to accommodate all types of sleeping positions makes this an ideal bed for couples with varying sleeping styles.
- Anyone looking for an affordable, all-foam Purple bed– the original Purple mattress is the only mattress that does not use a coil support structure. This is probably what makes it the most affordable of the 4 Purple mattresses.
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🏆 Best Mattress for Side Sleepers
Purple Mattress Construction- Know why it’s different
Cover
This cover consists of a blended knit fabric featuring 67% Polyester, 29% viscose, and 4% Polyester-Lycra. It also has a non-skid bottom made of 100% polyester.
The original Purple mattress cover is soft to the touch and breathable thanks to the Viscose and Lycra (spandex) in it. It also has incredible stretch that allows it to spring back to its original shape under all conditions. This is crucial for the overall durability of the mattress.
You might also like that this cover is removable. However, like most bed covers, our mattress review team recommends against putting it in the washing machine. In case of a spill, you are better off spot-cleaning it with a mild detergent.
Comfort layer
The comfort system is the key selling component of this mattress. This is a 2-inch layer of Purple Grid. The Grid is a heavily-patented type of layer made from Hyper-Elastic Polymer. The name ‘Grid’ comes from the structure of the layer itself, which consists of over 2,500 tiny squares that allow air circulation. This helps in preventing heat retention- the common enemy of foam mattresses.
What is Hyper-Elastic Polymer?
Purple does not reveal so much about this material as it is patented. However, the team of mattress review experts at SleepSharp believes that this is a softer but solid version of the iconic viscoelastic polyurethane foam.
These two attributes could explain why this comfort layer is not only soft and comfortable, but it’s also supportive enough for excellent pressure relief. This material is much more responsive than memory foam too, and this helps in mobility and switching positions.
Transition layer
This mattress uses a 3.5-inch layer of 1.8 PCF poly foam, which is slightly denser than the comfort layer, but less dense than the core base. This makes it perfect for transitioning your weight to the dense core of the bed while maintaining the intended medium-firm feel of this mattress.
Support layer
The support layer of the Purple mattress is a 4-inch thick High Resiliency 2.0 PCF polyfoam. As its PCF rating depicts, this support layer is of a much higher quality than what you’ll find in the support layers of most mattresses. So that you know, most competitor mattresses use 1.5-1.7 PCF High Density polyfoam. Although it’s long-lasting too, High Resiliency foam, which has a PCF rating of 1.8-2.5, has much better durability expectations.
What is the height of the Purple mattress?
The Purple mattress has a height of 9.5 inches. This is slightly shorter than the 10” that we recommend in most mattress reviews. All in all, Purple makes up for this low height by using a high-density transitional layer and a High Resiliency support layer for overall support and durability.
However, keep in mind that this height may aggravate your problem if you have issues rising from a low bed.
Purple Mattress Specifications
| Product | Purple Mattress |
|---|---|
| Firmness level | Medium-Firm (6.5/10) |
| Height | 9.5” |
| Cover | Top and Side panels: 67% Polyester, 29% viscose, and 4% Polyester-Lycra Bottom panel: 100% polyester |
| Comfort System | 2” Purple Grid (Hyper-Elastic Polymer) |
| Transition System | 3.5-inch layer of 1.8 PCF poly foam |
| Base Support | 4-inch thick High Resiliency 2.0 PCF poly foam |
How Firm does the Purple mattress feel?
It might be a tad hard to explain accurately how sleeping on the Purple mattress feels. This is because there is no other brand to compare it too. All in all, the Purple mattress has a medium-feel firm that our review team rates as 6.5 on a 10-point firmness scale.
When you lie on this mattress, you’ll experience a squishy yet supportive feel as the tiny walls of the grids collapse and fold due to your weight.
Similar to memory foam, this material will give in and conform to your body shape . However, it’s more supportive in your heftier parts, such as the hip region and shoulders, and softer in lightweight areas such as head and legs.
Worth noting, although the Purple Grid does contour slightly to your shape, it won’t bury you. So, you’ll always be sleeping on the mattress. This also means that it won’t inhibit movement or make you feel like you’re stuck.
Performance Ratings- Purple Mattress in Action
In this section of this Purple mattress review, we’ll deal with how this bed behaves in areas that matter most when choosing the best mattress.
Temperature regulation
The Purple mattress gets a lot of positive ratings and reviews from people who sleep overly hot on memory foam mattresses. The standout component here is the Purple Grid that promotes airflow all around the sleeping surface. Its construction material, Hyper-Elastic Polymer again, does not retain body heat as memory foam does. Even better, this material has a much better resilience that prevents excessive sinkage and hugging- the major causes of overheating in memory foam.
Motion isolation
As a compromise for its bounce and resilience, the Purple mattress has a noticeable degree of motion transfer. Although it’s not as pronounced as in innerspring and hybrid mattresses, it won’t beat most memory foam beds on this.
This won’t be an issue for people who sleep alone. Couples who can sleep through an earthquake won’t be bothered by it too. However, if the smallest movement disturbs you, then it might be an issue.
Noise
The Purple mattress is a popular choice for individuals who are sensitive to noise when asleep credit to its quiet performance. Unlike the new Purple mattresses (2, 3, and 4), the Original Purple mattress does not use coils anywhere in its construction. Any noise coming from your bed will probably be emanating from loose joints on the frame but not from the mattress.
Edge support
Our mattress review team feels that the Purple compares to most foam mattresses on this aspect. When sitting on the edge, all your weight tends to work on a smaller surface area. This will cause the comfort system to sink deeply and this may feel somewhat uncomfortable for some people. However, most lightweight and average weight individuals will be able to sleep closer to the edge of the bed without the dreaded feeling of rolling off.
Sex
There are a couple of reasons why the Purple makes an appearance in most reviews of the best mattresses for sex. First, it’s bouncy- a trait that all-foam mattresses lack. Secondly, it does not retain heat. What’s more, its excellent resilience makes it possible to move and switch positions efficiently.
Pressure relief
The ability to contour to your body and cradle your hips, shoulders, thighs, and butt are the key strengths of the Purple mattress. So, if you are looking for a mattress that will relieve your pressure points, this bed might fit the bill. The Purple works like memory foam in offering support where it’s needed. However, what our mattress review experts like most is that it does not suck you in as memory foam does.
Off-gassing
Similar to most all-foam mattresses, expect this bed to produce a ‘new mattress smell’ when you first unroll it from its package. Most of this nasty odor will disappear within the first few hours after unpacking the mattress. However, you may be able to detect a slight smell for 2-3 days. For excellent results, off-gas your mattress outside for around 2 days. If you have to do it indoors, then increase air circulation and ensure a cross breeze.
Durability
The Purple mattress has not been around enough to offer robust data on this aspect. However, reports from early buyers are positive. Basing our estimates on reviews from current users, our experience with mattress construction materials, and Purple’s stand on quality, we expect this mattress to last for at least 7 years.
Purple Mattress Performance Rating
| Consideration | Our rating (out of 5) |
| Temperature Regulation | 4.8 |
| Motion isolation | 4.3 |
| Noise | 4.7 |
| Edge support | 3.8 |
| Sex | 4.6 |
| Pressure relief | 4.7 |
| Off-gassing | 3.9 |
| Durability | 4.7 |
Purple Mattress vs. Your Weight and Sleeping Position
Light sleepers- less than 130 lbs
The 9.5-inch height of this mattress notwithstanding, pretty much all lightweight sleepers will find it comfortable regardless of their sleeping position. It’s worth mentioning, however, that some very light side sleepers in the region of below 80 pounds may not have enough pressure to activate the Purple Grid comfort system fully. As such, the mattress may feel somewhat firm for them.
Average weight sleepers- 130 lbs to 230 lbs
This mattress will make an excellent bed for most sleepers in this category, too, only that it tends to favor back sleepers the most. Considering its plush and thin comfort system, most side sleepers on the heavier end may experience pressure points on their shoulder blades and hip joints. On the other hand, if you’re a stomach sleeper, your belly may sink slightly deeper into the mattress. This makes it impossible to ensure a neutral spine alignment and could strain your spine, back, neck, and other structures.
Heavyweight sleepers- above 230 lbs
Individuals over 230 lbs are going to receive the least support from this mattress. Although back sleepers who enjoy sleeping on a firm bed may appreciate it to some extent, we highly doubt that side and stomach sleepers are going to get enough support.
At SleepSharp, we advise heavyweight folks to consider firmer and thicker innerspring or hybrid mattresses.
Sleep Position Ratings (1-5)
| WeightSleep position | LightweightLess than 130 lbs | Average weight 130 to 230 lbs | Heavyweight Above 230 lbs |
| Side | 4.2 | 4.4 | 3.2 |
| Back | 4.8 | 4.7 | 3.9 |
| Stomach | 4.6 | 4.4 | 3.0 |
How much does Purple Mattress Cost?
| Size | Mattress Dimensions | Mattress Price |
| Twin | 38” x 75” x 9.5” | $649 |
| Twin xl | 38” x 80” x 9.5” | $699 |
| Full | 54” x 75” x 9.5” | $899 |
| Queen | 60” x 80” x 9.5” | $999 |
| King | 76” x 80” x 9.5” | $1299 |
| Cal King | 72” x 84” 9.5” | $1,299 |
Return and Refund Policy
After receiving the mattress, Purple will offer you 100 nights to try it out. They recommend trying it out for at least 30 days to give your body enough time to adjust although this is not compulsory. If it fails to meet your needs, in any way, you are free to start the return process. You only need to contact Purple, and they’ll make arrangements for a third party to pick it up and donate it. After verifying the donation, Purple promises to make a full refund with no restocking fees charged.
Purple Mattress Warranty Analysis
Purple offers a 10-year non-prorated warranty for the Original Purple mattress. This warranty is not transferable and covers indentations of one inch or more on the sleeping surface. The cover is protected separately by a 2-year warranty. In case of a manufacturer-related defect, Purple will either repair or make a full replacement. Read more on how the Purple mattress works here.
Regular Complaints about Purple Mattress that We’ve Come Across
- Has poor edge support – As noted earlier in this Purple mattress review, this is one of the areas that this bed gets the lowest marks. This is because it does not have adequate reinforcement. All in all, most lightweight to average weight couples should feel safe sleeping on the edge.
- Chemical odor when new – Although this is not memory foam, its Hyper-Elastic Polymer and poly foam layers are chemical-based. As such, there will be a chemical smell when you remove the mattress from its package. All the foams are CertiPUR-US certified, though. So, there’s no worry about toxic chemicals. Again, off-gassing takes a few hours to around 2 days.
- You can feel the design of the comfort layer – You’ll be sleeping directly on the Purple Grid, except for the soft cover. Although this layer may have a weird feel at first, most people tend to get used to it with time.
- Mattress is heavy – The high-density transition and support layers plus the Purple Grid comfort system of this mattress make it quite heavy (over 100 lbs for a king). Considering that Purple does not offer white glove services with its mattresses, you may need some help taking this mattress inside after delivery.
- It has a low profile – The original Purple mattress is 9.5 inches in height. However, if you want a higher bed, the new Purple mattresses have a higher profile starting at 11 inches.
Our Verdict
In the end, we believe the Purple mattress will make a worthy investment for anyone who wants an alternative for memory foam. As most Purple mattress reviews affirm, this bed is comfortable and supportive at the same time. Again, unlike memory foam, this mattress does not sleep hot. Neither will you feel like you’re stuck in it.
It’s true that sleeping on the Purple Grid comfort layer may feel strange at first, but it makes one of the most comfortable beds when you get used to it. If anything, you can always return it for a full refund if your body does not adjust.
