Replacement Sofa Bed Mattresses For Every Budget
If it's time to replace your sofa bed mattress, you've probably realized that you can't just use a regular mattress, which is far too thick for the job and won't fold up into the frame. Instead, you need a replacement mattress specifically designed for sofa beds, that will be thin enough to fit comfortably into the frame but thick enough to provide support and make sure that you or your overnight guests sleep comfortably. Some people even opt to treat themselves to a replacement mattress almost as soon as they buy their sofa bed because the mattresses that come with them tend to be somewhat thin, or made with innerspring that can be notoriously uncomfortable (and sometimes noisy)! This guide is designed to help you find a sofa mattress for your needs, with reviews of some of the most comfortable memory foam mattresses on the market. We look at why memory foam sofa bed mattresses make such a good choice and how they are constructed in layers to provide cushioning and support. We also have some advice about just what to look for when making your decision, with tips for choosing the right level of firmness, the correct dimensions, and compatibility with the different types of frames you'll find on sofa beds. We even share some tips on ways to clean off pesky stains and keep your mattress smelling fresh for as long as possible!
What We Like
1. Zinus Memory Foam Sleeper Sofa Mattress
HIGHLIGHTS:
Knitted jacquard cover
1″ gel memory foam
4″ high-density support foam
Available in twin, full, and queen size
Contains BioFoam – made with natural plant oil, green tea extract and natural active charcoal
Absorbs moisture and eliminates odors
CertiPUR-US Certified
5 year limited warranty
1.
Zinus Memory Foam Sleeper Sofa Mattress – Top Choice
The Zinus Memory Foam Sleeper Sofa Mattress is designed to mold perfectly to the contours of your body, this memory foam mattress provides you with the perfect amount of support in all the right places. The foam itself is split into two different layers. The top layer consists of an inch of gel memory foam, beneath which lie a further 4 inches of high-density support foam. This is all wrapped up within a cover made from knitted jacquard, which has a lovely soft feel to it. The BioFoam used in the construction of this mattress has a number of qualities that make it an excellent choice. It contains natural plant oil, which replaces some of the petroleum traditionally found in a memory foam mattress. You can also be confident that this mattress will remain beautifully fresh, as it uses both green tea extract and natural activated charcoal to eliminate odors. Active charcoal is also great for absorbing moisture, helping maintain freshness, and ensuring a cool and comfortable night’s sleep. This mattress is CertiPUR-US Certified, a mark of its high quality which shows that it has been tested for performance, content, and durability. It comes in three sizes – twin (with dimensions of 32 x 72 x 5 inches), full (with dimensions of 53 x 72 x 5 inches) and queen size (with dimensions of 60 x 72 x 5 inches). This sleeper sofa mattress has the perfect combination of being light enough to place easily in its frame, yet firm enough to provide the support needed for truly comfortable and undisturbed sleep for your guests.
Learn more about Zinus Memory Foam Sleeper Sofa Mattress
2. Classic Brands Memory Foam
HIGHLIGHTS:
Composed of 2″ memory foam and 2.5″ high-density poly foam
Breathable ribbon knit cover
Available in twin, full and queen size
Naturally antimicrobial
Resistant to allergens, dust mites, mold and bacteria
Cushion firm feel
CertiPUR-US Certified
3 year warranty
2.
Classic Brands Memory Foam – Greatest Value
This 4.5-inch memory foam replacement mattress for a sleeper sofa bed is designed to keep your guests totally comfortable throughout the night. Memory foam has a great ability to return to its original shape after being compressed, which makes it one of the top mattress materials around. Despite being firm enough to offer orthopedic support, it can easily be folded into most standard sleep sofa beds. Another great advantage with a memory foam mattress is that it is antimicrobial, resisting both mold and bacteria. The Classic Brands Memory Foam Replacement Mattress Sofa Bed is also hypoallergenic. The feel of this mattress is ‘cushion firm’, which is the perfect blend of comfort and support, and ideal for all users. The cover is made from a breathable ribbon knit which feels soft to the touch and the entire foam mattress is ‘self-ventilating’. This means that it is deliberately constructed with breathable foam that uses a porous, open-cell design to allow the air to freely circulate. The result is the greatest possible night’s sleep for you or your guests as it avoids the uncomfortable overheating that other types of mattress can sometimes cause. The low profile design makes this mattress useful outside the bedroom, too, and it is perfect for use on boats or in campers. This replacement mattress is available in twin (with dimensions of 33 x 72 x 4 inches), full (with dimensions of 53 x 72 x 4.5 inches) and queen (with dimensions of 58 x 72 x 4.5 inches).
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Learn more about Classic Brands Memory Foam Replacement Mattress Sofa Bed
3. PlushBeds Gel Memory Foam
HIGHLIGHTS:
4.5″ memory foam mattress
Available in 6 different sizes
Medium-firm
Plush foam for superior pressure relief
Supports sleepers up to 250 lbs
CertiPUR Certified
Resilient, durable construction
Made in the USA
3.
PlushBeds Gel Memory Foam – Premium Pick
The PlushBeds Gel Memory Foam is ideal for almost any sofa bed, as there are so many size options available! As well as the basic twin, full and queen options are additional ‘wide’ options for each different size. The GreenGuard Gold certified memory foam – made in the USA – is of particularly high quality and one of the top on the market. It is CertiPUR certified, which not only shows its high quality but also guarantees that it is free from toxic additives and fillers and won’t emit any harmful odors or gases. Your guests can be sure of the nicest possible night’s sleep without becoming uncomfortably hot because this sleeper sofa mattress is specially designed to keep them cool! This is achieved through the open cell Visco elastic structure, which takes heat away from the body rather than providing insulation. The cell structure of the plush memory foam is very resilient, always returning to its original shape without sagging. It is suitable for sleepers weighing up to 250 lbs and provides plenty of support and relief from pressure points. This helps prevent shoulder, hip, knee, or back pain.
For a more in-depth review of alternative mattresses, please take a look at our guides on mattress for hip pain, mattress for back pain, and mattress for neck pain.
Learn more about PlushBeds Gel Memory Foam Sofa Bed Mattress
4. Milliard Memory Foam Replacement
HIGHLIGHTS:
4.5-inch thick memory foam sofa sleeper mattress
Includes 1.5″ memory foam and 3″ base foam
Available in full and queen size
Supportive and durable
Medium-firm
Super soft fabric cover with non-slip bottom
Cover is removable and machine washable
CertiPUR-US Certified
The Milliard Memory Foam Replacement is designed to make your sofa bed just as comfortable as your regular bed! It is composed of two layers – the top layer of the mattress is made from a soft, spongy memory foam that contours to your body shape, cradling you as you sleep for maximum comfort. Beneath that are 3 inches of high-density foam which provide the support needed to prevent back pain, hip discomfort, etc. The high-quality foam used in this sleeper sofa mattress will keep its shape, meaning that it won’t sag with use and is very durable. For your comfort, it also has perforated air flow vents that are designed to stop you from overheating during the night and will keep you comfortably cool. The cover has a lovely smooth feel and is made from jacquard bamboo, with a non-slip bottom to keep it in position and prevent gathering. Keeping it clean is a breeze because the cover has its own zipper, so you can easily remove it from the mattress whenever you need to and put it into the washing machine. This model is available in two sizes – full (with dimensions of 52 x 72 x 4.5 inches) and queen size (with dimensions of 58 x 72 x 4.5 inches). It fits the frames of most folding sleeper sofas and can be used in your RV, boat or camper too.
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Learn more about Milliard Memory Foam Replacement Sofa Bed Mattress
5. Lifetime Sleep Products Sofa Sleeper
HIGHLIGHTS:
Queen size sofa bed mattress
2.5″ premium memory foam
2″ polyurethane high-density foam
Medium-firm feel
Compatible with most standard sofa beds
The Lifetime Sleep Products Sofa Sleeper Memory Foam Mattress is available in queen size and offers great value for money. Designed to give you or your guests the most comfortable night’s sleep possible, it is compatible with most standard sofa beds. This memory foam sofa mattress is 4.5 inches thick and is made up of two layers. The 2.5-inch thick top layer is a softer foam, that gives the wonderful ‘pillowy’ feeling you need for a luxurious night’s sleep. Supporting that is a further 2-inch layer of polyurethane high-density foam that keeps the body properly supported during sleep. This support is important in preventing back and joint pain which can occur if the body is not properly aligned. The overall result is a medium-firm feel that will suit all sorts of sleepers.
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Learn more about Lifetime Sleep Products Sofa Sleeper Memory Foam Mattress
Features To Consider
Dimensions
When choosing a sleeper sofa mattress it is very important to carefully check the dimensions that you need. Although many sofa bed frames are fairly standard in size, it is by no means guaranteed that all sofa mattresses will fit all frames - so accurate measuring is a must! It can be tempting to simply measure your existing mattress, but we strongly recommend measuring the frame instead. Over the years it's very likely that your existing mattress has become misshapen, which will throw off your measurements. In order to accurately measure the frame to make sure the mattress you choose fits perfectly, measure both the length and the width using the inside measurements. Next, round the measurements that you have taken down to the nearest inch.
Thickness and Frame Compatibility
If you're looking for a mattress to fit your frame, make sure that you measure the width of the space in the sofa bed into which the mattress will slide when you fold it for storage. If the mattress you choose is too thick, you may not be able to close the sofa bed properly, which would clearly present a big problem! Usually, you can get a good idea of the thickness of the mattress you need by comparing it to your original mattress. That being said, you may find that some sofa mattresses fold more easily than others, so this is something to take into account too.
Firmness
When you are buying a new mattress for a sofa bed sleeper, its firmness is important. Some sofa bed frames can be quite hard, so if the mattress you choose is too soft, it may not do a very good job of protecting the sleeper from the frame and might feel uncomfortable. On the other hand, a sofa bed mattress that is too firm can be quite uncomfortable too - after all, both you and your overnight guests will want to experience the luxurious feeling of sleeping on a 'pillowy' surface. In all the mattresses in this review, the need for both softness and support is met by the types of memory foam used. Each mattress is divided into two layers, with the top layer being made of very soft foam. It is this type of memory foam that molds to the shape of the sleeper's body and makes the mattress feel very comfortable. Underneath that sits the second layer. The second layer is usually composed of some type of high density foam. This type of foam is much firmer and provides the sofa sleeper with a lot of support. Adequate support as we sleep is very important - it stops the body from going out of alignment, which is the main cause of back pain and pain in the joints.
For more information, check out our reviews of a firm mattress and soft mattress.
Trial Period
When you are shopping for a sofa bed mattress, always check to see if the manufacturers offer a trial period. This is where you are allowed to use the mattress for a certain period of time to see how comfortable you find it. There's no better way to decide if a product is the right mattress for your household than to actually sleep on it for a few weeks - and it's particularly useful to have a trial period if you suffer from any pre-existing back or joint pain, as it allows you to decide if your chosen mattress will help alleviate some of the discomfort. If you decide that the mattress you use throughout the trial is not the right one for you, then you can usually return it to the manufacturers at no cost to yourself. That being said, it's a good idea to carefully check the terms and conditions of any trial period that's offered to you, in order to make sure that there are no hidden charges of any kind.
Warranty
A good warranty period on your mattress may cost you more, but it can be worth it for the peace of mind that it provides! Warranty periods will differ from one manufacturer to another and exactly what's covered may differ too, but in general, a sofa mattress warranty will state that your mattress should remain in good condition, without any sagging, as long as it has not been used improperly in any way. Improper use can include using your mattress on an unsuitable frame that doesn't provide the correct support underneath. A lack of support under the mattress can cause it to sag in the middle, which won't just void the warranty but will make the mattress feel very uncomfortable too!
FAQ
Q: Are sofa bed mattresses different from normal ones?
Yes, sofa mattresses vary quite a bit from the regular sort of mattress that you will find on your bed. They are much thinner - as a matter of fact, most sofa mattresses are only half as thick as a regular mattress. But there is a good reason for this! Unlike with a regular mattress, your mattress will need to fold easily when you fold up the frame of your sofa bed. If the mattress is too thick, then this would be very difficult. It is not a good idea to use a regular mattress on a sofa bed. In part, this is because you would no longer be able to fold the sofa bed away with the mattress inside it, but the other reason is that it would probably void the warranty on the mattress. Most mattresses designed for regular beds are meant to be used on a certain type of base, to ensure that they have the proper support and won't sag. A regular mattress on a sofa bed frame would be unlikely to get the support it needs and would very likely begin to sag in the middle, making it uncomfortable for you or your overnight guests to sleep on.
For a wider range of mattresses, make sure you take a look at our reviews of the hybrid mattress and the latex mattress.
Q: How thick should a sofa bed mattress be?
The best sofa bed mattresses should be around 4.5 to 5 inches thick. This is about half as thick as a mattress designed for a regular bed. As explained above, this thin size is necessary so that the mattress will easily fold into the frame of the sofa bed when you close it down after use. However, you should avoid any sofa bed mattresses that are thinner than 4.5 inches. They will probably be lacking in terms of either comfort or support, giving the occupant a less than comfortable night's sleep! The exact thickness of the mattress you'll need will depend on the space available for it within your frame, but a thickness of 4.5 to 5 inches is usually just right for most standard sofa beds on the market.
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Q: What type of sofa bed mattress is better for people with back pains?
People with back problems tend to shy away from sofa bed mattresses, but this doesn't have to be the case. Often, people's experiences with an uncomfortable sofa bed mattress tend to come from the thin, low-quality mattresses that often come with the actual sofa bed when it's first purchased. But replacement sofa bed mattresses - like the ones in this review - are usually a lot more comfortable and far better designed. These mattresses are made from memory foam, which is one of the best mattress materials for people who suffer from back pain. Whilst the top layer may be soft in order to provide a 'pillowy' and comfortable feeling, the bottom layer is usually made from high-density foam. The density of the foam makes it feel a lot firmer, so it provides much better support. This support is important for people who suffer from discomfort in their backs as it helps hold the spine in proper alignment and cradles the body just where it needs it! If you or your overnight guests suffer from back problems, then the best type of sofa bed mattress for you is one that is advertised as being at least medium firm, rather than soft.
Q: Can I replace the mattress on a sofa bed?
You certainly can! In fact, whereas some people wait until their sofa bed mattress is worn out before replacing it, others choose to replace their mattress almost immediately. That's because the type of mattress usually supplied with sleeper sofas tends to be very thin, or they may be innerspring mattresses which are often uncomfortable. Swapping an innerspring or coil mattress for a memory foam one can make a huge difference in terms of comfort! Replacing the mattress is very easy - you simply need to check the dimensions and the thickness as described above to ensure that your new mattress will fit comfortably into the frame and will fold up properly for storage.
Q: How do I get stains and smell out of my sofa bed mattress?
When choosing a new sofa bed mattress it's a good idea to look for one with a removable cover that unzips from the mattress itself. It's even better if the cover is machine washable because all you'll need to do is take off the cover if it ever becomes stained, pop it in the washing machine, and easily get it looking and smelling as good as new! If, however, you can't remove the cover from your sleeper sofa mattress, you still have a few options for freshening it up! If a stain is fresh and quite a lot of liquid is involved, the first thing you need to do is dab up as much of it as you can. If you try to wipe or scrub a wet stain, chances are it will spread and become a lot bigger! Next, get a vacuum cleaner and vacuum the area of the stain, which may help remove a little and will also take away any dust. Now you are ready to tackle the stain itself! The best way to remove the stain will depend on where it came from - but if you're not sure of the source then just make a simple cleaning solution with either diluted white vinegar or diluted dishwashing detergent. Use a sponge to dab it directly onto the stain, leave it for 10 minutes, then blot it with a cloth. You may have to do this a few times to get rid of the stain altogether.
If there has been a bedwetting incident, you will need something a little more powerful to eliminate the odor. Mix together three tablespoons of baking soda, a cup of 3% hydrogen peroxide, and a few drops of dishwashing detergent. Stir until the baking soda has dissolved, then spray the mixture straight onto the stain. Leave it for at least an hour, then cover the whole stain with baking soda and wait another 10 hours. At the end of this time, vacuum up the baking powder, and you should find that the odor has gone.
One of the hardest stains to remove from sofa bed mattresses is blood! If you need to clean a bloodstain, try to do it whilst it's still wet - it is harder when dry. Try spraying 3% hydrogen peroxide straight onto the stain and dabbing it off. Lemon juice can sometimes be an acceptable alternative.
If you don't have any luck in successfully removing stains from your sofa bed mattress, then it might be worth hiring a steam carpet cleaner. These usually come with an upholstery attachment that you can use to clean your mattress.
To keep your sofa bed mattress odor-free long term, it's a good idea to sprinkle baking powder over it after use and vacuum it up at least an hour later. We'd also recommend airing it for a few hours before folding it up in its frame.
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