Beautyrest Black Mattress Review

Beautyrest have perhaps the most complex selection of mattress that I’ve ever seen.

So in this Beautyrest Black® mattress review, I’m going to cover the Black® Original and its two optional upgrades – the Cooling Upgrade, and the Cooling and Comfort Upgrade – in order to provide some clarity.

These selections are in addition to my list of the best Simmons Beautyrest mattresses and my Beautyrest Hybrid Original mattress review.

Let’s jump straight in. 🙂

Beautyrest Black Mattress Review

The following Beautyrest Black® mattress reviews are based on my extensive research combined with my own experiences using and reviewing mattresses.

I hope that my resulting opinions can help give you extra insight to help you choose the right mattress for you.

But if you don’t find what you’re looking for, check out my list of the best mattresses that you can buy online for some branded alternatives that may be more suitable for you.

Also, if you’ve slept on any of these beds then please let me know in the comments section at the end of the post of your experiences because this will help others who are researching Beautyrest mattresses to make a more informed purchasing decision.

The Beautyrest Black Mattress Upgrades Explained

The Beautyrest Black® Original is a hybrid mattress that combines memory foam and spring support coils for custom pressure relief and spinal support.

However, you can potentially enhance your sleeping experience with 2 additional upgrades – the Cooling Upgrade, or the Cooling and Comfort Upgrade.

Finding the best version of the Beautyrest Black® mattress for your needs starts with understanding how the upgrades differ.

Here’s a quick explanation.

1: The Black Original – L-Class Medium

The Original version of the Beautyrest Black® is the L-Class medium which has a medium firmness, can help you sleep cool with the BlackICE™ 4.0 foam, and uses T3 Pocketed Coil® Technology to provide support.

To summarise, I think that you should go for this version of the Beautyrest Black® mattress if you’re looking to spend the least amount of money and you’re a front, back, or combo sleeper in the 130 lbs – 200 lbs weight range and you’re a temperate sleeper that doesn’t sleep too hot or sweat excessively.

But if you do tend to sleep on the warm side or sweat a lot but you don’t want to spend extra on the Cooling Upgrade, then it’s probably going to be cheaper for you to buy a set of cooling bed sheets to go with your Beautyrest Black® Original mattress.

2: The Black Cooling Upgrade – C-Class Medium

If you go for the Cooling Upgrade then you’ll get everything that the Black Original has but with the addition of RightTemp™ Memory Foam to help you sleep 20% cooler by wicking away heat.

I recommend going for the Cooling Upgrade if you are naturally a warmer sleeper or live in a warmer environment.

If excessive sweating is your main issue then I would also look to buy a set of cooling bamboo bed sheets because bamboo has exceptional cooling and moisture wicking capabilities to help to stay dry.

3: The Black Cooling and Comfort Upgrade – C-Class Plush Pillow Top

The Cooling and Comfort Upgrade builds on the Cooling Upgrade by including GelTouch® Foam to combat overeating more effectively.

However, it’s crucial to note that the Cooling and Comfort Upgrade is a plush pillow top mattress.

This makes the mattress better for side sleepers under 200 lbs because the extra ‘give’ means that you’ll sink further into the mattress to take away pressure on your shoulders for greater comfort.

But these same qualities make this version less suitable for heavier weighted front sleepers over 200 lbs because the chance of you sinking too far into the mattress and ending up with back ache increases in my opinion.

In conclusion, I would say that you should go for the Cooling and Comfort Upgrade if you’re a side sleeper under 200 lbs and you’re also looking to sleep cool.

Design Analysis

The Beautyrest Black® Original is 13 inches thick which puts it at an above average depth to accommodate heavier weighted sleepers who may find thinner mattresses too firm.

The cover is designed to be cool to the touch which gives way to 0.5 inches of Plush Comfort Foam, 1 inch of Medium Comfort Foam, 1.5 inches of Energy Foam, and 0.5 inches of Beautyrest® Gel Memory Foam to provide individualised pressure relief and comfort.

The support core consists of 9.5 inches of T3 Pocketed Coil® Technology for custom spinal support with BeautyEdge® foam enhancing the edge support so that you can make full use of the total area of the mattress without feeling like you’re going to fall off when you get too close to the edge.

Performance Analysis

To summarise, I think that the Original version of this mattress is ideal for front and back sleepers in the 130 lbs – 200 lbs range who sleep in a temperate climate and don’t sleep too hot – with the Cooling Upgrade being preferential if you do need extra cooling capabilities.

The Cooling and Comfort Upgrade will be better for you if you’re a side sleeper under 200 lbs and need maximum levels of cooling due to the softer firmness and maximal cooling abilities.

Here’s a more detailed explanation of how I personally think all versions of this mattress measure up in the key performance areas.

1) Firmness

The Original and Cooling Upgrade are medium firmness mattresses with a slight bias towards a medium-firm with all of the other comfort and top layers considered in my view.

This means that if you’re a front, back, or combo sleeper in the 130 lbs – 200 lbs range then you should find this mattress comfortable.

However, if you’re a side sleeper under 200 lbs you may find this mattress to be too firm on your shoulders – the Cooling and Comfort Upgrade can fix this because it’s a softer mattress that’s more forgiving on your shoulders.

2) Pressure Relief

The comfort foam layers of the Original and Cooling Upgrade versions of this mattress should provide sufficient pressure relief if you sleep on your front or back.

But if you’re a side sleeper then I think that the Cooling and Comfort Upgrade will provide the added pressure relief that you’ll need for your shoulders because the mattress has a softer plush pillow top for greater comfort.

3) Overall Support

The support for all three versions of the mattress is very good thanks to the T3 Pocketed Coil® Technology which allows the springs to adjust one-by-one to your exact body shape to support your spine.

4) Edge Support

The edge support for all three versions of this mattress is very good because the support coils combine with the specifically reinforced foam edges to guard against sagging.

5) Moving Around

If you’re a combo sleeper that switches positions frequently during the night then you should be able to move around in the Original and Cooling Upgrade versions of the mattress if you’re under 250 lbs because the medium-firm feel combines with the support coils to increase surface tension and guard against sinkage.

However, you may find the Cooling and Comfort Upgrade harder to move around and sit up in due to the softer firmness and greater give.

6) Maximum Weight Capacity

I’m not sure what the maximum weight capacity is for this mattress and its variations but I would guess that it’s somewhere around the 500 lbs mark based on my experience reviewing other mattresses with a similar construction.

7) Couples

If you sleep as a couple then the pocket coils and foam layers should do a pretty good job of absorbing the feelings of you both moving around during the night to stop you from waking each other up.

And the edge support means that you’ll be able to make full use of the area of the bed because the edges won’t sag like a low quality foam mattress might.

I would express caution however with the Cooling and Comfort upgrade if you sleep on your front and your partner is very heavy because the greater potential sinkage created by your partner may cause gaps in the mattress that could lead to backache due to your hips dropping out of alignment.

In which case the firmer Original and Cooling Upgrades might be a better choice – assuming that your partner isn’t a prominent side sleeper that requires the extra softness provided by this mattress.

8) Allergies

Beautyrest use CertiPUR-US® certified foams [1] (listed on the CertiPUR-US® website under the Simmons Mattress Company at the time of writing) which means that the absence of harmful chemicals may make this mattress better for you if you have sensitive skin or eczema due to the lower potential for an allergic reaction or irritation.

But if you have an allergy to dust mites, pollen, or other ambient allergens then this mattress is a bit of a coin flip because the foam top layers may block allergen build up but the spacious coil sub layers may encourage it – in which case you might be better with an all-foam hypoallergenic mattress.

9) Temperature Regulation

I think that the Original version of this mattress does a fair job of keeping you cool if you’re a temperate sleeper that sleeps in a cooler environment.

But if you tend to sleep hot or live in a warmer climate then I would certainly consider the Cooling Upgrade – or the Cooling and Comfort upgrade if you’re a prominent side sleeper due to the extra softness.

10) Keeping You Dry

As a consequence of the cooling properties that progressively increase with each upgrade, one of the knock-on effects of sleeping cool is sweating less.

However, I don’t think that any version of the Beautyrest Black® mattress is equipped with any specific moisture wicking properties.

So as I said earlier, if excessive sweating is a real concern for you then I would buy a set of bamboo bed sheets because they are great for pulling moisture away from your body and pushing it to the edge of the material where it can evaporate.

High quality mulberry silk bed sheets and Egyptian cotton bed sheets can also help you to stay cool and dry too.

11) Odour

You can expect your mattress to smell ‘new’ for a few days or hours after unpacking it – keep your sleeping area well ventilated until this passes.

I would say that this mattress range performs better when compared to many of the other mattresses on the market when it comes to inhibiting odour and off gassing because Beautyrest uses CertiPUR-US® certified foams [2] that are low in the VOCs (volatile organic compounds) that can be responsible for the initial off gassing smell.

12) Pain

I’m always hesitant to say that a mattress can ‘cure’ any sort of pain, and I would always suggest visiting with your doctor or a qualified healthcare professional before buying a bed for your needs.

But if you’re struggling with back pain and you’re a front or back sleeper then the firmness and support of the Original and the Cooling Upgrade may be able to provide some relief.

Similarly, the softer Cooling and Comfort Upgrade may be better for your back and shoulders if you’re a side sleeper.

Whilst side sleepers under 130 lbs may actually end up experiencing discomfort sleeping on the Original or the Cooling Upgrade due to the firmness that’s exacerbated by your tendency to lie ‘on’ the materials due to less downward force being applied to the mattress surface.

Comfort Analysis

To summarise, I think that the Original and Cooling Upgrade are best suited to front, back, and combo sleepers in the 130 lbs – 200 lbs weight range.

Whist the Cooling and Comfort Upgrade is best suited to side sleepers under 200 lbs, or combo sleepers under 130 lbs.

More details below.

Front Sleepers

If you’re a front sleeper in the 130 lbs – 200 lbs range then the medium-firm firmness of the Original and Cooling Upgrade should provide enough surface tension to keep your hips aligned to guard against back pain.

But I would caution you against the Cooling and Comfort Upgrade because the plushness of the mattress might cause your hips to drop out of alignment.

Back Sleepers

If you’re a back sleeper in the 130 lbs – 200 lbs weight range then you should find the support and pressure relief sufficient in the Original and Cooling Upgrade.

If you’re a back sleeper under 130 lbs then you might prefer the extra pressure relief provided by the Cooling and Comfort Upgrade.

Side Sleepers

I think that if you’re a side sleeper under 200 lbs then the Cooling and Comfort Upgrade will provide the pressure relief require to keep you comfortable.

Combo Sleepers

If you’re a combo sleeper in the 130 lbs – 200 lbs range then you’ll probably prefer the greater surface tension provided by the Original and Cooling Upgrade.

If you’re a combo sleeper under 130 lbs who also spends a lot of time on your side – and/or you have a bed partner in the 130 lbs – 200 lbs range who is a side sleeper – then you might be ok with the Cooling and Comfort Upgrade.

How Durable is This Mattress?

All versions of this mattress should be very durable due to the high quality foams and robust spring support core.

Hybrid beds like these can last anywhere up to 6 – 10 years with the correct care in some cases.

Will This Mattress Sag?

Unless you are over 300 lbs or you and your partner put a high collective weight on to this mattress, then I think that the chances of this mattress sagging prematurely are quite low due to the strong support.

However, to guard against indentations, dips, and peaks, I recommend rotating your mattress (not flipping) once every 3 months to help distribute how the mattress is exposed to load.

How Good is the Motion Isolation?

For a hybrid bed, the motion isolation should be very good due to the individually wrapped coils and foam that should dissipate movement better than a traditional innerspring mattress but potentially not as well as a pure foam mattress.

Will This Mattress Make a Noise?

This mattress should be fairly quiet under normal movement thanks to the pocket coils, but some noise is to be expected under greater movement.

Is This Mattress Easy to Set Up?

Yes.

If you buy this mattress from the Beautyrest.com website and live in the contiguous US (not Alaska or Hawaii) then the complimentary White Glove Delivery means that the mattress will be set up for you and your old mattress taken away.

If you don’t live in the US and/or order from a different retailer then you may have to set the mattress up yourself – depending on the terms of delivery for that retailer.

Can You Flip This Mattress?

No.

You can’t flip any versions of the Beautyrest Black® mattress because the unilateral design means that turning it over would result in you sleeping on the support core which would be uncomfortable.

Which Base Types Are Compatible With This Mattress?

All versions of this mattress should be compatible with most frames and foundations.

However, if your slatted base has slats more than 2 inches apart then you’ll need a box spring to ensure that the mattress is adequately supported.

Is There a Sleep Trial?

Yes.

If you order from the Beautyrest.com website then you’re covered by a 100 night sleep trial that allows you to test this mattress out to make sure that it’s right for your sleeping style.

Is There a Warranty?

Yes.

This mattress is covered by a 10 year limited warranty.

Can You Trust This Manufacturer?

In my opinion – yes.

Because the Simmons Bedding Company who are behind the Beautyrest mattress range have been in business since 1870 [3] and are one of the most established bedding brands in the US.

Pros

• The Original is a well rounded mattress that provides good support, pressure relief, and cooling capabilities.

• The Cooling Upgrade provides enhanced cooling capabilities to help you if you’re a warmer sleeper or are based in a warmer climate.

• The Cooling and Comfort Upgrade provides better pressure relief for side sleepers and maximal cooling properties.

• The support core makes this a robust and durable bed.

• The enhanced edge support guards against sagging and allows couples to make use of the full mattress area.

• The individually wrapped coils limit motion transfer to stop you and your partner waking each other up as you shuffle around during the night.

• The coils respond singularly to your body shape to provide greater spinal support.

• 13 inch profile for greater mattress depth which can help support heavier weighted sleepers better than thinner mattresses can.

Cons

• You will need a box spring if you can’t lie this mattress on a flat surface or a frame that has gaps of no more than 2 inches between the slats.

• Expect a mild off gassing smell just after opening – this should go away in a few days so keep your room well ventilated in the meantime.

Final Ratings

Below are my final ratings for the Beautyrest Black® Original mattress.

The ratings for the cooling capabilities are slightly higher for the Cooling and Cooling and Comfort Upgrade options respectively.

Who Should Buy This Mattress?

• The Original mattress and Cooling Upgrade is best suited to front, back, and combo sleepers in the 130 lbs – 200 lbs range.

• The Cooling and Comfort Upgrade option is best suited to side sleepers under 200 lbs and combo sleepers under 130 lbs.

Who Should Avoid This Mattress?

• Side sleepers may find the Original and Cooling Upgrade options too firm on their shoulders.

• Front sleepers may find the Cooling and Comfort Upgrade too soft and trigger back pain.

What Are The Alternatives?

I hope that my Beautyrest Black mattress review has helped you decide if any of the three variations of this mattress are right for you.

If not, you can either check out my list of the best Simmons Beautyrest mattresses if you’d like to stick with this brand – or you can click the button below for a more extensive list of options outside the Simmons Beautyrest range.

Whatever you choose, I hope my insights have helped you, and I’d love to hear of your mattress buying experiences in the comments section below. 🙂

Sources and References

[1], [2] CertiPUR-US® – Companies Selling Products Containing Certified Foam. Accessed 25/3/20.

[3] Wikipedia – Simmons Bedding Company. Accessed 25/3/20.

Dan

Dan is the founder and head content creator at Bedroom Style Reviews.

He has been working as a professional online product reviewer since 2015 and was inspired to start this website when he ended up sleeping on a memory foam mattress that was too soft and gave him backache.

Through in-depth research and analysis, Dan’s goal with this website is to help others avoid such pitfalls by creating the best online resource for helping you find your ideal mattress, bedding, and bedroom furniture.

Dan is a qualified NVQ Level 2 Fitness Instructor with 6 years’ experience helping clients improve their health through diet, exercise, and proper sleep hygiene.

He also holds several college and university-level qualifications in health sciences, psychology, mathematics, art, and digital media creation – which helps him to publish well researched and informative product reviews as well as articles on sleep, health, wellbeing, and home decor.

Dan also has direct personal experience with insomnia, anxiety, misophonia (hypersensitivity to sounds), and pain from both acute and long-standing sporting injuries – he enjoys writing insightful articles around these subjects to help fellow sufferers of such conditions.

Learn more about Dan here.