Considering a Tempur mattress? Here is my honest Tempur mattress review after 90 days of sleeping on one. I’ll cover what we like, what we don’t, and key things to know before you buy.
This review focuses on a Double Tempur CoolTouch Original Elite 25.
My husband and I fell for Tempur when mattress shopping for the first time, but the price put us off and we considered more affordable memory foam alternatives like Tempur-Pedic. I had tried a Tempur mattress at a relative’s house before and liked the contouring memory foam feel, so not owning one lingered in my mind for years. We did buy Tempur pillows in the meantime, preferring the Tempur Cloud pillow to their Classic model.
❓Which Tempur Mattress Should I Buy?
Tempur offers several models and firmness levels, so I strongly recommend testing mattresses in-store before buying. We chose ours at Dreams after using their Sleepmatch machine, though the machine suggested a firmer model than we ultimately preferred. If you shop online or secondhand, be cautious: there are reports of fraudulent listings for used Tempur mattresses being resold with new covers.
💭Theories
My working theory is that lighter sleepers generally prefer softer memory foam, while heavier sleepers need firmer support. In our case, the softest Tempur option lacked support and the firmest one was too rigid. We settled on a middle ground that offered contouring without feeling like we were lying on a board.
⌛Delivery Times
Delivery took about one month after ordering. For a premium product, that wait felt long and slightly disappointing. From talking to others, the delay seems common across retailers rather than unique to the shop where we bought ours. While waiting, we at least had Tempur-Pedic pillows to test at home.
⚠️Things To Know Before Buying a Tempur Mattress
A key selling point we were told is that Tempur mattresses are no-turn, meaning you don’t need to flip them. That’s correct for most memory foam beds—flipping can compress the foam layers and reduce their lifespan. If you want to learn more about care guidelines, Tempur’s own care recommendations are a useful starting point.
❌Potential Tempur Mattress Problems
Because Tempur mattresses are expensive, we also purchased a mattress protector and the shop’s mattress insurance to protect our investment. One issue I learned about after buying was reports of mold on memory foam mattresses. This is not unique to Tempur but a potential concern for any foam mattress if conditions allow moisture to collect. Several accounts online describe mold developing at the base of the mattress, usually when ventilation is poor or humidity is high.
🛌How to Prevent a Moldy Memory Foam Mattress
From reading reports and our own precautions, mold risk increases when:
- Your bedroom is damp — consider a dehumidifier or improve ventilation.
- You sweat heavily at night — extra moisture trapped against foam can be a factor.
- Your bed base doesn’t allow airflow — avoid placing the mattress directly on the floor or on a solid platform without slats.
A breathable base, regular airing, and using a quality mattress protector can help. In my view, manufacturers could reduce risk by including protective covers as standard rather than selling them separately.
🛏️Can You Use an Electric Blanket?
Tempur recommends avoiding electric blankets fitted under the sheets and instead suggests over-blankets. We haven’t needed an electric underblanket since getting the mattress—if anything, the mattress feels warm and on some nights I wake a little warm. That might be due to the mattress protector or the mattress materials; individual experience varies.
👎Things I Don’t Like
One minor annoyance: when I sit on the bed before going to sleep, the foam molds to that position. When I lie down in a different spot, the surface takes a little time to rebound and conform to the new position. That lingering impression can make the early minutes of settling in feel uneven.
A Pro to This Is:
It discourages restless tossing and turning, which I appreciate—there is a calming, stabilizing effect once the foam settles.
Another Con
After a few nights, the new mattress simply becomes the new normal. I stopped noticing the novelty and began to take the comfort for granted. In short: it’s luxurious, and that makes me feel a bit spoiled.
🔚Tempur Mattress Review Verdict
Have We Been Sleeping Better?
My sleep tracker hasn’t shown dramatic improvement in sleep stages since switching—overall scores are about the same. I have experienced fewer episodes of lower back pain since October, but I believe that improvement is mostly from increased core-strengthening exercise rather than the mattress alone.
Would I Go Back to a Spring Mattress?
Despite some caveats, I love the Tempur feel. As a side sleeper, I appreciate the way the foam molds around my body and removes pressure from my ribs and shoulders—something a spring mattress with exposed coils never achieved for me. If you expect a mattress to cure sleep problems, temper expectations: sleep hygiene and habits play a large role in sleep quality. That said, if you value pressure relief and a luxurious contouring feel, Tempur is worth trying in person.
If you buy a Tempur mattress, read the manufacturer’s care instructions to help preserve its performance and longevity.
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