By Forbes Staff,Forbes Vetted,McKenzie Dillon
Copyright forbes
Helix and Saatva are two well-known, regularly recommended brands with collections of beds that appeal to side, back and stomach sleepers alike. The Helix Midnight Luxe, the brand’s best-selling mattress, is one of our editors’ favorites for plush, cushioned comfort, while the flagship Saatva Classic often takes the crown for people living with back pain and those needing boosted lumbar support. That said, each mattress appeals to sleepers across the board and has qualities that help combat pain, regulate temperature and/or cater to couples. In our Helix vs. Saatva review, we break down who each one is best suited for and reveal why you may like one over the other.
In our Helix vs. Saatva comparison, we break down the possible advantages and drawbacks for each mattress and who we think each bed suits most.
ILLUSTRATION: FORBES / PHOTO: RETAILER
The mattress landscape may look vastly different from the last time you shopped for one, and sometimes the luxury of choice can be overwhelming with so many options to sift through. If you’ve narrowed down Helix and Saatva as your front-runners, restful nights are well within reach. Below, explore the highlights and possible drawbacks of each bestseller—plus what our testers had to say after sleeping on them for over 30 nights and comparing them to top-rated competitors.
Helix Midnight Luxe (Queen)
Type: Hybrid | Helix’s firmness rating: Medium (6) | Height: 13.5 inches | Trial period: 100 nights | Warranty: Lifetime
Back and side sleepers
Hot sleepers, thanks to multiple cooling features
Couples who’d like good motion isolation
Those wanting available add-ons for temperature and lumbar support
You’re a heavyweight stomach sleeper who benefits from a firmer bed
You don’t want a bed-in-a-box mattress (arrives compressed)
Saatva Classic (Queen)
Type: Innerspring hybrid | Brand firmness rating: Plush (3), luxury firm (5 to 7) or firm (8) | Height: 11.5 or 14.5 inches | Trial period: 365 nights | Warranty: Lifetime
Those looking for a supportive, lifted feel
Height and firmness customization
Couples who’d like superior edge support
You want free white glove delivery (includes setup and mattress removal)
You prefer a bed with more sinkage
You value motion isolation over edge support
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Helix Vs. Saatva: Similarities And Differences
Similarities
Each has a strong hybrid construction that contains coils
Both mattresses have a cushiony, plush pillow top
Helix and Saatva offer long risk-free trials for you to try their beds at home
Differences
Saatva offers three firmness options and two heights for the Classic, while Helix offers different Luxe models with similar constructions but varying firmness profiles
The Saatva Classic contains two coil layers, rather than one, for maximum support
Helix has optional upgrades for hot sleepers and those with back pain
Helix Vs. Saatva Firmness And Feel
The Helix Midnight Luxe is “cushiony and plush, with what I’d consider a medium firmness,” says Forbes Vetted managing editor Emmy Favilla. She adds that there’s “not a ton of sinkage, but it’s also not overly firm.” On the other hand, you can consider the Helix Sunset Luxe for a softer, more pressure-relieving profile that caters to side sleepers, while the Helix Dawn Luxe is a good pick for people that’d prefer a truly firm bed (like stomach and heavyweight sleepers). “This mattress feels firm yet has a nice thick pillow top to provide lifted cushioning,” says senior mattress and sleep editor Bridget Chapman after testing the Dawn Luxe model.
As for the Saatva Classic, sleepers have the option between plush, luxury firm and firm profiles. We found some of the models feel a touch different than advertised, with the plush model starting around a medium. “It’s not quite as soft as Saatva suggests,” says Chapman, adding that it’s “plush yet so buoyant.” Updates writer Alexandra Garrett echoes her thoughts, and says, “I think this mattress is much more firm than it’s rated.”
We also found that the luxury firm model falls closer to the firmer end of its 5 to 7 spectrum, as senior strategy editor Katie Simpson calls it “lifted and supportive, but cushiony and soft up top,” giving it a profile that feels like “a true medium-firm.” For even greater spinal support for stomach or back sleepers, opt for the firm choice, which our testers found to be a true firm.
Although the Helix Midnight Luxe and Saatva Classic are both finished with a pillowy topper, the Saatva Classic offers more spinal lift while the Helix Midnight Luxe has more contouring and pressure relief. “[There’s] no sinkage, but the plush pillow top helps balance out the density of the firm mattress beneath,“ says a tester about the luxury firm Saatva Classic.
The Helix Midnight Luxe Mattress topped with the cooling GlacioTex cover in our tester’s bedroom
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Garrett adds, “[The Saatva] feels cushioned and bouncy. It’s firm but still padded at the same time.” Its feel is comparable to a traditional innerspring mattress with added cushion and modern upgrades. As for the plush model, we think it feels more padded, pillowy and “definitely softer than the other Saatva models,” says Chapman, but “it’s still super supportive and comfortable” and “doesn’t offer a lot of soft sinkage.”
After testing the Helix Midnight Luxe for over 20 months, Garrett says, “It feels supportive without being too firm, and plush without the ‘stuck’ feeling you get from an all-foam bed.” Senior reviews editor Anna Perling agrees, and compares sleeping on the Helix Midnight Luxe to “floating,” adding that “the cushioned top feels so luxe.” Rather than feeling lifted like you do on the Saatva Classic, your body is contoured and hugged by the bed’s comfort foams and pillowy topper.
Sleeping Position
The Saatva Classic is offered in three firmness profiles, catering to an array of sleeping positions. Side sleepers should opt for the plush model, while luxury firm is recommended most to back and stomach sleepers. The firm model should be reserved for those in need of enhanced lift and lumbar reinforcements, like strict stomach sleepers or heavyweight back sleepers.
The Helix Midnight Luxe, on the other hand, only comes in one firmness that mostly appeals to back and side sleepers. However, it has the same features and price as two other beds in Helix’s catalog that cater to stomach or dedicated side sleepers. Those looking for added cushion, sinkage and pressure relief, like side sleepers or lightweight individuals under 150 pounds, should try the Helix Sunset Luxe. Whereas prominent stomach sleepers and people over 250 pounds may prefer the Helix Dawn Luxe.
Both the Helix Midnight Luxe and the Saatva Classic accommodate different body types, whether you’re petite or plus-size, because of their plush feels and hybrid constructions (more detail on that below). If we had to name the most supportive mattress for larger body types between the two, we’d choose the Saatva Classic for its dual-coil design, which features two layers of steel coils and delivers a sturdy feel reminiscent of a traditional innerspring bed. For even greater support, see our editors’ picks for the best mattresses for heavy people.
The Saatva Classic has a zoned quilted cover and a bouncy, lifted feel that’s softened with a Euro top.
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Construction
Here’s a breakdown of each mattress and the layers that make them so comfortable and supportive.
Helix Construction
Tencel or GlacioTex cooling pillow top: The breathable and moisture-wicking Tencel top comes standard with the Helix Midnight Luxe. But if you’re a hot sleeper or live in a warm region, the GlacioTex Cooling Cover is well worth the extra $187. It’s designed to pull heat away from the body as you sleep and feels physically cool to the touch, leaving you more comfortable and dry through the night.
Comfort layers: Underneath the cover sit two layers of memory foam: one standard and one infused with copper gel. Together, these layers relieve pressure by gently cradling the body. As an optional upgrade, you can add a cooling layer here that’s meant to provide even more temperature regulation.
Transition layer: Called Memory Plus Foam by Helix, this layer of polyfoam helps with stability and support. You can also opt for the ErgoAlign Layer, which adds a supporting and lifted feel to the center of the bed for enhanced lumbar support.
Support layer: Up to 1,000 individually wrapped coils give the Midnight Luxe its lifted, supportive feel. They offer extra bounce, breathability and edge support. Plus, they’re softer by the head and feet and firmer in the middle by the hips to help with spine alignment. They’re also reinforced along the edges for better perimeter support.
Base layer: Helix’s DuraDense polyfoam acts as the foundation beneath the coils.
The comfortable and supportive layers that make up the Helix Midnight Luxe Mattress.
Illustration: Forbes / Photo: Retailer
Saatva Construction
Cover: The top cover is made from breathable, hypoallergenic and moisture-wicking organic cotton, and treated with an antimicrobial finish to help prevent the growth of household allergens.
Euro pillow top: A 3-inch pillow top with zoned quilting provides extra support and cushion where your body needs it most.
Comfort layer: In the center of the mattress sits a slab of memory foam, which Saatva calls a “lumbar crown,” to provide extra pressure relief for the lumbar region.
Responsive coil layer: A layer of zoned pocketed coils contour to your body and provide targeted lumbar support.
Spinal wire layer: A patented “Lumbar Zone Active Spinal Wire” sits below the middle of the first layer of coils to enhance support even further and promote alignment.
Edge support layer: Dense foam padding sits around the perimeter of the mattress, which increases edge support performance.
Base coil layer: Here sits a thick layer of tempered steel coils (not pocketed) that provide more support and allow for improved airflow.
The different layers that make up the Saatva Classic Mattress.
Illustration: Forbes / Photo: Retailer
Performance
Our team of editors tested the performance factors of the Helix Midnight Luxe and Saatva Classic that typically matter most in mattresses, like perimeter support, motion isolation, pressure relief and temperature regulation. Ratings reflect the scores of the plush Saatva Classic, Helix Midnight’s closest competitor, but you can look to our full Saatva Classic and Helix Midnight Luxe mattress reviews for a more detailed analysis of firmness levels.
Edge Support
Helix: The Midnight Luxe scored an 8.5 out of 10, and Perling confirms it had “firm edge support.” She says, “I still feel very supported, even when I roll to the edge of the bed.”
Saatva: The plush Saatva Classic scored an 8 out of 10. “It feels very supportive on the side of the mattress, and you can feel the extra-sturdy materials in the edge that help keep you up,” says Chapman. However, the luxury firm and firm models performed even better, hitting a 9 or 10 out of 10.
Motion Transfer
Helix: The Midnight Luxe scored an 8.5 out of 10. One 250-pound tester says, “The mattress has great motion isolation given the firmness of it,” praising its ability to stay still during our water glass test (where we made jerky movements around a glass of water and evaluate the impact).
Saatva: The plush Saatva Classic scored a 5.5 out of 10. “Motion isolation isn’t the best,” says one tester. “The bounciness transfers throughout, making it easy to disturb someone you’re sharing the bed with.” However, the luxury firm and firm models both scored a 6.5 out of 10.
Helix: Garrett slept on the Midnight Luxe (with the GlacioTex cover) during sky-high summer temperatures in Florida, and says, “Cooling is yet another area where the Helix Midnight Luxe shines.” She adds, “It’s cool to the touch and helps pull heat away from your body, so the area beneath you never feels unbearably hot.”
Saatva: After sleeping on the Saatva Classic during a heat wave, our long-term tester says, “I didn’t once wake up feeling hot,” adding that “it’s remarkably cool.” We think it sleeps cooler than the Helix Midnight Luxe, unless you add the GlacioTex cover to the Helix model.
Pressure Relief
Helix: The Midnight Luxe scored an 8.5 out of 10, and according to one 250-pound sleeper, “There is no pain or pressure buildup at all; I feel very comfortable and supported. The raised lofty areas of the quilted cover make me feel like all of my pressure points are being enveloped.”
Saatva: The plush Saatva Classic scored a 9 out of 10, and Favilla, who’s a lightweight sleeper under 150 pounds, says, “This feels like a luxurious mattress to me. It’s very plush, pillowy and bouncy, and offers the ideal amount of sinkage in my opinion.” The firmer Saatva models aren’t quite as forgiving on the hips and shoulders and don’t offer as much sinkage for side sleepers. Still, the luxury firm scored an overall 8.5 out of 10 for pressure relief, and the firm model earned an 8 out 10.
Overall Support
Helix: A range of sleeper types, including our testers weighing over 250 pounds, praise the Midnight Luxe’s balanced feel that walks the line between supportive and relieving. After noting how easy it would be to fall asleep and take a nap, one tester says, “My back and spine felt very supported, aligned and comfortable.”
Saatva: Saatva is an ultra-supportive choice with a lifted feel, and our testers unanimously agree. One tester says, “This is a great mattress for back sleeping. I felt supported and relieved in all the right places” after trying the luxury firm model. Another tester adds, “[It’s] great for someone who is looking for a firm mattress or has back issues, and does not add additional strain on the body.”
Prices And Policies
Since sleepers don’t get the luxury of testing the Helix and Saatva mattresses back-to-back in a showroom, each brand has company policies to give you peace of mind on your purchase, whether you decide to keep the mattress or not.
Helix Prices And Policies
For the Helix Luxe mattresses, prices range from $1,436 for a twin size to $2,924 for a California king (without upgrades). That said, Helix frequently runs promotions that drop the price by around 20% or more.
Customers receive free shipping (it arrives compressed inside of a box) and returns with a 100-night risk-free trial, but the brand asks you to wait at least 30 nights before initiating a return to give your body time to adjust to a new mattress.
If you choose to keep your mattress, you are backed by a lifetime-limited warranty that protects you from manufacturing defects, just as long as you abide by Helix’s guidelines. For example, your warranty is voided if you keep your mattress atop an improper bed frame.
Saatva Prices And Policies
Prices range from $1,399 for a twin size and go up to $3,078 for a split California king-size mattress. Similar to Helix, Saatva runs sales on the Classic—but not as frequently or as steeply.
Customers receive free white glove delivery, which includes movers delivering your mattress flat (never compressed) and setting it up in your home. The brand also provides free mattress removal services if you need your old bed taken away. Though, mattress returns cost $99 as a processing fee.
If you choose to keep your Saatva mattress, it’s backed by a lifetime warranty that guarantees a free replacement within the first two years if it’s found to be defective. Starting in year three of ownership, the brand will repair and re-cover your mattress for a $149 processing fee.
Helix Vs. Saatva: Our Final Verdict
Deciding between the Helix and Saatva mattresses comes down to a few primary performance factors—such as feel, motion isolation and edge support—as well as the appeal of certain upgrades and each company’s policies.
Since the Helix Luxe line offers an array of firmness profiles and the Saatva Classic comes in three firmness levels, we think both mattresses cater well to different sleep postures. If you prefer a lifted, more supportive feel—like sleeping on top of the mattress rather than sinking into it—you might be drawn to the Saatva Classic. In contrast, the Helix Midnight Luxe has more of a cushy profile, with a balanced measure of support and pressure relief.
In terms of performance, the Helix Midnight Luxe excels at motion isolation, making it a strong choice for couples who want to minimize sleep disturbances. On the other hand, the Saatva Classic provides superior edge support, especially in the luxury firm or firm model. This makes it a great option for those with back or joint pain who benefit from easier movement and consistent support across the mattress surface.
If you’re prone to sleeping hot, the Saatva Classic is a better option as-is, but the Helix Midnight Luxe comes with more impressive upgrades, including an optional cooling cover and/or an additional temperature-regulating layer that’s sandwiched inside. Lastly, Saatva offers more generous company policies, including free white glove delivery and old mattress removal, a service you have to pay for with the Helix Midnight Luxe. The Helix Midnight Luxe also arrives compressed in a box, while the Saatva Classic is never compressed.
Why Trust Forbes Vetted
McKenzie Dillon is the author of this story and a mattress and sleep editor at Forbes Vetted. She has been a consistent voice in the health and wellness space, particularly focused on sleep, and has spent over six years writing and researching the topic. She has tested over 100 different beds, including the Helix Midnight Luxe and Saatva Classic, and has earned her sleep science coach certification.
Bridget Chapman is the senior mattress and sleep editor at Forbes Vetted. She holds a sleep science coach certification and has over a decade of editing and reporting experience, including more than four years focused specifically on sleep. She’s tested over 200 mattresses—including all three Saatva Classic models and the Helix Midnight Luxe multiple times—and contributed her insights for this comparison.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Yes, Helix mattresses are all produced and shipped from an American-based factory in Arizona, and the brand uses high-end materials, including in-house poured foam (a rarity in the mattress industry). Helix mattresses have strong hybrid constructions and optional premium upgrades, like a cooling cover and lumbar support layer.
Yes, the Saatva Classic is considered part of the affordable luxury category. It features higher-quality, more luxurious materials than many competitors, along with a dual-coil construction that promotes lasting support and durability.
The Helix Midnight Luxe Mattress is another high-quality hybrid mattress with premium upgrade options, but it offers better motion isolation and contouring. The Leesa Legend Chill is another option that’s as good as Saatva, with a dual-coil design for enhanced support and better temperature regulation.
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