The Sealy Posturepedic Hybrid and Plus Hybrid mattresses have a reputation for being supportive and reliable. Here’s our in-depth review of these mattresses, the brand, and tips for getting your own.
Sealy is a well-known mattress brand. It has been providing customers with supportive mattresses for almost 140 years. One key selling point of Sealy mattresses is the brand’s trademarked Posturepedic technology.
Many, but not all, Sealy mattresses feature this targeted support. Is it worth the hype? We’ve got the details below.
Posturepedic, which Sealy developed with help from orthopedic specialists, is based on body weight distribution during sleep.
Typically, you’ll sleep with your head in the upper portion of the bed and your legs in the lower section. That leaves your torso and hips — about half of your body weight — in the middle region of the mattress.
Your lower back, spine, and hips are key areas in need of support during sleep. When your mattress doesn’t provide enough support, you’re more likely to wake with discomfort and pain.
Beds with Posturepedic technology aim to prevent this problem with a reinforced mattress center. A layer of dense memory foam, plus extra coils in their hybrid beds, provides a sturdier mattress middle designed to promote better spinal alignment and more restful sleep.
Posturepedic technology appears in two of Sealy’s mattresses:
- Sealy Posturepedic Hybrid Mattress
- Sealy Posturepedic Plus Hybrid Mattress
Foam mattresses may feel soft and are designed to isolate motion, but some people need more support than an all-foam bed can provide. If that’s the case for you, a hybrid mattress may offer a good alternative option to consider.
Hybrids combine coil support with layers of comfort materials for a mattress that offers a blend of support and comfort.
Sealy Posturepedic Hybrid Mattress
- Price: $1,249
- Type: hybrid
- Height: 13 inches
- Firmness: soft and firm
Along with Posturepedic technology, the Performance mattress features more than 900 individually pocketed coils for targeted support and responsive coils.
It also has a dense border of coils around the outside of the mattress for edge support.
Above the coils, layers of breathable foam and gel-infused memory foam work to relieve pressure by cushioning and contouring your body. The breathable mattress cover features antibacterial properties for a fresh sleep.
Reviewers note the difference the reinforced middle makes, saying it helps them feel more supported as they sleep. A few people raised concerns over a chemical odor; one reviewer says it still lingered after 2 months.
This mattress is only available in two firmness options: soft or firm.
*Mattress price is accurate as of June 2023
Sealy Posturepedic Plus Hybrid
- Price: $2,199
- Type: hybrid
- Height: 13.5 or 14 inches
- Firmness: soft, medium, and firm
A few key differences set the Plus Hybrid apart from the standard, settling this version firmly into the brand’s premium category.
First, it features a thicker foam layer than the standard Posturepedic model.
It includes over 1,000 individually wrapped coils that the brand says allow extra breathability. The Plus Hybrid also has a more tightly packed coil system for added reinforcement.
Allergen protection in the mattress cover helps keep the mattress free of mold and dust mites, which can offer peace of mind that your mattress is fresh and clean.
For an additional $400, you can upgrade this mattress to the brand’s “ultimate support + cooling” version.
This upgrade includes:
- SealyChill-infused foam for an extra chance at a cool night’s sleep
- added edge support
- increased pressure relief
- increased support
- extra half an inch of thickness
A few people say the cooling features didn’t have as much effect as they’d hoped, but it’s not clear if they selected the upgrade. But most reviewers rave about how comfortable the bed feels, noting excellent neck and back support.
By and large, people love and recommend this mattress, though some say they don’t think it’s entirely worth the hefty price tag.
This mattress comes in soft, medium, and firm.
*Mattress price is accurate as of June 2023
When shopping for a new mattress, it’s important to consider its performance features, including how well it relieves pressure, absorbs motion, and promotes airflow to keep you feeling cool and comfortable.
Here is a closer look at how Sealy Posturepedic mattresses perform.
Pressure relief
Sealy’s Posturepedic technology is designed to help provide targeted comfort and support right where you need it.
The mattresses feature one to two layers of foam, which can contour to your body to relieve pressure. In fact, many online reviewers note that these mattresses are ideal for those with chronic neck or back pain.
Each mattress is also available with varying levels of firmness, which allows you to select a mattress based on the amount of support you need. While softer mattresses may be better for pressure relief, people who need additional support may prefer a firmer mattress.
Motion isolation
Each Posturepedic mattress is made with encased coils for enhanced stability and flexibility, as well as reduced motion transfer to absorb movement.
This is ideal if you share your bed with a partner, as it can ensure that you won’t wake up every time they move.
Ease of movement
Posturepedic mattresses are highly responsive and designed to provide ease of movement, which is important if you have any mobility concerns or frequently turn or shift positions while you’re sleeping.
They also have coils at the bottom that make the mattress slightly bouncy, which may be a key factor to consider if you are looking for a mattress that is suitable for sex.
Climate control
Sealy Posturepedic Plus Hybrid has a cooling cover, while its upgrade offers an extra cold touch by including the brand’s SealyChill technology in its foam layers.
Though many reviewers praise the cooling technology, others note that certain models may still feel warm.
For this reason, hot sleepers may want to opt for hybrid mattresses rather than foam models to keep cool at night.
Sealy has a fairly good business reputation, based on these criteria:
- They have a B- rating from the Better Business Bureau. Their parent company, TempurSealy International, has an A+ rating.
- The company has faced one lawsuit within the last 4 years. A Kansas man initiated a class-action lawsuit in 2017, saying Sealy had failed to honor the warranty on his mattress. The case was dismissed a few months later when he dropped the suit.
- Sealy hasn’t recalled any mattresses in the United States in the past 4 years. In 2019, Sealy Korea issued a recall for memory foam mattresses containing radon, but these mattresses weren’t made or sold in the United States.
Sealy states on their website that they make their mattresses in the United States. They don’t offer much information about the materials in their mattresses, however.
Reviews on the Sealy website praise the company’s customer service, for the most part.
It’s pretty tough for any company to earn perfect customer service reviews, but you can usually get an idea of how a company takes care of its customers by looking for patterns in reviews.
Before you make a purchase, it’s always a good idea to read some reviews. These can give you more insight into whether the retailer responds to customers quickly and honors its policies. Some things to consider:
- Does it seem like they honor the sleep trial and warranty?
- Do they offer easy returns or exchanges?
- Do people generally say they deliver the mattress in a timely manner?
- Do they communicate about any shipping or delivery delays?
These mattresses feature Sealy Posturepedic technology. But beyond that, they do have some pretty significant differences. Some of these elements may not matter much to you, but others could make the mattress less suitable for your needs.
As you shop, you’ll want to consider the following.
Mattress materials
Hybrids have a layer or two of foam or other padding, but these comfort materials rest on top of coils that provide support for all sleepers. They may not feel quite as soft as a foam bed, but they may provide more durability and firmness to stomach sleepers and people with higher body weights.
A small 2012 study found that both a mattress’s stability and ability to respond to body weight play an important role in how well we sleep. When the participants slept on a mattress with poor stability and responsiveness, deep sleep suffered and participants were less likely to stay asleep.
Researchers concluded that mattresses with comfort layers that are viscoelastic, or compressing and decompressing under load, and have a supportive core are necessary to support the spine.
Many hybrid mattresses have zoned support, which means the coils are designed to respond specifically to body weight. The heavier areas of your body, such as the hip area, will trigger more responsive support than, say, your calves. The idea is that the mattress can customize to your body. It’s both responsive and supportive.
Generally speaking, hybrid mattresses also tend to stay cooler than foam, so they may be a better option for the hottest sleepers.
One
Always look for the CertiPUR-US seal when choosing mattresses containing foam. This certification means that the foam meets indoor air quality standards and doesn’t contain any toxic chemicals or heavy metals.
Sealy uses only certified foam in its mattresses.
Firmness
You want a mattress that’s firm enough to provide good support, but you also want to feel comfortable when you lie down. If your mattress feels uncomfortable, you probably won’t sleep very well.
One mattress won’t have the same feel to everyone, since body weight and sleep position can affect your perception of firmness as well as the type of mattress you need. Softer mattresses can provide better pressure relief, while firmer mattresses tend to provide better support and spinal alignment.
In general, side sleepers may find the most comfort and pressure relief for their hips and shoulders from the ultra-soft/plush and soft/plush options from Sealy.
Back and stomach sleepers will likely find cushion-firm and firm mattresses most comfortable and supportive. Combination sleepers might find the cushion-firm options better to accommodate whatever position they’re in.
If you’re not sure what firmness to opt for,
Cooling
A 2015 review suggests that overheating and sweating at night can disrupt your sleep. Because of this, experts typically recommend sleeping in a cooler room for better quality sleep.
A mattress that traps heat can still leave you uncomfortably warm, however, even in a cool room. Many mattress brands use gel infusions and other types of cooling technology in their mattresses to help you sleep more comfortably.
If sleeping hot isn’t a problem for you, you can probably take or leave this cooling technology. If you do tend to sleep on the warmer side, it may be worth investing in a mattress with better cooling features, like the additional cooling foam or stay-cool covers in the Sealy Premium mattresses.
You may also want to consider hybrids, since they tend to trap less heat than all-foam mattresses.
Height
Taller mattresses tend to be more durable since additional layers and coils provide more depth and support. A mattress with more height will usually provide better support to people with higher body weights.
A foam mattress of 12 or 13 inches, for example, will probably feel more supportive than a foam mattress of only 10 inches. People with lower body weights, however, may find some taller mattresses too firm.
The height of your mattress can also be an important factor if your bed frame is higher off the ground or you have trouble getting in and out of bed. Even an additional 1 or 2 inches can make for some uncomfortable and awkward maneuvering.
You’ll also need deep pocket sheets for a mattress over 14 inches tall — an important drawback to consider if you like your current sheets and bedding.
Some delivery services only offer no-contact delivery and will leave the mattress outside your door. Others offer setup and delivery for an additional fee.
If you purchase your mattresses from the company directly, they offer free delivery and in-home setup.
You can sleep on your mattress as soon as it arrives, but you might notice some faint off-gassing. This chemical smell is fairly common in new mattresses, especially those with foam layers.
Opening a window will often help the smell fade faster, if it does bother you.
Sealy return policy
The company charges a $175 return/exchange fee if you purchase from the company directly.
When purchasing a Sealy mattress from a third-party retailer, you typically won’t be able to return that mattress directly to Sealy. With that in mind, it’s important to carefully review the return policy before you buy your mattress.
Some retailers offer free returns and return shipping, while others charge fees to return the mattress.
Your body will usually need some time to adjust to a new mattress, so many mattress retailers encourage you to try the mattress for 30 nights before returning it. If you still feel uncomfortable after sleeping on the mattress for a few weeks, it’s probably not right for you.
What is Sealy Posturepedic technology?
Sealy Posturepedic technology refers to the innerspring coils that are designed to detect your body weight and respond accordingly with the right amount of support. More weight applied near the midsection will trigger more support at the midsection.
Some older versions of Sealy Posturepedic models are all-foam mattresses without coils. Because of this, it’s important to note that Posturepedic technology also refers more broadly to the concept of supporting your body where it needs it most through supportive foams or coils.
Are Sealy Posturepedic mattresses beneficial for back pain?
The Sealy Posturepedic technology means the mattresses were built with extra support near the middle of the body where most weight is naturally applied to the mattress.
While there are no direct studies showing the effects of Posturepedic mattresses on back pain, the zoned support near the lumbar region is a key feature when choosing a mattress.
In general, a mattress that does not provide enough support at the lower back or hold up the body can lead to back pain.
Which Sealy Posturepedic mattress is best?
That all comes down to your personal preference and budget.
Both of the mattresses in the Posturepedic collection are hybrid models. Hybrid mattresses combine the support of a coil system with the cooling comfort of foam layers.
If you’re interested in a thicker memory foam layer, consider the “advanced” premium model, which is called the Posturepedic Plus Hybrid. This model has an upgrade available that the brand says offers its ultimate support plus its best cooling.
Who should consider a Sealy Posturepedic mattress?
Sealy Posturepedic mattresses feature a reinforced center, which may make them a good choice if you need more targeted support while you sleep.
Available in a variety of sizes with multiple levels of firmness, these mattresses also offer options for almost any type of sleeper.
It’s worth mentioning that some reviewers report that the Plus Hybrid version of this mattress is too firm, though you can select from soft, medium, and firm levels with this version of the mattress.
Additionally, the higher-end model also comes with a higher price tag, which may not be the best option for budget-conscious consumers.
Sealy Posturepedic mattresses may provide the support you need for good sleep. Some reviews suggest these mattresses may not be the most durable option on the market, but many people describe them as quality mattresses that promote cool, comfortable rest.
Crystal Raypole has previously worked as a writer and editor for GoodTherapy. Her fields of interest include Asian languages and literature, Japanese translation, cooking, natural sciences, sex positivity, and mental health. In particular, she’s committed to helping decrease stigma around mental health issues.
