Is the Leesa “a better place to sleep”? That’s the main claim from the U.S. manufacturer of this mattress, which was launched in 2014.

The purpose of this Leesa mattress review is to give you the information you need to decide whether it’s going to be a better place for you to sleep.

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Like similar mattresses purchased online, there’s little chance to test the Leesa in a showroom before buying. So below you’ll find not only our own personal views and ratings of the features, but also all the necessary third-party data to draw your own conclusions.

Available in the USA, Canada, and the UK, the Leesa’s simple approach to mattress shopping will be familiar to anyone who has also looked at the Casper and Endy mattresses: one luxury mattress available in all the standard sizes, delivered to your door in a convenient box, with a money-back guarantee that makes buying it relatively risk-free.

But how can you decide which one’s best for you? Which is the best value? Is the Leesa really a “better design” and does it “give you the comfort, support, and universal feel everybody needs to sleep better”?

The below review is designed to help you answer these questions and more…

Pricing & Dimensions

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Product Overview

What we liked:

  • Body Conforming Comfort – a nice gentle hug of the body’s curves
  • Medium Firmness – a comfortable amount of sink and support to suit most people
  • Breathability – a great, cool sleep with good airflow
  • Minimal Motion Transfer – plenty of peaceful, restful sleep even with a restless partner
  • No Hidden Delivery Fees – shipping and return costs are included
  • 100-day Trial Period – lowers risk and more peace of mind
  • Offer of 0% APR Financing for 6 Months – valid in the U.S. only
  • Great Cover Design – the softness and beautiful details in the Leesa cover make it almost too pretty to cover up…
  • Social Impact – they donate mattresses, plant trees, support the local community, and there’s even an art gallery…

What we didn’t like:

  • One-Mattress-Fits-All – the only thing you can choose is the size! Nothing else!
  • Inability to Test Before Purchase – with one showroom in New York, most buyers will not be testing it out first
  • No Flipping – the Leesa is designed to sit one way only. This may raise questions about how it will wear over time…
  • Lack of Edge Support – the edges and corners are not as strong as standard spring mattresses
  • Difficult to Move – no side handles makes moving it around a little awkward
  • Odor (‘Off-Gassing’) – be prepared for quite a gust of gas when you unwrap this mattress!

About the Manufacturer

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As a start-up in late 2014, Leesa Sleep entered the market with the simple goal of helping people sleep better.

Like many mattress manufacturers it seems, the entrepreneurs behind this brand had trouble sleeping. This, coupled with the headaches experienced when purchasing a mattress from a standard bedding showroom (is this becoming outdated, we wonder?) convinced them to create the Leesa mattress.

They sought to design and craft a beautiful mattress for almost everyone, regardless of body size or sleeping preferences (“Universal Adaptive Feel”), while being simple and hassle-free to purchase.

In doing so, they selected premium materials sourced from, and assembled, in the U.S. That includes everything from stitching to shipping – a fact which the Leesa owners are proud of.

With headquarters in Virginia and only one showroom in New York City, the Leesa mattress is not sold through conventional retailers.  The 100-night risk-free trial, free shipping to the U.S., Canada, and the UK, no hassle returns policy, and “incredible” customer support are all designed to offset the fact that you cannot try the mattress before you buy.

The company also stresses its commitment to the ‘greater good’:

“When we started Leesa we were determined to measure success not just by revenue and profit, but by our impact on the world. We feel giving back is a privilege, not an obligation. It’s been built into our company from the very beginning.”

David Wolfe, Co-founder & CEO

How we put the mattress to the test

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Few online Leesa mattress reviews are based on personal experience. They tend to be generic, largely copied from elsewhere, or fabricated.

We believe in actually sleeping on the mattress and performing tests using more than one sleeper.

That’s why we conducted the same tests on the Leesa that we carry out on all the other mattress reviews you can find on this site. This allows you to make up your mind, based on balanced, ‘like for like’ information.

Our two ‘sleep scouts’ are a 120lb female and a larger 215lb male. They tested the Leesa for 30 days. You can read more detail about the tests that they conducted here. For the results of these tests, keep on reading.

The Basics: An Overview

First Observations: The Unpacking Experience

Blue and white must be ‘sleep colours’. The Leesa, like the Casper and Endy, arrives in a long, slim, blue and white cardboard box.

As with similar mattresses, it is compressed in a vacuum-sealed bag. Instructions for setting it up can be found on the inner flaps on the box and are easy as 1, 2, 3 to follow.

The mattress starts to take shape immediately and effortlessly, once the seal is broken. At this point, we became aware of the type of off-gassing odor not uncommon with foam mattresses.

Once removed from its packing we noticed that, as with its main competing mattresses, there were no side straps to aid in manoeuvring it into place. This was not an issue for us, a team of two, but for a single female or an older person this might present some problems, especially given the rather floppy nature of this mattress.

It’s not an incredibly heavy Queen size mattress but, at 71 pounds out of the box, it still takes an effort to shift and lift it.

What’s in the box?

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At first glance, it’s a little surprising that the only thing in the box is the vacuum-sealed mattress itself. Unlike its main competitors, there is no booklet, fancy opening tools, or nice linen satchel.

As mentioned, the setup instructions are printed on the box flaps themselves, along with the contact information of the support team. So make sure you don’t immediately consign the box to the garbage.

When we consider this a little more closely, the lack of paraphernalia is very much in line with the company’s stated commitment to the environment. They are keeping the amount of paper and other materials used to a minimum.

The company plants one tree for every mattress sold, so it would be counter-productive to aid in more trees being cut down! This seems like a clever way to ensure that the environment is at the forefront of everything they stand for.

The Materials

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What exactly goes into making the “universal adaptive feel” of the Leesa mattress so special?

There are FOUR key components of this mattress: three layers of high quality foam that, together, deliver a cooling sleep, with contouring pressure relief, and core support; and this is topped off with a soft, breathable mattress cover.

Here’s a little more detail about each component:

  • Woven Cover: woven from a single piece of polyester-lycra blend fabric, the four-stripe Leesa cover looks sophisticated, feels cool, and is very soft to the touch. It has a seamless edge for additional support.
  • Top Layer: Cooling Avena Foam (2 inches): Avena foam is a good alternative to the qualities you get from latex and it is generally considered more durable. This uppermost layer provides bounce and freedom from movement , while also allowing good airflow for a cool night’s sleep.
  • Middle Layer: Contouring Memory Foam (2 inches): This middle layer provides all the body contouring and pressure relief that you would expect with two inches of good quality, high density, memory foam.
  • Bottom Layer: Dense Support Foam (6 inches): This layer adds all-important strength, durability, and support to sleepers of all shapes and sizes. With this support foam comprising the bottom 6 inches of the mattress, its firmness complements the feeling of luxurious comfort that the upper layers provide.

Memory foam is well-known to ‘sleep hot’. By placing this foam in the middle of the mattress and topping it with a layer of cooling Avena foam, the mattress counteracts the major criticism of memory foam.

The Leesa chooses Avena foam for its uppermost layer rather than the latex or the gel-infused memory foam of its key competitors (the Casper and the Endy). The end result is a mattress that sleeps cool and still provides a gentle, desirable hug that is good enough for most sleepers.

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How did the key features measure up?

Sinkage

Leesa declares that, because of its “universal adaptive feel”, it is the mattress made for all sleepers.

The following information, images, and table detail the results of our tests, using our 25 lb kettlebell to measure sinkage on three different parts of the mattress:

  • Middle: 3.5” Sinkage: this demonstrates average sinkage that would be expected for a mattress claiming medium-firm sink.
  • Middle-Top: 3.5” Sinkage: again, average sinkage, as would be expected for a mattress claiming to be medium-firm.
  • Corner: 3.75” Sinkage: slightly above average sinkage, indicating a lack of support along the edges for a mattress claiming to be medium-firm.

Firmness

Our kettlebell tests result in an overall firmness of 6/10, which is in line with the company claim of providing the “comfort, support and universal feel everybody needs to sleep better.”

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The Leesa is certainly a suitable choice for individuals who prefer a mattress that sits on the medium-firm side of the firmness spectrum.

Our sleep scouts found that its “universal adaptive feel” might be especially appealing for couples, as each side adapts differently to body shape, weight, and size.

Summary for different sleeping positions

  • Back Sleeping: this mattress is well supported for those who favour this sleeping position. Unless you are heavier set or prefer a firm mattress, you should be happy with its comfort for back sleeping.
  • Side Sleeping: with a nice subtle hug and contour to the body, this mattress relieves any pressure points and makes for good side slumber.
  • Stomach Sleeping: this mattress is well suited for stomach sleeping, offering a medium-firm feel that keeps the spine well supported when lying face-down.
  • Sitting: at the lower end of the support spectrum (as with most foam mattresses) there is a minor sinking feeling at the corners and edges, but not one that is overly uncomfortable or leaves you feeling that you may roll off.

Breathability

The importance placed on sleeping cool varies for sleepers, but it’s fair to say that sleeping hot is a problem for most. High quality memory foam mattress manufacturers use a variety of techniques to maintain a comfortable temperature for sleepers.

Thanks to the 2-inch layer of Avena foam in the uppermost Leesa layer, you are treated to constant airflow that keeps the mattress cool, absorbing and dispersing body heat to prevent hot spots developing. Being hypoallergenic and providing better support than using memory foam alone are other good advantages of using the layer of Avena foam.

Motion Transfer

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Motion transfer was non-existent with the Leesa. All movements were absorbed very well, including getting in and out of bed.

This is especially important with couples, allowing un-disrupted sleep no matter how much movement there is over the other side of the bed during the night.

Durability

Mattresses are always tough to assess in this category. With a given life expectancy of 5-10 years and our limited 30-night sleep trial, we are only seeing a short snapshot in the overall life of the Leesa mattress.

To further complicate matters, Leesa Sleep has only been in business for a short time frame. The history is limited, at best.

However, based on the thought put into each and every component from foam to cover, the high quality feel of the mattress, and the outlook of the company with regards to giving something back, it appears that the mattress should meet and even exceed most expectations.

There’s no reason to doubt that this will be any different with its life expectancy. It should provide you a great sleep for years to come, and the robust warranty is there if it doesn’t.

Edge Support

One notable weakness with the Leesa, and one we’ve come to expect from online foam mattress purchases in general, is the compromised edge support.

While the average, traditional spring mattress usually has no problems in this regard, the edges on the Leesa (and also on its main competitors) are structurally weaker.

To be fair, the Leesa does offer more edge support than the Casper and doesn’t give you the same doubts about rolling off onto the floor; but it’s still far from what we’d call ‘ideal’.

Something to keep in mind here is the option of getting a larger size mattress than you’d normally buy, to counteract the lack of side support – especially if you are sharing the bed with a partner.

The Sleep Scouts’ Standout Feature

A cooling, gentle hug that offers the perfect amount of support

The Leesa mattress offers a cloud-like feel with a soft hug, while at the same time granting support and relief from pressure points.

This amounts to an overall great balance of support and softness that makes this mattress versatile enough to be recommended for all sleep positions.

With the added benefit of dispersing heat wonderfully, this mattress achieves a luxurious feel that is sure to leave most sleepers well rested come morning.

Social Good

The heart and soul of Leesa Sleep is evident in its charitable endeavours and social impact. Its programs include three separate initiatives that combine to have a positive impact on local and national communities and on the planet as a whole.

  • One-ten: For every ten mattresses sold, Leesa donates one mattress to a shelter.
  • One-earth: Partnered with the Arbor Day Foundation, they plant one tree for every mattress sold.
  • One-community: Leesa donates time and resources to help support local and national organizations.

The Leesa ‘Dream Gallery’

As mentioned, the only Leesa showroom is located in Soho in New York City. In fact, it is more than a showroom. It is the first ever combined art gallery and mattress store.

Here, visitors can experience the Leesa mattress for themselves at the same time as viewing beautiful artwork created by homeless artists. This bold and original initiative is in partnership with ArtLifting, an organization that specializes in promoting the artwork of homeless and disabled people.

The works of art are for sale online, providing a pathway to a better life for homeless, formerly homeless, or disabled artists who can earn their own income.

Leesa also offers a limited edition mattress designed by a talented ArtLifting artist, with a portion of the proceeds going to ArtLifting.

Warranty

The Leesa mattress is covered by a 10-year, full-replacement, limited warranty.

This applies to any of the standard defects and deterioration that do not result from improper use or handling.

What the warranty covers:

  1. Deterioration of the mattress resulting in a visible indentation greater than (1) inch that is not associated with an indentation or sag as a result of an improper or unsupportive foundation or base. Normal wear requires that a purchaser’s mattress be continuously supported by a matching, solid foundation, base, or frame substantial enough to support the mattress and occupant(s).
  2. Any physical flaw in the craftsmanship of the mattress that causes permanent damage to the memory foam despite proper set-up and normal use.
  3. Any physical flaw in the craftsmanship of the cover, including seams and zipper assembly. Leesa may, at its own option, repair or replace the cover provided on the mattress. In the event that Leesa replaces the mattress cover, Leesa will replace it with the current style of cover available for the mattress, which may be of a different color, design, or material than the original cover provided.

What the warranty does not cover:

  1. A normal increase in softness of the memory foam which is normal and does not affect the pressure-relieving quality of the mattress.
  2. Comfort preference
  3. Physical abuse or damage to the structure and/or cover material, including but not limited to, burns, cuts, tears, liquid damage & stains, or soiling.
  4. Damage from using an improper bed frame, foundation, platform bed, or adjustable base.
  5. Replacement(s) of another piece in the Leesa sleep system, unless other piece(s) is also defective.
  6. Product sold by resellers who are not authorized retailers.
  7. Product sold “as-is”, “preconditioned”, “reconditioned”, “used”, “comfort return”, “returned”, “previously owned”, or any other similar wording indicating that the product is not “new” or of “first quality”, or has previously been purchased or used by another consumer.

Returns Policy

Leesa offers a generous 100-night trial period for testing the new mattress.

If, after the 100 nights, you decide it’s not ‘love at first night’, the company will provide a full refund and their ‘pickup team’ will retrieve your Leesa mattress, no matter where you are, with no additional effort or cost on your part.

This helps to mitigate the element of ‘risk’ that blind purchasing a mattress online entails.

Shipping

Box Dimensions & Weight

  • Twin 15” x 15” x 45” – 50lbs
  • Twin XL 15” x 15” x 45” – 53lbs
  • Full 15” x 15” x 45” – 61lbs
  • Queen 15” x 15” x 45” – 76lbs
  • King 18” x 18” x 45” – 96lbs
  • Cal King 18” x 18” x 45” – 98lbs

Where do they deliver?

Currently they ship to all 50 states of U.S., as well as Canada and the UK.

Price of Shipping

Shipping is free with the Leesa mattress.

How long does it take to arrive?

Once an order is placed, it takes 3-5 business days to build and compress a new mattress before it is boxed and shipped. UPS in-transit times vary from 1-5 business days, depending on location.

Who removes the old mattress?

Leesa does not currently provide a mattress-removal service. However, if your mattress is in an acceptable condition, the Salvation Army or other charity may pick it up and repurpose it; alternatively, check if your city provides bulk recycling pick-up.

Bottom Line: Who Should Buy This Mattress?

Leesa has done a great job at producing a luxury mattress that will appeal to the vast majority of sleepers. It truly offers a quality, luxurious night’s sleep, delivered in a box.

It is ideal for someone looking to spend under $1,000 on a medium-firm mattress. Aimed at body weights between 120 and 220 lbs, (although the company insists it can handle up to 300lbs) it delivers a cool, contouring, and supportive night’s rest.

Thoughtful little details are evident throughout, from the cooling Avena foam to the base support and the woven cover that is beyond soft and aesthetically sharp to the eye.

Together with the no-hassle purchasing process, generous returns policy, and the 100-night trial period, it’s difficult to see why anyone looking to purchase online for under $1000 wouldn’t give it a test sleep.

If you normally opt for a very firm, very soft, or customizable mattress, perhaps you might skip the Leesa. However we are confident that the majority of sleepers will find it provides great comfort and great value for money.

Final say: The Leesa is a deservedly popular choice and a top pick for the Sleep Scouts

Coupons & Discounts

Resources

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Our Ratings

The following sets of ratings cover our own assessment of the product and the company, and also provide a guideline for key third-party ratings for the product.