How does Novosbed compare to Tempur-Pedic?

Mattress materials

Open cells help give memory foam contouring properties, pressure point relief, and better airflow. - Mdiproducts (Own work) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

Novosbed and Tempur-Pedic both make memory foam mattresses. Unlike most other foams, memory foam has strong motion isolation and body contouring abilities. These traits help produce a distinct low bounce, body hugging mattress. Both Novosbed and Tempur-Pedic mattresses are constructed with memory foam as a primary material to achieve this memory foam feel. Many other brands use memory foam in their mattresses too, but often bury them under other layers of latex or polyester foam. When memory foam is under other layers, the beneficial effects are greatly reduced.

Novosbed and Tempur-Pedic both promote the use and benefits of memory foam, but only Novosbed is open about the quality and composition of foam used in its mattresses. Novosbed publishes mattress foam densities online, but Tempur-Pedic doesn’t communicate their density information to their customers. Without Tempur-Pedic's foam densities, it's difficult to do a direct comparison of the materials. This is unfortunate for mattress shoppers since foam density is the greatest indicator of quality.

Foam density basics

In general, when comparing foam densities, a higher number means higher quality. The higher the density, the more foam material is used in the construction of the mattress. This higher density of foam results in a weightier, more durable mattress. This is important because the denser the mattress, the more foam material there is to support your body-weight, and to evenly distribute pressure. The end result is a robust mattress that maintains its shape and properties longer, providing you with long lasting, consistent comfort.

Above a certain threshold, foam density doesn’t have much effect on firmness. Even very low density foams can be constructed to feel very firm, and very high density foams can be made soft. A good way to see if a memory foam mattress is high density is to look at the weight. A queen size, 11" tall, high-density memory foam mattress should weigh around 90 lbs. High quality, high density foams, are created in the 3.5 to 4 lb/ft³ range.

Mattress selection

Both Novosbed and Tempur-Pedic sell premium quality memory foam mattresses, but neither brand sells a one-size-fits-all firmness.

Tempur-Pedic mattresses

Novosbed mattresses

Comparable Models

Novosbed mattresses do not imitate Tempur-Pedic mattresses. Novosbed and Tempur-Pedic mattresses are built slightly differently and don’t feel identical. Each Novosbed is created to provide a unique soft, medium, or firm feel. The following comparables are provided as a rough reference point only. Also, the following Tempur-Pedic models may not be available in all areas, or may be sold under different names entirely.

Purchasing options

Tempur-Pedic is a large international brand with numerous retail partners, making their products available both online and in retail stores. Tempur-Pedic mattresses are available at American retail stores across the country as well as in flagship Tempur-Pedic stores. In Canada, their mattresses are at retailers like Sleep Country and Hudson's Bay. Novosbed sells exclusively online, direct to Canadian and US customers, with no association to any retail stores or other middlemen.

Many enjoy the convenience and no-pressure shopping experience of buying a mattress online.

Policies

By selling direct, Novosbed offers centralized service and consistent policies for all customers. Tempur-Pedic customers can buy through a variety of different retailers, each with different policies for shipping, returns, and customer support. This variety can result in drastic differences in experience from one store to the next. For the purposes of this comparison, we'll use the policies offered through Tempur-Pedic's website.

Policy comparison

Customer satisfaction

Both Novosbed and Tempur-Pedic have been reviewed on numerous websites. As of the last update date of this article, Novosbed’s aggregate review score is 92% compared to Tempur-Pedic’s 80%.