Nectar vs DreamCloud − which mattress brand is best on test?

Nectar and DreamCloud are two of the world's best box mattress brands, renowned for their quick, convenient delivery, as well as their wide range of memory foam and hybrid models. To help you split the difference between the brands, I want to set Nectar vs DreamCloud head to head.

For the sake of a fair fight, I've chosen a similar mattress from each store: the Nectar Premier Hybrid Mattress and the DreamCloud Luxury Hybrid Mattress (which is one of the top contenders for the title of best mattress).

As the resident Sleep Editor at Homes & Gardens, I lead a team of expert testers to review mattresses against the following criteria: pressure relief; thermoregulation; motion isolation; and edge support. While both mattresses excel in (almost) all of these categories, the DreamCloud Luxury Hybrid takes the victory for value for money.

Nectar vs DreamCloud – which mattress brand is best on test?

Before we begin, I'd like to introduce our two testers: Millie Hurst, our former Head of Solved, on the Nectar Premier Hybrid, and Camryn Rabideau, one of our prolific freelance product testers, on the DreamCloud Luxury Hybrid. Don't worry if you encounter any unfamiliar terms: just cross-check them against my mattress jargon buster.

Nectar vs DreamCloud − Head to head

Nectar vs DreamCloud – Pressure relief

WINNER: Nectar Premier Hybrid

'This hybrid mattress feels firm, but it's topped with memory foam, so you sink into it,' says Millie. It took me a few weeks to get used to the feeling of being 'hugged' by my mattress, but I've learned to love it. Now, over a year later, I wouldn't want to sleep on anything else.'

The Nectar Premier Hybrid Mattress isn't just comfortable: it's also supportive. During the testing period, Millie had a family member come to stay: 'She suffers from a bad back, so I suggested she spend the night on the Nectar. The next morning, she got out of bed feeling a lot better: the ergonomically arranged springs had lent much-needed support to her lumbar region, while the memory foam had taken the pressure off her neck and shoulders.'

That's not to say the DreamCloud Luxury Hybrid is uncomfortable. Camryn slept well through the whole of her testing period: 'There's enough give that my hip and shoulder can sink in while sleeping on my side, but I never felt like I was being swallowed up'. She ranks the DreamCloud Luxury Hybrid among the best firm mattresses, but you might prefer something a little softer, such as the WinkBeds Luxury Hybrid Mattress.

Nectar vs DreamCloud – Thermoregulation

WINNER: DreamCloud

Compared to memory foam models, a hybrid mattress is more breathable: the coils push hot air out of the bed every time you move around on the mattress. Both mattresses are breathable, but the DreamCloud Luxury Hybrid Mattress takes the crown for active cooling.

The DreamCloud comfort layer is infused with gel memory foam to dissipate heat and moisture. 'I sleep hot, whereas my partner sleeps cold,' says Camryn. 'We've struggled to find a mattress that meets both of our needs, but we were pretty satisfied with the DreamCloud Luxury Hybrid,' which ranks among the best cooling mattresses on the market.

Nectar vs DreamCloud – Motion isolation

WINNER: Nectar

'Your average hybrid mattress has too much bounce to offer much in the way of motion isolation,' Millie explains, but 'the Nectar Premier Hybrid is the exception to the rule.'

To assess the motion isolation of the mattress, Millie filled a glass with water, set it in the center of the bed, then asked her friend to walk around the edges. The closer she got to the glass the more it started to move, but she never spilled any water, indicating minimal motion transfer. Millie recommends this mattress for couples and light sleepers.

When Camryn conducted the same test on the DreamCloud Luxury Hybrid Mattress, she found her glass of water moved all too easy. Camryn explains that 'this indicates poor motion isolation, and I felt it in practice: I bobbed and bounced on my side of the bed every time my partner rolled around on his.'

If you're searching for a hybrid mattress with outstanding motion isolation, I recommend the Tempur-Pedic ProAdapt Mattress: it's the best in class.

Nectar vs DreamCloud – Edge support

WINNER: DreamCloud

Camryn shares a bed with her partner and their 50-pound pooch, and she often gets shunted to the side of the bed, so she needs a mattress with excellent edge support.

'This is where the DreamCloud Luxury Hybrid really shines,' says Camryn, 'thanks to a row of thicker innerspring coils around the sides of the mattress. I never felt like I was going to fall off the bed, even when I was lying right on the side.'

Millie notes that the edge support on the Nectar Premier Hybrid is better than the Nectar Classic Foam, but acknowledges 'that's a low bar to clear. I could perch on the edge of the bed to apply lotion or tie my shoes without slipping straight off the sides, but I wouldn't want to sleep on the very edge of the mattress.'

Nectar vs DreamCloud – Practical points

WINNER: It's a tie

Both Nectar and DreamCloud are box mattress brands: they deliver mattresses vacuum-packed in cardboard boxes right to your front door. Shipping and returns are free.

Both brands offer 365-night mattress sleep trials, which is well above the industry standards. This means you have a full year to sample your mattress through all four seasons before you commit to your purchase.

Both brands offer lifetime limited mattress warranties, covering all the usual defects in materials and manufacture. Make sure to read the terms and conditions in full before you try to file a claim.

Filled with synthetic foams and made en masse, neither Nectar nor DreamCloud mattresses are particularly environmentally friendly. If you're looking for a mattress that's good for your body and for the planet, I recommend you consult our best organic mattress buying guide.

Nectar vs DreamCloud – Which should I buy?

It's a close contest, but the DreamCloud Luxury Hybrid Mattress offers better value for money. A Queen comes under $700, and you might be able to save even more money in the mattress sales. Winning for thermoregulation and edge support, I recommend the DreamCloud Luxury Hybrid for hot sleepers and anybody who needs a helping hand getting into and out of bed.

The Nectar Premier Hybrid Mattress wins for pressure relief and motion isolation, but it's $400 more expensive than the DreamCloud in a Queen size. Still, if you suffer from aches and pains, or you're a particularly light sleeper, you might think it's worth the extra spend.

How we test mattresses

As the resident Sleep Editor at Homes & Gardens, I lead a team of expert testers in the search to find the world's best mattress. Together, we represent a wide range of ages, body types, and sleep styles, and we live right across the country in all sorts of climates. We sample mattresses in our own homes for a minimum of 30 nights before we write our reviews to get the best indication of long-term performance.

We assess each mattress against the same criteria: pressure relief; thermoregulation; motion isolation; and edge support. To assess pressure relief, we lie on the mattress and flip between our stomachs, backs, and sides, considering how comfortable and supportive the mattress feels in each position. To assess thermoregulation, we switch off our HVAC systems to sleep through all weathers, making note of any night that we wake up in a sweat.

To assess motion isolation, we fill a glass with water and place it in the middle of the mattress. Then, we take a weight and place it on the mattress, moving incrementally closer to the glass. The more the glass moves, and the more water spills, the worse the motion isolation, and the less suitable the mattress might be for couples and light sleepers. To assess edge support, we sit on the side of the mattress and measure how far we fall. The further we sink, the worse the edge support, and the harder it might be to get into and out of bed.

We also consider the practical parts of mattress shopping: delivery details; mattress warranties; and sleep trials. Finally, we bring it all back to the price of the mattress to help you determine value for money. To learn more about how we test mattresses, consult our dedicated guide.