Tempurpedic vs. Sleep Number (2024)

Written by Olivera Jancikin, Content Writer

Our Testing Process

Here at Sleep Advisor, our Sleep Certified experts use a refined mattress and product testing process to give you unbiased product suggestions… Read our full product review process.

In This Article

Our sleep experts break down the Tempurpedic and the Sleep Number mattress. Who are these mattresses best suited for and what are each of their features?

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If you’re in the market for a new bed, you may have come across the names Tempur-Pedic and Sleep Number during your search. The manufacturers of these beds are well-known for providing high-quality products, making them a popular choice for many shoppers.

For this comparison, the Sleep Advisor team tested the Tempur-Pedic TEMPUR-LuxeAdapt® Soft (it’s also available in firm) and the Sleep Number 360® c4. These models have some similar characteristics and are unique in others. In this article, we will break down both of these products and try to provide you with the information you need to make an informed buying decision.

Comparing Firmness, Support & Feel

Firmness

We rate firmness on a scale from 1 to 10, with one being the softest. Our team scored the TEMPUR-LuxeAdapt® Soft at 5 out of 10, making it medium-plush. The Sleep Number is more difficult to rate as it features a choice of 20 adjustable mattress firmness levels, called Sleep Numbers. However, the c4 is one of the brand’s firmest beds due to its thin comfort layer, so even on its softest setting, it shouldn’t feel too plush.

Support

The TEMPUR-LuxeAdapt® is a plush bed with deep sinkage, and while we think it could be ideal for lightweight back sleepers and light to average-weight side sleepers, we don’t think it offers enough spinal support for most people over 130 pounds.

The support offered by the c4 is a little more versatile, thanks to its adjustable air chambers, though our team found it was likely more suited to light to average-weight sleepers.

Feel

Place your hand on the TEMPUR-LuxeAdapt® and you’ll feel the cool-to-the-touch cover. Press down and you’ll experience the incredibly slow-moving TEMPUR® memory foam, which envelops you in a deep hug.

The c4 offers a totally different experience, with its relatively thin 3-inch comfort layer that provides some cushioning and pressure relief, without feeling too plush. While the c4’s cover is breathable, it doesn’t have that ‘cool to the touch’ feeling that the TEMPUR-LuxeAdapt®’s cover has.

Comparing Sinkage and Bounce

If you love deep sinkage, look no further than the TEMPUR-LuxeAdapt®, which provides incredible pressure relief thanks to its super soft TEMPUR-ES® memory foam layer. While we found the foam too plush for most sleepers over 130 pounds, lightweight back sleepers and light to average-weight side sleepers should find it has just the right amount of cushioning and support.

The c4 doesn’t provide much cushioning, although its three-zoned, gel-infused poly foam layer does offer some pressure relief. We found this bed best suited for light to average-weight sleepers who prefer to feel more on top of the bed. The c4 has an element of bounce, while the TEMPUR-LuxeAdapt® has zero bounce.

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Comparing Motion Transfer

Motion isolation is an important consideration if you share a bed with a restless partner, pet, or child and are easily disturbed by their movements. A mattress with good motion isolation will ensure that any movement made on the other side of the bed stays there.

Our team found that the TEMPUR-LuxeAdapt® offered fantastic motion isolation, thanks to its incredibly slow-moving memory foam. While the c4’s motion isolation isn’t as good as the TEMPUR-LuxeAdapt®’s, we found it to be decent. The bed features two air chambers and this means that motion made on the other air chamber largely stays there.

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Comparing Cooling

If you tend to sleep hot, a bed’s ability to keep you cool is an important feature. All-foam beds like the TEMPUR-LuxeAdapt® are notorious for trapping heat, and while this bed does feature heat-dissipating phase change material in its cool-to-the-touch cover, the deep sinkage doesn’t allow for much airflow around your body. We found this made the bed sleep rather hot.

The c4, on the other hand, is an air bed, and they are known for sleeping cool. The thin comfort layer featuring gel-infused foam also stops too much heat from being trapped, and the breathable cover allows for airflow. We found this bed to be temperature-neutral, so it should be a better pick for warmer sleepers.

Read more about cooling mattresses.

Comparing Construction (Materials & Quality)

Tempur-Pedic TEMPUR-LuxeAdapt® Construction

This 13-inch all-foam bed is available as a soft or firm model, though this review focuses on the Soft model. The mattress starts with a stretchy cover made from polyester and phase change material, which is designed to feel cool to the touch and help dissipate body heat. The TEMPUR-LuxeAdapt®’s cover is removable and machine-washable.

• The comfort layer features 3.5 inches of TEMPUR-ES® memory foam, which is the brand’s softest material. It’s incredibly slow-moving, offering plush contouring and pressure relief.
• The second layer is made up of just over an inch of TEMPUR-APR+™ foam, which is the brand’s most conforming and pressure-relieving material, offering 30 percent more conforming comfort than the original APR™ foam (used in the mid-range ProAdapt® model), thanks to its tighter cell structure.
• A transition layer of poly foam eases you down into the firmer support layer beneath.
• The base layer features high-density poly foam, providing durability for the rest of the bed.

Sleep Number 360® c4 Construction

This innovative 9-inch smart bed allows users to program their own firmness level from a choice of 20 settings, by inflating or deflating the air support system. The bed features two air chambers, allowing you to customize each side of the bed.

The mattress starts with a breathable polyester and polypropylene stretch-knit cover, which can be removed for spot-cleaning.

• The comfort layer begins with 1.5 inches of fiberfill material that’s quilted to the cover, providing soft cushioning. This is followed by a 1.5-inch layer of gel-infused poly foam that’s designed to offer pressure relief and contouring. This foam has three zones to provide additional support for the head, neck, back, and hips.
• The support layer features two 24-gauge vulcanized rubber air chambers, with cotton fabric exteriors. Each chamber has its own hose and pump to inflate or deflate it to your desired Sleep Number.
• A foam wall perimeter provides edge support.

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Comparing Company Policies & Price

• Warranty – The TEMPUR-LuxeAdapt® comes with a 10-year limited warranty, while the Sleep Number has a 15-year limited warranty. However, be aware that Sleep Number’s warranty is a little complicated – full cost of repair will be covered in the first year and then the customer has to pay a percentage of the cost in the years following. This rises incrementally from 30 to 85 percent.
• Shipping – Free white glove delivery is provided with the TEMPUR-LuxeAdapt®, while Sleep Number charges 249 dollars for its mandatory premium home setup. An extra 49 dollars is charged for the removal of your old mattress.
  Trial Period The TEMPUR-LuxeAdapt® has a 90-night trial period, while Sleep Number has a slightly longer trial of 100 nights.
• Returns – You’ll receive a full refund for both beds (minus any shipping charges) if you choose to return them within the trial period, as long as you’ve slept on the bed for at least 30 nights. However, you’ll be responsible for return shipping fees for the Sleep Number, which can be arranged by the company for 249 dollars plus tax.
• Price – While neither bed would be considered a low-cost option, the Sleep Number 360® c4 is a better choice for those on a smaller budget, as it’s 2,200 to 4,699 dollars cheaper than the Tempur-Pedic TEMPUR-LuxeAdapt®, depending on the chosen size.

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