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Overall Rating
7.4
$110 off + 2 free pillows at Layla. Use code: Sleepy10
Price Range:
$449 – $699
Mattress Type: Foam
Firmness Options: Medium Firm (6)
Pros & Cons:
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Strong support for back and side sleepers between 130 and 230 pounds
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Couples will enjoy the motion isolation
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Affordable price-point with above-average performance
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Edges may sink a bit when getting in and out of bed
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Low profile may not be adequate for people who prefer thicker beds
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Not firm enough for stomach sleepers above 230 pounds
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Foam layers may emit strong off-gassing odor after the mattress is unboxed
Layla is a well-established mattress manufacturer that is best known for its flippable Memory Foam Mattress and its Hybrid Mattress. The Layla Essential Mattress is a new addition to the company’s product line. It’s intended to provide sleepers with many of the same benefits that the other two mattresses offer but with a lower price tag.
We’ll discuss whether or not this mattress achieves its goal, and examine the results of our product testing. During trials in our Sleep Foundation lab, our team of experts tested this mattress personally and recorded their findings, so you’ll learn which weight groups and sleeper types liked this mattress most.
We also measured how well this model relieves pressure and isolates motion, which are two characteristics that many people look for in a memory foam mattress. You’ll learn how it fared during temperature control tests, and gain a thorough understanding of how the mattress feels and performs so that you can make the most informed decision possible.
Sleeping Style and Body Weight
Side Sleepers
Side sleepers of all weights found the Layla Essential comfortable during our testing, though people between 130 and 230 pounds liked it most. The medium firm feel is an excellent fit for this weight group, as it provides both spinal support and pressure relief, two factors particularly important for side sleepers. The layers compress beneath the hips and shoulders to cushion sore spots, but there’s enough structure that side sleepers’ midsections don’t sink too far into the mattress.
Side sleepers under 130 pounds noted that this mattress was comfortable when they tried it, but that a softer model would have offered better contouring for their weight group. Those above 230 pounds found it a bit too soft and would have preferred a firmer mattress that kept their spines better supported.
Back Sleepers
Back sleepers typically prefer a mattress that offers support and pressure relief in equal measure. This model delivers both for people who weigh between 130 and 230 pounds. The memory foam prevents pressure points from forming beneath the lower back, while the support core encourages spinal alignment.
Our testers weighing under 130 pounds also enjoyed this model, though it’s too firm to effectively alleviate all pressure point discomfort for people in this weight group. Though testers over 230 pounds gave this model average scores as well, they found it a bit too soft, as firmer mattresses typically offer stronger support for people in this weight range.
Stomach Sleepers
In order to prevent their spines from curving, stomach sleepers generally need a firmer mattress than back and side sleepers do. The Layla Essential Mattress offers significant support for stomach sleepers under 130 pounds. The medium firm surface keeps sleepers in this weight group evenly supported atop the mattress, which is critical for preventing the spine from curving.
It’s not as supportive for those between 130 pounds and 230 pounds, who may feel a bit like they’re “in” instead of “on” the mattress. Stomach sleepers above 230 pounds didn’t find this model a good fit, as it let them sink too far into the mattress’ layers and didn’t provide even spinal support.
In addition to the hands-on feedback from our team, we conduct a number of quantitative tests in our Test Lab. The below ratings are based on the experience of our testers.
The Layla Essential’s all-foam construction does a very effective job of isolating motion. Its dense memory foam comfort system and polyfoam support core trap most movement and don’t allow it to transfer from one side of the bed to the other.
If you’re someone who shares a bed, this mattress may help cut down on how much movement you feel when your partner shifts on their side of the bed. During testing, our team found that though it doesn’t completely isolate motion, this mattress is a worthwhile choice for people seeking a model that prevents movement-related disturbances.
Though this model received average scores during pressure relief testing, it doesn’t have the deep contouring that some other memory foam mattresses offer. This model has a fairly basic construction that’s made from 2 inches of memory foam and a 7-inch polyfoam support core.
Together, these layers cushion sore spots and absorb a bit of impact, but the mattress doesn’t offer the full-body hug that memory foam is known for. Rather than compressing deeply beneath your weight, the layers offer subtle contouring that adapts to your body’s shape without giving you the feeling of sleeping “in” the mattress.
Overall, it’s a good fit for people who want a mixture of pressure relief and pushback.
Mattresses made from foam tend to absorb body heat rather than release it, and the Layla Essential Mattress isn’t an exception to this rule. During testing, we found that it performed about average during heat mapping trials, but that it didn’t completely regulate temperature. Hot sleepers and people living in warm climates may prefer a model with added cooling technology or one with a construction that promotes increased airflow.
However, people who don’t tend to sleep too hot should be comfortable on this model. The comfort layer’s open-cell memory foam is designed to disperse heat, and as a result, it does sleep cooler than other memory foam mattresses without this feature.
Despite its lack of perimeter reinforcement, this model received average scores for edge support during our testing. It’s not as robust as models with foam rails or thick coils, but the medium firm (6) feel extends across the entire mattress. This ensures that you can sleep near the edge of the mattress without rolling too much.
Those who have a hard time getting in and out of bed may want to seek a mattress that prioritizes edge support, as this model does compress some when you sit on its side.
Our testers found this bed relatively easy to move around on, especially considering its memory foam comfort system. Most often, memory foam mattresses inhibit movement by giving sleepers the feeling that they’re being hugged. While many enjoy this feeling, it can make it more difficult to move on top of a memory foam mattress with a thick comfort system.
This model has a surface that allows sleepers to move around on the bed without sinking too deeply into the layers. It is made from foam, however, and won’t feel as responsive or bouncy as a hybrid, latex, or innerspring model.
After unrolling this mattress, you’ll likely notice a chemical-like smell. It’s not harmful or lasting but can be unpleasant until it dissipates.
When foam is manufactured, chemicals are discharged during the process. Some of these trace chemicals remain and release into the air during the off-gassing process. People sensitive to smell may want to set their mattress up in a room with plenty of ventilation and wait 72 hours before use.
Sleep Foundation Special Offer
$110 off + 2 free pillows at Layla. Use code: Sleepy10
The all-foam Layla Essential Mattress is a medium firm model that ranks as a 6 out of 10 on our firmness scale. It has a simple construction that begins with a 2-inch memory foam comfort layer. This layer is designed to adapt to the body’s shape and provide effective pressure relief by cushioning joints and dispersing body weight evenly. The memory foam has an open cell structure that’s meant to allow heat to pass through the foam instead of staying trapped within it.
The support core is made from 7 inches of polyfoam that provides an even sleep surface that extends across the whole mattress. This layer is the mattress’ anchor and is meant to bolster the spine by pushing back strategically.
A removable and washable cover fully encompasses the mattress. The Layla Essential measures 9 inches tall and is designed to work with a range of foundation and frame styles. The foams are both CertiPUR-US certified to ensure they don’t contain any harmful compounds.
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Firmness
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Medium Firm – 6
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Mattress Type
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All-Foam
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Construction
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The all-foam Layla Essential Mattress is a medium firm (6) model with two layers. The comfort layer is made up of 2 inches of open-cell memory foam while the support core is formed by 7 inches of polyfoam.
Cover Material:
Zippered and Removable Polyester Blend
Comfort Layer:
2” Open-Cell Memory Foam
Support Core:
7” Polyfoam
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Mattress Prices and Sizing
The Layla Essential Mattress is the most affordable mattress within the company’s product line. While it’s not the most inexpensive memory foam mattress available online, it strikes a balance between affordability and quality that not all budget mattresses can match. Keep in mind prices vary between Layla and third-party retailers that sell the mattress. Layla’s are listed below
It has a basic construction but incorporates some of the materials used within Layla’s higher-end flippable model, which helps keep production costs down without sacrificing quality.
You can purchase this mattress in one of six sizes: twin, twin XL, full, queen, king, and California king. It’s available in one firmness level and a single 9-inch profile option.
Sleep Foundation Special Offer
$110 off + 2 free pillows at Layla. Use code: Sleepy10
Trial, Warranty, and Shipping Policies
Availability The Layla Essential Mattress can be purchased directly through Layla, or through third parties like Amazon and Walmart.
Shipping Layla offers free ground shipping for customers in the contiguous U.S. Those in Alaska, Hawaii, and Canada pay an additional delivery feel. If you go the third-party route, shipping locations and policies vary by seller, but many offer free delivery to addresses within the contiguous U.S.
The mattress is compressed, sealed in plastic, and rolled into a box. It’s easy to set up and doesn’t require significant assembly. Carefully cut the plastic and allow the bed to expand and take its full shape. This may take up to 72 hours. You may want to let the mattress air out in a well-ventilated space before use.
Additional Services Layla does not provide White Glove delivery. Some third-party sellers may offer this option.
Sleep Trial Layla’s sleep trial allows you to test the Essential for up to 120 nights before deciding whether to keep or return the mattress. Return policies vary for third-party sellers, but most major retailers provide a trial period of at least 30 nights.
Warranty Each Essential carries a 10-year limited warranty.
Still have questions?
Our product experts have extensive experience testing just about every sleep product on the market. Send an email to [email protected] or call us at (877) 672-8966 with your questions and we’ll help you find exactly what you’re looking for.
Written By
Lauren Fountain,
Senior Product Editor
Lauren is a Certified Sleep Science Coach with extensive experience researching and testing a wide variety of sleep products.
Learn more about our Editorial Team
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