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Nectar vs. Nectar Premier Mattress Comparison for 2024

Nectar has been around since 2016 and since then has made their mark in the mattress world offering consumers high-quality but affordable bed-in-a-box mattresses. They previously only sold all-foam mattresses but now have a hybrid lineup as well.

Today, I’ll be taking a look at two of their memory foam beds I recently tested, the Nectar Original and the Nectar Premier. I’ll compare them across the board in categories like support, motion isolation, cooling, and more, so you can find out whether the Nectar Original or the Premier is a better fit for you.

Watch Our Video Comparison of the Nectar vs. Nectar Premier 

Editors note: We are working on updating our video comparison. For the latest findings, please refer to our written comparison.

Nectar vs. Nectar Premier Mattress Overview

Who Should Get the Nectar?Who Should Get the Nectar Premier?
Back sleepersCouples
Stomach sleepersSleepers with joint pain
Sleepers with back painValue hunters

Nectar vs. Nectar Premier: How Are They Similar?

  • Materials – Both the Nectar Original and the Premier are made entirely out of foam. 
  • Cooling – Considering these beds have memory foam in them, which often traps heat, they both do a great job of keeping cool.
  • Excellent motion isolation – Both of these foam beds do an excellent job isolating motion from one side of the bed to the other. This means if you have a fidgety sleeping partner, you’re less likely to be disturbed. 

Nectar vs. Nectar Premier: How Are They Different?

  • Firmness level – The Nectar Premier is softer than the original Nectar. This makes it a better option for side sleepers, whereas the original Nectar is a better option for back and stomach sleepers. 
  • Price – The Nectar costs $1,099, and the Nectar Premier costs $1,499. This upcharge is because the Premier is an upgraded model that’s meant to be more pressure-relieving.
  • Cooling – While both mattresses have cooling covers, the Premier’s cooling cover feels “60 percent cooler,” according to Nectar. That said, it’s worth noting they each earned the same score in my cooling tests.

Nectar vs. Nectar Premier: Firmness, Feel, and Construction

Firmness & Feel

At Sleep Advisor, we rate mattress firmness on a scale from 1 to 10, where 1 is the softest and 10 is the firmest. Most beds tend to fall somewhere around the middle. 

It’s also important to remember that a bed’s firmness is relatively subjective, depending on body weight. When a heavier person lies on a firm bed, they’ll feel it as being softer than a very lightweight person, and vice versa. 

MattressSleep Advisor Firmness RatingFeelTester Feedback
Nectar7.5/10Firm
The first thing I noticed was the coolness and interesting “slick” texture of the cover. Then, I noticed that the Nectar feels very supportive and comfortable, but it doesn’t sink in like the Premier. I rated this bed a 7.5 out of 10, which means we’d categorize the Nectar as firm. 

Nectar Premier6.5/10Medium-FirmThe Nectar Premier also has a cooling, slick-feeling cover. When I lay on it, I noticed it immediately felt more contouring and had more of the traditional “sinking” feeling of memory foam. As my colleague, Corey Bryan said, “This bed holds on to you.” The Nectar Premier’s 6.5 firmness rating gives it more of a medium-firm feel compared to the Nectar.

Mattress Construction

The Nectar and Nectar Premier are more similar than not in their construction. They both have three layers of foam and a cooling cover. However, the Nectar is just 12 inches thick and has a 1-inch top layer of soft comfort foam, whereas the Nectar Premier is 13 inches thick and has a 2-inch top comfort layer. This is why the Premier feels softer and more contouring than the original Nectar. 

The rest of the layers are the same, and the covers are similar, except that the Premier’s cover is supposedly cooler. Though honestly, the covers felt about the same to me, and we rated each a 4 out of 5 in this category. 

What’s the Nectar Mattress Made Of?

  • Moisture-wicking, antimicrobial cover
  • 1-inch memory foam comfort layer
  • 3-inch support foam layer
  • 8-inch conventional foam layer
  • Shift-resistant lower cover
Nectar Classic Memory Foam construction layers

What’s the Nectar Premier Mattress Made Of?

  • Moisture-wicking, antimicrobial cover
  • 2-inch memory foam comfort layer 
  • 3-inch support foam layer
  • 8-inch conventional foam layer
  • Shift-resistant lower cover
Nectar Premier Foam construction

Nectar vs. Nectar Premier: Body Type and Sleep Position

Nectar Mattress

Body TypeWeight RangeSide SleepingBack SleepingStomach Sleeping
LightweightLess than 130 poundsPoorGoodPoor
Average-Weight130-230 poundsPoorExcellentGood
HeavyweightMore than 230 poundsAverageExcellentAverage
Nectar Classic Memory Foam back sleeping
Sosha Lewis testing the Nectar mattress for back sleepers

Nectar Premier Mattress

Body TypeWeight RangeSide SleepingBack SleepingStomach Sleeping
LightweightLess than 130 poundsAverageExcellentGood
Average-Weight130-230 poundsAverageExcellentExcellent
HeavyweightMore than 230 poundsPoorExcellentPoor
Nectar Premier Foam side sleeping
Sosha testing the Nectar Premier mattress for side sleepers

Nectar vs. Nectar Premier: Mattress Testing Performance

Pressure Relief

  • Nectar Mattress Pressure Relief Score: 4/5
  • Nectar Premier Pressure Relief Score: 5/5

In order to accurately gauge each bed’s pressure relief, I used a pressure map. This tracks the pressure buildup in real-time by showing yellow or red to indicate a lot of pressure, or green or blue to indicate little to no pressure. 

In this case, the Nectar showed minimal pressure while back sleeping and moderate pressure while side sleeping. The softer Nectar Premier was the star when it came to pressure relief, and basically eliminated pressure in all sleep positions. 

Nectar Classic Memory Foam Sosha pressure map
Sosha’s pressure map for the Nectar
Nectar Premier Foam Sosha pressure maps
Sosha’s pressure map for the Nectar Premier

Support

  • Nectar Mattress Support Score: 5/5
  • Nectar Premier Support Score: 5/5

To test for support, I had the (very difficult) job of lying on each bed in the three main sleep positions: back, side, and stomach. When I do this, I’m looking to see how well my spine is supported. 

Even though the Nectar Premier is slightly softer than the original Nectar, both of these mattresses knocked it out of the park with support. My back felt perfectly aligned and well-supported in every sleep position. 

Motion Isolation

  • Nectar Mattress Motion Isolation Score: 5/5
  • Nectar Premier Motion Isolation Score: 5/5

To test for motion isolation, I laid on the bed and had someone else move on the other side to see how much I could feel it. Additionally, I used a seismograph app to help us record how much movement was being transferred on the bed. 

As you can see by the near-flat lines in the seismograph readings below, both the Nectar and Nectar Premier have excellent motion isolation. In fact, when we tested both of these beds, my colleague Corey bounced around on the bed and I couldn’t feel it at all, hence the perfectly straight seismograph test. 

Nectar Classic Memory Foam motion isolation test
Seismograph reading for the Nectar
Nectar Premier Memory Foam Seismograph
Seismograph reading for the Nectar Premier

Temperature Regulation / Cooling

  • Nectar Mattress Cooling Score: 4/5
  • Nectar Premier Cooling Score: 4/5

To determine how well a bed is regulating temperature, we use a temperature gun, which measures the bed’s surface temperature before and then after lying on it for five and 10 minutes. This helps us see how well the bed can keep cool when somebody is lying on it. 

Both beds got a 4 out of 5 here, which if I’m being honest, is excellent for a memory foam mattress. I will say, that even though the Nectar Premier states it has more than “60 percent more cooling fibers” than the original Nectar, both of them performed pretty much the same in this category. 

Nectar Classic Memory Foam temperature test
Temperature gun testing on the Nectar
Nectar Premier Foam temperature test
Temperature gun testing on the Nectar Premier

Bounce 

  • Nectar Mattress Bounce Score: 3.5/5
  • Nectar Premier Bounce Score: 3/5

We test bounce by dropping a heavy ball onto the mattress and then seeing how quickly the mattress surface regains its shape. If it springs back into shape quickly, it is a very bouncy or responsive bed. 

Since both of these beds are memory foam, it’s not a huge surprise that they both had an average amount of bounce. The Nectar regained its shape slightly faster than the Nectar Premier, likely because its top comfort layer is one inch thinner than the Premier’s. Still, compared to some other memory foam beds with almost zero bounce, this is good news for combination sleepers. 

Nectar Classic Memory Foam bounce test
Medicine ball bounce test on the Nectar
Nectar Premier Foam bounce test
Medicine ball bounce test on the Nectar Premier

Edge Support

  • Nectar Mattress Edge Support Score: 5/5
  • Nectar Premier Edge Support Score: 4/5

Edge support is how well the perimeter of a bed holds up when somebody is sitting or lying on it. Our test for this is simple: We spend one minute lying near the edge and one minute sitting near the edge. 

In this case, the original Nectar was just a hair better than the Nectar Premier. The edge barely dipped down when I sat or lay on it. Perhaps because the Premier is slightly softer, it felt like the edge caved in a bit more but not by much. 

Nectar Classic Memory Foam edge support lying down test
Edge support testing on the Nectar
Nectar Premier Foam Edge Support
Edge support testing on the Nectar Premier

Couples

  • Nectar Mattress Couples Score: 4/5
  • Nectar Premier Couples Score: 4.5/5

To get our couples score, we look at how it does in other categories that make a bed ideal for two people sharing a bed, including overall support, cooling, edge support, motion isolation, and bounce. We also consider if its firmness is versatile enough for two people.

Both of these memory foam beds ranked well for couples, but the Nectar Premier was just slightly better. Plus, the Nectar Premier has a medium-firm feel to it, which is often better for couples. But honestly, with just a half-a-point difference, I feel like either of these beds would be an excellent choice for couples. 

Nectar Classic Memory Foam couples testing
Sosha Lewis and Corey Bryan testing Nectar mattresses for couples in our studio

Nectar vs. Nectar Premier: Comparing Company Policies and Price

Company Policies

NectarNectar Premier
ShippingFree within the contiguous United States. Shipments to Hawaii and Alaska are an extra $250.Free within the contiguous United States. Shipments to Hawaii and Alaska are an extra $250.
White Glove DeliveryAvailable for an extra $199
Available for an extra $199
Trial365 nights365 nights
WarrantyForever warrantyForever warranty
Return PolicyReturns are free and you’ll receive a full refund if it’s within the trial period. You must have the bed for 30 days before initiating a return. Returns are free and you’ll receive a full refund if it’s within the trial period. You must have the bed for 30 days before initiating a return. 

Accessibility 

  • Nectar Mattress Accessibility Score: 4.5/5
  • Nectar Premier Accessibility Score: 4.5/5 

This category looks at any ways the mattress stands out in its design and/or policies. In this case, I found that both the Nectar mattresses were very accessible. They are both considered more affordable than some competitors, shipping is included, and delivery and setup should be relatively straightforward. 

I only docked a half-point because Nectar beds don’t come with handles. They do come with an easily-removable cover, though, making them both easy to spot clean. But keep in mind that removing the cover voids the warranty.

Customer Service

  • Nectar Mattress Customer Service Score: 4/5
  • Nectar Premier Customer Service Score: 4/5

To determine this score, I simply reached out to Nectar’s customer service to see how easy this process was. Nectar was easy to reach and customer service reps are available seven days a week via live chat, a toll-free phone number, or email. The only reason I didn’t give this a perfect score was because customer service’s answer to my question was somewhat unclear. 

Sizing and Prices

SizeNectar Price (w/o discount)Nectar Premier Price (w/o discount)
Twin$699$1,049
Twin XL$899$1,199
Full$949$1,349
Queen$1,099$1,499
King$1,399$1,799
Cali King$1,399$1,799
Split King$1,798$2,398

More Nectar Comparisons

Comparing Other Mattresses from Nectar

Nectar Mattress Nectar Premier Mattress Nectar Lush Mattress Nectar Premier Copper Mattress Nectar Premier Hybrid Nectar Premier Copper Hybrid Nectar Classic Hybrid Nectar Luxe Mattress Nectar Luxe Hybrid Mattress
Nectar Mattress Nectar Premier Mattress Nectar Lush Mattress Nectar Premier Copper Mattress Nectar Premier Hybrid Nectar Premier Copper Hybrid Nectar Classic Hybrid Nectar Luxe Mattress Nectar Luxe Hybrid Mattress
Rating
4.3
4.4
4.0
4.0
4.2
4.3
4.1
3.9
3.9
Firmness Firm: 7.5/10 Medium-firm: 6.5/10 Medium-firm: 6/10 Medium: 5/10 Medium: 5/10 Medium: 5.5/10 Medium-firm: 6.5/10 Medium: 5.5/10 Medium: 5.5/10
Material Foam Foam Foam Foam Hybrid Hybrid Hybrid Foam Hybrid
Cooling
Warranty Lifetime warranty Lifetime warranty Lifetime warranty Lifetime warranty Lifetime warranty Lifetime warranty Lifetime warranty Lifetime Lifetime
Shipping Free shipping Free shipping Free shipping Free shipping Free shipping Free shipping Free shipping minus HI and AK Free shipping Free shipping
Trial Period 365 nights 365 nights 365 nights 365 nights 365 nights 365 nights 365 nights 365 nights 365 nights
Best For Back Sleepers, Back Pain, Stomach Sleepers, Side Sleepers, Couples Side Sleepers, Back Sleepers, Hip Pain, Back Pain, Stomach Sleepers Side Sleepers, Back Sleepers, Hip Pain Side Sleepers, Back Sleepers, Hot Sleepers, Hip Pain Back Sleepers, Side Sleepers, Couples, Back Pain Back Sleepers, Side Sleepers, Back Pain, Seniors, Hip Pain Back Sleepers, Hot Sleepers, Back Pain, Stomach Sleepers Side Sleepers, Back Sleepers, Hot Sleepers Side Sleepers, Back Sleepers, Hot Sleepers

Nectar vs. Nectar Premier FAQs

Is the Nectar Premier firmer than the Nectar?

The Nectar Premier is slightly softer than the Nectar. This is because rather than a 1-inch comfort layer on top, it has 2 inches of this softer, more contouring foam. 

Is the Nectar Premier mattress good for side sleepers?

Yes! The Nectar Premier is a great choice for side sleepers and does a good job alleviating pressure in the shoulder and hip in this position. 

Is there a class action lawsuit against a Nectar mattress?

In 2018, Nectar Brand LLC settled a class action lawsuit with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) because the FTC charged Nectar with making false claims that its mattresses were assembled in the U.S. when they were actually made and assembled in China. 

Is Nectar overpriced?

Compared to other mattresses on the market of similar quality, Nectars are competitively priced. They also tend to offer frequent sales and discounts online for even more bang for your buck. 

Our Final Thoughts on the Nectar vs. Nectar Premier

The Nectar and the Nectar Premier are both all-foam beds with the almost exact same construction; the only real notable difference is the Nectar Premier’s top layer is an inch thicker than the Nectar’s, so it feels softer and more cushiony. The Premier also has more cooling fibers in the cover, but honestly, both beds feel about the same when it comes to cooling. 

I’d say if you want a slightly firmer memory foam bed at a lower cost, opt for the Nectar; if you want more cushion or you’re a side sleeper, it will be worth it to spend a little more on the Nectar Premier. 

Sleep Advisor’s Testing Methodology

I tested both the Nectar and the Nectar Premier and also got some feedback from a plus-size teammate. This way, I was able to determine how well these beds would do for different body types. 

I used both hands-on and data-driven tests (a pressure map and a seismograph app, for example) to gauge how well these two beds performed and felt. I tested them across the board in categories like cooling, motion isolation, support, edge support, bounce, pressure relief, and more and then rated them from 1 to 5 in each category. 

Nectar Premier Foam testing
Sosha Lewis in our Sleep Advisor testing studio

Learn More: Sleep Advisor’s product review process

Sosha Lewis

Sosha Lewis

Senior Staff Writer

About Author

Sosha Lewis is a senior staff writer for Sleep Advisor.  Lewis is happy that she is able to combine her love of sleep with her love of writing.

Combination Sleeper

Education & Credentials

  • Certified Sleep Science Coach