Saatva Rx Mattress Review for 2024, Expert Tested

Written by Loren Bullock, Sleep Advisor Mattress Tester

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

Are you looking for a hybrid mattress that excels at pain relief? Our sleep expert Loren reviews the new Saatva Rx mattress.

»

Back pain is no joke. It’s one of the leading reasons people go to the emergency room and generates the most workman’s compensation claims.¹ If you are among the millions who have experienced back or joint pain, the Saatva Rx mattress may be precisely what you’ve been looking for. This bed was designed for people with chronic back pain seeking relief.

Although I’m not a doctor, I am a professional mattress tester. I tested the Saatva Rx to see how it lives up to the manufacturer’s claims. Read my review to hear more about the bed’s construction, performance, pros and cons, and whether or not it’s a truly painless purchase.

Pros

Excellent spine support– My spine was held in alignment in all sleep positions.

Responsive – This mattress is packed with coils, and this makes it responsive to weight almost instantaneously.

Great for pain relief – I didn’t detect any pressure buildup, making this Saatva model a great choice for those with back, shoulder, or hip pain.

Cons

Lackluster motion isolation – The Saatva Rx didn’t perform as well at motion isolation.

Some discomfort for plus-size stomach sleepers – Some heavyweight stomach sleepers may experience pressure around their hips.

Costly – The Saatva Rx was constructed with high-quality materials, which means a higher price tag.

Saatva Rx Performance Ratings

Poor

Average

Excellent

---

1

2

3

4

5

5

5

3

4

5

4

4

4

5

How the Saatva Rx Compares

Here at Sleep Advisor, we’ve tested over 150 different mattresses. The Saatva Rx outperforms other mattresses we’ve tested in the areas of overall pressure relief, support, cooling, bounce, edge support, and compatibility for couples. It also has a higher profile and a longer sleep trial than the average bed.

Test	Saatva Rx	Average
Overall	4.4	4.1
Mattress Height	15″	11″
Sleep Trial	365 Nights	141 Nights
Price (Queen)	$3,295 (before discounts)	$1,695
Pressure Relief	5	4.3
Support	5	4.5
Motion Isolation	3	3.9
Cooling	4	3.9
Bounce	5	4
Edge Support	4	3.9
Couples	4	3.9

Watch My Saatva Rx Video Review

Who I Recommend the Saatva Rx For: 

• Those with back pain – Saatva designed this bed for people with back and joint pain, and I was impressed with how they delivered on these intentions. The Rx is exceptional for pressure relief, spine alignment, and responsiveness.

---

• All sleep positions – It is rare to find a mattress that works equally well for all sleep positions, but the supportive construction and approachable firmness level make this a solid choice for back, side, and stomach sleepers. 

---

• Shoppers who want white glove delivery -The Saatva Rx is delivered and set up for you free of charge. They will also remove your old mattress. 

Who I Don’t Recommend the Saatva Rx For: 

• Light sleepers – The Saatva Rx performs well in most categories but falls short in isolating motion. It’s not terrible, but I recommend keeping this in mind if you’re part of a couple with a light sleeper or a partner who tosses and turns. Find our favorite mattresses for couples here.

---

• Budget shoppers – Given this is a specialty mattress that uses high-quality materials, it is not surprising that the Saatva Rx has a hefty price tag. While this is to be expected, it may put it out of some shopper’s mattress budgets. 

Customer Reviews of the Saatva Rx

Customers on Saatva’s website have awarded the Saatva Rx 4.8 out of 5 stars based on over 90 reviews. Multiple testimonies praise the bed for helping with chronic back and neck pain, with only a few mentioning drawbacks such as lackluster edges.

Testing the Saatva Rx Mattress

Sleep Advisor’s Testing Methodology 

Firmness & Feel

Firmness Scale: 6/10

A mattress’s firmness refers to how hard or soft it feels, and Sleep Advisor uses a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 being the softest. The Saatva Rx has an approachable and appealing medium-firm feel, and I put it at a 6 out of 10 on the firmness scale. 

With a 6 out of 10 firmness rating, the Saatva Rx has a medium feel to it. Many beds have a medium feel because this can appeal to more people and sleep positions.

How Does the Saatva Rx Feel?

When you first lie down on the Saatva Rx, the soft pillow top wraps you in a comforting hug that relieves pressure. As I began to settle into the mattress, I was impressed with how supported I felt thanks to the solid coils, and the longer I was on the mattress, the more I appreciated them. The approachable firmness kept my hips elevated and my spine aligned in all sleep positions. I enjoyed the overall springy and opulent feel. 

Sleeping Positions for Different Body Types

According to Saatva customer service, the Saatva Rx can hold up to 300 pounds per sleeper. 

Side Sleepers

Body Type	Weight Range	Tester Feedback
Lightweight Sleepers	Less than 130 pounds	The Rx’s unique construction did wonders for my spine alignment around the lumbar zone. Thanks to the pillow top, I also felt decent pressure relief around the hips and shoulders.
Average-Weight Sleepers	130-230 pounds	Our average-weight tester noticed a nice sink from the mattress surface. The heaviest parts, such as your hips, sink a bit deeper, but spine alignment is still solid.
Heavyweight Sleepers	More than 230 pounds	Naturally, heavier side sleepers will sink even deeper, but according to our heavyweight tester, the spine stays aligned.

Back Sleepers

Body Type	Weight Range	Tester Feedback
Lightweight Sleepers	Less than 130 pounds	I noticed a great lift around the lumbar zone, which should be helpful for back pain. My weight felt evenly distributed, so that’s another plus.
Average-Weight Sleepers	130-230 pounds	According to our average-weight tester, weight distribution stays on point even for people 130 to 230 pounds. There’s more sink, but Rx is still very supportive of the back.
Heavyweight Sleepers	More than 230 pounds	Heavier sleepers will sink more into the surface due to the pillow top. However, our heavyweight tester said the feel is balanced, emphasizing support to keep back pain away.

Stomach Sleepers

Body Type	Weight Range	Tester Feedback
Lightweight Sleepers	Less than 130 pounds	I really liked how the softness of the pillow top felt for the hips. Spine alignment is top-tier, even in this position.
Average-Weight Sleepers	130-230 pounds	My average-weight colleague noticed a little more sink. For this reason, you might prefer a lower-loft pillow with this mattress to ensure proper spine alignment.
Heavyweight Sleepers	More than 230 pounds	Our heavy tester said the Rx is a tad softer than what we usually recommend to stomach sleepers. Again, it can work just fine, but make sure to use a flatter pillow for alignment.

We tested for pressure relief by lying in different positions, noting how the bed felt and if there was any pressure buildup in the hips, shoulders, and knees. 

All our testers (myself included) were happy with how the bed felt in different sleeping positions. There’s support, but there’s also plenty of pressure relief. 

I think this comes primarily from its pillow top but also the micro coils that allow just enough sink where it’s needed the most. Based on how the Rx felt for all of us, I gave it a 5 out of 5 for pressure relief.

More: Best Mattress for Pressure Relief

Is the Saatva Rx Mattress Good for Pain Relief? 

The Saatva Rx was designed for those with back and joint pain. However, I wanted to test this for myself. After doing so, I can confidently say that the Saatva Rx delivers on its claims as this is one of the best mattresses for back and pain relief I have ever tested. After testing the Saatva Rx, I decided to include it on our list of the best beds for sleepers with back pain.

Back Pain	If you experience chronic back pain, I highly recommend this mattress. Its design targets the lumbar region by using specially zoned micro coils, among other features, to ensure proper spinal alignment, balanced support, and pressure relief. Read more about mattresses for back pain here.
Hip Pain	Although our heavyweight tester noticed some pressure buildup around his hips, this mattress is still a standout for those with hip pain. The soft pillow top contours and cushions the hips, while the targeted support of the coils prevents the midsection from sinking too far down. The Saatva Rx should do an exceptional job of alleviating and preventing hip pain. Read more about mattresses for hip pain here.
Shoulder Pain	The Saatva Rx may concentrate on the lumbar region, but it doesn’t miss when it comes to shoulder pain. Those who sleep on their side can experience pressure buildup from placing a lot of their body weight on a small joint. However, similar to hip pain, the soft pillow top helps relieve pressure while the sturdy coils keep sleepers from pushing through the layers, which would otherwise leave their spine in an awkward position. Explore more mattresses for shoulder pain here.

The Saatva Rx’s design allows people to sleep in any position while still experiencing proper spinal alignment. The coils give targeted support to the areas that need it the most and help keep an even distribution of weight. 

In addition to these features, I was particularly impressed with the Lumbar Zone® Quilting and how Saatva uses individual pieces of foam within each coil. These elements provide additional support that isn’t found in many other mattresses. The Saatva Rx earned a well-deserved perfect score for support.

Sleeping through a partner’s or pet’s nocturnal twists and turns appeals to couples and co-sleepers, and a bed with sound motion isolation can help you do this. We test this category with a seismograph app and manually by moving around on one side to see how much of it can be felt on the other side. 

Unfortunately, this is one area where the Saatva Rx needs to catch up. During testing, I noticed more movement happening at the surface. The coils tend to react to the movement rather than absorb it. If you look at our seismograph reading above, you can see some spikes are taller than others. These indicate more noticeable motion disturbances.

I was happy that major movements were stifled, but couples may want to consider a mattress that isolates all motion better.

The Saatva Rx has an organic cotton cover, and the inner construction utilizes micro coils. The micro coils allow air to move freely, and the breathable organic cotton cover allows it to escape. Both of these elements prevent heat from being trapped in the mattress. This bed isn’t cool to the touch, but the temperature-regulating materials keep it from sleepers feeling overheated throughout the night.

I gave it 4 out of 5 because there are plenty of cooling materials here, and I noticed no overheating during testing. 

Learn more: Best Cooling Mattresses

Bounce in a mattress helps you switch positions more easily, which is especially important for combo sleepers and couples during sex. We test this using a weighted medicine ball and a lacrosse ball, throwing them both on the bed to gauge the bounceback. We also test manually by jumping on the bed.

The micro coils and pocketed coils with foam give the Saatva Rx plenty of bounce; it reacts instantaneously to movement. 

I had fun bouncing around on this bed while testing it. Even the slightest movements made me feel like I was being launched. The extra bounce makes it easier to move around, so I recommend this bed for sexually active couples and combination sleepers. It was a no-brainer giving the Saatva Rx a 5 out of 5 in this category.

Related: Best Mattress for Sex

Edge support helps couples and single individuals use the entire surface of the bed. With enough support, you can sit and lie near the edge of the bed without feeling like you could slide off. We test this by sitting and lying near the edge for a minute each to see just how secure it feels. 

The firmer coils at the outer perimeter of the Saatva Rx support you while you lie on the outer edge. This makes this bed good for couples who like to spread out or those who like to sleep toward the outside of the bed in general. However, I noticed more sinkage when I was sitting on it, and because of this, I advise those with mobility issues to look at Saatva’s flagship bed, as it may be more beneficial if you have problems getting in and out of bed. I took off a point because of that sinkage while sitting on the side.

The Saatva Rx is made specifically to target back pain, ideally helping to eliminate or at least reduce its impact on your sleep. 

Saatva goes above and beyond by not only making a supportive mattress with both coils and micro coils but also including a special lumbar crown made from half-inch gel memory foam. When paired with the patented Lumbar Zone® quilting above, it enhances support where sleepers with back pain need it the most. 

On top of this, the company provides white glove delivery, which means folks with back pain don’t need to worry about anything heavy lifting with this bed. Based on these factors, I gave it a 5 out of 5.

Saatva is known as one of the best brands out there, offering industry-leading deals such as a 365-night trial, lifetime warranty, and free white glove delivery. 

I’m impressed by all this as much as the next person, but I must also mention the $99 return fee. Saatva does offer a lot, but some people might not appreciate that the returns are not totally free, especially given how much Saatva mattresses cost upfront, which is why I took off a point in this category.

To score this category, we look at how the mattress does in other performance categories that are valuable to couples, such as edge support, bounce, motion isolation, cooling, and overall support. We also consider whether has an adaptive feel and weight capacity that could work for both people.

In many ways, Saatva Rx is a great mattress for couples, especially if one or both people experience back or joint pain. It has incredible bounce and support, as well as above-average edge support. 

While it is not designed as a cooling mattress, it does implement several cooling features that should keep co-sleepers from overheating. As far as couples are concerned, the only issue I found with this bed is that it allows for a good bit of motion transfer. This means that one partner could be disturbed by the movements of the other, which is why I knocked off a point.

Preference-Based Features

Guardin™ Botanical Antimicrobial Treatment 

The Saatva Rx is treated with a botanical antimicrobial treatment that inhibits the growth of bacteria, mold, and mildew.

---

Therapeutic Support Core 

This unique feature contours to your body’s curves and alleviates pressure on your joints.

---

Adjustable Base Compatible

You can use the Saatva Rx with an adjustable base. Check out the Saatva Adjustable Base.

Construction: What’s Inside the Saatva Rx? 

The Saatva Rx mattress has a tall, 15-inch profile and is covered in a breathable organic cotton cover for cooling right at the surface. Additionally, this cover is treated with Guardin™ botanical antimicrobial treatment, which helps prevent bacteria, mold, and mildew growth. The cover is also a pillow top, with Lumbar Zone® Quilting that gives more lifting in the middle third of the mattress for additional spinal support. 

• The Therapeutic Support Core is 2 inches thick and features Saatva’s Rx Foam Module that is individually encased on top of each coil. The gel is infused with graphite for additional cooling.  
• The sturdy and responsive coils are 8 inches tall and made from triple-tempered recycled steel. These coils are durable and respond to your movements. 
• Under the pocketed comfort coil unit, there is an eco non-woven base layer that stabilizes the coils. 

Unboxing & Off-Gassing

The Saatva Rx arrives via white glove delivery, so professional delivery workers will set up a fully formed mattress. Therefore, you don’t have to concern yourself with unboxing, waiting for the mattress to expand, or off-gassing. 

Certifications

• CertiPUR-US® certified – The foams in this bed are CertiPUR-US® certified. CertiPUR-US® is a third-party program that ensures the foams meet rigorous health and safety standards. This means they don’t contain harmful substances like ozone depleters, PBDEs, heavy metals, formaldehyde, and phthalates. They should also have low volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions.
• Congress of Chiropractic State Association Seal of Approval – This bed has received the Congress of Chiropractic State Association’s Seal of Approval.

Noteworthy Updates

Saatva has earned an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau. Based on Saatva’s return rates, the company says that 96% of Saatva customers are satisfied with their purchase.

Coupons, Trials, Warranties, and Shipping

Shipping	The Saatva Rx ships to your home for free.
White Glove Delivery	Free delivery and professional installation are included with the Saatva Rx. The professional delivery drivers will also haul away your old mattress.
Trial	After purchasing this mattress, you can try it out for a year to make sure it is the right choice for you.
Warranty	Saatva provides a lifetime warranty for this product.
Return Policy	If you’re not satisfied with the Saatva Rx, you can return it during the trial period. You’ll pay a $99 processing fee for pickup and haul away.

Saatva Rx Sizes & Prices

Size	Dimensions (inches)	Price (w/o discount)
Twin	38” x 75” x 15”	$1,995
Twin XL	38” x 80” x 15”	$2,195
Full	54” x 75” x 15”	$2,695
Queen	60” x 80” x 15”	$3,295
King	76” x 80” x 15”	$3,795
Cali King	72” x 84” x 15”	$3,795
Split King	76” x 80” x 15”	$4,390

Saatva Rx FAQs

Is the Saatva Rx good for back pain?

Yes, based on my experience testing it, I think the Saatva Rx could be good for back pain. The Saatva Rx is specifically designed to treat back and joint pain. It implements several features, including a combination of foam, micro-coils, and foam-encased coils to provide spinal alignment and pressure relief.

Can Saatva mattresses be flipped?

Saatva mattresses, including the Saatva Rx, should not be flipped. These mattresses have a specific design, and if you flip them, you will be sleeping on the base. This would be uncomfortable for the sleeper and detrimental to the construction.

Does Saatva sell returned mattresses?

Saatva never sells returned mattresses. If a customer returns a mattress, Saatva donates it to veterans’ shelters or offers it to employees.

Saatva Rx vs. Other Brands

	Saatva Rx Mattress	Helix Midnight Elite	DreamCloud Premier Mattress
Rating	4.4	4.0	4.0
Firmness	Medium-firm: 6/10	Medium-firm: 6/10	Medium: 5.5/10
Material	Hybrid	Hybrid	Hybrid
Cooling	—
Warranty	Lifetime warranty	15-year warranty	Lifetime warranty
Shipping	Free white glove delivery	Free shipping	Free shipping
Trial Period	365 nights	100 nights	365 nights
Best For	Back Pain, Hip Pain, Stomach Sleepers, Side Sleepers, Back Sleepers, Seniors	Back Sleepers, Side Sleepers, Hot Sleepers	Back Sleepers, Hot Sleepers
	Check Price	Check Price	Check Price

Who I Recommend the Helix Midnight Elite

• Heavyweight back sleepers
• People who sleep hot
• Side sleepers

Read our Helix Midnight Elite mattress review if you think it is right for you.

Who I Recommend the DreamCloud Premier For

• Couples
• Memory foam fans
• Side sleepers

Read our DreamCloud Premier mattress review if you think it is right for you.

Saatva Rx vs. Other Saatva Models 

	Saatva Rx Mattress	Saatva Mattress	Saatva Solaire Mattress
Rating	4.4	4.2	4.4
Firmness	Medium-firm: 6/10	Multiple firmness options	Multiple firmness options
Material	Hybrid	Innerspring	Other
Cooling	—
Warranty	Lifetime warranty	Lifetime warranty	Lifetime warranty
Shipping	Free white glove delivery	Free white glove delivery	Free white glove delivery
Trial Period	365 nights	365 nights	365 nights
Best For	Back Pain, Hip Pain, Stomach Sleepers, Side Sleepers, Back Sleepers, Seniors	Back Sleepers, Stomach Sleepers, Back Pain, Hot Sleepers, Seniors	Couples, Hot Sleepers, Side Sleepers, Back Sleepers, Stomach Sleepers, Hip Pain
	Check Price	Check Price	Check Price

Who I Recommend the Saatva Classic For

• People with mobility issues who need stronger edge support
• Consumers who want several height options to choose from
• Affordable luxury shoppers

Read our Saatva mattress review if you think it is right for you.

Who I Recommend the Saatva Solaire For

• People looking for customizable firmness
• Those who want an eco-conscious mattress
• Couples seeking exceptional support

Read our full Saatva Solaire mattress review here.

My Verdict of the Saatva Rx Mattress

I was a big fan of the Saatva Rx, a bed specifically designed for those with back and joint pain. This mattress had exceptional support and pressure relief, and although it isn’t a cooling mattress, it has enough cooling features that sleepers don’t need to worry about overheating. 

My only complaint with the Saatva Rx is that it didn’t do a great job of isolating motion, but that wasn’t surprising since it has incredible bounce. This bed earned an overall rating of 4.4 out of 5, and I think that if you have back pain or joint discomfort or simply want a supportive bed, you should check it out.

Loren Bullock

Sleep Advisor Mattress Tester

About Author

Loren is a product tester at Sleep Advisor. She has prioritized sleeping for as long as she can remember, rarely deviating from seven to nine hours each night.

Combination Sleeper