Written by Julia Forbes, Lead Product Tester
If you’re in the market for a comfortable and luxurious mattress, you might have stumbled across the names Saatva and Stearns & Foster in your search. Both companies are known for their high-quality materials and comfortable beds, along with other important qualities that appeal to consumers.
In this mattress comparison, we’ll be going over the similarities and differences between the Stearns & Foster Lux Estate mattress and the Saatva Classic mattress, both of which our review team tested in person. Keep reading to find out which of these two beds could be the right option for you.
Watch Our Video Comparison of the Stearns & Foster vs. Saatva
Quick Comparison: Stearns & Foster vs. Saatva
Product
Type
Score
Who I’d Recommend the Stearns & Foster For
- Luxury shoppers – The Stearns & Foster Lux Estate mattress has the feel of a 5-star hotel mattress brand, but that also means it doesn’t come cheap. A Queen-size currently costs over 3,500 dollars.
- Back and stomach sleepers – While testing this bed, we felt the most comfortable on our backs and stomachs.
- Couples who need good edge support – While both mattresses have good edge support, the Stearns & Foster excels in this category, making it a great choice for couples who want to utilize the entire mattress’ surface.
Who I’d Recommend the Saatva For
- Affordable luxury shoppers – Saatva is still a luxury mattress, but it comes at a slightly more affordable price compared to the Stearns & Foster Lux Estate.
- Those who want a more eco-friendly bed – The Saatva is made with more eco-friendly materials than the Stearns & Foster.
- Sleepers who want more pressure relief– The Saatva’s surface is slightly softer and gently contours to the body, providing excellent pressure relief.
Comparing Stearns & Foster vs Saatva: Top Similarities
- Luxurious and high-quality materials – Both beds we tested feel like luxurious, comfortable beds, and they include high-quality materials like memory foam and several plush comfort layers.
- Plush yet supportive – Both beds include a soft pillow top for added cushioning, however, they still feel supportive and keep the spine in a comfortable, neutral alignment.
- Excellent edge support – Neither one of these beds is likely to collapse as you lie or sit on the edge. This is great for those who have trouble getting in or out of bed, as well as couples who share a bed.
Comparing Stearns & Foster vs Saatva: Key Differences
- Materials – While both beds use innerspring coils and feature plush pillow tops, Saatva uses more eco-friendly materials.
- Firmness – We tested the medium option plus a pillow top for both beds, and we found that even with these same options, the Stearns & Foster felt slightly firmer beneath the pillow top.
- Price – The Lux Estate version of the Stearns & Foster that we tested costs significantly more compared to the Saatva.
Comparing Firmness, Support & Feel
Firmness
At Sleep Advisor, we rate mattress firmness on a scale from 1 to 10, with 10 being about as firm as lying on the floor. In this case, we tested the Medium-Firm options for both beds. We gave the Stearns & Foster a 6.5-7 rating and the Saatva a 7 out of 10 rating.
That being said, the top layer of the Saatva feels slightly softer than that of the Stearns & Foster.
Support
Sydney, who reviewed these mattresses for us, has an athletic body type and prefers to sleep on both her back and stomach. That said, she found both of these mattresses to be very supportive, keeping her spine in a neutral alignment while still feeling comfortable.
She also didn’t notice any sagging or pressure buildup from either bed. However, some heavier sleepers might not find the Medium-Firm models of these beds firm enough to support their spinal alignment.
Feel
When first lying down on the Stearns & Foster, you’ll likely notice the immediate pressure relief and softness of the pillow top. However, you won’t sink too far down into the pillow top because the coils will press up, supporting your weight and spine.
The Saatva will also feel immediately soft (slightly softer and more cradling than the Stearns & Foster) but then supportive beneath the pillow top layer.
Comparing Sinkage and Bounce
The Stearns & Foster includes a pillow top made from TEMPUR-Indulge™ memory foam. This foam should feel cloud-like and provide just enough sinkage to keep your hips, shoulders, and back feeling comfortable and free of pressure. It also includes a layer of innerspring coils, which give the bed support, as well as a good amount of bounce.
We found that the Saatva has a similar amount of sinkage with its plush pillow top but is slightly less bouncy than the Stearns & Foster, though the difference was minimal. Both beds should be a good fit for those who need pressure relief but prefer a bed that won’t feel like quicksand.
Comparing Motion Transfer
Motion transfer measures how much you’ll be able to feel somebody moving on the other side of the bed. This is an important factor for folks who share a bed– especially for sensitive sleepers.
The Stearns & Foster has great motion isolation due to its coil system as well as foam comfort layers. You shouldn’t have any issues feeling your partner move during the night with this bed.
The Saatva also has good motion isolation, however, we found it wasn’t quite as good as the Stearns & Foster. This may simply be because the Saatva has thinner comfort layers, so you’re sleeping a bit closer to the bouncy, innerspring portion of the bed.
Comparing Cooling
We found that both mattresses feel naturally cool, likely because they both include innerspring coils, which allow air to circulate through the bed more easily. The Stearns & Foster goes slightly further with cooling properties, though, as it includes air vents throughout its construction, as well as a cover made from Tencel™, which is naturally cool. That said, the Stearns & Foster and Saatva mattresses feel about the same, temperature-wise. They should both work well for the average sleeper, but if you sleep particularly hot, you might want a bed that has additional cooling features.
Comparing Construction (Materials & Quality)
Stearns & Foster Construction
The Stearns & Foster Lux Estate is available either with a pillow top or without one; for our Stearns & Foster review, we tested the version with the pillow top.
With the pillow top, the Lux Estate measures 16 inches tall. Without it, it measures 14.5 inches. Whichever option you choose, the cover of this mattress is made from stretch-knit Tencel™ material, which is naturally cooling and moisture-wicking.
- Below the cover is the pillow top. This layer is made from TEMPUR-Indulge™ memory foam, which provides additional comfort and support.
- Beneath the pillow top is a comfort layer made from three thinner layers of TEMPUR-Indulge™ memory foam for extra pressure relief.
- The support layer comes next and includes Intellicoil® coils that give the bed its bounciness and support.
- The base layer is one final layer of firmer memory foam, which supports the coils and the comfort layers above it.
Saatva Construction
With the Saatva, you can choose between 11.5 or 14.5 inches tall, however, you should know that the 14.5-inch model is not compatible with an adjustable base. The Saatva has an antimicrobial, organic, breathable cotton cover, which is stitched to a layer of foam. This is the bed’s Euro-style pillow top, which feels more “a part of” the bed than the pillow top on the Lux Estate.
- Below the pillow top is a layer of memory foam in the center area of the mattress. This layer has added lumbar support, which we could definitely feel when lying on our backs.
- The second layer is made up of individually-wrapped pocket coils. These recycled steel coils are zoned to better support the hips and lower back.
- The base features another layer of recycled steel coils.
- The sides are encased in a sturdy, thicker foam to ensure that the edges of the bed don’t sag beneath your weight.
Comparing Company Policies & Price
Warranty – The Stearns & Foster comes with a 10-year warranty, whereas the Saatva comes with a lifetime warranty.
Shipping – Both mattresses offer free shipping as well as free white glove delivery, in which they’ll set up your new mattress and remove any packaging, as well as your old mattress.
Trial Period – The Stearns & Foster has a 90-night sleep trial, and the Saatva includes a 365-night trial.
Returns – If you’re not happy with your mattress, you can return both the Stearns & Foster and Saatva during your trial period for a refund. With the Lux Estate, you’ll pay a return fee of 175 dollars plus tax, and with the Saatva, you’ll have to pay a 99-dollar return fee.
Price – As we’ve mentioned, one of the major differences between these mattresses is price, with the Stearns & Foster costing much more than the Saatva.
| Size | Stearns & Foster Lux Estate (w/o discount) | Saatva Price (w/o discount) |
|---|---|---|
| Twin | n/a | $1,095 |
| Twin XL | $3,499 | $1,395 |
| Full | n/a | $1,895 |
| Queen | $3,599 | $1,995 |
| King | $4,199 | $2,495 |
| Cali King | $4,199 | $2,495 |
| Split King | $6,998 | $2,790 |
| Split Cali King | $6,998 | $2,790 |
Stearns & Foster vs. Saatva Compared Side-by-Side
Product
Type
Score
| Features | Stearns & Foster Lux Estate | Saatva |
|---|---|---|
| Height | 16” | 11.5” or 14.5” |
| Cover | Stretch-knit Tencel™ cover | Cotton Euro pillow top with blended foams |
| Materials | Memory foam, innerspring coils | Memory Foam, Pocket Coils, Steel Coils |
| Cooling | Air vents, coils | Coils |
| Firmness | 6.5-7/10 (Medium) | 7/10 (Luxury Firm) |
| Support | Great | Great |
| Motion Transfer | Minimal | Medium |
| Edge Support | Exceptional | Exceptional |
| Sinkage | Gentle Cradle | Gentle Cradle |
| Bounce | Yes | Yes |
| Warranty | 10 Years | Lifetime |
| Trial Period | 90 nights | 365 nights |
| Certifications | CertiPUR-US® | CertiPUR-US® GOTS-certified |
| Adjustable Base Compatible | Yes | Yes (only in 11.5”) |
| Shipping | Ships to U.S., free white glove delivery optional | Free white-glove delivery |
| Made in the USA | Yes | Yes |
| Read Full Review | Lux Estate Mattress Review | Saatva Mattress Review |
| Shop Now | Lux Estate Mattress | Saatva Mattress |
Final Thoughts
When it comes to picking between two luxury mattresses, it can seem hard to know which one you’d enjoy more. Even though the Stearns & Foster and Saatva share some similarities, the biggest difference between these two is going to be the price.
If you’re looking for that 5-star hotel mattress feeling and have a higher price point, why not go for the Stearns & Foster? However, if you’re looking for something more eco-friendly and affordable, we’d go with the Saatva.
If you’re still on the fence, visit our full-length reviews of each mattress to learn more.
More Saatva Comparisons:
- Loom & Leaf vs. Saatva
- Saatva vs. Amerisleep
- DreamCloud vs. Saatva
- Alexander Signature Hybrid vs. Saatva
- Layla vs. Saatva
Julia Forbes
Lead Product Tester
About Author
Julia is the Lead Reviewer at Sleep Advisor, specializing in testing out mattresses and sleep accessories – she’s in the right line of work, because she loves to sleep.
Stomach Sleeper
Education & Credentials
- Certified Sleep Science Coach