Written by Ashley Zlatopolsky, Content Writer
If you’re ready to splurge on a luxury bed, chances are Sleep Number and Tempur-Pedic are already on your radar.
The Sleep Number 360® c4 is one of the brand’s more affordable beds, and although it’s not entry-level, it’s also not the most expensive model. Still, it comes loaded with premium features, particularly its adjustable firmness and smart technology. Meanwhile, the TEMPUR-LuxeAdapt® is one of Tempur-Pedic’s highest-end models, but for the higher price point, you’ll get over-the-top contouring support that the brand claims is 30 percent more powerful than its other foam models.
So how do you choose which brand and model is right for you? Luckily, we’re here to help you make the best decision and find your perfect dream mattress.
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Sleep Number vs. Tempur-Pedic Mattress Overview
| Who Should Get the Sleep Number 360® c4? | Who Should Get the TEMPUR-LuxeAdapt®? |
|---|---|
| Couples | People with joint pain |
| Stomach sleepers | Light to average-weight side sleepers |
| Sleep Number fans looking for a more affordable mattress choice | Lightweight back sleepers |
Sleep Number vs. Tempur-Pedic: How Are They Similar?
- Foam layers – Both beds contain foam, but the Sleep Number also has an air chamber that allows you to adjust the firmness.
- Quilted cover – These Sleep Number and Tempur-Pedic beds each have breathable quilted covers.
- Luxury builds – Sleep Number and Tempur-Pedic are both considered luxury mattress brands.
Sleep Number vs. Tempur-Pedic: How Are They Different?
- Zoned support – The Tempur-Pedic has five sections of zoned support, or firmer and softer sections of the bed that match your natural spinal alignment, while the Sleep Number only has three.
- Auto-adjusting firmness – The Sleep Number is unique in that it auto-adjusts firmness on each side of the bed in response to your movements.
- Smart technology – The Sleep Number tracks your sleep quality on a compatible app.
Sleep Number vs. Tempur-Pedic: Firmness, Feel, and Construction
Firmness & Feel
We rank mattress firmness on a scale from 1-10. A mattress that we deem a 1 will be super pillowy soft, while a 10 will be the firmest bed on the market. The Sleep Number 360® c4 has an adjustable firmness, so we don’t have a specific number for it, but the Soft model of the Tempur-Pedic we reviewed got a 5 out of 10 firmness rating.
| Mattress | Sleep Advisor Firmness Rating | Feel | Tester Feedback |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sleep Number 360® c4 | Adjustable | Soft to Firm | Sleep Number beds have 20 possible firmness ratings that let you adjust the firmness of the bed from very soft to very firm. However, the c4 is one of Sleep Number’s firmer beds since it has a thinner comfort layer. |
| TEMPUR-LuxeAdapt® | 5/10 | Medium/ Medium-Plush | The Soft version of the TEMPUR-LuxeAdapt® feels more like a medium or a medium-plush bed. If you’re used to traditionally soft beds, you might find this model just slightly firmer, but the foam still does a great job of gentle contouring. |
Mattress Construction
The major difference between these two beds is that Sleep Number 360® c4 has an adjustable air chamber that you can tweak from soft to firm; it also automatically adjusts based on your movements. You won’t find this technology in the TEMPUR-LuxeAdapt®.
What’s the Sleep Number 360® c4 Mattress Made Of?
- Breathable poly-blend cover
- Fiberfill
- Gel-infused poly foam
- Comfort foam layer
- Air chamber
- Foam wall perimeter
What’s the TEMPUR-LuxeAdapt® Mattress Made Of?
- Phase change cover
- TEMPUR-ES® memory foam
- Tempur-APR+ foam
- Poly foam
- High-density poly foam
Sleep Number vs. Tempur-Pedic: Body Type and Sleep Position
Sleep Number 360® c4 Mattress
| Body Type | Weight Range | Side Sleeping | Back Sleeping | Stomach Sleeping |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lightweight | Less than 130 pounds | Good | Excellent | Good |
| Average-Weight | 130-230 pounds | Good | Excellent | Good |
| Heavyweight | More than 230 pounds | Average | Good | Average |
TEMPUR-LuxeAdapt® Mattress
| Body Type | Weight Range | Side Sleeping | Back Sleeping | Stomach Sleeping |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lightweight | Less than 130 pounds | Excellent | Average | Poor |
| Average-Weight | 130-230 pounds | Good | Poor | Poor |
| Heavyweight | More than 230 pounds | Poor | Poor | Poor |
Sleep Number vs. Tempur-Pedic: Mattress Testing Performance
Pressure Relief
The gel-infused poly foam layer in the Sleep Number is designed to generate pressure relief along the head, neck, back, and hips, but its thinner design doesn’t lend itself well to a lot of cushioning. We found that the Tempur-Pedic had much better pressure relief thanks to its more robust foam layers (the Adapt series is some of the most contouring that the brand offers).
Support
Since we tested the Soft model of the Tempur-Pedic, it doesn’t have as much support as the Medium or Firm models. Lightweight sleepers should experience decent support, but heavier sleepers will probably find themselves sinking too far into the foam layers.
The Sleep Number had stronger support with its adjustable air chamber, which can be adjusted from soft to firm. Still, don’t write off the Tempur-Pedic for its support; instead, you can opt for a firmer model.
Motion Isolation
The Sleep Number had good motion isolation, especially on larger beds with dual air chambers (anything Full size or above). Likewise, the Tempur-Pedic absorbed virtually all movement with its slow-moving memory foam. Both beds should perform equally for bed-sharing couples.
Temperature Regulation / Cooling
Memory foam is notorious for trapping heat, but we found the TEMPUR-LuxeAdapt® surprisingly cooling. That’s because it’s made with phase change material, which is designed to help release heat. The Sleep Number 360® c4, which has a thinner foam layer, also sleeps cool (as air beds often do). We’d call these beds pretty equal in their temperature regulation and cooling properties.
Bounce
The Sleep Number had decent bounce thanks to its inflatable air chamber, but the Tempur-Pedic had virtually zero bounce. Its slow-moving memory foam may be great for pressure relief but doesn’t lend itself well to responsiveness. For that reason, we wouldn’t recommend the Tempur-Pedic for sexually active couples or combo sleepers.
Edge Support
This is probably due to the softer build, but the Soft TEMPUR-LuxeAdapt® left us sinking into the edge of the bed. The Sleep Number 360® c4 had stronger edge support with its sturdier foam perimeter, which will be better for edge sleepers or people with mobility issues who need more support getting in and out of bed.
Couples
We rank beds for couples based on factors that would make sex and bed-sharing easier, like bounce, edge support, motion isolation, and cooling. Since the Sleep Number outperformed the Tempur-Pedic in two categories (bounce and edge support), we’ve deemed it better for couples. However, the Tempur-Pedic has amazing motion isolation that’s great for light sleepers.
Sleep Number vs. Tempur-Pedic: Comparing Company Policies and Price
Company Policies
| Sleep Number | Tempur-Pedic | |
| Shipping | Requires premium delivery, which costs $249. This service is available to select areas in all 50 states and may be available outside of these areas for an additional fee. | Ships for free in the continental U.S., but doesn’t ship to Alaska or Hawaii. |
| White Glove Delivery | Premium delivery will include setup of your new mattress and removal of your old one. | Final price includes white glove delivery. |
| Trial | 100 days | 90 days |
| Warranty | 15 years | 10 years |
| Return Policy | Returnable within the trial period, but must be used for at least 30 days. You will also need to pay return shipping fees ($249 plus tax). | Returnable within the trial period, but must be used for at least 30 days. However, there’s a $175 return fee. |
Sizing and Prices
| Size | Sleep Number 360® c4Price (w/o discount) | TEMPUR-LuxeAdapt® Price (w/o discount) |
| Twin | $1,599 | N/A |
| Twin XL | $1,699 | $3,699 |
| Full | $1,749 | N/A |
| Queen | $1,899 | $4,199 |
| King | $2,399 | $4,899 |
| Cali King | $2,399 | $4,899 |
More Sleep Number Comparisons
- Sleep Number 360 m7 vs. Sleep Number 360 i8
- Sleep Number 360 i8 vs. Sleep Number 360 iLE
- Helix Midnight vs. Sleep Number 360 c4
- Sleep Number 360 iLE vs. Sleep Number 360 i10
- Saatva Solaire vs. Sleep Number i8 360
More Tempur-Pedic Comparisons
- Serta iComfort vs. Tempur-Pedic
- Beautyrest vs. Tempur-Pedic
- Emma Original vs. Tempur-Pedic TEMPUR-Cloud
- Helix Midnight vs. Tempur-Pedic TEMPUR-LuxeAdapt
- Tempur-Pedic TEMPUR-Cloud vs. Casper Wave Hybrid
- Casper Original vs. Tempur-Pedic
- DreamCloud Premier vs. Tempur-Pedic TEMPUR-Cloud
- Amerisleep vs. Tempur-Pedic
- Sealy Posturepedic vs. Tempur-Pedic TEMPUR-Cloud
- Nectar vs. Tempur-Pedic TEMPUR-Cloud
Comparing Other Mattresses from Sleep Number and Tempur-Pedic
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| Sleep Number 360 c2 Smart Mattress | Sleep Number 360 c4 Smart Mattress | Sleep Number 360 i10 Smart Mattress | Sleep Number 360 i8 Smart Mattress | Sleep Number 360 m7 Smart Mattress | Sleep Number 360 p5 Smart Mattress | Sleep Number 360 p6 Smart Mattress | Sleep Number 360 pSE Smart Mattress | Sleep Number 360 iLE Smart Mattress | TEMPUR-Adapt Mattress | TEMPUR-ProBreeze Mattress | TEMPUR-LuxeAdapt Mattress | TEMPUR-ProAdapt Mattress | |
| Rating | |||||||||||||
| Firmness | Multiple firmness options | Multiple firmness options | Multiple firmness options | Multiple firmness options | Multiple firmness options | Multiple firmness options | Multiple firmness options | Multiple firmness options | Medium-firm: 6/10 | Medium: 5/10 | |||
| Material | Other | — | Other | Other | Foam | Other | Other | Other | Other | Foam | Foam | Foam | Foam |
| Cooling | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||
| Warranty | 25-year limited warranty | 15-year limited warranty | 15-year limited warranty | 15-year limited warranty | 15-year limited warranty | 15-year limited warranty | 15-year limited warranty | 15-year warranty | 15-year warranty | 10-year warranty | 10-year warranty | 10-year warranty | 10-year limited warranty |
| Shipping | Flat-rate white glove delivery | Flat-rate white glove delivery | Flat-rate white glove delivery | Flat-rate white glove delivery | Flat-rate white glove delivery | Flat-rate white glove delivery | Flat-rate white glove delivery | Flat-rate white glove delivery | Flat-rate white glove delivery | Free white glove delivery | Free white glove delivery | Free shipping | Free white glove delivery |
| Trial Period | 100 nights | 100 nights | 100 nights | 100 nights | 100 nights | 100 nights | 100 nights | 100 nights | 100 nights | 90 nights | 90 nights | 90 nights | 90 nights |
| Best For | Back Sleepers | Couples | Hot Sleepers, Couples | Hot Sleepers, Hip Pain, Side Sleepers | Hot Sleepers, Back Pain, Hip Pain | Couples, Back Pain | Hot Sleepers, Couples, Hip Pain, Joint Pain | Side Sleepers, Back Sleepers | Side Sleepers, Back Sleepers | Back Sleepers, Hot Sleepers, Seniors | Hot Sleepers, Side Sleepers, Back Sleepers, Seniors | Joint Pain, Hip Pain, Back Pain, Seniors | Back Pain, Joint Pain, Hip Pain, Seniors |
Sleep Number vs. Tempur-Pedic FAQs
What is the difference between Sleep Number and Tempur-Pedic?
The biggest difference between Sleep Number and Tempur-Pedic is that Sleep Number beds have an adjustable firmness because of their air chambers, while Tempur-Pedic beds don’t have this feature. That said, Tempur-Pedic does offer mattresses pre-constructed in varying firmness levels.
What are the cons of Sleep Number?
Some customers have mentioned that the adjustable air layer of Sleep Number beds can sometimes deflate, which can lead to sinkage in the middle of the bed.
Is there anything better than Sleep Number?
There are many great mattress brands that compare to Sleep Number, including Tempur-Pedic and Nectar. The right mattress for you will ultimately depend on your sleep style and preferences. If you love the idea of having sleep data tracking, you might prefer Sleep Number since they include this feature with their beds.
What are the disadvantages of Tempur-Pedic?
Tempur-Pedic mattresses are notoriously expensive. You can expect to pay more than $1,000 for a twin-size entry-level bed.
Our Final Thoughts on Sleep Number vs. Tempur-Pedic
Sleep Number and Tempur-Pedic are two luxury mattress brands that can cater to different types of shoppers. White the tech-oriented shoppers might love the seep tracking that comes with Sleep Number beds, those who want that true memory foam experience might be swayed toward Tempur-Pedic.
Based on the two beds we compared from these brands, the Sleep Number 360® c4 has an innovative air chamber that adjusts to your movements (with dual air chambers in bigger beds), making it an excellent choice for couples who aren’t on the same page with firmness. However, the TEMPUR-LuxeAdapt® has highly contouring memory foam that lends itself well to lightweight side sleepers. Either bed is a great luxury buy, but the best choice for you will ultimately depend on your sleep style and habits.
Sleep Advisor’s Testing Methodology
To rate the Sleep Number 360® c4 and TEMPUR-LuxeAdapt®, we looked at specific categories most helpful to sleepers, including pressure relief, overall support, cooling, motion isolation, edge support, and bounce. Our testers also evaluated how these beds performed in different positions, including back, side, and stomach seeping.
To learn more about how we review mattresses, visit our product review process.
