Tempur-Pedic vs. Purple: Which One to Choose?

Can't decide between Tempur-Pedic and Purple? We compared them for you.
By
Romeo Vitelli
Romeo Vitelli
Expert Writer
Received his doctorate in Psychology in 1987, spent fifteen years as a staff psychologist in Millbrook Correctional Centre. In 2003 went into full-time private practice. read more
reviewed
Reviewed By
Medical Advisory Team
Medical Advisory Team
Includes well-known professionals, who together provide decades of sleep medicine experience that enables Talk About Sleep to fulfill its mission of creating access to high- read more
Last updated: August 16, 2023
product
vs
product
Can't decide between Tempur-Pedic and Purple? We compared them for you.
TalkAboutSleep is reader-supported. We may earn a commission through products purchased using links on this page. Learn more about our process here

You spend about a third of your life sleeping in your bed, so it only makes sense to make sure that you have the best mattress possible. This can be quite difficult since there are so many different options to choose from. Amongst mattress buyers, one of the biggest debates is the Tempur-Pedic vs. Purple mattresses argument. Some folks swear by their Tempur-Pedic, which is more expensive, but also thicker and comes in more firmness levels. Other buyers argue they would never give up their Purple mattress, which is thinner, but also much less expensive. On the surface, both of these mattresses seem to offer the same support, which is why it is a good idea to take a closer look and compare them very carefully so that you can find the best mattress for your needs.

Quick Comparison

Tempur-Pedic Purple
  • Made from foam
  • Comes in soft, medium, and firm
  • Expensive
  • SmartClimate Dual Cover System keeps you cool
  • Extra-thick and very supportive
  • Made from foam
  • Only comes in medium firmness
  • Not as expensive
  • Open grid design for a cool night’s rest
  • Lower profile that provides support at pressure points
VIEW ON AMAZON VIEW ON AMAZON

Mattress specifications

Tempur-Pedic Purple
Type Foam Foam
Firmness Medium firm (6) (also available in soft and firm) Medium firm (6.5)
Thickness 12″ 9.5″
Weight (Queen) 100 lbs 110 lbs
Sleep trial 90 nights 100 nights
Warranty 10 years 10 years
Price (Queen) $2899 $999
Certification not specified CertiPUR-US
FDA

Construction

Tempur-Pedic Purple
Support core TEMPUR-APR™ Support Layer 4″ PU foam
Comfort layers Original TEMPUR Comfort layer 2″ Hyper-Elastic Polymer™ material in Smart Comfort Grid™ polyethylene copolymer powder coating
3.5″ 1.8 lbs density PU foam
Cover SmartClimate® Dual Cover System 29% Viscose, 67% Polyester, 4% Lycra (all +/- 5%)

As you can see, both of these mattresses provide plenty of support when you are sleeping. They do, however, go about this in very different ways. For the support core, the Tempur-Pedic mattress uses a very thin layer of high-density TEMPUR-APR™ foam, while the Purple mattress utilizes four inches of foam, which makes it more supportive for your pressure points.

The comfort layers of these mattresses are also quite different. The Tempur-Pedic uses a layer of memory foam, which takes a bit of time to compress. The Purple Mattress, on the other hand, uses a polymer gel layer, which is much more responsive, while also providing plenty of relief for your pressure points.

The covers that come with these mattresses are also quite different. The Purple mattress uses a standard cover that is made from a combination of breathable and durable materials. The Tempur-Pedic cover features two different layers. It has a zip-off cool to the touch outer layer and a super-stretch inner layer, which help to make it very comfy and easy to clean.

Comfort

It’s somewhat difficult to evaluate a mattress’s level of comfort since this is a very personal characteristic: the same model may seem comfy for some while others will find it too firm or unresponsive. However, there are some more or less objective factors that together will give you an understanding of the overall bed’s comfort. But first, let’s take a look at some key features of both models that influence their comfort level.

The Purple mattress is a bit on the thinner side, with a height of only nine and a half inches. Nevertheless, its comfort level is mostly determined by the construction which we took a closer look at above. Thanks to the Smart Comfort Grid™ the mattress is both soft yet supportive and conforms to your body perfectly.

The Tempur-Pedic mattress is nice and thick, measuring twelve inches altogether. This mattress uses memory foam, which provides plenty of support when you lay on it by conforming to your body’s shape. This thick foam doesn’t allow for as much breathability but is very supportive, and is great for anyone looking for a softer yet supportive mattress.

Firmness and support

Tempur-Pedic vs. Purple: Which One to Choose?

In order to make sure that you wind up with a mattress that is going to give you a great sleep each and every night, you need to find the one with the firmness that feels right to you. Firmness is how soft or hard a mattress feels when you lay down on it. The firmness level that you need is going to be based on the type of sleeper you are, your body shape, pressure points, and, of course, personal preference.

The firmness level of a mattress is usually shown as soft, medium, or firm. This will give you a general idea of what you should be looking for when it comes to finding the right mattress for your needs. The Purple mattress, for example, only comes in a medium firm which is the most popular option among buyers. While this is a great fit for a lot of sleepers, it is not the right firmness level for everyone. The Tempur-Pedic company offers their mattresses in a wide array of firmness levels. If you do decide to go with a Tempur-Pedic, then you can select from soft, medium, or firm.

Temperature control

One of the things that have made the Purple mattress so popular is its patented grid design. Not only is this grid very supportive and reactive to any pressure, but it also allows for lots of air to flow through the mattress. This high level of airflow helps to make this a very comfortable mattress to sleep on, even if the weather is warm or you are a hot sleeper. The constant flow of air during the night will allow you to sleep quite cool, and, therefore, better.

As you would expect with a memory foam mattress, the Tempur-Pedic is warmer. Though the thick foam is great for giving you the comfort and support you need during the night, as well as relieve those pressure points, it can get too warm during hot summer nights, especially if you’re on a heavier side.

If you are a warm sleeper that is tired of overheating at night, then the Purple mattress will be a better option for you. Of course, if you are constantly cold, the Tempur-Pedic might be the right choice.

Motion transfer

While all mattresses first aim is to be as comfortable as possible, the second biggest concern is the prevention or elimination of motion transfer. Motion transfer is how much movement will be felt in the rest of the mattress when you toss and turn or get up out of bed. The less motion transfer, the better since it will reduce the chance of you disturbing anyone else.

While both of these mattresses are above average when it comes to the prevention of motion transfer, the Tempur-Pedic is a bit better at it. The thick layer of memory foam in the Tempur-Pedic mattress conforms to and isolates your body. This isolation helps to greatly reduce the amount of motion transfer that can occur. The Purple mattress’ quick bounce back and responsive nature allows for a bit more motion to be felt, making it less ideal for restless sleepers.

Responsiveness

No matter what kind of a mattress you buy or the type of sleeper you are, the goal is to wake up each and every morning feeling refreshed. You also don’t want to wake up with any aches and pains. In order for a mattress to provide the proper amount of support for you while you sleep, it needs to be responsive. That way, it will give you the support you need to make sure that your spine is properly aligned.

The TEMPUR foam built into the Tempur-Pedic mattress is extremely supportive. The memory foam conforms to the shape of anybody, making it one of the most responsive materials on the market. This responsiveness allows it to relieve pressure points pretty easily, regardless of the type of sleeper that you are.

The Purple mattress is also quite adept at providing the correct amount of support. The innovative grid design and polymer gel compress with ease to provide the support where you need it, and comfort where you don’t. This mattress also conforms to your body extremely quickly.

Resilience and bounce

Bounce in a mattress helps to keep you feeling like you can’t get out of bed. If you are a person who changes positions often while you sleep, then you will want a mattress with plenty of bounce, since this will allow you to move around on the top of the bed with ease. Resilience in a mattress is how quickly it returns to its original shape after you get off of it.

While both of these mattresses offer plenty of bounce, the Purple is much more resilient than the Tempur-Pedic. The Hyper Elastic Polymer gel allows the Purple to rebound to its original shape very quickly. The memory foam of the Tempur-Pedic, on the other hand, moves at a much slower pace.

Edge support

Tempur-Pedic vs. Purple: Which One to Choose?

Edge support helps to keep any mattress from breaking down on the sides. If a mattress is going to have any chance at having good edge support, then it will need to have some sort of reinforcement placed along its edge to help it keep the right shape.

Unfortunately, neither of these mattresses have very good edge support, with one exception. The firm version of the Tempur-Pedic mattress is stiff enough that the edges will not compress too much over time. The other models of the Tempur-Pedic and the Purple mattress do not have that much edge support.

Inflation time, off-gassing and smell

Since these mattresses are made to be compressed and don’t contain any springs or other elements that require some specific packing, it is not too much of a surprise that that both models will arrive rolled in a box when you purchase them. The inflation time is the amount of time that it takes a mattress to come out of this compressed state so that you can use it correctly. It should come as no surprise that the Purple mattress is a bit quicker in this regard, thanks to its extremely responsive materials. The Tempur-Pedic takes a lot longer to get to its regular shape, though it will work just fine once it is fully unraveled.

Off-gassing is caused when compounds are released from memory foam once it has been removed from its packaging. Though you might not want to be around your new mattress during this process because of the smell, it isn’t harmful at all. Both of these mattresses will take a few hours for their smell to dissipate as long as you put them in a well-ventilated room.

Sleep position ratings

SLEEP POSITION Light sleepers

(less than 130 lbs)

Average sleepers

(130 lbs to 230 lbs)

Heavy sleepers

(greater than 230 lbs)

Tempur-Pedic
Side 8 9 8
Back 9 10 8
Stomach 7 6 6
Purple
Side 8 9 7
Back 9 9 8
Stomach 6 7 6

*out of 10

Your sleeping position and how much you weigh are two more factors that you need to take under consideration before you decide on your next mattress. Regardless of how heavy you are, both of these mattresses work well for side sleepers, though the Tempur-Pedic works especially well for heavier side sleepers thanks to its thicker profile.
If you are a back sleeper, then both of these mattresses will work quite well for you. No matter if you’re a light, average, or heavy sleeper, both mattresses will provide you with enough support for your spine, lumbar, and hips. By the way, it’s the healthiest sleep position out of all three, recommended by chiropractors.
If you are a stomach sleeper, then you know how difficult it can be to find a mattress that will allow you to sleep comfortably and get the amount of support that you need. If you are a lighter stomach sleeper, then the Tempur-Pedic is going to be your best bet. On the other hand, if you are an average weight, the Purple mattress will work best. If you are a heavy sleeper, then both mattresses will provide about the same amount of support.

Sizes and pricing

SIZE Tempur-Pedic Purple
Twin $2,499
Twin XL $2,499 $699
Full $2,849 $899
Queen $2,899 $999
King $3,599 $1,299
California King $3,699 $1,299
Split California King $2,499

As you can see, both of these mattresses come in a wide variety of sizes, with the Tempur-Pedic having a few more options. No matter what size mattress you need, however, the Purple is going to be much cheaper, so keep that in mind before you make your final decision.

Customer service

Sleep trial Warranty and refund Delivery Trade-in
Tempur-Pedic 90 days 10-year warranty
full refund
Within the U.S. N/A
Purple 100 days 10-year warranty
full refund
Within the U.S. and Canada N/A

The great thing about both of these mattresses is that they both offer a nice long sleep trial to see if the mattress is right for you. If you choose the Tempur-Pedic, then you will have a full 90 days to try it out and see if you like it. The Purple mattress’s sleep trial is a bit longer and will give you 100 days to try it out.
If you do want to return either of these mattresses, they both offer a full ten-year warranty, which is a great value. The only thing that you will need to keep in mind is the returning shipping costs. There is no delivery or return fee for a Purple mattress, and the company will ship anywhere in the U.S. or Canada.
Tempur-Pedic has a $25 delivery fee to anywhere in the U.S., which includes the removal of your old mattress. If you do decide to return your Tempur-Pedic, the purchase price will be refunded, but you will need to pay the shipping cost, which could be quite expensive depending on the size of the mattress you get.

So which should you buy?

Tempur-Pedic

vc_btn title=”VIEW ON AMAZON” style=”custom” custom_background=”#43c801″ custom_text=”#ffffff” size=”lg” align=”center” button_block=”true” custom_onclick=”true” link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2Fdp%2FB07DDZTRDQ%2F%3Ftag%3Dtaso100-20||target:%20_blank|rel:nofollow” custom_onclick_code=”gtag(‘event’, ‘click’, {event_category: ‘Button’, event_label: ‘comparison_header’});” css=”.vc_custom_1559299300199{padding-right: 5px !important;}”]

Pros

  • Great for back and side sleepers, regardless of how heavy they are
  • Available in multiple firmness levels
  • Contours to your body
  • Prevents any motion transfer

Cons

  • Not very good for heavier stomach sleepers
  • Expensive
  • Less breathable
  • The shipping is only available in the U.S.

Purple

VIEW ON AMAZON

Pros

  • Made with non-toxic materials and is hypoallergenic
  • Grid system makes the mattress very breathable
  • Bounces back quickly
  • Relatively inexpensive
  • Available in both U.S. and Canada

Cons

  • Only comes in medium firmness
  • Not great for heavier sleepers
  • Not enough edge support

In conclusion

As you can see, there are a number of factors that you need to take into consideration when you are purchasing a new mattress. You need to carefully consider the construction of your new mattress, as well as the firmness level, temperature control ability, motion transfer control, responsiveness, bounce and resilience, edge support, inflation time, off-gassing time, and whether it comes with a warranty. You will also want to take your preferred sleeping position and how much you weigh into consideration. This will help to make sure you get a mattress that works best for you.

Obviously, there is no best mattress for everyone. Take a look at all of the factors that you feel are the most important to you so that you can get the best sleeping experience possible.

You will want to buy the Purple mattress if you:

        • Are worried about overheating: Since the Purple mattress has a built-in grid system that allows for a lot of airflow during the night, you should have no trouble at all staying cool during the whole night.
        • Want a mattress that bounces back right away: The Purple mattress uses a highly effective and resilient polymer that allows it to bounce back to its original shape with ease. It will also bounce back very quickly, which helps to make it extremely durable.
        • If you want to save some money: Unlike with a Tempur-Pedic, which can get quite expensive, the Purple mattress is very budget-friendly. This is especially true if you are getting one of the smaller-sized mattresses.
        • Are looking for the right firmness to relieve your pressure points: Since this mattress only comes in medium firm, it is just firm enough to give you all the support that you need without feeling too firm and uncomfortable.
        • Live in Canada: Unlike the Tempur-Pedic mattress, which is only available in the U.S., the Purple mattress can be delivered to Canada as well.

    You will want to buy a Tempur-Pedic if you:

        • Are looking for a variety of sizes available, including Twin and Split California King: The Tempur-Pedic offers all the variety of different mattress sizes to fit into any bed frame. Unlike the Purple, it is available in Twin and Split California King options.

        Tempur-Pedic vs. Purple: Which One to Choose?

        • Need lots of contoured support: Unlike the Purple mattress which will only sink down so much before it stops, the Tempur-Pedic mattress will allow you to sink down into the mattress until it completely contours to your body. This will give you a higher level of support, especially if you are back or side sleeper.
        • Are a cold sleeper: Though the Purple mattress is a great option if you are a warm sleeper, it won’t work very well for anyone that is always cold, since it allows a lot of air to flow through during the night. The Tempur-Pedic mattress’ memory foam doesn’t allow a lot of air to pass through, which in turn, when combined with the tight contouring nature of the mattress, will help to keep you nice and warm during the cold winter nights.
        • Are a restless sleeper: The Tempur-Pedic’s memory foam helps to limit the amount of motion transfer, which is perfect for restless sleepers. This limited motion transfer is also a great option for anyone that sleeps with a restless partner since it will ensure that both of you will sleep well all night long without disturbing each other.
        • Need a different firmness level: Purple mattresses only come in medium firmness levels, so if you need a completely different feel, you will need to get a Tempur-Pedic. These different firmness levels will allow you to find the perfect firmness so that you can get a good night’s rest.

        In the question of Purple vs. Tempur-Pedic, we found that both of these mattresses have different strengths that help to make them a great option for lots of people. Even though they both have lots to offer, the type of sleeper you are and your support needs will determine which one will work better for you.

Leave a comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

X