Sleep Number i8 mattress review 2025: A smart bed with dual adjustable firmness and integrated sleep tracking
Sleep Number is one of the leading mattress innovators, and has for a long time been offering customers the ability to adjust the firmness level on either side of the mattress. The i8 also has this function, but now users can manage it through an app on their phone. This was one of my favorite aspects of the mattress because it contributed to other things like fantastic motion isolation and the unique ability to adjust the edge support to your needs (for instance, a higher Sleep Number Setting or firmness level results in a more supportive edge).
Type: Foam smart mattressMaterials: Foam, air chambers, Firmness: AdjustableHeight: 12"Trial Period: 100 nightsWarranty: 15 years limitedPrice: From $3,399 MSRP at Sleep Number
As much as I loved the ability to customize the firmness setting and thought it was interesting that the mattress recorded my sleep and biosignals (such as my heart rate) in an app, I was surprised that it took my body an entire month to get somewhat (but not fully) comfortable sleeping on the king-size version of this mattress.
I'm not a "picky" sleeper. I'm a 5'5' woman who weighs 175 lbs. I don't sleep warm or hot and I'm a combination sleeper (I can sleep on my side, back, or stomach), which makes me an ideal mattress reviewer. So I was confused by how much I struggled throughout the testing period. Many mornings I woke up sweating or hot, and sometimes my back ached. Though I don't usually move in my sleep on my normal mattress, most nights I slept restlessly on the Sleep Number i8, waking up often and usually in odd positions. Things improved by the last week, but still not as much as I hoped.
I wanted to love the Sleep Number i8, but I can't say it's for me. While couples will appreciate the mattress for the ability to adjust the firmness and edge support on their own sides of the bed, they will have to use very breathable or cooling sheets, light bedding and nightwear, and lower their air-conditioning considerably. Or else upgrade to the Sleep Number ClimateCool which enables you to lower the temperature of the mattress by 15 degrees. Buyers may also have to be okay with sleeping on the mattress for 30 days or more until their body grows more used to it.
In terms of the mattress recording sleep stats, upon a closer look I discovered that the results were sometimes skewed, limited, incorrect, or didn't quite match with my experience sleeping on the mattress.
I know most people are willing to invest a good chunk of coin in a mattress they like – and I'm all for that. Do I think the price for the Sleep Number i8 is a bit high? Yes, considering that I've slept better on more affordable mattresses with fewer features. I can overlook the pricing, but what concerns me most is how Sleep Number's warranty and return/exchange policy don't make sense considering how expensive this mattresses is. For instance, if you want to return or exchange the Sleep Number i8, you'll be hit with a $250 fee, which is considerably higher than most brands. I know that the Sleep Number brand is beloved by many, and I'm confident that many customers have loved the Sleep Number i8. However, it can't hurt to keep reading and take in a more detailed review, in order to know what to expect from this mattress before you bring it into your home.
We rate the Sleep Number i8 as the best value smart bed on the market right now. It comes in 10 different models with sizes ranging from twin to FlexTop California king. Here's the MSRP for every size:
30% off is one of the biggest discounts we see from Sleep Number, and the brand tends to rotate this deal around its smart mattress suite. When it hits the i8 smart bed, you can save up to $2,019.60.
Although $3,999 for a queen size sounds expensive, costing more than even the best mattresses you can buy online right now, one must remember this is a complete smart mattress without additional subscription fees.
In comparison, the Eight Sleep Pod 4 smart bed ($2,649 for a queen) requires you to purchase an actual mattress separately and pay a subscription fee starting from $17 per month. So, we think you're getting better value for your money with the Sleep Number sleep-tracking, adjustable mattress.
Sleep Number offers a 100-night sleep trial, which is standard in the mattress industry. However, more unusually, you can't return or exchange the bed until after 31 days as the brand wants you to take time to get used to the mattress. If you need to exchange it or want to return the mattress, Sleep Number will charge you a pricey $250 fee.
Although Sleep Number only offers a 15-year limited warranty, which is a touch on the lower end compared to other brands which offer at least a 20-year warranty or a generous lifetime warranties. This suggests that Sleep Number mattresses could last an average of 15 years.
The Sleep Number i8 Smart Mattress is 12 inches tall with an exterior cover that's 99% polyester and 1% elastin. There are three layers inside the mattress – a one-inch base pad, a two-inch support foam layer, and three inches of ceramic chip gel foam, which is foam infused with small ceramic chips of gel designed to release your body heat and contribute to better temperature regulation. All foams in the mattress are CertiPUR-US certified, meaning they have low VOC emissions and are made without formaldehyde, ozone depleters, mercury, heavy metals, lead, and phthalates.
The most notable part of the Sleep Number i8 mattress design is a pair of air chambers located below the foam layers that can be inflated or deflated to adjust the bed's firmness. Hoses extend from the bottom of both sides of the mattress and hook to the base. When the bed is plugged in and connected to the Sleep Number app, users can adjust the firmness between 5 and 100, with 5 being the softest and 100 being the firmest.
There is also a responsive air function that, when turned on, will automatically adjust the firmness with puffs of air when you change position, ensuring that you remain comfortable and undisturbed. When the air chamber is working, it produces a low, unbothersome sound.
Lastly, the mattress is outfitted with sensors that record your sleep from the moment you get in bed. It tracks how long it takes you to fall asleep, the amount of time you're restful or restless through the night, and even when you get out of bed. It also monitors and records your biosignals, including your heart rate, heart rate variability, and respiratory rate.
Sleep Number encourages buyers to sleep on the mattress for at least 30 days to let their bodies adjust and grow used to the mattress – and this makes a lot of sense after my month-long testing period.
The Sleep Number i8 allows you to adjust the firmness on both sides of the mattress between 5 and 100. As someone who likes to sleep on their back, stomach, and side, I tend to prefer a medium-firm mattress, though I'm not opposed to firm mattresses.
After the delivery drivers left, I played with the firmness level. I discovered that when set on a 5, the mattress was super soft, and I sunk too far in for my comfort. It felt like a 4 out of 10 on a firmness scale. I didn't think I could properly sleep on my back or stomach at that setting. On the opposite end, a 100 setting felt quite firm and bouncy, more like an 8 out of 10 on the firmness scale. It was considerably supportive and allowed me to lie on my stomach and back.
I started out my testing period at a 95, but I slept quite restlessly and couldn't find a comfortable position on my back or stomach. I decided to go down to an 85 Sleep Number setting, but was surprised that this did not improve my sleep.
Though 85 was supportive enough to sleep on my back and stomach, I couldn't fall asleep on this mattress without sleeping on my side. (This was the case throughout the entire testing period.) Not only that, but I would wake up often throughout the night and move quite a bit in my sleep. This is not typical for me, and I wasn't sure if it was because I kept growing warm, hot, and sweaty on the mattress, or if it had more to do with comfort.
I used to be a restless sleeper as a kid and teenager, but for the past 12 years, my sleep habits have been consistent – I don't sleep hot, I stay in one place, and I sleep for 8 hours getting up once to go to the bathroom. What surprised me most was that there was an entire week when I'd wake up to soreness along the lower sides of my back. Even when that faded, I didn't feel like my day-to-day body stress or soreness from working out was relieved by sleeping on the mattress. For these reasons, I'd rate the pressure relief a 3 out of 5.
Finally, I decided to lower the firmness rating to a 65. I thought perhaps the mattress would be too soft for me, but I was glad to discover that it offered a more medium feel, like a 6 out of 10 on the firmness scale. My sleep started to improve slightly. By that time, I'd figured out that I had to use cotton sheets on the Sleep Number i8 and sleep naked at night with the air-conditioning and two fans on, to alleviate the overheating I had been experiencing. Honestly, I can't tell you if my sleep SleepIQ Score improved because of those changes or because I used a 65 firmness setting.
By the last week, I decided to drop the Sleep Number Setting to a 50 and then 45. This change seemed to alleviate the soreness in my back (or perhaps my body had grown used to the bed after 3 weeks) and contributed to a more restful night of sleep. Sure, I would still wake up in different positions on the mattress than I normally would, but at least I wasn't waking up in the middle of the night as often. My SleepIQ Score improved as well, with the highest SleepIQ Score being 92 on the third-to-last day of testing.
To get a broad picture, I had my parents jump on the bed and test out the feel of the different firmness settings. They liked the lower firmness settings more than the higher ones, preferring levels between 20 and 60. I also placed a 15lb. dumbbell on the mattress to see how far it would sink. At a 100 firmness setting, the dumbbell dipped half an inch, and one inch at a firmness setting of 5.I have to admit that I struggled to test this mattress for a month. In all my testing experience, it's never taken this long for me to grow used to a mattress, (I think the longest it's ever taken was a week) and that meant a month of poor sleep. I'm sure that if I slept on the Sleep Number i8 for a few more weeks my body would grow more used to it and perhaps by the end of the second month, I'd sleep less restlessly. However, when I think about how I haven't have to do that with any of the other mattresses I've tested, I don't know if it's worth it. Score: 3 out of 5
With so many smart features, it makes sense that Sleep Number offers free white glove delivery with the purchase of a Sleep Number i8. I was sent an email that allowed me to schedule my delivery, and on the day of delivery, my drivers provided me updates on when they would arrive.
Sleep Number added a FlexFit 1 Base to my order, so I could test the adjustability features of the mattress. For reference, the FlexFit 1 Base has the capability to lift the head of the mattress so you can sit up in bed and watch TV or read in the evenings. It also provides underbed lighting that can be set on automatic, which means it would turn on and off when I got out and into bed. The base is definitely worth the price.
I wasn't aware that I could place the base inside my bedframe, so when the delivery drivers – William and Enrique – arrived, they helped me to remove the support beam and slats inside my bed frame before fitting the base inside.
The delivery men were not able to adjust the legs so that it was flush with the frame. Instead, William and Enrique had to lift the legs so that the base sat slightly above it. I didn't realize that this would place the bed at about 2.5 feet high. My regular mattress sits at 22 inches off the ground, so the height adjustment was noticeable. I also didn't like that you could see the grey color of the FlexFit 1 Base, since my king size bedding was not large enough to cover both the mattress and the base.
There was no off-gassing smell when Enrique and William removed the wrapping around the mattress and placed it on the frame. The mattress lacks handles, so if you need to move it in the future, this could make things a little tricky. At least the mattress is not that heavy.
The delivery team connected the mattress to the base and plugged it in. By then, I'd already downloaded the Sleep Number app and created an account. William and Enrique helped me to connect the mattress to the app and then proceeded to show me how every feature worked. I appreciated how thorough they were in their instructions because the app is a bit overwhelming at first. Their insight allowed me to start testing right away.
Upon closer look at the warranty, you receive one year of full coverage, and then after that, you'll be charged for a replacement parts and technical service. While some things are prorated each year of the warranty, you could still end up paying quite a bit if one of the hoses should break or if a sensor stops working, which is always a possibility. Score: 5 out of 5
As briefly mentioned in the design section, the Sleep Number i8 comes with air chambers and sensors that measure your sleep. Both the chambers and the sensors are connected to the Sleep Number app.
Overall, the Sleep Number app is intuitively designed and easy to use. Under the Smart Bed tab, you're able to adjust the Sleep Number Setting (firmness level) on either side of the mattress between 5 and 100. While some mattress brands allow you to choose a medium-firm or firm mattress upon ordering, Sleep Number i8 is one of the few smart mattresses that lets you adjust the firmness whenever you wish through the app, making this a standout feature. In the same tab, you can also turn on the Responsive Air function which senses the movement of a sleeper and adjusts the firmness in small increments to keep you asleep.
If your Sleep Number i8 is connected to a base, you can adjust the head or feet of the base and set the underbed lighting to on, off, or automatic (turns on when you get out of bed).The Sleep Number i8 monitors your sleep at night with sensors, noting when you get in and out of bed, how restless you are (or are not), and the time it takes for you to fall asleep. This information is recorded in a chart under the Sleep tab on the app. Here, you'll also notice a record of your nightly biosignals – heart rate, breath rate, and heart rate variability – too.
Sleep Number takes your biosignals, how often you woke up, how long it took you to fall asleep, and creates a nightly SleepIQ score between 1-100. Next to that score is your 30-day average and all-time best sleep score. This SleepIQ score is meant to encourage sleepers to get a higher score, whether that's by finding a better Sleep Number Setting for a less restless sleep, improving your sleep hygiene, or minimizing stress during the day through exercise or meditation.
All this information is recorded in a calendar. Sleep Number also offers suggestions for reducing stress and improving your circadian rhythm for a better night of sleep. Sleep Sessions can be deleted or edited, though there are limits. For instance, you can only delete and edit within four days, and you can only adjust your sleep start and end times one way – a shorter length rather than longer length of time. What I appreciate most about the app is how thorough Sleep Number is in providing an explanation of each reading and how it impacts your sleep. For instance, I was not aware that heart rate variability was important but within the app, Sleep Number explains that a high HRV 'means high energy, good recovery, enhanced cognitive performance, and balance of heart and mind.' Without such descriptions of each of the features, I would have been very confused. I should also add that within the app you can get support from the Sleep Number team and search support articles.
Now, the real question remains: how useful are these sleep readings? Overall, I'd say they're interesting and helpful in some ways, but they are not as accurate as you might think.
For instance, over the course of a month, there were four times when I thought that the Sleep Number i8 glitched and did not record my full night of sleep, instead recording that I slept for only a handful of hours, even though I know I had seven to eight hours' of sleep that night. This resulted in low SleepIQ scores which then affected my 30-day average. Yes, I could have deleted these nights, but I didn't for the sake of testing.
I ended up learning that the app might record your sleep for fewer hours if you end up moving to the other side of the mattress. See – I set up the Sleep Number i8 to only record the right side of the mattress. However, I was sleeping so restlessly and moving so much in my sleep that sometimes I'd wake up the next day on the other side of the mattress, or even diagonally on the bed, covering both the left and right sides of the mattress. This is why the Sleep Number i8 didn't always record me as sleeping a full night on the bed – because its sensors measure each side of the bed separately.
There were a few other odd quirks too. The Sleep Number i8 couldn't tell when I was relaxing on my bed and not actually asleep. One evening I was reading a book on the mattress from 10 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. and it noted me as having fallen asleep during that time and sleeping restlessly. Other times, the app recorded that it took me zero minutes to fall asleep which is not accurate.
Even when the Sleep Number i8 accurately recorded my sleep, I was a little hesitant to believe the readings. There were times where I felt like I slept quite restlessly for hours, and yet, the app recorded that I was only restless for 30 minutes the entire night. One morning I got up at 5:43 a.m. for a bathroom run and returned to my bed a few minutes later, but the app recorded that as my 'wake up time,' even though I slept until 8:45 a.m.
Another night, my SleepIQ Score was 90, which is incredibly high. Such a score surprised me because it took me one and a half hours to fall asleep (which the app recorded accurately) and I was restless much of the night due to growing warm (it recorded my restless time as 38 minutes). Plus, I woke up with a sore back that morning. So, why was my SleepIQ score so high?
With all of this in mind, I'm a little skeptical about my nightly biosignal readings too. Unfortunately, I did not have any equipment on hand that allowed me to compare the mattress' recordings of my biosignal readings.
All in all, the smart features are interesting, but there were so many instances when they weren't accurate. While they may help some sleepers make certain adjustments, it's best to analyze them thoroughly each day to see what you can and cannot glean from them.
Score: 3.5 out of 5
I ordered a king-size Sleep Number i8 and tested it for a month between April and May in Texas. In this time, I used my own judgement and expertise as a mattress tester to review the edge support, temperature regulation, and motion isolation, but I also employed a few standardized tests to provide as much insight into the mattress' performance as possible.
A mattress' motion isolation capabilities can determine whether you have an uninterrupted night of sleep, especially if you have a partner, kids, or pets that change positions or jump in and out of bed at night. Thankfully, the Sleep Number i8 excels in motion isolation. Part of this has to do with the fact that the mattress is 'split' (not literally) in half by way of a design that lets you adjust the firmness settings on either side of the mattress.
I had a few people test the motion isolation by getting in and out of bed and moving positions, and no matter if the Sleep Number firmness setting was the same or different, I barely felt their movements.
To verify my personal experience, I ran a test by placing an empty wine glass in the center of the mattress and dropped a 15-lb. weight 8, 12, and 25 inches away. The wine glass wobbled slightly at 8 inches but stood firm at distances of 12 and 25 inches. It never toppled over. I feel confident in saying that the mattress' motion isolation is one of its best features.
Score: 4.5 out of 5
Foam mattresses are not the most breathable mattress type on the market, though I've tested plenty that have been breathable or result in a cool night's sleep. Unfortunately, the Sleep Number i8 mattress was not one such mattress.
I don't typically sleep warm or sweat at night, even during Texas' hot summers. Of all the mattresses I've tested (over 25), I've only gotten warm on three mattresses, including the Sleep Number i8. When I first started testing the Sleep Number i8, I'd wake up in the middle of the night either warm, hot, and/or sweating. I quickly realized that I couldn't sleep with pajamas on and that if I didn't want to sweat through my sheets, I'd have to use my most breathable cotton sheets, turn on two fans, and utilize my air-conditioning.
On my usual mattress (a PlushBeds Botanical Bliss Organic Latex Mattress), I can sleep under a big comforter with the air-conditioning set at 78 degrees, one fan turned on, while wearing pajamas and sleep comfortably. I can't do that with the Sleep Number i8. I tested the mattress over the course of a month in springtime in Texas when the days and nights fluctuated between cool and warm temperatures. However, I never slept on the mattress when the temperature inside my house was over 78 degrees. I attribute a lot of my restless sleep and waking up often in the middle of the night to the poor breathability and heat retention of this mattress. Score: 3 out of 5
Edge support impacts a mattress in more ways than one. A supportive edge guarantees you can get in and out of bed easily or sit on the side of the bed and get dressed. It also contributes to the mattress' overall stability and long-term life span. For most mattresses, it's easy to provide feedback on edge support, but things are a bit different with the Sleep Number i8.
This mattress does not have reinforced edges around the perimeter, so the edge support is entirely dependent on the firmness setting you choose. A lower firmness setting results in poorer edge support. The higher the firmness setting, the more supportive the edge.
I tested this out by setting the firmness on one side of the mattress at 5 and the other side of the mattress at 100. The side with the 100 firmness setting was incredibly supportive. I barely sunk down, so much so that my feet couldn't lie flat on the ground. Not only that, but when I placed a 15lb. weight on the edge, it only dipped half an inch.
The opposite was true on the other side of the mattress. When I sat on the side with a 5 firmness level, I nearly sunk to the base, and actually had to set my feet firmly flat on the ground to prevent myself from slipping off. The 15-lb. weight dipped a full inch on that side of the mattress.
I should mention that the results were the same at the foot of the bed as they were on the side of the mattress. Unfortunately, I cannot say the same about the corners of the mattress. No matter the firmness level on that side of the bed, the corners of the mattress dipped considerably, and I had to take care not to slip and fall.
If you have difficulty getting in and out of bed, you should probably increase the firmness setting on your side of the mattress before moving off or on the mattress. This can be a hassle, but it's the only workaround I can imagine.
Score: 3 out of 5
When I examined the Sleep Number i8 customer reviews, I was impressed. It has a 4.8 out of 5-star rating with over 61,900 reviews. However, the number of reviews made me pause. The Sleep Number i8 launched in 2023. Could there possibly be 61,900 reviews written in less than two years?
After a little digging, I realized that the reviews on the Sleep Number i8 page go back 11 years, when Sleep Number first launched an i8 model in 2009. That first model had a lot of similarities in terms of air chambers and the ability to adjust the firmness setting. However, the materials in that mattress differed, as did the set up. Furthermore, the first i8 model was not a smart bed.
If all that wasn't enough, I'm not even positive that all the reviews on the page are for i8 models. When searching through them, I noticed that some reviews were in relation to other mattress types like the Sleep Number Flex Top ILE 360 and the Climate360. This skews the star rating, too.
The reviews cannot be broken down by years or mattress types so I can't provide a more accurate star rating for the Sleep Number i8 Smart Mattress that I tested in April-May 2025. That's not to say that a 4.8-star rating from 10 years' worth of reviews is not impressive – it is. Only that I would prefer a more accurate star rating for the model that I'm reviewing which has only been out since 2023.
While you can't search through the reviews by keyword, you can break them down by the most recent reviews, by star ratings (1-5), the lowest to highest star rating, and the highest to lowest star rating. In looking through the lower star ratings, it's clear that a lot of the complaints center around air valves, warranty, and discomfort leading to pain. (Again, I can't tell if all these reviews are for the Sleep Number i8 Smart Mattress, though I tried to limit my search to the past two years to ensure a higher probability of that).
Among the lower star ratings, customers noted that the air valves became faulty causing the mattress to lose air. Typically, this occurred after their one-year full warranty coverage ended. They were not enthused by the high costs for technicians and replacement parts under the 14-year limited warranty. Quite a few pointed out the cost to exchange or refund the mattress. Others shared that the mattress, no matter the firmness, caused them to wake up in pain.
That said, there are plenty of reviews praising the mattress for its comfort and ability to adjust the firmness level on either side, resulting in a better night's sleep. Many point out the benefit of buying a base with the mattress, such as how a base can elevate their head at night, resulting in a better sleep.
Again – I can't be entirely positive that all the praise or complaints are in relation to the Sleep Number i8 since I found plenty of reviews on the i8 page where customers notated that they were sharing feedback for a different mattress.
The Sleep Number i8 is a big investment, so it's important to know what to expect before you buy. Like me, you might be drawn to the smart features and the ability to adjust the firmness levels on both sides of the mattress. I can say without a doubt that being able to adjust the firmness setting is a big pro. It allows couples to sleep more comfortably and find the sleep setting that works for them. No wonder the mattress' motion isolation capabilities are among the best on the market. Plus, you have control over the edge support. The firmer the mattress, the more supportive the edge.
Managing the firmness level goes hand-in-hand with the Sleep Number app, which records everything from how quickly you fall asleep to how restfully (or restlessly) you sleep. It even records your biosignals. While this is quite a cool feature, it's not as accurate as you might think. I received skewed results, as well as some that were limited, inaccurate, or didn't match my personal experience sleeping on the mattress.
Perhaps the biggest drawbacks to this mattress were the comfort and temperature regulation. It took me nearly a month to figure out that a softer firmness setting would benefit me more, even though I usually sleep better on firmer mattresses. I was also limited to sleeping on my side and even suffered some back pain. This isn't to say that you shouldn't buy the mattress, only that you should be prepared for about a 30-day adjustment period (which for me was not enjoyable but may be less severe for you).
As someone who doesn't sleep hot or warm, I often woke up sweaty or hot on this mattress and it affected my sleep most nights. I had to make big adjustments that I haven't had to make with other mattresses like cooling sheets, no sleepwear, two fans, and lowering the air-conditioning considerably. If you don't have A/C or typically sleep hot, you might consider Sleep Number's other smart mattresses, like the ClimateCool and Climat360, which let you control the temperature.
If you decide to move forward with the Sleep Number i8, be mindful that the warranty and return/exchange policy are not the greatest. The 15-year limited warranty is lower than most warranties and you'll have to pay for parts and technical service after one year. Sadly, there's a $250 return/exchange fee too. This mattress has a lot of attractive qualities, but it doesn't hurt to look through the Sleep Number catalogue to make sure you're investing in the right option for you.
While the i8 lacks temperature regulation, the Eight Sleep Pod 4 smart mattress cover is a great smart bed alternative to the Sleep Number i8 for hot sleepers. Built with an active water-based climate control system, it helps keep you cool through the night while tracking your sleep metrics with in-bed sensors similar to Sleep Number's. At $2,649 for a queen size, it's cheaper than the i8, but you will have to budget for a separate mattress and subscription fee.
From the brand behind our #1 bed of the year, the Saatva Classic mattress, the Saatva Solaire adjustable firmness mattress is a high-end luxury alternative to the i8. It's built with natural latex and organic cotton and has 50 firmness options, and it's great for less tech-savvy sleepers who want to control their bed from a remote control rather than a mobile app and aren't bothered about tracking their slumber. At $4,599 for a queen size at MSRP it's an investment purchase, but regular Saatva mattress sales tend to knock between $300 and $500 off. To help you decide which one to buy, check out our Saatva vs Sleep Number mattress head-to-head.
Like the Sleep Number and Saatva beds, the Bryte Balance Signature comes with adjustable firmness levels, allowing you to customize the feel of your side of the bed. What's more, it's lined with sleep tracking sensors and an immersive relaxation feature. This means head-to-toe in-bed motion to help you relax at bedtime. Unfortunately, there's not always money off at Bryte, so a queen tends to stand at MSRP of $3,999, but we think that's good value for a smart mattress of this quality — you'd pay a lot more for a nightly massage.
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2 days ago
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Sleep Number Review: Can a Smart Bed With Adjustable Firmness Levels Solve Our Mattress Disagreements?
Aly Lopez/CNET Do you and your partner butt heads over your bedroom setup? Whether it's about sleep positions, mattress firmness, bedroom temperature or the number of pillows on the bed, it's unlikely that you'll agree on every detail -- and we know how frustrating it can be. As members of CNET's sleep team, my partner Dillon and I have been involved with the mattress industry for quite some time. After testing dozens of beds and countless bedding and sleep-related products, we are gradually honing in on a bedroom setup that works for both of us. This is in an effort to avoid sleep divorce, an increasingly popular solution for couples who toss and turn and keep one another awake night after night. Our main challenge has been finding a mattress that accommodates our differing firmness preferences. Dillon, primarily a side sleeper, likes soft beds that offer ample pressure relief for his shoulders and hips. In contrast, I favor firmer mattresses as I spend most of the night on my stomach and need extra spinal support. During our 30-night mattress testing series, we found a few beds that came close to meeting our needs, but have yet to uncover "the one." Enter Sleep Number. The brand hooked us up with its ClimateCool smart bed and FlexFit 2 adjustable base, with cooling technology and modifiable firmness levels on each side. That way, Dillon and I can set our respective sides to the perfect firmness level for each of us. We spent the past few months sleeping on Sleep Number and testing its innovative features. Read on to learn how we fared on this high-tech combo after 90 nights and whether it's worth the investment. An introduction to Sleep Number If you've been shopping for a new bed (or even if you haven't), you've likely come across Sleep Number. Founded in 1987 and operating over 600 stores throughout the US, the popular mattress and bedding company is known for its adjustable air mattresses. These allow you to set each side of the bed to your personalized "Sleep Number" setting by inflating or deflating the air chambers with the connected app or remote. These smart beds also include SleepIQ technology, which provides sleep and health insights. Aly Lopez/CNET Six series of smart beds are currently available at Sleep Number: Classic, Performance, Memory Foam, Innovation, ClimateCool and Climate360. Prices range drastically between series, from $999 for a queen-size c1 mattress to $10,249 for the queen-size Climate360. Dillon and I tested a king-size ClimateCool smart bed with the FlexFit 2 adjustable base, a combination that retails for $9,449 before tax. We thoroughly analyzed our Sleep Number setup to provide a detailed and honest review of our experience to help you decide if it's the right choice for you and your partner. There's a lot to unpack, so let's dive in. Delivery and setup process Sleep Number smoothly orchestrated our delivery and setup process. The home delivery technicians tackled the daunting task of lugging the heavy king-size smart bed and base to our sixth-floor apartment without batting an eye. After getting the bed and frame situated and connected, the technicians helped us set up the Sleep Number app on our phones and walked us through creating our separate profiles. The mattress was delivered flat, not rolled up and compressed like a standard bed-in-a-box mattress, so we wouldn't have to wait a few days for inflation before sleeping on it. We were ready for our first night. It took no time for our pets to start enjoying the new Sleep Number bed. Aly Lopez/CNET First impressions and initial thoughts After allowing our pets to get the lay of the land, we began our initial tests. This included lying in each sleeping position on the mattress and noting characteristics such as support, pressure relief and comfort. We analyzed the bed's materials, examining the overall construction and appearance of the mattress and base. Design and construction This smart bed has a lot going on. It stands 12 inches tall and features soft yet supportive ceramic-infused gel foam designed to draw heat away from your body. It's not hybrid, meaning there are no coils or inner springs. The main support layer consists of two responsive air chambers on either side of the bed. These chambers automatically respond to your movements and inflate to maintain your ideal firmness setting as you move around. \We are pulling back the foams to show what the air chambers look like inside the mattress. Aly Lopez/CNET Cooling technology The 'dynamic airflow system' sits atop the two air chambers, which Sleep Number says can cool up to 15 degrees on either side. The bed is wrapped with a breathable cover, through which the airflow system pulls your body heat away. This sets Sleep Number apart from other cooling mattresses or covers that release cool air or circulate cold water. Cover and overall appearance The mattress cover was coarser than I expected, with perforations for airflow. Aly Lopez/CNET I don't find the Sleep Number setup as visually appealing as other mattresses and frames we've tested. Ultimately, that's not what matters. You'll cover the mattress with sheets, comforters and pillows anyway. I immediately noticed the mattress cover felt slightly scratchy and coarse. It's designed with perforations to allow air to ventilate through, but I was surprised the cover didn't feel soft or slick like other cooling mattresses. Adjustable base Our CNET sleep team ranked Sleep Number's FlexFit 2 as one of the best adjustable bed bases of 2025. It features zero gravity, head and foot elevation, snoring adjustments and soft under-bed lighting. Note that the FlexFit 2 base is designed exclusively for Sleep Number smart beds and is unavailable for individual purchase. Dillon enjoys the elevated FlexFit 2 adjustable base. Aly Lopez/CNET Our first few nights A new mattress takes time to get used to. It might be weeks or even months before your body fully adjusts to a new sleep surface, which is why most mattress companies offer generous trial periods. My first night was rough. I wrote in my notes, "It stinks. The chemical off-gassing smell is bad. My throat started hurting, and I was coughing. I couldn't put my face down while lying on my stomach like usual because the smell was so strong. I'm going to take the sheets off today to let the mattress breathe." This is common with new mattresses, but it took us by surprise as the bed hadn't been compressed in a box, which is normally when off-gassing is the worst. However, as is typical of mattress off-gassing, the unpleasant smell completely dissipated after a few nights. My second and third nights on Sleep Number continued to be a little rough. I struggled to find the right firmness level, tossing and turning as I tried to get comfortable. I could feel the coarseness of the cover through our sheets on my bare legs, which initially drove me bonkers, as I'm sensitive to certain textures and materials touching my skin. However, I'm pleased to say it no longer bothers me to that extent. Aly Lopez/CNET This never bothered Dillon -- he immediately found the mattress more comfortable than I did. He also had to experiment with different firmness settings before finding one that worked for him, but he wasn't nearly as sensitive to the off-gassing smell or cover texture as I was. The second our bodies hit the bed for the first time, we were pleased with the size of our king Sleep Number. Dillon and I have mentioned multiple times to each other that we can't imagine going back to a queen now that we've had a taste for such ample space. Moving our Sleep Number setup Two weeks after receiving our Sleep Number bed, Dillon and I moved from our sixth-floor apartment into an older two-story home. The move was unexpected. Had we been anticipating it, we would have scheduled our Sleep Number delivery after we'd moved. Sleep Number offers moving services for situations like this, but they come at a cost. Disassembly is $250, which doesn't include transporting your bed to a new location outside the home. Reassembly is $250, and the disassemble and reassemble services can't be scheduled for the same day. The relocation service is $250, but only applies to moving the bed or base to another room within your home, not a new location. We decided to save the $500 and relocate the bed and base ourselves -- after all, Dillon and I basically move and test mattresses for a living. At one point in the moving process, we exasperatedly agreed that it might have been worth paying the Sleep Number technicians to do it for us, but ultimately, we were successful. The most challenging part was lifting the base up our tight staircase and into the new bedroom, which required disconnecting and taking it apart completely, including removing the legs. Moving our Sleep Number mattress and base was tedious and required heavy lifting, but it was certainly doable. Aly Lopez/CNET Sleep Number provides instructional videos for disassembling and reassembling its bases, which were helpful. We referred to them multiple times to ensure we did everything safely and correctly -- and I'm glad to say that overall, given the circumstances, it went smoothly. It's definitely a two-, if not three-person job. Our thoughts halfway through After about a month, I was actually looking forward to going to bed, whereas I had been questioning everything in the first week of testing. Firmness The bed's firmness levels can be adjusted in increments of five, ranging from 5 to 100. After several weeks of trying various numbers, Dillon and I honed in on what worked best for us. Dillon found his ideal Sleep Number setting to be 25 -- not too soft, but soft enough to get comfortable on his side without his arm or shoulder getting numb or tingly. I settled on 70, though I sometimes make it a tad firmer or softer depending on my mood and whether I want to fall asleep on my side or stomach. You can see the dip here on Dillon's side compared to mine on the right. This is also why Dillon didn't have to worry about the edge support. Aly Lopez/CNET Dillon and I quickly noticed that, because his setting is quite a bit lower than mine, the surface of our bed is not flat. His air chamber is more deflated, making his side lower. This forces us to stay far apart on our respective sides; otherwise, I have to resist his "gravitational pull" and actively try to keep from rolling down into him. Given the bed's construction, I understand it's essentially unavoidable, but it has taken quite a bit of adjusting to get used to. I don't love it. Elevation and temperature Because of the extra space on our king-size bed, I no longer felt claustrophobic sharing it with our pets. I began making more of an effort to use the advanced features, such as the head elevation for reading or watching TV before sleeping. Dillon used to snore quite a bit, which is another reason we were excited to use the base's elevation feature, but he hasn't been snoring on this bed like he has in the past (thankfully, for both of our sakes). At the start, we were sleeping cool enough not to need the bed's cooling technology; however, once the warmer months began rolling around, that changed. I set up our custom "SmartTemp Programs" in the app, where you can select the days of the week, times and intensity of the cooling fans you want to run. You can set up a customized 'Deep Sleep Cooling Program' for each side of the bed through the app. Aly Lopez/CNET/Sleep Number The dynamic airflow system pulls warm air away from your body rather than pushing cool air through the bed. Sleep Number says it can lower your "microclimate" up to 15 degrees in combination with the ceramic gel-infused foam layers. While we don't have a way to measure this, I've found it effective enough to help keep me temperature-neutral. Dillon wishes it would get cooler -- he still overheats at night, even using this feature. Sleep Number app Halfway through our 90-night trial, we noticed the bed was not working correctly when selecting certain functions on the app. For instance, when we tried adjusting the head and foot of the base, my side would elevate while Dillon's would stay in the same flat position. My cooling fans weren't kicking on, while Dillon's were. We followed the online instructions for troubleshooting, inspecting all connection points and unplugging the bed to restart it, which worked. We haven't had any issues with it since. There are a lot of moving parts underneath the Sleep Number FlexFit 2 smart base. Aly Lopez/CNET Final thoughts and scores CNET's sleep team uses an objective, standardized system to test and rate all mattresses. For this particular series, Dillon and I established a separate customized system to subjectively rate the qualities we seek in a mattress. Firmness and feel are scored out of 20 points, while the other elements are scored out of 10, for a possible overall score of 100. We ranked these factors preferentially, meaning what we liked or didn't like on a personal level. Firmness Aly: 17/20 I prefer medium-firm to firm mattresses as I spend most of the night on my stomach. The supportive surface helps keep my spine aligned -- I don't like the feeling of my midsection drooping into the mattress if it's too soft. After testing different firmness levels, I found my ideal Sleep Number setting to be 70 -- firm enough to offer support and soft enough to lie occasionally on my side. I think the adjustability of these Sleep Number smart beds is better suited for sleepers who prefer firmer surfaces, like me. The more air in the chamber, the firmer it gets -- but for those who prefer soft beds, like Dillon, having less air in the chamber doesn't necessarily make it feel softer, in the traditional sense. My Sleep Number setting of 70 is supportive enough for stomach sleeping and just soft enough for side sleeping. Dillon Lopez/CNET Dillon: 16/20 The firmness level is adjustable, so in a perfect world, you can achieve your ideal firmness. Because of how this mattress functions, I don't think it's as accurate as a mattress constructed to be at your ideal firmness. As a side sleeper, I prefer it soft. While you can deflate the air chamber, it is not quite the same as a bed crafted with soft foam and pressure-relieving materials. Plus, when the bed is set to the lowest firmness setting at 5, it deflates so much that you can feel the harder surface of the air system and other materials beneath the foam. Still, it's been working decently well for me. You can adjust both sides of the bed from the app, including firmness and the cooling intensity. Aly Lopez/CNET Feel Aly: 13/20 This mattress has what we consider a neutral feel -- it's not super responsive, yet not dense and slow-sinking like memory foam. It's a great middle ground that many sleepers will appreciate, but the overall feel is not my favorite. At the start of this testing series, I preferred traditionally responsive and bouncy mattresses. Once we started testing dense memory foam beds, I found that I loved the viscous, body-hugging sensation. I'm not the biggest fan of the neutral foam feel here. Dillon: 14/20 Because of its construction, this bed has a unique feel. The primary comfort layer is a neutral 3-inch-thick ceramic-infused foam. Because my firmness setting is comparatively soft, I sink into the bed's layers. It almost hints at memory foam. I would prefer if it had a denser foam feel that offered more pressure relief. Dillon presses down into the bed's foam, which bounces back faster than traditional memory foam. Aly Lopez/CNET Design and construction Aly: 7/10 The cooling technology in Sleep Number's ClimateCool smart bed has mostly kept me from overheating at night. It makes a loud whirring sound that I don't mind because it sounds like white noise, but you may find it annoying if you're sensitive to loud noises while you sleep. I would love the cover's texture to be a bit softer or smoother. I was initially concerned about the primary support system being its inflatable air chambers instead of high-density foams or coils, but the chambers seem pretty strong and durable. We haven't had any issues with them deflating or malfunctioning, even after disassembling, moving and reassembling everything. It may seem strange, but I'd like to shout out the cover's sturdy zippers. Zipping and unzipping a mattress cover can be surprisingly tricky, especially when the zippers break -- which happens to our sleep experts all too often. Dillon: 6/10 Overall, it's an impressive design, but there are a few areas for improvement. Some of its materials aren't as high-quality as I expected. Despite being marketed as the Sleep Number's cooling bed, it doesn't get nearly as cold as I'd like. I would sometimes get too cold with the Eight Sleep Pod, and it's never come close to that on the ClimateCool mattress. I've still been overheating even without using any blankets. Motion isolation Aly: 6/10 I found the motion isolation to be fine -- not the best, but certainly not the worst we've experienced. I did notice quite a few times when Dillon would move around or our cat would jump on and off the bed. It's a little trickier on this bed to determine precisely how well it isolates motion when our sides are at such opposing firmness levels. One way we test motion isolation is with a glass of water. We roll around and switch positions, observing how much the glass moves and water sloshes around. Dillon Lopez/CNET Dillon: 8/10 The motion isolation was solid. I didn't notice Aly tossing, turning or moving around too much, aside from when she would roll into me. Memory foam typically isolates motion best, so I expected Sleep Number to perform worse in this category, but I was pleasantly surprised. Edge support Aly: 6/10 This mattress has no reinforced perimeters, but I thought the edge support performed fine. It feels similar to a standard foam mattress around the outside. Because we are sleeping on a king, I never felt like I was close to rolling off, so this characteristic is no longer as significant a factor as it was for us on queen-size mattresses. Due to our varying firmness levels, the edge on my side of the bed performed differently from Dillon's. Dillon: 8/10 The way the air chambers lie, and because I have a softer firmness setting, I would need to roll up and over the edge to fall off the side of the bed. The bed doesn't necessarily have the best edge support, but I never felt like I would fall off. When I put my socks on in the morning while sitting on the edge, the bed thinks I'm lying down and deflates to reach my set firmness level. It sinks so much that it nearly throws me back into the middle of the bed. I have to actively try to get out and over the edge in the mornings. Edge support isn't quite as important to us now that we have a king-size with more room. Aly Lopez/CNET Policies Aly: 5/10 Sleep Number offers a 100-night trial period and a 15-year limited warranty. I'd like to see a longer trial period. The mattress industry standard is at least 90 nights, while many other brands offer 120—to 365-night trial periods. Shipping and delivery options vary based on the item. The smart beds come with three delivery options, ranging from $150 to $350. Some smart beds (like ours) automatically come with premium delivery and setup, a $250 value. If you're not in love with your new bed and want to return it, there's a $250 return fee for most Sleep Number mattresses, which has to happen after the initial 30-night trial and before the 100-night trial is up. Certain products, including the FlexFit adjustable bases, are considered final sale. I suggest thoroughly reviewing the terms and conditions of the Sleep Number mattress or base you're buying before making such a large purchase. After tax and the $300 discount Sleep Number is offering at the time of writing, the price for the king-size smart bed and base is $9,905. Aly Lopez/CNET Dillon: 5/10 I agree there should be a longer trial period, especially given how long it can take to get accustomed to and learn all the bed's features. The cost for premium home delivery is steep since most people need technicians to set up and connect their bed and base correctly. I also don't love that disassembly and reassembly costs $500, and they can't be scheduled on the same day, which means you'd have to go without your bed until reassembly can be scheduled. A bed and base with this many working parts is bound to have technical issues at some point, so I find Sleep Number's warranty lackluster. Not to mention, the high price you're already paying off the get-go. Sleep quality Aly: 7/10 Our average sleep over the 90 nights on Sleep Number is only 1 minute apart. Dillon and I have never slept so similarly before, and it's been a welcome change of pace. I'm sure part of it is because we have personalized settings on each side and more space with the king. While I would like to see us get more sleep -- closer to 8 hours would be ideal -- it's still been "efficient," according to our sleep trackers. Dillon: 7/10 Averaging 7 hours and 5 minutes of sleep per night on Sleep Number, it's not the most I've slept in this series. However, I haven't been tossing and turning or moving to the couch as much as I used to. It's been consistent. Even though the bed doesn't necessarily get "softer" in the traditional sense, there's been enough pressure relief on my low Sleep Number setting for my arm and shoulder to feel comfortable. I haven't been waking up with any pain or numbness. Final scores Drumroll, please. Our final scores for the Sleep Number ClimateCool smart bed and FlexFit 2 base were 70/100 for Aly and 71/100 for Dillon. Aly Lopez/CNET Sleep quality breakdown We gathered our sleep data using Sleep Number's integrated tracking sensors, pictured below. For the last month of our testing process, Dillon and I also tracked our sleep with Oura rings, which allowed us to better assess the accuracy of Sleep Number's tracking -- and I'm pleased to report that it's been extremely precise. You can read more about this in my comparison of the two types of trackers. The cover is pulled back to show the tracking sensors running across the top third of the mattress. Aly Lopez/CNET Many factors influence sleep quality besides the mattress, including diet, exercise, stress levels, caffeine intake, room temperature and noisy neighbors. Dillon and I strive to maintain a consistent nightly routine and bedroom environment to minimize the impact of these other factors. Still, we recognize that the quality of our sleep is not determined solely by the bed we sleep on. Obtaining 90 nights of sleep data allowed us to analyze overall trends and patterns, and assess whether our sleep improved or declined compared to previous mattresses we have tried in this series. To ensure the accuracy of this review, we excluded nights when our sleep was affected by something other than our Sleep Number bed. As a result, the data presented here is not perfectly consecutive but provides the most accurate reflection of our sleep patterns. Average total sleep: Aly versus Dillon Dillon's sleep average was 7 hours and 5 minutes per night (7.08 on the graph here), while mine was 7 hours and 6 minutes (7.1). Aly Lopez/CNET As the graph shows, Dillon and I had very similar sleep experiences over the 90-night trial. Dillon's average restful sleep on Sleep Number was 7 hours and 5 minutes per night, while mine was 7 hours and 6 minutes. My average restless time was 56 minutes per night, while Dillon's was 1 hour and 2 minutes. Dillon's average SleepIQ score was 81, and mine was 79. We have never slept so similarly. Depending on the mattress, one of us usually sleeps better overall than the other, but lately, that has not been the case. If you've ever been unable to sleep due to an uncomfortable mattress or a partner who snores or thrashes around in their sleep, then you know how frustrating it can be. Though we're not sleeping as long as we'd like, we are both mostly sleeping through the night, waking up around the same time and feeling decently rested has been game-changing. Sleep Number versus Beautyrest Before Sleep Number, Dillon and I slept on the Beautyrest Black Hybrid Series 3. My sleep average on Beautyrest was 7 hours and 31 minutes, while my sleep average on Sleep Number was 7 hours and 6 minutes per night -- a decrease of 25 minutes. It's not the direction I wanted to see my sleep go. I would like to see my total average restful sleep be about an hour longer. Aly Lopez/CNET Dillon's total sleep also decreased. On Beautyrest, his average was 7 hours and 23 minutes (7.38) per night, while his average on Sleep Number was 7 hours and 5 minutes (7.08) -- a decrease of 18 minutes. Again, this was not the direction we were hoping for, but not the worst we've experienced in this testing series. Pricing and comparable options Here's the deal: Sleep Number's smart beds are pricey. A queen ClimateCool smart bed and integrated base retail for $6,949. Sleep Number's standard stationary frame costs an additional $300, bringing the price to $7,249. The setup we are testing, a king-size ClimateCool smart bed with FlexFit 2 Smart Base, comes to a grand total of $9,449. That price tag is certainly not feasible for most people. However, if you're serious about a Sleep Number bed that's out of your budget, there are a few ways to reduce the cost. I recommend watching for sales throughout the year, particularly around holidays, which can bring the price down by $800 or more. There are discounts for military members, and you may qualify for HSA or FSA reimbursement through Truemed. Sleep Number also offers financing options. Comparable options There are other ways to create a similar setup for slightly less. For example, if you're seeking split firmness options, check out a king-size Sparrow Signature Hybrid by Nest Bedding. The king retails for $2,452. For an adjustable base with dual temperature control and sleep tracking, the Eight Sleep Pod 5 Ultra retails for $5,249. That comes to $7,701 before tacking on Eight Sleep's subscription plan. No matter how you cut it, a bedroom setup with all these features will cost a pretty penny. Ultimately, it depends on the functionalities you and your partner seek. Dillon and I will continue to test our Sleep Number setup. Stay tuned at CNET for updates on our experience. Aly Lopez/CNET Who should get the Sleep Number ClimateCool smart bed and adjustable base? In summary, our overall experience with Sleep Number has been positive. Dillon and I are obtaining similar sleep scores, which is a testament to the success of the individualized firmness levels. Dillon and I feel Sleep Number could improve the ClimateCool in a few areas. The cooling was not as strong as expected, especially considering it is promoted as the brand's coolest option. If you're a super hot sleeper who wakes up with night sweats, I don't believe the Sleep Number ClimateCool will be strong enough to eliminate them. Dillon and I also don't love the awkward height discrepancy from our sides being at different firmnesses. For the most part, everything has functioned correctly for us, which is a relief considering how many different working parts are involved in a high-tech sleep system like this. When opting for a bed with this type of functionality, you have to be OK with potentially running into issues down the road. It's going to be a much different experience than a simple "dumb" mattress and frame with no bells or whistles. This mattress's weight limit is 400 pounds per side. Though that is more than the standard mattress, I do wonder about the longevity of the support provided by the air chambers. If you and your partner lean on the heavier side and are looking for a durable, long-lasting bed that will provide a lot of support, I suggest looking for a hybrid bed with steel coils instead. Our main qualm is the price. Dillon and I personally wouldn't entertain the idea of a $10K bedroom setup. However, if you and your partner cannot agree on the firmness of your bed, are looking for a neutral, middle-of-the-road feel, enjoy using technology and have the budget for it, Sleep Number could be the move. This bed might be for you if: It's within your budget You prefer a neutral foam feel You want adjustable firmness levels on both sides You're looking for a smart bed with sleep tracking You want to sleep a little cooler at night You like having an app to control your setup You want to adjust the elevation of your head or feet You should skip this bed if: It's out of your budget You want a bed with dense memory foam You need a more supportive hybrid bed with coils You don't want a fancy bed with all the bells and whistles You don't care about tracking your sleep or health data You don't regularly sleep too hot at night You don't need an adjustable base If you're curious about our experiences with other beds and accessories we've tested in this series, check out the following reviews:
CNET
3 days ago
- CNET
90-Night Sleep Number Review: Could a $9.5K Smart Bed and Base Settle Our Mattress Disagreements?
Aly Lopez/CNET Do you and your partner butt heads over your bedroom setup? Whether it's about sleep positions, mattress firmness, bedroom temperature or the number of pillows on the bed, it's unlikely that you'll agree on every detail -- and we know how frustrating it can be. As members of CNET's sleep team, my partner Dillon and I have been involved with the mattress industry for quite some time. After testing dozens of beds and countless bedding and sleep-related products, we are gradually honing in on a bedroom setup that works for both of us. This is in an effort to avoid sleep divorce, an increasingly popular solution for couples who toss and turn and keep one another awake night after night. Our main challenge has been finding a mattress that accommodates our differing firmness preferences. Dillon, primarily a side sleeper, likes soft beds that offer ample pressure relief for his shoulders and hips. In contrast, I favor firmer mattresses as I spend most of the night on my stomach and need extra spinal support. During our 30-night mattress testing series, we found a few beds that came close to meeting our needs, but have yet to uncover "the one." Enter Sleep Number. The brand hooked us up with its ClimateCool smart bed and FlexFit 2 adjustable base, with cooling technology and modifiable firmness levels on each side. That way, Dillon and I can set our respective sides to the perfect firmness level for each of us. We spent the past few months sleeping on Sleep Number and testing its innovative features. Read on to learn how we fared on this high-tech combo after 90 nights and whether it's worth the investment. An introduction to Sleep Number If you've been shopping for a new bed (or even if you haven't), you've likely come across Sleep Number. Founded in 1987 and operating over 600 stores throughout the US, the popular mattress and bedding company is known for its adjustable air mattresses. These allow you to set each side of the bed to your personalized "Sleep Number" setting by inflating or deflating the air chambers with the connected app or remote. These smart beds also include SleepIQ technology, which provides sleep and health insights. Aly Lopez/CNET Six series of smart beds are currently available at Sleep Number: Classic, Performance, Memory Foam, Innovation, ClimateCool and Climate360. Prices range drastically between series, from $999 for a queen-size c1 mattress to $10,249 for the queen-size Climate360. Dillon and I tested a king-size ClimateCool smart bed with the FlexFit 2 adjustable base, a combination that retails for $9,449 before tax. We thoroughly analyzed our Sleep Number setup to provide a detailed and honest review of our experience to help you decide if it's the right choice for you and your partner. There's a lot to unpack, so let's dive in. Delivery and setup process Sleep Number smoothly orchestrated our delivery and setup process. The home delivery technicians tackled the daunting task of lugging the heavy king-size smart bed and base to our sixth-floor apartment without batting an eye. After getting the bed and frame situated and connected, the technicians helped us set up the Sleep Number app on our phones and walked us through creating our separate profiles. The mattress was delivered flat, not rolled up and compressed like a standard bed-in-a-box mattress, so we wouldn't have to wait a few days for inflation before sleeping on it. We were ready for our first night. It took no time for our pets to start enjoying the new Sleep Number bed. Aly Lopez/CNET First impressions and initial thoughts After allowing our pets to get the lay of the land, we began our initial tests. This included lying in each sleeping position on the mattress and noting characteristics such as support, pressure relief and comfort. We analyzed the bed's materials, examining the overall construction and appearance of the mattress and base. Design and construction This smart bed has a lot going on. It stands 12 inches tall and features soft yet supportive ceramic-infused gel foam designed to draw heat away from your body. It's not hybrid, meaning there are no coils or inner springs. The main support layer consists of two responsive air chambers on either side of the bed. These chambers automatically respond to your movements and inflate to maintain your ideal firmness setting as you move around. \We are pulling back the foams to show what the air chambers look like inside the mattress. Aly Lopez/CNET Cooling technology The 'dynamic airflow system' sits atop the two air chambers, which Sleep Number says can cool up to 15 degrees on either side. The bed is wrapped with a breathable cover, through which the airflow system pulls your body heat away. This sets Sleep Number apart from other cooling mattresses or covers that release cool air or circulate cold water. Cover and overall appearance The mattress cover was coarser than I expected, with perforations for airflow. Aly Lopez/CNET I don't find the Sleep Number setup as visually appealing as other mattresses and frames we've tested. Ultimately, that's not what matters. You'll cover the mattress with sheets, comforters and pillows anyway. I immediately noticed the mattress cover felt slightly scratchy and coarse. It's designed with perforations to allow air to ventilate through, but I was surprised the cover didn't feel soft or slick like other cooling mattresses. Adjustable base Our CNET sleep team ranked Sleep Number's FlexFit 2 as one of the best adjustable bed bases of 2025. It features zero gravity, head and foot elevation, snoring adjustments and soft under-bed lighting. Note that the FlexFit 2 base is designed exclusively for Sleep Number smart beds and is unavailable for individual purchase. Dillon enjoys the elevated FlexFit 2 adjustable base. Aly Lopez/CNET Our first few nights A new mattress takes time to get used to. It might be weeks or even months before your body fully adjusts to a new sleep surface, which is why most mattress companies offer generous trial periods. My first night was rough. I wrote in my notes, "It stinks. The chemical off-gassing smell is bad. My throat started hurting, and I was coughing. I couldn't put my face down while lying on my stomach like usual because the smell was so strong. I'm going to take the sheets off today to let the mattress breathe." This is common with new mattresses, but it took us by surprise as the bed hadn't been compressed in a box, which is normally when off-gassing is the worst. However, as is typical of mattress off-gassing, the unpleasant smell completely dissipated after a few nights. My second and third nights on Sleep Number continued to be a little rough. I struggled to find the right firmness level, tossing and turning as I tried to get comfortable. I could feel the coarseness of the cover through our sheets on my bare legs, which initially drove me bonkers, as I'm sensitive to certain textures and materials touching my skin. However, I'm pleased to say it no longer bothers me to that extent. Aly Lopez/CNET This never bothered Dillon -- he immediately found the mattress more comfortable than I did. He also had to experiment with different firmness settings before finding one that worked for him, but he wasn't nearly as sensitive to the off-gassing smell or cover texture as I was. The second our bodies hit the bed for the first time, we were pleased with the size of our king Sleep Number. Dillon and I have mentioned multiple times to each other that we can't imagine going back to a queen now that we've had a taste for such ample space. Moving our Sleep Number setup Two weeks after receiving our Sleep Number bed, Dillon and I moved from our sixth-floor apartment into an older two-story home. The move was unexpected. Had we been anticipating it, we would have scheduled our Sleep Number delivery after we'd moved. Sleep Number offers moving services for situations like this, but they come at a cost. Disassembly is $250, which doesn't include transporting your bed to a new location outside the home. Reassembly is $250, and the disassemble and reassemble services can't be scheduled for the same day. The relocation service is $250, but only applies to moving the bed or base to another room within your home, not a new location. We decided to save the $500 and relocate the bed and base ourselves -- after all, Dillon and I basically move and test mattresses for a living. At one point in the moving process, we exasperatedly agreed that it might have been worth paying the Sleep Number technicians to do it for us, but ultimately, we were successful. The most challenging part was lifting the base up our tight staircase and into the new bedroom, which required disconnecting and taking it apart completely, including removing the legs. Moving our Sleep Number mattress and base was tedious and required heavy lifting, but it was certainly doable. Aly Lopez/CNET Sleep Number provides instructional videos for disassembling and reassembling its bases, which were helpful. We referred to them multiple times to ensure we did everything safely and correctly -- and I'm glad to say that overall, given the circumstances, it went smoothly. It's definitely a two-, if not three-person job. Our thoughts halfway through After about a month, I was actually looking forward to going to bed, whereas I had been questioning everything in the first week of testing. Firmness The bed's firmness levels can be adjusted in increments of five, ranging from 5 to 100. After several weeks of trying various numbers, Dillon and I honed in on what worked best for us. Dillon found his ideal Sleep Number setting to be 25 -- not too soft, but soft enough to get comfortable on his side without his arm or shoulder getting numb or tingly. I settled on 70, though I sometimes make it a tad firmer or softer depending on my mood and whether I want to fall asleep on my side or stomach. You can see the dip here on Dillon's side compared to mine on the right. This is also why Dillon didn't have to worry about the edge support. Aly Lopez/CNET Dillon and I quickly noticed that, because his setting is quite a bit lower than mine, the surface of our bed is not flat. His air chamber is more deflated, making his side lower. This forces us to stay far apart on our respective sides; otherwise, I have to resist his "gravitational pull" and actively try to keep from rolling down into him. Given the bed's construction, I understand it's essentially unavoidable, but it has taken quite a bit of adjusting to get used to. I don't love it. Elevation and temperature Because of the extra space on our king-size bed, I no longer felt claustrophobic sharing it with our pets. I began making more of an effort to use the advanced features, such as the head elevation for reading or watching TV before sleeping. Dillon used to snore quite a bit, which is another reason we were excited to use the base's elevation feature, but he hasn't been snoring on this bed like he has in the past (thankfully, for both of our sakes). At the start, we were sleeping cool enough not to need the bed's cooling technology; however, once the warmer months began rolling around, that changed. I set up our custom "SmartTemp Programs" in the app, where you can select the days of the week, times and intensity of the cooling fans you want to run. You can set up a customized 'Deep Sleep Cooling Program' for each side of the bed through the app. Aly Lopez/CNET/Sleep Number The dynamic airflow system pulls warm air away from your body rather than pushing cool air through the bed. Sleep Number says it can lower your "microclimate" up to 15 degrees in combination with the ceramic gel-infused foam layers. While we don't have a way to measure this, I've found it effective enough to help keep me temperature-neutral. Dillon wishes it would get cooler -- he still overheats at night, even using this feature. Sleep Number app Halfway through our 90-night trial, we noticed the bed was not working correctly when selecting certain functions on the app. For instance, when we tried adjusting the head and foot of the base, my side would elevate while Dillon's would stay in the same flat position. My cooling fans weren't kicking on, while Dillon's were. We followed the online instructions for troubleshooting, inspecting all connection points and unplugging the bed to restart it, which worked. We haven't had any issues with it since. There are a lot of moving parts underneath the Sleep Number FlexFit 2 smart base. Aly Lopez/CNET Final thoughts and scores CNET's sleep team uses an objective, standardized system to test and rate all mattresses. For this particular series, Dillon and I established a separate customized system to subjectively rate the qualities we seek in a mattress. Firmness and feel are scored out of 20 points, while the other elements are scored out of 10, for a possible overall score of 100. We ranked these factors preferentially, meaning what we liked or didn't like on a personal level. Firmness Aly: 17/20 I prefer medium-firm to firm mattresses as I spend most of the night on my stomach. The supportive surface helps keep my spine aligned -- I don't like the feeling of my midsection drooping into the mattress if it's too soft. After testing different firmness levels, I found my ideal Sleep Number setting to be 70 -- firm enough to offer support and soft enough to lie occasionally on my side. I think the adjustability of these Sleep Number smart beds is better suited for sleepers who prefer firmer surfaces, like me. The more air in the chamber, the firmer it gets -- but for those who prefer soft beds, like Dillon, having less air in the chamber doesn't necessarily make it feel softer, in the traditional sense. My Sleep Number setting of 70 is supportive enough for stomach sleeping and just soft enough for side sleeping. Dillon Lopez/CNET Dillon: 16/20 The firmness level is adjustable, so in a perfect world, you can achieve your ideal firmness. Because of how this mattress functions, I don't think it's as accurate as a mattress constructed to be at your ideal firmness. As a side sleeper, I prefer it soft. While you can deflate the air chamber, it is not quite the same as a bed crafted with soft foam and pressure-relieving materials. Plus, when the bed is set to the lowest firmness setting at 5, it deflates so much that you can feel the harder surface of the air system and other materials beneath the foam. Still, it's been working decently well for me. You can adjust both sides of the bed from the app, including firmness and the cooling intensity. Aly Lopez/CNET Feel Aly: 13/20 This mattress has what we consider a neutral feel -- it's not super responsive, yet not dense and slow-sinking like memory foam. It's a great middle ground that many sleepers will appreciate, but the overall feel is not my favorite. At the start of this testing series, I preferred traditionally responsive and bouncy mattresses. Once we started testing dense memory foam beds, I found that I loved the viscous, body-hugging sensation. I'm not the biggest fan of the neutral foam feel here. Dillon: 14/20 Because of its construction, this bed has a unique feel. The primary comfort layer is a neutral 3-inch-thick ceramic-infused foam. Because my firmness setting is comparatively soft, I sink into the bed's layers. It almost hints at memory foam. I would prefer if it had a denser foam feel that offered more pressure relief. Dillon presses down into the bed's foam, which bounces back faster than traditional memory foam. Aly Lopez/CNET Design and construction Aly: 7/10 The cooling technology in Sleep Number's ClimateCool smart bed has mostly kept me from overheating at night. It makes a loud whirring sound that I don't mind because it sounds like white noise, but you may find it annoying if you're sensitive to loud noises while you sleep. I would love the cover's texture to be a bit softer or smoother. I was initially concerned about the primary support system being its inflatable air chambers instead of high-density foams or coils, but the chambers seem pretty strong and durable. We haven't had any issues with them deflating or malfunctioning, even after disassembling, moving and reassembling everything. It may seem strange, but I'd like to shout out the cover's sturdy zippers. Zipping and unzipping a mattress cover can be surprisingly tricky, especially when the zippers break -- which happens to our sleep experts all too often. Dillon: 6/10 Overall, it's an impressive design, but there are a few areas for improvement. Some of its materials aren't as high-quality as I expected. Despite being marketed as the Sleep Number's cooling bed, it doesn't get nearly as cold as I'd like. I would sometimes get too cold with the Eight Sleep Pod, and it's never come close to that on the ClimateCool mattress. I've still been overheating even without using any blankets. Motion isolation Aly: 6/10 I found the motion isolation to be fine -- not the best, but certainly not the worst we've experienced. I did notice quite a few times when Dillon would move around or our cat would jump on and off the bed. It's a little trickier on this bed to determine precisely how well it isolates motion when our sides are at such opposing firmness levels. One way we test motion isolation is with a glass of water. We roll around and switch positions, observing how much the glass moves and water sloshes around. Dillon Lopez/CNET Dillon: 8/10 The motion isolation was solid. I didn't notice Aly tossing, turning or moving around too much, aside from when she would roll into me. Memory foam typically isolates motion best, so I expected Sleep Number to perform worse in this category, but I was pleasantly surprised. Edge support Aly: 6/10 This mattress has no reinforced perimeters, but I thought the edge support performed fine. It feels similar to a standard foam mattress around the outside. Because we are sleeping on a king, I never felt like I was close to rolling off, so this characteristic is no longer as significant a factor as it was for us on queen-size mattresses. Due to our varying firmness levels, the edge on my side of the bed performed differently from Dillon's. Dillon: 8/10 The way the air chambers lie, and because I have a softer firmness setting, I would need to roll up and over the edge to fall off the side of the bed. The bed doesn't necessarily have the best edge support, but I never felt like I would fall off. When I put my socks on in the morning while sitting on the edge, the bed thinks I'm lying down and deflates to reach my set firmness level. It sinks so much that it nearly throws me back into the middle of the bed. I have to actively try to get out and over the edge in the mornings. Edge support isn't quite as important to us now that we have a king-size with more room. Aly Lopez/CNET Policies Aly: 5/10 Sleep Number offers a 100-night trial period and a 15-year limited warranty. I'd like to see a longer trial period. The mattress industry standard is at least 90 nights, while many other brands offer 120—to 365-night trial periods. Shipping and delivery options vary based on the item. The smart beds come with three delivery options, ranging from $150 to $350. Some smart beds (like ours) automatically come with premium delivery and setup, a $250 value. If you're not in love with your new bed and want to return it, there's a $250 return fee for most Sleep Number mattresses, which has to happen after the initial 30-night trial and before the 100-night trial is up. Certain products, including the FlexFit adjustable bases, are considered final sale. I suggest thoroughly reviewing the terms and conditions of the Sleep Number mattress or base you're buying before making such a large purchase. After tax and the $300 discount Sleep Number is offering at the time of writing, the price for the king-size smart bed and base is $9,905. Aly Lopez/CNET Dillon: 5/10 I agree there should be a longer trial period, especially given how long it can take to get accustomed to and learn all the bed's features. The cost for premium home delivery is steep since most people need technicians to set up and connect their bed and base correctly. I also don't love that disassembly and reassembly costs $500, and they can't be scheduled on the same day, which means you'd have to go without your bed until reassembly can be scheduled. A bed and base with this many working parts is bound to have technical issues at some point, so I find Sleep Number's warranty lackluster. Not to mention, the high price you're already paying off the get-go. Sleep quality Aly: 7/10 Our average sleep over the 90 nights on Sleep Number is only 1 minute apart. Dillon and I have never slept so similarly before, and it's been a welcome change of pace. I'm sure part of it is because we have personalized settings on each side and more space with the king. While I would like to see us get more sleep -- closer to 8 hours would be ideal -- it's still been "efficient," according to our sleep trackers. Dillon: 7/10 Averaging 7 hours and 5 minutes of sleep per night on Sleep Number, it's not the most I've slept in this series. I haven't been tossing and turning or moving to the couch as much as I used to. It's been consistent. Even though the bed doesn't necessarily get "softer" in the traditional sense, there's been enough pressure relief on my low Sleep Number setting for my arm and shoulder to feel comfortable. I haven't been waking up with any pain or numbness. Final scores Drumroll, please. Our final scores for the Sleep Number ClimateCool smart bed and FlexFit 2 base were 70/100 for Aly and 71/100 for Dillon. Aly Lopez/CNET Sleep quality breakdown We gathered our sleep data using Sleep Number's integrated tracking sensors, pictured below. For the last month of our testing process, Dillon and I also started tracking our sleep with Oura rings, which allowed us to assess how accurate Sleep Number's tracking is. Stay tuned for my in-depth comparison between Oura and Sleep Number. The cover is pulled back to show the tracking sensors running across the top third of the mattress. Aly Lopez/CNET Many factors influence sleep quality besides the mattress, including diet, exercise, stress levels, caffeine intake, room temperature and noisy neighbors. Dillon and I strive to maintain a consistent nightly routine and bedroom environment to minimize the impact of these other factors. Still, we recognize that the quality of our sleep is not determined solely by the bed we sleep on. Obtaining 90 nights of sleep data allowed us to analyze overall trends and patterns, and assess whether our sleep improved or declined compared to previous mattresses we have tried in this series. To ensure the accuracy of this review, we excluded nights when our sleep was affected by something other than our Sleep Number bed. As a result, the data presented here is not perfectly consecutive but provides the most accurate reflection of our sleep patterns. Average total sleep: Aly versus Dillon Dillon's sleep average was 7 hours and 5 minutes per night (7.08 on the graph here), while mine was 7 hours and 6 minutes (7.1). Aly Lopez/CNET As the graph shows, Dillon and I had very similar sleep experiences over the 90-night trial. Dillon's average restful sleep on Sleep Number was 7 hours and 5 minutes per night, while mine was 7 hours and 6 minutes. My average restless time was 56 minutes per night, while Dillon's was 1 hour and 2 minutes. Dillon's average SleepIQ score was 81, and mine was 79. We have never slept so similarly. Depending on the mattress, one of us usually sleeps better overall than the other, but lately, that has not been the case. If you've ever been unable to sleep due to an uncomfortable mattress or a partner who snores or thrashes around in their sleep, then you know how frustrating it can be. Though we're not sleeping as long as we'd like, we are both mostly sleeping through the night, waking up around the same time and feeling decently rested has been game-changing. Sleep Number versus Beautyrest Before Sleep Number, Dillon and I slept on the Beautyrest Black Hybrid Series 3. My sleep average on Beautyrest was 7 hours and 31 minutes, while my sleep average on Sleep Number was 7 hours and 6 minutes per night -- a decrease of 25 minutes. It's not the direction I wanted to see my sleep go. I would like to see my total average restful sleep be about an hour longer. Aly Lopez/CNET Dillon's total sleep also decreased. On Beautyrest, his average was 7 hours and 23 minutes (7.38) per night, while his average on Sleep Number was 7 hours and 5 minutes (7.08) -- a decrease of 18 minutes. Again, this was not the direction we were hoping for, but not the worst we've experienced in this testing series. Pricing and comparable options Here's the deal: Sleep Number's smart beds are pricey. A queen ClimateCool smart bed and integrated base retail for $6,949. Sleep Number's standard stationary frame costs an additional $300, bringing the price to $7,249. The setup we are testing, a king-size ClimateCool smart bed with FlexFit 2 Smart Base, comes to a grand total of $9,449. That price tag is certainly not feasible for most people. However, if you're serious about a Sleep Number bed that's out of your budget, there are a few ways to reduce the cost. I recommend watching for sales throughout the year, particularly around holidays, which can bring the price down by $800 or more. There are discounts for military members, and you may qualify for HSA or FSA reimbursement through Truemed. Sleep Number also offers financing options. Comparable options There are other ways to create a similar setup for slightly less. For example, if you're seeking split firmness options, check out a king-size Sparrow Signature Hybrid by Nest Bedding. The king retails for $2,452. For an adjustable base with dual temperature control and sleep tracking, the Eight Sleep Pod 5 Ultra retails for $5,249. That comes to $7,701 before tacking on Eight Sleep's subscription plan. No matter how you cut it, a bedroom setup with all these features will cost a pretty penny. Ultimately, it depends on the functionalities you and your partner seek. Dillon and I will continue to test our Sleep Number setup. Stay tuned at CNET for updates on our experience. Aly Lopez/CNET Who should get the Sleep Number ClimateCool smart bed and adjustable base? In summary, our overall experience with Sleep Number has been positive. Dillon and I are obtaining similar sleep scores, which is a testament to the success of the individualized firmness levels. Dillon and I feel Sleep Number could improve the ClimateCool in a few areas. The cooling was not as strong as expected, especially considering it is promoted as the brand's coolest option. If you're a super hot sleeper who wakes up with night sweats, I don't believe the Sleep Number ClimateCool will be strong enough to eliminate them. Dillon and I also don't love the awkward height discrepancy from our sides being at different firmnesses. For the most part, everything has functioned correctly for us, which is a relief considering how many different working parts are involved in a high-tech sleep system like this. When opting for a bed with this type of functionality, you have to be OK with potentially running into issues down the road. It's going to be a much different experience than a simple "dumb" mattress and frame with no bells or whistles. This mattress's weight limit is 400 pounds per side. Though that is more than the standard mattress, I do wonder about the longevity of the support provided by the air chambers. If you and your partner lean on the heavier side and are looking for a durable, long-lasting bed that will provide a lot of support, I suggest looking for a hybrid bed with steel coils instead. Our main qualm is the price. Dillon and I personally wouldn't entertain the idea of a $10K bedroom setup. However, if you and your partner cannot agree on the firmness of your bed, are looking for a neutral, middle-of-the-road feel, enjoy using technology and have the budget for it, Sleep Number could be the move. This bed might be for you if: It's within your budget You prefer a neutral foam feel You want adjustable firmness levels on both sides You're looking for a smart bed with sleep tracking You want to sleep a little cooler at night You like having an app to control your setup You want to adjust the elevation of your head or feet You should skip this bed if: It's out of your budget You want a bed with dense memory foam You need a more supportive hybrid bed with coils You don't want a fancy bed with all the bells and whistles You don't care about tracking your sleep or health data You don't regularly sleep too hot at night You don't need an adjustable base If you're curious about our experiences with other beds and accessories we've tested in this series, check out the following reviews:
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5 days ago
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Sleep Number Corporation to Announce Second Quarter 2025 Results on July 30, 2025
MINNEAPOLIS, July 22, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sleep Number Corporation (Nasdaq: SNBR) will release its fiscal second quarter results through June 28, 2025, before market open on Wednesday, July 30, 2025. Management will host its regularly scheduled conference call to discuss the company's results at 8:30 a.m. EDT (7:30 a.m. CDT; 5:30 a.m. PDT). To access the webcast, please visit the investor relations area of the Sleep Number website at The webcast replay will remain available for approximately 60 days. About Sleep Number Corporation Sleep Number is a sleep wellness company. We are guided by our purpose to improve the health and wellbeing of society through higher quality sleep. To date, our innovations have improved nearly 16 million lives. Our sleep wellness platform helps solve sleep problems, whether it's providing individualized temperature control for each sleeper through our Climate360 smart bed or applying our 34 billion hours of longitudinal sleep data and expertise to research with global institutions. Our smart bed ecosystem helps people sleep better by offering adjustable comfort and personalized sleep and health insights. Millions of Smart Sleepers benefit from higher quality sleep, and our 3,400 dedicated team members are passionate about creating innovative solutions through our vertically integrated business model, including direct-to-consumer selling in 630 stores and online. To learn more about life-changing, individualized sleep, visit a Sleep Number® store near you, our newsroom and investor relations sites, or View source version on Contacts Investor Contact investorrelations@ Media Contact Muriel Lussier, Sleep Number Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
