Tempur-pedic vs. Purple: How Do Their Mattresses Compare?

Looking for a new mattress and can’t decide between Tempur-Pedic or Purple? We get it. Between these two popular mattress companies, it’s hard to decide which one is right for you.

While they both make different mattresses, the companies share similar reputations for quality and customer service. And both have introduced innovative materials and designs into what was once a dreary and predictable industry.

A bit about Tempur-pedic

Tempur-pedic initially made memory foam popular in the early 1990s, and have since gone on to be a name synonymous with high end, luxury mattresses. Their TEMPUR-Adapt model is their original model design; it’s a high-conforming memory foam mattress that is available in Medium and Medium-Hybrid options. Their tech-focused mattresses have been drawing in customers for decades.

A bit about Purple

Purple, Inc was founded through a Kickstarter campaign in 2015 with their official product becoming available in January 2016. They offer three mattress models, but are most known for The Purple Mattress, which is built with the company’s proprietary ‘Purple Grid’ in the comfort layers. This eye-catching, hyper-elastic, innovative grid has set the company apart from top competitors. 

It’s clear that both brands offer premium mattresses that have proved successful for struggling sleepers everywhere. But they also come with pros and cons depending on what your needs are.

So…which one is better? 

To help, here’s a detailed comparison guide for Tempurpedic and Purple mattresses, including their sizing, construction, customer ratings, and performance in key areas. Both brands offer multiple mattress models but we’re going to look at their flagship foam models for an in-depth comparison.

Right out of the gate, we want to give you the information you need if you’re ready to make a decision.

See how the TEMPUR-Adapt Mattress and The Purple Mattress compare to other mattresses in our Best Memory Foam Mattress page.

We take a closer look at each performance rating below. These ratings are based on thorough research and reviews from mattress owners and trustworthy external sources.

The material quality and mattress construction is an important element to look at closely because it determines the standard of qualities that we get into below.

Tempur-pedic and Purple make all-foam and hybrid mattresses. Looking at the foam versions of the TEMPUR-Adapt and Purple mattress, we see how much they differ in design and the materials used. But it’s important to note that both brands use CertiPUR-US certified materials, which means they are intentional with providing customers a high-quality mattress and sleep experience.

Their designs are both unique, but they share a similar base foam support layer made from high-density polyfoam. As such, the most considerable difference between the two is in the comfort layers, as the brands use their own proprietary material.

The TEMPUR-Adapt is made with their soft TEMPUR-ES material, and they make it known that it’s different from traditional memory foam because it springs back to its original shape. So it feels like you’re sleeping on a new mattress every night.

The Purple mattress has a temperature, neutral gel grid for the comfort layer. This material is made from hyper-elastic polymer and it’s engineered to flex under pressure points while conforming to the rest of your body.

Materials and Construction rating:
★ 5/5 stars

Mattress height:
11 inches

Details:

• Cover: Premium knit technology is used to make a dual-layer, removable cover that sleeps cool and protects against common allergens.
• Comfort layers: The top comfort layer is made using TEMPUR-ES foam material that is both soft and adaptive.
• Transition layer: The transitional layer is made using denser memory foam that helps to transition the sleeper into the support layer while enhancing the contouring benefits of the layer above.
• Support layer: The support base layer is made up of high-density polyfoam for overall stability and support.

Materials and Construction rating:
★ 5/5 stars

Mattress height:
9.5 inches

Details:

• Cover: a knit blend of 67% polyester, 29% viscose and 4% lycra
• Comfort layer: 2” Purple hyper-elastic polymer, buckling gel grid
• Transitional layer: 3.5” 1.8 PCF high-density polyfoam
• Support layer: 4” of 2 PCF high-density polyfoam to stabilize and maintain an even surface

Durability is heavily influenced by the materials and build of a mattress. It’s mostly determined by how long the product maintains its structural integrity and comfort before it begins to deteriorate. The average mattress lasts six to eight years. So if you want a mattress by your side longer, you’re going to have to look for ones that are made with quality components.

Both Tempur-pedic and Purple mattresses have 10 year warranties and are constructed with high-quality, dense materials. That being said, Tempur-pedic’s long-standing reputation for durability precedes Purple because they’ve been in business for three decades.

Durability rating:
★ 5/5 stars

Details:
The TEMPUR-Adapt is known to be very durable for an all-foam mattress because of the high-density foam used in the comfort layers and support layer.

Durability rating:
★ 4/5 stars

Details:
The Purple grid comfort layer is made from highly durable hyper-elastic gel material. The thick transitional layer after acts as a great buffer between the grid and denser support core which helps to prevent sinking and sagging.

For people who sleep hot, temperature neutrality is a very important quality. A mattress’s cooling and temperature control all contribute to a mattress’s overall breathability. It refers to how much body heat a mattress retains, and this could be influenced by the materials and layer thickness.

In contrast to the TEMPUR-Adapt, the Purple mattress provides exceptional breathability and temperature control. Thanks to its grid technology, air is able to flow more freely and neutralize the temperature throughout the night. The TEMPUR-Adapt closely conforms and cradles your body, thereby absorbing heat much more than the Purple Mattress.

If you’re set on Tempur-pedic, then you might want to look at the TEMPUR-Adapt hybrid option which sleeps cooler due to its coil system in the support core.

Temperature control rating:
★ 3/5 stars

Details:
It’s made with a cool-to-touch cover that is helpful for promoting breathability. But its deep body contouring effects and dense memory foam layers made it more susceptible to trapping body heat than other models.

Temperature control rating:
★ 5/5 stars

Details:
The Purple Grid’s open construction allows more air to flow through the bed. That way heat can move away from the body instead of being absorbed by the mattress. Most sleepers will sleep very cool with the Purple Mattress in contrast to other all-foam beds.

This refers to how well a mattress responds to different parts of your body, adjusts to your movements and bounces back to its original shape. The level of a mattress’s responsiveness determines how easily you can move across a mattress. But it’s also important for those who have mobility issues or change sleep positions frequently during the night.

The Purple performs better with responsiveness compared to the TEMPUR-Adapt because the Purple Grid flexes instantly under pressure and springs right back into place as your body readjusts.

With the TEMPUR-Adapt, it will do a good job at conforming and distributing your body weight more evenly than traditional memory foam mattresses would. But it still provides more of a body cradle over an “on top” of the mattress feeling.

Responsiveness rating:
★ 3/5 stars

Details:
Because this is a softer mattress, it will sink and cradle your body more. Even though the TEMPUR-ES material is more responsive than traditional memory foam, it still lacks the push back.

Responsiveness rating:
★ 4/5 stars

Details:
The Purple has a slightly springier feel due to the hyper-elastic polymer grid. It feels like you’re sleeping more on top of it instead of in it. This provides both a conforming and responsive feeling.

Edge support references how sturdy and strong the perimeters of a mattress are. If the edges aren’t strong, you might feel like you’re rolling off the edge if you get too close.

Good edge support is the degree to which a mattress supports body weight around the perimeter. If you have trouble getting out of bed or sleep with a partner, it’s important to have use of the entire mattress surface.

Neither the TEMPUR-Adapt or Purple Mattress perform well in terms of edge support stability. While they are both made with dense materials, they’re not strong enough to reinforce the edges to the extent that innerspring or hybrid models would because of their denser coil systems.

Edge Support rating:
★ 2/5 stars

Details:
This mattress offers mediocre edge support. Sleepers have reported sinkage when getting in and out of the bed. The foam materials used are durable but not able to withstand long-term compression like latex or coils.

Edge Support rating:
★ 3/5 stars

Details:
The Purple mattress has an average edge support. Even though the hyper-elastic polyfoam grid layer is supportive in many aspects, it can be weaker at the edges. Over time, if the transition and support layer deteriorate, this could also weaken the edge support.

Most new mattresses will emit a slight odor once they are removed from their packaging. This is also known as off-gassing, which derives from volatile organic compounds (VOCs); otherwise known as a “new mattress smell”.

While off-gassing odors are non-toxic, they can still be unpleasant and problematic for sleepers who are sensitive to smells or have chemical allergies. Mattresses that contain solid memory foam and polyfoam materials are most likely to off-gas.

For this reason, you can expect some initial mild off-gassing with both the TEMPUR-Adapt and Purple mattress. Though the Purple Mattress will be better than the TEMPUR-Adapt because of its open-grid design. That being said, we think that long-term off-gassing should not be an issue for most sleepers who use either mattress.

Off-gassing rating:
★ 3/5 stars

Details:
You’ll likely notice some strong off-gassing from the all-foam TEMPUR-Adapt once it’s removed from the box. This should dissipate within a couple of days but if you’re particularly sensitive to smells, then this may not be ideal for you.

Off-gassing rating:
★ 4/5 stars

Details:
While there is an initial, mild off-gas after unboxing the Purple mattress, it tends to dissipate quickly.

Supportive pressure relief is what most people look for in a mattress. It’s primarily responsible for restorative sleep because it influences how well a mattress contours to your body, promotes better spinal alignment and relieves tension at pressure points like the hips, lower back and shoulders. A mattress that offers good pressure relief is particularly important for those who struggle with chronic aches and pain.

We quickly noticed that both the TEMPUR-Adapt and Purple Mattress offer a good balance of body-conforming and support. The Purple Mattress promotes good spinal alignment and pressure relief, regardless of your position. However, the TEMPUR-Adapt performs slightly better due in part to the dense comfort layers that target pressure points much more closely.

Pressure Relief rating:
★ 5/5 stars

Details:
Pressure relief is a major strength of the TEMPUR-Adapt mattress. The adaptive TEMPUR-ES comfort layer does a great job at cradling the body and alleviating pressure points and the transitional layer underneath prevents you from sinking too far into the mattress.

Pressure Relief rating:
★ 4/5 stars

Details:
This mattress has good pressure relief and body contouring properties due to its transitional polyfoam layer. However, some side sleepers may find this mattress to be too firm. But overall it provides good pressure relief for combination sleepers.

Motion isolation refers to how well a mattress absorbs motion across the surface. So it’s an important consideration if you sleep with a partner, child or even a pet. If one person is a light sleeper or has a different schedule or sleep-wake cycle, then good motion isolation helps to reduce those interferences.

Typically, memory foam mattresses are known for their exceptional motion isolation, and these two mattresses are no exception. But if this is a really important factor for you, we would recommend the TEMPUR-Adapt over the Purple Mattress.

Motion Isolation rating:
★ 5/5 stars

Details:
Motion isolation is a key strength of the TEMPUR-Adapt mattress thanks to the plush feel and TEMPUR material that absorbs movement and eliminates motion transfer across the entire surface.

Motion Isolation rating:
★ 4/5 stars

Details:
The Purple Mattress does an exceptional job at isolating motion thanks to its memory foam comfort layers and hyper-elastic gel grid that allows sleepers to put weight on the mattress without transferring to other parts.

Let’s not ignore the obvious—mattresses are used for more than just sleeping. Looking at what makes a mattress better for sex, generally the most important traits are: bounce, responsiveness and edge support.

With this in mind, the Purple mattress will perform slightly better than the TEMPUR-Adapt mattress thanks to it’s unique, instant reforming grid comfort layer.

Sex performance rating:
★ 2/5 stars

Details:
The TEMPUR-ES material used in the comfort layer is more responsive than traditional memory foam, it is better at conforming to the body. This means it lacks the traction and springiness needed to move and change positions easily.

Sex performance rating:
★ 4/5 stars

Details:
The grid comfort layer is responsive and offers noticeable bounce, making this a great mattress for sex. It’s also virtually silent when you move on it.

Because side sleepers prefer a plush mattress surface that offers excellent pressure relief, the TEMPUR-Adapt will be a match made in heaven—especially for those under 230 pounds. The foam used in this mattress contours closely to target areas like the shoulders and hips. But it might feel too soft for heavyweight side sleepers.

The Purple mattress is able to support side sleepers a good mix of contouring and pressure relief thanks to its transitional layer. However, heavier individuals may drop a bit more into the mattress and need something firmer.

Back sleepers need more support, especially in the lumbar region. The TEMPUR-Adapt is a good match for back sleepers because of its medium feel and close body conforming properties. Though, heavier back sleepers may need something firmer to feel more on top of the mattress as their weight may push more into the body hugging feel that the TEMPUR-Adapt provides.

Because the Purple mattress gives a plush feel while providing good lumbar support, those who are lighter and sleep on their backs will find this gives them adequate support. But heavier back sleepers might want a firmer mattress.

For stomach sleepers, you’ll want something that is firm enough for the weight of your midsection to be held up, or else your spine is awkwardly shifted out of alignment. TEMPUR-Adapt’s body cradling, medium feel is going to pull most sleepers into the mattress. So if you’re a stomach sleeper, this might not be the model for you. However, lightweight sleepers may feel fine.

The Purple mattress is a better fit for lighter stomach sleepers as it’s firm enough to hold up the midsection—providing your body the support it needs. But it will likely put strain on anybody else’s neck, shoulders and lower back.

The TEMPUR-Adapt mattress has a medium, close body conforming feel that is likened to the feeling of sleeping “in” the mattress. The proprietary TEMPUR material is designed to cushion and cradle your body. Because of its pressure-relieving comfort layers, it feels supportive for sleepers who experience frequent aches and pains as it cushions the shoulders and hips. But people who weigh more than 230 pounds might find that this mattress feels too soft. For this reason, they may want to consider the mattress in a hybrid model.

The Purple mattress has a medium-firm, responsive feel. Rather than a deep-cradling sensation, it’s going to feel more like floating on a cloud. Sleepers might enjoy it’s unique squishy and gel-like feel that provides comfort and support in multiple positions. It conforms to a moderate extent so it won’t feel as contouring as the TEMPUR-Adapt mattress. People who weigh at least 130 pounds will feel comfortable. And for lightweight side sleepers, this may feel too firm.

Where can I buy the TEMPUR-Adapt mattress?
The TEMPUR-Adapt and other Tempur-pedic mattresses are available for purchase on the Tempur-pedic website. The all-foam and hybrid Adapt are also available on Amazon. And the company’s products are sold throughout thousands of retail stores across the U.S. A full store directory can be found here.

Where do they ship?
They ship their mattresses with free white glove delivery to all 50 states. Those in Alaska or Hawaii will be charged extra because of the additional costs of delivering to remote areas.

How long is the trial period?
Tempur-pedic offers a 90-night sleep trial, but they require you to test out the mattress for a minimum of 30 nights before returning or exchanging.

What is Tempur-pedic’s warranty policy?
Tempur-pedic mattresses come with a 10-year warranty. They will cover any costs of repairing or replacing your mattress if a defect develops and you’ll just need to cover shipping and handling costs.

Where can I buy the Purple mattress?
You can find the Purple mattress online on their site, on Amazon and at brick-and-mortar stores across the country, including Mattress Firm and Macy’s.

Where do they ship?
Purple mattresses are available to ship to Canada and all 50 states. Free standard shipping is offered to all customers in the 48 contiguous U.S. However, customers in Canada, Alaska, Hawaii must pay for shipping costs. Though, according to their website, they have built a flat rate for Canadians that includes taxes, higher international shipping costs and the conversion rate.

How long is the trial period?
Purple offers customers a 100-day trial period. Any eligible mattresses can be returned for full price by contacting Purple’s customer support team within this time.

What is Purple’s warranty policy?
Purple has a 10-year limited warranty that covers indentation greater than 1 inch, or premature cracking and splitting. The mattress cover is protected under a different warranty for two years after the original purchase.

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When deciding between either of these high-quality mattresses, it’s hard to come to a final decision. After all, both are highly comfortable and supportive. Not to mention, both brands have positive reputations. Ultimately, you’re going to have to consider the type of sleeper you are.

If you’re a side sleeper who likes some deep body conforming and pressure relief, then the TEMPUR-Adapt will likely be more suitable. Couples will also appreciate the amazing motion isolation benefits of this model. On the other hand, if you’re a combination sleeper, hot sleeper or heavyweight sleeper, then the Purple Mattress is right up your alley. Also, Purple’s price point is a lot more reasonable and affordable if you’re on a tight budget.

Neither mattress is better than the other one, they might just be better depending on what you need. And if you don’t like it? Then you can sleep soundly knowing that both brands have generous return policies.

The Tempur-pedic and Purple mattresses are pathways to better sleep. They are both great value and boast tons of long-lasting benefits. Ultimately, it’s up to you to use all the information you have to make the best choice for your needs. But in summary:

Check out the latest price of the TEMPUR-Adapt and Purple mattresses now.

Disclaimer

Here at Best Mattress Finder, we do our best to provide accurate, honest product recommendations and brand reviews based on the best available information. However, stats and products are subject to change and may have updated since this page was posted.

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