Finding Your Best Mattress for Sleep Apnea: 7 Expert-Recommended Picks for Better Breathing and Deeper Rest

What to Look for in the Best Mattress for Sleep Apnea

When shopping for a mattress to address breathing issues during sleep, beds should be evaluated on four primary performance factors. These features work synergistically to help keep the body aligned and airways open, both of which are essential for minimizing the effects of obstructive sleep apnea and alleviating the sleep disturbances it causes.

Firmness and Support for Spinal Alignment

Proper spinal alignment is the most critical factor a mattress provides for sleep apnea sufferers. When your spine and neck are not aligned correctly, the tongue and soft tissues in the mouth can fall backward, collapsing the airway and worsening apnea symptoms.

Most sleep advisors recommend a medium-firm feel, typically around 6 to 7 on a firmness scale of 1 to 10. This provides enough resistance to prevent the hips and torso from sinking too deeply, which can cause the head and neck to pitch forward or backward and compromise the airway. If a mattress is too soft, the body sinks into a “hammock” shape, disrupting alignment and potentially narrowing the airway. 

A supportive mattress core, whether made of high-density foam, natural latex, or a quality innerspring coil system, is also necessary to keep the spine aligned along a flat, consistent plane.

Compatibility with an Adjustable Bed

While a supportive mattress helps when lying flat, the best way to manage positional sleep apnea is to elevate the upper body. Sleeping with the head and shoulders raised uses gravity to keep the soft palate and tongue from collapsing into the throat, a major cause of airway obstruction.

Studies show that even a moderate incline can significantly reduce the number of apnea events per hour. However, rather than relying on bolsters, pillows, or risers, the proper position is best achieved with a complete sleep system that includes an adjustable bed base and a compatible mattress. An adjustable base lets you find the perfect incline for breathing and comfort with the touch of a button. To use this feature effectively, your mattress material must be flexible enough to bend with the base without damage or discomfort – namely, latex, memory foam, or hybrid mattresses with individually pocketed coils.

Investing in one of Custom Comfort Mattress’s premium adjustable beds is one of the most effective ways to combine targeted support with positional therapy for sleep apnea. Our collection includes several luxury models with an increasing number of features and functionalities, each designed to work seamlessly with our handcrafted mattresses:

• A-200 Plus Adjustable Bed 
• A-300 Plus Adjustable Bed
• A-400 Plus Adjustable Bed
• A-500 Plus Adjustable Bed

Pressure Relief for Side Sleepers

Sleep advisors often recommend the side sleeping position as the best way to keep the airway open for people with mild to moderate sleep apnea. However, because side sleeping concentrates the body’s weight on the hips and shoulders, it can create unwanted pressure points.

The pressure relief provided by a good latex, memory foam, or hybrid mattress cushions the shoulders and hips, preventing the discomfort that might cause you to roll onto your back during the night unconsciously. The bed needs to be soft enough to contour these areas while remaining supportive enough to maintain spinal alignment from your neck down to your lower back, hence the medium-firm “sweet spot” mentioned above.

Temperature Regulation and Breathability

People with sleep apnea may also sleep hot or experience night sweats that disturb sleep, interrupting REM sleep cycles and worsening apnea symptoms. This makes a cooling mattress especially beneficial for apnea relief. 

Look for highly breathable materials that draw heat away from the body. Natural materials like wool, organic cotton, or natural latex promote excellent airflow, as do the coil layers found in a hybrid mattress. While a high-density memory foam mattress can offer great pressure relief, older or lower-quality memory foam can trap heat. Modern foam mattresses use gel infusions or open-cell structures to mitigate this issue, so if you prefer memory foam, look for these advanced cooling features.

The 7 Best Mattresses for Sleep Apnea

Now that we’ve reviewed the key features of the best mattresses for sleep apnea, let’s explore those that deliver the right blend of comfort, support, and flexibility to ease sleep apnea symptoms.

1. Adjustable Beds for Optimal Airway Alignment

The ideal configuration for a person with obstructive sleep apnea is a supportive, flexible hybrid mattress paired with a quality adjustable bed base. A hybrid design combines foam or latex comfort layers with a pocketed coil support system, providing the necessary contouring for pressure relief with deep, stable spinal support that prevents excessive sinking. The coils also enhance airflow, making it a perfect choice for those seeking temperature regulation.

Pairing an adjustable bed frame with a mattress that contours naturally, such as a hybrid or latex mattress, creates the most comprehensive solution for managing sleep apnea by providing both positioning and support. This sleep setup allows precise head elevation to actively manage breathing, while the coil support keeps the lower back and spine aligned regardless of the bed’s angle. Plus, adjustable beds allow couples to find the sleep position that works best for their individual needs. 

Custom Comfort Mattress’s handcrafted hybrid mattresses offer superior edge support and flexible materials, making them ideally suited for pairing with adjustable bed frames. Together, they form a stable, supportive sleep system that effortlessly supports your preferred sleep position, whether you need a slight elevation or a more pronounced incline to keep airways open.

2. Latex Mattresses for Responsive Support and Pressure Relief

Not only is side sleeping the most common sleep position, it is also the recommended sleep position for sleep apnea patients seeking more open airways. Regardless of apnea, side sleepers need a mattress that provides pressure relief at the shoulders and hips while maintaining core support for spinal alignment. A plush-to-medium-firm latex mattress provides buoyant, responsive support that cradles the body’s curves without creating a “stuck” feeling that can hinder movement.

Natural latex is highly durable, contours effectively, and responds instantly, making it easier to change positions throughout the night. The material’s natural buoyancy helps maintain neutral alignment during side-sleeping, preventing the spine from curving in ways that could compromise breathing and spinal health. Latex is also naturally breathable and can help create a cooler sleep environment.

Custom Comfort Mattress offers organic latex mattresses made with natural, low-VOC materials to provide a hypoallergenic, low-odor sleep experience. Our handcrafted layered construction provides a tailored balance of firmness and comfort, while zoned support offers a softer feel at pressure points while maintaining stable spinal alignment.

3. Hybrid Mattresses for Balanced Comfort and Stability

Hybrid mattress designs can accommodate a range of sleeping positions by combining the best of both worlds: inner coil support and plush outer comfort layers. The combination of a sturdy coil system with responsive foam or latex layers provides consistent spine alignment and a stable, comfortable posture, which can help keep the airway more open in both side and back sleeping positions.

At Custom Comfort Mattress, hybrid mattresses can be customized to meet your specific needs. In fact, we offer dual-firmness builds for partners with differing sleep styles, ensuring that each person gets the support they need. Our California-made designs emphasize durability and handcrafted quality, with materials selected for their long-term performance and ability to maintain proper support year after year.

4. Memory Foam Mattresses with Zoned Support

Memory foam reduces pressure around the shoulders and hips, which is excellent for side sleeping, the position often recommended for easier breathing with sleep apnea. With targeted support zones, these mattresses can provide softer support where your body needs more cushioning and firmer support where you need more stability, helping maintain spinal alignment.

Memory foam also excels at motion isolation, which is beneficial for partners sharing the bed. If one person experiences restless sleep or frequent position changes due to apnea symptoms, the other partner won’t be disturbed. However, heat retention is often more common with memory foam mattresses.

During Custom Comfort Mattress’s build process, you can specify firmness levels and request zoned configurations based on the body type and sleep position of one or two sleepers. We recommend combining memory foam with breathable layers to offset potential heat retention and keep you comfortable throughout the night.

5. Split King Mattresses for Couples with Different Sleep Needs

One of the biggest challenges for co-sleeping couples is accommodating both partners’ comfort needs, especially when sleep apnea is involved. One person may need significant head elevation to manage breathing, while the other might prefer to sleep flat. A split mattress provides the perfect solution.

A split King or California King features two independent twin-sized mattresses and two separate adjustable base mechanisms, allowing each person to select angle, firmness, and position without disturbing the other. This also improves motion isolation, minimizing disruption from restless movements or getting in and out of bed.

The Custom Comfort Mattress One and One Comfort Split system is specifically designed to address this challenge, allowing each sleeper to independently customize comfort and sleeping position. Our bespoke construction approach includes in-store consultations and fittings to assess each partner’s support needs and design a mattress truly built for two.

6. Organic and Natural Material Mattresses for Healthier Breathing

The importance of clean air and non-toxic materials in your sleep environment cannot be overstated, especially for people dealing with respiratory challenges. Off-gassing and synthetic materials can irritate sensitive sleepers, potentially exacerbating sleep apnea symptoms or causing additional sleep disturbances.

Organic latex, cotton, and wool help create a low-allergen sleep environment that promotes easier breathing. These natural materials are inherently breathable, durable, and free from the harsh chemicals found in many mattresses.

Custom Comfort Mattress emphasizes sustainable craftsmanship in every bed we build. Our family-owned company prioritizes California-sourced natural materials and long-lasting quality backed by a heritage of integrity. When you invest in an organic mattress from Custom Comfort Mattress, you’re choosing a natural sleep solution that supports your health and sleep quality as well as the environment.

7. Custom-Built Mattresses for Personalized Sleep Solutions

Customization is the optimal approach for apnea sufferers to achieve proper positioning and comfortable sleep. A custom-built mattress allows adjustments in firmness, layering, and elevation to support a comfortable breathing posture, making it ideal for individuals who haven’t found success with standard mattress designs.

We encourage you to schedule an in-store fitting for our sleep experts to assess alignment and breathing patterns and recommend the ideal configuration for your sleep needs. As the sleep partner you can trust to build your perfect mattress, your Custom Comfort Mattress will be built with the precise specifications you need, whether that means softer shoulders and firmer hips, enhanced cooling features, or specific materials to address allergies or sensitivities.

Find Your Perfect Sleep Solution for Better Breathing

Finding the right mattress for your sleep environment is not only critical for easing sleep apnea symptoms but also for improving sleep quality and overall health. For sleep apnea relief, a latex, hybrid, or custom-built mattress with a medium-firm feel and plush outer layers will provide the spinal support you need for unobstructed breathing and pressure relief, especially when it is made with natural and organic materials for better breathability.

Pairing one of these mattresses with an adjustable bed system provides the most effective and complete sleep system for quality sleep that defies apnea symptoms. The combination of head support, spinal alignment, and breathable materials can help keep airways open and minimize sleep disturbances, putting the deep sleep cycles your body needs within reach.

We hope you’ll visit one of our Southern California Custom Comfort Mattress showrooms, or better yet, book a personalized fitting to experience the difference a truly custom, supportive, and flexible mattress can make. Our sleep specialists are ready to help you explore our adjustable bases, natural latex mattress options, unique split comfort systems, and more to address your individual sleep needs. As your premium, handcrafted solution for deeper, healthier sleep, Custom Comfort Mattress is here to help you wake up every day feeling rested and restored.