Is Memory Foam Good For Sex? Well... Yes and No
Memory foam is great. It provides an unmatched level of customized support, and some gel memory foam materials also help keep you cool while you sleep.
We all know we humans do more than just sleep on our mattresses though. Most mattress review sites are afraid to help answer a question that a fair number of people have -- Can you have good sex on a memory foam mattress?
Yes, you can absolutely have GREAT sex on a memory foam mattress.
While memory foam isn't as bouncy as other mattress materials, theres a ton of benefits of opting for a memory foam mattress for sex. However, there are some things you'll want to know before purchasing a new mattress.
As someone who runs a mattress review site, are you curious what mattress I personally sleep on? (Yes, it's foam, and yes, it's great for sex) 😉
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Advantages of Sex on Memory Foam
Some people have argued that sex on a memory foam mattress is difficult because of how the material tends to absorb movement. However, there are some benefits to having sex on memory foam:
1. You can try new positions
While yes, memory foam does have the "boing" you may be used to from a traditional spring mattress, memory foam is soft. Just about any position (and yea we mean any 😉 ) is comfortable on memory foam. So get creative and have a good time.
2. Gel memory foam is cooling
Yeah, you heard that right. Gel memory foam, unlike latex or other materials, has a cooling effect and can help keep you from getting too overheated while you're heating things up.
If you're worried about heat, check out the mattress toppers from Layla. We've reviewed a lot of Layla products since launching this site, and they are by FAR the best company that makes bed foam that actually stays cool.
3. No bounce = no wasted energy
If you're looking for an efficient trip to pound town, keep in mind that memory foam has almost NO bounce. While bounce can be a personal preference, if you're looking for minimal bounce and high efficiency, memory foam is a solid choice.
>> Related Content: Best Mattress For Sex
Disadvantages of Sex on Memory Foam
We aren't going to lie, theres less to love about having sex on memory foam than there is to dislike. Most people have a bit of a bounce preference, and memory foam just doesn't offer that. Here are some of the most important cons of having sex on memory foam.
1. No bounce = less fun
Like we mentioned, a memory foam mattress has almost no bounce. And while this is ultimately up to personal preference, almost everyone we asked said they preferred a little pushback from the mattress.
2. Elasticity discourages mobility
If you've tried moving around on a memory foam bed, you know what we're talking about. Memory foam is designed to absorb movement, and because of that you tend to sink in when you try to move. This can make it harder to move around.
3. If it isn't gel, you're going to get hot
...and not in the good way. While a little heat in the bedroom can be a good thing, traditional memory foam tends to hold in heat, which could make for an uncomfortably sweaty experience overall.
Sex On a Memory Foam Mattress CAN Be Good...With The Right Mattress
Memory foam tends to get a bad reputation when it comes to sex. The best thing you can do is find a mattress manufacturer that will allow an in-home trial and see how you like it.
Most reputable mattresses (especially ones you can buy online) offer competitive return policies to help make the sale. Use this to your advantage and get to work testing out a new mattress.
What Mattress Do I Use?
Even running a mattress review website, you can really only have one mattress you call your own. If you want me to put my money where my mouth is, here's some info on the mattress I use and why.
I'm currently sleeping on The GhostBed Flex and I LOVE it. I always recommend this mattress to friends and family, and anyone looking for a mattress in general. It's soft yet supportive, and is also a great pick for couples.
Aside from how comfortable the mattress is, here's some other great reasons to consider GhostBed:
- 101 night sleep trial
- 20- 25 year warranty (2x the industry average)
- Family owned business
- Free shipping & hassle free returns
If you're in the market to buy a new mattress, the GhostBed Flex mattress is one of the best that money can buy, and if you can find it on sale, its a no-brainer. (Click to Check For Sales)
Courtney is the reason The Sleep Shop exists. She’s a Seattle native with a passion for healthy sleep. She graduated from Seattle Pacific University with a major in marketing. She started The Sleep Shop to help friends and family choose a good mattress, and helped grow the site to what it is today. She does most of the product testing and reviews.
Learn More About Courtney
It makes sense to use the cooling gel with the mattresses so that they don’t get too hot. My spouse and I need to get a new mattress that is a little bigger. We are thinking about getting a king-sized bed so that we have plenty of room to stretch out.
We have a memory foam mattress, we strongly despise it for sex. Need bounce.
I’ve had memory foam bed for years and for years have had a terrible sex life. Could be also wife is lazy in bed…hotdog in a hallway feel.
Lol…perhaps you should try a hybrid mattress…has a little more bounce 🙂
Hi JP,
What was your ultimate solution?
Did you get yourself a new mattress, a new wife or did you just learned to live with it?
You’re a pig. We all see why she doesnt want you
OMG!! This mattress is SO awful for any positions when you are on your hands and/or knees. You SINK into the mattress. Kills my wrists. Huge distraction. I’d much rather enjoy steamy sex on a spring mattress for all positions then be inhibited on a Tempur-pedic.
Memory foam mattresses may be bad for sex but not only. When you sleep on them, you overheat. I’d suggest to try a bounci-er mattress, such as a hybrid one. Or even latex, but you need a good budget to buy a decent one (from natural latex) and if you have allergies, just forget it.
Memory foam is terrible for sex. We have Temperpedic and everything sinks into it during sex. It’s like trying to have sex in beach sand. If sex is a critical requirement for your mattress purchase, don’t buy a memory foam mattress…
Yes ever since I got a modern foam mattress my sex life gone downhill in a big way. The characteristic that most hampers sex in my opinion is that you sink down in it. You try to move around your knees sink into it, you go to push off it with your hands your hand sinks in it’s like wallowing in mud.
There has to be a solution for this like some kind of a topper that will prevent you from sinking down so much when you’re trying to be mobile.
Does anybody know if such a thing is sold as a topper? Something that will give us the best of both worlds for sleeping and for sex.
Nothing in this blog post is accurate or correct. I have a memory foam mattress and i can tell you that any position that isn’t flat on your back is uncomfortable and sometimes painful.
I hate to hear that. If you’re primarily a back sleeper, a hybrid mattress or latex with more firm support might help. Memory foam is cost effective, but it’s not the best mattress material by any means.
I’m not sure if your comment implies you sleep on your back because you have to, or if its what you’d prefer regardless, but check out our guide for back sleepers if you’re looking to improve the quality of your sleep.
https://thesleepshopinc.com/best-mattress-for-back-sleepers/
HI – What mattress is it? There are different quality of foam mattresses. I’m eager to know. We are considering moving to a foam mattress for the first time. A Tempur Sensation Elite
The good old-fashioned mattress and air mattresses are my favourites. We have a memory foam bed, which is dreadful. The bounce aids are smashing, and the memory foam seeps in. Memory foam isn’t my favourite.
I loved it when you said that we all know we humans do more than just sleep on our mattresses though. My wife complains about her sleep disorders. I will try a Tempurpedic bed for her. They said it can solve your problem of sleeping.
I had sex on a memory foam mattress for the first time the other day and I could not ride on top like I usually am able to so I need more bounce!
I was smiling when I found this article and thought that joint pains was the only target fo this mattress topic and I said yeah’ that makes sense. Our decade old mattress needs to be replaced since we are lossing the fun.