GhostBed vs Tuft and Needle Mattress

The Three Different Foams Inside GhostBed

GhostBed has a base layer of dense polyurethane foam that makes up the foundation and bulk of the support for the bed. This is really common to see. On top of that is a strip of memory foam, much like the Leesa mattress. But what really sets GhostBed apart is the top layer, which is latex foam.

In case you aren’t all that familiar with latex foam, it feels unlike the other foams out there. It actually feels spongy and is really responsive, but is also great for regulating temperature. If you look closely in the image above, you can see the little pinholes in the foam that help with airflow circulation.

The reason we like GhostBed’s construction so much is that it provides you a nice blend of the three most popular foams: poly foam, memory foam, and latex foam. Lighter individuals will feel more of the latex foam, whereas average-size and heavyset individuals will sink in more and feel a lot of the memory foam.

The Overall Feel Of GhostBed

Given that GhostBed has a unique construction, it would make sense for it to feel unique as well—indeed that it is the case. For individuals weighing under about 150 lb GhostBed will feel more like a traditional latex bed. You won’t be applying enough pressure to sink into the mattress, so it will actually feel a good deal firmer for you.

If you’re between ~150 lb and 230 lb, GhostBed will feel mixed. You will noticed the latex foam, but you will also get plenty of the pressure relief from the memory foam. If you’re over 230 lb, the bed will feel fairly soft, but will still appear neutral (i.e. no overwhelming memory foam feel).

Where GhostBed Sits On The Firmness Spectrum

While it’s not an exact science, we’re placing GhostBed as a medium on the soft/firm scale. Of course, it will feel firmer for petite individuals and softer for heavy/obese folks, but for the average person (weighing around 200 lb) it should be about a medium.

And if you stop to think for a second, it makes sense for GhostBed, Tuft & Needle—and other brands such as Leesa and Casper—to make medium firmness beds for utilitarian purposes. Rather than offer every firmness level possible, they make a bed that splits the difference. There’s a chance that it will be too firm or too soft, but for most people it will work, even if it’s not exactly what you had intended.

Tuft & Needle Is The More Affordable Bed

While GhostBed is an affordable bed in its own right, Tuft & Needle is about as cheap as it gets for a bed made in the USA. In other words, anyone that’s shopping on a cup-and-noodle budget will want to go with Tuft & Needle.

The MSRP for the queen size Tuft & Needle and GhostBed is about $900 and $1,000, respectively. In the long run, not a big deal, but in terms of absolute dollars now, there’s a small difference between the price of each bed.

Now, obviously, it’s not all about price, but let’s be honest, for some people price is the most important factor in the decision making process. And if you just look at MSRP, the prices are a little skewed since GhostBed regularly offers discounts.

You may want to check TuftandNeedle.com and GhostBed.com to see current deals if there are any. Tuft & Needle will sometimes run promotions—not typically cash discounts—but GhostBed almost always has a $100 off special, if not better.

Tuft & Needle Has Two Layers Of Foam

You are not getting Tuft & Needle because you want the world’s nicest mattress—it’s nice, but not luxurious. It has a simple, two-layer design that starts with a foundational layer of dense poly foam, and the comfort layer is “T&N Adaptive” foam. As such, the bed will have a true neutral feel, almost as if it was one slab of softer foam. It’s comfortable, but there’s no “signature” feel to the bed, which we actually see as a strength since Tuft & Needle is all about convenience and value.

One distinction that you can draw between GhostBed and Tuft & Needle is that, while overall they both have a soft-foam feel, people of different weights will experience a different mattress. For instance, we said that petite individuals will feel more of GhostBed’s top layer of latex foam, but someone in the 200 lb range will get more of a mixed foam feel.

With Tuft & Needle, regardless of your weight you will experience a very similar mattress feel. It might feel firmer or softer to you, but it will still feel neutral.

Firmness Estimates For Tuft & Needle

We place both GhostBed and Tuft & Needle around the center of our firmness spectrum (i.e. close to a medium). However, that’s only part of the story, and remember that softness/firmness will change depending on who’s testing the mattress. For the average-size sleeper, Tuft & Needle will be close to a medium+, meaning it’s a tinge above a true medium. Similar story for GhostBed.

If you’re under 150 lb, your firmness estimate will fall closer to the high end of the spectrum in the medium-firm range. The opposite will ring true for individuals close to, or over, 250 lb. The bed will be closer to a medium-soft in this case. But for the average person, Tuft & Needle is close to a medium on our firmness scale, as you can see in the graphic above.

Tuft & Needle will be suitable for all sleeping styles, but remember that you should factor your weight into the calculus. In other words, if you’re 100 lb soaking wet, you probably want to spend most of the night on your back or stomach with Tuft & Needle. Likewise, if you’re 245 lb, it will become mostly a side sleeper bed.

What It All Comes Down To

As is so commonly the case with mattresses, everything hinges on your personal preferences and/or those of your partner. You have to be mindful of everything from feel and firmness to materials and trial periods. Luckily, with these two beds we’re pretty confident that you’ll like whichever one you select—that is if you know what to expect. That said, here are some questions to consider when deciding between GhostBed and Tuft & Needle:

• How important is price to you? If you said “Very,” then Tuft & Needle wins because it almost always is the cheaper bed—as it should be considering it’s comprised of just two foam layers.
• Are you intrigued by latex foam? GhostBed is one of very few mattresses under $1,000 that have latex, although it’s technically synthetic latex last we had checked. Just so you know, most latex mattresses are well above $1,000 given that latex foam is considered a more premium foam.
• Do you want a truly neutral, soft-foam feel or are you open to a mixed feel? I know that’s probably difficult to answer if you aren’t familiar with mattresses, but it will tell you whether you prefer GhostBed or Tuft & Needle
• How long do you plan to keep your bed? If you expect it to be over 10 years, GhostBed technically has the longer warranty.
• Are you a coupon clipper? If that’s the case, GhostBed offers discounts more frequently than Tuft & Needle, though, T&N remains the more affordable bed. By the way, you can always visit our Mattress Coupons & Deals page to see what promotions we’ve spotted today—for these two brands and others.

I know that’s a lot of information to take in and it’s hard to drive a wedge between Tuft & Needle and GhostBed, but hopefully this guide at least gave you a few things to consider.

Tuft & Needle Hybrid vs GhostBed Overview

If all the information above wasn’t enough, below is a short video outlining how the new Tuft & Needle Hybrid compares to the four GhostBed mattresses.

We hope the video above was helpful in your quest for a new mattress. The sections below cover what GhostBed and Tuft & Needle have in common.