Today we discuss the big reasons to pay up for Tuft & Needle Mint and also the reasons why you might want to save money and get the original mattress. If you aren’t familiar, Tuft & Needle is largely considered the best budget mattress brand.

It’s also one of the most popular bed-in-a-box mattress brands online, making it an easy choice for shoppers who want a safe, comfortable mattress. What might be a little less easy is comparing how two beds from Tuft & Needle is right for you. Our Tuft & Needle Original vs. Tuft & Needle Mint review will cover everything you need to know. Here are the top differences at a glance:

  • Construction — The Original mattress has two layers and the Mint has three.
  • Firmness — Differences between Tuft & Needle Mint vs Tuft & Needle Original also come down to how firm they are. The Mint model is a tad softer than the original, making it best for side sleepers. 
  • Price — The Original mattress is a well-priced entry-level mattress and the Mint is an upgraded version that will cost you more.
Tuft & Needle Mint mattress VS. Tuft & Needle Original mattress
$745 – $1,395Price Range$745 – $1,095
20% Off Applied In CartOffer 20% Off Applied In Cart
  • Shoppers seeking a comfortable, soft foam mattress
  • Side sleepers who need extra pressure relief
Best For
  • Shoppers who want an affordable foam mattress
  • All types of sleepers, including back, stomach and side
100 NightsTrial Period100 Nights
10 YearsWarranty10 Years
Free Shipping and ReturnsShipping Options Free Shipping and Returns
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  • Tuft & Needle Original vs. Mint Video

Tuft & Needle vs. Mint Mattress Construction and Design

Tuft & Needle Original has a very simple design. The original bed is 10″ thick and has two layers: 

  • Base layer — A dense support core
  • Comfort layer — A T&N Adaptive Foam graphite-infused comfort layer
tuft and needle mattress review construction and foam layers
It has a simple, no frills design

While the original bed has a two-layer 10″ construction, Mint has a three-layer 12″ construction. As a result, it’s more durable and more supportive. 

  • Support layer — Dense polyurethane foam support core
  • Transition layer — T&N Adaptive Foam comfort layer
  • Comfort layer — Comfort foam layer with 30% more graphite to help with temperature regulation
tuft and needle mint mattress review construction and layers
Inside Tuft & Needle Mint (you can see the new comfort foam)

Tuft & Needle Mint vs. Original Feel and Firmness

The original bed has a plain Jane, neutral-foam feel, while the Mint is more soft and plush. If you can just envision a generic foam that’s soft, but not too soft, that’s what the original bed feels like. As our graphic shows, we estimate that the original bed is close to a medium in terms of firmness.

tuft and needle mattress review firmness graphic

Because of the updated design, the Mint will be noticeably softer than the original bed. We have the Mint at somewhere between a medium-soft and medium on our firmness spectrum. This is a relative measure and will depend on your shape and weight, but for most people, the Mint will be a truly soft and plush mattress.

tuft and needle mint mattress review firmness and feel

  • Side sleepers
    Good For

    Because it’s so soft, Tuft & Needle Mint is a wonderful solution for side sleepers who need maximum pressure relief, particularly for their hips, shoulders, or upper back. We picked it as part of our Best Mattresses for Side Sleepers list.

  • Combination sleepers

    Don’t let the simplicity of the original mattress fool youTuft & Needle is comfortable and versatile in the sense that it will work for a lot of sleeping styles, making it just right for combination sleepers.

  • Back and stomach sleepers

    The Mint is the type of mattress that you lay on and immediately experience pressure relief. It’s ideal for back and stomach sleepers unless you’re heavier and sink too far in the foam.

    Because the original bed is firmer, it makes sense for it to be more ideal for back and stomach sleepers — and that is indeed the case.

tuft and needle mattress review stomach sleepers
You can sleep in any position on the original bed

Tuft & Needle vs. Mint Pricing

While we don’t think you should base your decision solely on price, there is a big price difference between the original and Mint that you can’t ignore. The original sells for about $900, and the Mint sells for about $1,200 for a queen-size bed. That’s absent any discounts or promotions.

SizeTuft & Needle OriginalTuft & Needle Mint
Twin$645$745
Twin XL$695$845
Full$795$995
Queen$895$1,195
King$1,095$1,395
Cal King$1,095$1,395

Other Considerations 

Aside from construction, firmness, and price, here are a few other mattress attributes you should be thinking about. Especially if you sleep with a partner. 

Edge support

This refers to how supportive the perimeter of the mattress is. The edge support is better on the Mint mattress than Tuft & Needle Original because they reinforced the first layer with extra firm foam around the edges. With that being said, it’s good, but not phenomenal.

Motion isolation

Both the Mint model and Original are great at isolating motion because their all-foam constructions are great at absorbing motion. If your partner tends to get up from bed often in the middle of the night, either mattress will work just fine at deadening movement. 

Temperature 

Neither the Tuft & Needle Mint nor the Original have cooling abilities that make them cooling mattresses. They shouldn’t make you sleep hot, but they won’t help you sleep cold either. Though, the Mint model is slightly better at regulating temperature because of its graphite-infused design which draws body heat away from you.

Tuft & Needle Original vs. Mint Mattress Review Verdict

We cannot tell you what to do, but we can help to guide you in the right direction. With that in mind, here’s a quick recap of the things that you should be thinking about with Tuft & Needle Mint vs Tuft & Needle Original. 

  • Do you need a cheap mattress? If that’s the case, I suppose both beds will work, but the original is quite a bit more affordable when it’s all said and done.
  • Do you sleep on your side? If you prefer a softer mattress because you sleep on your side, Tuft & Needle Mint is the best option!
  • Are you a back or stomach sleeper? The Original Tuft & Needle will likely be the better option, especially if you’re more petite. 

The truth is that a lot of your decision will come down to feel, firmness, and price. You can always check out our other mattress comparisons for additional context on how these beds compare to others.

Other Tuft & Needle products

Tuft & Needle mattress ratings

  • BBB Rating: A+
  • Amazon Reviews: Customers give Tuft & Needle a 4.3 out of 5, with good customer value and comfort as the positives and a poor return process as the main complaint.
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Why Trust Us

Get the kind of sleep you’ve only dreamed of with some help from our team of mattress experts. We personally test more than 175 of the best sleep solutions from over 60 leading brands on-site, so you can be sure you’re getting unbiased reviews, fair comparisons, and personalized recommendations.


The Review Team

  • Tharon

    Tharon Green

    Stomach Sleeper

  • kenzie

    McKenzie Dillon

    Combo Sleeper

  • Dillon Payne

    Combo Sleeper

  • reynoso

    Jack Reynoso

    Combo Sleeper

Frequently Asked Questions
How soon can you sleep on a Tuft & Needle mattress?

You can sleep on your new mattress as soon as you unpack it but Tuft & Needle recommends letting the mattress expand one or two hours before sleeping on it.

Which is better for heavier people?

The Mint has an added top layer and built-in edge support, making it better if you’re heavier-weight. However, heavier people will get more out of a bed with coils.

Comparing Tuft & Needle Mint vs. Original, which mattress sleeps cooler?

The Mint mattress has 30% more graphite in the comfort layer, making it cooler to sleep on. However, both of them sleep temperature neutral.

How long is the Tuft & Needle trial period?

Try a T&N mattress for 100 nights. If you’re not happy, contact customer service to return it.

Is Tuft & Needle Mint worth it?

It’ll likely be worth it for sleepers who want a softer profile with a little more durability than the 2-layer Tuft & Needle Original. However, if you sleep on your back, stomach, or weigh over 230 pounds, you should look for a firmer and more supportive bed.

Is Tuft & Needle Mint soft?

Yes, after testing Tuft & Needle Mint our team found it was softer than the original Tuft & Needle, coming in around a medium to medium-soft on our scale.