Adjustable Mattress vs. Adjustable Frame: Similar but Not the Same

One of my pet peeves as a professional mattress tester of over five years? Using the titles “adjustable mattress” and “adjustable frame” interchangeably when they are, in fact, different things altogether. It doesn't help that these products come up within the same search and are often labeled as the same thing—of course they’re going to get mixed up.

It’s time to set the record straight and “adjust” your understanding of all things adjustable mattresses. Under my wing you go to begin this journey.

What is an adjustable mattress? Simply put, it's designed to let users modify how soft- or firm-feeling they want their bed to be. Adjustable beds don’t follow the same layout as a normal mattress, because they involve internal air chambers that help you accomplish the firmness you’re seeking. While a glorified air mattress may come to mind (and arguably, that is basically what it is), there is a lot involved in the material makeup here. To pump up these air chambers, there is so much tech, tubing, and incorporated programming by way of embedded computer chips and apps involved with an adjustable mattress. Hence, they aren’t budget buys.

Take Sleep Number, for example. While it isn’t the only mattress capable of adjusting its own firmness, it is one of the priciest and most renowned given the incorporated apps, sleep tracking, and extra features, depending on the model you go for. For example, the Sleep Number Climate360 (5/10, WIRED Review) is nearly $10,000 and lets you also adjust temperature as well as firmness).

Depending on the brand and model you choose, another common feature among adjustable mattresses is the ability to shift the top and bottom both up and down. Some models may not include this, depending on the brand and iteration, but it’s also a driver of cost. This feature is where adjustable frames and mattresses are probably getting confused, as the bed is able to accomplish this range of motion only with the use of an adjustable frame.

Many brands (like Sleep Number) will recommend you add an adjustable frame to your purchase so you can enjoy the full offerings of your new mattress. Other times, you can purchase an adjustable frame (also known as an adjustable base) to use with a regular bed-in-a-box mattress.

In these cases, it’s absolutely crucial that you confirm the mattress—whether it's memory foam or a hybrid—is able to work with an adjustable frame, lest you break the internal support system. The easiest way to verify is to reach out to a brand's customer service team to confirm whether the bed you're considering works with an adjustable frame. Never assume you're good to go right off the bat. But keep in mind that you will only be able to move the mattress to various angles, not adjust the overall firmness. Also, from experience, let’s say you put a hybrid mattress that’s approved to use on an adjustable frame—the popping of the pocketed coils within isn’t the most pleasant noise to listen to. Or feel, for that matter.

To recap: You can use an adjustable mattress without an adjustable base. But if your mattress has the capability to move its head and foot in a vertical motion, and you’re paying for this feature with the overall cost of the bed, are you truly enjoying the full offerings of the bed (and what you paid for)? Similarly, you can use an adjustable base with an approved mattress, but you’ll only get the up-and-down motion and not the variety of firmnesses. Is it worth it to purchase both to use together? It depends, but if you have these options available to you with your bed, I’d say yes. That way, you can get the full enjoyment and offerings from both bed and base.

Aside from the elevated (pun intended) price tags involved with adjustable mattresses and bases, there are some other downsides you need to consider. In my experience, getting adjustable mattresses and bases set up is quite cumbersome, as they're heavy and will involve extra cords and bits required for the electronic portions. The upside, though? Many people who have an adjustable bed, base, or both consider them to be absolute game changers, for situations like reading in bed, watching TV with your feet kicked up, or dealing with medical concerns like acid reflux. That's another angle to consider (I am on a roll with these puns and I will not be stopped!).