Zinus is one of the most affordable memory foam mattresses on the market, and it offers excellent pressure relief. But is it the bed of your dreams? Read our unbiased Zinus Cooling Gel Memory Foam mattress review to find out! We’ll cover everything you need to know, from its firmness level to its price point.
Zinus Cooling Gel Memory Foam Mattress
Material
Foam
Trial Period
100 nights
Shipping Method
Free shipping
Firmness
Soft: 6/10
Warranty
10-year warranty
Price Range
$185 - $406
Zinus Cooling Gel Memory Foam Mattress
The Zinus Cooling Gel Memory Foam is a value mattress that is a great option for side sleepers and couples.
Material
Foam
Warranty
10-year warranty
Firmness
Soft: 6/10
Shipping Method
Free shipping
Trial Period
100 nights
Price Range
$185 - $406
Zinus Cooling Gel Memory Foam Mattress
The Zinus Cooling Gel Memory Foam is a value mattress that is a great option for side sleepers and couples.
Material
Foam
Firmness
Soft: 6/10
Trial Period
100 nights
Warranty
10-year warranty
Shipping Method
Free shipping
Price Range
$185 - $406
Zinus Cooling Gel Memory Foam Mattress Overview
Zinus is known for creating comfy mattresses that don’t break the bank. There are several different models to choose from, including the Zinus Cooling Copper Hybrid mattress and the Zinus Green Tea mattress.
The Zinus Cooling Gel Memory Foam mattress is available in four different heights: 8”, 10”, 12”, and 14”. For this review, we’ll focus specifically on the 12” model.
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Who Might Like The Zinus Mattress? |
Who Might Not Like The Zinus Mattress? |
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Couples who are looking for a mattress that minimizes motion transfer |
People who are looking for a long-term investment or luxury mattress |
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People who are looking for a cheap mattress |
Heavy-weight sleepers and other folks who require a supportive mattress |
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People who don’t like mattresses with a slow-moving feel | |
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Folks who want to choose from multiple thickness options |
RELATED: Memory foam vs Hybrid Mattresses
Zinus Video Review
Get up-close-and-personal with the Zinus mattress in our in-depth video review!
Overall Rating
Our team of Certified Sleep Science Coaches personally test each mattress in categories such as materials, comfort, cooling, and support. Hover over the icons to learn more about these different topics, or scroll down for a more detailed analysis on each one.
Note: Looking for a mattress that sleeps cooler? Check out our Best Cooling Mattresses for options with cooling features and great airflow.
Note: Looking for a mattress with stronger support and durability? Check out our Best Mattresses That Won’t Sag.
Zinus Cooling Gel Memory Foam Mattress Firmness and Feel
Now, let’s take a look at the Zinus’s firmness and feel. These factors have a big influence on whether a mattress will suit your sleeping position and body type.
How Firm Is the Zinus?
The 12” Zinus Gel Memory Foam mattress feels like a 6/10 on our firmness scale, which is a half point softer than the industry standard of medium-firm.
It’s important to note that firmness is subjective. Heavier people may think this mattress feels a bit firmer because they sink into the comfort layers and feel more of the support foam underneath.
Sleeping on the Zinus
When I rested on my back, I felt a good balance of comfort and support. The memory foam comfort layer contoured my body and prevented my hips from sinking out alignment.
When I rested on my side, I sank into the comfort layer and felt zero pressure along my shoulder and hip. If you want even more plushness, opt for the 14” model.
The Zinus mattress isn’t a great choice for stomach sleepers. In this sleeping position, my hips sank out of alignment and caused some lower back pain. I recommend stomach sleepers looking for one of the best firm mattresses instead.
What Does the Zinus Mattress Feel Like?
The Zinus Cooling Gel Memory Foam mattress has a classic memory foam feel. It offers excellent pressure relief, and it gently contours the body. But because it doesn’t contain coils, it’s a bit difficult to move around on top of the Zinus Gel Foam mattress. Some people may sink into the top layers and feel stuck.
Average Weight Sleepers – 130 lb – 230 lb
The Zinus Gel Memory Foam mattress works well for most average weight back and side sleepers because it offers the necessary pressure relief and lumbar support. However, because the mattress feels softer than average, it’s not a good choice for average weight stomach sleepers. In this sleeping position, people will need a supportive mattress that can help prevent their hips from sinking out of alignment.
Heavyweight Sleepers – Over 230 lb
Due to its thick comfort layer and soft feel, the Zinus Gel Memory Foam mattress isn’t a great choice for heavier back sleepers. In this sleeping position, heavyweight people will need more lumbar support.
Heavier side sleepers won’t get the pressure relief they need on the Zinus memory foam mattress. Most people in this weight category will compress the comfort layers and feel the firm support layer underneath.
We also don’t recommend the Zinus Cooling Gel Memory Foam mattress for heavyweight stomach sleepers. This bed isn’t firm enough to support the hips and promote the proper spinal alignment. Take a look at our list of the mattresses for heavy people for some other options.
Lightweight Sleepers – Under 130 lb
The Zinus memory foam mattress works well for lightweight sleepers. Smaller people won’t compress the top layers too much, so they’ll get the comfort and support they need in all three sleeping positions.
Zinus Cooling Gel Memory Foam Mattress Construction
Let’s pop the hood (or cover!) on the Zinus and take a look at what’s inside! We’ll detail each layer of this bed’s construction and reveal how different materials affect feel and performance.
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Layer |
Description |
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Cover |
The Zinus’s cover is made with thin, soft, and stretchy fabric. |
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Comfort Layer #1 |
The primary comfort layer on the 12” model contains 3” of gel memory foam, which offers pressure relief and body contouring. The gel infusion helps the memory foam dissipate body heat. |
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Comfort Layer #2 |
Underneath the gel memory foam sits a 2” transition layer that helps prevent sleepers from “bottoming out” on the mattress. |
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Support Layers |
Underneath the 12” Zinus’s transition layer is a 3.5” layer of high-density foam. Beneath that, there’s another 3.5” layer of high-density base support foam that gives the mattress its structure. Both of these base layers are aerated for extra breathability. |
Mattress Height
The Zinus comes in four thickness options: 8”, 10”, 12”, and 14”.
Zinus Cooling Gel Memory Foam Size Options and Price
Curious about the latest size and pricing information for the Zinus 12″ mattress? Take a peek at the chart below!
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Size |
Dimensions |
Price |
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Full |
54" x 75" |
$225.00 |
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Queen |
60" x 80" |
$269.00 |
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King |
76" x 80" |
$319.00 |
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California King |
72" x 84" |
$406.75 |
To get the best deals, make sure to use our mattress coupons.
The Zinus Cooling Gel Memory Foam is a value mattress that is a great option for side sleepers and couples.
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Zinus Cooling Gel Memory Foam Mattress Performance
We ran this bed through several tests to assess its temperature regulation, motion transfer, edge support, and more. Let’s see how it performed!
Sleeping Hot or Cold
All-foam mattresses are known for sleeping hot, but the Zinus combats this with several cooling features. It includes gel infusions and perforations to stimulate airflow and dissipate heat. Sleepers shouldn’t feel too hot on this bed. Check out our best cooling mattresses for more options.
Motion Transfer
Memory foam does a great job of handling motion transfer, so we weren’t surprised to learn that the Zinus excels in this area. The memory foam absorbs movement and minimizes disturbances across the surface of the bed, so this should be a great mattress for couples.
Edge Support
While memory foam is great for controlling motion transfer, it doesn’t always have the best edge support. This proved true for the Zinus. The edges collapsed quite a bit when we sat and laid down near the sides of this mattress.
Durability
The Zinus is a value mattress, so it’s not the most durable bed on the market. We expect the Zinus memory foam mattress to last about five years. Mattresses made with more durable materials, on the other hand, tend to last between seven and 10 years. If you’re looking for a long-term investment, check out our roundup of long-lasting mattresses.
Off-Gassing
The Zinus is made with CertiPUR-US® certified foams, which means it’s more eco-friendly than conventional foams and is low in volatile organic compounds (VOCs). But even so, we did notice a subtle smell when we unboxed the mattress. After 48 hours, the smell completely faded away.
Noise
We didn’t observe any notable noise from the Zinus. Because this is an all-foam mattress, it should stay noise-free throughout its lifespan.
Sex
The best mattress for sex makes it easy for partners to change positions. Because the Zinus has a slow-moving feel and allows sleepers to sink deeply into it, it’s not the best match. Partners might have some difficulty moving around on top of this bed.
Company Policies
If you choose to purchase the Zinus Cooling Gel Memory Foam mattress, here’s a quick overview of the company policies.
Warranty Info
The Zinus Cooling Gel Memory Foam mattress comes with a 10-year limited warranty.
Sleep Trial
The Zinus comes with a 100-night sleep trial.
Return Policy
Zinus offers full refunds on mattresses returned within the 100-night trial period. The brand will ask you to prove that you’ve donated or otherwise disposed of the mattress prior to issuing a refund.
How Does the Zinus Cooling Gel Memory Foam Compare to Other Mattresses?
Curious how the Zinus stacks up against its competitors? We pitted the Zinus against two of the most popular all-foam beds around: the original Casper and the Layla. Let’s see how these beds stack up.
Check out our other Zinus mattress comparisons for more information.
Zinus vs the Original Casper Mattress
Both the Zinus and the original Casper are all-foam mattresses, but they still vary a bit in their construction. The Zinus layers memory foam over firmer foams, while the Casper contains a proprietary Airscape foam over a zoned layer of memory foam and a sturdy polyfoam base layer. The Casper’s zoning makes the mattress a bit firmer near the center (for extra spinal support) and softer near the head and foot (for added pressure relief). The Zinus does not have zoned support.
These beds also have different firmnesses. We ranked the 12” Zinus at 6/10, or softer than average, while we ranked the Casper at 7/10.
Another difference? Feel. The Zinus has a classic, slow-moving memory foam feel, while the Casper has a balanced and much more responsive feel. It’s easier to move around on top of the Casper, while the Zinus allows sleepers to sink further into the comfort layers.
These beds also differ when it comes to price. A 12” Queen-size Zinus starts at a value price of $269.00, while a queen-size Casper costs much more at $1295.00for full price.
Who Should Get the Zinus?
- People who are looking for a budget-friendly mattress
- Side sleepers
- People who prefer a softer mattress
- Folks who want the slow-moving feel of memory foam
Who Should Get the Casper?
- Back sleepers
- People who want a firmer and more supportive mattress
- Folks who prefer a balanced foam feel
- People who want a more durable bed
See the full Zinus vs Casper mattress comparison.
Zinus vs Layla Mattress
The Layla is a very popular memory foam mattress. It’s flippable, so it offers two firmness options in a single bed. Much like the Zinus, the Layla layers memory foam over more supportive foams. However, the Zinus is not flippable.
The Zinus comes in four thicknesses, each with a single firmness. We ranked the 12” model around 6/10, or softer than average. We ranked the soft side of the Layla right around the same (6/10), while we found the firm side to be very firm at around 8/10.
Both of these mattresses have a slow-moving memory foam feel, but one of the biggest differences between these two beds is price. A queen-size, 12” Zinus costs $269.00 for full price, while a queen-size Layla costs much more at a full price of $1099.00.
Who Should Get the Zinus?
- People who are looking for an affordable mattress
- Folks who want to choose from multiple thicknesses
Who Should Get the Layla?
- People who need a mattress for hip pain
- Folks who want a longer-lasting mattress
- People who want a flippable mattress
Learn more about the Layla in our in-depth Layla mattress review.
Zinus Mattress FAQs
Still musing about the Zinus mattress? Maybe this will help! We’ve put together answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about this bed.
Is the Zinus mattress any good?
Yes. We think the Zinus mattress is a good value for people prioritizing price. The Zinus also works well for side sleepers. Check out our roundup of the best cheap mattresses, if you’d like to compare other affordable options.
Is the Zinus mattress good for couples?
The Zinus mattress performed very well in our motion transfer tests. However, the Zinus mattress doesn’t have great edge support. This could force some couples to sleep closer toward the center of the mattress.
When can you sleep on a new Zinus mattress?
It can take up to 48 hours for a new Zinus mattress to expand to its full height; however, it is safe to sleep on your mattress the first night.