A full-time physician, medical writer, editor, and internet entrepreneur. Has a Doctor of Medicine degree (MD), as well as a MPH (Master of Public Health).
Includes well-known professionals, who together provide decades of sleep medicine experience that enables Talk About Sleep to fulfill its mission of creating access to high-quality sleep information, education, and support.
Can't decide between Zinus and Nectar? We compared them for you.
Talk About Sleep is reader-supported. We may earn a commission through products purchased using links on this page. Learn more about our process here
There are a lot of bed-in-a-box mattress brands around these days and it can be difficult to determine the features that set one apart from the next. To help, we put together this Zinues vs Nectar comparison between two of the most popular, highest rated brands.
Each of these brand is known for providing universal comfort for different types of sleepers. To determine which is the better brand for you, it’s time to look a little closer. Our Nectar vs Zinus comparison will help you do just that.
Quick Comparison
Zinus
Nectar
Medium-firm with soft sleeping surface
Gel-infused memory foam layer to dissipate heat
Effective against motion transfer
Better edge support
Ships compressed in a box
Can have significant off-gassing and odor
Reasonably priced
10-year warranty
Medium-firm with soft sleeping surface
Two gel-infused memory foam layers and moisture wicking cover to control heat
Although the Zinus and Nectar mattresses have the same number of layers, they take a much different approach to how those layers are put together. Zinus uses two base support layers while Nectar only has one while Zinus has two comfort layers to Nectar’s three. Both are vesatile enough for any kind of sleeper though the Nectar provides more support for people who are above average weight.
Comfort
There are a lot of things that make a mattress comfortable. Layers and support are important but so is temperature control, bounce, and edge support. Consider what type of sleeper you are when deciding which features are most important to you.
Firmness and support
Both the Zinus and Nectar mattresses are medium firm, though the Nectar is just slighty firmer.
The Zinus features a soft sleeping surface that hugs you ever so slightly which is great for a combination or belly sleeper who needs soft surface contouring. Heavy sleepers or those who don’t move around a lot throughout the night may find that the supportive bottom layers are a little too prominant when the rest of the mattress is compressed enough.
The Nectar mattress provides a good amount of hug though it takes a few seconds for the mattress to respond and adjust to your body. After it does, though, it provides the contouring support that supports any kind of sleeper. The bottom support layer is made of HD polyfoam which provides good support for back sleepers and those who are above average weight.
Temperature control
Most memory foam mattresses get a little hot throughout the night. To counter this, Zinus uses a layer of gel-infused memory foam to help dissipate heat. This is somewhat effective but people who tend to get hot throughout the night might still find they’re a little uncomfortable.
One the other hand, Nectar is extremely effective when it comes to temperature control. The Tencel cooling cover wicks away moisture and heat while you sleep plus there’s a quilted gel memory foam layer wfollowed by a gel memory foam layer, both of which allow air to circulate to reduce heat.
Motion transfer
Memory foam mattresses are extremely effective at eliminating motion transfer. Zinus and Nectar are equally matched here. Both are extremely effective at absorbing energy and eliminating motion transfer.
Responsiveness
Most memory foam mattresses have slow response time which means they slowly respond when pressure is applied. You can feel this when you lay down and the mattress slowly contours to your body shape. Both Zinus and Nectar perform well here.
Resilience and bounce
Good resilience and bounce are common with memory foam mattresses and both Nectar and Zinus bounce back quickly and return to their normal shape when you move.
Edge support
Edge support is important because it allows you to use every single inch of the mattress. It’s particularly important if you sleep with a partner or like to curl up on the edge of your bed.
Zinus has a bit of an advantage when it comes to edge support so you don’t feel like you’re falling off the farther away you move from the center. Nectar doesn’t have the same support so you may feel like you’re going to roll off the mattress if you get within three or four inches of edge.
Inflation time, off-gassing and smell
Compressed mattresses might look like they’re completely expanded pretty quickly but both the Zinus and Nectar mattresses take about 48 to 72 hours to return to their normal shape.
It’s normal to have a slight chemical smell with any memory foam mattress but some are much more intrusive than others. This is a common complaint with Zinus mattresses which has quite a but of off-gassing and a smell that can linger for days.
Nectar also has quite a bit of off-gassing but it’s a little bit more dense so that’s to be expected. The scent should disappear in three or four days.
Sleep position ratings
SLEEP POSITION
Light sleepers(less than 130Â lbs)
Average sleepers(130Â lbs to 230 lbs)
Heavy sleepers(greater than 230 lbs)
Zinus
Side
7
9
6
Back
8
7
7
Stomach
10
8
6
Nectar
Side
6
7
7
Back
9
8
9
Stomach
5
6
8*
*Out of 10
As you can see, Zinus has a slight edge for light and average sleepers in any position, though Nectar certainly performs well for back and side sleepers. The opposite is true for heavy sleeper who weigh more than 230 pounds. Zinus does well but Nectar definitely has an edge.
Sizes and pricing
SIZE
Zinus
Nectar
Twin
$163
$399
Twin XL
–
$469
Full
$385
–
Queen
$440
–
King
$392
$899
California King
–
$899
Customer service
Sleep trial
Warranty and refund
Delivery
Zinus
100 days
10-year warrantyfull refund
Within the U.S.
Nectar
365 days
Lifetime warrantyfull refund
Within the U.S.
Zinus mattresses come with a 10-year waarranty when purchased from an authorized retailers. This covers defects in materials or workmanship but not using a proper foundation or neglecting to use a stain-resistant cover void the warranty. So does using a heating pad or electric blanket. Normal wear and indents of less than 1.5 inches are also not covered. If damage does occur that’s covered by the warranty, Zinus will either replace the mattress or give you a pro-rated refund.
Zinus mattresses are deliveres anywhere in the U.S. and come with a 100-day in-home sleep trial and full refund if you’re not satisfied in that time frame.
Nectar mattresses are covered by an impressive limited lifetime warranty as long as the mattress is purchased from an authorized retailer and you use a proper supportive base. It covers indents greater than 1.5 inches and splits and cracks that occur with normal use. For the first ten years or ownership, Nectar will replace the damaged mattress at no charge. After ten years, they’ll repair and recover the mattress or replace it at their discretion and charge a $50 transportation fee each way. If Nectar confirms the defect, this fee will be refunded.
Zinus mattresses are extremely affordable and provide great support for people of average weight in any sleeping position. If you have a little more room in your budget, the Nectar mattress is worth considering, especially for people who are a little heavier or need something with a lot of temperature control. Although they’re more expensive, the limited lifetime warranty makes Nectar a worthwhile investment.