Jump to:
- Helix mattress overview
- Helix Dusk Luxe review
- Helix Midnight Luxe review
- Differences between Dusk Luxe and Midnight Luxe
- Other mattress collections from Helix
- Cost
- Ordering, set-up and trial period
- Durability and life expectancy
- The bottom line: Are Helix mattresses worth buying?
- Why trust Good Housekeeping?
If you've been shopping for a mattress online rather than in stores, you've likely come across Helix. From social media ads to online articles, there's no denying the brand's strong presence in the Direct-to-Consumer (DTC) mattress industry. But beyond its promises of a personalized bed, do Helix's mattresses live up to the hype?
At the Good Housekeeping Institute Textiles Lab, we've evaluated hundreds of mattresses with hundreds of at-home consumer testers and surveyed more than 10,000 people to see how their mattresses have held up over time. Recently, we've collected and analyzed over 1,200 data points on Helix's mattresses from testers and panelists, including Good Housekeeping staffers.
In this review, we'll dive into the brand's two most popular and best-selling mattresses, the Dusk Luxe and Midnight Luxe, discuss its Core and Elite Collections and evaluate Helix as a whole, from online ordering to customer service and unboxing.
Our verdict: Helix is one of the best places to buy a mattress. Its simple quiz and wide selection of hybrid mattresses proves user-friendly and streamlines the online mattress purchasing experience. The Dusk Luxe is a favorite among our testers and survey panelists, especially among couples and combination sleepers.
Helix mattress overview
Founded in 2015, Helix sought to simplify mattress shopping, offering mattresses based on answers to an easy quiz to match consumers to their ideal bed based on sleep style, body type and firmness preference. Instead of one or two mattresses with different firmness levels, the brand sells a wide selection of beds. Upon first glance they may appear similar in design, however, there is a clear distinction among product names like "Dusk" or "Sunrise," which allows for a personalized and seamless user experience. Helix's built-in comparison tool also lets you easily compare the similarities and differences side by side.
For years, Helix has carried 13 mattresses with six main series, but now, the brand offers 20 mattresses. Each of the lines (e.g. Midnight or Dusk) has a Core, Luxe and Elite model. Helix also carries a flippable kid's mattress with two firmness levels and their Helix Plus mattress designed for sleepers who weigh over 250 pounds, which was part of its original line-up.
Helix Dusk Luxe review
Pros
- Medium firmness for different sleeping positions
- Good compromise for partners with different preferences
- Zoned coils for spinal alignment
Cons
- Heavy with no side handles for maneuvering
- On the pricier side for boxed hybrids
Performance
The Dusk Luxe is our pick for the best mattress for couples because it's combination sleeper-friendly and has a versatile medium firmness. It earned high scores from testers and panel members alike and remains one of the brand's most popular mattresses, second only to the Midnight Luxe (which we discuss further below). We also like the comfortable, built-in Euro top, which is rare to see on a boxed bed. The mattress is designed for back and stomach sleepers and has a responsive feel with a bit more bounce than your average hybrid. Lying down on the Dusk Luxe (with the cooling Glacio-Tex cover rather than the standard Tencel lyocell cover) for the first time, I remember feeling immediately comfortable and didn't want to get up. It had a luxurious, pillow-top texture with a textbook medium firmness feel.
Overall comfort & support
Our reviewers, especially couples and combination sleepers, appreciate the balanced, supportive feel of the Dusk Luxe. "The mattress is contouring but feels supportive under pressure points," said one tester. "I like that the mattress is soft and conforming enough for [sleeping on my back] and supportive enough for side or [stomach] sleeping." Another user told us it was a good fit for her as a side sleeper and her partner, a back sleeper. She described the bed as "not too soft so you don't sink in, but not so hard that it doesn't move to best support you." Others commented on how easy it was to switch positions at night and spoke highly of the comfortable depth.
Still, a few wished it was a bit more firm. If you prefer a firmer bed, we recommend the Dawn Luxe.
Edge support
Helix's Dusk Luxe is a hybrid mattress with several layers of foam on top of coils. Typically, innerspring mattresses have excellent edge support, whereas foam mattresses struggle to provide the same sturdy edges. Our reviewers don't always agree on Dusk Luxe here: Some find the edge support much better than other beds they've tried, while other reviewers say it leaves much to be desired. I personally found it middle of the road — I've encountered mattresses with much worse edge support, but it's not particularly noteworthy.
Motion isolation
While innerspring mattresses often have poor motion isolation and foam mattresses isolate and absorb any motion, rather than transferring it, hybrid mattresses fall somewhere in the middle. Most of our testers and panelists found the motion isolation adequate, but some noted they could feel movement if their partner was too close to them in the bed.
Temperature
Memory foam, which is used in the top layers of the Dusk Luxe, is notorious for trapping heat while innerspring coils can help provide breathability. A hybrid bed, once again, falls in the middle, making it a nice compromise. Testers who previously slept on foam beds noticed improved sleep. "The first night we had the Helix, I didn't wake up sweaty at all and woke up feeling more refreshed than I had in months. It felt like a revelation," said one. Still, while it sleeps cooler than a memory foam mattress, it isn't the coolest mattress on the market. Helix also offers the option to add on a cool-to-the-touch GlacioTex cover for an extra fee, which one of our reviewers is currently in the process of testing.
Materials
Like most hybrids, the 13.5-inch Dusk Luxe combines layers of foam with a coil base.
The Dusk Luxe's six layers, from top to bottom:
- Quilted top: Helix offers a soft Tencel lyocell quilted top on all of their Luxe mattresses or the option to upgrade to their GlacioTex Cooling Cover, which feels smooth and cool to the touch.
- Helix Responsive Foam: A medium-firm layer of foam that's designed to "cradle and contour to your body for optimal support and comfort."
- Helix Dynamic Foam: Made of both latex and memory foam, this layer provides support with a responsive feel.
- Memory Plus Foam: A foam layer that adapts to your weight, providing targeted support.
- Zoned Coil System: A system of up to 1,000 individually wrapped coils (depending on bed size), featuring extra support under the hips to help provide lumbar support and promote spinal alignment. There are also reinforced coils along the sides for edge support.
- DuraDense Foam: The bottom layer of the mattress, this foam provides a base foundation for the entire bed.
Helix Midnight Luxe review
Pros
- Cushioning memory foam
- Zoned coils for spinal alignment
- Top scores from side sleepers
Cons
- Heavy with no side handles for maneuvering
- On the pricier side for boxed hybrids
Performance
Helix's best-selling mattress is the Midnight Luxe. It's made for side sleepers, the most common sleeping position, and has the same medium level of firmness as the Dusk Luxe along with the built-in Euro top. Our testers, including side sleepers and side-back combo sleepers, gave the model high scores across the board. I've tried out the Midnight Luxe, and it's not hard to see why it's a crowd favorite. It has a classic foam hybrid feel: The foam contours to the shape of your body and cradles pressure points. Those who like the feel of soft memory foam will love the way this mattress cushions their bodies rather than crushing it, like traditional firm innerspring beds might, but users who prefer to feel like they're sleeping "on top of" their beds may find it less than ideal.
Overall comfort & support
As expected, the Midnight Luxe was especially popular among side sleepers on our panel who appreciated the comfortable pillow top and cushioned feel. One consumer tester noted, "I like how my shoulder and arm sink into the mattress, so I don't feel pain in my shoulder." Others agreed: "I love this mattress! I sink into it as I sleep, making it feel comfortable and cloud-like," said one combination sleeper. "I sleep with my partner and we both really like how it feels when we lay in all positions — side, stomach and back." She also noted that as someone with a large bust, she finds it comfortable even when sleeping on her stomach.
The Midnight Luxe has a true medium feel, so if you're a side sleeper looking for something a little more plush (which was the case for some survey panelists), consider the Sunset Luxe instead.
Edge support
It's similar to the Dusk Luxe with medium edge support. One of our reviewers summarized, "the edge of the bed definitely sinks in, but not so much that you can't sit on the edge."
Motion isolation
Since the Midnight Luxe has a classic foam hybrid feel, there isn't much bounce. As a result, it has great motion isolation. One tester shared, "I don't feel [my partner's] tossing and turning as much as I did with our previous mattress, which is a game changer — seriously."
Temperature
Our reviewers were divided on whether they maintained a comfortable body temperature on this bed. While there weren't any complaints, users gave it moderate scores overall. One tester with the cooling cover version commented that while she hasn't felt as hot or sweaty at night, "it doesn't feel particularly cool."
Materials
The 13.5-inch Midnight Luxe is comprised of foam layers on top of coils.
The Midnight Luxe's six layers, from top to bottom:
- Quilted top: Like the Dusk Luxe, you can choose between a soft Tencel lyocell quilted top or a smooth GlacioTex Cooling Cover.
- Helix Responsive Foam: A medium-firm foam layer intended to "cradle and contour to your body for optimal support and comfort."
- Copper Gel Memory Foam: This layer is designed to contour to your body for extra comfort.
- Memory Plus Foam: This layer adapts to your weight and provides targeted support.
- Zoned Coil System: 1,000 individually wrapped coils (depending on bed size) provide firmer support around the lumbar region to promote spinal alignment. Reinforced coils line the sides for extra edge support.
- DuraDense Foam: The base foam for the entire bed provides a uniform foundation.
Differences between Dusk Luxe and Midnight Luxe
Both mattresses provide the same level of medium firmness. However, Midnight Luxe is designed for side sleepers and the Dusk is best for back and stomach sleepers. Both mattresses seem to have almost identical construction, except for the fact that the Dusk Luxe uses a middle layer of Helix Dynamic Foam, while the Midnight Luxe opts for Copper Gel Memory Foam.
Adam Tishman, co-president of 3Z Brands and co-founder of Helix, told us that the side-sleeper models, like the Midnight Luxe, "feature more memory foam and cushioning layers to provide pressure relief to joints, like shoulders and hips, for side sleepers." To put it simply, the foam sinks in a bit more to contour to the body. In comparison, the Dusk Luxe and other back- and stomach-sleepers models (including the Moonlight line) are designed to provide spinal support without the sinking-in feeling. As someone who has tried both beds, I can confirm that the Dusk series has a more responsive feel, ideal for anyone who wants to feel like they're sleeping "on top of" their mattress, and the Midnight series has a little more give, contouring well to my body.
Other mattress collections from Helix
Aside from its popular Luxe series, Helix also offers their original Core line and the new Elite Collection. All its models are memory foam hybrid mattresses. Their six main mattresses — Sunset, Moonlight, Midnight, Dusk, Twilight and Dawn — are each available in Core, Luxe or Elite. And those mattresses all fall into one of three firmness levels (soft, medium and firm) and one of two intended audiences (side sleepers or back and stomach sleepers).
Helix's Core collection
All the Core mattresses (e.g. the Dusk rather than the Dusk Luxe) are 11.5 inches in height and have a hybrid design comprised of five layers. Compared to the Luxe, it has thinner comfort layers, a flat top (rather than quilted) and uniform coils (rather than zoned). We often see it priced at $1,099 for a Queen size, running around $800 cheaper than the Luxe, so while it isn't the cheapest hybrid mattress you'll find, it's definitely more affordable.
Helix's Elite collection
The Elite mattresses are Helix's expansion into the luxury mattress market, made with a whopping nine layers, including two layers of microcoils that are layered with foam for targeted pressure relief and extra breathability. So far, our reviewers love the indulgent comfort of the Midnight Elite, but note the edge support isn't the best because of its tall 16-inch height. Still, the upgraded bed comes at a higher cost, running around $1,000 more (~$2,749) than the Luxe.
Cost
In our evaluations, good boxed hybrid mattresses usually cost around $1,500–$2,000 for a Queen size. That being said, there are exceptions: We've seen standout options for under $1,000 and pricier models worth the splurge.
Helix shows its pricing as an MSRP with a sale markdown, but we’ve never actually seen it listed for the MSRP, which falls outside of our range at $2,373.80 for a Queen size Luxe model. In fact, we consistently see it selling for 20% off (~$1,899 for a Queen size Luxe model), so avoid buying solely based on the apparent “sale.” Still, while it's on the pricier end of our range, many of our panelists found it worth the cost.
Ordering, set-up and trial period
Ordering
As an introvert, I personally appreciate how simple and non-invasive shopping on Helix feels. The website provides a wealth of information in a digestible format, from the simple sleep quiz to the comparison tool. I find I don't always agree with the results, but I appreciate how I can easily compare different mattress models on the website and look into each layer of any mattress. Plus, Helix still has a chat function if you run into any other questions. Our survey respondents agreed, praising the brand's easy-to-shop interface. One noted, "The website made it easy to compare options without any confusion or sales talk."
Set-up
Like many online mattress brands, Helix's beds come rolled up and compressed in a box for DIY set-up. The unboxing experience varies depending on the mattress size, type and, honestly, how familiar you are with a bed-in-a-box. Helix's mattresses aren't the most tedious mattresses to unbox, but its most popular mattresses, the Midnight Luxe and Dawn Luxe, are by no means, as light as memory foam mattresses.
While all our testers were able to set up their Helix mattresses, they unanimously agreed it was notably heavy and required at least two people to unbox. Several users also disliked the lack of handles on the sides, which make it harder for them to maneuver the mattresses. Still, many reported it was well worth the effort.
The newly released Elite Collection comes with side handles, but at 16 inches tall, they are heavier. Take note that these mattresses come in two separate boxes, so you'll need to slot in the top layer of the mattress and zip it up. One of our testers shared that the two boxes came at different times, due to the unpredictability of shipping facilities. Still, once both made their way into her bedroom, she had no issues setting it up.
Prior to COVID-19, Helix offered in-home delivery and mattress removal nationwide for an added fee, but it has since suspended those services. The brand continues to offer free shipping to all U.S. orders.
Trial period
Helix offers a 100-night sleep trial, meaning you can return your mattress for a full refund within the trial period, as long as it's after the required 30-day break-in period.
Note, in past years, some panelists told us it took a while to get a hold of customer service compared to other brands they've shopped at.
Durability and life expectancy
According to Helix, "quality hybrid mattresses, such as those manufactured by Helix Sleep, last approximately 10 years." As the brand launched in August 2015, and has redesigned their mattresses since (from their initial custom options), we aren't able to verify that claim. That being said, we've noticed less complaints in our most recent surveys as Helix's offerings have solidified.
The bottom line: Are Helix mattresses worth buying?
Yes, Helix mattresses are worth trying. It's hard to say that any mattress is right for everyone, but Helix has a proven track record in our evaluations with its Luxe hybrids. Our survey panelists found the online shopping experience seamless and, for many, it paid off. Several users — all with different sleep positions and firmness preferences — told us they wished they didn't hesitate as long before purchasing from the brand and called their Helix mattresses the best beds they've ever slept on. Plus, there's always the 100-night sleep trial in case you change your mind.
Why trust Good Housekeeping?
Grace Wu, a textiles product review analyst at the Good Housekeeping Institute, coordinated recent at-home consumer testing of over 100 mattresses. In 2023, she visited Helix's factory in Arizona and personally assessed 12 out of the brand's 20 mattresses (her favorites were the Dusk Luxe and Midnight Elite). Grace has written many stories on mattresses, including the best hybrid mattresses, best pillow-top mattresses and best mattress for heavy people. Prior to joining GH, she earned a Master of Engineering in materials science and engineering and a Bachelor of Science in fiber science from Cornell University.
Grace Wu (she/her) is a product reviews analyst at the Good Housekeeping Institute's Textiles, Paper and Apparel Lab, where she evaluates fabric-based products using specialized equipment and consumer tester data. Prior to starting at Good Housekeeping in 2022, she earned a master of engineering in materials science and engineering and a bachelor of science in fiber science from Cornell University. While earning her degrees, Grace worked in research laboratories for smart textiles and nanotechnology and held internships at Open Style Lab and Rent the Runway.
