Can the Nectar Premier Mattress deliver high-end comfort at a bargain price?

Many direct-to-consumer mattress-in-a-box brands promise to deliver the best sleeping experience at an affordable price, so when we learned about the Nectar Premier, which comes in under $1,000 for a queen, we decided to call it in to find out if the claims hold up.

The Premier competes squarely on both price and design with Casper’s budget-friendly mattress, The Casper, so we wanted to understand the difference between those two beds in particular. After sleeping on the Nectar Premier mattress for a month, we’ve found out everything you need to know to make a decision

What we liked about the Nectar Premier Mattress

The Nectar Premier is a medium-firm mattress with support that’s great for back and stomach sleepers

Nectar classifies this mattress as medium-firm, which I found accurate compared to other mattresses I’ve tested. The Nectar Premier I tested is made up of three layers of foam with a “breathable cooling” cover. As an all-foam mattress, the Premier has a denser feel than some hybrid beds I’ve slept on. When I moved around on this mattress, I didn’t detect any motion transfer, which can be an issue with hybrids.

The Premier has some give while keeping you supported; you won’t experience the sinking feeling you might expect from some memory foam beds. (If you prefer the lighter feel of a spring layer — springs make a bed feel like it has more give — a hybrid upgrade, the Nectar Premier Hybrid, is available for a couple of hundred dollars more.)

I usually prefer a soft mattress when sleeping on my side, but with the medium-firm feel of this mattress, I found myself sleeping on my back often. If you like a soft bed, this likely isn’t the mattress for you (more on that below).

The Nectar Premier is well suited for back and stomach sleepers, but for side or combination sleepers, or those who prefer a softer bed, the Casper value mattress is a better option in an all-foam bed at a similar price.

Helps prevent overheating

I found the cover cool to the touch at first, though the sensation was slight and wore off after sleeping on it for a few minutes, which happens with most cooling products I’ve tested. After lying on the mattress for a few hours, it did feel warm, but not in a way that was uncomfortable and didn’t overheat.

The Nectar Premier is not as cooling as a dedicated cooling bed like the Casper Wave Hybrid Snow, but the Nectar Premier costs nearly $1,700 less, making it a good deal in that regard. Price considered, it’s a good bed for someone who doesn’t sleep overly hot but still likes a bit of a cooling sensation.

The mattress is odor-free

On par with other foam mattresses I’ve tested over the past year, the Nectar Premier did not have a chemical or unpleasant odor from off-gassing. Similar to other foam mattresses, the foam is CertiPur-US certified, which means it’s made without formaldehyde and flame retardants, and it’s low in volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Chemical smells or unpleasant odors were a common complaint when memory foam mattresses first became popular, but this issue seems to be resolved by manufacturers.

The Nectar has good edge support

Underneath the two layers of memory foam, a 7-inch layer of conventional foam acts as the base of the bed. The top layers of the mattress squish down when you sit on the bed, but the base feels sturdy. When I sat at the very edge of the mattress, it didn’t feel completely stable, but when I fully sat back on the mattress it felt solid and not like I was going to fall off. You’ll feel comfortable if you like to sit on the edge of the bed to get dressed.

Easy setup

The Nectar Premier comes rolled up and vacuum sealed, similar to other mattresses I’ve tested. Like other mattress-in-a-box options, unpacking requires cutting and removing the plastic seal and adjusting it on the bed frame. This is one of the lightest beds I’ve tested, weighing 83 pounds in a queen size, making it easier to set up and adjust it to the correct position on the bed frame.

What we didn’t like about the Nectar Premier Mattress

Not for side sleepers or those who like a soft bed

Your favored sleep position is one of the most important factors to keep in mind when choosing a mattress, so if you primarily sleep on your side, this bed may not be soft enough to relieve pressure points like shoulders and hips, especially if you have a lighter frame. When I slept on my side, I found it too firm for my liking. Side sleepers who have a heavier frame or who just prefer more support or a medium-firm mattress, however, may find this bed comfortable.

The medium-firm feel will also likely be uncomfortable for those who like a soft, plush mattress, whatever their preferred sleeping position.

As we discussed earlier, this mattress is better suited for back and stomach sleepers, so if you’re looking for a softer mattress at this price, you should consider the Casper.

Nectar doesn’t offer in-home delivery and setup

Nectar doesn’t offer an in-home setup service, but as I mentioned previously, the Premier’s light weight made it easier to maneuver into place than most mattresses in a box I’ve tested.

Bottom line

The Nectar Premier mattress gives you solid medium-firm support at a low price; budget-minded stomach and back sleepers should find this mattress comfortable — and a solid deal. Smaller-framed side sleepers or those looking for a soft mattress will likely want to look elsewhere. In terms of overall comfort, it doesn’t match pricier mattresses like the Saatva Classic, Purple Restore or Helix Sunset mattress, and it isn’t as effective at cooling as the Casper Wave Hybrid Snow, which remains at the top of our list. But if you don’t want to spend more than $1,000 on a queen-size mattress, the Nectar Premier is definitely worth considering.