Comparison
Founder of GoodBed, Leading Mattress Expert
Note: This is not a review. This is our plain-English explanation and overview of the Sealy mattress line, which was revamped for 2022. See our overview of 2017-2021 Sealy mattresses if you are looking for older models.
If you’d prefer to watch rather than read, watch our Sealy Mattresses Overview video.
Sealy Mattress Collection
Sealy's mattress lineup, which was revamped for the 2022 model year, includes 3 new product lines: Essentials, Posturepedic, and Posturpedic Plus. The lineup includes more than 40 total mattress models, along with a variety of styles (pillow-top, tight-top, Euro-top, etc) and feels (soft, medium, firm, etc.). The Essentials line is the least expensive, with the Posturepedic Plus line being the highest priced with the most features.
Right now, the Essentials line is all innerspring, as is the Posturepedic Plus. The middle Posturepedic line includes innerspring, all-foam, and hybrid (spring+memory foam) models. Sealy tells us they plan to introduce additional models into the Essential and Posturepedic Plus lines later in 2022.
Confusingly, Sealy used the terms 'essential' and posturepedic' for earlier models, but in different ways. For the 2017 to 2021 model years, "Essential" was used to denote the entry-level model or models within a product line. Now, it's an entire product line on its own. Posturepedic was also used differently. In those prior years, Sealy used that term to denote its lumbar-support features. Now, however, "Posturepedic" and "Posturepedic Plus" are entire product lines.
If you owned one of the 2017-2021 mattresses, the new Essentials line roughly replaces the Response (comfort foams over spring support core). The new Posturepedic line generally replaces the Conform line (premium comfort foams over foam support core), and the new Posturepedic Plus line roughly approximates the older Hybrid line (premium comfort foams over premium spring support core).
Sealy Essentials Mattress Line
There are six mattresses in the Sealy Essentials collection, ranging from an 8.5" standard firm mattress to a 13" Euro-top soft bed, but all models have some features in common. Prices (mattress only, queen size) top out at about $599.
Continuous coils
As Sealy's most cost-effective mattresses, the Essentials models use a connected-coil support base rather than the encased coils we typically see on higher-end mattresses. On one hand, this means these mattresses will have a very traditional, bouncy feel. On the downside, it means the mattress transfers motion quite easily. If you or your partner tend to be disturbed by another person's movements on the mattress, a bed with continuous coils may not be the best choice.
Quilted covers
All of the Essentials mattresses have a knit cover that's quilted into foam for a lofty feel. The lower-end models have about 1/2" of foam quilted into them, while the higher end versions have more.
Other features
Only some of the Essentials mattresses are compatible with an adjustable base, important if you plan to use one now, or in the future. Some, but not all, models have a foam edge support, which should make sitting or laying on the edge of the mattress more stable. Warranty length also varies. The least expensive mattresses in the Essentials line come with a 3-year warranty, while the highest-end version have a 10-year limited warranty.
Sealy Posturepedic Mattress Line
As of the beginning of 2022, the Posturepedic collection has the most variety, with a total of 27 mattresses. Nineteen of those are innerspring mattresses with a coil support unit topped by comfort foams. An additional four models have a foam support base instead of coils, and another four are hybrid mattresses, with a pocketed-springs support plus memory foam comfort layers.
There's a lot of variety in the Posturepedic collection, but all of them share an upgraded cover. While the color and design of the cover varies between mattress models, all are made of a stretchy knit that has moisture-wicking fibers and an anti-microbial treatment.
Innerspring models
Compared to the Essentials innerspring mattresses, the Posturepedic innersprings have more features, higher coil counts, and upgraded edge support options. And except for the extra-firm versions, all are compatible with an adjustable base.
The spring models in the Posturepedic line are arranged in two "levels". The Level I mattresses all have pocket springs and a double row of firmer edge support coils. They also have a 1/2" layer of lumbar foam situated in the central third of the bed, meant to firm up support for the heaviest part of your body, your hips.
Foam and hybrid models
There are three named models in the foam and hybrid lines: the Medina, the Paterson, and the Lacey (which comes in two firmness levels). Each comes in a foam version (with foam support base) and a hybrid version (with a pocket spring support unit).
Although names and pricing are the same whether you choose foam or hybrid, and the mattress heights are the same, but we did notice some difference in softness and cushioning between, for example, the Medina foam and the Medina hybrid.
Both foam and hybrid models include memory foam, but the foam versions contain a lot more of it, along with more "memory feel" -- that slow, melting into the bed sensation that can come with memory foam. The foam versions have 2" or more of memory foam while the hybrid versions don't have nearly as much.
Watch our video specifically on the Sealy Posturepedic Foam models. Also see our written coverage of these Posturepedic Foam mattresses.
And here's our video specifically on the Posturepedic Hybrid models. Also see our written coverage of the Posturepedic Hybrid collection.
Sealy Posturepedic Plus Mattress Line
There are 10 total mattresses in the Posturepedic Plus collection, the top-of-the-line mattresses in the current Sealy lineup. All of them are innerspring models, though Sealy tells us they do plan to add foam and hybrid versions in the future.
The Posturepedic Plus collection is further divided into three levels, as sort of "good, better, best" within the collection. You might see the Level I models sold as "Opportune" while the Level II might be seen in stores as the "Satisfied" and the Level III models as the "Exuberant." Some models are available as tight tops, while others are pillow tops depending on your preference.
All of the Posturepedic Plus spring mattresses share some common features:
Pocket springs
All of the Sealy Posturepedic Plus mattresses feature pocketed steel springs as the main support, and the type of springs varies depending on the mattress. These mattresses have a traditional feel, with plenty of bounce.
In the less expensive Level I (Opportune) mattresses, Sealy uses the same coil unit in the discontinued Response Premium line, their 911 Pro coil unit (with 911 coils in the queen size). For the Level II and Level III series beds, it's an upgraded 1017-coil (queen) Response Pro HD unit, featuring stronger coils with an additional turn, suggesting better durability.
Edge support
All of the Posturepedic Plus mattresses have stronger coils around the edge of the mattress, as opposed to some kind of foam edge support. Edge-to-edge coils like these improve air flow, which is a factor in a bed's ability to allow warm air to escape and cool air to replace it.
Lumbar foam
Each of the Posturepedic Plus mattresses features additional lumbar support in the form of a sheet of memory foam across the full mattress plus an additional sheet in the central third of the mattress under the heaviest part of your body (your hips).
Adjustable base compatibility
All of the Posturepedic Plus mattresses are compatible with adjustable bases.
Mattress covers
And finally, all 10 models in the Plus collection feature cooling high-density polyethylene fibers in the covers. These are special fibers woven into the the cover that can give it a subtle cool-to-the-touch property.
All of the covers have a small amount of memory foam quilted into the cover, and all have functional handles on the sides to help you move and rotate the bed.
See our video specifically on the Posturepedic Plus line below, as well as our written Posturepedic Plus report.
Sealy Naturals Mattress Line
New for the 2022-2023 year model year, the three mattresses in the Sealy Naturals line are the company's most "green" mattresses yet.
These are hybrid mattresses using the same pocket spring unit as the Posturepedic Plus hybrids, but on top of the coils is 100% natural (and sustainable) Dunlop latex made from rubber trees.
The cover is made from a blend of organic cotton, hemp, plant-based tencel and a little polyester for stretch. Under the cover is a layer of natural wool, which has moisture-wicking properties and also serves as a natural fire barrier.
To help hold the mattress together, Sealy uses some functional tufting -- yarns that travel through the width of the mattress, a technique which reduces the use of glue by 65%.
Check out our detailed page on the Sealy Naturals line, as well as our video.
