Buying a mattress online without testing it first can be scary. So we tested the Zinus Green Tea for ourselves to determine if Amazon's best-selling mattress is worth the hype. Read our Zinus mattress review for all the details.
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Mattress shopping can be incredibly stressful, which is ironic considering the thing you’re looking for is a good night’s rest. Shopping in person can be a time-intensive experience, and though you get the benefit of trying out the mattresses before you buy, they usually have a pretty heavy price tag attached. You can save a good amount of money looking for the best mattresses in a box, but those, too, can be pricey, and the idea of sleeping on an untested mattress can be anxiety-inducing.
Three years ago, I jumped at the chance to test out the Zinus mattress. I had been sleeping on a traditional innerspring mattress with a thick memory foam topper for years, and wanted to see if switching to a full memory foam mattress would help get rid of the aches and pains I often woke up with whenever I’d sleep on my stomach.
“Aside from injury and general posture, back and spine health can be greatly affected by the surface slept upon,” says Michael J. Breus, Ph.D., founder of The Sleep Doctor. “If you wake up from sleep more than three times a week feeling stiff and sore, and it was not due to a big workout, then it’s probably the bed. If the mattress is sagging like a taco, and you’re a stomach sleeper, then it will put more pressure on the lower back and cause continued strain in that area.”
Not only is the Zinus Green Tea mattress one of the highest-rated memory foam mattresses Amazon, but it is also one of the most affordable. Here’s what I can tell you after having slept on it for three years.
The Zinus Green Tea memory foam mattress is one of the top-selling mattresses on Amazon, and also one of the most affordable. But the bargain-basement price doesn’t mean bargain-basement quality; over 53,700 people have given it five stars, resulting in a highly impressive 4.5-star average rating. The Zinus is a bed-in-a-box, meaning it ships straight to your door in a compact package—and if you have Amazon Prime, shipping is free!
Outside of the price, the main selling point of this affordable mattress is that its supportive memory foam construction is infused with green tea and cooling gel, making it ideal for hot sleepers. It’s built on a base of high-density support foam, followed by a layer of comfort foam and topped with a layer of green tea and charcoal-infused memory foam that enhances airflow, allowing body heat to escape.
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Cooling gel foam resists body heat and conforms to your shape while green tea keeps your mattress feeling fresh for a more restful sleep.
The Zinus Green Tea mattress is described as firm, but the exact firmness depends on the thickness of the mattress. The taller it is, the softer it will feel as your body sinks into the memory foam, so if you like things on the plusher side—like myself—consider ordering the 12-inch model.
There are currently two models available: the original, which we tested for this review, and new version that’s made without fiberglass. All materials used are produced without the use of harmful chemicals and are certified safe, with foams that are CertiPUR-US certified and an OEKO-TEX-certified mattress cover. The Zinus is available in four sizes (twin, full, queen and king), and four different heights (6, 8, 10 and 12 inches).
All Zinus mattresses include a 10-year limited warranty. If you purchase through Amazon, you’ll be able to return the mattress for a full refund or replacement within 30 days if you find it’s not the right fit for you. Buying directly through the Zinus website, you’ll get a 100-night trial, but shipping and delivery may take longer.
When my brand-new Zinus Green Tea memory foam mattress arrived, I was pleased to find that it was packaged in a tall, thin box rather than a squat, dense cube. The shape made it easier to carry up the stairs and into my apartment. Just shy of 50 pounds, it was an easy task for two people, though it could be a struggle for anyone setting up their mattress solo.
After removing the layer of plastic protecting the mattress, I unfurled it fully and let it lay flat on the floor to decompress and reinflate. Since the directions say to let it sit for 72 hours for it to fully come to shape, I did this in my living room so I could continue sleeping in my old bed until my mattress was ready. My Zinus definitely benefited from the three-day resting period, so plan accordingly.
A common complaint with boxed memory foam mattresses is that they usually come with a noticeable chemical odor, but to my surprise, the Zinus smelled like absolutely nothing at all. This is key if you’re buying a mattress during colder months, since you won’t have to keep the windows open for several days as it airs out.
As for plushness, I found this to be the perfect medium between the comforting softness of my favorite memory foam topper and the supportive firmness of a traditional innerspring. I alternate between stomach and side sleeping, and felt supported and comfortable no matter what position I was in. I have no aches or pains when I wake up in the morning, and not a trace of stiffness or soreness around my neck or hips.
Historically I’m a hot sleeper; even in the dark days of winter, I sleep with a fan at all times. The Zinus mattress delivered on its cooling claims, keeping me comfortable all night long. I’m also a restless sleeper who tosses and turns frequently throughout the night, much to the chagrin of my partner, who wakes up earlier than I do. But thanks to the memory foam that contours to and cradles my body, neither of us were able to feel each other’s middle-of-the-night movements. I will note that though I adapted to our new Zinus mattress right away, my partner’s body took a few weeks to adjust to the firmness. But after a few weeks of breaking in, they began to sleep perfectly without any complaints.
After over three years of sleeping on my Zinus mattress, I can say it’s held up beautifully. It sleeps just the same as it did when I first unboxed it. The only way to tell that it’s not a brand-new mattress is by looking closely at its exterior. The patterned cover has pilled a little, and is stained from a time I overzealously applied self-tanner. But once it’s covered with sheets—which, of course, it always is except on laundry days—you’d never know it’s years-old.
I still appreciate its soft, yet supportive, memory foam construction. While this particular model boasts a cooling green tea-infused foam, I can’t genuinely tell the difference the green tea makes. I wouldn’t say that this mattress is perfect for hot sleepers—though the addition of a cooling bed system would make a world of difference—because the memory foam does tend to trap heat. But still, even on hot summer nights I’m sleeping comfortably. For an Amazon budget mattress, I’m thoroughly impressed by the Zinus.
Megan Mowery has over seven years of experience in affiliate e-commerce journalism. For this review, Megan drew from her expertise in sleep, mental health and aging, bringing a deep understanding of how to evaluate products for quality, comfort and value. Her expertise has been honed through roles at Reader’s Digest and Meredith Corporation, as well as contributions to trusted outlets like People, Real Simple and Travel + Leisure.
Paul Rankin, Content Updates Editor at Family Handyman, updated and contributed research to this article. Paul is a former commerce editor at Bob Vila and has written shopping guides since 2021.
It may be hard to believe that Zinus is a good mattress brand, considering how incredibly affordable its mattresses are, especially when compared to beloved premium mattresses brands like Saatva and Helix. But after over three years of nightly use, we can confidently say that Zinus is not a good mattress brand—it’s a great one.
According to Zinus, green tea extract is added to its mattresses to naturally guard against bacteria and odors. Known for their natural antimicrobial properties, both green tea extract and charcoal is added to Zinus’ memory foam to make sure your mattress smells fresh for years to come. And if your mattress needs a little refreshing from time to time, check out this editor-tested mattress cleaner.
A Zinus mattress can last as long as 10 years, depending on the model and how it’s used. Factors like weight distribution, usage frequency and maintenance can impact its longevity, but regular rotation and the use of a mattress protector can help extend its lifespan.
The Green Tea mattress has an average of 53,700 five-star ratings. Here’s what real-life buyers are saying in their Zinus mattress reviews:
“I’ve had this bed for almost a year now and it’s seriously the most comfortable mattress I have ever had,” writes verified purchaser, Faith Easley. “I can’t believe all I needed to do was buy a $200 mattress on Amazon. I thought it would be a fail, but I was tired of buying $1,500 mattresses for them to just be terrible. This bed is perfect for people that are looking for medium firm. If you think this bed is going to be too soft or too hard, it’s not. I think it’s the perfect balance.”
Five-star reviewer, Eric Gomes, says, “I recently bought my mother a memory foam mattress. Went from store to store until finally finding the one she wanted. This mattress is one-fourth of the price and feels exactly the same as the one I purchased for her. You do need to let it reach its full size which will take two to three days. I love it because it is FIRM but comfortable. My back already feels much better after a few days.”
“I bought this mattress during a holiday special. It is one of the most comfortable mattresses in the house,” writes Kelly Tower, another five-star reviewer. “Highly recommend for people who like a slightly firmer mattress. The cool part is how you kind of feel wrapped into the mattress. It molds around you differently than my own memory foam mattress. I think it’s the gel. Anyhow, it was a great buy. Highly recommend.”
There’s also a premium version of the Green Tea memory foam mattress: the Green Tea Luxe memory foam mattress. This Zinus model has green tea and purified charcoal infused into every memory foam layer, unlike the original, which only includes it in the top layer. It also features exceptional airflow ventilation, targeted pressure zones and a more breathable knitted cover for an enhanced cooling experience. However, the Luxe is only available at a 12-inch height, and it’s pricier than the original option.
After three years of use, the Zinus mattress is as comfy as ever. It’s the most comfortable place in my house to curl up with a good book or binge-watch my latest Netflix obsession for hours on end. Most importantly, it still lets me sleep great night after night, keeping me cool, supported and comfortable. Even if it wasn’t such an incredible bargain, I would highly recommend it to anyone looking for the best mattress in a box.
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Packed with antioxidant-rich green tea and natural charcoal, this mattress marries refreshing comfort with added temperature control for a specially-formulated, cooling gel and fiberglass-free design.
You can find the Zinus Green Tea memory foam mattress online only. Shop it on Amazon or Zinus.com, where you’ll find resources on choosing the best Zinus mattress for your sleep style and specifications, for around $240.
Plus: For another one of our top picks, check out our Cocoon mattress review, too.
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