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Sleep

Great sleep shouldn’t be elusive. Our team of sleep and bedding experts spends hundreds of hours each year researching and testing everything from mattresses to sheets to sleep-tracking apps designed to help you get more shut-eye. Here you’ll find our best recommendations, including advice on ways to optimize your habits for better sleep.

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How to sleep better

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Mattresses

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  • A person sleeping on their side while resting on one of our picks for the best mattresses for side sleepers.

    The Best Mattresses for Side Sleepers

    by Caira Blackwell and Joanne Chen

    If you regularly sleep on your side, you’ll likely want a cushy mattress that aligns your spine and offers good support. These are our favorites.

  • The Leesa Hybrid in a bed room.

    The Best Hybrid Mattresses

    by Caira Blackwell

    Part coil, part foam, hybrid mattresses have a range of feels. Here are our favorites, plus what you need to know to find one that’s right for you.

  • A mattress tester lays on his back on the Leesa Sapira Hybrid Mattress.

    The Best Mattresses for Back Pain

    by Joanne Chen

    There is no actual “best” mattress for back-pain sufferers, though one that feels medium-firm to you is likely to be the best choice. We have six to recommend.

Pillows

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  • One of our testers, in a side-sleeping position on one of our picks

    The Best Pillow for Side Sleepers

    by Jackie Reeve

    We recommend the Xtreme Comforts Shredded Memory Foam Pillow for most side-sleepers. If you prefer a smoother cover, get Nest Bedding's Easy Breather Pillow.

  • Different kinds of body pillows stacked on top of each other.

    The Best Body Pillow

    by Ayanna Redwood-Crawford

    If you need extra support and comfort in bed, or you fall asleep faster when you have something to hug, a body pillow can be a worthy bedding upgrade.

Sheets and bedding

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  • A closeup of a bed made with blue and white windowpane patterned sheets.

    The Best Flannel Sheets

    by Jackie Reeve

    After six years and almost 200 hours of research and testing, we still prefer L.L.Bean’s Ultrasoft Comfort Flannel Sheet Set.

  • The Riley Textured Cotton Coverlet in white.

    The Best Blankets

    by Jackie Reeve

    These seven good-looking, durable blankets will work for a variety of seasons and styles, on top of the bed or layered with other bedding for extra warmth.

  • Four of our favorite printed sheets laid out side-by-side

    Our Favorite Printed Sheets

    by Jackie Reeve

    We’ve highlighted some of our favorite prints and patterns among the tried-and-true sheets we love.

Sleep gear

See all Sleep gear reviews
  • A mobile device with a meditation app opened, shown resting on a pillow next to a twin bell alarm clock.

    The Best Meditation Apps

    by Caira Blackwell

    After testing 19 meditation apps, we think Headspace best serves most people seeking a convenient way to practice mindfulness.

  • our six sunrise alarm test models lined up in a row side-by-side

    The Best Sunrise Alarm Clock

    by Joanne Chen and Annie Chou

    We’ve tested over a dozen sunrise alarm clocks to find those with bright lights, soothing dawn and dusk simulations, and sleek designs.

More Sleep Posts

  • A woman sleeping on her stomach on a Leesa Sapira Hybrid Mattress.

    The Best Mattresses for Stomach Sleepers

    by Joanne Chen

    We like these six medium-firm mattresses best for stomach-sleepers because they’ll support and cushion your midsection while still aligning your spine.

  • The author touches a mattress during testing.

    How to Choose a Mattress

    by Joanne Chen

    We’ve collected all our big-picture mattress-buying advice to help you find a bed you’ll happily sleep on for years.

  • Someone sleeping on a Casper mattress.

    Casper Mattress Review: An Honest Assessment

    by Annie Chou

    Casper revolutionized the world of online mattresses. They currently offer five models; here’s what to know if you’re considering one.

  • A person standing in a doorway wearing a white plush Restoration Hardware robe over pajamas.

    The Best Robes

    by Jackie Reeve and Zoe Vanderweide

    We found seven ultra-comfy women’s, men’s, and unisex robes in a wide variety of fabrics and styles.

  • A Saatva Loom & Leaf mattress on a bed frame in a room setting.

    Saatva Mattress Reviews: An Honest Assessment

    by Christina Colizza

    Saatva is known for elegantly designed mattresses made with high-quality materials. Here’s everything you need to know if you’re considering one.

  • A a persons resting their legs on a sofa wearing a pair of our best slippers pick, the L.L.Bean Wicked Good Moccasins.

    The Best Slippers

    by Zoe Vanderweide

    We’ve been testing (and retesting) slippers since 2014, and we feel confident that our picks are the coziest, comfiest, most durable pairs available.

  • A person wearing a navy blue pajama set on their couch, petting a black dog.

    The Best Pajamas

    by Jackie Reeve and Zoe Vanderweide

    Our favorite women’s, men’s, and unisex pajamas—available in a range of styles and fabrics—are great for sleeping and comfy for lounging, and they make the perfect gift.

  • A cat playing in a teacup next to a saucer of peas and a stack of mattress toppers on a mattress topped with a gold crown.

    The Best Mattress Toppers

    by Ayanna Redwood-Crawford

    The right mattress topper can turn the Princess and the Pea into Sleeping Beauty. Here are four we recommend.

  • A Purple Rejuvenate mattress staged in a hotel-like bedroom.

    Purple Mattress Review: An Honest Assessment

    by Ayanna Redwood-Crawford

    Purple’s gridded, jiggly foam may feel weird—or it may be just what the doctor ordered. We recommend trying the mattresses in person before you buy.

  • Five of the best alarm clocks, all powered on and showing a time of 12:40.

    The Best Alarm Clocks

    by Gregory Han

    We found the best alarm clocks for all kinds of spaces, from analog and digital ones to smart alarms that gradually wake you up.