Saatva Classic (Plush Soft) vs Helix Midnight Elite: Which Mattress Is Better?

Tested using Methodology v1.2

Updated Aug 10, 2026 03:18 PM

See Helix Midnight Elite Review

Mattress Type Hybrid

Bed-In-A-Box Yes

Upper Comfort Foam @ LumbarMemory Foam

Firmness Level Medium-Plush (37 Pa/mm)

Mattress Type Innerspring

Bed-In-A-Box No

Upper Comfort Foam @ LumbarMemory Foam

Firmness Level Medium-Plush (39 Pa/mm)

Recommended in 1 article:
Side Sleepers

Our Verdict

Helix Midnight Elite

Saatva Classic (Plush Soft)

The Helix Midnight Elite is better than the Saatva Classic (Plush Soft) for most people. Both are best-suited for side sleepers, but the Helix offers better pressure relief for lighter people. It's also slightly more supportive for most people. It has better motion isolation, so it's much more suitable for couples, and it's made with higher-quality foam that makes it more durable.

Variants

Midnight Elite (California King)
Midnight Elite (Full)

Classic (Plush Soft - 14.5") (California King)
Classic (Plush Soft - 14.5") (Full)

Review

See Saatva Classic (Plush Soft) Review

Check Price

California King

Midnight Elite

California King

Classic (Plush Soft - 14.5")

Full

Midnight Elite

Full

Classic (Plush Soft - 14.5")

King

Midnight Elite

King

Classic (Plush Soft - 14.5")

Queen

Midnight Elite

Helix

Queen

Classic (Plush Soft - 14.5")

Split King

Classic (Plush Soft - 14.5")

Twin

Midnight Elite

Twin

Classic (Plush Soft - 14.5")

Twin XL

Midnight Elite

Twin XL

Classic (Plush Soft - 14.5")

Main Differences for

Side Sleeping

Threshold

0.10

Side Sleeping

8.7

8.4

No major differences between these mattresses for side sleeping. See full list of tests below.

Full Comparison

Side Sleeping

8.7

8.4

Back Sleeping

7.4

7.1

Stomach Sleeping

7.0

6.6

Longevity

7.0

5.7

Pressure Relief

8.9

8.6

Support

6.9

6.5

Cooling

7.4

8.3

Motion Dissipation

7.7

6.5

Responsiveness

6.8

9.1

Design

Style

Style Picture

Compare High-Res

Saatva Classic (Plush Soft) Style Picture

Mattress Type

Hybrid

Innerspring

Bed-In-A-Box

Yes

Quilted Top Layer

Yes

Grab Handles

Yes

Thickness

39.5 cm (15.6")

38.3 cm (15.1")

Performance

Firmness

Head/Feet Firmness

Preview Graph

Saatva Classic (Plush Soft) Head/Feet Firmness

Lumbar Firmness

Preview Graph

Saatva Classic (Plush Soft) Lumbar Firmness

Firmness Video

Normalized Stiffness @ Head/Feet

32 Pa/mm

39 Pa/mm

Normalized Stiffness @ Lumbar

37 Pa/mm

39 Pa/mm

Firmness Level

Medium-Plush (37 Pa/mm)

Medium-Plush (39 Pa/mm)

Body Conformity

9.2

8.7

Shoulder Indentation vs. Body Weight

Preview Graph

Saatva Classic (Plush Soft) Shoulder Indentation vs. Body Weight

Body Conformity Picture 1

Body Conformity Picture 2

Indent @ 50 kg (110 lb)

73 mm (2.9")

64 mm (2.5")

Indent @ 80 kg (176 lb)

106 mm (4.2")

91 mm (3.6")

Indent @ 110 kg (242 lb)

131 mm (5.1")

112 mm (4.4")

Support

6.9

6.5

Pelvis Indentation vs. Body Weight

Preview Graph

Saatva Classic (Plush Soft) Pelvis Indentation vs. Body Weight

Indent Difference @ 50 kg (110 lb)

23 mm (0.9")

21 mm (0.8")

Indent Difference @ 80 kg (176 lb)

25 mm (1.0")

27 mm (1.1")

Indent Difference @ 110 kg (242 lb)

22 mm (0.9")

30 mm (1.2")

Bounciness

6.0

8.7

Bounciness Video

Maximum Rebound Height

8.0 cm (3.1")

26.0 cm (10.2")

Comfort Layers Envelopment

7.7

8.2

Sinking & Contouring Picture

Compare High-Res

Saatva Classic (Plush Soft) Sinking & Contouring Picture

Sinking Depth

6.5 cm (2.6")

5.2 cm (2.1")

Diameter Of Distortion

28.9 cm (11.4")

26.5 cm (10.4")

Responsiveness

7.0

9.2

Responsiveness Video

Response Time

1.4 s

0.5 s

Motion Isolation

7.7

6.5

Motion Isolation Video

Head/Feet Motion Isolation

Preview Graph

Saatva Classic (Plush Soft) Head/Feet Motion Isolation

Lumbar Motion Isolation

Preview Graph

Saatva Classic (Plush Soft) Lumbar Motion Isolation

Peak Acceleration @ Head/Feet

1.25 g

3.55 g

Dissipation Time @ Head/Feet

0.47 s

0.78 s

Peak Acceleration @ Lumbar

3.55 g

3.96 g

Dissipation Time @ Lumbar

0.48 s

0.69 s

Edge Support

7.7

9.0

Naturalistic Loading Pad Video

Naturalistic Loading Pad

Preview Graph

Saatva Classic (Plush Soft) Naturalistic Loading Pad

Small Platen

Preview Graph

Saatva Classic (Plush Soft) Small Platen

Naturalistic Loading Pad Indentation

161 mm

132 mm

Small Platen Indentation @ 0 mm From Edge

177 mm

152 mm

Small Platen Indentation @ 150 mm From Edge

165 mm

146 mm

Increased Indentation @ Mattress Edge

12 mm

7 mm

Cooling

7.4

8.3

Cooling Graph

Preview Graph

Saatva Classic (Plush Soft) Cooling Graph

Energy Transferred Over 1st Hour

57 kJ

58 kJ

Energy Transferred Over 8 Hours

154 kJ

183 kJ

Components

Cover

Cover Picture

Compare High-Res

Saatva Classic (Plush Soft) Cover Picture

Sleeping Surface Material

Polyester, Polyethylene

Organic Cotton

Removable

Machine Washable

Edge Construction

Edge Support Picture

Compare High-Res

Saatva Classic (Plush Soft) Edge Support Picture

Edge Component

Pocket Coils

Polyfoam

Foam Layer Material

Foam Layer Material Picture

Compare High-Res

Saatva Classic (Plush Soft) Foam Layer Material Picture

Quilted Top Fill

Memory Foam + Polyfoam + Fiber Fill

Polyfoam + Fiber Fill

Upper Comfort Foam @ Head/Feet

Memory Foam

N/A

Upper Comfort Foam @ Lumbar

Memory Foam

Lower Comfort Foam @ Head/Feet

Memory Foam

Polyfoam

Lower Comfort Foam @ Lumbar

Memory Foam

Polyfoam

Transition Foam

Polyfoam

Support Foam

N/A

Foam Layer Mass Density

7.0

5.7

Quilted Top Fill

26 kg/m³ (1.6 lb/cu.ft.)

21 kg/m³ (1.3 lb/cu.ft.)

Quilted Top Fill Foam Density vs. Reference

0.8

0.4

Upper Comfort Foam @ Head/Feet

63 kg/m³ (3.9 lb/cu.ft.)

N/A

Upper Comfort Foam @ Head/Feet Density vs. Reference

1.0

N/A

Upper Comfort Foam @ Lumbar

63 kg/m³ (3.9 lb/cu.ft.)

35 kg/m³ (2.2 lb/cu.ft.)

Upper Comfort Foam @ Lumbar Density vs. Reference

1.0

0.5

Lower Comfort Foam @ Head/Feet

129 kg/m³ (8.0 lb/cu.ft.)

24 kg/m³ (1.5 lb/cu.ft.)

Lower Comfort Foam @ Head/Feet Density vs. Reference

2.0

0.6

Lower Comfort Foam @ Lumbar

129 kg/m³ (8.1 lb/cu.ft.)

24 kg/m³ (1.5 lb/cu.ft.)

Lower Comfort Foam @ Lumbar Density vs. Reference

2.0

0.6

Transition Foam

28 kg/m³ (1.7 lb/cu.ft.)

27 kg/m³ (1.7 lb/cu.ft.)

Transition Foam Density vs. Reference

0.9

0.8

Support Foam

N/A

Support Foam Density vs Reference

N/A

Foam Layer Thickness

Foam Layer Thickness Picture

Compare High-Res

Saatva Classic (Plush Soft) Foam Layer Thickness Picture

Quilted Top

5.0 cm (2.0")

6.5 cm (2.6")

Upper Comfort Foam @ Head/Feet

5.0 cm (2.0")

N/A

Upper Comfort Foam @ Lumbar

5.0 cm (2.0")

1.0 cm (0.4")

Lower Comfort Foam @ Head/Feet

2.5 cm (1.0")

2.2 cm (0.9")

Lower Comfort Foam @ Lumbar

2.5 cm (1.0")

2.2 cm (0.9")

Transition Foam

1.8 cm (0.7")

2.4 cm (0.9")

Support Foam

N/A

Spring Layer Dimensions

Spring Layer Height Picture

Compare High-Res

Saatva Classic (Plush Soft) Spring Layer Height Picture

Spring Layer Density Picture

Compare High-Res

Saatva Classic (Plush Soft) Spring Layer Density Picture

Comfort Layer Height

1.8 cm (0.7")

11.5 cm (4.5")

Comfort Layer Coil Density

700 coils/m² (65 coils/ft²)

240 coils/m² (22 coils/ft²)

Comfort Layer Coil Gauge

19 gauge

15 gauge

Support Layer Height

20.5 cm (8.1")

14.5 cm (5.7")

Support Layer Coil Density

252 coils/m² (23 coils/ft²)

132 coils/m² (12 coils/ft²)

Support Layer Coil Gauge @ Head/Feet

14 gauge

13 gauge

Support Layer Coil Gauge @ Lumbar

13 gauge

Foam Layer Firmness

Comfort Layer IPD

Preview Graph

Saatva Classic (Plush Soft) Comfort Layer IPD

Transition & Support Layer IPD

Preview Graph

Saatva Classic (Plush Soft) Transition & Support Layer IPD

Quilted Top Fill 25% IPD

1.7 kPa

1.5 kPa

Upper Comfort Foam @ Head/Feet 25% IPD

1.6 kPa

N/A

Upper Comfort Foam @ Lumbar 25% IPD

1.6 kPa

1.7 kPa

Lower Comfort Foam @ Head/Feet 25% IPD

1.3 kPa

2.2 kPa

Lower Comfort Foam @ Lumbar 25% IPD

1.3 kPa

2.2 kPa

Transition Foam 25% IPD

5.8 kPa

5.0 kPa

Support Foam 25% IPD

N/A

Spring Layer Firmness

Comfort Layer Firmness

Preview Graph

Saatva Classic (Plush Soft) Comfort Layer Firmness

Support Layer Firmness

Preview Graph

Saatva Classic (Plush Soft) Support Layer Firmness

Spring Layer Firmness

Normalized Comfort Layer Stiffness @ Head/Feet

N/A

57 Pa/mm

Normalized Comfort Layer Stiffness @ Lumbar

N/A

55 Pa/mm

Normalized Support Layer Stiffness @ Head/Feet

54 Pa/mm

91 Pa/mm

Normalized Support Layer Stiffness @ Lumbar

73 Pa/mm

96 Pa/mm

Foam Layer Resilience

Foam Layer Resilience Video

Quilted Top Fill

52%

44%

Upper Comfort Foam @ Head/Feet

N/A

Upper Comfort Foam @ Lumbar

18%

Lower Comfort Foam @ Head/Feet

47%

Lower Comfort Foam @ Lumbar

47%

Transition Foam

35%

45%

Support Foam

N/A

Spring Layer Bounciness

Comfort Spring Layer Bounciness Video

Support Spring Layer Bounciness Video

Comfort Spring Layer Maximum Rebound Height

28.0 cm (11.0")

39.0 cm (15.4")

Support Spring Layer Maximum Rebound Height

43.0 cm (16.9")

69.0 cm (27.2")

Check Price

California King

Midnight Elite

California King

Classic (Plush Soft - 14.5")

Full

Midnight Elite

Full

Classic (Plush Soft - 14.5")

King

Midnight Elite

King

Classic (Plush Soft - 14.5")

Queen

Midnight Elite

Helix

Queen

Classic (Plush Soft - 14.5")

Split King

Classic (Plush Soft - 14.5")

Twin

Midnight Elite

Twin

Classic (Plush Soft - 14.5")

Twin XL

Midnight Elite

Twin XL

Classic (Plush Soft - 14.5")