When it comes to choosing the best mattress for side sleepers, you’ll be hard pushed to find a better bed suited to your unique sleep needs than the Helix Midnight and the Helix Midnight Luxe. Both mattresses are crafted specifically with side sleepers in mind, with both offer blissful pressure relief across the shoulders, hips and knees.
When it comes to providing comfort for side sleepers, the Midnight and the Midnight Luxe are two of the best mattresses on the market. However, there are some key differences between the two, which we will explore in finer detail during this Helix Midnight vs Helix Midnight Luxe comparison piece.
For starters, the Midnight is part of Helix’s ‘Core’ collection, which is the brand’s entry- level range. The Luxe is the Midnight’s slightly more sophisticated sibling and comes with a higher spec and a higher price tag. Taking into account current discounts, a queen size Midnight is $999, while a queen size Midnight Luxe is currently $1,780.
Whether you’re looking to buy a new bed now or are just doing your research on this month's mattress sales, we’ll explore how the Helix Midnight and Helix Midnight Luxe compare, and exactly what you get for your money.
Helix Midnight vs Helix Midnight Luxe mattress: Specs
Helix Midnight vs Helix Midnight Luxe mattress: Price, trials & warranties
- Both beds come with a 100 night sleep trial
- Both have a lifetime warranty
- Helix sales typically range between 20% - 25% off MSRP
Helix has three mattress collections; Core, Luxe and Elite. The Helix Midnight sits within the brand’s core range, while the Midnight Luxe sits within the middle. At full MSRP, prices start on the Midnight at $932, while prices on the Midnight Luxe start at $1,373.33. However, evergreen discounts mean you’ll never have to pay full price for either Helix mattress.
Helix mattress sales typically range between 20% and 25%, with the latter is reserved for major sale events, like Black Friday. Mattress purchase usually comes with a free gift, which could be two pillows valued at $150, or a bedding bundle valued up to $418. Right now, there is 25% off both the Midnight and the Midnight Luxe, and both come with two free pillows. Both beds come with a 100 night sleep trial, which is the industry standard. However, they also both come with a generous lifetime warranty.
Helix Midnight vs Helix Midnight Luxe mattress: Materials & design
- The Midnight Luxe comes with sewn in pillow top
- The Midnight is 11.5 inches tall, while the Midnight Luxe is 13.5 inches tall
- The Midnight has five layers vs the Midnight Luxe's 6 layers
The Helix Midnight is 11.5 inches deep and boasts five comfort layers, topped with a breathable cover. The upper layer of Helix's proprietary 'Memory Plus Foam' works to relieve pressure, provide soft sinkage and deep body contouring, while cradling pressure points along your shoulders, hips and lower back. Beneath that are two transitional layers of responsive, high-grade polyfoam. Underpinning it all is a layer of pocketed coils to help minimize motion transfer, followed by a sturdy base layer for stability.
The Helix Midnight Luxe is the newer, taller, plusher version of the original Midnight. It's 13.5 inches tall and is made up of six supportive layers, topped with a plush pillow top for an elevated cloud-like sleep feel and wrapped in a cool to the touch Tencel cover.
Despite the inclusion of a pillow top, a responsive layer of dense foam prevents you from sinking deeply into this bed. Then, a layer of copper gel-infused ultra responsive memory foam provides additional support and stability. Next up, the layer of durable steel coils (of which there are up to 1,000) provides advanced lumbar support as well as bolstering the sturdiness of the bed's edge. Again, a dense layer of foam provides the base support of the mattress.
Helix Midnight vs Helix Midnight Luxe mattress: Comfort & support
- We gave the Midnight a rating of 6.5/10, and the Luxe 6/10 for firmness
- Both offer pressure relief for side sleeping, but suits back sleepers too
- The Luxe offers sturdier edge support
During our Helix Midnight mattress review, our lead tester rated this bed as a 6.5 out of 10 for firmness (slightly firmer than Helix's rating of 5-6 out of 10), which places it in the medium-firm category. It provides enough cushioning support for side sleepers to gain the pressure relief across the touch points of the mattress, including the shoulders, hips and knees, but also supportive enough for back sleepers, too.
Motion isolation is strong (which is great news for restless sleepers who share a bed) but we found edge support to be average (a sturdy edge is crucial for those with mobility issues or those who need to sleep right up to the edge).
During our Helix Midnight Luxe mattress review, our lead tester found that the inclusion of the plush pillow top created a sumptuous sleep surface that offered deep pressure relief for side sleepers. However, this bed is supportive enough for back sleepers too. This is largely due to the enhanced lumbar support that works in tandem with the responsive layer of dense foam to hold you on top of the mattress, as opposed to sinking too deeply within it.
Like the original Midnight, motion isolation is excellent. However, unlike the Midnight, the edge support is reliable on the Luxe. Here, full perimeter support is provided for enhanced stability, which means you won't feel the mattress sink or collapse beneath you when you sit or sleep on its edges. Again, Helix rate this bed as 5-6 out of 10 for firmness, but we think it's a touch firmer at 6 out of 10. Although it's supportive enough for back sleepers, it won't be firm enough for stomach sleepers.
- Read more: Leesa Sapira vs Helix Midnight Luxe: Which luxury hybrid mattress is best for side sleepers?
Helix Midnight vs Helix Midnight Luxe mattress: Temperature control
- Both handle temperature regulation well
- Inclusion of more innersprings and Tencel cover boosts the Luxe's temp control
- Option to upgrade both beds to include a GlacioTex cooling cover
The Helix Midnight handles temperature regulation well, thanks to its breathable cover and the inclusion of individually pocketed coils that help prevent warm air created by body heat becoming trapped within the bed. However, if you sleep particularly hot, you may want to consider upgrading to the GlacioTex cooling cover.
There is also the option to upgrade to the GlacioTex cooling cover, too - but you may not need it. The Luxe comes with a naturally cooling Tencel cover that feels cool to the touch. Beneath, the copper infused memory foam helps keep temperatures regulated, while the additional pocketed coils boost the bed's overall breathability.
Helix Midnight vs Helix Midnight Luxe mattress: Which should you buy?
Buy the Helix Midnight if...
✅ You’re on a tighter budget: While there are many structural similarities between the two beds, the Midnight is considerably cheaper (right now, a queen size Midnight is just $999, compared to a queen size Luxe at $1,899).
✅ You’re a combination sleeper: During our Helix Midnight review, our tester found that this mattress provided ample cushioning to prevent pressure buildup when sleeping on her side, but supportive enough to sleep on her back, too.
✅ You share a bed: Like the Luxe, the Midnight handles motion isolation incredibly well, which is great news for restless sleepers who share a bed - you won't be startled awake with every toss and turn.
Buy the Helix Midnight Luxe if...
✅ You want a plusher, more luxurious design: The Helix Midnight has a premium price tag for a reason - it has plush pillow top, more comfort layers, and enhanced lumbar support.
✅ You require a sturdy edge: As well as excellent motion isolation, the bed's edges have been bolstered to provide sturdy edge support - you can sit on the bed's edge without feeling it might dip or collapse beneath you.
✅ You sleep hot: The naturally cooling Tencel cover is an upgrade on the Midnight's breathable cover, while a layer of copper-infused memory foam actively work to keep temperatures lowered. Of course, if you sleep very hot, you can upgrade to the GlacioTex cover for a price of $249 across all mattress sizes.
