Puffy floated its way onto the bed-in-a-box scene in 2017 and now offers three mattress models. The Puffy Royal Hybrid is the most luxurious of the trio, constructed with several materials exclusive to this model – like Reflexive Memory Foam and Cloud Air Technology foam – that might pique your interest if you’re a back or side sleeper.
If you’re looking for a hybrid with deep contouring, targeted sculpting, and cooling properties, then you’re reading the right review. In this Puffy Royal Hybrid review, we’ll break down all the details to help you decide on this bed.
Who We Recommend The Puffy Royal Hybrid For:
- Light to average-weight sleepers – This bed should be a great match for lightweight and average-size sleepers weighing up to 230 pounds. There’s loads of room in the thick foam layers to sink in and relieve pressure at the shoulders and hips, helping to cushion those potentially sensitive areas.
- Memory foam devotees – If you love the deep hug of memory foam, you’re bound to get that on this slow-moving mattress, featuring foam that’s designed for maximum recovery to give you a great night’s sleep.
- People with back pain – The American Chiropractic Association has endorsed this bed for its exceptional pressure relief and ability to significantly reduce back pain and strain on joints and muscles.
Who We Don’t Recommend The Puffy Royal Hybrid For:
- Stomach sleepers – We found the Puffy Royal Hybrid too soft for regular stomach sleepers, as it likely won’t keep your hips elevated, which could cause back issues over time.
- Heavyweight sleepers – Heavyweight sleepers weighing over 230 pounds will likely find that this soft mattress doesn't provide the support they need, causing an unhealthy spine alignment.
- Combination sleepers – Combination sleepers may feel too ‘stuck’ in the bed and struggle to change positions on the slow-moving memory foam. Rather, this group should look at quick-responding beds that make it easier to reposition.
First Impressions: Firmness & Feel
Firmness Scale: 5.5/10
Please remember that firmness is a subjective characteristic and your shape will dictate how you experience a bed. A heavier person whose weight can more easily push through softer comfort and support layers may experience a bed as softer than a lightweight person. The way you are shaped could also play a role here. Consider your weight, shape, and size when evaluating firmness scores.
The firmness of your mattress is important, and whether you prefer a softer or firmer mattress will depend on your body type and sleeping style. We rate mattress firmness on a scale from 1 to 10, where 1 is super soft and 10 is incredibly firm.
The Puffy Royal Hybrid comes in at 5.5 out of 10, making it medium-soft. Softer mattresses tend to suit side sleepers, who need a little extra pressure relief at the shoulder and hips, and this mattress has multiple plush comfort layers offering deep sinkage. However, this may not suit heavier individuals, who could sink too far into the layers.
How Does It Feel?
The polyester cover on this mattress is thin, so it doesn’t particularly affect the feel of the mattress. Lie down on the bed, and you’ll find yourself sinking nicely into the layers, experiencing that comfortable body hug that memory foam is famous for – you’ll likely feel more ‘in’ the mattress than ‘on top of’ it. While there is a small element of responsiveness from the coil unit, the thick layers of foam above it absorb most of the bounce.
What We Like About the Puffy Royal Hybrid
- Exceptional motion isolation – This bed showed minimal motion transfer in our tests, thanks to the many layers of slow-moving foam that absorb movement from other parts of the bed.
- Great pressure relief – People with sensitive joints are likely to feel a lot of relief from the foams on this bed, which offer deep sinkage and cushioning.
- Good cooling – Despite having multiple foam layers, which are known to trap heat, Puffy has included some great cooling features, including a breathable cover, cooling gel-infused memory foam, a layer of temperature-regulating Climate Comfort™ foam, and a coil unit that promotes airflow. This could be ideal for hot sleepers looking for a soft foam bed.
Our Puffy Royal Hybrid Complaints
- Weak edge support – Despite featuring a reinforced perimeter on the support unit, this bed didn’t score well in edge support testing, as the sides collapsed under our weight. This is something to consider for couples who like to spread out.
- No white glove delivery – Puffy doesn’t currently offer a white glove delivery service, so you’ll have to move the mattress from your door to your bedroom and set it up by yourself. The mattress weighs up to 120 pounds (for a King), which is something to take into consideration.
Testing the Puffy Royal Hybrid Mattress: How it Performed
We perform plenty of tests on our mattresses so you don’t have to! We test for important factors like pressure relief, support, cooling, responsiveness, edge support, motion transfer, and comfort in different sleep positions. These tests help us determine which sleepers we think are the best fit for the mattress, as well as who shouldn’t get it.
Sleeping Positions for Different Body Types
Puffy states that their Royal Hybrid mattress can support up to 350 pounds on each side of the mattress. However, we found the bed to be unsuitable for heavyweight sleepers weighing over 230 pounds, who will likely find the mattress far too soft to keep their spine aligned, which could cause aches and pains over time.
| Weight | Side Sleepers | Back Sleepers | Stomach Sleepers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lightweight Sleepers (-130 lbs) | ☆☆☆ | ★★★ | ☆☆☆ |
| Average-Weight Sleepers (130-230 lbs) | ★★★ | ★★☆ | ☆☆☆ |
| Heavyweight Sleepers (+230 lbs) | ★★★ | ☆☆☆ | ☆☆☆ |
Side Sleepers
- Lightweight Sleepers – Side sleepers under 130 pounds should experience great body contouring from this plush mattress as it relieves pressure on their shoulders and hips.
- Average-Weight Sleepers – We think this mattress is a fantastic fit for average-weight side sleepers, who will sink deeply into the comfort layers, feeling lots of soothing pressure relief at the shoulders and hips.
- Heavyweight Sleepers – This soft mattress isn’t a great choice for heavier people over 230 pounds, who will sink too far into the layers, feeling ‘stuck’ while also experiencing unhealthy spine alignment. Instead, we advise getting a firmer mattress.
Back Sleepers
- Lightweight Sleepers – Lightweight back sleepers will find this mattress feels a little firmer, so while they won’t sink as far into the comfort layers, they should still experience great contouring and spinal support.
- Average-Weight Sleepers – Back sleepers between 130 to 230 pounds should feel comfy body contouring along with great support. However, back sleepers who prefer to feel ‘on top’ of the bed will be better off on a firmer mattress.
- Heavyweight Sleepers – Again, we don’t think this mattress is a good fit for heavyweight back sleepers, as it’s too soft. You’ll likely feel your hips sinking too far into the bed, causing lower back pain.
Stomach Sleepers
- Lightweight Sleepers – We don’t recommend this mattress for lightweight stomach sleepers, who will likely find it too soft to keep their hips elevated, potentially causing lower back pain.
- Average-Weight Sleepers – As with lightweight stomach sleepers, the Puffy Royal Hybrid is too soft for average-weight stomach sleepers, who could find their hips dipping too much.
- Heavyweight Sleepers – This mattress isn’t the right choice for heavier stomach sleepers, who will likely experience poor spine alignment and back pain due to their hips sinking to an unhealthy level.
Pressure Relief & Pain
The Puffy Royal Hybrid excels at pressure relief with its layers of plush foam, offering that deep sinkage that people with joint pain crave. Light to average-weight side sleepers should greatly benefit from this soft bed, feeling excellent cushioning at the shoulders and hips – two potentially sensitive areas. Back sleepers in these weight categories should also find themselves comfortably contoured, with their weight evenly distributed and pressure in the lower back reduced.
Back Pain – Lying on our back, we felt ourselves sinking in with a lot of contouring and minimal pressure. However, stomach sleepers with back pain will likely find it aggravated on this bed, as it’s too soft to keep their hips correctly elevated.
Hip Pain – We don’t recommend this mattress for stomach sleepers – especially those with hip pain – as we felt our hips sinking too deep to maintain spine alignment. While there was a small amount of pressure at the hips for side sleepers, we didn't find it to be an issue and think the Puffy Royal Hybrid is highly comfortable for side sleeping.
Shoulder Pain – Most side sleepers with shoulder pain should feel cozy on this mattress, as we noticed minimal pressure in this area, thanks to the deep sinkage of the plush foams.
Support
With its coil unit and layers of supportive foam, the Puffy Royal Hybrid mattress offers great support for light to average-weight back and side sleepers. However, stomach sleepers and plus-size people will need something firmer to ensure that everything is aligned and to prevent heavier areas like the hips from sagging.
Despite featuring a high-density foam perimeter in its base, this mattress lacks sufficient edge support because of the multiple soft foam layers on top of it, which tend to collapse when you sit or lie close to the edge of the bed.
Motion Transfer
We were impressed with the Puffy Royal Hybrid’s motion-isolating capabilities – the individually-wrapped coils and multiple foam layers do an amazing job at keeping movement to one side of the bed. This is definitely a plus for light sleepers who share their bed with a restless partner or pet, as you shouldn’t feel disturbed by them moving around during the night.
Temperature Regulation / Cooling
Memory foam is known for trapping heat, but the Puffy Royal Hybrid has a breathable cover and features cooling gel its first foam comfort layer, both of which help dissipate excess body heat. The humidity-resistant Climate Comfort™ foam layer offers airflow and temperature management, while the coil unit provides further breathability. Therefore, we think this mattress could benefit people who need a good cooling mattress.
Performance for Couples
Couples have different requirements than individual sleepers when choosing a mattress. If you wake up and go to sleep at a different time than your partner, or you’re a light sleeper with a restless bedmate, then you’ll be happy to hear that this mattress has excellent motion isolation. This means you shouldn’t be disturbed by someone else’s movement on the bed.
The mattress also has cooling features, which is ideal if you tend to overheat when sharing a bed. However, something this mattress falls short on is edge support; if you both spread out while sleeping, you may find the perimeter sagging under your weight.
The Puffy Royal Hybrid also isn’t the best bed for couples who love a bouncy mattress during intimacy. While it has an innerspring unit, the multiple foam layers above dampen most of the bounce.
Preference-based Features
Removable Cover
This Puffy mattress comes with a fully removable zip-off cover that can be machine-washed.
Endorsed by the American Chiropractic Association
The American Chiropractic Association has endorsed the Puffy Royal Hybrid for its ability to relieve pressure and reduce back pain, along with joint and muscle strain.
Made in the USA
Every Puffy mattress is designed, manufactured, assembled, and sewn in the United States, so you can be sure your bed has been made with quality craftsmanship.
Adjustable Base Compatible
The Puffy Royal Hybrid can be used on any adjustable base, though the company does sell their own Puffy Adjustable Base, which comes with the same 101-night trial and lifetime warranty as the mattress.
Construction: What’s Inside the Puffy Royal Hybrid?
The 14-inch Puffy Royal Hybrid was designed to make you feel like you’re sleeping on a cloud, which would explain the cloud design on the hypoallergenic, breathable, and stain-resistant polyester cover. This cover can be zipped off for easy machine-washing.
- Below the cover is a 1.5-inch layer of foam infused with cooling gel to stop the mattress from trapping heat, helping to regulate body temperature. This layer offers plush body contouring.
- The second layer has 1.5 inches of Reflexive Memory Foam, a premium contouring foam that’s exclusive to this model and is designed to respond to the sleeper’s position changes.
- The third layer features 2 inches of humidity-resistant Climate Comfort™ foam, which promotes airflow and helps keep you cool in summer and warm in winter. This layer is a little firmer than the memory foam, providing a quicker response to pressure.
- The transition layer is made with 2 inches of Cloud Air Technology poly foam that eases the sleeper down into the coil unit below. This foam features five targeted support zones to help cushion the head, neck, shoulders, back, and legs.
- The coil unit is the support and base layer, made up of 7-inch it, designed to offer adaptive contouring, minimal motion transfer, and a bit of bounce. High-density foam makes up the perimeter, which is made to deliver stability and edge support.
- The bottom of the mattress features a Grip Base Cover to stop the mattress from shifting.
Unboxing & Off-Gassing
The Puffy Royal Hybrid arrives compressed in a box, and the company recommends giving it at least two hours after unboxing to reach its full size. After that, you’re free to sleep on it.
Like most bed-in-a-box models, there’ll be a slight off-gassing odor, which might not smell pleasant but is normal for mattresses with poly or memory foam. This just means the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from the foams are released after being vacuum-packed. If the smell bothers you, unzip the cover and leave the mattress in a ventilated room.
Certifications
- Eco-Friendly Certifications – The foams in this bed are CertiPUR-US® certified. CertiPUR-US® is a third-party program that ensures the foams meet rigorous health and safety standards. This means they don’t contain harmful substances like ozone depleters, PBDEs, heavy metals, formaldehyde, and phthalates. They should also have low volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions.
Noteworthy Updates:
- The Puffy Royal was once available as an all-foam bed, but this has been discontinued. The Puffy Royal is now only available as a hybrid.
Coupons, Trials, Warranties, and Shipping
- Shipping – Shipping is free across the USA, even to Alaska and Hawaii.
- White Glove Delivery – Puffy does not currently offer a white glove delivery service.
- Trial – You have 101 nights to decide whether the Puffy Royal Hybrid meets your needs.
- Warranty – Puffy offers a lifetime warranty with all their beds.
- Return Policy – Puffy requires you to sleep on your mattress for 14 nights before starting a return, though they recommend trying it for at least 30. Your unwanted mattress will be collected and donated to a children’s charity, and you’ll receive a full refund.
Sizes & Prices
| Size | Dimensions (inches) | Price (w/o discount) |
|---|---|---|
| Twin | 38” x 75” x 14” | $2,099 |
| Twin XL | 38” x 80” x 14” | $2,199 |
| Full | 54” x 75” x 14” | $2,899 |
| Queen | 60” x 80” x 14” | $3,149 |
| King | 76” x 80” x 14” | $3,449 |
| Cali King | 72” x 84” x 14” | $3,449 |
| Split King | 76” x 80” x 14” | $4,398 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between the Puffy Lux Hybrid and Puffy Royal Hybrid?
The Puffy Lux Hybrid is the brand’s mid-range model, while the Puffy Royal Hybrid is their most luxurious offering. The Puffy Lux stands at 12 inches, with two comfort layers and a 4.5 out of 10 firmness rating, while the Puffy Royal is 14 inches, with three comfort layers and a 5.5 firmness rating. Side sleepers might prefer the Puffy Lux, while back sleepers could sway towards the slightly firmer Puffy Royal.
Is the Puffy Royal Hybrid good for side sleepers?
Yea, the Puffy Royal Hybrid is good for side sleepers. We recommend the Puffy Royal Hybrid for light to average-weight side sleepers, who should find themselves sinking deeper into the foam layers, experiencing excellent pressure relief at the shoulders and hips.
Is the Puffy Royal Hybrid too soft?
The Puffy Royal Hybrid will be too soft for heavyweight people and stomach sleepers, who will need firmer support to keep their bodies in optimal alignment. However, light to average-weight side and back sleepers should find it’s just right.
How much weight can the Puffy Royal Hybrid hold?
Puffy states that their Royal Hybrid mattress can support a weight limit of 350 pounds on each side, though we don’t recommend the bed for anyone weighing over 230 pounds, as we don’t think it will provide the required support for that body weight.
Puffy Royal Hybrid vs Other Brands
Puffy Royal Hybrid vs Layla Hybrid
- Lifetime warranty
- Soft
- 101-night trial
- 10-year warranty
- Flippable (soft and firm sides)
- 365-night trial
Who We Recommend the Puffy Royal Hybrid For
- Couples seeking good motion isolation
- Shoppers requiring a longer warranty
- Those looking for exceptional pressure relief
Who We Recommend the Layla Hybrid For
- Lightweight stomach sleepers
- Shoppers who like the idea of a flippable, customizable bed
- Couples looking for good edge support
Read our Layla Hybrid mattress review if you think the Layla Hybrid is right for you
Puffy Royal Hybrid vs Titan Plus Luxe
- Designed for pressure relief
- Hybrid construction
- 101-night trial
- Designed for plus-size sleepers
- Hybrid construction
- 120-night trial
Who We Recommend the Puffy Royal Hybrid For
- Light to average-weight side sleepers
- Light to average-weight back sleepers
- Hot sleepers
Who We Recommend the Titan Plus Luxe For
- Heavyweight people
- Combination sleepers
- Average to heavyweight couples
Read our Titan Plus Luxe mattress review if you think the Titan Plus Luxe is right for you
Puffy Royal Hybrid vs Other Puffy Models
Puffy Royal Hybrid vs Puffy
- Hybrid model
- 14-inch profile
- 5.5/10 firmness
- All-foam model
- 10-inch profile
- 5.5/10 firmness
Who We Recommend the Puffy Royal Hybrid For
- Luxury shoppers
- Average-weight side and back sleepers
- Hot sleepers
Who We Recommend the Puffy For
- Lightweight sleepers
- Budget shoppers
- Memory foam lovers
Read our Puffy mattress review if you think the Puffy is right for you
Puffy Royal Hybrid vs Puffy Lux Hybrid
- 5.5/10 firmness
- 14-inch profile
- Luxurious
- 4.5/10 firmness
- 12-inch profile
- Mid-range model
Who We Recommend the Puffy Royal Hybrid For
- Average-weight sleepers
- Lighter-weight people with back pain
- Hot sleepers
Who We Recommend the Puffy Lux Hybrid For
- Side sleepers
- Those looking for pressure relief on a smaller budget
- Light to average-weight stomach sleepers
Read our Puffy Lux Hybrid mattress review if you think the Puffy Lux is right for you
Overall Summary
While the Puffy Royal Hybrid isn’t for everyone, we think it’s a great fit for light to average-weight side and back sleepers, who could benefit from the plush cushioning and targeted support.
Side Sleepers
Light to average-weight side sleepers could appreciate the plush cushioning on this mattress, which offers comfy pressure relief at the shoulders and hips for these weight categories. However, heavyweight side sleepers should steer clear, as they’ll sink too far into the comfort layers, experiencing unhealthy spine alignment.
Back Sleepers
We found this mattress to be ideal for lightweight back sleepers, who will experience it as a little firmer, finding comfort and support. Average-weight back sleepers should also have a pleasant sleep, though some may prefer a firmer offering. This mattress isn’t suitable for heavyweight back sleepers, who will find their hips sinking too deeply, causing back pain.
Stomach Sleepers
We don’t recommend this mattress for stomach sleepers of any weight group, as it’s too soft. Front sleepers require a firmer mattress to keep their hips elevated and their spine correctly aligned. Stomach sleeping on a mattress that’s too soft can cause lower back issues over time.
Combination Sleepers
The Puffy Royal Hybrid offers deep sinkage into its plush foam layers, with very little bounce coming through from the coil unit. This means that you might feel a little ‘stuck’ in the bed and unable to change positions easily. It’s also not suitable for stomach sleepers or heavyweight folk, so combination sleepers who fall into those categories should steer clear.
Couples
This mattress has great motion isolation, so you shouldn’t feel a partner moving around. It’s also got some cooling features, which are ideal if you overheat when sharing a bed. However, it’s lacking in edge support, which could be an issue if you like to spread out, and it’s not very bouncy, which may affect its performance for sex.
Heavy Sleepers
This isn’t a good mattress for people weighing over 230 pounds, who will experience it as even softer than it already is. Despite having a coil unit, there are multiple foam layers to sink into, which won’t provide the support needed for this body weight.
Lightweight Sleepers
Lightweight back and side sleepers should feel incredibly cozy on this mattress, thanks to the plush comfort foams and support from the coil system. However, lightweight stomach sleepers won’t get the support needed while sleeping on their front and should instead seek out something firmer.
Average Weight Sleepers
Average-weight back and side sleepers will experience great support and pressure relief on this hybrid, as they’ll sink deeply into the comfort layers, getting that deep hug that memory foam is known for. However, some back sleepers may prefer a slightly firmer offering. We don’t recommend this for stomach sleepers, who will need the support of a firmer mattress.
Overall Value
Puffy’s most luxurious offering comes with an industry-standard trial along with a generous lifetime warranty, exceeding some of its competitors and adding to this bed’s value. Plus, with free shipping to Alaska and Hawaii included, we think they have a great deal for consumers.
Our Verdict
After testing the Puffy Royal Hybrid, we found it to be a great match for light to average-weight sleepers who spend most of the night on their side or back. The slow-moving memory foam offers a deep hug and excellent pressure relief, with targeted sculpting coming from the exclusive Cloud Air Technology foam layer.
However, if you’re a combination sleeper, you might find it a little hard to move around on the plush foam. Stomach sleepers and heavyweight sleepers should steer clear and look for a firmer mattress that offers the support they need.
Jill Zwarensteyn is the editor for Sleep Advisor and a certified sleep science coach. She is enthusiastic about providing helpful and engaging information on all things sleep and wellness.
Based in Los Angeles, she is an experienced writer and journalist who enjoys spending her free time at the beach, hiking, reading, or exploring new places around town.
She’s also an avid traveler who has a personal goal of being able to successfully sleep on an airplane someday.
