by Novosbed vs Douglas — both are solid Canadian all-foam mattresses, but they target different sleepers. Douglas is the value pick: gel-foam feel, strong motion isolation, and a lower price. Novosbed gives you three firmness options and a thicker build, which suits side sleepers who want a more cradling experience. Neither ships to the US, so American shoppers should see the Saatva Classic recommendation below.
Saatva Classic
9.4/10
- Dual-coil construction with a reinforced lumbar zone pad, more responsive than any all-foam bed
- Three firmness options (Plush Soft, Luxury Firm, Firm) to match any sleep style
- Free white-glove delivery, in-room setup, and old-mattress removal with every order
- 365-night home trial and lifetime warranty, the longest coverage in the category
- $99 return fee applies during the trial window
- Ships flat, not bed-in-a-box compressed
While Novosbed and Douglas are solid Canadian options, the Saatva Classic delivers coil-on-coil support, a hotel-quality feel, and the most generous trial in the industry. It ships across the US with free white-glove setup included.
Novosbed vs Douglas: at a glance
Novosbed and Douglas are two of Canada's most respected direct-to-consumer mattress brands. Both ship free within Canada, use all-foam construction, and offer competitive warranties. The differences come down to firmness flexibility (Novosbed wins), price (Douglas wins), and cooling (Douglas wins with gel-infused foam).
Specs comparison
| Feature | Novosbed | Douglas |
|---|---|---|
| Type | All-foam, 4 layers | All-foam, 4 layers |
| Height | 11 inches | 10 inches |
| Firmness options | Soft / Medium / Firm (3 options) | Medium-firm only (6.5/10) |
| Cover | Tencel, removable and washable | Infinitex, removable and washable |
| Top comfort layer | Open-cell memory foam | Ecolight cool gel memory foam (2 in.) |
| Queen price (CAD) | ~$999 | ~$799 |
| Trial period | 120 nights | 120 nights |
| Warranty | 15 years | 15 years |
| Made in | Canada | Canada |
| Free shipping | Yes (Canada only) | Yes (Canada only) |
Novosbed: who it works for
Novosbed's standout feature is firmness choice. Most Canadian bed-in-a-box brands ship one firmness and ask you to live with it. Novosbed ships in Soft, Medium, and Firm, and even sells an add-on comfort layer that shifts the feel one level up or down after purchase. That kind of flexibility is rare at this price tier.
The 11-inch profile and multi-layer memory foam construction suit side sleepers who want a cradling, pressure-relieving feel. The Tencel cover unzips for machine washing, a useful feature for long-term hygiene that not every brand offers.
Where Novosbed struggles: temperature regulation. The thick foam layers absorb body heat, and the mattress runs warmer than the Douglas. Hot sleepers in warm climates will notice this. At $999 CAD queen, it also costs $200 more than the Douglas.
- Best for: side sleepers wanting pressure relief, people who need a specific firmness level, light-to-average weight sleepers
- Not ideal for: hot sleepers, heavier sleepers above 230 lb, anyone wanting a coil-supported feel
Douglas: who it works for
Douglas built its reputation as the best-value all-foam mattress in Canada. The gel-infused ecolight foam on top regulates temperature better than the Novosbed, making it the stronger call for hot sleepers. The elastex foam transition layer adds responsiveness, so it avoids the slow-sinking feel that some people dislike in traditional memory foam.
At 6.5 out of 10 firmness, the Douglas lands in medium-firm territory. It's comfortable for side and back sleepers alike, and firm enough to maintain spinal alignment without creating pressure points. Motion isolation is excellent: the thick foam base absorbs movement so partners don't disturb each other during the night.
The main limitation is no firmness choice. If medium-firm doesn't suit your body type or sleep position, there's no adjustment path. Heavier sleepers above 250 lb may find the 10-inch profile compresses too quickly into the support foam.
- Best for: hot sleepers, couples, side and back sleepers under 250 lb, budget-conscious shoppers
- Not ideal for: sleepers who need Soft or Firm firmness, very heavy sleepers, stomach sleepers needing extra hip support
Construction deep dive
Novosbed uses four foam layers: a Tencel cover, a next-generation open-cell memory foam comfort layer, a transitional memory foam layer, and a thick polyfoam support base. The open-cell structure in the comfort layer improves breathability compared to older memory foams, though the heat issue persists in warmer conditions. The zippered cover is a genuine differentiator.
Douglas also uses four layers: an Infinitex cover that wicks moisture, 2 inches of ecolight cool gel memory foam, 2 inches of elastex foam for responsiveness, and a 6-inch motion-insulating support base. The gel infusion in the top layer is the key thermal advantage. The deeper elastex layer prevents the "stuck" feeling that denser memory foam creates when you shift positions at night.
Verdict
For most Canadian shoppers, the Douglas is the smarter buy at most price points, with better cooling, a lower price, and a medium-firm feel that suits the majority of sleep positions. Choose Novosbed if you need a specific firmness that Douglas doesn't offer, or if the deep memory-foam cradling feel matters to you.
Neither mattress ships to the United States. US shoppers comparing these two brands should look at the Saatva Classic instead, a coil-hybrid with white-glove delivery, a 365-night trial, and three firmness options starting around $1,095 queen.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Novosbed or Douglas better for side sleepers?
Both work for side sleepers, but the Novosbed Soft option provides more shoulder and hip cradling. The Douglas medium-firm is a good fit for average-weight side sleepers who prefer sleeping "on" the mattress rather than "in" it.
Do Novosbed and Douglas ship to the US?
No. Both brands ship within Canada only. US shoppers should consider the Saatva Classic (ships nationwide with free white-glove delivery) or the Amerisleep AS3 (100-night trial, made in the USA).
How do Novosbed and Douglas compare on warranty and trial?
Both carry identical coverage: 15-year warranty and 120-night sleep trial. The main difference is price, with Douglas coming in roughly $200 CAD cheaper per size at most tiers.
Is the Douglas mattress good for couples?
Yes. The foam base absorbs motion well, and it also comes in Split King, which Novosbed does not offer. Couples with different firmness preferences can get independent comfort on each side with the Split King configuration.
Can heavier sleepers use either mattress?
Both are best suited for sleepers under 250 lb. Above that weight, the 10-to-11-inch all-foam build may compress into the support foam more quickly than ideal, reducing spinal alignment. Heavier sleepers typically do better on a thicker coil hybrid like the Saatva Classic or Saatva HD.