Get The Best March 2024 Mattress Deals! Unlock Today's Coupons

Egg Crate Foam vs. Polyurethane Foam

Egg Crate Foam

Egg crate foam can be any type of foam where one side has an 'egg crate' shape. The purpose of this kind of foam is two-fold. It tends to be more responsive and distributes weight better than a thick layer of foam, and also it has cooling advantages because of the air flow that it provides.

Egg crate foam can be either memory foam or reflex foam, which are both blends of polyurethane foams and could be prone to off-gassing and odor.

The egg crate foam is generally found in the top comfort layers of the mattress, though they could be used in the base layer as well.

Pros: More response and more airflow than flat foam layers.

Cons: Comfort is entirely dependent on the quality of foam -- lower quality foams can be uncomfortable and break down faster.

Polyurethane Foam

Polyurethane foam is a blanket term that includes any foam that is synthesized using polyol and diisocyanate. These include but are not limited to: memory foam, high resilience foam, and high density foam. Since polyurethane foam can contain additives, a manufacturer that comes up with a new formula can name the new foam whatever they like.

Many memory foam mattresses are a combination of polyurethane foams, layered from dense on the bottom to less dense on the surface layers.

Polyurethane is a synthetic blend of organic compounds and has a tendency to off-gas. If you are susceptible to lung issues, please do additional research on the quality of foams before purchasing.

Pros: Many different types of foams exist under the polyurethane umbrella -- some are excellent for bedding and offer different firmness varieties!

Cons: Off-gassing and durability problems with lower quality foams.


Learn More About Egg Crate Foam

Learn More About Polyurethane Foam

See Our Top Mattress Choices

Material Scores

Overall Score:
Egg Crate Foam: 9.2/10
Polyurethane Foam: 9.4/10

Comfort:
Egg Crate Foam: 9.2/10
Polyurethane Foam: 9.4/10

Softness:
Egg Crate Foam: 9.4/10
Polyurethane Foam: 9.5/10

Cooling:
Egg Crate Foam: 8.9/10
Polyurethane Foam: 8/10

Hypoallergenic:
Egg Crate Foam: 8.9/10
Polyurethane Foam: 8/10

Odor:
Egg Crate Foam: 8.9/10
Polyurethane Foam: 8/10

General Support:
Egg Crate Foam: 9/10
Polyurethane Foam: 9.5/10

Eco-Conscious:
Egg Crate Foam: 8.9/10
Polyurethane Foam: 8/10

Price Value:
Egg Crate Foam: 9.2/10
Polyurethane Foam: 9.5/10

Disclaimer

Mattress & furniture shopping is an oftentimes tedious and mundane task. This site's sole purpose is to help you make the decision faster and with more peace of mind. We sincerely hope that whatever your interaction with this site, that it is helpful and timely for you, and that the product information here guides you to the best outcome for your daily life. May all benefit! The reviews here are aggregated from other sources across the Internet and although we have tried only to find trustworthy reviews, the content and scores here may be subject to manipulation by agents acting on behalf of manufacturers and marketers. Like all things you read on the Internet, understand there is no better judge than yourself. When it comes to your own comfort, your own body is the only North Star. Where Slumber Search discusses medical ailments, we strive to ensure the information on this site is accurate, current and useful, however, we do not warrant the accuracy or completeness of any information related to medicine. We are not doctors -- if you have a medical condition, please consult your doctor.

The makers of Slumber Search also make affiliate commissions from some of these manufacturers to keep the site running. There is NO additional price markup for using this site or on links from this site and any commissions made by Slumber Search come out of the brand's profit margin. See how it all works here.