Egg Crate Foam vs. High Density 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.

High Density Foam

High density foam is a very firm foam that generally makes up the bottom layer of popular memory foam mattresses. Other types of mattresses such as innerspring or hybrid may also use high density foam to support the spring systems.

High density foams generally are not used to create the entire mattress because they are just too firm. So, generally they are used as a foundation for the bed or to provide edge support.

High density foam is made of a blend of polyurethane 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: Structural firm foam used by many mattresses to provide foundation and shape.

Cons: Off-gassing problems with lower quality foams and it is too firm to make a mattress in its entirety.

Learn More About Egg Crate Foam

Learn More About High Density Foam

See Our Top Mattress Choices

Material Scores

Overall Score:
Egg Crate Foam: 9.2/10
High Density Foam: 8.9/10

Comfort:
Egg Crate Foam: 9.2/10
High Density Foam: 8/10

Softness:
Egg Crate Foam: 9.4/10
High Density Foam: 7.5/10

Cooling:
Egg Crate Foam: 8.9/10
High Density Foam: 8/10

Hypoallergenic:
Egg Crate Foam: 8.6/10
High Density Foam: 8.1/10

No Odor:
Egg Crate Foam: 8.6/10
High Density Foam: 8.4/10

General Support:
Egg Crate Foam: 9/10
High Density Foam: 9.3/10

Eco-Conscious:
Egg Crate Foam: 8.7/10
High Density Foam: 8.5/10

Price Value:
Egg Crate Foam: 9.2/10
High Density Foam: 9.4/10