The IKEA VALEVÅG is one of the best budget mattresses I've tested – at just £219 for a double, it's amazing value

My IKEA VALEVÅG pocket sprung mattress review puts this budget-friendly mattress through its paces to see how it performs compared to the best mattresses on the market.

In a nutshell

At just £219 for a double and £279 for a king-size, the IKEA VALEVÅG is a very affordable pocket spring mattress.

My first impressions were that it looked quite basic, but on testing its no-frills design pleasantly surprised me.

I reviewed the medium-firm tension VALEVÅG and overall I found it very comfortable. It was softer than I expected – to me it felt far more like a medium tension – but there is also a firm option available, and when I had a quick lay down on it in my local IKEA store, I found the firm to feel a lot more like I'd expected the medium-firm option to feel.

However, the more I slept on this mattress, the more I liked it. The cushioned top layer provided a good level of comfort for my hip and shoulder when I laid on my side, whilst the mattress also gave a good level of support. That said, I'm roughly nine and a half stone, so heavier sleepers may find its softer tension doesn't offer enough support.

All in all, considering its budget price tag, I think this is a great value mattress. It performed better than any other mattress I've tested in this price range, and the fact IKEA offers a 365 exchange if you find it isn't the right sleep surface for you is a big selling point.

IKEA VALEVÅG pocket sprung mattress review

Specifications

• Type: pocket spring
• Construction materials: pocket springs with foam top layer
• Sizes: single, double, king, super king, and 120x190cm
• Tensions available: medium-firm / firm
• Height: 24cm
• Side handles: yes, two on each side
• Flip or rotate: rotate
• Manufacturer sleep trial: 365 day exchange for another IKEA mattress

1. Comfort

I tested a medium-firm tension in the IKEA VALEVÅG mattress, but the mattress is also available in a firm tension.

My first impressions were that it was softer than I expected, although having tested numerous mattresses at the budget end of the price spectrum, I've come to discover this is common for affordable mattresses.

Overall I'd say the VALEVÅG feels more medium than medium-firm, and when I nipped into my local IKEA store to test out the firm version, this was closer to a medium-firm tension in my book.

The mattress is a fairly simple design, constructed of individually housed pocket springs with a foam top layer, and if I’m honest I wasn’t expecting much from such an affordable mattress. But despite it being a little softer than I'd have liked, my first impression when I lay on this mattress was good. I was pleasantly surprised at how supportive it felt whilst also being extremely comfortable.

I usually sleep on my left side or my back, so my ideal is a supportive mattress with a cushioned top layer that allows my shoulder and hip to sink in a little when I'm laid on my side.

Before testing, I had been suffering with lower back pain and an aching shoulder which can be exacerbated by a mattress that's too firm, but this mattress had enough cushioning to support my hip and shoulders so that they felt comfortable, whilst also maintaining my spine in a neutral position.

The fact that I didn’t wake up in another position like I sometimes do when I’m trying to get comfortable in my sleep demonstrates that I must have slept well!

I found the mattress comfortable for both back and side sleeping, and my husband also commented on how comfortable it felt when sleeping on his back. I was also comfortable when I tested lying on my front, although my osteopath tells me this is a sleep postion best avoided!

2. Motion isolation

The fact that this is a pocket spring mattress – that means that each of its springs are individually housed rather than connected – means it does better than most sprung mattresses at this price point when it comes to motion isolation.

However, when I went to bed to read before my husband I did still notice when he got into bed and moved around to plug in his phone and get comfy with his kindle.

All in all, there is some motion transfer from one side of the mattress to the other, but it wasn’t enough to disturb me too badly.

3. Responsiveness

Thanks to its pocket springs topped with a layer of standard foam, this mattress is very responsive.

Unlike the sleep surface of a memory foam mattress which can take a while to rebound after it has shaped itself around your body, the VALEVÅG mattress has none of that.

This made it really easy for me to change position during the night as there's none of the 'lag time' I've experienced on other mattresses waiting for the memory foam to readjust.

4. Temperature regulation

IKEA says that the VALEVÅG mattress has ‘edge-to-edge pocket springs that allow air to circulate for better breathability’.

As someone who is often cold when I go to bed meaning that I wrap up in lots of layers, I usually wake up overheated and sweating. This mattress didn’t make this any better, or worse, than usual.

So whilst I can't say I experienced any noticeable cooling properties, sleeping on the VALEVÅG mattress didn’t make me any hotter than usual, meaning it should be a safe bet for hot sleepers.

5. Edge support

The VALEVÅG product description states that the mattress has reinforced edges so that ‘you can sit or sleep close to the edge without sliding off.'

In practice, I have to disagree. I weigh about nine and a half stones and when I sat on the edge of the mattress it collapsed considerably. I couldn’t feel the bed frame under my bottom and thighs as with some other budget mattresses I’ve tested, however, the mattress certainly didn’t retain its form.

When I was laid down I could sleep near the edge without sinking, but when my parents visited and slept on the mattress, my dad, who is slightly heavier than me, said he could feel it sinking when he rolled close to the edge.

My husband also felt the side reinforcement wasn’t as good as on other mattresses we've tested. He complained that when he sat on the edge to put his socks on in the morning the side completely collapsed.

This also meant that the mattress didn’t make it easy to stand up from sitting on the edge, a factor worth bearing in mind if you have any mobility issues. If this is an important consideration for you, then in contrast the Sealy Newton Posturepedic mattress has the best edge support I've ever experienced in a mattress. Its edges don’t dip at all. However, it is nearly four times the price of this affordable IKEA mattress!

6. Sleep trial

IKEA offers a ‘Sleep on it’ mattress exchange policy. They refer to it as their '365-night trial scheme for newly purchased mattresses.’

Terms and conditions apply, so make sure to read them before you shop, but in essence, this means that you can buy an IKEA mattress, sleep on it for up to 365 nights, and if you're not happy with its comfort levels, then you can exchange it for an alternative IKEA mattress within that time frame.

This is slightly different to a Simba or Emma sleep trial where customers are offered 200 nights to sleep on the mattress, and then a refund if they're not happy with its performance. However, it's still a big bonus.

That's because it can take up to a month to adjust to a new mattress, and although it's easier to test an IKEA mattress in-store than it is to test out most sleep brands' mattresses, even if you know everything to look for when testing a mattress in-store, your bed base can still affect how the mattress feels at home.

7. Ease of care

This mattress only has the foam top layer on one side, so it’s not suitable for flipping. Instead, it should be rotated to ensure even wear and tear.

Two side handles on each side mean it’s really easy to do this. I tested a double in the VALEVÅG, and unlike some mattresses I’ve reviewed which felt a lot heavier, this mattress weighs 27.25 kg meaning it was light enough for me to rotate on my own using the thick, comfortable side handles that allow for a good grip.

The cover of this budget mattress isn't removable, but that's nothing a good mattress protector can't solve.

8. Delivery

The IKEA mattress delivery process was smooth and efficient with great communication. I received a text message on the morning of the delivery which explained the mattress was arriving between 10:30-2:30 pm, and it also provided a live link for me to keep an eye on its progress in order to make sure that I was in.

I received another message at 12:05pm that day telling me ‘We’re nearly there’ and sharing the tracking link again. I also received a phone call from the delivery driver who gave me an estimated time of arrival.

The mattress arrived rolled which made it much easier to get up our narrow winding staircase. This staircase has a sharp bend which has caused plenty of problems with flat mattress deliveries before.

As part of the 'large furniture delivery' charge, the delivery team will also carry the mattress into your room of choice. The delivery driver made this look very easy, but even a rolled mattress is still far more weighty and cumbersome than you might expect.

IKEA also pairs with Taskrabbit for furniture assembly, so if you need help unpacking and installing the mattress onto your bedframe, you may be able to book this when you order.

As it was, I found the mattress very easy to cut from its packaging, and then it was just a case of letting it unfurl. IKEA says, 'the mattress may need about 72 hours to fully regain its shape and comfort after having been roll-packed. Any wrinkles will disappear too.' I found it was soon ready to sleep on.

9. Third-party reviews

In the time that I was testing the VALEVÅG mattress its reviews on the IKEA website seemed to fluctuate between 3.5 and 4 out of 5 stars.

Owners praise its affordability, with many customers reporting how comfortable they find it. However, other customers mention finding it softer than expected, something I would agree with. Like them I found the medium-firm mattress felt more like a medium tension and the firm option closer to what I'd generally consider medium-firm.

A couple of reviews also mention the mattress collapsing in the middle over time. Because this budget mattress isn't as firm as more expensive mattresses, I wonder if it's best suited to lighter-weight sleepers. The type of mattress that's best for heavier-weight people tends to be one that offers more support.

10. Value for money

At just £219 for a double and £279 for a king-size, the IKEA VALEVÅG is a very affordable mattress.

For comparison, Emma's most affordable mattress, the Emma Hybrid Original Mattress, currently retails at £418 for a double and Simba's most affordable mattress, the Simba Hybrid Essential Mattress costs £599 for a double at full price.

The only cheaper mattresses I've tested are the Dreams Workshop Follows Traditional Spring Mattress which is currently just £179 for a double and the Zinus Green Tea Memory Foam Mattress which is usually on sale for under £200.

The Dreams option is a super affordable buy, however, I found it much softer than the VALEVÅG which offered me more support. The Dreams Follows mattress is also only 18cm deep compared to the 24cm VALEVÅG, so the IKEA option is likely better for heavier sleepers.

The fact that the IKEA VALEVÅG is also available in two tensions – unlike any other mattress I've come across in this price bracket – will also make it suitable for a wider range of sleepers.

All in all, the IKEA VALEVÅG is a no-frills design that certainly isn't perfect, but considering its price point I think it offers great value for money.

How I tested

Rachel Tompkins

I’m Rachel, a 44-year-old mother and freelance reviewer who helps the Ideal Home team put mattresses through their paces to find our top recommendations. For this review, I tested the IKEA VALEVÅG pocket sprung mattress in medium-firm tension on a slatted bed base.

My sleep stats:

Sleep position: back or side
Tension preference: firm
Sleep problems: lower back pain and/or neck pain and occasional overheating
Height & weight: 5"5 and 9.5 stones

In putting the IKEA VALEVÅG pocket sprung mattress through Ideal Home's mattress testing process I assessed ten factors that we deem vital to any mattress purchase.

I tested the mattress for comfort, motion isolation, responsiveness, temperature regulation, and edge support. This means that myself (and my husband) slept on the mattress for a minimum of two weeks before I wrote my review.

I also took into consideration ease of care, any sleep trials available, the delivery process, its value for money, and, where possible, researched third-party customer reviews – to see if they aligned or were at odds with my own experience – before writing my own review and giving this mattress a star rating.