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This article was updated to add Boxing Day deals on 26/12/2024 and to remove any out-of-date information
Finding the best mattress for your individual needs can be transformative, allowing you to sleep better at night and wake up feeling refreshed. But, with a dizzying amount of options available, how do you find the right mattress for your body and budget?
That’s where I come in. As Ideal Home's Sleep Editor, I’ll explain how to factor your sleep position, weight, aches and pains, and sleep temperature into your mattress choice, as well as what to look for if you share a bed with a partner. I’ll also demystify the different mattress types, explaining which might suit your body and budget best, and simplify the jargon, from ‘motion isolation’ to ‘edge support’.
A good mattress should last seven to ten years, but there are lots of reasons you might need to swap out a mattress sooner, and whilst adding one of the best mattress toppers to your existing mattress may solve some sleep issues, a topper doesn't solve everything.
To create this shortlist, I've laid on over 100 mattresses, put over 30 options through Ideal Home's mattress testing process, and narrowed that selection down to my top ten recommendations. All the mattresses in our round-up have been slept on for at least four weeks (and often years) to assess comfort, responsiveness, motion isolation, temperature regulation, and edge support. I've also examined the brand's sleep trial offer, long-term customer satisfaction, delivery process, environmental impact, and value for money.
First up in this guide, I'll introduce you to the best mattresses that I and our review team have tested. My first choice is the Simba Hybrid Original mattress because of its crowd-pleasing comfort and value for money, but my other choices all deliver their own unique USPs and come highly recommended.
I'm Amy, and I've spent the last four years testing products from all the leading mattress brands. I’ve slept on hybrid, memory foam, and sprung mattresses, researched mattress construction, and spoken to a wide range of sleep experts – from osteopaths and physiologists to sleep scientists and product developers – to determine the key factors needed for a good night’s sleep.
Best Boxing Day Mattress deals
If you are hoping to snap up a new mattress in the Boxing Days sales, we're hunted around to find the best prices on our top rated mattresses.
The quick list
Short on time? This quick list is an overview of the very best mattresses myself and the Ideal Home review team have tested. You'll find more information on each mattress and why we recommend it if you keep on scrolling.
Best mattress overall
Our reviewer Linda describes this as the 'Goldilocks' of the mattress world – a sleep surface that's not too soft or too firm. A mattress-in-a-box that employs pocket springs for support with a cushioned memory foam top layer, it's particularly comfortable for side and back sleeping, and its hybrid construction means it's a good all-rounder for sleepers of various weights. It is a crowd-pleaser that's also great value.
Best for back pain
Experts agree that a medium-firm mattress is the best option for reducing back pain at night. However, finding a mattress with medium-firm tension isn't easy as our body weight plays a huge part in how soft or firm we find a mattress. This hybrid memory foam mattress is available with four tension options, all with a 200 night sleep trial, that make it far easier to find the right firmness level to ease your aches and pains.
Best budget buy
Our reviewer Molly and her partner found this affordable all-foam mattress to be a super comfortable sleep surface, especially for side sleeping. That said, its soft foam construction and lack of pocket springs can mean it's not the best option for heavier sleepers or back and front sleepers who may need more support. Our hot sleepers also found its memory foam 'hug' a little too warm, but, its affordable price tag is hard to beat if you're looking for a budget buy.
Best memory foam mattress
Unlike most pure memory foam mattresses which take a one-size-fits-all approach to firmness, Tempur's memory foam mattresses come in four different tension options to enable you to find just the right feel for you. This mattress is everything you would expect from a first-class memory foam mattress – it cushions, cocoons, offers brilliant pressure relief for the joints, and delivers excellent motion isolation that dampens any movement from a sleep partner.
Best mattress for side sleepers
If you're a side sleeper then a hybrid memory foam mattress can be a good choice as the cushioning top layer allows shoulders and hips to sink into the mattress a little to keep the spine in natural alignment. Like the Simba Hybrid Original mattress, the Emma Luxe Cooling mattress was a hit with our side sleeping testers, and its slightly softer surface may be better suited to those of a lighter body weight.
Best pocket-sprung mattress
This is the mattress I have on my own bed, and love. As a hot sleeper, it's the most breathable mattress I've slept on, and because it combines pocket spring support with a soft pillow top layer, it's highly comfortable too. Packed full of natural materials such as wool, cotton, and kapok, it's also a mattress with a low environmental impact and Hypnos' commitment to sustainable manufacture is second to none.
Best mattresses 2024 – tried and tested
Why you can trust Ideal Home Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test.
Best mattress overall
The Simba Hybrid Original mattress ticks all the boxes to deliver a good night's sleep and all for a reasonable price point, which is why, after testing numerous other contenders, we still rate it as the best value mattress you can buy.
This is a hybrid mattress with memory foam cushioning and spring support, and, for most of us, its medium-firm tension should prove 'just right' comfort-wise. Our testing team describe it as 'the Goldilocks of the mattress world – not too soft or too firm'. When sleeping on their sides our testers appreciated the cradling of the memory foam top layer around their hips and shoulders, and when laying on their backs they found the mattress offered plenty of support.
Simba's graphite-infused open-cell memory foam also offers better breathability and temperature regulation than most memory foam mattresses, so our usually warm sleepers didn't overheat. Our testers found the Hybrid Original's edge support, motion isolation, and responsiveness decent, welcoming the extra bit of bounce the hybrid design provided.
This mattress in a box makes is easy to negotiate tricky access or narrow staircases on delivery day, plus you can opt for delivery to your room of choice or 'white glove' delivery where the mattress is unboxed and packaging removed. Add to that a sleep trial that allows you to test out the mattress for 200 nights in your own home, great customer reviews, good value for money, and Simba's ongoing commitment to lowering its environmental impact, and we think this mattress rightly deserves its 5-star Ideal Home rating.
The only caveat is that if you sleep on your front, or are heavier or lighter than average you may need a mattress with a firmer or softer tension. In this case, it could be worth paying more for Brook + Wilde's Ultima mattress or opt for the firmer feel Sealy Newton Posturepedic mattress.
Our full Simba Hybrid Original mattress review has more detail.
Best mattress for back pain
The Journal of Orthopaedics and Traumatology found that the best mattress for back pain is a medium-firm mattress. If you're looking for a medium-firm mattress to ease back pain then the Brook + Wilde Ultima mattress is for you.
This type of mattress can be tricky to find, because your body weight plays a big part in how a mattress's tension feels. Heavier sleepers usually need a firmer tension to nail that 'medium-firm' feel, whereas lighter-weight sleepers require a softer mattress. Thankfully, this is exactly what the Brook + Wilde Ultima mattress delivers.
A hybrid memory foam and pocket spring mattress, the Ultima is available in four tension options – soft, medium, medium-firm, and firm. Add to this a 200 night sleep trial that allows you to test out the mattress in your own home, and it's far easier to find exactly the right tension for your body, which can help to alleviate back pain. It certainly worked for our tester who rated this mattress 5-stars for comfort, saying 'I often suffer from lower back pain but after sleeping on the Ultima I woke up with no pain whatsoever'.
The open-cell memory foam also offers decent breathability, and our tester rated it highly for motion isolation, even when her partner tossed and turned dramatically by her side, as well as for responsiveness and edge support. The rolled delivery is also useful for homes with awkward access, and Brook + Wilde offers both delivery to your room of choice and 'white glove' delivery where the mattress is unpacked and installed for you.
The only potential downside is that this mattress is made to order, so it may take a few weeks to arrive, and, its luxurious design is matched by a luxury price tag. However, if you want to tailor your mattress' comfort to your exact specifications, the Ultima is well worth the investment.
Our full Brook + Wilde Ultima mattress review has more detail.
Best budget mattress
The Emma Original is an affordable mattress that does away with any springs and instead uses a mix of memory foam and foam in its construction. It's one of the brand's bestselling mattresses, no doubt thanks to its budget-friendly price (often made even more attractive in Emma's regular sales) and its superb cushioning.
Our tester loved its malleable sleep surface, especially when she was laid on her side as the memory foam layer moulded perfectly around her shoulder and hips to cushion any pressure points. She also found it offered brilliant motion isolation that substantially dampened movements of her restless partner.
However, this mattress doesn't feature open-cell memory foam or offer much by way of temperature-regulating technology, so our tester (usually a cold sleeper) found she was prone to overheating on its foam surface, and her hot-blooded partner often woke up sweating. She also found it lacked edge support and the cushioning made it a bit harder to change position in the night.
Heavier sleepers may also find the all-foam design doesn't offer quite enough support, and the memory foam top layer could be too enveloping for those who sleep on their front or back. Plus, Emma only offers doorstep delivery, which won't be suitable for anyone less able-bodied. And, compared to the brand's main competitor, Simba, we couldn't find a lot of evidence that Emma is making efforts to incorporate recycled materials or lower the environmental impact of this mattress.
But, it's hard to beat this mattress in terms of affordability, and that, paired with a 200 night sleep trial that offers the opportunity to test the mattress out in your own home before you commit, means we think it's one of the best budget mattresses to consider. An alternative would be the hybrid memory foam REM-Fit Hybrid Pocket 1000 Mattress which adds springs to the mix for not that much more money.
Our full Emma Original mattress review has more detail.
Best memory foam mattress
The Emma Original mattress might be one of the bestselling memory foam mattresses if you're on a budget, but we think the Tempur Pro Plus SmartCool mattress is the best memory foam mattress overall.
That's because unlike most all-foam mattresses which take a one-size-fits-all approach to tension, this mattress comes in four tension options – soft, medium, medium-firm and firm – making it much easier to find the right tension option for you, no matter your body weight.
Our tester found this mattress elicited a sigh of contentment from every tester who laid down on its surface, with the memory foam rapidly cocooning around the body to cushion all joints and support every inch of the spine. It was a particular favourite amongst our side sleeping testers because the deep memory foam allowed enough space for their shoulder and hip to sink in, but in the firmer options, our back sleeping testers also found they benefitted from enough support. The mattress also scored brilliantly for motion isolation, eliminating virtually any motion transfer even when we got a co-tester to toss and turn close by.
Unlike its predecessor, the Tempur Sensation memory foam mattress, and the more affordable Emma Original memory foam mattress, which caused many of our testers to overheat, the SmartCool also lived up to its name and delivered in the breathability stakes. Never once did our testers overheat whilst sleeping on this mattress that employs Tempur's latest temperature-regulating technology.
However, our tester did encounter some downsides, namely that the edge support was lacking – so if you need a firm surface to push up from in the mornings or you tend to sleep close to the edge of the mattress, this could be a problem. If you're an active sleeper who changes position a lot in the night this can also be a little tricky, as the memory foam cradles you so fully that it can be difficult to climb out of the depression that's formed around you.
Plus, that thick layer of memory foam makes this mattress heavy. Very heavy. So it's tough work to rotate, and our tester Jullia found it a struggle to lift the corner of the mattress to change the sheets. Its flat (rather than rolled or boxed) delivery may also be unsuitable for homes with awkward access, although the 'white-glove' delivery options are first-rate, as is the 100-night manufacturer sleep trial.
Would we forgive these niggles for the comfort it offers? The majority of our testers voted, yes.
Our full Tempur Pro Plus SmartCool mattress review has more detail.
Best mattress for side sleepers
Research shows that the majority of us sleep on our sides. As a result, there are many mattresses designed with side sleepers in mind, such as the Simba Hybrid Original and Brook + Wilde Ultima mattress higher up this list.
However, we found the Emma Luxe Cooling mattress to be the best mattress for side sleepers. It is best suited to lightweight side sleepers, the Luxe Cooling's softer surface tension allows shoulders and hips to sink down a little deeper for good spinal alignment. Heavier side sleepers will sink into any mattress a little deeper, so a slightly firmer surface like the Simba Hybrid Original might be a better choice comfort-wise.
Our reviewers also found the Luxe Cooling does exactly what its name promises, with its extra graphite-infused foam layer offering a far more breathable sleep surface than the brand's Emma Original mattress, making it on a par with the Simba and Brook +Wilde options in this regard. It also offers decent motion isolation, responsiveness and edge support, plus a 200-night sleep trial.
The downside is that although the Luxe Cooling is delivered vacuum-packed and rolled into a box, Emma only offers doorstep delivery, which won't be suitable for everyone. Plus, the brand is less vocal about any efforts to lower its environmental impact than many of its competitors, which means it lost a few marks in our scoring criteria.
Our full Emma Luxe Cooling mattress review has more detail.
Best pocket sprung mattress
Thanks to a pillow top comfort layer that's packed with breathable natural fibres, the Hypnos Select Pillow Top is the best pocket sprung mattress we've tested.
The sewn-on pillow top layer means this pocket spring mattress feels far more luxurious than most pocket sprung designs, and whilst that pillowed comfort layer doesn't offer quite the same sink-in cushioning as memory foam, many of our testers preferred the less enveloping feel, finding it made for a more responsive sleep surface that was easier to change position on.
Because this mattress doesn't feature foam or memory foam, it's also extremely highly rated by our hot sleeping testers. Our tester usually most prone to waking up hot and sticky on a synthetic mattress found it offered fantastic breathability, meaning she didn't overheat, even during summer heatwaves.
The Pillow Top Select also scores highly for edge support, only losing a few marks in our motion isolation tests. When our tester's partner tossed and turned there was a little more motion transfer through the matttress than they encountered whilst sleeping on the all-foam or hybrid mattresses in our round up. As a mattress that's made from predominantly natural, renewable, and biodegradable materials – that pillow top layer is packed with wool, kapok, and cotton – this is also one of the most environmentally friendly mattresses we've tested.
It may not be the most affordable option available, but in our tests this Hypnos mattress proved itself worthy of the investment.
Our full Hypnos Pillow Top mattress review has more detail.
Best hybrid mattress
There are a lot of hybrid mattresses on the market, so crowning the best-in-class can be a tricky business. However, our reviewer loved the Simba Hybrid Pro mattress. Comfort-wise she found this mattress gave her all the right support in all the right places, easing the back and neck pain she had been suffering from after sleeping on an all-foam mattress without any spring support. And, as a hot sleeper, it also kept her cool at night.
That improved temperature regulation is the main reason why you might consider investing some more cash and upgrading from the Simba Hybrid Original mattress (which still takes the top spot in our round-up thanks to its lower price point) to the Simba Hybrid Pro. If you don't have a problem with sleeping warm, then the lower-priced Hybrid Original could still be the best hybrid mattress for you.
The Hybrid Pro also offers slightly better edge support than many of its competitors (important if you tend to gravitate towards sleeping on the edge of the mattress, or if sleeping space is at a premium), along with decent responsiveness and motion isolation.
And, as with the Simba Hybrid Original, this mattress benefits from Simba's market-leading customer care, with several delivery options including a 'white glove' service, a 200 night sleep trial, and the option to have your old mattress taken away and recycled when your new one is delivered. Plus, alongside naturalmat, Simba is one of the few UK mattress manufacturers to attain B Corp status, with its Environmental Impact Report showing the brand's ongoing commitment to more sustainable manufacture.
Our Simba Hybrid Pro mattress review has the full lowdown.
Best firm mattress
The Sealy Newton Posturepedic mattress is our top recommendation for the best firm mattress you can buy. This hybrid mattress mixes a latex comfort layer with open coil support to create a sleep surface with a higher tension than most.
Initially it took our tester a few days to get used to the firmer feel, especially compared to the memory foam mattress she'd previously been sleeping on, but she was soon sold, saying that whilst sleeping on the Newton Posturepedic she didn’t wake up with lower backache like she previously had been. That firmness makes it a great choice for front and back sleepers, although lighter weight side sleepers may just find it a little too firm.
In our tests, this mattress also offered excellent edge support and our reviewers found the latex comfort layer to offer better temperature regulation than memory foam. They also found the latex was a little more responsive when changing postition, with less of the 'lag' that can sometimes come as memory foam adapts and readapts to your contours in a new posture.
The downsides were that our reviewer noted that motion isolation could have been a little better, which is perhaps due to that continuous coil spring unit. However, she said this wasn't enough to negatively impact hers or her husband's sleep. In addition, this mattress is one of the few in our round-up not to offer a sleep trial, although it is available to test in store in various locations. It's also worth mentioning its flat delivery, as our tester initially struggled to get it up her narrow and winding staircase.
Find the full details in our Sealy Newton Posturepedic mattress review.
Best for back sleepers
A latex hybrid mattress, the Silentnight Lift Replenish Hybrid 2000 mattress is available in a medium-soft or medium-firm feel, although our testers found both options felt more towards the firm end of the scale.
A more responsive alternative to memory foam, a mattress with a latex comfort layer is good choice for active sleepers who change position in the night, as unlike memory foam, latex offers more bounce, springs back into shape quicker, and doesn't cocoon your body like memory foam.
The medium-firm option in particular was a hit with our testers who preferred to sleep on their backs, offering a little give and a lot of support to keep the spine well aligned. Its firmer feel was also popular with our front sleeping testers, who need a mattress they lay 'on' rather than sinking 'into'. However, the medium-firm option was too firm for most of our side sleepers as it lacked enough cushioning to relieve pressure on the hip and shoulders when laid on their sides.
Our testers also noted that whilst the latex felt more responsive than memory foam, this comfort layer still offered great motion isolation, with the movement of their partner barely noticeable in the night. They also praised the mattress' edge support and its breathability and temperature regulation.
The only downsides were the mattress' weight, and the fact it's delivered flat which can make things more tricky for those with awkward access on delivery day.
Find out more in our Silentnight Lift Replenish Hybrid 2000 mattress review.
Best kids mattress
Finding a good kids' mattress can be difficult as this is a purchase that needs to see your child through a lot of physical changes, potentially from toddler to teenager.
Our tester, Jen, and her 3-year-old daughter have put multiple kids' mattresses to the test, and, so far, the Simba Hybrid Kids mattress is the outright winner in the 'best children's mattress' stakes.
Unlike other mattresses that our toddler tester rated 'too hard', this Simba option achieved the accolade of being deemed 'nice', and luckily, Mum and Dad agree too.
Similar to the bestselling adult's Simba Hybrid Original mattress at #1 in this list, the Simba Hybrid Kids mattress uses a mix of springs and memory foam to achieve its 'just right' mix of cushioning and support. Jen felt that gave it enough squish that her toddler could feel comfortable at night, whilst still offering a firm support layer that would prove adaptive as she grew. And whilst it offers good motion isolation for wriggly sleepers, it's also responsive enough to offer that must-have bounce. Plus, good edge support is perfect for bedtime story reading.
The only downsides are the lack of handles for rotation, and the fact the removable cover isn't machine-washable which seems like something of an oversight in a kid's mattress. Still, it's nothing a mattress protector can't fix, and with a 200-night sleep trial that allows plenty of time for your little one to test it out at home, we still think this is one of the best kid's mattresses you can buy.
See the detail in our Simba Hybrid Kids mattress review.
The runners up
Each month we put new mattresses through the Ideal Home review process – from popular bestsellers to the latest launches – to see how they compare to the best-in-class mattresses included in this round-up.
Whilst not all the mattresses we review make the grade and get included in this edit – perhaps they perform well but another option offers better value, they are outshone in one category of our review process, or they get replaced by a newer model – we've included some of the runners up below so that you can compare their pros and cons for yourself.
The Panda Hybrid Bamboo mattress is a good hybrid mattress that combines cushioning and breathable open-cell memory foam with pocket spring support. It just usually costs slightly more than the comparable Simba Hybrid Original mattress and has a shorter (although still generous) sleep trial of 100 nights.
Our hot sleeping tester loved the Sleepeezee Jessica mattress, it's just pricier than the Simba options in our round-up and its unboxed delivery is more challenging for those with awkward access.
We loved the firm tension, breathability, and use of natural materials in the Hypnos Wool Origins 6 mattress, but the Hypnos Pillow Top Select is a more affordable pocket-spring option.
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The Emma NextGen Premium mattress is an affordable memory foam hybrid, but with doorstep delivery only and a lack of recycled materials compared to its competition.
We were impressed by the REM-Fit 600 Lux Elite Hybrid mattress, it just lacks handles for easy manoeuvre, and we couldn't find much evidence of efforts to reduce the product's environmental impact.
The OTTY Pure Hybrid Bamboo and Charcoal mattress was a hit with our tester prone to back pain. However, at full price it comes in more expensive than comparable memory foam hybrid mattresses.
When it's on sale, the REM-Fit Hybrid Pocket 1000 mattress is a very affordable hybrid mattress. At only 20cm deep it's just thinner than alternative options and felt quite basic in terms of performance.
The Eve Wunderflip Lighter Hybrid is an affordable hybrid mattress with a medium tension on one side and firm on the other. It could make it a good buy for guest bedrooms, but we're not sure how often you'd bother to flip it.
Another very affordable option, the Dreams Workshop Follows Traditional Spring mattress offered a decent sleep in our tests, but it's only 18cm thick, lacks edge support, and as it isn't boxed, delivery was awkward.
How we test
As Ideal Home's Sleep Editor I've laid on more than 100 mattresses to create this shortlist. Out of those 100 mattresses I've chosen the 30 I deemed to offer the best combination of comfort, support, and value for money to put through Ideal Home's mattress testing process.
During this process we put each mattress through its paces in real-life conditions, because after all, there's a big difference between bouncing around on a mattress in a showroom or at a trade show and sleeping on it night after night at home.
As such, our review team has tested each mattress included in this guide (and many more) in their own homes, sleeping on each mattress for at least two weeks, and in many cases far longer before giving it a rating in the following categories.
1. Comfort: we test each sleep surface for the cushioning and support it offers for side, back, and front sleeping.
2. Responsiveness: we test out how easy it is to change position and roll over in the night, which is important if you're an active sleeper or someone who struggles with mobility.
3. Motion isolation: if you sleep with a partner, motion isolation is what helps you to sleep undisturbed by their movements. To test this we get a co-sleeper to toss and turn next to us in the bed and assess how much we can feel their movement vibrate through the mattress.
4. Temperature regulation and breathability: we make note of whether a mattress causes us to overheat in the night, or whether it offers enough breathability for good temeprature regulation.
5. Edge support: we do a sit test to see how much the edge of the mattress dips with our weight. Good edge support makes it easier to push off the mattress to stand up, and reduces the risk of rolling out of the bed if you sleep on the edge.
6. Sleep trials: a sleep trial allows you to test out the mattress in your own home too. We consider the availability and length of any sleep trials, and what happens to any mattresses returned.
7. Ease of care and durability: we assess how easy each mattress is to care for in day-to-day life, considering how heavy it is, if it has handles for easier turning or flipping, and whether it comes with a removable cover that can be washed or a replaceable cover or topper. We also research wider reviews to see how customers rate each mattress over the long-term.
8. Delivery: we assess the delivery process to see if the mattress manufacturer offers boxed, rolled or flat delivery, and whether that delivery is to the doorstep, the room of choice, or 'white glove' delivery where the mattress is unpackaged and installed onto your bedframe by the delivery team.
9. Environmental impact: we consider the effort each mattress manufacturer has made to lower the environmental impact of the mattress, whether that's utilising natural or recycled materials in its manufacture, ensuring the mattress can be recycled at the end of its lifespan to avoid landfill, the brand working towards B Corp status, or other sustainability goals.
10. Value for money: lastly, there's price to consider. We compare similar products side-by-side to work out which offers the best value overall.
Using our list of ten testing criteria, we then score each mattress out of five, and only include the cream of the crop in this guide.
The best mattress brands
The amount of mattress brands on the market can be overwhelming, that's why I've compiled this quick list of those I'd most recommend, including budget-friendly mattress-in-a-box brands and high-end mattress manufacturers that focus on using natural materials.
- Silentnight (£-££): wide range of mattress types with a good range of budget and mid-range options
- IKEA (£-££): super affordable spring and foam mattresses that can be exchanged for up to 365-nights
- Simba (£-££): memory foam and hybrid memory foam mattress-in-a-box with an emphasis on recycled and recyclable materials and B-Corp certification
- Emma(£-££): affordable memory foam and hybrid memory foam mattresses in a box
- Dormeo (£-££): range of mattress types at mid-range price points
- Dreams (£-££): affordable own-brand mattresses and stockist for Sleepeezee, Silentnight, TEMPUR, and Sealy
- Sleepeezee (£-££): wide range of mattress types and materials at reasonable price points
- Eve (£-££): affordable memory foam and memory foam hybrid mattress with different tensions each side
- Nectar (£-££): memory foam and memory foam hybrid mattress-in-a-box with 365-night sleep trial
- John Lewis (££-£££): wide range of own-brand mattresses and a stockist for Hypnos, Millbrook Beds, and Sealy
- Brook + Wilde (££-£££): hybrid memory foam mattresses with a range of tension options
- Millbrook Beds (££-£££): mattresses made from natural materials at mid-range price points
- Sealy (£££): hybrid mattresses that offer great support and firm tensions
- Hypnos (£££): pocket-sprung, pillow top, and zip-and-link mattresses made from natural materials
- Button & Sprung (£££): natural pocket-spring, pillow top, and zip-and-link mattresses
- naturalmat (£££): a B-Corp certified manufacturer making mattresses made from organic natural materials
- TEMPUR (£££): memory foam mattresses in a range of tension options
- Harrison Spinks (£££-££££): high-end handmade mattresses made from natural materials
How to choose the best mattress
Finding the best mattress for your sleep needs can be notoriously tricky, as not only are there so many options to choose from, but there are also so many individual needs to take into account.
As Ideal Home's Sleep Editor I've spent the last four years speaking to industry experts, interviewing mattress designers and manufacturers, quizzing sleep experts, medical experts, and health experts, and reading the latest scientific research on how to sleep better.
Below is everything I've learned on how to choose the right mattress for your body, whether you co-sleep, suffer from aches or pains, or are a hot sleeper looking for a cooler night's sleep.
We all know mattresses are expensive, so this buying advice should help you to avoid any costly mattress buying mistakes.
Factor 1: Your sleep position
Before buying a mattress you need to work out if you are a side, back, or front sleeper. That's because the spine needs to be supported differently in each sleep position.
As Calum Sharma, Head of Exercise Science at The Body Lab London, explains 'good spinal alignment during sleep is crucial for maintaining overall health and well-being. Proper alignment ensures that the spine maintains its natural curves – cervical (neck), thoracic (mid-back), and lumbar (lower back) – which helps to prevent strain on the muscles, ligaments, and joints'.
If you're a back sleeper this tends to mean that a medium-firm to firm mattress is the best choice for you. The good news is that this sleep position also gets the thumbs up from health experts. Dave Gibson, registered osteopath and founder of The Sleep Site tells us that 'doctors often recommend sleeping on your back as the best position, as it allows your spine to rest in a neutral, relaxed posture'.
In contrast, side sleepers need a more cushioned sleep surface that allows the shoulder and hip to sink deeper into the mattress. The best mattress for a side sleeper tends to be a medium-soft or medium-firm tension mattress. Mattresses with a latex or memory foam top layer can also be a good choice as this allows for deeper cushioning around these joints.
Alternatively, front sleepers need a firm mattress that doesn't allow the hips to sink down too low. Although, Dave Gibson warns this may be a sleep position to avoid if you can. 'Sleeping face down is generally advised against, as it significantly increases the likelihood of straining your neck muscles and irritating your lower back' he says. 'In this position, it's challenging to maintain a neutral alignment of the spine and neck. The neck is often forced to rotate to one side, leading to stiffness and strain, while the lower back is pushed into extension, aggravating the joints'.
Factor 2: Your tension preference
Mattresses are available in a range of tension options, from soft through to medium-soft, medium, medium-firm, firm, and extra firm. The right choice for you is largely down to personal preference, although as we've discussed above, your preferred sleeping position will play a big part in which is right for you.
Annoyingly, there isn't an industry standard for what each of these tensions should feel like, with a 'medium-firm' mattress from one retailer often feeling very different from a 'medium-firm' mattress from another manufacturer.
This is partly because how mattress tension feels for you is very subjective and can be hugely impacted by body weight, as we'll come onto in a minute. It's also important to note that your bed base can make a big difference to how firm a mattress feels.
Factor 3: Your aches and pains
Osteopath Dave Gibson explains that finding the right tension mattress for your body is vital. 'A mattress that's too hard or too soft can exacerbate back pain or neck pain' he shares. 'If a mattress doesn't properly support your body this is typically felt around your shoulders and hips, which can then sink too deeply into the mattress during the night. This misalignment pulls your spine out of its natural, relaxed position, increasing lower back pain'.
However, he continues, 'conversely, a mattress that's too firm can also worsen back pain. Here, if the mattress doesn't allow your body to be gently supported in a firm yet subtle contour, the spine and muscles may struggle to relax, and pressure points on your joints can become more sensitive'.
'Research generally suggests that a medium-firm mattress is best for alleviating lower back pain' concludes Dave.
Alternatively, if you're a side sleeper and find it's your shoulder or hip joints that ache or get numb in the night, you may sleep better on a mattress with deeper cushioning. A memory foam or memory foam hybrid mattress can be a good choice here as the layer of cushioning on top can relieve pressure on the joints.
Factor 4: Your body weight
Your body weight plays a significant role in how a mattress will feel for you. As osteopath Dave Gibson explains, 'heavier individuals may require a firmer support, while lighter individuals might find a softer mattress more comfortable'. This is because the heavier we are the more we sink into a mattress, whilst the less we weigh the more we will find ourselves lying on the mattress surface.
Weight can be tricky to factor into your mattress search, especially if you're a couple who share a bed but have very different weights. This is part of the reason a mattress sleep trial can be so useful for finding the right fit for you. More on those in a bit.
Factor 5: Whether you share your bed
If you sleep with a partner or have kids or pets who regularly share your bed, good motion isolation will help you sleep undisturbed by someone else's movements in the night.
Cheap open-coil spring mattresses tend to be the worst culprits for transferring movement through the bed – that means that if you or your partner toss and turn or fidget at night the vibrations are likely to travel through the mattress and be felt by the other person.
More expensive mattresses sprung or hybrid mattresses usually use pocket springs instead. These are individually housed in fabric pockets to help prevent motion transfer. Comfort layers like memory foam and latex can also dampen movement, with pure foam mattresses (that means no springs in sight) offering the best motion isolation.
However, springs do help with another problem that comes with sharing a mattress – the possibility of rolling towards each other in the night, especially if one of you is significantly heavier than the other. Unlike an all-foam mattress, a sprung mattress can offer better zoned support which helps to keep each sleeper on their side of the mattress.
Factor 6: Your sleep temperature
In a study published by the National Library of Medicine, researchers shared that being too hot or too cold at night can contribute to increased wakefulness and poor sleep quality. That's why it's important to choose a mattress that enables good temperature regulation, especially if you identify as a hot sleeper.
The key to your body being able to regulate its temperature while you sleep is investing in a mattress with good breathability. Breathability means that air can circulate during the night, allowing body heat and humidity to slowly dissipate and avoid overheating.
The most breathable mattresses we've tested – such as the Hypnos Pillow Top Select – tend to be filled with natural materials, in particular wool, known for its temperature-regulating properties.
The mattresses most prone to causing our sleep testers to overheat tended to be made from synthetics like memory foam. Synthetic mattress materials are very similar to the materials used to make plastic bags, so if you imagine sleeping with that next to your skin you can see why the material might make you hot and sweaty.
However, many manufacturers do make efforts to combat this effect, for example, the Simba Hybrid Pro mattress uses a mix of open-cell memory foam and graphite infusions to increase airflow and draw heat away from the body.
Factor 7: Your mobility
For those of us with impaired mobility, good edge support and responsiveness in a mattress are key, although they're also factors that make a mattress more comfortable for anyone.
A mattress with good edge support will have an even tension across the whole mattress surface, meaning that when you sit or lay on the edge of the mattress it shouldn't dip down dramatically. This increases the usable sleeping area of the mattress (important if you share a bed) and prevents night-time waking that can otherwise occur if the mattress edge dips and the body senses it may fall.
Those with mobility issues will also find good edge support is invaluable in providing a firmer surface to push off and stand up.
The mattress height can also play an important role here. Most mattresses are around 25-28cm deep, but cheaper mattresses can be as little as 18-20cm in depth. Expensive mattresses tend to use more layers and can be 30cm+. Your bed base will also contribute of course, but depending on how tall you are, the mattress depth can make a significant difference to your bed's height. Ideally, you want to be able to sit down on the mattress edge with your thighs parallel to the floor and feet firmly on the ground.
It's also worth considering your existing bedding if you're buying a new mattress. A different mattress depth might mean you need to buy a deeper (or less deep) fitted sheet and mattress protector which could add to the expense.
Then there's responsiveness. This means how easy it is to roll over or change position in the night. This is a more noticeable factor for those of us who are disabled, but it can impact anyone who's an active sleeper (meaning you change position a lot during the night).
A deep layer of memory foam can be particularly unresponsive, as this material is designed to cradle the body. This can feel wonderfully cushioning, but when you come to roll over you may find you have to struggle a little to get out of the depression that's hugging your body and sometimes that can be enough to wake us out of our slumbers. In contrast a mattress that has more bounce will be more responsive and easier to change position on.
Factor 8: Mattress size
Although the size of the mattress you opt for might be dictated by your room size or budget, when choosing the right mattress size, bigger is better, especially if you share a bed.
As sleep expert Dave Gibson points out, most mattresses designed for couples offer far less space than you might expect. He explains that couples need to opt for 'a super king to give you the same room as two single mattresses'. Food for thought.
Factor 9: Your bed base
When shopping for a new mattress, consider how your bed base will affect its feel. For instance, a bed base with fixed wooden slats will generally make a mattress feel firmer than a sprung divan base.
Some mattresses, particularly those made from natural materials, are also unsuitable for slatted bed frames and manufacturers may specify a divan base is needed, or a bed with slats no more than a certain distance apart to prevent materials from settling in-between the slats.
If you're testing out a mattress in-store it can be difficult to get a true gauge of how it will feel at home on an alternative base, which is where a sleep trial can come in handy.
Factor 10: Your budget
As with most things in life, buying the cheapest mattress you can find is often a false economy. You can get a decent budget mattress for around £300-£400 for a double, but paying more will usually get you a more supportive and more breathable night's sleep.
A good memory foam or hybrid mattress costs around £600-£1200 for a double, but natural materials will cost more and set you back upwards of £1200 for the same size mattress.
Is an expensive mattress worth it? Having tested multiple mattresses at all ends of the price scale, in my opinion, yes. After all, experts say that a good mattress should last you between seven and ten years, and that means you could be sleeping on it for up to 3650 nights. Spending £1200 works out at an investment of 32 pence per day on a good night's sleep.
Plus, you don't necessarily need to pay full price. Our mattress deals page keeps track of all the latest discounts, with savings particularly common during the January sales and the month of Black Friday in November. Time your purchase during a sale and you could save a significant amount.
Factor 11: Flip or rotate
Mattresses come in two types, one-sided mattresses (usually hybrid, memory foam, or pillow top mattresses) and two-sided mattresses (which are most commonly open-coil or pocket-spring mattresses). A one-sided mattress will need rotating every few months to ensure even wear and tear and prevent dips or depressions from forming in your regular sleep position, whereas a two-sided mattress can be both rotated and flipped upside down.
Some people prefer a two-sided mattress as it may offer more longevity (after all, there are two sides to sleep on rather than just one), but if you live alone or struggle to lift heavy weights a one-sided mattress can be easier to care for.
Whichever you opt for, it's well worth making sure your mattress comes with sturdy handles on both sides for easier turning and general manoeuvre. Some cheaper mattresses scrimp on this feature which makes rotating and flipping much more difficult.
Factor 12: Delivery preferences
It used to be that all mattresses were delivered flat, but new technologies and materials mean that many foam and hybrid foam mattresses from the likes of Simba, Emma, and Nectar can be rolled, vacuum-packed, and delivered in a relatively compact box.
A mattress-in-a-box is great news for anyone with awkward delivery access, whether that's a narrow hallway and staircase in a Victorian terrace or a fourth-floor apartment, and certainly makes delivery day a lot less stressful.
However, this packaging method isn't suitable for all types of mattresses, so you'll need to weigh up whether rolled or boxed delivery is essential for you before you shop. If it is, you may need to accept that it will limit your choice a little. Is a mattress-in-a-box as good as a standard mattress? It depends. But you won't find a traditional mattress made from natural materials rolled or boxed, as this packaging method can only be used with foam and hybrid foam mattresses.
Beyond that, there's the type of delivery to consider. Most mattress retailers will offer delivery to the room of your choice, but some charge extra for this, and some, like Emma, only offer delivery to your doorstep. This may not be a problem if you're non-disabled and have someone to help you do the heavy lifting, but it isn't suitable for everyone.
You might also want to consider whether the mattress retailer offers a version of 'white glove' delivery. This means that the delivery team will remove the mattress from its packaging, place it onto your bed frame, and remove the packaging for you.
Factor 13: Old mattress removal
When thinking about delivery, check if the retailer you're buying from will remove your old mattress at the same time. You can organise this separately – our guide to how to dispose of a mattress has advice on how – but it's easier to have the old mattress taken away on the day of delivery to avoid having such a bulky item in the house or garage. The only caveat is if you're making the most of a sleep trial you may want to keep your old mattress as a backup in case the new one doesn't suit your sleep style.
Factor 14: Sleep trials
A sleep trial can be a great way to test out whether a mattress is the right one for you before you commit.
The sleep trial's length and its terms and conditions will differ depending on the retailer, but usually, a sleep trial means that you buy the mattress and then have anywhere from 30 to 365 nights to sleep on the mattress in your own home and test out how comfortable and breathable you find it. If the mattress doesn't suit you then you can either return it for a refund or swap it for a different model within the trial period.
As Dave Gibson, registered osteopath, sleep expert, and founder of The Sleep Site, explains 'this is crucial since it can take about four weeks to fully adjust to a new mattress'.
Mattress types
As well as understanding how to choose the best mattress for your sleep needs, understanding the different types of mattresses available can also help to demystify the mattress buying process.
Overall, there are three main types. First up there are foam mattresses, otherwise known as all-foam or memory foam mattresses. These don't utilise any springs and are made up of foam layers, usually with high-density foam at the bottom and a softer more cushioning foam at the top.
Foam mattresses tend to be the most affordable, are very cushioning, can be delivered boxed for convenience, and offer great motion isolation. However, they also offer less support, can be hard to change position on, and can lack breathability which causes overheating. The jury is out on their longevity too, with many experts saying springs offer better durability.
Then there are sprung mattresses. These can be either open-coil spring mattresses or pocket spring mattresses which are mixed with comfort layers for cushioning. Sprung mattresses are a design that's been used for centuries and usually offer the best breathability, good responsiveness, and come in a wide range of price points. At the lower end of the price scale, some sprung mattresses can lack good motion isolation, meaning the movements of a partner tossing and turning at night could be more apparent.
In between these two types of construction are hybrid mattresses. Hybrid mattresses combine the best of both worlds, with a spring base and a thicker cushioned layer on top that's usually made from memory foam or latex. Hybrid mattresses are popular as they can offer a good balance between the pros and cons of foam and sprung mattresses.
FAQS
When is the best time to buy a mattress?
I've been tracking mattress prices and discounting events for several years, and in my experience, Black Friday usually offers the biggest savings. That makes November – in particular, the last week of November when most Black Friday discounts are at their strongest – one of the best times to buy a mattress. It's not uncommon to see retailers such as Simba and Emma offer up to 60% off bestselling lines at this time of year.
However, not all mattress retailers get involved with Black Friday. As an alternative, the January sales can see low prices too. And, as Dale Gillespie, marketing director for bed and mattress retailer Bed SOS reveals, 'mattress retailers tend to release their new lineups in April. Buying in early April, you'll find some great value deals as retailers clear old stock to make way for the new ranges.'
What size is a single, double or king size mattress?
You'll find all of the standard UK mattress sizes below, including some non-standard sizes such as a small single or small double mattress (otherwise known as a queen mattress).
| Header Cell - Column 0 | Size (cm) | Size (feet) |
|---|---|---|
| Small single mattress | 75 x 190 | 2'6" x 6'3" |
| Single mattress | 90 x 190 | 3'0" x 6'3" |
| Small double mattress | 120 x 190 | 4'0" x 6'3" |
| Double mattress | 135 x 190 | 4'6" x 6'3" |
| King mattress | 150 x 200 | 5'0" x 6'6" |
| Super king mattress | 180 x 200 | 6'0" x 6'6" |
How do you know when you need a new mattress?
You'll usually know that you need a new mattress because it will become uncomfortable to sleep on, usually by sagging or becoming too soft or lumpy.
As sleep expert and osteopath, Dave Gibson, explains. 'over time, as a mattress wears out, it tends to lose its ability to properly support your body. The initial sign of this wear is typically felt around your shoulders and hips, which can then sink too deeply into the mattress during the night. As the mattress continues to deteriorate, it may become even softer, causing your body to dip in the middle, creating an uncomfortable "U" shape'.
If you've invested in a good mattress, you can expect it to last around seven to ten years. As the Better Sleep Council shares 'while there is no hard and fast rule about how long a mattress lasts, it’s suggested that most have a life span of around seven years'.
How do you clean a mattress?
First up, let's make it clear that it's far easier not to have to clean a mattress in the first place, which is why investing in one of the best mattress protectors is a must.
However, if worst comes to worst and you do need to know how to freshen up your bed, our guide to how to clean a mattress has the lowdown, including how to clean a mattress with baking soda for a more environmentally-friendly approach, and how to get urine stains out of a mattress. After all, accidents can happen.
Can you change your mind about a mattress?
If you opt to buy a mattress from a manufacturer or retailer that offers a sleep trial, then yes, you can change your mind about a mattress even after you've slept on it for multiple nights. This is important because experts say it can take up to 30 days for your body to get used to how a mattress feels.
Just make sure to check the terms and conditions before you buy to make sure you're fulfilling any criteria that might be needed to return the mattress during its sleep trial – for instance, some manufacturers ask you to buy and use a mattress protector to keep the mattress in good condition, to test the mattress out for a set number of nights to give it a fair go, and to notify them before the end of the sleep trial of your intention to return it.
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