The best mattress to buy in 2023 for quality sleep, reviewed
There is nothing better than a good night’s sleep–it's been proven to reduce stress and minimise your chances of falling ill which is exactly why experts say selecting the best mattress for you is an essential part of maintaining a well-balanced life. Whether you're after a memory foam mattress, pocket sprung, hybrid or simply here for advice on what to look for when purchasing, we've tried, tested, judged, reviewed and read up on everything there is to know about mattresses.
Beyond the obvious hygiene reasons, your mattress preferences and requirements will change as you age, and sleep experts like The Sleep Charity say that your mattress ‘needs changing every seven years.’ Your beloved mattress, which once provided excellent support for you may have now lost its shape or have become too soft or too firm, which is an easy way to determine that it’s time for a change. Sure, buying a new mattress may seem like a little inconvenient today, it will certainly do wonders for maintaining your overall wellbeing in the long run.
How we tested the mattresses
On an aesthetic level, there's not much to distinguish one mattress from another. It's simply impossible to know whether one mattress is better than another from a photo on the internet. To that end, we've tried and tested (disclaimer: most of) the mattresses in this guide to help you make an informed decision. In every case, the House & Garden mattress reviewers have gone on to choose their tested mattress as their permanent sleeping pick.
We've made notes on their delivery processes (was it easy, do they take away your old mattress, is it free?), we slept on them (is the mattress comfortable? How's the temperature regulation? The moisture wicking?), we considered how the were for couples and single sleepers, and looked at how they performed on chilly nights and hot ones too.
All prices are for a standard double mattress, but you can find information about each mattress's size in their ‘fact file’ section. As we continue on our quest to find the very best mattress, we hope to test every single one in this guide. Rest assured, you're in safe hands.
What's the best mattress to buy in 2023?
If you don't have time to read our full mattress reviews below, we've compiled some at a glance information.
- Best mattress: Emma NextGen Mattress, £1,331
- Best hybrid mattress: Simba Hybrid Pro, £1,749
- Best mattress in a box: Eve Premium Mattress, £999
- Best investment mattress: Tempur Cloud Elite Mattress, £1,699
- Best mattress for movement isolation: Emma Premium Mattress, £799
- Best mattress for side sleepers: Tempur Cloud Elite Mattress, £1,699
How do you choose the right mattress?
Choosing the right mattress for you will depend on your body type and sleeping position. For example, side sleepers have different needs to back sleepers who often require more support. Some sleepers may need pressure relief in certain areas, others need hypoallergenic materials, while some may value temperature regulation. It’s really quite the science, which is why we’ve rounded up the best mattresses to invest in now to help you choose which type of new mattress is best for you.
While there is a lot of science involved in finding the right mattress for your body type and sleeping position, the most important thing to look for is whether you get a good sleep. The level of firmness of the mattress is certainly something to think about–perhaps more so than whether to opt for springs or foam. There are soft, medium soft, medium-firm, and even firm orthopaedic mattresses designed to suit all kinds of sleep needs. Starting with the softer mattress option, a medium soft mattress is good for those who shift around throughout the night as they hug your body shape. These are also the best for side sleepers. The next level up is a medium-firm mattress, or medium soft. These are ideal for back sleepers and mostly suit the average person who need a little more back support when sleeping. Finally, a firm mattress will prevent back pain and help your spinal alignment as they are sturdier and prevent you from moving around too much. These are also the best choice for front or stomach sleepers.
What are the experts saying?
Vispring Managing Director and all around mattress expert Jim Gerety says 'Take your time to decide what works for you. If you are buying in person, go back and visit a few times. Don't be embarrassed. Lay on your side, on your stomach — shuffle around a bit. We move in our sleep about twenty times per night, so see how that feels. I would also recommend wearing comfortable clothes. Most people don't sleep in thick jumpers with bags slung over their shoulders (unless you've had a really big night) so it's unrealistic to assess the comfort of a mattress while dressed like that.'
Want more shopping recommendations for the perfect night’s sleep? Check out our top picks for the best memory foam mattresses, best mattress toppers, best pillows and best weighted blankets.
The best mattresses to buy in 2023: memory foam, hybrid and pocket sprung
Emma NextGen Mattress, £1,331 from Emma
- Firmness: Medium firm
- Trial period: All Emma mattresses come with a 200 night sleep trial, to ensure your mattress is right
- Guarantee: 10 years
- Country of manufacture: Made in the UK.
- Sizes available: Double, king and super king
- Type of mattress: Hybrid (4 foam layers + 1 layer of extra tall springs
- Delivery: Free
- Reviewed by: Ruth Sleightholme, Decoration Editor
The Emma NextGen Premium is a hybrid mattress with a higher proportion of pocket springs to foam, which makes it feel much closer to the ‘traditional’ sprung mattress than other equivalent hybrid mattresses. It is a supportive and structured mattress, with four layers of memory foam giving it that appealing suppleness.
The NextGen Premium is on the firm side, making it a good choice for those that sleep on their backs. It's zoned, too, which means the springs are gentler around the shoulders and hip areas. The best part? Emma's customer service will send you a ‘comfort layer’ to adjust the firmness of your mattress free of charge if it's not quite right.
Simba Hybrid Pro Mattress, £1,749 from Simba
- Firmness: Medium firm
- Type of mattress: Hybrid
- Sizes available: Single, small double, double, EU double, EU queen, king and super king
- Guarantee: 10 years
- Trial period: 200 nights
- Mattress depth: 28cm
- Care: For the first three months, turn it 180 degrees once a month. Then every three to six months after that
- Reviewed by: Arabella Bowes, Commerce Editor
Simba's Hybrid Pro is part of their ‘hybrid’ line of mattresses, all of which offer layers of springs combined with layers of foam. The pro is their most high spec mattress to date and uses their trademark ‘Aerocoil’ springs as well as a wool layer to create the most comfortable mattress possible. Simba also make some of the best pillows we've tried.
Simba offers a range of four hybrid mattresses: Simba Essential, Simba Hybrid, Simba Hybrid Pro and the Simba Hybrid Luxe. As you go up the scale, you get more springs and more comfort layers. The Simba Hybrid Pro is the second most high spec mattress (following the Hybrid Pro Luxe) and has seven layers, including a breathable sleep surface, a hypoallergenic wool (if you want to hear about the benefits of wool head to this piece), and a layer of edge-to-edge support, meaning the edges are just as supportive as the middle. It also features their trademark ‘Aerocoil’ micro-cone springs, of which there are 5,000 of in the mattress, to help create this comfy and supportive mattress.
Even better? Thanks to the mattress's springs, if your partner tosses and turns in their sleep you won't be disturbed. Simba also makes some of the best pillows we've tried. The sustainably minded among you will be pleased to hear that all of Simba's pillows, mattress and duvets are carbon neutral.
Great for back pain, best night's sleep in years, some reviews say it's too warm.
Eve Sleep The Premium Hybrid Mattress, £1,099 from Eve Sleep.
- Firmness: Medium firm
- Type of mattress: Hybrid
- Sizes available: Double, king and super king
- Guarantee: 10 years
- Sleep trial period: 1 year
- Mattress depth: 28cm
- Care: N/A
Eve's Premium Mattress is a great mattress, whose innovation is led by science. Featuring their patented ‘Floatfoam’, this mattress is designed to stay cool throughout the night and supportive for its lifetime. With free delivery, readily available box dimensions (so you know exactly what's going to turn up on your doorstep) and a ‘Delivery, Remove and Recycle’ service, Eve couldn't make it easier for you to replace your mattress.
One of the first mattress in a box companies to really hit the mainstream, Eve had us falling in love with its vibrant yellow branding and smart packaging. The Premium mattress is made up of five foam and spring layers and is the brand’s most luxurious mattress. It is topped with a cooling memory foam layer on top and supported by 1,400 pocket springs. It also has seven pressure relief zones, perfect for relieving pain in the neck, back or shoulders. We especially like that this hypoallergenic mattress comes with a removable and washable quilted top cover, making this mattress extra hygienic and easy to clean.
Supportive, deeper than most and therefore heavier, good for couples thanks to movement isolation.
Panda Hybrid Bamboo Mattress, £1,290 from Panda
- Firmness: Medium firm
- Type of mattress: Hybrid
- Sizes available: UK single, EU single, UK small double, UK double, EU double, UK king, EU king, UK super king and emperor
- Guarantee: 10 years
- Trial period: 100 nights
- Mattress depth: 27cm
- Care: The zip off bamboo mattress cover can be removed easily and cleaned in the washing machine or by hand.
- Other features: Free old mattress recycling service
- Reviewed by: Tal Dekel-Daks, Senior Audience Development Manager
We were thoroughly impressed with Panda's first mattress – a cooling hybrid mattress made with bamboo, naturally. Warm sleepers will love Panda's new mattress, pegged as the ‘world’s most advanced, breathable bamboo mattress'. It's medium-firm so it's a perfect balance for those who like a mattress that isn't too soft or too firm. It features six layers of optimised airflow; orthopaedic grade support and pressure point perfect comfort but our favourite feature has got to be its multi-zonal springs which isolate movement and means you can sleep soundly even if the person next to you is tossing and turning.
Simba Hybrid Luxe, £1,289.40 from Simba
- Firmness: Medium firm
- Type of mattress: Foam hybrid
- Sizes available: Single, small double, double, king and super king
- Guarantee: 10 years
- Sleep trial period: 1 year
- Mattress depth: 31cm
- Care: After 3 months, turn it 180 degrees, then rotate it every 3-6 months
- Reviewed by: Antonia Bentel, Acting Digital Features Writer
This is Simba's most advanced and luxurious mattress. Like all of Simba's range, this is a medium-firm mattress (think supportive yet soft). It features 10 layers, three of which are new and only found in this mattress. These consist of a soft and breathable top sleep surface, a bamboo-infused hypoallergenic wool layer – a real plus for allergy sufferers – and a layer of small conical carbon steel springs which work hard to absorb movement. We also like that the foam is free of chemicals that although are not harmful to humans, are to the environment once it's at its end of life.
There's no dip in the middle, it's like sleeping on a cloud. The mattress moulds to your body, and it's helped reduce existing aches and pains. Some say it's a little firmer than expected, and they wake up hot.
Tempur Cloud Elite Mattress, £1,699 from Barker & Stonehouse
- Firmness: Soft
- Type of mattress: Hybrid
- Sizes available: Small single, single, long single, double, king and super king
- Guarantee: 10 years
- Sleep trial period: 40 nights
- Mattress depth: 25cm
- Care: N/A
Operating since 1946, Barker & Stonehouse know a thing or two about longevity. They offer brands such as Tempur and Somnus, and also a large range of sustainably made mattresses. Our top pick is the Tempur Cloud Elite Mattress, an extra soft mattress made up of three layers: a comfort level, a support layer and a base layer crafted from a high spec material developed for the NASA space programme. The brand also plants a tree for every delivery it makes, which helps absorb carbon and supports farmers in Indonesia. This is a great choice for people who love high-quality soft mattresses that cater to all sorts of body types.
Best for side sleepers, no motion transfer, the edges can be a little soft which can lead to feeling slightly unsupported.
Emma Original Mattress, £499 from Emma
- Firmness: Medium firm
- Type of mattress: Foam
- Sizes available: Single, small double, double, king and super king
- Guarantee: 10 years
- Trial period: 200 nights
- Mattress depth: 25cm
- Care: N/A
Despite winning multiple awards and selling like hot cakes, Emma's Original Mattress can be purchased for just £274.45. Even better, should you find this mattress isn't for you, Emma are offering a 200 night trial so you'll never be lumped with a mattress you hate.
Emma’s Original Mattress is one of the UK’s favourite bed-in-a-box mattresses and for good reason. Selling like hot cakes, this excellent foam mattress is priced at under £250 making it an affordable yet comfortable choice. The Emma Original mattress is made up of three foam layers, all cleverly designed to cater to all sorts of sleep positions and body types. The mattress is constructed with five adaptive zones that allow for even weight distribution. The foam itself is breathable, allowing for plenty of airflow and reducing your body heat (perfect if you run hot). Emma also regularly offers excellent discounts across its Original and Premium mattresses, so do keep an eye out for discount codes. The only downside is that there is no firmness variation for individual mattresses as all of Emma’s mattresses are medium firm. However, you can ask for an extra comfort layer, allowing for a softer mattress overall.
Mattress offers a weightless feeling, good customer service and delivery, mattress does off-gas but not for long.
Rolled Memory Foam Mattress, £189 from John Lewis.
- Firmness: Medium firm
- Type of mattress: Memory foam
- Sizes available: Single, double and king
- Guarantee: 7 years
- Trial period: 60 nights
- Mattress depth: 15cm
- Care: No turn
You really can't beat John Lewis for the variety it offers, and you're bound to find something you like here, with the added bonus that you can usually try it in person if you visit a store. The in-house 'Anyday' range offers some seriously affordable options and this Rolled Memory Foam mattress is a brilliant mid range option. The main core of the mattress is made from foam with a 2cm layer of memory foam on the top that moulds to the body for premium comfort.
Mattress does off-gas a little and also needs to plump up after delivery, so it's recommended to open the mattress in the morning, improvement of back pain, very comfortable.
The Cashmere Mattress, £2,770 from Naturalmat
- Firmness: Soft
- Type of mattress: Natural fibre
- Sizes available: single, double, king, queen, superking, emperor
- Guarantee: 10 years
- Sleep trial period: 45 nights
- Mattress depth: 21cm
- Care: N/A
Handmade in solar-powered factories in Devon, these luxurious mattresses are made using only natural materials. This mattress is a heavenly combination of cashmere, organic wool and coconut fibres, mixed in with two thick layers of natural latex. The softest in Naturalmat’s Natural Fibre range, this dense mattress is like sleeping in a soft fleece and is free from chemicals, synthetic fibres and other artificial materials. Made with cashmere, one of the most desirable and luxurious natural fibres in the world, this mattress offers exceptional insulation making it perfect for cold winter nights. Over five million mattresses go to landfill every year in the UK, which is why NaturalMat’s has launched a ‘Mattress for Life’ initiative which encourages customers to refurbish, recycle or donate their mattresses after the ten-year guarantee, ensuring that no mattress goes to waste. The company also makes headboards, divans, bedding and cot mattresses, and you can try them out at their showrooms in London, Devon and Cornwall (as well as a baby and child boutique in Notting Hill.
Great customer service, many people have gone on to buy a second or third.
REM-FIT 400 Hybrid Mattress, £477.95 from REM-FIT
- Firmness: Medium firm
- Type of mattress: Hybrid
- Sizes available: Small single, long single, single (UK & EU), small double, double (UK & EU), king (UK & EU) and super king
- Guarantee: 15 years
- Sleep trial period: 100 nights
- Mattress depth: 25 cm
- Care: N/A
- Reviewed by: Hannah Tan-Gillies, contributing writer
The Hybrid 400 Mattress is the most affordable of the three hybrid options from REM-FIT, the others being the 500 Ortho Hybrid and the 600 Lux Hybrid. Another bed in a box option, this mattress is made of five layers including 2,000 premium pocket springs (which helps with spine alignment), while the bottom base is made from high-density foam. The springs are tall pocket springs, at 15cm high, and are made from triple tempered steel and help to contain movement.
The top layer is made of 'open cell' construction, helping to regulate temperatures and prevent overheating. It is also hypoallergenic and wicks away moisture, too. With edge to edge support, side sleepers (who this mattress is designed for, but it does suit all sleep styles) still get the support they need..
The most affordable out of all of REM-FIT’s hybrid mattresses, the Hybrid 400 Mattress is an excellent bed-in-a-box that combines boy shape hugging foam and premium pocket springs. The hypoallergenic top layer is made with open cell construction that regulates temperature, wicks moisture and prevents overheating. It has also been equipped with edge to edge support which is great for side sleepers. Ideal for supporting your spinal alignment, the REM-FIT Hybrid 400 Mattress is made with five layers including 2,000 pocket springs and a base of dense foam. At 15cm high and made with tempered steel, the pocket springs really help reduce motion transfer in bed, perfect if your partner is often tossing and turning in the middle of the night.
Would recommend for back pain, really comfortable. Although some say the customer service isn't the best and the chemical smell lingers for a while.
Cool Gel Foam Mattress, £399 from Dusk
- Firmness: Medium firm
- Type of mattress: Foam
- Sizes available: Single, double, king and super king
- Guarantee: 1 year
- Sleep trial period: 100 nights
- Mattress depth: N/A
- Care: No flipping, just rotate regularly
- Reviewed by: Virginia Clark, Digital Director
In a natural progression, the ever popular bedding retailer Dusk have recently launched a new range of mattresses. Made in Yorkshire, our pick of the range is the Cool Gel Foam Mattress. Its three foam tiers include the top cooling gel foam layer to help with airflow and dissipating body heat, while the bottom layer is completely recycled for a more environmentally friendly end product. Your mattress will arrive vacuum packed, so you don't need to struggle up and down stairs or through doorways with a cumbersome mattress.
Genuinely cooling, most comfortable mattress ever, luxurious feel.
Nectar Premier Hybrid Mattress, £1,849 from Nectar
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- Firmness: Medium
- Trial period: 1 Year
- Guarantee: Forever
- Country of manufacture: UK
- Sizes available: Single, Double, King, Super King.
- Type of mattress: Foam hybrid
- Delivery: Free named day
- Reviewed by: Christabel Chubb, News Editor
Eight layers of breathable foam, micro-springs, memory foam and firm support base prove themselves to be a perfect combination. Don't let the cloud-like top layer trick you, this is a very supportive mattress that performs well for those with weary backs. If you prefer an ultra-firm mattress, then the Nectar Premier Hybrid Mattress might not be the right choice, equally if you prefer a ‘pillow-like’ softness. This mattress falls right in the middle: it's comfortable and soft, but it has enough memory foam and support to ensure your spine is aligned throughout the night, whether you sleep on your side of back.
It's also an ideal pick for couples, as the responsive ‘encapsulated springs’ mean if one person wriggles, the other won't be disturbed.
For those struggling with the summer's heat, the Nectar Premium Hybrid Mattress has three breathable layers designed to promote air circulation, draw heat away from your body and wick away moisture, making it the perfect companion to warm nights.
Dormeo S Plus Memory Foam Mattress, £799 from Dormeo.
- Firmness: Customisable
- Type of mattress: Memory foam
- Sizes available: Single, double, king, super king
- Guarantee: 18 years
- Trial period: 60 days
- Mattress depth: 20cm
- Care: N/A
Dormeo is a particularly affordable choice and our pick of the bunch would be the Dormeo S Plus Memory Foam Mattress. This one is especially good for couples who require different specifications from their mattress as each half can be customised to the individual. All you need to do is unzip the top layer and choose which type of memory foam you prefer. With an S-shaped Ecocell core and Octaspring you're both guaranteed a great night’s sleep.
Brilliant night's sleep, customisable comfort, slightly lengthy delivery.
Otty Pure Hybrid Bamboo Mattress and Charcoal, £1,049.99 from Otty
- Firmness: Medium firm
- Type of mattress: Hybrid
- Sizes available: Single, small double, double (EU & UK), king (EU & UK), super king
- Guarantee: 10 year
- Sleep trial period: 100 nights
- Mattress depth: 25cm
- Care: Turned once a month for the first 6 months
Otty is one for the eco-conscious, as it's the first brand to use bamboo in its products, which is extremely fast growing making it a very sustainable material. It also helps to wick away moisture and regulate temperatures. Otty also uses charcoal in this mattress, which is hypoallergenic and absorbs any odours. Designed for all sleeping types, this mattress is the latest iteration from the brand's hybrid range and has six layers that include heat regulating foam, a layer of 16cm pocket springs (its tallest springs yet), high density foam and breathable sides too.
Evenly spread support, don't wake up hot and don't wake up with aches and pains anymore.
Elite Mattress, £1,010 from And So To Bed
- Firmness: Soft, medium, firm and extra firm
- Type of mattress: Pocket spring
- Sizes available: Small single, single, long single, double, king and super king
- Guarantee: 30 years
- Sleep trial period: No trial period, but free returns
- Mattress depth: 21cm + 6cm doming
- Care: Turn twice a month for the first three months and once each season thereafter
Why we love it: Vispring has been making luxurious mattresses for more than 120 years, so they really know a thing or two about getting a good night's sleep. They pride themselves on using natural and sustainable materials, meaning this is also totally recyclable at the end of its life. There are no bleached materials or chemicals used in any of its mattresses. This Elite mattress is constructed from 1,254 hand-nested calico pocket springs which are available in four different tensions. The upholstery is made from natural fillings like bonded British fleece wool and cotton and hand tufted with felt washers.
With around 20 showrooms across the UK, it should be easy to pop into a branch of And So To Bed and try out their luxury range. It's a one stop shop for all your bedding needs, with mattresses by Vispring, market leaders for pocket spring mattresses, J. Marshall and Tempur, plus duvets, pillows, linens, and bedroom furniture. Their Elite mattress is constructed from hand-nested calico pocket springs which is available in four different tensions. The upholstery is made from natural fillings like bonded British fleece wool and cotton and hand tufted with felt washers.
Durability has come under question, but the 30 year guarantee should ease any concerns, back pain relief.
The Lambswool Mattress, £1,380 from Naturalmat
- Firmness: Medium
- Type of mattress: Coir and foam
- Sizes available: Small single, single, long single, small double, double, king, queen, super king, emperor
- Guarantee: 5 years
- Sleep trial period: 45 days
- Mattress depth: 21cm
- Care: N/A
Handmade in solar-powered factories in Devon, these luxurious mattresses are made using only natural materials, as you might expect. Inside you'll find coir coated with latex, lambswool and cashmere, pocket springs, and even horsehair or mohair. The company also makes headboards, divans, bedding and cot mattresses, and you can try them out at their showrooms in London, Devon and Cornwall (as well as a baby and child boutique in Notting Hill). Our personal favourite is the medium Lambswool Mattress, an allergy free, breathable, natural, organic option. This is a brilliant option for those who are after something a little less synthetic than the typical market offering.
Great customer service, many people have gone on to buy a second or third for other rooms in their houses.
Natural Dual Sided Pocket Sprung Mattress, £1,598 from The Little Green Sheep
- Firmness: Medium on one side, medium firm on the other
- Type of mattress: Pocket sprung
- Sizes available: Single, small double, king
- Guarantee: 5 years
- Trial period: 100 nights
- Sleep trial period: 100 nights
- Mattress depth: 22cm
- Care: Flip it depending on whether you want medium or medium firm
The Little Green Sheep uses only natural and high quality materials, including coconut fibre, wool, cotton and latex to help you sleep "the way nature intended." Our top pick is the Dual Sided Pocket Mattress which is medium on the top of the mattress and medium-firm on the bottom, so you can change things up at will. Its core is made from coconut coir which was chosen as it performs like thousands of evenly spread tiny springs to offer great support. There are also pocket springs here too, so it is pressure relieving.
Great service, comfortable mattress.
Orthos Origins 8 Mattress, price on request from The Westend Bed Company, or Hypnos.
- Firmness: Firm and extra firm
- Type of mattress: Pocket Sprung
- Sizes available: Single, double, king and super king
- Sleep trial period: N/A
- Depth: 29cm
- Care: Double sided, turn and rotate with the seasons
With a showroom in East Sheen, London, The Westend Bed Company is a brilliant destination if you want to be guided through the process of buying a bed. With 45 minute sleep consultations available to book, you can be sure that you're getting the right bed for your lifestyle and sleep habits. Stockists of luxury hand-crafted beds by Marshall & Stewart and Hypnos, you can't go far wrong here anyway, but the dedicated and knowledgeable staff are a bonus you won't find everywhere. This mattress features the brand's bespoke 8 pocket spring system, edge to edge support and layers of naturally soft and breathable organic cotton with flax and hemp, plus two fleeces of responsibly sourced British wool to regulate your temperature. The range also features unbleached cotton and a linen sleep surface.
Best mattress ever, divine, dramatic improvement of sleep.
Nectar Memory Foam Mattress, £1,049 from Nectar
- Firmness: Medium to medium firm
- Type of mattress: Foam
- Sizes available: Single, small double, king, super king
- Guarantee: Forever
- Sleep trial period: 365 nights
- Mattress depth: 25cm
- Care: Rotated as necessary, no specific instructions from the brand
Mattress in a box retailers Nectar are so confident in their product that they offer a full-year trial period and a warranty that lasts forever. There's five mattresses to choose from, two memory foams, including the highly rated Nectar Memory Foam Mattress and three hybrids, ranging from Essential to Premier.
This memory foam mattress offers enhanced breathability and a quilted cooling cover that's designed to draw heat away from your body. It is constructed from 25cm of memory foam, making it nice and supportive and breathable. You can buy it in a bundle with a bed (there are two to choose from) and with bedding. If you're a bit indecisive, this makes everything easier.
Life changing, pain relieving, great service.
Casper Hybrid Mattress, £500 from Mattress Online
- Firmness: Medium
- Type of mattress: Hybrid
- Sizes available: Single, small double, super king
- Guarantee: 10 years
- Sleep trial period: 60 nights
- Mattress depth: 24cm
- Care: No turning needed
Why we love it: With a huge range of mattresses to choose from, frequent sales and next day delivery on many items, Mattress Online is a great place to start your mattress hunt, especially if you're after one of the bigger brand names out there, such as Silentnight or Sealy, at an affordable price. It's also now the only UK retailer to stock Casper after the brand moved to the US. The Casper Hybrid is our favourite option from Mattress Online, with its triple foam layers and zoned springs for maximum support. It has edge to edge support, preventing rolling off, along with layers of breathable foam and zoned springs for support. This mattress comes rolled up and boxed, making the delivery pretty hassle free.
Back pain relief, boxed packaging makes for easy manoeuvrability, comfortable.
What's the most comfortable mattress?
Our top pick is the Simba Hybrid Pro, a foam and pocket sprung mattress that is equally soft and sumptuous as it is supportive. Of course, it goes without saying that the best mattress for you, isn't necessarily the same as it is for your sibling, mother, cousin or friend. There's no one size fits all policy with mattresses, which is why sleep trial periods are important factors to consider when buying a mattress online. Another good choice would be Panda London's Bamboo Mattress.
Can I buy a mattress online?
Yes! Increasingly, buyers are flocking towards "mattress in a box" or bed-in-a-box furniture stores such as Simba, Emma and Panda, which operate an online-only model selling foam or premium hybrid mattresses that arrive in a compact box, often with free delivery, unless a certain room or two-person delivery is selected. As these mattresses are only available online, they come with generous try-at-home policies (many offer 100 night trials) so you can return them if you're not convinced and receive a full refund. If you do decide to buy online, be sure to look at each brand's warranty so you know your rights if you need to return or exchange the type of mattress you've plumped for. We also recommend purchasing a mattress protector (this is different to a mattress topper which provides extra cushioning), to improve the lifespan of your mattress. Many of the mattresses come with a minimum 10-year-guarantee too, so you can rest easy if something should happen to it.
Are foam or spring mattresses better in 2023?
There are three categories of mattress: those with springs, those with foam and those with both, known as hybrids, which have swept the market in recent years. When it comes to springs, there are open coil mattresses and pocket sprung mattresses; the latter being higher quality and more expensive. "In an open coil mattress, the spring coils that form the mattress all move together as one unit, so if you are sleeping next to someone and they move in the night, you will move too," warns Vispring. In a pocket sprung mattress, each spring is encased in its own fabric pocket. "This enables each spring to move independently from the other springs, which creates more support and less movement of the mattress when you or your partner move during sleep." This motion transfer is particularly important if you and your partner have different sleeping habits or times. "In general, the more pocket springs that are contained within a mattress, the more supportive it will be. A higher spring count offers more contact points with your body and will better contour your shape."
Advocates of the best memory foam mattresses claim that it is particularly supportive and cradles your body, as it softens at the contact point, offering relief from pressure points. It also means you're less likely to feel your partner moving around, although with a good pocket sprung mattress, this shouldn't be an issue.
Many manufacturers are now producing hybrid mattresses, featuring springs underneath and then several layers of foam on top, which should provide the best of both worlds and work well for people who share a bed, but have different sleeping styles.
While springs (or foam) make up the main body of the mattress, it is also worth thinking about what's on top, in the "comfort layer," which is also known as the sleep surface. In some mattresses this will be foam, or natural materials such as latex or bamboo which are becoming increasingly popular. "Natural materials such as wool and horse tail are breathable and help to regulate temperature as you sleep by wicking moisture away from the skin,” says the team at Savoir Beds. "Natural, chemical-free fillings are also kinder to the sleeper and also - during both processing and disposal - to the environment," they add. More mattress brands are looking towards making mattresses easier to recycle by using more natural materials, so expect to see more natural latex mattresses, as well as some including coconut fibres.
What mattress is the healthiest to sleep on in 2023, according to the experts?
The firmness of your mattress will depend on your body shape, body weight and body type. "Generally speaking, for people that weigh up to 11 stone (70kg) we recommend choosing soft," says Jim Gerety. "Between 11-16 stone (70-102 kg) we recommend medium, 16-20 stone (102-125 kg) is firm, and above that extra firm." The team at Savoir expand on this idea. "The correct level of support is fundamental when choosing a mattress," as you need to ensure your spinal alignment is in its natural position. "To achieve this perfectly, you must sink into the bed to some extent, or your spine will curve unnaturally, and this may affect your posture. If you lie on your side, your hips and shoulders need to sink in to make sure you get support around waist level. If you lie on your back, your body must sink in sufficiently to ensure your lower back is well supported." So even if you have a bad back, you don't necessarily need to buy a firm mattress.
For couples of different statures and sleeping styles, most good bed companies will make mattresses that feature different tensions on each side. "At Savoir we offer a split-tension mattress option, custom-made to your preferences, so both you and your partner can have totally different support in the same bed." Vispring offers the same thing. "If it's just a one step difference – i.e. soft and medium, or medium and firm – we can make this so it's seamless, with no zip down the middle of the mattress."
Where to buy a mattress
There is a huge range of different mattresses out there, varying hugely in firmness, price, and quality. To help you figure out what mattress is best for you, we've browsed, researched and explored the best mattresses from all our favourite furniture shops. Many people might start at a retailer which sells a number of brands. John Lewis and And So To Bed, for example, are stockists of Vispring mattresses, which start at around £1,100. We also like Westend Bed Company, who carry Marshall & Stewart and Hypnos. For a wider range of prices, John Lewis is an ever-reliable standby, stocking affordable mattresses under its own labels, such as Anyday and Classic Collection. Many of these furniture stores offer a range of other bedding necessities such as duvets, pillows and even beds themselves.
