Is there a more important choice than getting the right mattress? We don’t think so. From ensuring a good night’s sleep to having somewhere nice to sit and read on a Sunday morning, our beds are one of the places we spend the most amount of time.
With a huge choice of mattresses to choose from, including traditional retailers and popular bed-in-a-box companies, the good news is that you can definitely get the right mattress to suit your needs. The bad news is that the range makes finding the right one hard – until you finish reading this article, that is.
Using our expertise and in-depth testing results, we’ve listed the best mattresses that we have used, including memory foam, pocket-sprung and hybrid models.
How we test
Mattresses are hard to test properly, as we all have different opinions about what makes the perfect one. Some of us like a soft mattress to sink into, while others prefer a solid mattress that doesn’t give at all. The choice isn’t just based on body shape but on sleeping position: there’s a difference in how a mattress functions depending on whether you sleep on your side, back or front.
With that said, we can test mattresses for quality and give you information about how they feel. To do this, we have a series of tests.
First, we have our heat test. We lie on a mattress for 10 minutes, stand up and take a photo with a thermal camera. We then take a photo once per minute to see how quickly heat dissipates and the mattress returns to the ambient room temperature. Heat dissipation is a big issue for many people, particularly those who get hot in bed.
Next, we see how well motion is contained to one side of the bed using an accelerometer. This test is important if you sleep with a partner, particularly one that is restless in bed: the less motion that’s transferred from one side of the bed, the better.
Finally, we measure how much the bed dips at different body points in different sleeping positions. This lets us see how firm/soft a mattress is and whether it provides the right level of support to keep spines straight while sleeping.
- Very supportive
- Excellent heat dispersion
- Insulates motion
- Very deep
- Cover isn’t washable
- Washable cover
- Handles make it easy to move
- Supportive
- Great heat dissipation
- Sinks quite a bit while sitting up
- Superb heat dissipation
- Excellent support
- Comfortable, sink-into top layers
- Non-washable cover
- Edge support could be better
- Offers great support
- Long trial period
- Very comfortable (eventually)
- The firmness will take some adjustment if you’re coming from a soft mattress
- Great value for money
- Soft, comfortable and supportive
- Superb heat dissipation
- Generous trial and warranty
- Cover is not mashine-washable
- Sub-par edge support
Simba Hybrid Pro
The best overall mattress
Pros
- Very supportive
- Excellent heat dispersion
- Insulates motion
Cons
- Very deep
- Cover isn’t washable
A brilliant combination of layers, the Simba Hybrid Pro comes vacuum-packed in a box but expands into the most comfortable mattress we’ve ever tested. A chunky 28cm deep (you’ll need deep fitted sheets), this mattress has a soft, breathable cover, a natural wool layer for heat regulation, Simbatex foam to increase airflow, two layers of Aerocoil springs, hard edge support, and a chunky multizone foam base that gives the mattress its shape.
Support from this mattress is excellent: the edge barely sinks when you sit on it and there’s a lot of support when sitting up. For sleeping, the mattress creates a perfect environment for all sleepers, helping to keep your spine straight at night. This is quite a firm-feeling mattress, so those who prefer something softer may want to look elsewhere.
We found that motion was kept to one side of the bed: that’s great for anyone who sleeps with a partner, as they can thrash around while you sleep soundly. Temperature control is excellent, too. After just three minutes, our outline had pretty much disappeared.
Our only complaint about this mattress is that the cover can’t be removed and washed, so a mattress protector is essential.
Full review: Simba Hybrid Pro review
Reviewer: David Ludlow
Emma Original Mattress
The best midrange mattress
Pros
- Washable cover
- Handles make it easy to move
- Supportive
- Great heat dissipation
Cons
- Sinks quite a bit while sitting up
A straightforward foam mattress, the Emma Original balances price, comfort and features neatly. One of the best things about this mattress is that its cover is washable.
Unzip the top, and it lifts off, ready to go in the washing machine, leaving the foam layers where they are. You can also remove the lower cover and wash that, although that’s a little trickier. We recommend flipping the mattress and removing the section that way.
The top cover is Emma’s UltraDry, which is moisture-wicking, removing sweat from your body. Inside are three foam layers: Airogell to regulate temperature, the memory foam layer which adapts to your body and offers support, and finally HRX Supreme Foam to give stability and support.
It generally works well, providing great levels of support when lying down. Edge support is decent, but the mattress did sink a little when we were sitting up (6cm), so those who read a lot or watch TV in bed may prefer a slightly harder pick.
Motion transference is minimal, with one person’s movements staying on their side of the bed. Heat dissipation is good, with most heat gone after three minutes and the bed returning to ambient temperatures a couple of minutes after that.
Overall, this is a great midrange mattress that’s easy to keep clean. If you want something with a more luxurious feel or a mattress that’s a bit firmer, check out the alternatives.
Full review: Emma Original Mattress review
Reviewer: David Ludlow
Nectar Sleep Premier
The best mattress for those who like a soft feel
Pros
- Superb heat dissipation
- Excellent support
- Comfortable, sink-into top layers
Cons
- Non-washable cover
- Edge support could be better
The Nectar Sleep Premier is the company’s top-of-the-range mattress-in-a-box, as you can probably tell by the relatively high price. A full 365-day trial period does mean that you get a long time to give it a go.
As with most premium mattresses, the Nectar Sleep Premier is chunky. Its 28cm depth means that you’ll want deep fitted sheets to go over it, and may need a hand getting it into position; fortunately, there are big handles on the side for this job.
There are six layers. On the outside is the quilted cooling cover, which feels nice and soft to the touch. There’s a zip, but the cover is not removable or machine washable. Next is the dynamic support layer, which is made of breathable foam; press-relieving memory foam is next; there’s a honeycomb layer built for spine alignment; and, finally, there’s the base material that keeps everything in place.
Edge support isn’t so good on this model, with the bed dipping 7.5cm with us sat on the side. Once in bed, things get better. There’s only a 4.5cm dip when sat up in bed, and support is excellent in all sleeping positions. That’s even though the mattress feels a bit softer to the touch than some rivals.
Movement isolation is very good. Even if you sleep with someone who’s quite restless, you shouldn’t be disturbed too much.
Heat dissipation is excellent, taking just three minutes for our outline to practically disappear in our thermal camera test.
If you like a softer-feel mattress, but one that still gives good support, then this premium example is a good choice.
Full review: Nectar Sleep Premier review
Reviewer: David Ludlow
Emma Premium Mattress
The best firm mattress
Pros
- Offers great support
- Long trial period
- Very comfortable (eventually)
Cons
- The firmness will take some adjustment if you’re coming from a soft mattress
The Emma Premium Mattress should suit anyone who wants a high-quality yet firm mattress. Firm shouldn’t be mistaken for uncomfortable, as this mattress provides a high level of support. Once we’d gotten used to it, we found it to be extremely comfortable to sleep on.
As with many premium mattresses, this one is very deep once it’s unwrapped and expanded to its full size. It’s likely you’ll need help unpacking this model. Help will also be needed when you turn this mattress regularly to prevent sagging.
There are six layers in this mattress. At the top is the breathable cover that gives comfort and acts a little like a mattress topper. This layer also helps regulate temperature and can be removed for washing.
Next is the Point Elastic Airgocell, which helps regulate temperature by absorbing and evaporating sweat. Then, there’s a memory foam layer that moulds to your body shape, followed by a foam layer that Emma says helps alleviate pressure. As this is a hybrid mattress, there’s a layer of springs, followed by a base foam layer.
We found that this mattress took a while to get used to, and we found it very firm at first. If you prefer a mattress with a softer feel, look elsewhere.
Edge support is excellent on this bed, with the mattress dipping just 4.5cm. There’s little dip from lying in sleeping positions either (enough to keep your spine aligned), but the mattress remains very firm.
Measuring the mattress with an accelerometer, we found that motion was quite well insulated, with little disturbance caused by one partner turning over. Getting out of bed proved even better: you probably wouldn’t even notice a partner waking up the morning.
Heat dissipation is very good. After three minutes, there was little trace of where we had been lying. This is a great mattress, but it’s better for those who like a firm-feel.
Full review: Emma Premium Mattress review
Reviewer: Max Parker
Nectar Hybrid Mattress
The best value hybrid mattress
Pros
- Great value for money
- Soft, comfortable and supportive
- Superb heat dissipation
- Generous trial and warranty
Cons
- Cover is not mashine-washable
- Sub-par edge support
The Nectar Hybrid Mattress is a great-value hybrid mattress which is currently available for 60% less than its original price. As with most rivals, this mattress comes vacuum-packed and must be left to inflate back to full size before you can sleep on it.
Six layers are used to build up the Nectar Hybrid Mattress. First, there’s a quilted cooling cover, which can’t be removed, even though there’s a zip around the outside. It’s worth buying a mattress protector to use with it.
There’s a dynamic support layer, micro-spring layer, pressure-relieving memory foam, 7-zone supportive base and positioning base material.
Rated as a six on a firmness scale (out of 10), this mattress is about in the middle. We sat on the edge of this mattress, and it dipped 8cm, which is quite a lot. If you tend to sleep at the edge of the bed, then a firmer mattress would be better. Likewise, if you sit up and read in bed a lot, then another mattress may be better: this model dipped 6cm.
For sleep, the Nectar Hybrid Mattress is very good. It conforms to your body shape, keeping you and your spine well aligned, proving to be very comfortable.
Measuring motion isolation, we found that quite a lot of motion was transmitted from one side of the bed to another when getting in and out; the relatively soft edges are likely to blame. Once in bed, the Nectar Hybrid Mattress isolates one person from their partner’s movements.
Heat dissipation is good but not the best that we’ve seen: it took five minutes before our routine was hard to see in thermal camera photos.
This is a good mid-range choice for anyone who wants a medium-firm mattress.
Full Review: Nectar Hybrid Mattress review
Reviewer: Ryan Jones
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FAQs
There are three main types of mattress to choose from:
Open coil is the oldest type, with an interconnected set of springs wound through the entire interior. These tend to offer greater support and are the lightest type of mattress. However, cheaper models can be uncomfortable, with the springs felt through thinner materials, and motion from one sleeper can be transported to another.
Pocket sprung mattresses contain individual springs mounted inside material pockets. The pocket springs partially mould to your body’s shape, giving a greater level of support, and because the springs are independent, they prevent two sleepers side by side from being disturbed by the other’s movement. The main advantage is that pocket sprung mattresses are generally cooler to sleep on than memory foam models. These mattresses can sometimes be rolled but some are sold and shipped at full size.
Foam mattresses are primarily memory foam models. These are easy to transport, with manufacturers able to squeeze the mattress into a box for delivery. Memory foam moulds itself to your body, providing excellent support and letting you sink into the bed. This can take a while to get used to, particularly if you’re used to a sprung mattress. Memory foam mattresses isolate movement, helping two sleepers keep to themselves. They’re better for allergen sufferers, harbouring fewer allergens than sprung mattresses. The big downside is that memory foam can be hot; in fact, this was the biggest complaint aired.
You can buy combination or hybrid mattresses, which combine two or more elements. For example, it’s common to find pocket sprung mattresses that use a memory foam layer on top for added comfort.
Mattresses are rated by their firmness, and the choice comes down to a couple of factors. The first is weight. The heavier you are, the more you’ll need a firmer mattress; a medium model or less will feel far too soft.
Ultimately, your choice of mattresses will be down to personal preference. This is the reason we’ve incorporated user reviews into this guide to offer an overview of each mattress, so you can find the one that suits your needs.
Side sleepers can often find it hard to get a mattress that gives them adequate support and comfort, with any mattress needing to support several pressure points. Again, it’s worth trying a few models to find one that really works for you, but there are some general pointers to help you find the right model.
First, look for a hybrid mattress, combining springs and a memory foam top. These mattresses will typically give you the level of support that you need across your entire body. Next, a medium-firm mattress or softer is usually a good choice, with the mattress better able to contour around your body, naturally supporting your spine and pelvis. These mattresses will let your body slightly sink into the top material, giving you a soft, cushion to lie against, which will generally prove to be more comfortable.
It used to be advised that your mattress should be replaced every 10 years. However, the industry, anxious for a quicker turnover, now suggests seven – but the truth is that it really depends on the type of mattress.
If you bought a cheap sprung mattress then you may find that it only lasts a couple of years; a more expensive memory foam mattress should last a lot longer. Look out for tell-tale signs that your mattress is wearing: dips in the surface, spring starting to push through and the like.
To prolong your mattress’s life, follow the care instructions carefully. Some mattresses need to be flipped over (also called turned) regularly. Practically all mattresses benefit from rotation, where you turn them 180 degrees. This exposes all parts of the mattress to equal pressure, prolonging its life.
Mattresses can sag if left in the same position, so most manufacturers recommend that they’re regularly moved. Pocket-sprung mattresses can usually be flipped over, but all other types can’t. That’s because they’re built with layers in a specific order. Instead, most mattresses should be rotated according to the manufacturer’s instructions, which is usually around every three to six months.
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Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
