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21 best mattresses 2024, tested & reviewed at home

Sleep is important, so don't lose yours.
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Quality pocket sprung mattresses provide good support, helping to distribute your weight evenly and keep your spine aligned as you sleep. The steel coils inside compress when you sit on them, giving you a bit more bounce – though you might need to replace them more regularly.

Spring counts in pocket sprung mattresses vary from around 600/800 to 2,500 – but can go even higher when there are multiple layers. Pocket sprung mattresses are available in a range of firmness levels – more on that later.

Memory foam mattresses serve up a bit more cushioning, ideal for those who like to sink in and feel cocooned. The top layer of memory foam provides pressure relief to your pressure points, ideal if you're a side sleeper or suffer with lower back pain, painful hips, shoulders or knees. Memory foam mattresses conform to body contours, slowly responding to the user's shape. They tend to last longer than pocket sprung mattresses. Traditionally these would run a bit hotter than their pocket sprung counterparts, but with modern tech that's no longer the case, long live the best electric blankets!

3. Hybrid mattresses:

Hybrid mattresses are constructed with both foam and coils. They give you the comfort of foam or latex mattresses, but the spring of something with springs. Hybrid mattresses also tend to give good edge support (read: you can sleep right at the edge without feeling like you're going to fall off).

Which mattress is good for home?

While you might not mind buying a more affordable mattress for your guest room, when it comes to the master bedroom, you're likely going to want something comfortable and long-lasting. This can mean that you might need to extend your budget (or count on Klarna in your slumber's time of need) but, longterm it could end up saving you money. Indeed, a more premium mattress is less likely need replacing every 3-5 years. As such, we'd look to mattresses that have more durable materials. Think: cotton and/or a high-ILD memory foam (TLDR: a high indentation load deflection is a foam layer that will take more overall pressure to sink). For instance, the little green sheep's natural dual sided pocket sprung mattress.

Which mattress is good – spring or foam?

Distinguishing between spring and foam mattresses comes down to a few factors. Namely:

  • All-foam mattresses tend to come out on top when it comes to motion isolation.
  • Foam mattresses - not all - can offer less breathability, thus making sprung mattresses better for the warmer months.
  • While foam mattresses exceed sprung mattresses when it comes to support for side sleepers, if you like a bit of extra support or a firmer mattress, you'll likely prefer a sprung sleep surface.
  • In terms of sound, a foam mattress will generally be quieter.
  • Likewise, foam mattresses win when it comes to sagging over an extended period, too, and cheaper sprung models are known for doing this over time.
  • A win for the sprung mattresses - more often than not they'll come in cheaper than their foam counterparts, with the most expensive foam models reaching up to £2,500.
Emma Original Mattress
Silentnight Middleton 800 Pocket Memory Kingsize Mattress

How firm should my mattress be?

The level of support you choose depends on your body weight and personal preference. "Generally speaking, the lighter the person the softer the mattress you will need," Angela said. "Sleeping position makes a difference, too." Side sleepers will be well supported by a softer mattress or medium mattress, while back sleepers or front sleepers may want to consider a medium-firm mattress or firm mattress.

How much should I spend on a mattress?

When it comes to mattresses, you really do get what you pay for. For a decent mattress, you should expect to pay somewhere around the £300 mark if it's to be comfortable and durable. Emma's Original Mattress is one of the best mattresses of the year, costing £271.20, while The Casper Hybrid mattress is £500. We've also got a full edit of the best cheap mattresses here.

For mattresses between £500 and £1,000, you'll get something that lasts longer, which regulates temperature, reduces bounce when your partner moves during the night and helps with back and ache spinal alignment through multiple layers or a larger number of pocket springs.

Which mattress is best for back pain?

There is no single mattress that will suit everyone with back pain, but generally speaking, considering the firmness of your mattress is important when choosing which mattress you buy. A firmer mattress will provide more back support. Also, the coils or pocket springs are what provide the support in mattresses; so you should look for something with more coils and springs for more support.

What is the difference between a mattress and a pillow top?

Mattresses and pillow tops don't actually have to be separate things. You can buy mattresses with a pillow top as part of the makeup and, naturally, ones without, too. Ultimately, a pillow top is an extra layer of padding atop your sprung or foam mattress and they tend to act much like a mattress topper. For instance, the Silentnight Thornbury mattress has a luxury quilted Pillow top sleep surface and reviewers remarked that it was a top choice for heavier buyers and, aside from that, had helped with aches and pains, and the quality of their sleep overall, too. In summary? Pillow top mattresses are a good choice if you're after that extra ounce of support and you prefer a sprung to a foam mattress - pillow tops are more common on sprung-style mattresses.

After more sleep content? We've got weighted blankets and mattress toppersbest duvets and the best pillows, plus anti-allergy pillows, cooling pillows, silk bedding, best sofa beds, silk pillowcases and linen bedding. Elsewhere, find body pillows to invest in, pregnancy pillows if you're expecting, sleep masks to keep the morning light at bay and pillow spray to help you nod off. For more from Glamour UK Commerce Editor Sophie Cockett, follow her on Instagram @sophiecockettx. For more from GLAMOUR UK's Commerce Writer Mayola Fernandes, follow her on Instagram @mayolafernandess.

Scroll for our full edit of best mattresses for your best night's sleep ever, reviewed by team GLAMOUR.