Mattresses - best mattress brands: Choosing the best type of mattress Find the perfect bed mattress

For many of us, the right mattress is essential for a good night's sleep

The most important factor in choosing a bed mattress is comfort - and contrary to popular myth, a mattress doesn’t have to be hard to be good for you. As long as it has a good supporting structure, the amount of padding on top is down to personal preference.

We look at the main types of mattress below, but you won’t always find a simple distinction between them in the shops, as mattresses are increasingly made from a mix of materials.

There are six main mattress options to choose from - most mattress manufacturers make more than one type:

Continuous coil mattress

This is one of the cheaper types of bed mattress, made from a single looped wire. Because the springs move as one unit, you are more likely to be disturbed by your partner moving around in the night. The coils in these mattresses wear out more quickly than pocket springs, so you’re likely to end up rolling together eventually.

Open coil mattress

Also widely available, open-coil mattresses are made of single springs fixed together by wire.

Which? members who own an open coil mattress are less likely to say that their mattress helps them to get a good night's sleep than those who own other types of mattress.

Pocket sprung mattress

In these mattresses, the springs are sewn into individual fabric pockets. They provide better support for your body, as each coil absorbs the weight individually. So pocket sprung mattresses are good if you sleep on your side, which puts different pressures on your spine. And if you move around a lot in your sleep, your partner is less likely to feel it.

Pocket sprung mattresses are the most popular type of mattress among Which? members. More than half of the members we surveyed about their mattress had bought a pocket sprung one.

Memory foam mattresses are good at relieving pressure on painful joints

Memory foam mattress/ memory mattress

Memory foam mattresses, also known as memory mattresses, are topped with a layer of temperature-sensitive viscoelastic material (memory foam).

This type of mattress is good at relieving pressure on painful joints, but is usually pricier than sprung mattresses.

Memory foam is affected by room temperature, so you might find the memory mattress cold and hard when you first go to bed. As it reacts to body heat, it moulds to your shape, which can make it difficult for you to move or get out of bed. 

It also reduces air circulation around your body, which makes the memory mattress feel warmer. Many people find this helpful in winter, especially because you can't use an electric underblanket with memory foam mattresses. But you may feel too hot in summer.

Memory foam mattresses are the second most popular type of mattress among Which? members. More than 20% of the members we surveyed about their mattress had bought a memory foam one.

Pure foam mattress or latex mattress

Foam or latex mattresses can be a good option if you’re allergic to house dust mites.

Mattress ‘toppers’

These add a layer of memory foam or extra padding to your existing bed mattress. But they can be as expensive as buying a new mattress in some cases, and won’t provide more support if your old mattress is already sagging.