Mattresses - best mattress brands: Choosing the best type of mattress Mattress features

Most bed mattresses have a distinctive chemical smell when you first unpack them

From chemical smells to spring density, we highlight what you need to know when buying and using your new mattress.

Mattress odour

Most bed mattresses have a distinctive chemical smell when you first unpack them, but some can be particularly smelly. Leave your mattress to air for a week before use and the fumes will disperse.

Mattress handles

Handles help with flipping, turning and positioning the mattress. Many new bed mattresses don’t need to be flipped over, but they may still benefit from being rotated head to foot a few times a year.

Mattress padding

Mattresses with spring systems are usually padded with man-made polymers, but some contain natural fibres such as horsehair or wool. More layers aren’t always better – the support from the springs is more important.

Mattress spring density

When it comes to springs, it's quality rather than quantity that's important. The number of springs in your mattress is less important than how they’re constructed. Which? has tested mattresses with densities ranging from 440 to 1,085 springs and found wide variation in the level of support offered.

Washable mattress covers

Some sprung mattresses come with a removable cover, but you can buy one separately.

Which mattress brands are best?

There are plenty of mattress brands out there, but which ones make the best mattresses? We've got customer satisfaction scores for fifteen major mattress brands - including Silentnight, Sleepeezee and Sealy - so you can find out who other members' favourite mattress brands are.