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8 of the best mattresses to buy now
Wave goodbye to back pain and hello to comfort and support with our top picks
Sleep is paramount for our health and wellbeing. We spend about a third of our lives in bed, making buying a mattress an important process worthy of your time and effort. Mattresses can be expensive, but they’re one of the worthiest investments you can make.
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Which is the best mattress on the market?
If you know what you’re looking for, here’s our list of the best mattresses to buy now:
- Best mattress: Silentnight Eco Comfort Breathe Pocket 1200
- Runner-up, best for durability and best for back pain: Tempur Original Mattress Supreme
- Best mattress in a box: Emma Original
- Best hybrid mattress: Simba Hybrid Mattress
- Best budget mattress: Ikea HÖVÅG
- Best for side sleepers: Silentnight Studio Original Mattress
- Best for front sleepers: Dreams Campbell Pocket Sprung Mattress
- Editors Pick: Simba Luxe Mattress
How do I choose a mattress?
In short, you need a mattress that is both comfortable and supportive. The problem is that those descriptors can be subjective, varying between brands and largely dependent on how you tend to lie in bed. Soft mattresses aren’t always the most comfortable and firm mattresses aren’t necessarily the most supportive.
The best mattress for you is the one that keeps your head, neck, shoulders and back in as straight a line as possible, as if you were standing with good posture. To help you decide which level of firmness to plump for, consider your sleeping style.
Side sleepersLook for soft to medium firmness. Your hips and shoulders should sink lightly into your mattress so as not to put too much pressure on your joints. Try a memory foam or hybrid mattress that moulds to the shape of your body and combines both softness and support.
Memory foam mattresses are good for allergy sufferers as they're hypoallergenic. They're also often recommended by chiropractors for back pain. Memory foam's main downside is its lack of breathability, meaning you may find yourself getting sweaty in summer. It may also feel slightly claustrophobic when you move to turn over.
Hybrid mattresses have bouncy inner springs and a top layer of memory foam. Some also feature a cooling gel that absorbs and releases your body heat to regulate your temperature. If you're wondering what mattresses hotels use, they're often hybrids.
Back sleepers
Opt for medium firmness, made from either pocket spring or memory foam. Slide a hand between your lower back and the mattress. There shouldn’t be a big gap between the two. If your hand fits with plenty of room to spare, your mattress is too firm. If it’s a super tight fit, it’s too soft.
Front sleepers
Choose a firm mattress. You want your body to be as close to the bed as possible, with minimal gapping. Consider a pocket spring or hybrid mattress (the memory foam will protect your hips).
Pocket spring mattresses feature springs enclosed in individual pockets often filled with natural materials like wool, cotton, sisal or hair. Each pocket responds independently to the pressure of your body, making you less likely to roll into the centre of the bed or disturb your partner with your movements.
Open spring mattresses are a cheaper variation, but not recommended for two people of vastly differing weights.Your other option to add comfort is to layer a mattress topper over your mattress. These come in a range of materials, from luxurious goose feather and down to siliconised polyester or quilted cotton-rich fibres.
How much should I spend on a mattress?
Unfortunately, that's a "How long is a piece of string?" question, as mattresses vary dramatically in price from £100 into the thousands. The cost largely depends on size, material and brand. What we will say is that the most expensive mattresses aren't always the most comfortable, supportive or durable.
If a vague price range will suffice, then £300 to £800 should buy you a good, long-lasting mattress. Browse the ranges of trusted brands like Silentnight, Emma, Dreams and Simba and you shouldn't go too far wrong. So long as you've done your due diligence and it suits your needs, that is!
Is a mattress in a box any good?
Buying a mattress can be scary, given how much money is usually involved. If you're feeling anxious about parting with your hard-earned cash, you may wish to try a trendy mattress in a box. There are two on our list, one from Emma and another from Silentnight.
These mattreses can only be bought online, which you may think sounds like a counter-intuitive gamble. However, they all offer 100- or 200-night free trials, so you can try them before you full-time buy in the comfort of your home.
They are rolled and vacuum packed to squeeze them into their boxes, which typically measures 50cm x 50cm x 110cm. Their smaller size reduces packaging and delivery costs for the manufacturer, who then passes some of that saving onto the consumer, making them slightly more affordable than their traditional high street rivals. These modern mattresses are also better for the environment, as more can fit onto a transit van, lowering the brand's carbon footprint.
How do you take care of a mattress?
Your mattress should last you at least seven years with good care. Each morning, pull back your duvet to let it air. Wash your bed linen weekly and rotate your mattress monthly, or according to the brand's advice. Look for a mattress with side handles to make this cumbersome chore easier.
To remove stains, gently sponge your mattress using washing-up liquid and tepid water. For tougher marks, use diluted washing detergent. Ideally, use a washable mattress protector to keep your mattress free from stains, dust mites and dead skin cells.For the ultimate sleep experience, make sure you invest in a good set of pillows, too.
How we test
Rest assured, we didn’t merely try each mattress for a couple of nights before assigning it an arbitrary score. For the fullest picture of long-term performance, we sent out an extensive survey to our consumer panel on 29 mattress brands and received 1,400 responses. Those who owned each mattress were asked to answer questions on its comfort, support, durability, value for money and more.
You'll find our detailed verdicts for the seven most popular mattresses below. Note that the prices shown are for the standard UK double size.
Silentnight Eco Comfort Breathe Pocket 1200 Mattress
Score: 85/100
Our eco-friendly winning mattress offers fantastic value for money, with a whopping 95% of our panel rating it highly for both comfort and support, regardless of sleeping style. Three quarters like its medium firmness, which does not sag with time, and the majority of those with back problems say it’s helped to ease their pain.
It feels sturdy, including around the edges, yet also cosy to lie on. Most agree that it doesn’t creak when they turn or leave substantial dips where they sleep, while those who share their bed say neither partner rolls into the centre or wakes up when the other moves - phew!
Less than half of our respondents find it regulates their body temperature as promised, but this hasn’t put them off, with almost everybody enjoying consistently restful sleep and willing to recommend Silentnight to friends and family. Conscious shoppers will love that each sustainably made mattress makes use of 150 recyclable bottles, especially as quality has not been sacrificed for ethics.
Key specifications
Sizes: Single, double, king, super king
Composition: Pocket spring
Firmness: Medium
Depth: 29cm
Care: Single-sided, rotate from head to toe only
Box dimensions: Unavailable
Free trial: 60-night comfort exchange
Guarantee: 3 or 5 years
Old mattress removal: Yes, for £30
Tempur Original Mattress Supreme
Score: 82/100
If you’re willing to splash some cash on a supportive, long-lasting mattress that suits everybody, you’ll be reassured to hear that a third of our panel has happily owned our runner-up for between six and 20 years (we would recommend swapping your mattress before this though!). Its impressive durability comes courtesy of secret technology first developed by NASA to support astronauts during lift-off, so you’re paying for trusted science.
It offers medium firmness, which most find perfectly satisfying, and it’s relieved suffering for 80% of our respondents with back issues. It feels robust and fairly luxurious to kip on, but two thirds get a bit hot and bothered due to a lack of breathability. It doesn’t creak at all and most couples reported no disturbance based on their partner’s movements, putting an end to 3am arguments!
The majority agree that it provides an excellent night’s sleep, to the point that they’d buy from Tempur again, and it comes in a wider than average range of ten sizes. It’s a wise investment and you’ll need a big budget for the upfront cost, but there’s a 100-night free trial.
Key specifications
Sizes: Small single, long single, single, double, king, super king, four custom sizes
Composition: Tempur pressure-relieving material, composed of viscoelastic spherical-shaped open cells
Firmness: Medium
Depth: 21cm, 25cm or 30cm
Care: No turn, removable and washable zip cover
Box dimensions: Unavailable
Free trial: 100 nights
Guarantee: 10 years
Old mattress removal: No, but this is possible via the courier company for an additional cost
Emma Original Mattress
Score: 82/100
This foam mattress in a box from trendy brand Emma is a relatively affordable choice, but you can try it out at home for 200 nights before committing to keeping it. It’s well-loved by nearly all our panel, half of whom are side sleepers, and the majority of those who used to wake up with backache no longer do so. They say its medium to firm support feels just right and like how substantial it is in build, even at the corners.
Fear not, there’s no annoying creaking, and three quarters find it doesn’t dip either. It’s comfortable to doze off on and its gentle body-cradling effect means there’s no motion transfer to the other side of the bed when one half of a couple moves.
Take its cooling, moisture-wicking claims with a pinch of salt, as less than half our respondents think it lives up to these, but that doesn’t stop 92% of them feeling satisfied, enjoying wonderful sleep and recommending it to their loved ones.
Key specifications
Sizes: Single, small double, double, king, super king
Composition: Foam
Firmness: Medium to firm
Depth: 25cm
Care: Flipping not required but rotate it from time to time, removable and washable cover
Box dimensions (cm): 45 x 45 x 110
Free trial: 200 nights
Guarantee: 10 years
Old mattress removal: Yes, for £39
Simba Hybrid Mattress
Score: 78/100
This hybrid Simba mattress offers the benefits of both foam and spring, so it’s little wonder that 80% of our panel find it a perfect match for their sleeping style. They describe it as supportive, luxurious and great value for money, with no creaking and minimal dipping.
Three quarters say it has retained its medium to firm support with use while easing pain for the same proportion of those with back problems. It’s a savvy pick for couples as it doesn’t roll you towards each other, but just 54% believe its supposedly cooling graphite layer regulates their body temperature.
Its "new mattress smell" dissipates quickly and the green-minded among you will like that it’s fully recyclable. It’s not cheap but there’s a 200-night free trial to make use of and it comes thoroughly recommended by the majority of respondents, who regularly wake up well-rested and refreshed.
Key specifications
Sizes: Kids, single, EU single, small double, double, EU double, EU queen, king, super king
Composition: Foam and spring
Firmness: Medium to firm
Depth: 25cm
Care: Non-flip, rotate once a month to begin with and then every 3 to 6 months
Box dimensions (cm): 50 x 50 x 107
Free trial: 200 nights
Guarantee: 10 years
Old mattress removal: Yes, for £30
Score: 77/100
Given its budget price tag, it’s amazing that this pocket spring Ikea mattress comes with a generous 25-year guarantee. It’s roll-packed, making it easier to carry home and up stairs, and there are eight sizes available to suit all bed frames.
It’s not going to solve persistent back problems but 89% of our panel find it pleasingly supportive and comfortable, so it’s far from a write-off on that front. It’s well-made, doesn’t creak and offers unparalleled value for money, which students will appreciate.
Don’t expect it to rival the above Tempur mattress for longevity, or keep you cool at night, but it’s a reliable basic buy that more than three quarters of respondents would choose again. If you’re not convinced after 90 days, you can swap it for a different mattress, which again feels generous.
Key specifications
Sizes: Single, double, king, super king, four custom sizes
Composition: Pocket spring
Firmness: Medium to firm
Depth: 24cm
Care: No need to flip
Box dimensions: Unavailable
Free trial: 90-day exchange
Guarantee: 25 years
Old mattress removal: Yes, for £20
Silentnight Studio Original Mattress
Score: 76/100
Here’s another convenient mattress in a box, from the same brand as our winner. Our panel describes it as supportive, good value and durable, with 90% saying they are satisfied by the support and comfort that its medium firmness offers. Side sleepers are especially big fans.
It feels well-made but don’t expect Ritz-level luxury. Most agree that it’s creak-free, retains its shape and doesn’t start sagging after only a few months of nightly use. It won’t cause couples to roll into the middle and three quarters of respondents slept soundly through their partner’s tossing and turning.
It’s a disappointing body temperature regulator and only two thirds say it provides a brilliant night’s sleep, but nearly 80% would buy it again and personally recommend it to others, so it’s doing something right. The price feels reasonable, too.
Key specifications
Sizes: Single, double, king
Composition: Gel and memory foam
Firmness: Medium
Depth: 26cm
Care: Single-sided, rotate from head to toe only
Box dimensions: Unavailable
Free trial: 60-night comfort exchange
Guarantee: 3 or 5 years
Old mattress removal: Yes, for £30
Dreams Campbell Pocket Sprung Mattress
Score: 72/100
This hybrid Dreams mattress has a memory foam layer for improved support. It also helps keep you stable in bed, so you don’t roll into the centre or irritate your partner when you shift your sleeping position. Its medium firmness proved adequate for 70% of our panel, with the vast majority finding it cosy, comfy and strongly built.
It’s not the best pick if you suffer from back pain, but front sleepers like how the pocket springs evenly distribute body weight while the mouldable foam relieves pressure on your hips. It does lose some of its supportiveness over time, but more than three quarters of respondents reckon it’s excellent value for money, given how well they sleep.
It doesn’t creak, nor dip to a problematic degree, and its handles make monthly rotations easy. It doesn’t claim to regulate body temperature, so we can’t criticise it for not doing so, especially at what feels like a fair mid-range price.
Key specifications
Sizes: Single, small double, double, king
Composition: Pocket spring and memory foam
Firmness: Medium
Depth: 21cm
Care: Non-flip, rotate head to toe weekly for the first 3 months, then every month thereafter
Box dimensions: Unavailable
Free trial: Unavailable
Guarantee: 1 year
Old mattress removal: Yes
Editors Pick
The Luxe is Simba's top of the line mattress and it is, quite frankly, a dream. Simba say, 'Experience ten layers of ultimate sleep indulgence from our most advanced mattress ever. Three tiers of up to 6000 titanium Aerocoil® springs deliver unbeatable airflow and our breathable bamboo wool top surface offers unrivalled temperature and moisture control.'
It's definitely on the medium to firm scale, but it's comfortable for side and front sleepers and even a runner who suffers from sciatica found this to be comfy night after night.
Compaed to other Simba models, this has more layers for extra comfort - ten in fact, with an additional bamboo wool layer which is antibacterial, breathable, moisture-absorbing, fast-drying, thermal regulating, anti-static, and wrinkle resistant. There's also three layers of springs for additional comfort and support.
It isn't cheap, but there's a 200 night free trial for you to give it a good test before you fully commit.
Key specifications
Sizes: Single, double, king, super king
Composition: Pocket spring and memory foam
Firmness: Medium to firm
Depth: 31cm
Care: Non-flip, rotate head to toe weekly for the first 3 months, then every month thereafter
Free trial: 200 nights
Guarantee: 10 years
Old mattress removal: Yes for £40
