Best Mattress 2018: Top memory foam, hybrid and pocket sprung mattresses for a perfect night’s sleep

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BEST OVERALL MATTRESS

The Simba Hybrid

With a combination of memory foam and pocket springs, the Simba Hybrid offers the best of both worlds. Highly rated for quality, comfort and support.

From £399

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For this guide, we’ve asked the experts on our sister site Ideal Home for their advice and recommendations. They tested eight products, of which we’re bringing you the six best.

Of these six mattresses, two stand out. The Simba Hybrid is the best all-round mattress, combining pocket springs with memory foam for the ultimate comfort. For budget buyers, the Silent Night Sleep Soundly Miracoil Comfort offers excellent value, although this sprung mattress may be too firm for some.

Related: Get two free memory foam pillows with a Simba Hybrid | Save 25% on your mattress at Eve Sleep with code SUN25

How do we pick the best mattresses?

best value mattress

Silentnight Sleep Soundly Miracoil Comfort Mattress

This is our pick for best value, packing in double the springs of a traditional mattress. The zoned support should help those not wanting to disturb their sleeping partner. It's also a great choice if you like your mattress on the firmer side.

From £149

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Given that we spend around a third of our lives sleeping, investing in a decent mattress is a priority. However, finding the right one can be difficult.

Buying the ideal mattress is largely a matter of personal preference (or, where couples are concerned, compromising on a model that works for both). For this reason, a reviewer will find it hard to offer a definitive opinion on any mattress – a model that they find suitable for themselves  may not be right for you.

As a result, for this roundup we’ve approached testing in a slightly different way. First, we asked Ideal Home to review each mattress, including how it’s delivered, the build quality and feel, and their opinions on comfort and quality. To canvas a wider opinion, we’ve also turned to user reviews from trusted sources including Amazon, John Lewis, TrustPilot and Yotpo.

Even with our reviews, it’s possible that something a lot of people like just isn’t for you. For example, a common complaint with memory foam mattresses is that they become too hot. As such, we recommend trying out mattresses for yourselves where possible before you buy, and taking advantage of any returns process that a manufacturer offers if it isn’t right.

1. Simba Hybrid

Pros:

• Very comfortable
• Temperature just right

Cons:

• No handles

A pure memory foam mattress can be a little hard, and a bit too warm for many people, so the Simba Hybrid could be the perfect alternative. As the name suggests, the Simba Hybrid uses a combination of memory foam and pocket springs to bring you the best of both worlds.

The mattress comprises five layers, starting with the hypoallergenic outside cover. Next, is a layer of Simbatex (a latex foam), designed to give comfort and keep you cool. Then comes a layer of conical pocket springs (2500 on a king size mattress). After that is the memory foam layer, designed to mould to the shape of your body. Finally, there’s a support base, which provides additional support and gives the mattress its shape and thickness.

Despite the use of pocket springs, the Simba Hybrid was still delivered rolled and packed in a box. Excellent instructions and a supplied safety cutter make unpacking the mattress easy, and we found it was ready to go in a matter of hours. The springs made a real difference, automatically adjusting to the shape of your body, and we found this made side-sleeping more comfortable.

The highest-rated mattress, both by ourselves and third-party reviewers, owners praised the comfort, quality and, for many, that this mattress remained relatively cool.

The main negative was that there are no handles to help manoeuvre the mattress. Some people also found the mattress too warm, which is a common criticism of foam models. On the John Lewis webiste, some complained that the mattress had sagged within a year of use, although Simba’s customer support was quick to reply and organise replacements. As with other mattresses here, there were also a few complaints about a chemical smell, although most people found that this dissipated after a couple of days.

According to Simba, the Hybrid is a “no turn” mattress, but the company says that rotating it will prolong life. The advice is to rotate the mattress monthly when new, moving to every three-to-six months after that.

You can give the Simba Hybrid a go in John Lewis, and it’s also available to buy online direct from Simba with free delivery, with a 100-night trial and free returns. The Simba Hybrid is available in various sizes, covering both UK and EU standards, from a small single up to a super king.

Buy Now: Simba Hybrid from £379 from Simba

2. Silent Night Sleep Soundly Miracoil Comfort

Pros:

• Great price
• Cool and dry

Cons:

• Very hard
• No handles
• No trial period

In this age of online-only mattresses in a box, it’s good to see that the Silent Night Sleep Soundly Miracoil Comfort is available in John Lewis stores and can be tried.

Using Silent Night’s Miracoil spring system, the mattress has double the number of springs of a traditional mattress. Silent Night says that this, plus the Miracoil’s alignment, gives zoned support that should prevent partner disturbance. Certainly, testing it out, we found that our fidgety sleeper didn’t disturb our lighter sleeper.

The Sleep Sound Miracoil Comfort is rated as firm, and it was the hardest mattress we tested. For us, this extra level of support was good for our sleeper with a bad back, but it won’t be for everyone. Indeed, a common complaint in the user reviews is that this mattress is far too hard. Adding a mattress topper could help, but it’s probably better to buy a less firm model.

Owners happy with this mattress praised its level of comfort, and were pleased with the comparatively low price. Thanks to the springs and soft-knit fabric, this mattress was cool and dry to sleep on. In fact, no users complained about Sleep Sound Miracoil Comfort being too hot.

The manufacturer recommends that this mattress should be flipped and rotated regularly to even out pressure and prolong life. This job is made a little trickier by the lack of handles, although note that this was the lightest mattress on test.

The biggest potential downside is that the Sleep Sound Miracoil Comfort can’t be returned if you’re unhappy, so we thoroughly recommend testing it in-store before you buy. If you don’t like memory foam mattresses and want a firm sprung model, this one is well priced and comfortable.

Buy Now: Silent Night Sleep Soundly Miracoil Comfort from £149 from John Lewis 

3. Hyde & Sleep Hybrid Plus

Pros

• Cool sleep
• Supportive and comfortable
• Very little smell

Cons

• Some complaints about UPS delivery

Hyde & Sleep is a British company that manufactures its Hybrid Plus mattresses here in the UK. As you can tell from the name, the Hybrid Plus is built using both memory foam and pocket springs, despite arriving rolled in a box.

Hyde & Sleep sells the Hybrid Plus in three varieties: Soft, Medium and Firm – Dreams, which also sells the mattresses, refers to the models as Soft, Firm and Very firm. Either way, it’s great to have a choice. We opted for the Hybrid Plus Medium for our review.

This mattress can be bought with a choice of delivery options. If you’re in a rush, there’s UPS for next-day delivery. However, some user reviews have criticised this service. Alternatively, there’s the Dreams Fleet option, where you’ll get a delivery slot (typically seven days or more from ordering), and your mattress will be taken to a room of your choice.

We went with the latter – and have to credit the service. Our mattress was delivered by a two-man team and carried to our room. Dreams also handed over a delivery note that stated who delivered the mattress, plus a sticker that we could put on the mattress showing when it was purchased. This acts as a handy reminder of when it will need to be replaced.

The mattress comes rolled in plastic that needs to be cut open to allow the Hyde & Sleep Hybrid Plus to uncurl and re-inflate. We urge caution  so that you don’t knick the mattress cover. The mattress needs to be left for 48-hours to re-inflate. We didn’t notice a strong smell, which is a common complaint with memory-foam mattresses.

Once inflated, the Hyde & Sleep Hybrid Plus is a chunky 25cm thick. There are three layers: a 3.8cm top memory foam layer for support and comfort; a 1.9cm layer containing micro pocket springs (up to 2000 in a king-sized mattress), designed to contour around your body; and there’s a 17.8cm polyurethane base layer with ventilation channels, giving the mattress its shape while keeping you cool.

All of this is wrapped in a breathable quilted cover that feels soft to the touch. This is zipped into place, but the zip handle is broken off on purpose to prevent the cover from being removed, since it isn’t washable. A slightly neater finish would be nicer to see.

The Hyde & Sleep Hybrid Plus doesn’t need turning, but it should be rotated monthly – a job that would be easier if there were handles.

We found our Medium mattress extremely comfortable, with the memory foam providing plenty of support, whilst letting us gently sink into bed. Movement was contained to one side of the bed, preventing partner disturbances.

Online reviews agree in the comfort stakes, and there were no complaints about the mattress being too hot, which can be an issue with mattresses that use memory foam. The few complaints about the mattress sagging were dealt with swiftly by Hyde & Sleep.

Hyde & Sleep offers a 100-night trial, with a 10-year warranty guaranteeing your purchase. All standard British bed sizes are available (single, double, king and super king), but you’ll need to shop elsewhere if you have a European-sized bed.

Buy now: Hyde & Sleep Hybrid Plus from £499 from Hyde & Sleep

4. Leesa Mattress

Pros:

• Cooler than other memory foam mattresses
• Firm and supportive
• Machine washable cover

Cons:

• No handles

If you want to buy a mattress with good conscience then the Leesa Mattress may be for you. For every 10 mattresses sold, one is donated to charity – and a tree is planted for every mattress sold. Fortunately, the Leesa Mattress is very comfortable and well made, ensuring a good night’s sleep while also feeling like you’ve done some social good. It’s easy to unpack, with full instructions placed on top of the box.

A pure foam model, the Leesa Mattress has three layers. First is the 5cm of Cooling Avena Foam, which is designed to allow for airflow. Next comes the 5cm of memory foam, which moulds to your body shape. Finally, there’s 15cm of base foam for strength, stability and support. This is wrapped in a soft outer lining that’s easy to remove for washing.

Of all the foam mattresses we tried, we felt that the Leesa was the firmest, which could be ideal for those looking for good support. And, with such a firm base, we found that our more wriggly sleeper didn’t disturb our lighter sleeper either.

Although memory foam mattresses can be warm to sleep on, we managed to keep cool all night. User reviews backed this up, with most people finding the mattress comfortable, keeping them the right temperature all night.

Those who didn’t like this mattress found it too hot (a common issue with foam mattresses), and there were some people who complained of uneven sags. In cases of sagging, Leesa was quick to respond and offer replacements. Leesa says not to flip the mattress, but that rotating it every three to six months will help prolong its life; it’s a shame that there aren’t handles to make rotation easier.

As with all foam mattresses, a new Leesa Mattress does give off a chemical smell, although most reviewers noted that this disappeared after a few days. As with similar providers, the Leesa Mattress offers free delivery, a 100-day sleep test, with free returns if you’re not happy. It’s backed by a 10-year guarantee. Most EU and UK sizes are available, from single to super king.

Buy Now: Leesa Mattress from £354 from Amazon

5. Eve Mattress

Pros:

• Firm but comfortable
• Machine-washable cover
• 100-night trial

Cons:

• Some complaints about a lingering scent
• Some complaints about quality

One of the best-known bed-in-a-box models, the Eve Mattress is also one of the best that we’ve tested. Conveniently packaged, we found the mattress easy to manoeuvre after delivery. Instructions for unwrapping weren’t included in the box, but they’re available online. That said, it’s easy enough to work out how to unpack the mattress – although be careful not to knick the mattress with your scissors. Once unpacked, the mattress was ready to sleep on within a couple of hours.

It’s a little tricky to move into position – the Eve Mattress is yet another model that doesn’t have handles. This becomes more of an issue when trying to rotate the mattress, which the manufacturer suggests you do twice a year to extend its life.

The mattress is made up of multiple layers. The top cover is moisture-wicking and designed to allow airflow. This layer can be removed and is machine-washable. Next is a layer of memory for support and to relieve pressure. Then comes the evecomfort layer, which is designed to remove that ‘sinking feeling’ and to keep you cool. There’s the base layer for stability and support and, finally, there’s an anti-slip base to help keep the mattress in place.

These layers added up to a comfortable sleeping experience for us, with plenty of support. In our opinion, we found that the Eve Mattress was medium-firm. Impressively, movement was contained to one side of the bed, so you shouldn’t disturb a partner, even if you’re a wriggly sleeper.

In user reviews, those who liked the mattress praised its comfort, with some pointing out that it took a while to get used to. Most agreed that the mattress was quite firm, but that it was still comfortable.

Those who rated the Eve Mattress poorly had the usual complaints about foam mattresses: it was too hot and had a smell that lingered. There were complaints about build quality, too, with some people saying their mattress was dirty on arrival; another explained how the seam had split. In all cases, Eve responded promptly to criticism and offered to replace mattresses that didn’t live up to expectations.

As with similar matress manufacturers, the Eve Mattress comes with a 100-night trial, and is backed by a 10-year guarantee. It’s available in a huge range of UK and EU sizes, from single to super king and beyond.

Buy Now: Eve Mattress for £335 from Eve Sleep

6. Ikea Hövag

Pros:

• Excellent price
• Easy to manoeuvre

Cons:

• Could feel too soft
• Strong ‘new mattress’ smell

Long before bed-in-a-box manufacturers were going, Ikea had perfected the art of rolling up sprung mattresses to make them easy to transport. So, the pocket-sprung Hövag comes vacuum-packed and rolled, making it easy to fit in a car – and, for us, to get up the stairs.

Once unrolled, it can take up to 48 hours for the mattress to expand fully. The fairly light mattress can be manoeuvred easily onto a bed frame using its side handles. There’s no need to flip this mattress, although the handles come in handy when turning twice a year to help even out pressure and prolong life.

As a more budget option, the Hövag’s grey and white cover doesn’t feel as plush nor as luxurious as the other recommended models. Described as medium-firm, the soft top and pocket-sprung interior felt softer than we were used to. Sleeping on it for a few nights, we found that the mattress was a little more supportive than we first thought, although those who prefer a firmer model would do well to look elsewhere.

Some owners commented that the mattress was too soft for them and didn’t offer the level of support they needed. Others criticised the build, saying that within a couple of years the mattress had sagged in places and needed to be replaced. As such, the Ikea Hövag may be a better choice for lighter people or occasional use, such as on a spare bed.

Again, there were complaints about the chemical smell – although we noticed that this dissipated after a couple of days. Those owners impressed with the mattress praised its softer feel and were very happy with the competitive pricing. There were no complaints about overheating.

Ikea offers a 90-day trial for mattresses, and you can swap for an alternative model within that period. It also comes with a 25-year guarantee, although the wording points out that for any faults, “IKEA will examine the product and decide, at its sole discretion, if it is covered under this guarantee” and that the guarantee “does not cover normal wear and tear, cuts or scratches, or damage caused by impacts or accidents”.

Testing in-store is recommended. For those on a tight budget looking for a pocket-sprung mattress, or those who need a well-priced model for a spare bed, the Ikea Hövag is a good choice. The mattress is available in most UK and EU sizes from single to super king.

Buy now: Ikea Hövag Pocket Sprung mattress for £180 from Ikea

Best mattresses  What to think about

Our expert colleagues on Ideal Home gave us their view on how to ensure you get the right mattress for you. Here’s what they had to say:

• Know your sizes: A bed, and therefore its mattress, should be 10cm longer than the tallest person sleeping on it. So a king-size is the minimum for someone 6ft or taller. If you’re sharing a bed, it should also be wide enough to allow you and your partner to lie side by side, hands behind heads, without your elbows touching.
• Know the level of support: Check if a mattress is supporting you properly; lie down and slide a hand beneath the small of your back. If your hand fits easily, it’s too hard; if it doesn’t fit at all then it’s too soft.
• Get the right base: The base will affect how the mattress feels. A sprung divan will make a mattress seem softer than a solid divan or slatted base. You might want to consider changing your bed as well as your mattress.
• Check the mattress filling: Sprung and pocket mattresses are padded with fillings including cotton, lambswool and mohair, which can prove problematic for people with allergies. Luxurious options – such as cashmere and silk – will mean the finished product is more expensive, but are also less likely to cause issues.
• Check whether it needs turning: Does the mattress model require turning? Many modern mattresses don’t, which is ideal because they can be incredibly heavy. If it does, you’ll want your mattress to have sturdy handles at the sides.

How often do you need to replace a new mattress?

It used to be advised that your mattress 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.

What type should I buy?

There are three main types of mattress.

• 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 springs are individual, they prevent two sleepers side by side becoming 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. It’s common to find pocket sprung mattresses that use a thin memory foam layer on top for added comfort.

What level of mattress firmness should I buy?

Mattresses are rated by how firm they are, and the choice comes down to a couple of factors. First is weight. The heavier you are, the more you’ll need a firmer mattress; a medium or software model will feel far too soft. If you’ve got a bad back then a firmer mattress with provide better support, although it’s best to get advice from your doctor first.

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.

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