Best mattress type 2024: Which is better, springs or foam or hybrid

Buying a mattress isn’t like it used to be. You not only need to decide on your budget and the right level of firmness for you, but with memory foam seemingly ever increasing in popularity, you’ve now got to choose between foam, springs, or a combination of the two.

On top of that, a shift to online shopping means that you’re unlikely to be able to try the full range of options in person, with popular bed-in-a-box brands such as Emma and Otty being sold almost exclusively online. The upside, however, is that these new-age mattresses invariably come with some kind of money-back guarantee.

In an effort to make the mattress market a little less confusing for consumers, we’ve put together this guide to help you understand the differences between springs and foam, so you can make a well-informed buying decision.

READ NEXT: Best mattresses

Best mattress type: At a glance

How we test mattresses

It may not come as a surprise, but we test our mattresses’ by sleeping on them. However, there’s more to it than meets the eye. There are some important factors we take into account during the process. In addition to comfort and support, we pay close attention to temperature control and firmness – though we will also consider such things as edge support and motion isolation when relevant.

Some mattresses, all-foam ones for instance, might feel warmer than others, which makes them a less viable option for those likely to overheat at night.

The base for your mattress – whether that be a solid divan base, slightly bouncier slatted bed or even a flat surface like the floor – will affect how the mattress feels beneath you. And though we can’t always test multiple bed bases when reviewing our mattresses, we will take this into account at all times.

Lastly, it is important to consider any trial runs that may be on offer – which are particularly common in the bed-in-a-box market – before asking the burning question, is the mattress good value for money?

The best mattress type: Memory foam vs sprung vs hybrid mattresses

Memory foam

Memory foam is a dense visco-elastic foam, in which the primary ingredient is polyurethane plastic. Many all-foam mattresses, such as the Emma Original, are made up from different layers of foam.

Pros

• Moulds to the shape of your body, relieving pressure and aiding spinal alignment
• Can isolate movement and reduce motion transfer
• Less susceptible to body impressions (though it can still sag over time)

Cons

• Can become uncomfortably warm
• Gives off a plasticky smell when first released from vacuum packaging
• Doesn’t offer much bounce
• Can be harder to turn over on a foam mattress

Should I buy a memory foam mattress?

Lying on a memory foam mattress can sometimes feel like being enveloped in a giant marshmallow, which is certainly not for everyone. That being said, they do tend to feel a lot more sumptuous than sprung mattresses.

Plus, if you are regularly disturbed in the night due to a partner’s movement, memory foam mattresses offer the best levels of isolation.

READ NEXT: Best mattresses for side sleepers

The best foam mattresses you can buy in 2024

1. Emma Original: Best memory foam mattress for couples

Price when reviewed: From £339 (single) | Check prices at Emma

UPDATE: Since publishing our review, Expert Reviews has noticed several negative customer reviews for Emma Sleep on Trustpilot, with many customers complaining of shipping delays and a lack of communication. Emma tells us that the brand is working on resolving these issues, and estimated delivery times on its online store have been updated accordingly.

Emma’s Original mattress is made up of three layers of memory foam, plus a breathable top cover that you can remove and throw in the washing machine.

When we tested it, we found the Emma Original to be a versatile memory foam mattress that comfortably accommodates a variety of sleeping positions. Whether you sleep on your back, front, side or a combination of all three, this mattress manages to be both comfortable and supportive.

Read our full Emma Original review

2. Nectar Memory Foam: Best mattress with a generous trial period

Price when reviewed: From £475 (single) | Check prices at Nectar

The standout feature of Nectar’s memory foam mattress is the brand’s 365-night-long trial period, which is one of the most generous trial periods we’ve ever come across. Having a whole year to decide whether or not a mattress is right for you certainly takes a great deal of stress out of the buying process. Before Eve increased its own trial period to one year, Nectar was the only bed-in-a-box brand to offer such a generous perk.

Trial period aside, it’s also one of the most comfortable bed-in-a-box mattresses we’ve ever tested, offering excellent levels comfort and support, as well as minimal odour after unpacking it.

Read our full Nectar mattress review

Sprung mattresses

“Sprung” is a blanket (sorry!) term that encompasses a range of different designs. Pocket sprung mattresses (pictured below) are the most popular, in which the springs are sewn into fabric pockets.

You can also get open coil and continuous coil mattresses, which are made up of springs (or in the case of continuous coil, of one single looped wire) held together by a wire frame. These are often the cheapest option, but they are not as good as pocket sprung mattresses.

Pros

• Offers ample support
• Better at keeping you cool than a foam-based mattresses
• Avoids the ‘sinking feeling’ associated with memory foam
• Construction uses less plastic

Cons

• Doesn’t conform to the body like memory foam does
• Not as good at reducing motion transfer
• Won’t feel quite as luxurious
• Natural fillings more susceptible to body impressions

Should I buy a sprung mattress?

If you’re prone to getting too hot in bed, or decent levels of buoyant support are a priority for you, then you should perhaps consider opting for a pocket sprung mattress. Since their construction uses less plastic, there’s also some argument in favour of the environment (although most mattresses can be recycled).

The best sprung mattresses you can buy in 2024

1. Harrison Spinks Velocity 4250: Best eco-friendly bed-in-a-box alternative

Price when reviewed: From £799 | Check prices at Now to Bed

Inspired by the bed-in-a-box market, traditional mattress manufacturer Harrison Spinks’ Velocity 4250 arrives at your door rolled and vacuum sealed within 24 hours. One of nine models in the Velocity range, it offers a “medium” support and contains two layers of pocket springs beneath three natural comfort layers made from cotton and wool blends.

When we tested it, we found it to be a very supportive mattress (although slightly lacking in edge support). If you like the idea of free, fast delivery but would rather avoid the foam mattresses of many bed-in-a-box brands, it’s a great eco-friendly alternative, being free of chemicals and glue.

It’s also worth noting that, although you don’t get a money back guarantee with your new mattress, Harrison Spinks does offer a 60-night comfort promise, at the end of which you can swap your mattress if you’re not happy.

Read our full Harrison Spinks Velocity 4250 review

Check prices at Now to Bed

The best mattress type: What about hybrid mattresses?

Hybrid mattresses claim to offer the best of both worlds, using a combination of springs and foam to strike the perfect balance between comfort and support. There are plenty of hybrid mattresses available, but it’s worth considering that some use springs as a comfort layer, where others use them as a support layer.

Simba, for example, uses small titanium “Aerocoil” springs in the upper layers of its Hybrid, whereas Eve uses full-sized pocket springs to deliver a supportive foundation in its Lighter Hybrid.

The best hybrid mattresses you can buy in 2024

1. Simba Hybrid Pro: Best hybrid mattress where money is no object

Price when reviewed: From £899 (single) | Check prices at Simba

With an upper wool layer, the Simba Hybrid Pro did a better job of keeping us cool than many of its hybrid rivals. It also has two layers of micro springs (one more than the regular Simba Hybrid), which makes the mattress both bouncy and breathable.

It’s certainly not cheap, starting at just over £1,100 for a single, but the 200-night trial period should soften this blow somewhat. Plus, there’s a good change that you’ll be able to get it discounted at any given time.

Read our full Simba Hybrid Pro review

2. Otty Original Hybrid: Best firm hybrid mattress

Price when reviewed: From £530 (single) | Check prices at Otty

Otty’s mattress is an excellent affordable alternative to the Simba Hybrid Pro featured above, and we could find very few faults when we tested it. Made from six layers including full-size pocket springs, it’s a robust and supportive mattress with great motion isolation and a nice bit of bounce. Be aware that like many hybrids, it’s on the firm end of the spectrum, so it may not be for you if you prefer a softer sleeping surface.

Read our full Otty Hybrid review

3. Emma NextGen Premium: Best value hybrid mattress

Price when reviewed: From £419 (single) | Check prices at Emma

Emma’s premium mattress has fallen in price since we first reviewed it at the height of summer 2023, and you can now snap up a king size for £699 outside Emma’s occasional discount sales. What hasn’t changed, though, is the skin-friendly comfort and breathability that so impressed us when we tested it during a heatwave.

Thanks to an innovative combination of large, super-supportive pocket springs and assorted layers of foam, the Emma NextGen Premium achieves a rare feat among hybrid mattresses: it lets the air move, so you avoid overheating. The removable cover is another masterstroke, wicking sweat from your body and washing clean in time for another sleep.

The mattress is quite firm and doesn’t include an active cooling surface like some, but it masterfully avoids the clamminess triggered by some foam and hybrid mattresses.

Read our full Emma NextGen Premium review

4. Origin Hybrid: Best hybrid mattress for side sleepers

Price when reviewed: From £499 (single) | Check prices at Origin

Sneaking in at under £500 for a single and rising to £719 for a king size, Origin’s Hybrid mattress is another great value option that impressed us enough to win the maximum five stars in our full review. Its six-layer hybrid construction delivers just enough softness for side sleepers and others who favour a more cushioned sleeping surface, while also delivering the kind of ergonomic support adored by firm mattress enthusiasts.

Like many newer hybrid mattresses, the Origin Hybrid contains a grid-based layer designed to optimise back support and a temperature-control layer to keep you cool while you sleep. The combination of foam and springs provides excellent motion control, which will help you sleep in peace if you have a restless partner.

Read our full Origin Hybrid review

5. Eve Premium Hybrid: Best cooling hybrid mattress

Price when reviewed: From £1,249 (double) | Check prices at Eve

Hybrid and foam mattresses often tend to retain heat, and that can be a problem if you get too warm at night. But this premium mattress from Eve does a superb job of regulating temperature. Its two top layers are infused with graphite, whose cooling properties certainly worked for our reviewer, who said: “I never felt like I was burning up or sinking into the mattress” even when temperatures stayed above 20˚C on summer nights.

The Premium Hybrid is Eve’s chunkiest, most sumptuous hybrid to date, combining multiple layers of foam with over 1,400 12cm pocket springs in a mattress that our reviewer reckoned to be well worth its premium cost. Eve has extended its free trial period to one year, so you have plenty of time to test it for yourself.

Read our full Eve Premium Hybrid review