The best mattresses tried and tested by us in 2024

The best mattress isn’t going to be the one that feels good when you try it for a few minutes. It takes time to adjust, and it’ll likely feel different after some time. This makes the prospect of buying a new mattress daunting. 

We’ve tested around 40 mattresses in the past few years, sleeping on them for months at a time to form the most detailed opinion possible (and to spare you having to do the same). Below, you’ll find a roundup of our absolute favourites, chosen after careful testing.

No time to read our mini reviews? Check out our at-a-glance list for a quick snapshot of our top picks. Alternatively, scroll down for our buying guide if you need more information. We also explain how we test the mattresses that have ended up on our roundup.

Best mattress: At a glance

How we test mattresses

We test our mattresses by sleeping on them, for at least two weeks and as long as three months. As we do so, there are a number of factors we take into account:

Comfort and firmness: Simply put, how does it feel to sleep on? Does it offer levels of plush comfort or is it better suited to those who prefer a firmer feel?

Temperature control: Some mattresses, all-foam ones in particular, might feel warmer than others, which makes them less suitable for those who are prone to overheating at night.

Motion isolation: If you share a bed with a partner, how disturbed are you by their movements during the night?

Mattress base: The foundation on which you put your mattress, whether that be a solid divan base, sprung slatted bed or even the floor, will impact how a mattress feels beneath you. We do our best to take this into account when we’re testing mattresses.

Value for money: Last but not least, how much you spend on a mattress is very important. We’ve tested products across a wide range of price points, many of which also offer generous trial periods and money-back guarantees.

READ NEXT: Emma vs Simba – which should you buy?

The best mattresses you can buy in 2024

1. Simba Hybrid Pro Mattress: Best hybrid mattress overall

Price when reviewed: From £1,159 (single) | Check prices at Simba

Great for… its cool and comfortable wool layer
Not so great for… sleepers on a budget

It might cost an arm and a leg, but the Simba Hybrid Pro is the comfiest bed-in-a-box mattress we’ve ever tested. What separates it from its rivals? For a start, its uppermost layer is made from British wool, which offers better temperature regulation than the foam used in most hybrids.

And that’s not all that’s different. The mattress also adds an additional layer of microsprings compared to the original Simba Hybrid, which makes it both bouncy and more breathable. We found the mattress exceedingly comfortable in a range of sleeping positions. In fact, we liked it so much that we didn’t want to go back to using our regular, everyday mattress.

The fact the Hybrid Pro comes with a 200-night trial rather than the 100 nights offered by some of its rivals means you have the luxury of being able to try it for more than six months before making a decision.

Read our full Simba Hybrid Pro review

2. Origin Hybrid Mattress: Best affordable hybrid mattress

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

Great for… sleepers who need ample support
Not so great for… Lighter sleepers who are after more softness

Sneaking in at under £500 for a single and rising to £719 for a king size, Origin’s Hybrid mattress is an affordable option that impressed us enough to win the maximum five stars in our full review. It has just enough softness for those 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. There’s also a solid foam layer for extra support where needed, even right at the edge of the mattress, and a layer of pocket springs whose innovative tapered design offers greater support the further you sink into the mattress.

The Origin Hybrid is advanced but cost effective with an excellent 15-year warranty, and it offers a balance of comfort and support that will suit a wide range of people.

Read our full Origin Hybrid Mattress review

3. Emma NextGen Premium: Best hybrid mattress for couples

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

UPDATE: Since publishing our article, Expert Reviews has noticed a recent influx of negative customer reviews for Emma Sleep on Trustpilot, with many customers complaining of delays to shipping and a lack of communication over when deliveries will happen. A spokesperson for Emma has informed us that the brand is working on resolving these issues, and estimated delivery times on Emma’s online store have been updated accordingly.

Great for… A cool and comfortable sleep
Not so great for… Those who prefer a softer mattress

Many mattresses claim to offer the best of both worlds – comfortable yet supportive, cosy yet cool – without quite delivering on the promise, but the Emma NextGen Premium genuinely hits every mark. This sumptuous mattress uses a higher proportion of springs than other hybrid mattresses, and the result is a lovely balance of comfort, breathability and ergonomic support.

The “extra-tall” 18.5cm pocket springs help the NextGen Premium do an excellent job of absorbing and isolating movement, even when sharing with a restless partner. The springs also allow a level of airflow that’s rare in a bed-in-a-box mattress, avoiding the dreaded clamminess you often get with foam.

There’s even a removable cover that’s adept at wicking away moisture from your skin which pops in the washing machine.

The mattress is on the firm side, so those who prefer a softer sleep may need a mattress topper for optimum comfort.

Read our full Emma NextGen Premium mattress review

4. Nectar Essential Hybrid Mattress: Best mattress for a lengthy trial period

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

Great for… the indecisive
Not so great for… those who want a removable top cover

As far as value for money is concerned, Nectar’s Essential Hybrid undercuts many of its bed-in-a-box rivals on price. Following a recent restructuring of the brand’s price model, it starts at just £475 in a single and rises to just £725 for a super king. The six-layer (including base), 25cm thick mattress is one of the cheapest hybrids we’ve reviewed.

Price aside, how comfortable is the Nectar Essential Hybrid? It’s thinner than some of Nectar’s other mattresses (such as the pricey Nectar Premier, which is 28cm thick), but our tester found it still offered comfort and support as well as good motion isolation. All in all it’s a great medium-firm option, and of course you get Nectar’s generous 365-night trial period, at the end of which you can return the mattress for a full refund if you don’t agree with our verdict.

Read our full Nectar Essential Hybrid mattress review

Check prices at Nectar

5. Dormeo Memory Plus: Best budget foam mattress

Price when reviewed: From £295 (single) | Check prices at Dormeo

Great for… A foam option for the spare room
Not so great for… Those who want a thicker mattress

Arriving vacuum-packed in an astonishingly compact box, the Dormeo Memory Plus has a 140mm foam core with a 30mm memory foam top layer. The mattress is very slightly softer than average but offers great support when you consider its relatively thin design.

If you sleep on your back and have struggled to find something suitable, this mattress should do you proud – as it will for people who are prone to moving around a lot in the night and don’t want to disturb their partner. Best of all, though, is its remarkably low price. What’s more, you can regularly find it discounted in one of Dormeo’s online sales.

As for niggles, that thin design means fitted sheets have some slack, but rotating it isn’t too difficult as it’s not very heavy. All in all, you’ll be very hard pushed to find anything better at this impressively low price.

Read our full Dormeo Memory Plus mattress review

Check prices at Dormeo

6. Otty Original Hybrid Mattress: Best firm hybrid mattress

Price when reviewed: From £800 (single) | Check prices at Otty

Great for… Back sleepers and those who prefer a firmer feel
Not so great for… Corner support

The Otty Original Hybrid mattress is, quite simply, one of the best hybrid mattresses we’ve ever tested. Its combination of 2,000 140mm pocket springs (in king size) and two foam comfort layers enable it to offer unmatched levels of support, comfort and temperature control.

Although its price has been up and down over the past couple of years, it has settled into being a good bit cheaper than some of the other hybrid mattresses in this roundup. What’s more, there’s a good chance you won’t have to pay full price when you take advantage of one of the manufacturer’s regular promotions. The only significant caveat is that it’s quite a firm level of support so, if you prefer a softer mattress, you’ll probably be better off with something else. There’s also quite a strong chemical smell when the mattress is first unpacked, but this soon dissipates.

Read our full Otty Original Hybrid review

How to choose the best mattress for you

What types of mattresses are available? 

Before you look for a mattress, consider the different types on the market: 

• Traditional pocket sprung: These are made up of layers of springs encased in fabric, alongside materials such as wool. Before the era of the bed-in-a-box, you could expect many mattresses to be of this variety. 

• Memory foam: Synthetic foam mattresses are popular for their ability to mould to your body, providing pressure point relief and thus being a good option for those who suffer from aches and pains. One common drawback is that memory foam absorbs heat, so can be uncomfortable for those prone to overheating at night. Another type of foam is latex, which, unlike memory foam, is a natural material and may be better for hot sleepers. For a more in-depth rundown on foam, check out our memory foam guide.
• Hybrid mattresses: A combination of pocket springs (either full size or ‘micro’ pocket springs) and memory (often alongside other materials) offers a best-of-both-worlds approach. Many of our favourite and most highly-reviewed mattresses are hybrids. 

READ NEXT: Best hybrid mattresses

What is a bed-in-a-box mattress? 

We throw this term around a lot when talking about many of the mattresses we review. A bed-in-a-box mattress is, as the name suggests, a mattress that arrives – rolled up and vacuum sealed – in a box. This can be very convenient, especially if your living conditions make mattress deliveries cumbersome. Bed-in-a-box mattresses will take a little time to fully expand when you unwrap them, so be sure to check the manufacturer’s recommendations on how long you should wait before you can sleep on it. 

Does a good mattress need to cost a lot? 

As we’ve said, we’ve tested mattresses across a range of price points here at Expert Reviews, from £420 to £1,329 (king size). You can spend an awful lot of money on a new mattress, particularly when it comes to brands like Simba, but there are also plenty of affordable memory foam and hybrid mattresses out there. We’ve aimed to cater to a range of budgets in our roundup below. 

What else do I need to consider?

Buying a new mattress? You may also want to think about your current bed too. We’ve already pointed out that your bed base will have an impact on how your mattress will feel, and buying a bed will come with its own set of considerations. For instance, the curved slats on a sprung-slatted bed frame will make a mattress feel a little less firm. 

Another thing to consider is mattress deals. Most bed-in-a-box brands regularly offer promotional sales, admittedly to such an extent that you will rarely see them at full price. In any case, we quote the full price in our mini reviews below, as well as highlighting some of the best deals on offer. 

And what about trial periods? You no longer need to visit your local showroom if you want to try a mattress out before committing to the cost. Almost all bed-in-a-box brands offer generous trial periods, allowing you to try the mattress out at home (in some cases for as long as a whole year). Don’t like it? No problem: simply return it for a full refund.