Everyone has different preferences when it comes to sleep but, if there’s one thing we can all agree on, it’s the importance of a good mattress. Crucial to improving not just the quality of your slumber, but also your health, investing in one of the best mattresses will leave you feeling supported and fully replenished the next day.
But, we know it can be a confusing process, which is why we’ve made it our mission to help you find the right one for you. Aside from picking the correct size for your bed frame, there are a host of other things you’ll need to take into consideration, but, ultimately, your sleep position dictates the mattress you should opt for.
If you’re a front sleeper, you’re more likely to suffer from back pain and, as such, it’s recommended you choose a medium to firm mattress, to make sure you’re sufficiently supported and your weight is evenly distributed. Back sleepers will also benefit from increased firmness, so your back and spine are supported, while side sleepers should opt for a softer base. This is because you have less surface area in contact with the mattress, which can increase pressure on hips and shoulders.
Unsure if you even need a new mattress? Simon Williams from the National Bed Federation recommends looking for changes in how well you’re sleeping, and if you’re experiencing backache or stiffness in the morning. As a general rule though, research shows that around seven to eight years is about the time to be thinking about getting an upgrade. “Your comfort needs may have changed since you bought it, and the mattress will have slowly deteriorated over many thousands of nights’ use,” he explains.
If you’re finding the search for ‘the one’ overwhelming, or you’re not entirely sure what you should be looking for, you’ve come to the right place, as our experts have tried and tested the best mattresses on the market –read our honest reviews.
How we tested
To make sure this review of the best mattresses only features the crème de la crème, we put models from both big names and smaller brands to the test in our own homes, sleeping on them for at least two months, but sometimes years, before giving our final verdict.
When reviewing, first and foremost we assessed the comfort of each mattress – if it caused any inkling of aches or pains, it did not make the cut. If it made us feel like we were sleeping on a cloud, we awarded it extra points. The second criterion was motion transfer, we did not want to feel our sleeping partner turn over in the night. The third thing we considered was the edge support – we wanted to feel supported wherever we were lying on the bed. Another important factor was durability, assessing whether we noticed any dipping after testing. And finally, we made sure to consider ease of delivery and price, with extra bonus points for mattresses that offer sleep trials.
If a mattress is listed here, you can rest assured it’s of great quality, but be sure to read the full reviews to make sure you choose the right one for you. For more information on our testing process, read our in-depth guide, which covers our criteria, from delivery to comfort. For reference, each price listed below is for a standard double mattress, but we’ve also detailed all the sizes available for each of the mattresses.
Why you can trust us
The Independent’s dedicated shopping section, IndyBest is committed to providing unbiased reviews and expert advice. Our team of editors and writers have years of experience in testing products, and trialling them within their homes – the same environment that you will be using them. As for mattresses, our tester had a strict criterion by which she judged each one having slept on it for a minimum of two months at home.
The best mattresses for 2024 are:
- Best overall – Simba hybrid luxe mattress: £1,699, Simbasleep.com
- Best for keeping cool – Emma luxe cooling mattress: £743.40, Emma-sleep.co.uk
- Best for back sleepers – Panda hybrid bamboo mattress: £799, Pandalondon.com
- Best memory foam design– Emma original mattress: £399, Emma-sleep.co.uk
- Best budget buy – Dormeo octasmart plus memory mattress: £455, Amazon.co.uk
- Best hybrid design – Simba hybrid ultra mattress: £2,799 Simbasleep.com
- Best for front sleepers – Button & Sprung Galway mattress: £895, Buttonandsprung.com
- Best for side sleepers – Premier Inn mattress: £749, Premierinnbed.co.uk
Simba hybrid luxe mattress
This substantial mattress has a whopping 11 layers and is therefore very robust. There’s a foam base with recycled fibres; a bamboo and wool layer, which promotes temperature regulation; and an open cell foam section for airflow. Meanwhile, the 14,000 titanium springs, which offer support, are nestled into two sections, including a foam element to prevent any digging in. We also liked that the top anti-allergy cover layer can be removed and machine-washed.
Having spent more than six months sleeping on this mattress, we found that it offers the ideal balance between a firm and medium sleeping base. Better still, it’s breathable and feels fresh. The layers work well together, and we’ve seen improved sleep, thanks to the coolness it offers during warmer months and increased cosiness seen in the autumn and winter. Our tester is a side and back sleeper and found it offers support for joints prone to aches, too.
The layers do mean that this mattress is both high (31cm) and heavy to manoeuvre, but we do think the solid composition creates a premium feel that matches the price point.
Read the full Simba hybrid luxe mattress review
Buy now £1699.00, Simbasleep.com
Emma luxe cooling mattress
If you’re anything like us, you perspire uncontrollably throughout the night during the summer months, trying all you can to stay cool, the Emma luxe cooling mattress could help. Made up of six layers which are all designed to regulate your temperature, with the removable top cover featuring open-pore fibres that pull the heat away from your body as you sleep.
The Emma luxe cooling isn’t a miracle maker. You’re still going to be hot when it’s 30C outside, but when the temperatures weren’t as extreme and dropped to around 23C, we were as cool as a cucumber. It regulated our body temperature so effectively that there weren’t any damp bedsheets the next morning. It’s a hybrid mattress, so it’s made from a combination of springs and foam. This meant it still moulded to our body effectively while stopping us from overheating.
In comparison to Simba’s hybrid pro mattress, it is softer and doesn’t have the same edge support, so we did find that we slipped off when sitting on the edge of it. But, once we got used to it, we found it to be a dream to sleep on.
Read the full Emma luxe cooling mattress review
Buy now £743.40, Emma-sleep.co.uk
Panda hybrid bamboo mattress pro
This hybrid mattress from Panda calls on bamboo to give you a better night’s kip. It’s vegan, and topped with a luxe, naturally hypoallergenic and antibacterial bamboo cover that immediately gets extra points for being removable. Beneath this layer, there’s a breathable foam layer, which is infused with the all-important bamboo, which is naturally temperature regulating, so should do well in every season.
The mattress is on the firmer side of medium and when lying down, we noticed a very slight sinking-in feeling, with a subtle bounce, owing to a layer of springs. Our side-sleeping tester found it to provide excellent comfort and support. However, the brand assures it’s suitable for front and back sleepers too, because there are two different kinds of foam working to accommodate you and your sleeping position, and keep you properly aligned right through the night.
Buy now £799.00, Pandalondon.com
Emma nextgen premium plus mattress
For fans of firm mattresses, the Emma premium plus is sure to go down a treat. Not only is the bed-in-a-box brand’s offering incredibly easy to install – with the mattress arriving rolled up in an easy-to-manoeuvre box – it’s also one of the comfiest mattresses we’ve ever snoozed on. What makes this so impressive is the five layers of comfort, four of which are made from foam, and one a 12.5cm tall layer of pocket springs, making the whole thing soft and spongy.
But what sets this mattress apart from many other options is the premium honeycomb cover, which creates even more comfort and breathability. So, for those who sweat while they sleep, you’ll want to pay close attention, as the cover can also be removed and thrown in the washing machine. Genius.
The combination of mouldable memory foam and compartmented pocket springs also helped us sleep soundly. Separated into five sections, these have different levels of support for each area of the body: head, shoulders, lower back, thighs and feet. So, as long as you don’t sleep in any strange positions (such as your head where your feet should be), you’re sure to have just the right amount of support needed to sleep soundly.
Read the full Emma premium plus review
Buy now £475.30, Emma-sleep.co.uk
Dormeo octasmart plus memory mattress
Arriving tightly rolled and vacuum packed, Dormeo’s mattress is easy to unbox, with it recovering most of its original shape within 15 minutes. Composed of six layers, the top three layers of foam create a supportive base for your body, allowing the mattress to mould to your shape for optimum comfort. We benefited from the cooling technology during balmy nights, as well as the hybrid design, which improved our pressure points in just two weeks.
You get a lot of bang for your buck with the octasmart mattress, with the firm and supportive design not compromising on any comfort. As someone with occasional back and neck aches, the build gave us the support we needed, while the design’s three “body zones” reduced disturbance when sharing a bed.
Read the full Dormeo octasmart plus memory mattress review
Buy now £516.09, Amazon.co.uk
Simba hybrid ultra mattress
The hybrid ultra is a medium-firm mattress that has 13 layers of foam and springs, and it comes complete with a zip-off cover. Interestingly, this Simba offering has the most springs (8,500) of all the brand’s hybrid mattresses. The sections include a double foam layer to promote coolness, as well as a layer incorporating kapok, wool and bamboo for further temperature regulation potential.
Thanks to its extensive layers, the mattress is 34cm high, so it’s something to bear in mind depending on how high your bed frame is. We found the mattress to offer a refreshing feel as we settled down to sleep, and, during a month’s trial period, we appreciated the Simba hybrid ultra’s cooling surface on nights we felt hot or had been tossing and turning.
While it comes with an investment price tag, if you are looking to splash out on a new mattress, Simba’s hybrid ultra provides supreme comfort, a sturdy medium-firm composition with a bit of springy bounce and breathable coolness. It’s suitable for front, back and side sleepers, too.
Buy now £2799.00, Simbasleep.com
Nectar premier hybrid mattress
The hybrid mattress is made up of eight layers of foam, micro-springs, memory foam and a supportive base. While everyone’s perception of mattress firmness will differ, we’d say this has a medium level of firmness to it, so it’s certainly not for you if you’re after pillow-like softness (turn to the Hypnos mattress above for that).
That being said, our pressure points felt supported and our spine aligned, and it scored extra points for its ability to reduce motion transfer – we could not feel our wriggly sleeping partner. What’s more, when we allowed a guest to sleep in our bed, they commented on how comfortable it was.
One feature that sets Nectar apart from the big-name brands is the 365-night free trial and forever warranty – for example, both Simba and Emma offer 200-night trials. Knowing that the mattress is refundable is also a great feature because if you don’t get on with it, you can return it free of charge.
Buy now £749.00, Nectarsleep.co.uk
Button & Sprung Galway mattress
One of the best pocket sprung mattresses we’ve tried, the Galway from Button & Sprung is made up of a staggering 5,175 springs that span three layers, with an additional two layers of sustainable, natural fillings including hemp, flax and soft cotton. This combination creates a serious level of comfort and support for fantastic pressure relief, weight distribution and breathability.
Owing to its firmness, we think this would be particularly suited to stomach sleepers, as it provides great spinal support while also cushioning your midsection. Despite being pocket sprung, we experienced zero flex in the middle and found that it remained supportive all the way to the outer edges.
We also have to give a shout-out to the brand for its exceptional delivery service. The mattress was delivered seamlessly, arriving rolled for easy access, and was carried up the stairs and placed into position. Plus, they even remove all of the packaging for recycling.
Buy now £895.00, Buttonandsprung.com
Premier Inn mattress
Bringing the comfort of a hotel room into your own bedroom, you can buy the exact mattress used at Premier Inn hotels. The mattress is made up of seven layers, including an innovative gel layer for bounce and a memory foam layer for that sinking-in feeling. The design has edge-to-edge support to provide comfort, while the temperature-regulating sleep surface kept us cool in the summer and cosy on colder nights. Finished with a micro-quilted surface, the top layer can be unzipped and rotated, which is a lot easier than turning the entire thing.
When testing, we found that it offered medium to firm support and were impressed with the zoned system, which helps to evenly distribute weight across the mattress. Better still, we found we got into a comfortable sleeping position far more quickly than our old mattress. If you sleep on your side, this is a great option as it avoids putting too much pressure on your hips and shoulders.
Our only gripe is how hefty it is to unpack and position, but once it’s onto your bed frame, you’ll have no regrets.
Read the full Premier Inn mattress review
Buy now £749.00, Premierinnbed.co.uk
Emma original mattress
If you can’t seem to get on with the pocket-sprung variety, consider Emma’s memory foam mattress, which is designed to support your entire body and keep your spine evenly aligned for maximum relief and rest.
Made up of three layers of memory foam, we noticed a distinct sinking feeling as we were lying down. While this felt unusual at first, it became strangely comforting. The mattress helped relieve pressure on high-impact areas such as our hips and shoulders, and we also really appreciated the foam’s low transference of motion, which meant our sleep was far less disturbed by our fidgety partner.
A great option for front, back or side sleepers, the original delivered optimal cushioning and support whichever position we slept in, and the extra layers of breathable foam really do work, as we found both our body and the mattress were left dry and cool, even during a heatwave.
While the original ticked all our boxes, those looking for supreme plushness will be pleased to hear Emma has launched a new version, the original plus mattress (£483, Emma-sleep.co.uk), which comes with a comfort cover that offers extra thickness.
Read the full Emma original mattress review
Buy now £399.20, Emma-sleep.co.uk
Simba hybrid original mattress
Simba’s bestselling mattress, the hybrid original features six layers of pure comfort. The most important layer – the core zoned foam support base – gives the mattress its thickness and stability. Better still, it’s zoned so every area of your body is supported, while the middle layer of pocket springs provides just the right amount of bounce. The top layer is soft, breathable and hypoallergenic (making it a great option for allergy sufferers), and the zip-off design is washable.
Arriving in a long box, clear instructions make the mattress a breeze to unpack and, within hours, it’s fully rolled out and ready to lie on. Sinkage is perfect, as is the balance of support and cloud-like cushioning. Its medium firmness is suited to those who sleep on their side, front or back, while its breathability makes the mattress a stellar option for those who tend to get hot during the night.
This is a hybrid that sits in the middle of the market in terms of price, and we’ve never slept more soundly.
Read the full Simba hybrid original mattress review
Buy now £799.00, Simbasleep.com
Tempur hybrid elite mattress
The Goldilocks of mattresses, this hybrid option is ideal for those who find memory foam too squishy, and springs too firm. Marrying the support of micro coils with Tempur’s famous Nasa-developed foam, it offers the best of both worlds – the enveloping comfort that the brand’s material is known for, plus the bounce and support of pocketed springs.
When we initially slept on the hybrid elite, we experienced a slight floaty, sinking feeling that, although not as pronounced as on others we tried, still took a little getting used to. After prolonged testing, though, we found that, while it felt softer than a traditional coiled mattress, it gave us maximum support in all the right places, no matter what position we slept in.
We also loved how easy this mattress is to look after as it’s “no turn”, and even comes with removable covers that can be easily unzipped and machine-washed, making sure your sleep surface is fresh and hygienic night after night – ideal for clumsy coffee drinkers or parents of toddlers.
Buy now £1939.00, Tempur.com
Hypnos luxurious earth 05 mattress
Courtesy of Hypnos – a British, family-run business that’s been making beds for more than 120 years – this mattress really is the ultimate in luxury. Endorsed by the Eden Project, it has been designed to enhance your sleep, using the finest natural, organic and sustainable materials, which are also responsibly sourced, including British wool, Himalayan allo fibres and natural Talalay latex from managed forests. When combined, these materials create a dreamy sleeping environment that delivers excellent breathability, pressure relief and hypoallergenic properties. As for support, the mattress is available in two different tensions: medium and firm.
We tested the medium and were surprised at just how solid it felt, which is something to consider if you’re hoping for a little bounce. However, if, like us, you experience back pain, the extra support is very much welcomed. We noted a significant reduction in discomfort after just a few weeks.
But let’s address the elephant in the room – at a penny shy of £3,300, this is a whopping investment and, while we can’t praise the mattress enough, its cost will likely turn many people off. If you have the budget, though, this is a mattress well worth considering, not only for its comfort levels but also its impressive quality and environmentally friendly design.
Buy now £3099.00, Bensonsforbeds.co.uk
Hypnos pillow top elite mattress
Hypnos supplies mattresses to hotels, including Soho House and The Corinthia, but also the royal family, so it’s fair to say the luxury brand is good enough for VIPs. As always, we’ve got to question how this translates to the beds we can buy, but this mattress is quite something – and certainly fit for a king or queen.
The depth (31cm) means there are lots of layers of comfort here, including a pocket-spring system, which aids weight distribution to provide edge-to-edge support and helps to encourage better spinal alignment. While the depth gives it a luxe feel, it does mean the sheets are sometimes difficult to secure. Where the pillow top is concerned, we were initially worried it would be too soft, but it’s supportive and feels like a gentle hug. It’s a total dream to sink into, and it’s one of the most comfortable mattresses we’ve tested.
Read the full Hypnos pillow top elite mattress review
Buy now £2367.25, Mattressman.co.uk
Dusk memory foam 2000 pocket sprung hybrid mattress
Dusk’s mattress feels as luxurious as it looks. The hybrid design consists of four layers of memory foam and pocket springs, and the comfort of the memory foam is balanced by the pocket springs in the middle (individually wrapped to help regulate heat). We found it to be on the firmer side (a great choice for those with back pain) but has enough bounce to help you doze off in comfort
Complete with a premium soft knitted outer layer on top, we benefitted from the breathable grey fabric border during late summer weather. Plus, there’s a hidden zip to remove the outer layer to wash the cover. When testing, we found that it offers stellar edge-to-edge support and you can really feel the mattress supporting every part of your body. Note that it takes a few days for the mattress to fully flatten out so it may feel a little less comfortable at first. But persevere, as Dusk’s design is one of the best value-for-money mattresses on the market.
Buy now £449.00, Dusk.com
What is the best mattress?
In this tried and tested review, the Simba hybrid luxe mattress took the top spot thanks to the fact it provides an “ideal balance between a firm and medium sleeping base”. It’s also “breathable and feels fresh”, and suitable for all sleepers.
What are the best UK mattress brands?
We’ve put Britain’s best mattress brands to the test, including well-known names such as Simba, Panda, Nectar, Hypnos and Tempur. But, there are plenty of lesser-known brands that deliver exceptional quality, too, such as Button & Sprung. You can rest assured that our guide only features products from the best mattress brands in the UK.
What are the different types of mattresses?
There are three different types of mattresses including those made with springs or memory foam and those which feature a combination of the two, which is known as hybrid. So, what’s the difference?
A spring mattress is typically made with several thousand springs that provide support while you sleep. However, there are subdivisions within the spring category, too (complicated, we know). Where mattresses are advertised as having many thousands of springs, this is where layers of micro-springs are placed over the top of the main pocket spring unit, as comfort layers. Pocket-sprung is generally the best type of spring mattress, as the springs move individually, giving better support.
Alternatively, memory foam mattresses have become very popular in recent years, owing to their ability to help relieve pressure on joints. These mattresses feel very luxurious and, while this material used to have a reputation for causing overheating, most new-style memory foam mattresses are now designed to be more breathable and wick away moisture.
Finally, there are hybrid mattresses. As you may have figured, a hybrid combines both memory foam and springs, to give you the best of both worlds. They should provide that luxurious sinking feeling alongside some solid spring support.
How to look after and clean your mattress
If you’re investing in a top-of-the-range mattress, it is important to take care of it. First things first, a mattress protector will help to prolong the life of your bed and, if you’re looking for recommendations, the Nectar mattress protector (from £45, Nectarsleep.co.uk) took the top spot in our review. If you do find that your mattress requires cleaning though, check out our detailed guide, where you’ll find expert advice on the steps you should take, from vacuuming tips and cleaning hacks to the products that will keep your bed odour-free.
What are the best mattress deals?
Mattresses can be expensive, which is why we regularly update our guide to cheap mattress deals with any seriously impressive discounts we spot.
The verdict: Mattresses
For a mattress that offers the best of both worlds, we highly recommend investing in Simba’s hybrid luxe mattress, which delivers supreme comfort and excellent pressure relief. For something a bit more purse-friendly that still provides optimal comfort and support, Simba’s best-selling mattress, the hybrid original, is a great option, while those with bigger budgets and a preference for a solid feel will relish the luxury of Hynos’s luxurious earth 05 mattress.
Now you’ve got the mattress, these are the best pillows, the best linen bedding sets and the best electric blankets to buy
