There are many facts about mattresses.
There’s the one about changing them every eight years. The one about real princesses being able to detect something as tiny as a pea under stacks of them. And then there’s the one that says mattresses cost a lot of money.
It’s true: a good mattress will typically set you back at least three figures. The question is what side of a grand is that on? While you may not be able to feel minute vegetables under one (and we would heartily advise against this fairytale-inspired test when shopping for a new mattress), most folks can gauge the quality of their bed after spending a few nights resting on it. If you’ve bought it from somewhere that doesn’t accept returns, that’s a costly mistake to make. But, does expensive always mean better?
A sleep environment is hyper-personal and it all boils down to the individual. There are the obvious elements, such as the level of tension you prefer, and the not-so-obvious, like if three types of memory foam and a removable cover are at the top of your shopping list. Sleep with a partner? Prepare for it to get even more complicated.
Whatever the variables, the good news is that there are plenty of well-priced mattresses to shop for around the year. Mattress brands continually hold sales and promotions, chucking in freebies like fitted sheets and weighted blankets or slashing chunky costs with entire bedroom-transforming bundles. You can find up-to-date information in our monthly mattress deals piece.
If you’re looking for a value mattress that will leave you feeling rested and ready to take on the day, we’ve lined up the best ones below. Across all price points and styles, you should find something to fit your budget on our list.
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Simba Hybrid Mattress Original
Simba has sold over 500,000 of its original hybrid mattresses for customers who are tired of picking between spring and memory foam. This design offers the best of both worlds. In fact, all Simba's mattresses are hybrid, but while the more premium and eco designs have heightened RRPs to match, the Original offers the same stable of tech for a less pearl-clutching price.
The bed offers a medium-firm level of tension and features a nine-zone support layer to keep you comfortable in almost any sleep position. The UK-made bed comes with 2500 springs to further aid support and keep things breezier than a bed made fully from memory foam might. It can also limit motion transfer; ideal if you share with a fidgety partner.
Available in all standard UK bed sizes, price shown is for a double.
Buy now £869.00, Simba
Ergoflex 5G Mattress
Giving hotel room beds a run for their money, Ergoflex makes some of the best mattresses in the biz.
Not to be confused with the cellular network, the 5G model combines a premium proprietary foam promising support and comfort “from head-to-toe”. The five layers each add an unmissable quality that relieves pressure on the body and encourages you to drift off into a sound slumber.
First and foremost, the Tencel outer cover works to protect the mattress itself but it does so much more. It has a vented construction at the ends with 3D mesh panels to disperse the heat so you won’t feel hot and bothered in the night. The top memory foam layer contours to your body but just the right amount so as not to affect your partner if you move around.
At the core, breathability is of the utmost concern. At 9cm, the trademarked Cool-Sleep layer creates an airflow to stop the build-up of heat. This is done through an open-cell memory foam that prevents the retention of hot air more efficiently than any previous model.
Ideal for aches and pains, the mattress has orthopaedic pressure relief. It is also hypoallergenic and anti-microbial and there’s a 10-year warranty.
Buy now £532.00, Ergoflex
Emma Original Mattress - double
Leading bed brand Emma proves that you don't have to spend lots of money to have a comfortable and restorative sleep every night. The brand's Original mattress has been crafted from multiple layers of visco-elastic memory foam that supports and cushions as you move through the night.
It's finished with a machine washable cover to keep things hygienic and there are handles to help you manoeuvre it into position and rotate every so often. Best of all, every Emma mattress comes with a 200-night trial so you can return it for a full refund if you find it's not for you.
Buy now £399.20, Emma
OTTY Aura Hybrid Mattress
With a 70:30 ratio of foam to springs, Otty's Aura mattress strikes the right balance between comfort and support. The mattress arrives in a box, making it much easier to manoeuvre over to the bed frame before unrolling it over the slats. The thinner design, 27cm tall, means that it will be suitable for slatted designs but you won't feel a thing laying on it thanks to the 1000 pocket springs managing and distributing weight evenly. Delivery even includes the disposal of your old mattress, so there's nothing more to do than lay back and start dreaming.
Buy now £399.99, OTTY
The Cotswold Company The Stow Double Mattress - 1000 Pocket Spring (Medium Tension)
The English brand has a sizeable collection of all-natural, chemical-free, hand-stitched British mattresses to choose from in its Pure Natural Collection.
Hand-stitched and filled with hand-teased wool from Dartmoor sheep, each piece has been expertly crafted by UK-based master mattress artisans. Mattresses use pure British wool for the comfortable surface layer, followed by cotton, and then another wool-cotton layer - and that’s all before the intelligent pocket springs made from British steel.
The collection starts from £549 for The Stow (1,000 pocket springs), from £999 for The Dursley (1,200 pocket springs) and from £1,299 for The Malmesbury (1,500 pocket springs).
Buy now £750.00, The Cotswold Company
Nectar Memory Foam Mattress - double
Nectar’s mattress is crafted with four layers, two of which are memory foam. The first is designed to relieve pressure, the second is to regulate temperature. This is then topped with an innovative seven-zone design where different areas of the mattress offer varying levels of support depending on the body part in question. There’s more support under the hips and less at the shoulders. The mattress is then finished off with a trademarked cooling cover.
At a medium firmness, the Nectar mattress is not as hard as some of the other memory foam mattresses on the market. It cusps the body without feeling like you are sinking into the bed frame. The bouncy foam feels like it is supporting your body - ideal after sitting at your desk all day or a heavy gym workout which can put a lot of pressure on your back. It is a treat to come home and lie on the mattress that feels as though it’s realigning your spine as you sleep.
Ideal for duvet days, the mattress stays firm without dipping in the most frequented spots and you never feel like you are overheating - even in the height of summer.
It arrives in a convenient box and when unpacked, puffs up in minutes. There is even a 365-day trial, two free foam pillows included, free returns and a forever warranty that is a testament to the durability of the mattress.
Buy now £600.00, Nectar
Signature 2000 Pocket Sprung Pillow Top Natural Fillings Mattress - double
Type: pocket spring
This outrageously indulgent mattress feels as good as it looks. Offering medium to firm tension, the dreamy mattress has a plush padded pillow top for that cloud-like feel and is filled with natural fibres - wool, silk, cotton and cashmere - to help with temperature control and comfort. Standing 33cm high, keep it in peak performance by rotating it every six weeks. It weighs 27kg alone so one to pair with a tighter slat distribution for optimal comfort.
So delightful you’ll have real trouble getting out of bed in the mornings.
Buy now £279.99, Happy Beds
Dormeo S Plus Evolution Memory Foam Mattress - double
Not only does this zipped mattress offer two densities, but it also incorporates a special S-shaped layer to safeguard your spinal health.
The Dormeo S-Plus Evolution Memory Foam Mattress provides cooling comfort through the Octapspring coils (which offer 8x the airflow when compared to foam) and a layer of memory foam that will leave you feeling held as you drift off. A fast-drying cover made with Climalite Silver tops off the bed, offering moisture-wicking properties that will keep the mattress feeling fresh. There’s also a Clean Effect treatment that boasts antibacterial, anti-dust mite and anti-static protection.
The only downside we can see is that the tensions are set - firm and soft. That said, the connected cores can be quickly and easily interchanged independently of one another: simply unzip the cover and flip your side of the mattress to choose between them.
If all that wasn’t enough, you’ll even get a free Octasense pillow (worth £49) for free. We’re sold.
Buy now £769.00, Dormeo
Silentnight Eco Comfort Pocket 1200 Mattress
This fully recyclable medium-firm mattress is part of Silentnight’s new eco-friendly collection, and it doesn’t skimp one bit on luxury. For starters, there’s a layer of Mirapocket zoned springs that adapt and support your weight. The polyester cover is made from recycled plastic bottles, processed into high-performance moisture-wicking fabric.
Buy now £529.00, Silentnight
Flaxby Nature’s Dawn All Seasons Pocket Sprung Mattress - double
Best: year-round mattress
Going one better than the bestselling Flaxby Nature’s Halo mattress, this model features up to 3520 super strong springs helping to keep you and your back supported all through the night.
A layer of mini springs gives extra support and the mattress benefits from thick layers of moisture-wicking, climate-controlling British wool and cotton, helping you feel cool and comfortable every time you climb into bed. The feeling of supreme comfort is furthered with a soft damask cover surrounding the top of the design.
This mattress is single-sided which means it requires rotation once a week for the first three months, but then just once a month. Everything is handmade right here in the UK and it comes with a 40 Night Sleep Guarantee as well as a one-year guarantee.
Buy now £799.00, Dreams
