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Ideal Home
Amy Lockwood

The only Black Friday mattress deals I'd recommend as a sleep expert who has tested 100 mattresses

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(Image credit: Future)

Editor-approved Black Friday mattress deals
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Best Black Friday sales
2. Best Black Friday deals
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A good mattress is crucial to a good night's sleep and with so many of the best Black Friday mattress deals already live now is the time to invest. I'm Ideal Home's Sleep Editor and I'm here to help you navigate sales with my four years of experience testing everything sleep-related. I've price-checked every mattress deal I can find to uncover the best savings on good quality mattresses.

I've tested over 100 mattresses and devoted countless hours to researching what makes the best mattress. There is no avoiding the fact that when it comes to mattresses they can be expensive and you usually get what you pay for. But in my experience, Black Friday is one of the best times to get a great deal.

I've price-checked all the best Black Friday deals from Simba, Emma, and many more big brand names that I have tested out. I'll also be offering my top tips on what to look for in a mattress to help deliver your best night's sleep ever.

The best deal I've spotted is on our top-rated Simba Hybrid Original mattress which was £799 for a double and is now £599.25. That's an (almost) £200 saving. This mattress offers a comfortable night's sleep for side and back sleepers and delivers cradling memory foam comfort without causing overheating.

Today's best Black Friday mattress sales

Today's best Black Friday mattress deals

Please note: deal prices are updated hourly and reflect the price of a standard double mattress.

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(Image credit: Future)

Hi, I'm Amy, Ideal Home's Sleep Editor and Certified Expert in all things sleep-related.

I have four years of experience in testing the best mattresses on the market, I'm here today to share my top tips for shopping for a mattress in the Black Friday sales.

As part of my job, I track the prices of multiple bestselling mattresses to monitor when the best deals land, and, in my experience, Black Friday reliably sees the biggest discounts of the year.

You can find today's best mattress deals here, and in this live blog I'll be posting my top tips for ensuring you don't make any expensive mattress-buying mistakes this Black Friday.

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Top Tip #1: Sleep Trials

My first tip is to investigate whether the brand or retailer offers a sleep trial before you shop.

A sleep trial allows you to sleep on a mattress in your own home for a specified amount of time before you commit to keeping it. You still need to pay for the mattress upfront, but this is a really useful benefit as so many factors – such as the type of bedframe you have, your weight, and your preferred sleeping position – can impact which mattress is most comfortable for you.

Sleep trials will differ in length, and many come with slightly different terms and conditions so just make sure to read the small print before you shop.

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Top Tip #2: Delivery

Next up, I'd thoroughly recommend checking the delivery process for the mattress you're considering purchasing because not all mattress deliveries are created equal.

Some mattress retailers, like Emma, will only deliver your new mattress to your doorstep. Others, like Simba, will deliver to your room of choice as standard, and yet more, such as Brook +Wilde, will offer premium or white glove delivery as standard. This means that your mattress is carried into your room of choice, unpackaged, and lifted onto your bedframe for you. Often retailers will also provide this service for an additional cost.

Checking the delivery process before you shop can save you a lot of heavy lifting on delivery day, not to mention saving you the stress and expense of a delivery that doesn't fit.

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Top Tip #3: Mattress-in-a-box

Speaking of deliveries, I'd also recommend checking out how your mattress will be delivered.

If you opt for an all-foam or hybrid mattress there's a good chance it will be delivered as a mattress-in-a-box. This means that the mattress is folded, rolled, and vacuum-packed into a compact cardboard box for delivery. If you have awkward access or a twisting flight of stairs to navigate, a mattress-in-a-box can be a lot easier than a flat mattress to get into your bedroom on delivery day.

Alternatively, most pocket-sprung mattresses will be delivered flat. This can make delivery a little trickier, especially if you opt for a king or super king mattress. In this case, it can be worth looking for a zip-and-link mattress which comes in two sections that are then zipped together on the bed.

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Top Tip #4: Mattress size

My fourth top tip is to make sure you've considered what the best mattress size for you is before you shop.

If you share your bed with your other half then you would be forgiven for thinking a double mattress is your best bet. However, when it comes to mattress size bigger is (usually) always best. As long as you have the floor space in your bedroom, that is.

Opting for a king-size rather than a double mattress will be more expensive (especially if it means you need to upgrade your bed at the same time – our guide to where to buy a bed can help with that), but more space usually means better sleep if you co-sleep as there's less chance of you disturbing each other during the night.

Luckily, Black Friday discounts are the perfect time to upgrade your sleeping area for less.

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Top Tip #5: Getting rid of your old mattress

My fifth and final tip is to consider what will happen to your old mattress when the new one arrives.

It can be tricky to get rid of a mattress if you don't have a van you can take it to the recycling centre in, and, sadly, even if you do get your mattress to the tip, there's no guarantee it will then be recycled.

Instead, it's well worth investigating if the retailer you're buying your new mattress from also offers a collection service for your old mattress on delivery day. You will usually have to pay around £50 for collection, but your mattress will then be responsibly disposed of, which will save you having to figure out how to recycle a mattress yourself.

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(Image credit: Future)

If you're a fan of memory foam, then this REM-Fit Black Friday deal is a potential alternative to our top-rated Simba Hybrid Original mattress deal.

A double in the Simba Hybrid Original is currently reduced from £799 to £599.25, but a whopping 60% off today means that a double in the REM-Fit 600 Lux Hybrid Mattress is now slightly cheaper, reduced from £1,299 to £519.60 for the double.

We rated the REM-Fit 600 highly in our REM-Fit 600 Lux Hybrid Mattress review, just docking points compared to the Simba Original Hybrid because of the awkward positioning of its handles which made rotation and manouevre tricky, the fact there's no 'white glove' delivery option, and the lack of recycled materials compared to Simba's ranges.

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(Image credit: Future)

Next up, I thought I'd take on some of the questions I'm most frequently asked about mattresses.

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How often should you change your mattress?

Wondering how often you should change your mattress? I've asked multiple mattress experts and the consensus is in line with the Better Sleep Council's advice that, 'While there is no hard and fast rule about how long a mattress lasts... most have a life span of around seven years'.

However, The Better Sleep Council's research also shows that 'people tend to consistently keep their mattresses for 10 years on average'. That's potentially three years of sleeping on a mattress that may no longer be offering the support we need.

If your mattress is due an upgrade, there's no better time than today to shop. You'll find today's best mattress deals here.

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What's the best mattress for back pain?

Wondering, what the best mattress for back pain is? You're not alone as it's one of the questions I'm most frequently asked.

So, what's the answer? ‘Research generally suggests that a medium-firm mattress is best for alleviating lower back pain’, explains Dave Gibson, registered osteopath, sleep expert, and founder of The Sleep Site.

This is backed up by research research published in the Journal of Orthopaedics and Traumatology that states ‘a medium-firm mattress promotes comfort, sleep quality and rachis alignment’ (that means good spinal alignment).

For this reason, we've found the Brook + Wilde Ultima mattress to be one of the best choices for back pain. It comes in three tension options so you can tailor the feel to find 'medium-firm' for your body, and a 200-night sleep trial lets you test it out at home before you commit.

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*Deal Alert*

Having spent four years testing mattresses, I really rate Silentnight's mattress collection. I've always found the brand's mattresses to offer good value for money and deliver reliable quality at reasonable price points.

The best prices I've found so far this week are now at Dunelm, where the retailer's newly launched Black Friday sale is currently offering 30% off all Silentnight mattresses.

(Image credit: Future)

Silentnight Lift Replenish Hybrid 2000 Mattress | double was £709 now £496.30 at Dunelm

A mattress that's firm but isn't hard can be difficult to find. The Sealy Newton Posturepedic mattress is by far my top recommendation, but even with a 20% discount at Bensons for Beds today, it's still expensive, reduced from £1,399.99 to £1,119.99 for a double.

An alternative is the Silentnight Lift Replenish Hybrid 2000 Mattress. This hybrid mattress with a latex top layer is available in medium-soft or medium-firm, and our reviewer, Gin, found the medium-firm option much firmer than expected in her Silentnight Lift Replenish Hybrid review making it a good option for back or front sleepers.

Plus, it's very affordable this Black Friday. The best price I've found today is at Dunelm, where a double in the Silentnight Lift Replenish Hybrid 2000 Mattress is currently reduced from £709 to £496.30.

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(Image credit: Future)

Hi, I'm Amy, Ideal Home's Sleep Editor and Certified Expert in all things sleep-related. I have four years of experience in testing the best mattresses on the market, I'm here today to share my top tips for shopping for a mattress in the Black Friday sales.

As part of my job, I track the prices of multiple bestselling mattresses to monitor when the best deals land, and, in my experience, Black Friday reliably sees the biggest discounts of the year.

You can find today's best mattress deals here, and I'll kicking off today's blog with answers to some of the most frequently asked mattress-related questions I receive.

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What's the best mattress for a side sleeper?

According to Laura Burnett, bed expert at Feather & Black, 'research shows that over 60% of the nation are side sleepers'. No wonder 'what's the best mattress for side sleepers' is one of the questions I'm most frequently asked.

The answer? Side sleepers generally need a mattress that isn't too firm. A medium or medium-firm mattress should offer enough give to allow the hip and shoulder to sink into the mattress surface. This then means that the spine can rest relatively straight.

A memory foam or memory foam hybrid mattress is another popular choice. The memory foam layer adds cushioning so that there isn't too much pressure building on the hip and shoulder overnight.

During our testing, the Simba Hybrid Original mattress and Simba Hybrid Pro mattress (which is a little firmer and a little more breathable than the Original) have both been popular with side sleepers.

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What's the best month to buy a mattress?

As Ideal Home's Sleep Editor, I've been keeping track of mattress prices for the last four years and I definitely think November is the best month to buy a mattress.

That's because in November Black Friday mattress deals are in full swing. It used to be that Black Friday itself offered the best deals – this year that's Friday 29th November – but in the past few years I've seen deals start earlier and earlier.

It's also now rare that retailers hold the best deals back for Black Friday itself, instead, they're all competing to get the sale first, so most brand's go in strong offering their biggest discounts as soon as their Black Friday sales start.

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(Image credit: Future)

Simba Hybrid Original mattress | double was £799 now £599.25 at Simba

Simba's Hybrid Original mattress is my top recommendation if you're looking for an affordable mattress to shop in the Black Friday sales. And I'm not the only one impressed by its comfort levels.

Our Content Director, Lucy Searle, has owned the Hybrid Original mattress for five years and puts the reduction in her back pain down to its supportive surface.

'I can, without exaggeration, say that my Simba Hybrid Original mattress transformed my life – improving my sleep patterns, eliminating my joint pain, and reducing my physio bills overnight (my physio even asked my friend, who's also a client, where I had gone!)'.

'I bought The Simba Original Hybrid around five years ago to replace my old sprung mattress plus foam topper that I'd been sleeping on. Hybrids were pretty new to the market back then, but I was persuaded by reports I'd heard about the back pain relief that side sleepers reported'.

'As I hit my 40s, my joint pain had become worse, so that I spent much of the night tossing and turning, and woke with sore shoulders and hips. That pain disappeared overnight - helped, I think, by matching the mattress with the adjustable Simba Hybrid pillow, which meant my spine's improved alignment went right up to the top of my neck'.

'I'm looking to replace my mattress again within the next year or two – and I'll be buying another'.

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It's not all about the mattress

Black Friday is one of the best times to snap up a mattress for a reduced price, but that isn't the only saving to consider.

Black Friday discounts also offer a great opportunity to assess your whole sleep set-up, whether that means investing in one of the best mattress toppers on the market, finding a bargain on a new mattress protector, or upgrading to the best duvet and pillows your budget allows.

These are my top recommendations for where to shop good quality bedding for less this Black Friday.

Simba deals

There are also plenty of bedding deals to be snapped up at Simba today. We've tried and tested most of the brand's range at Ideal Home and have been impressed by the quality of all of the sleep retailer's products.

My top recommendations are the Simba Hybrid Pillow – a pillow with adjustable filling that makes it suitable for side, back or front sleepers, and the Simba Hybrid Duvet – a synthetic duvet that offers cooling technology.

Plus, the brand has recently launched a Simba slipper range, which is perfect for Christmas gifting. We can testify that they're both toasty and comfortable!

(Image credit: Future / Lindsey Davies)
(Image credit: Future)

Emma Original Hybrid Mattress | was £499.00 now £399.20 at Emma

Emma's Original mattress is now virtually out of stock thanks to the Black Friday sales, but, if you're looking for an affordable alternative, the Emma Original Hybrid Mattress could be a budget-friendly alternative.

We haven't tested this model yet, but it sports a similar design to the Emma Original just with spring support added under the memory foam top layer. I think it's likely to become another bestseller.

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(Image credit: Future)

The Little Green Sheep Natural Junior Mattress | was £345.95 now £275.00 at The Little Green Sheep

If you're looking for a children's mattress that's chemical-free and made from all-natural materials, then this Little Green Sheep option is a great buy.

Our reviewer Jen and her 3-year-old daughter tested it out for our The Little Green Sheep Natural Junior Mattress review and found it firm (and not without some delivery problems), but, its eco-friendly and synthetic-free construction is hard to beat. Add one of Woolroom's Deluxe Mattress Toppers for extra (all-natural) cushioning and you're sorted.

This mattress isn't cheap, but there's currently a very welcome 20% off in The Little Green Sheep's Black Friday sale.

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Is an expensive mattress worth it?

Back to some frequently asked questions, and first up, 'is an expensive mattress worth it'?

Based on my testing experience, yes, you do tend to get what you pay for. You can get a decent mattress, like the Simba Hybrid Original mattress for around £800 at full price, but, most of the best mattresses we've tested have been between £1000-£2000 for a double.

All of our sleep needs are different, so whilst a more expensive mattress doesn't automatically guarantee better comfort, it does tend to mean better materials – for example, breathable natural fillings such as wool, hemp or flax, or added technologies such as more breathable open-cell or graphite-infused memory foam – and more choice in tension options to tailor the mattress' comfort levels to your body.

Thankfully, Black Friday discounts can mean reductions of between 20% and 50% on bestselling mattresses, so you can snap up a little luxury for less.

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That's everything from me today, I'll be back to back tomorrow with more of the best Black Friday mattress deals.

(Image credit: Future)

Hi, I'm Amy, Ideal Home's Sleep Editor and Certified Expert in all things sleep-related.

I have four years of experience in testing the best mattresses on the market, I'm back this morning to share my top tips for finding a sleep-bargain in the Black Friday sales.

As part of my job, I track the prices of multiple bestselling mattresses to monitor when the best deals land, and, in my experience, Black Friday reliably sees the biggest discounts of the year.

You can find today's best mattress deals here, and in this live blog I'll be posting my top tips for mattress shopping this Black Friday.

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(Image credit: Future)

If you want to sleep like a celebrity Brook + Wilde is the top mattress pick for presenter George Clarke and the brand currently has a Black Friday sale offering up to 50% off its mattressesusing code UPTO50.

'I stay in so many hotels and there’s nothing I miss more than my own mattress and my own pillows. There’s a company called Brook + Wilde where I buy my mattresses from and I like to buy pillows from John Lewis', George Clarke told us in his Home Truths interview.

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How to choose the best size mattress

What's the best size mattress to choose? I recommend taking advantage of Black Friday discounts to invest in the biggest you can, especially if you share a bed.

Standard mattress sizes are listed below and it's interesting to note that you'd need to buy a super king size mattress to get the same individual sleeping space as a single mattress provides.

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Does your weight affect the feel of a mattress?

One of the most difficult factors in choosing a mattress is the fact that our body weight affects how a mattress feels for us.

That means that a firm, medium-firm, medium or soft mattress will feel different for different body weights.

Generally speaking, the heavier we are the firmer a mattress we need as we'll tend to sink in deeper to the mattress surface. Whilst the lighter we are the softer the mattress we'll need.

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How does your sleeping position affect the mattress you choose?

Your usual sleeping position is one of the most important factors in choosing a mattress – that means whether you're typically a side, back or stomach sleeper.

Generally speaking, a side sleeper is best opting for a medium or medium-firm mattress with a well-cushioned top that allows the shoulder and hip to sink in. A memory foam mattress or a hybrid with a memory foam top layer is great choice.

A back sleeper needs a medium-firm or firm mattress with a little less cushioning on top.

And, a front sleeper is best choosing a firm mattress that doesn't have too much cushioning. This helps to prevent the hips sink too low.

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Why is edge support important in a mattress?

It's easy to overlook when mattress shopping, but good edge support can be an important factor in a mattress purchase.

Good edge support means that the entire mattress surface has an even tension so you can lie on the sides of the mattress without it dipping or feeling like you could roll out.

This is especially important if you share a bed – and particularly if you're sharing a double mattress where space is at a premium. It can also be an important factor to consider if you have any mobility issues that make getting out of bed trickier.

The Sealy Newton Posturepedic Mattress has the best edge support of any mattress I've tested, with the brand's whole range scoring highly in this area.

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(Image credit: Future)

Woolroom Deluxe Wool Mattress Topper | was £169.99 now £110.49 at Woolroom

If your reason for buying a new mattress in the Black Friday sales is that your old mattress is causing you to overheat at night, you may be able to save even more money by opting for a mattress topper instead.

Designed to attach to the top of a mattress, a topper is primarily aimed at adding comfort. But, if you opt for one made of natural materials, such as wool, a topper can also provide a welcome 'breaker layer' of breathability between your body and the mattress.

One of the best cooling mattress toppers we've tested is the Woolroom Deluxe Wool Mattress Topper. Made from organic cotton and British wool, it's fantastic at regulating body temperature throughout the night. It's not cheap, but it is a lot cheaper than a new mattress, and today it has 35% off in Woolroom's Black Friday sale.

(Image credit: Future / Rachael Penn)

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What are the best mattress brands to shop?

The good news is that pretty much every mattress brand has launched its Black Friday deals early, so there are plenty of bargains to be had today.

These are my top recommendations of the best mattress brands to shop based on our testing.

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Why is motion isolation important in a mattress?

'Motion isolation is the ability to isolate movement across a mattress', explains Pam Johnson, head of buying at Bensons For Beds. This is important if you share a bed with a partner because as Pam continues to explain, it means 'one sleeper does not feel the other sleeper wriggling, moving or turning'.

A memory foam mattress is usually the best option if you're looking to eliminate disturbance from a restless partner. That's because memory foam dampens movement and cocoons around each individual sleeper.

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(Image credit: Future)

Dreamland Luxury Heated Throw | was £69.99 now £49.99 at John Lewis

It's cold outside, and if you're investing in a new mattress in the Black Friday sales why not treat yourself to a heated blanket to warm up the bed before you get in.

The Dreamland Luxury Heated Throw is one of the best electric blankets I've tested. It heats up in just five minutes, offers six temperature settings, and even better it now has a £20 Black Friday saving over at John Lewis.

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Emma vs Simba

Wondering whether to opt for an Emma or a Simba mattress in the Black Friday sales? As two of the best-known brand names in the world of sleep, this is a common question.

Emma usually has the most affordable prices – especially during Black Friday when the brand tends to discount heavily – but, personally, I always recommend Simba.

Both brands offer memory foam hybrid mattresses, but Simba utilises open-cell memory foam in its range as standard. Its 'Simbatex' foam is also infused with graphite with the aim of drawing heat away from the body. Our testing experience has found this two-pronged approach to temperature regulation does make for a more breathable mattress with less risk of overheating.

Simba also offers the best delivery options. Whilst Emma only delivers its mattresses to your doorstep (leaving you to lug a heavy mattress upstairs by yourself), Simba offers delivery to your room of choice as standard. You can also opt to pay a little extra for Simba's white glove delivery service where the mattress is unboxed and installed onto your bed frame for you.

And, whilst Emma doesn't offer to remove your old mattress for you, Simba does. Simba is also leading the way in addressing the environmental problems caused by mattress disposal. The brand ensures that all components of the mattresses it collects are recycled to prevent used mattresses from going to landfill.

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