Just as the perfect duvet or hotel-like pillows can completely transform your sleep, the best mattress can turn your restless night into the ultimate slumber. There are countless reasons why ditching your old mattress in favour of the right one could elevate the quality of your sleep tenfold (from relieving your joints of pressure to ensuring you wake up less, move about less and feel less disturbed by your partner). And since getting a good night’s sleep is one of the most important things we can do for our physical and mental health, investing in one of the best mattresses 2024 has to offer is something you shouldn’t sleep on.
That said, shopping for a new mattress can be a bit daunting. A mattress is a big investment, and there’s lots to consider – from firmness levels to your sleeping style, preferred price tag and much, much more… Unfortunately, one size does not fit all. So, to help you out, we’ve taken it upon ourselves to test mattresses firsthand from some of the best online furniture stores in the UK. Each one that we have personally tested has been rigorously assessed through a minimum of 30 days of sleeping on it, with an aim to find a selection of the very best mattresses that are truly worth the investment. For those we haven’t tried ourselves, we’ve consulted sleep experts and sifted through hundreds of mattress reviews to get the lowdown.
Below, we’ve compiled the ultimate guide to buying a new mattress by scouring through the best rated options available from sleep tech brands online. Each one can be conveniently delivered to your doorstep within days, offering a diverse range of choices to accommodate every budget and sleeping position. Whether you prefer memory foam, pocket-sprung, hybrid, or other varieties, these mattresses stand out as the optimal investments for achieving a superior night’s sleep. Here’s everything you need to know…
SKIP TO: Our picks | How we test |Replacing your mattress | Shopping for a mattress and brands to know| Mattress types | Which mattress is good – spring or foam? | Mattress firmness | How much to spend | Best mattresses for back pain | Which mattress is good for home? | What is the difference between a mattress and a pillow top? |
What is the best mattress to buy in 2024?
- Best mattress overall: Emma NextGen Premium Mattress, £342.30, Emma Sleep
- Best mattress runner up: Simba Hybrid® Pro Mattress, £929, Simba
- Best hybrid mattress: Nectar Premier Hybrid Mattress, £775, Nectar Sleep
- Best bed-in-a-box mattress: Emma Original Mattress, £271.20, Emma
- Most comfortable mattress: Simba Hybrid® Luxe Mattress, £1,289, Simba
- Best cooling mattress: Emma Luxe Cooling Mattress, £489.30, Emma
- Best luxury mattress: Simba Hybrid® Ultra Mattress, £1,999, Simba
- Best pocket sprung mattress: Relyon Somerton, £999, Dreams
- Best bamboo mattress: Hybrid Bamboo Mattress, £950, Panda
- Best pocket spring mattress: Relyon Somerton, £999, Dreams
Emma NextGen Premium Mattress
Simba Hybrid® Pro Mattress
Nectar Premier Hybrid Mattress
Emma Original Mattress
Simba Hybrid® Luxe Mattress
How did we test the best mattresses?
When testing the mattresses in this edit, our team assessed each one by spending a minimum of 30 days sleeping on them in their own homes. Adhering to our testing criteria, we assessed on firmness, comfort, support, motion isolation, cost, and sustainability credentials, in addition to considering factors such as delivery convenience and impact on sleep quality. We aimed to test as many mattresses in real-life settings as possible and are working our way through the remaining ones. For those we haven’t tested firsthand, we’ve consulted with both experts and customers alike. Below, you’ll discover comprehensive reviews accompanied by our tester’s insights into the strengths and weaknesses of each mattress so you can make an informed decision.
How often should you replace your mattress?
According to the Sleep Council, you should change your mattress once every seven years, when you start to notice that you sleep better in other beds or when you wake up with aches and pains. Particularly if it didn’t cost you very much. Luxury mattresses like those crafted by Simba or Brook and Wilde might last you longer – up to a decade. And you can help them last for longer with a mattress protector.
What are the best mattress companies in the UK and can you order a mattress online?
Yes! Sleep-tech companies like Emma, Simba, Nectar, and Brook and Wilde have made the process simple with their “mattress in a box” offerings, and according to the National Bed Federation, bed-in-a-box mattresses now make up around 25% (!) of the industry market share. Most bed in a box mattresses come with an 100 night trial, a ten-year warranty and can be delivered direct to your door. Elsewhere, brands like Silentnight, Sealy and Dormeo are offering buyers a whole host of equally high-quality non-rolled options, from pocket memory mattresses to ortho mattresses, so don’t overlook these not-in-a-box brands, either.
What type of mattress is best?
It’s all down to personal preference. We caught up with Angela Moran – the Product Strategy Director at Silentnight – to find out everything you need to know about different mattress styles. Unsurprisingly, she knows her stuff… and she had a few tips for how to choose the best mattress for you.
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Quality pocket sprung mattresses provide good support, helping to distribute your weight evenly and keep your spine aligned as you sleep. The steel coils inside compress when you sit on them, giving you a bit more bounce – though you might need to replace them more regularly.
Spring counts in pocket sprung mattresses vary from around 600/800 to 2,500 – but can go even higher when there are multiple layers. Pocket sprung mattresses are available in a range of firmness levels – more on that later.
Memory foam mattresses serve up a bit more cushioning, ideal for those who like to sink in and feel cocooned. The top layer of memory foam provides pressure relief to your pressure points, ideal if you’re a side sleeper or suffer with lower back pain, painful hips, shoulders or knees. Memory foam mattresses conform to body contours, slowly responding to the user’s shape. They tend to last longer than pocket sprung mattresses. Traditionally these would run a bit hotter than their pocket sprung counterparts, but with modern tech that’s no longer the case, long live the best electric blankets!
3. Hybrid mattresses:
Hybrid mattresses are constructed with both foam and coils. They give you the comfort of foam or latex mattresses, but the spring of something with springs. Hybrid mattresses also tend to give good edge support (read: you can sleep right at the edge without feeling like you’re going to fall off).
Which mattress is good for home?
While you might not mind buying a more affordable mattress for your guest room, when it comes to the master bedroom, you’re likely going to want something comfortable and long-lasting. This can mean that you might need to extend your budget (or count on Klarna in your slumber’s time of need) but, longterm it could end up saving you money. Indeed, a more premium mattress is less likely need replacing every 3-5 years. As such, we’d look to mattresses that have more durable materials. Think: cotton and/or a high-ILD memory foam (TLDR: a high indentation load deflection is a foam layer that will take more overall pressure to sink). For instance, the little green sheep’s natural dual sided pocket sprung mattress.
Which mattress is good – spring or foam?
Distinguishing between spring and foam mattresses comes down to a few factors. Namely:
- All-foam mattresses tend to come out on top when it comes to motion isolation.
- Foam mattresses – not all – can offer less breathability, thus making sprung mattresses better for the warmer months.
- While foam mattresses exceed sprung mattresses when it comes to support for side sleepers, if you like a bit of extra support or a firmer mattress, you’ll likely prefer a sprung sleep surface.
- In terms of sound, a foam mattress will generally be quieter.
- Likewise, foam mattresses win when it comes to sagging over an extended period, too, and cheaper sprung models are known for doing this over time.
- A win for the sprung mattresses – more often than not they’ll come in cheaper than their foam counterparts, with the most expensive foam models reaching up to £2,500.
Emma Original Mattress
Silentnight Middleton 800 Pocket Memory Kingsize Mattress
How firm should my mattress be?
The level of support you choose depends on your body weight and personal preference. “Generally speaking, the lighter the person the softer the mattress you will need,” Angela said. “Sleeping position makes a difference, too.” Side sleepers will be well supported by a softer mattress or medium mattress, while back sleepers or front sleepers may want to consider a medium-firm mattress or firm mattress.
How much should I spend on a mattress?
When it comes to mattresses, you really do get what you pay for. For a decent mattress, you should expect to pay somewhere around the £300 mark if it’s to be comfortable and durable. Emma’s Original Mattress is one of the best mattresses of the year, costing £271.20, while The Casper Hybrid mattress is £500. We’ve also got a full edit of the best cheap mattresses here.
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For mattresses between £500 and £1,000, you’ll get something that lasts longer, which regulates temperature, reduces bounce when your partner moves during the night and helps with back and ache spinal alignment through multiple layers or a larger number of pocket springs.
Which mattress is best for back pain?
There is no single mattress for back pain that will tackle aches and pains effectively for everyone, but generally speaking, considering the firmness of your mattress is important when choosing which mattress you buy. A firmer mattress will provide more back support. Also, the coils or pocket springs are what provide the support in mattresses; so you should look for something with more coils and springs for more support.
What is the difference between a mattress and a pillow top?
Mattresses and pillow tops don’t actually have to be separate things. You can buy mattresses with a pillow top as part of the makeup and, naturally, ones without, too. Ultimately, a pillow top is an extra layer of padding atop your sprung or foam mattress and they tend to act much like a mattress topper. For instance, the Silentnight Thornbury mattress has a luxury quilted Pillow top sleep surface and reviewers remarked that it was a top choice for heavier buyers and, aside from that, had helped with aches and pains, and the quality of their sleep overall, too. In summary? Pillow top mattresses are a good choice if you’re after that extra ounce of support and you prefer a sprung to a foam mattress – pillow tops are more common on sprung-style mattresses.
After more sleep content? We’ve got weighted blankets and mattress toppers, best duvets and the best pillows, plus anti-allergy pillows, cooling pillows, silk bedding, best sofa beds, silk pillowcases and linen bedding. Elsewhere, find body pillows to invest in, pregnancy pillows if you’re expecting, sleep masks to keep the morning light at bay and pillow spray to help you nod off. For more from Glamour UK Commerce Editor Sophie Cockett, follow her on Instagram @sophiecockettx. For more from GLAMOUR UK’s Commerce Writer Mayola Fernandes, follow her on Instagram @mayolafernandess.
Scroll for our full edit of best mattresses for your best night’s sleep ever, reviewed by team GLAMOUR.
- 1. Best mattress overallEmma NextGen Premium MattressSpecifications:
- Pros: Machine washable cover, temperature-regulating, pressure relieving.
- Cons: None here!
- Sizes available: Single, small double, double, king, super king, EU single, EU double, EU queen.
- Type: Spring foam hybrid.
- Depth: 25cm.
- Warranty? Yes, 10-year guarantee.
- Sleep trial? Yes, 200-night-trial.
- Needs rotating or turning? Rotate once a month for 6 months and then once every 3 months after that.
- Firmness: Medium-firm.
- Tested by: Mayola Fernandes, Commerce Writer.
£489£342.30 AT EMMA SLEEP - 2. Best mattress runner upSimba Hybrid® Pro MattressSpecifications:
- Pros: Airflow and cooling properties.
- Cons: Takes around six hours to ‘rise’.
- Sizes available: Single, small double, double, king, super king, EU queen.
- Type: Hybrid – Aerocoil springs and Simbatex foam.
- Depth: 31cm.
- Warranty? Yes, 10-year guarantee.
- Sleep trial? Yes, 200 nights.
- Needs rotating or turning? Rotate once every 3 months when new, and every 3-6 then after.
- Firmness: Medium-firm.
- Tested by: Bianca London, Co-website Director.
- 3. Best hybrid mattressNectar Premier Hybrid MattressSpecifications:
- Pros: Anti-motion transfer, forever warranty, carbon neutral.
- Cons: May be slightly too soft for stomach sleepers.
- Sizes available: Single, double, king, super king.
- Type: Hybrid.
- Depth: 28cm.
- Warranty? Yes, forever guarantee.
- Sleep trial? Yes, 365 nights.
- Needs rotating or turning? Rotate the mattress every 3-6 months.
- Firmness: Medium-firm.
- 4. Best bed-in-a-box mattressEmma Original MattressSpecifications:
- Pros: Pressure relief, supportive, breathable.
- Cons: Some users report a noticeable off-gassing odour when first unpacking the mattress.
- Sizes available: Single, small double, double, king, super king, EU single, EU double, EU queen.
- Type: Memory foam with Airgocell® technology to prevent overheating
- Depth: 25cm
- Warranty? Yes, 10-year guarantee
- Sleep trial? Yes, 200-night
- Needs rotating or turning? Rotate once a month for 6 months and then once every 3 months after that
- Firmness: Medium-firm
£339£271.20 AT EMMA
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- 5. Most comfortable mattressSimba Hybrid® Luxe MattressSpecifications:
- Pros: Excellent support, superior comfort, suits all sleeping styles.
- Cons: Heavy to manoeuvre.
- Sizes available: Single, small double, double, king, super king, EU queen.
- Type: Hybrid – Aerocoil springs and Simbatex foam.
- Depth: 31.
- Warranty? Yes, 10-year guarantee.
- Sleep trial? Yes, 200 nights.
- Needs rotating or turning? No, but turn it around 180 degrees once a month for the first three months, then every 3-6 months after that.
- Firmness: Medium firm.
- Tested by: Mayola Fernandes, Commerce Writer.
- 6. Best cooling mattressEmma Luxe Cooling MattressSpecifications:
- Pros: Temperature-regulating properties, absorbs any motion ensuring an uninterrupted sleep.
- Cons: Edge support could be improved.
- Sizes available: UK single, UK small double, UK double, EU double, UK king.
- Type: Hybrid.
- Depth: 25cm.
- Warranty? Yes, 10-year guarantee.
- Sleep trial? Yes, 200 nights.
- Needs rotating or turning? Rotate once a month, for the first six months.
- Firmness: Medium-firm.
£699£489.30 AT EMMA SLEEP - 7. Best luxury mattressSimba Hybrid® Ultra MattressSpecifications:
- Pros: Anti-motion transfer, carbon neutral.
- Cons: Expensive.
- Sizes available: UK single, UK small double, UK double, EU double, UK king.
- Type: Hybrid.
- Depth: 34cm.
- Warranty? Yes, 10-year guarantee.
- Sleep trial? Yes, 200 nights.
- Needs rotating or turning? Once a month for the first 3 months, and then progress to every 3-6 months going forward.
- Firmness: Medium-firm.
- 8. Best pocket sprung mattressRelyon SomertonSpecifications:
- Pros: Temperature regulating, edge-to-edge support.
- Cons: Expensive.
- Sizes available: Single, small single, long single, double, king, super king.
- Type: Memory foam.
- Depth: 26cm.
- Warranty? Yes, 5-year guarantee.
- Sleep trial? Yes, 100 nights.
- Needs rotating or turning? Rotate head to toe weekly for the first three months, then every month thereafter.
- Firmness: Firm.
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- 9. Best bamboo mattressHybrid Bamboo MattressSpecifications:
- Pros: Antibacterial, hypoallergenic, sustainability credentials.
- Cons: On the firmer side, which may be uncomfortable for side sleepers.
- Sizes available: Single, small double, EU double, EU queen, double, king, super king, Emperor.
- Type: Hybrid.
- Depth: 27cm.
- Warranty? Yes, 10-year guarantee.
- Sleep trial? Yes, 100 nights.
- Needs rotating or turning? Yes, rotate regularly to maintain it’s quality.
- Firmness: Medium firm.
- 10. Best pocket spring mattressREM-Fit® 400 Hybrid MattressSpecifications:
- Pros: Motion isolation, edge-to-edge side support
- Cons: No handles to assist in rotating.
- Sizes available: UK Small Single, Long Small Single, UK Single, EU Single, UK Small Double, UK Double, EU Double, UK King Size, EU King Size, UK Super King Size.
- Type: Hybrid – open-cell memory foam and premium pocket springs.
- Depth: 25cm.
- Warranty? Yes, 15-year guarantee.
- Sleep trial? Yes, 100 nights.
- Needs rotating or turning? No flip, but rotate regularly
- Firmness: Medium.
£769£384.50 AT REM-FIT - 11. Best affordable mattressThe Original HybridSpecifications:
- Pros: While Dusk don’t make divan-style beds, you can get £50 off if you buy this mattress with any of the brand’s ottoman or slatted bed frames.
- Cons: Nothing of note!
- Sizes available: Single, double, king, super king.
- Type: Cool gel foam + 2,000 pocket spring hybrid.
- Depth: 25cm.
- Warranty? Used to be 3 years, but we’re unsure if this still stands.
- Sleep trial? Yes, 100-night.
- Needs rotating or turning? No turning but rotate regularly.
- Firmness: Medium-firm.
£449£339 AT DUSK - 12. Best sustainable mattressPure Hybrid Bamboo & Charcoal MattressSpecifications:
- Pros: Sustainable, supportive, and excellent temperature control.
- Cons: 6/10 on the brand’s firmness scale so not ideal for those who prefer a noticeable ‘sink in’ feel.
- Sizes available: Single, double, king, superking, small double, EU double, EU king, emperor.
- Type: Hybrid.
- Depth: 25cm.
- Warranty? Yes, 10-year guarantee.
- Sleep trial? Yes, 100-night tester period.
- Needs rotating or turning? Yes, rotate your mattress once a month for the first 12 months and then once every 3 months thereafter.
- Firmness: Medium-firm.
£549.99£479.99 AT OTTY
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- 13. Best cooling mattress for pressure reliefTempur Pro® Luxe Smartcool™Specifications:
- Pros: Exceptional comfort, advanced cooling, personalised support.
- Cons: It’s expensive!
- Sizes available: Small single, single, long single, double, king, super king.
- Type: Made from TEMPUR® material.
- Depth: 30cm.
- Warranty? Yes, 10-year guarantee.
- Sleep trial? 100 nights.
- Needs rotating or turning? No.
- Firmness: Medium firm.
- Tested by: Mayola Fernandes, Commerce Writer.
- 14. Best mattress with pillow topFlaxby Master’s Guild 4450 Pillow Top MattressSpecifications:
- Pros: Excellent support, pillow top softness and available in a wealth of sizes.
- Cons: None here!
- Sizes available: Small single, single, small double, double, king, super king, emperor.
- Type: Pocket springs.
- Depth: 28cm.
- Warranty? 5-year guarantee.
- Sleep trial? 100-night comfort guarantee.
- Needs rotating or turning? Yes, rotate regularly.
- Firmness: Medium.
- Tested by: Neamh Randall, GLAMOUR’s Commerce Picture Editor.
- 15. Best breathable mattressThe Premium Hybrid MattressSpecifications:
- Pros: This mattress is thirty times more breathable than normal memory foam.
- Cons: Weighs anywhere between 55 and 65kg so it’s not the easiest to lift on your own.
- Sizes available: Double, king, super king.
- Type: Hybrid spring and foam.
- Depth: 28cm.
- Warranty? Yes, 10-year warranty.
- Sleep trial? Yes, One year.
- Needs rotating or turning? No flip but, yes, rotate 180° every month for 6 months, followed by once every three months thereafter.
- Firmness: Medium-firm.
- 16. Best memory foam mattressNectar Memory Foam MattressSpecifications:
- Pros: Forever warranty, longer sleep trial than most.
- Cons: While the brand does offer old mattress removal, it will set you back an additional £45. That said, they do offer free delivery.
- Sizes available: Single, small double, double, king, super king
- Type: Memory foam
- Depth: 25cm
- Warranty? Yes, forever
- Sleep trial? Yes, 365 nights
- Needs rotating or turning? No flip, but turn every two-three months.
- Firmness: Medium-firm
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- 17. Best mattress for aches and painsSilentnight Recover Miracoil MattressSpecifications:
- Pros: Glowing customer reviews.
- Cons: If you want to try it out you’ll have to do it in-store at John Lewis.
- Sizes available: Single, double, king.
- Type: Miracoil open coil + comfort fibre mattress.
- Depth: 21cm.
- Warranty? Five-year guarantee.
- Sleep trial? N/A.
- Needs rotating or turning? No turning but rotate from head to foot.
- Firmness: Medium.
- 18. Best sustainable mattressThe Simba Green Organic GO Hybrid® MattressSpecifications:
- Pros: Sustainable, generous warranty and supportive hybrid design.
- Cons: Nothing of note!
- Sizes available: Single, double, king, super king.
- Type: Latex hybrid mattress.
- Depth: 30.5cm.
- Warranty? Yes, 10-year guarantee.
- Sleep trial? Yes, 200-night-trial.
- Needs rotating or turning? Rotate once every 3 months when new, and every 3-6 then after.
- Firmness: Medium-firm.
- 19. Best hypoallergenic mattressOrthopedic Eco Memory Foam MattressSpecifications:
- Pros: Hypoallergenic.
- Cons: Narrow depth appears less plush than some chunkier mattresses.
- Sizes available: Small single, single, small double, double, king, EU single, EU double, EU king.
- Type: Memory foam.
- Depth: 14cm.
- Warranty? Yes, 5 years for an additional £12.95.
- Sleep trial? Yes, 100 nights.
- Needs rotating or turning? Not disclosed.
- Firmness: Firm.
- 20. Best vegan-friendly mattressCasper Hybrid MattressSpecifications:
- Pros: For couples, it’s great at absorbing each other’s movements.
- Cons: Gives off that signature foam smell which can be slightly unpleasant, though it does fade after a couple of days.
- Sizes available: Single, small double, super king.
- Type: Hybrid – memory foam layers and pocket springs.
- Depth: 24cm.
- Warranty? Yes, 10-year guarantee.
- Sleep trial? Yes, 60 nights.
- Needs rotating or turning? No flip, rotate every 3-6 months.
- Firmness: Medium.
£625£500 AT MATTRESS ONLINE
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- 21. Best mattress for side sleepersBrook + Wilde The Elite MattressSpecifications:
- Pros: Motion isolation, advanced cooling technology.
- Cons: The firm option may feel too hard for stomach sleepers.
- Sizes available: Single, double, king, super-king.
- Type: Hybrid – pocket spring and memory foam
- Depth: 28cm
- Warranty? Yes, 10-year guarantee
- Sleep trial? Yes, 200-night tester period
- Needs rotating or turning? Not disclosed
- Firmness: Your choice of a firm, medium or soft mattress