Mattress types explained
Updated 10 January 2026 · 6 min read
Most of the difference between mattresses comes down to what is inside them. Five constructions cover almost everything sold in the UK.
Memory foam
Viscoelastic foam softens with body heat and pressure, so it moulds around you and absorbs movement well.
It suits side sleepers and light sleepers who share a bed. The trade-off is heat: all-foam mattresses sleep warmer unless they use open-cell, gel or perforated layers.
Pocket sprung
Springs sit in individual fabric pockets so each one compresses on its own, supporting different parts of the body separately.
Spring counts are usually quoted for a king size, so the same model in a double contains fewer springs. Spring gauge and the comfort layers above matter as much as the headline number.
Hybrid
A spring unit with foam or latex comfort layers on top. Hybrids aim for the airflow and support of springs with the contouring of foam.
They are usually the easiest compromise when two people want different things, and they are the most common construction in the UK's mid-range.
Open coil
A single wire coiled into connected springs. Cheap to make, light to move, and common in guest beds and children's beds.
Because the springs are linked, movement travels across the bed and the surface wears less evenly over time.
Latex
Latex is springy and responsive — it pushes back rather than letting you sink in, and it sleeps cooler than memory foam.
Natural latex is more expensive than synthetic, and latex mattresses are heavy. Check which type a listing means.
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