Mattress buying guide
Looking for a new mattress, but not sure where to start? Welcome to our helpful mattress buying guide, designed to help you find the perfect match. Explaining the options for size, firmness, and fillings, and answering common mattress questions, our comprehensive mattress guide can help you make an informed decision on what you need.
What are the different UK mattress sizes?
The UK has a range of standard sizes of mattresses, all designed for specific types of beds and sleepers. This makes it super easy to match a mattress to your bed - a double mattress goes with a double bed, a super king mattress is for a super king bed, and so on.
What mattress firmness do I need?
Everyone has different needs and preferences when it comes to the firmness of their mattress, and many factors can determine what type you need - which is why mattresses come in a range of firmness levels. Correct support during sleep depends not only on your weight, but your height, build, and preferred sleeping position. It’s the same for comfort - some may prefer a firmer mattress, and others may prefer being cocooned and sunk into their bed.
What are the different types of mattresses?
From different types of foams to various spring designs, mattress fillings (and combinations) vary to accommodate many different sleepers. Let’s explore the different mattress types to help you decide how to pick out a mattress.
Natural mattresses
As well as being more eco-friendly, many natural mattresses avoid harmful chemicals and are hypoallergenic, naturally antibacterial, or offer extra cooling properties. There are plenty of options to suit the budget of every eco-conscious consumer.
Kids mattresses
Kids’ growing bodies have different needs to adults, and their mattress is an important part of supporting their development. Luckily, there is a range of specialist kids’ mattresses on the market specifically designed for their sleep needs.
Memory foam mattresses
Designed to offer better support where you need it, memory foam mattresses relieve pressure on joints and align your spine. Many are hypoallergenic and absorb movement - but memory foam retains heat, so might not work for overheating sleepers.
Pocket sprung
Pocket sprung mattresses’ individual springs isolate movement, making them ideal for shared beds. Designed for support and pressure relief, they also provide great airflow. A higher spring count usually translates to a higher quality mattress.
Open coil or coil sprung mattresses
Open coil mattresses’ internal springs are connected by wire and covered by fabrics. While undeniably one of the most affordable options, offering great support, they aren’t good at isolating movement from multiple sleepers.
Hybrid mattresses
Hybrid mattresses offer the best of both worlds, providing plenty of benefits. While they can be more expensive, they offer unrivalled comfort, with movement isolation, breathability, and support that’s hard to match from a single-filling mattress.
Orthopedic mattresses
Often science-backed and high-tech, these mattresses are designed specifically to provide superior support to the joints - helping ease pressure and offer relief to those with back pain and other types of chronic joint pain.
Discover top mattress brands at DFS
From heritage British brands including Silentnight and Harrison Spinks, to luxurious science-backed mattresses from Sealy - and even eco-friendly, plant-based mattresses for the whole family from Jay-Be - here at DFS we stock the very best mattress brands available in the UK, with choices suitable for all budgets.
What mattress should I buy?
Once you’ve established the mattress size, type and firmness that’s right for you, there are still plenty of options to choose from - so how do you decide how to pick a mattress? Well, we’ve made it easy - simply take our mattress quiz below, and we’ll recommend you a selection of mattresses to suit your needs.
What mattress do I need?
Your personal sleeping issues can really affect the type of mattress you need for a great night’s sleep - and sleeping on an old, worn out or unsuitable mattress could be making them worse. Common sleeping and mattress issues include back pain, joint pain, allergies, feeling too hot at night, and being affected by your partner’s sleep behaviour. Luckily, there are plenty of mattresses designed to alleviate these issues!
What mattress is best for back or joint pain?
Generally, more firm mattresses are best for supporting sleepers with joint and back pain. Choose a medium-firm mattress to balance comfort and relief, support joints and ensure your spine is kept aligned. An orthopaedic mattress is specifically designed to provide unrivalled support for the spine and joints, but a memory foam mattress is also a great option, contouring to your body and cradling pressure points.
What mattress helps with allergies?
If you suffer from hay fever, asthma, or any other sleep-disturbing allergy, then you’ll need a hypoallergenic mattress. Great options include a natural filling mattress or a foam mattress, but many brands now offer hypoallergenic mattresses across their range.
What is the coolest mattress to stop me overheating?
For people who always get too hot at night, a new mattress could hold the answer to keeping you cool. A pocket spring mattress offers better airflow and doesn’t trap as much heat under your body, but you can also opt for a cooling gel mattress. Many brands now offer natural mattresses made from plant-based materials specifically chosen to keep you cool, so there are plenty of different filling options to choose from.
What mattress is best for couples?
Sometimes, the biggest threat to your sleeping pattern is the partner rolling around next to you – but a new mattress can help! A large pocket sprung mattress will both isolate movements from your partner, and offer valuable extra space. When deciding on mattress firmness for a couple with different sleep needs, a middle-of-the-road medium mattress helps to support most peoples’ requirements.
What is an orthopaedic mattress?
An orthopaedic or orthopedic mattress is specifically designed to relieve pressure on the joints. These types of mattresses are also firmer, making orthopaedic mattresses the best mattress for back pain and other chronic joint pain.
How many springs are in a good mattress?
When shopping for a pocket sprung or coil sprung mattress, generally speaking, the higher the spring count, the more support it will offer. Mattresses with more springs use more materials, and therefore generally cost more, but they will offer more targeted support and isolate movement more effectively - particularly helpful if you find your partner disturbs your sleep in the night. Many ranges include similar mattresses with different spring counts, so you can choose the sprung mattress that suits your budget.
What is the comfiest mattress?
Everyone’s comfort needs are different, and so it’s unsurprising that it’s difficult to generalise what the comfiest mattress may be for you. While the most popular mattresses are medium and medium firm, some people prefer the sink-in feel of a soft mattress, while others prefer the support that comes with a firm orthopaedic mattress. Some people love the way a memory foam mattress moulds to their body shape, while others prefer the cooling air circulation you experience on a pocket sprung mattress. A mattress is a very personal choice!
What does the number refer to in a mattress name?
If you see a mattress or range with a number in the title, this generally refers to the number of pocket springs within the mattress. The number of springs will vary depending on the size of the mattress - with a single mattress having the fewest, and super king size mattress having the most - so manufacturers tend to base this number on the amount of springs in the double mattress in the range.
Explore the DFS sleep hub
Looking for a better night’s sleep? Our Sleep Hub is a one stop shop for getting top quality shut-eye!
Top tips for front sleepers
Face smushed into the pillow. Arms splayed to the sides. Knees kissing the mattress. A prone position feels perfect to you - but is it the best way to get a good night’s sleep?
Top tips for sleeping with back pain
Whether you suffer from chronic pain or have recently pulled a muscle, sleeping with back pain can often feel like a near impossible task.
Sleep Expert: Improve your quality of sleep
We have teamed up with Anne Marie Boyhan, sleep expert at The Sleep Care Co. to give us some tips on how to improve the quality of your sleep.
How much sleep do I need?
While your significant other may wake up fresh and ready after just 6 hours of shut eye, you may need a full 9 hours to function properly for the rest of the day.
What sleep position is best for you?
Have you ever woken up feeling like you’ve slept ‘funny’? Those stiff necks, sore backs, and pins-and-needles sensations in your arms might actually be caused by your preferred sleeping pose.
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