Mattress materials fall into two broad categories – foam and spring. There are all sorts of claims from each camp about why one is better than the other for certain body types, sleeping positions, support and so on.
But our tests have found that many of these so-called benefits are nothing more than myths. Comfort is subjective and the best option often comes down to finding the mattress that feels right for you.
On this page:
- What is a foam mattress?
- What is a spring mattress?
- Pros and cons of foam and spring mattresses
- What are hybrid mattresses?
- Key differences between foam and spring mattresses
- How much do they cost?
- How long do they last?
- Which one is best?
What is a foam mattress?
In a foam mattress the core is usually made from polyurethane or latex, with additional layers of varying densities on top and underneath.
It's not uncommon to find mattresses that use different types of foam, such as a latex core with a polyurethane top, for example. Others are nothing more than a single chunk of foam wrapped in protective fabric.
Some latex mattress manufacturers claim that their products are 100% organic and are therefore a healthier alternative to polyurethane. However, this only applies if the latex is made from 100% sap, as there are synthetic alternatives that use extra chemicals and fillers. Our tests have also found that latex models are generally heavier.
Foam vs memory foam
This comes down to density. Almost all of the mattresses we've tested have a standard polyurethane or high resilience (HR) polyurethane top which has increased responsiveness. This is a fancy way of saying that the mattress has more of an even feel, consistent bounce and reduced sinking feeling when you lie down.
Memory foam, however, is a lower response version of polyurethane that can contour around your body. The mattress gradually returns to form when you get out of bed. HR polyurethane may provide some contouring but not as much as memory foam.
Even if a mattress is marketed as being memory foam, the memory foam is often just one layer near the top, with additional other layers of standard or HR polyurethane foam underneath. The standard layers have firmer characteristics and usually provide support and shock absorption towards the top and bottom of the mattress.
What is a spring mattress?
Despite the name, these mattresses aren't solely made from springs because metal coils alone aren't exactly comfortable. The core is a series of springs encased in standard or HR polyurethane foam layers for added support and comfort.
There are four spring types found in the vast majority of mattresses. Most use pocket or light springs these days but our body support tests found that there's no one type that consistently scores better than the others. Still, there are some differences worth noting.
Bonnell/light spring – the classic hourglass spring design with a closed/wired off end. All the coils are interconnected and designed to work as a single unit to provide a broad, continuous level of support. Our tests show they can feel a bit bouncier or less stable, which can be transferred to another person sharing the bed. Light spring uses a similar design, but the end of each spring is left open.
Offset/left-facing knot – another hourglass coil spring design, but with a flat top and bottom that's held together with coiled wires. This claims to improve support and stability and reduce sagging thanks to better contouring around your body.
Continuous – all the springs are made from a single piece of wire to improve stability and extend durability, but at the expense of comfort.
Pocket – the most common spring type we've encountered during testing. Each spring is designed to operate independently of the others for improved support and contouring. They're individually wrapped in material (pocketed) and often contain additional smaller coils. Our tests show that pocket spring mattresses tend to have good stability and less change in comfort over the years.
Does spring count make a difference?
In all our years of testing we're yet to find any link between higher spring counts and improved performance.
Additional materials
Most spring and many foam mattresses include polyester and/or polypropylene layers in ticking and webbing. Some models also add additional layers throughout, not just at the top and bottom.
Pros and cons of foam and spring mattresses
There are all sorts of claims about how spring or foam mattresses are better-suited for certain sleeping positions and so on. But our tests haven't found any evidence to back up those claims. Neither is objectively better.
In a very broad sense, spring mattresses feel, well, springier. There's a bit more bounce and a sense that you're lying on top of the mattress, rather than in it.
Foam tends to feel like denser, all-encompassing support – particularly memory foam. You compress into the bed to varying degrees, but this somewhat sunken feeling may bet too solid or flat (for want of a better word) for some.
Note: We don't perform a smell assessment and can't comment on whether foam mattresses omit a chemical odour after opening. This process, commonly called 'off-gassing', supposedly lasts a few days.
What are hybrid mattresses?
This loosely defined category combines elements of spring and foam construction in the core. This is different to a typical mattress where the foam or spring core provides most of the support and foam layers are added for comfort.
Because there's no real hybrid mattress standard, you'll find a wide variety of models that claim to be hybrids. We apply the term when the foam and spring components provide equal levels of support, rather than just a comfort topper.
Key differences between foam and spring mattresses
Manufacturers often claim that certain sleepers and body types are better suited to spring or foam mattresses. But there aren't any consistent results in our tests that indicate whether one type is more suitable than the other.
The best option is mostly a matter of personal preference, but the build quality plays a significant role that ultimately determines how the mattress feels to you.
Our tests assess comfort and support in dorsal (back) and lateral (side) position. We've use dummies that comply with two body types – the 5th percentile (1.55m/55kg) and 95th percentile (1.9m/100kg) heights and weights. This range of the bell curve covers 90% of the general population and is similar enough to allow our current results to be comparable with previous tests.
We haven't tested mattresses that are advertised as being predominately memory foam and cannot comment on how those results compare to standard and HR polyurethane mattresses.
Lateral comfort and support measurements are key parts of our test.
Comfort, support and comfort retention
An equal percentage of foam and spring mattresses showed good, average and poor performance in these tests. To put it simply, there's a lot more that goes into support and comfort beyond 'foam versus spring'.
The best example of this is results for two Koala mattresses in our initial comfort tests – the Koala Mattress (2024 model, double) and the Koala SE mattress (queen). The Koala Mattress (2024) has an unused comfort score of 51% while the SE scores 72%.
The results should be in the same ballpark as the Koala Mattress 2024 and the SE both use a standard polyurethane foam core that's approximately the same thickness (14cm and 13cm respectively). But that's not the case. It's likely the different layering of various thicknesses of foams makes more of a difference.
Spring mattresses are also inconsistent within the same brand. For example, the A.H. Beard King Koil Chiro Reserve (queen) scored 70%, while the A.H. Beard Everyday Comfort MK2 (queen) scored 51% in the same test.
We also found foam and spring mattresses that delivered similar out-of-the-box results from the same brand, even though they're supposed to be markedly different. Ikea's Ånneland ($999) spring mattress scored 60% in this test, while the roll-packed Åkrehamn ($899) made from foam scored 59%.
Stability
Foam mattresses are often marketed as the more stable, less bouncy option but our stability test says otherwise. Over half of the currently available spring mattresses in our test earn a score of 60% or higher in the stability assessment, whereas less than a third of the currently available foam mattresses in our test earn a score of 60% or higher.
Cooling
This is one of the only areas with notable differences between foam and spring mattresses. Our tests measure the insulation to determine mattress warmth and the amount of sweat that's retained during a night's sleep.
A foam mattress is kind of a big sponge, if you think about it, so it makes sense that airflow isn't as good compared to a spring model. We found that more spring mattresses had a cool or very cool feel compared to the polyurethane foam models.
However, the two latex mattresses in our test also felt cooler, but still collected a lot of sweat. The spring models did a better job of repelling sweat, including two models that earned perfect results.
How much do they cost?
The currently available foam mattresses in our test range from $365 up to $1895 for a double or queen size. Spring mattresses start at $189 and can cost more than $8000.
But not only are mattresses frequently on sale, there's a lot of wiggle room in the RRP so you can get a much better deal with a little haggling. This is almost always an option at bricks-and-mortar stores where you can talk to the salesperson.
For example, the Snooze Madison Times Square (double), which has an RRP of $4799, cost us $2400 at the time of testing. We were also able to negotiate an additional discount on top of the sale price of other mattresses.
How long do they last?
Our usage, wear and damage tests simulate eight years of use, which is the standard life expectancy for a good quality mattress. Comfort retention results – or how similar the mattress feels after eight years compared to day one – were consistent across the different types.
There's an even spread of good, average and poor performers in all types in our test, but there are fewer foam mattresses with notable sagging.
Foam mattresses may not last as long if you're prone to sweating due to a warmer climate or health reasons. Sweat absorption can damage the mattress over time and cause odours, so you may want to consider a spring model in this instance.
Which one is best?
Unless you need a particularly cool bed or are worried about how much you sweat at night, there aren't any clear-cut reasons as to why you should pick a spring mattress over a foam mattress (or vice versa). The main aspects – support and comfort – aren't connected to the type of core construction, which shows that there's a lot more to consider when choosing a mattress.
That's why it's best to use our mattress test results as a guide and, more importantly, try before you buy. Most mattress-in-a-box brands have a 30–120 night at-home trial period and retailers typically have their full range on display in physical stores.
Our test results can give you information about how a certain brands or models perform so you have an idea of what you'll get out of the mattress during its lifetime. But feel is equally important, so take your time and try all the products you're considering to find the mattress that's right for you.
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Stock images: Getty, unless otherwise stated.
