If you're in the market for a new mattress, unless you've been living under a rock – or a doona – chances are you've heard the name Koala.
Alternatively, you might also be considering laying your weary head on an Ikea mattress. Shopping for a new bed is exhausting, after all.
So, how can you decide between these two well-known brands? Here's what you need to know to make a decision that'll help you sleep well at night.
On this page:
- Buying from Ikea vs buying from Koala
- Which is best for shoppers?
- Which brand is best: Ikea vs Koala?
- Which Ikea and Koala mattresses has CHOICE tested?
- Common FAQs
Buying from Ikea vs buying from Koala
Ikea mattresses tend to be among the more affordable options in our mattress test, with six models that cost under $1000. Koala queen-size mattresses start at $950 and run as high as $2390.
But choosing where to buy can be just as important as choosing what to buy, and Ikea and Koala have different levels of service when it comes to delivery, trial periods, returns and warranties.
| Ikea mattress | Koala mattress | |
|---|---|---|
| Many models to choose from | Four models available | |
| You can try out the mattress in an Ikea store | You can't try out the mattress in store, only at home | |
| You need to pick up your mattress yourself or pay for delivery (fees depend on location) | Free delivery Australia-wide | |
| 365-day trial period | 120-day trial period | |
| If you change your mind there's no exchange fee, although you'll need to pay a pickup fee to have the mattress returned (fees depend on location) | If you change your mind there's no exchange fee and no pickup fee if you live in most capital cities (fees for Darwin, Hobart and regional areas vary) | |
| 10–25-year warranty (depending on the model) | 10-year warranty |
Which is best for shoppers?
As far as shopping experiences go, Ikea offers a much more consumer-friendly model. Why?
- The free trial period is three times longer than Koala's.
- The warranty on some models lasts a whopping 25 years.
- Ikea has a number of stores around Australia, so you can try each mattress instore before entering the free trial period. This is an easy opportunity to quickly find models that don't feel right before committing to buy.
- There are more models to choose from at varying price points.
But bear these points in mind:
- Ikea doesn't have free delivery and this can get particularly pricey if you live outside a major city.
- They don't pick up if you want to exchange the mattress.
- You can't get a refund during the free trial period. You can only exchange your mattress for another Ikea model.
- You're only eligible for one exchange under the free trial period (so choose wisely).
Which brand is best: Ikea vs Koala?
We recently surveyed more than 1700 Australians about their mattresses to gather important feedback about how these products perform over time in the real world.
This, alongside our detailed test results, can help you identify which mattress brands have the most satisfied customers and the best performing, most reliable products.
Our survey covers a number of manufacturers, including Ikea and Koala.
As far as these two brands are concerned, Koala ranked higher for the overall best mattress brand 2025 score (75% vs 69%), which is based on average test scores, brand reliability, customer satisfaction and the percentage of mattresses we test that are recommended by our experts.
Koala had the edge over Ikea for reliability (86% vs 75%), but Ikea was ahead for customer satisfaction (81% vs 75%).
Which Ikea and Koala mattresses has CHOICE tested?
Unfortunately our experts can't test every single mattress under the sun (or rather the stars), so our priority is to test what you'll find in the shops.
We check current market figures to see what's popular and focus on the big-brand mattresses that sell the most in Australia.
We also include models that you've requested – if a lot of members want it, we're going to test it.
You'll find CHOICE Expert Ratings, as well as comfort scores for when the mattress is brand new and then after eight years of use, for the following Koala and Ikea mattresses in our latest mattress reviews.
Koala SE
- RRP: $950 (queen); $850 (double)
- Type: Mattress-in-a-box
- Material: Foam
- Claimed firmness: Medium-firm
Koala Mattress (2024 model)
- RRP: $1290 (queen); $1150 (double)
- Type: Mattress-in-a-box
- Material: Foam
- Claimed firmness: Adjustable (tested in firm configuration)
Koala Plus
- RRP: $1650 (queen); $1450 (double)
- Type: Mattress-in-a-box
- Material: Foam
- Claimed firmness: Adjustable (tested in firm configuration)
Ikea Abygda
- RRP: $699 (queen); $499 (double)
- Type: Mattress-in-a-box
- Material: Foam
- Claimed firmness: Firm
Ikea Åkrehamn
- RRP: $899 (queen); $799 (double)
- Type: Mattress-in-a-box
- Material: Foam
- Claimed firmness: Firm
Ikea Ånneland
- RRP: $999 (queen); $899(double)
- Type: Mattress-in-a-box
- Material: Spring
- Claimed firmness: Firm
Ikea Valevåg
- RRP: $399 (queen); $349 (double)
- Type: Mattress-in-a-box
- Material: Spring
- Claimed firmness: Firm
Ikea Vatneström
- RRP: $1399 (queen); $1199 (double)
- Type: Instore retail
- Material: Spring
- Claimed firmness: Firm
Ikea Vesteroy
- RRP: $498 (queen); $428 (double)
- Type: Mattress-in-a-box
- Material: Spring
- Claimed firmness: Firm
Ikea Vestmarka
- RRP: $299 (queen); $249 (double)
- Type: Mattress-in-a-box
- Material: Spring
- Claimed firmness: Firm
We recommend three of these 10 mattresses. Sign up to CHOICE to see the full results of our annual mattress test and find out which ones we rate.
Our review covers more than 50 mattresses from brands such as Sealy, Sleeping Duck, Snooze, A.H. Beard and more.
What's in the full review?
Our test results will tell you:
- Whether the actual firmness lives up to the manufacturer's claim.
- How much the mattress moves when your bedmate turns over.
- How the comfort level compares for men and women.
- How well the mattress will hold up after eight years of use.
- How warm it gets.
- How well it repels sweat.
- Good and bad points for each mattress.
Read more at choice.com.au/mattresses
Common FAQs
Do Ikea mattresses come in a box?
No, though Ikea does roll-pack some mattresses in plastic, which are designed to expand when opened not unlike a mattress in a box. Cardboard is used to pack, reinforce and protect mattresses that can't be compacted, then they're wrapped in plastic as well.
Do Ikea mattresses match standard Australian sizes?
Ikea is one of a handful of companies in our test that sells mattresses all over the world. However, there are no global size standards and the queen mattress doesn't even exist in Europe and the UK. So people often ask if the mattresses Ikea sells in Australia are the right size and the answer is yes – well, almost.
Queen mattresses are 203cm long and 153cm wide while thickness varies between models. Ikea 'queen' mattresses are 202cm long by 152cm wide according to the sizing chart. Double mattresses are generally 137 x 187cm. Ikea's double mattresses are 189 x 135cm.
The single centimetre of difference on each side is unlikely to affect placement on mattress bases or the fit for sheets, electric blankets and mattress protectors. There's a small chance that sheets may feel marginally loose if you prefer an ultra-snug fit.
Can you wash the mattress cover?
Not usually. The documentation supplied with the three Koala mattresses in our test does not specify if the covers are washable. The cover on an Ikea mattress can be washed if it can be removed.
Can you roll up a mattress before returning it?
No. You can't roll up the mattresses once they're out of the box.
Is a good mattress expensive?
Koala and Ikea have some of the cheapest mattresses that we review. But despite the wide price range for mattresses (between $189 and $8399 in our latest test), many have more similarities than you'd think.
Our tests and investigations have found that a higher price tag on a mattress doesn't necessarily mean higher quality. In fact, that higher price tag is often nothing more than a big mark-up from retailers.
Consider signing up to CHOICE to access our comprehensive reviews. It's the best way to find the right mattress for your budget and avoid duds.
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