What is the first thing to decide when buying a mattress?

Pick the support type first — pocket sprung, open coil, foam, latex or hybrid. Then match spring tension or foam density to your body weight. Then pick how soft or firm the top feels for your sleep position.

Soft, medium or firm — which should I buy?

Those words mix spring support and top feel. For pocket sprung beds, spring tension should suit your weight. The padding on top decides plushness. See our spring tension versus comfort feel guide for the split.

What size mattress do couples need in the UK?

Many couples prefer King (150 × 200 cm) or Super King (180 × 200 cm) over Double (135 × 190 cm) for more width. Always check sizes in centimetres, not just the name on the label.

mattresses

How to Choose a Mattress (UK Decision Guide)

Entity: how to choose a mattress

Neat mattress with turned-down sheets on an upholstered bed in soft daylight — How a finished mattress and bedding stack can look once the bed is made.

In short

Choose a mattress by picking the build type first, then matching spring tension or foam support to your body weight, then picking top feel for how you sleep. Check UK size in centimetres and bed base fit. Soft, medium and firm labels mean different things in different shops. Split support from top feel before you compare beds.

Educational flowchart from mattress type to spring tension, surface feel, UK size and base check — Start with construction and support for your body mass, then tune surface feel for sleep position — not the other way around.

Materials used

pocket springs
open coil springs
memory foam
latex
hybrid stacks

Average lifespan

6– 10 years

The five-step decision path

1. Pick a build type

Type	Good starting point
Pocket sprung	Springs in fabric bags. Good for couples. Air can flow through.
Hybrid	Springs plus a thick foam or latex top layer
Memory foam	Foam that moulds to your shape. Cuts down on movement felt from a partner
Latex	Bouncy foam. Often cooler than classic memory foam
Open coil	Linked springs. Lower cost. More partner movement felt

Overview of all types: mattress types explained.

2. Match support to body weight

For pocket sprung and hybrid beds, spring tension (how stiff the springs are) should suit your weight — not the word “soft” on the shop label. See spring tension vs comfort feel.

For foam beds, read density and ILD separately from thickness.

3. Tune top feel to sleep position

Use firmness and sleep position: side sleepers often need more give at shoulders and hips; stomach sleepers often need less sink.

4. Lock size and base

UK sizes in centimetres
Base compatibility (slat gaps, foundations, adjustable beds)
Footprint and access for stairs and doorways

5. Plan the sleep system

Pillow, duvet TOG, protector and optional topper change the night as much as the mattress core. Start with how to choose a pillow and how to choose a duvet.

Couples with different needs

Different body weights or firmness likes → couples and zip-and-link and motion isolation.

After you buy

Frequently asked questions

What is the first thing to decide when buying a mattress?: Pick the support type first — pocket sprung, open coil, foam, latex or hybrid. Then match spring tension or foam density to your body weight. Then pick how soft or firm the top feels for your sleep position.
Soft, medium or firm — which should I buy?: Those words mix spring support and top feel. For pocket sprung beds, spring tension should suit your weight. The padding on top decides plushness. See our spring tension versus comfort feel guide for the split.
What size mattress do couples need in the UK?: Many couples prefer King (150 × 200 cm) or Super King (180 × 200 cm) over Double (135 × 190 cm) for more width. Always check sizes in centimetres, not just the name on the label.