Best Mattresses

What type of mattress should I buy?

Unfortunately, there's no stock standard answer to this question. The type of mattress you should buy depends on the a number of competing factors that need to be delicately weighed up. For example, your preferred sleeping position may be on your side, which might make a medium mattress suitable. But what if your partner sleeps on their stomach, which tends to suit a firm mattress?

There's also the question of mattress materials. If you're a hot sleeper or you have allergies, you'll probably want to source a mattress that doesn't trap heat or dust inside.

Not to forget the matter of personal shopping preferences - you might like the new-age convenience of having a mattress-in-a-box delivered straight to your door, or perhaps you'd rather tread the traditional mattress-buying path and buy in store or in a showroom.

Consider your sleeping position

Your sleeping position will often determine whether or not you find a particular mattress comfortable and supportive. Choose a mattress that will best accomodate your style of sleeping, whether you're a side sleeper, stomach sleeper, sleep on your back, or in another way.

What are the different mattress ‘feels’ or comfort levels?

There are a number of different comfort levels that a mattress can offer. Mainly, these are soft (or plush), medium and firm. Many brands also offer variables such as very soft, medium-soft, medium-firm and extra firm.

Soft mattresses · See all

Also known as plush mattresses, these give you the feeling of ‘sinking in'. They are usually made up of soft foam comfort layers, such as memory foam, in both the upper layers and mattress core. Soft mattresses have the most amount of give of all the mattress firmness levels, as they cradle your body by adapting and contouring to its shape. This can help provide pressure relief for joints (hips, knees and shoulders in particular), which won’t painfully dig into a hard mattress surface.

While a soft mattress sounds comfortingly cloud-like, it also provides the least amount of support, including spinal support. This can cause your back and hips to sag, causing morning aches. Since soft mattresses are made from foam or other highly yielding materials, they are less resilient than other mattress types and so will wear out faster, meaning you need to replace them more regularly than other mattresses.

Medium mattresses · See all

These provide a good balance between comfort, support and firmness. They usually come in two different types: medium-soft and medium-firm.

Medium-soft mattresses are comprised of the same plush upper layers as a soft mattress, which your skin makes contact with. However, the mattress core or foundation is designed with stronger materials such as synthetic latex. Medium-soft mattresses are suitable for sleepers who like the gentle cradling of a soft mattress, but also long for that little bit of extra support.

Medium-firm mattresses are the most popular ‘feel' for a mattress and are the standard for universal comfort. They’re popular with sleepers who shift position frequently throughout the night. They will accommodate your movement by contouring to your body but ensuring you won’t sink in. They will push back to give you support, but still let you move freely enough. Medium-firm mattresses are also a good choice if you share your bed, as they can cater to a number of sleeping positions.

Firm mattresses · See all

These are designed with a rigid core and support layers, which prevents any sinking into the mattress at all. These mattresses are usually constructed from resilient materials like latex, and are more supportive for sleepers with back pain. Firm mattresses also provide catered support to front and back sleepers, as they help to align the spine. They're usually uncomfortable for side sleepers.

What type of mattress material is best?

Memory foam mattresses· See all

Memory foam has a medium level of softness that conforms and moulds to the shape of your body to similarly cradle you as you sleep.

Memory foam pads you into the bed, to the point where it will leave a temporary imprint of your body in the foam. It's made to spring back though, so the material shouldn't technicallly sink or collapse over time. Memory foam is often referred to as as temperature-sensitive visco-elastic foam by retailers. This means it's made to respond to body heat and weight, and adapt accordingly to provide comfort.

Latex mattresses · See all

Latex mattresses come in two forms: natural latex, which comes from the sap of the rubber tree, or synthetic latex, which imitates the solid feel of latex by using a mix of natural latex and petrochemicals like styrene and butadeine. 100% natural latex mattresses are rare, as the manufacturing process usually involves the addition of some chemicals. As a result, most latex mattresses are a blend of natural and synthetic. See our pick for the best latex mattress.

Tips for buying a latex mattress

• Retailers will often dub latex mattresses as being either Dunlop or Talalay latex. These terms are used to described the different manufacturing processes. While there isn't a huge difference between them, Dunlop is generally more dense. This can make it more resilient, and when combined with a firm comfort level, it can provide a more rigid surface than Talalay models (but it won't automatically be firmer - it still depends on the mattress feel).
• Since Talalay is made by pushing carbon dioxide gas through the mattress moulds along with latex, it has a more open, airy structure than its Dunlop counterpart. This makes Talalay latex mattresses even more breathable for hot sleepers.
• If you're big on eco-friendliness, then a 100% natural latex mattress - while trickier to source - is still out there.

Pocket spring mattresses · See all

These mattresses are built with vertical rows of pockets in their core containing thousands of springs. The sectioning off of springs into separate pockets means support is graduated across the mattress.

This means that if there are two sleepers on the same bed, each of them is supported by different 'zones' of pocket springs. If one sleeper moves, it doesn't affect the springs in the other sleeper's zone. The overall benefit is less partner disturbance during the night. (This is the opposite of a traditional innerspring mattress, which uses one set of coils throughout the mattress - so it's a matter of 'when I move you move'). See our pick for the best spring mattress.

Hybrid mattresses

As their name suggests, these mattresses feature a combination of materials, such as a latex or pocket spring base with softer memory foam comfort layers. These mattresses will have a wide array of pros and cons, consistent with the individual materials they’re made from.

Most mattresses are hybrids in one way or another. The mattress ‘technology’ specified by retailers often refers to the base/core, while any comfort layers or quilting refers to the buffer between your body and the mattress core. Look for materials that are breathable, comfortable and allergy friendly. Natural fibres usually fit the bill, like cotton or bamboo.

Since these mattresses try and take the best bits of each mattress layer and put them together, they're usually more expensive than other mattress types.

What about mattress sizes?

If you’re buying the whole kit and caboodle when it comes to bedding (bed frame and mattress, or perhaps an ensemble) you'll need to decide on a size.

The first thing to do is measure your room. While retailers may recommend investing in the largest bed your room can fit, it's better not to cramp your room with a huge bed. This way you can comfortably house other bedroom furniture like a desk or bedside table without the room feeling cramped and looking cluttered.

You may also want to opt for a slighter smaller mattress size if you’re adding other, more elaborate design features to your bed, as a tall headboard.

The mattress size should also accommodate the people sleeping in it! The length of your mattress should be at least 10-15cm longer than the tallest sleeper. You might want to go up a size if you’re sleeping next to a sprawler, or if you'll have kids or pets climbing into the bed with you on those lazy Sunday mornings.

The most common mattress sizes in Australia are single, double, queen and king, however many brands or mattress series offer variants, such as king single and super king.

How many years should I keep my mattress?

Since mattresses can cost you an arm and a leg, you want to at least make sure that it's comfortably supporting those arms and legs for many years to come.

Mattress warranties typically range from 10-20 years, but most mattresses will last about 8-10 years. This means shopping specifically for a mattress with a longer warranty isn't really neccessary.

Your mattress will last longer if you give it a little TLC every now and then. This includes rotating and flipping your mattress regularly to air it out and ensure it doesn’t get limp or saggy in ‘high-traffic areas’ where your body likes to lie.

A mattress protector (pictured) can also help keep your mattress clean and dry. This piece of removable bedding offers a shield between you and the mattress. This prevents your mattress soaking up sweat, dirt, skin cells, spills and more. The mattress protector will bear the brunt of this daily grit, and you can just take it off and wash it.

Another way to keep your mattress healthier and more hygienic is to choose a mattresses with a removable, washable cover, like the Pure Comfort Latex Mattress natural latex and Tencel cover.

If your mattress hasn't yet reached its 8th birthday but you notice sagging or lumps - or you're waking up in pain - it's probably time to say goodbye. While starting the hunt for a new mattress is a prime contender for your 'To Do Later' list, it isn't worth the potential health problems an old and defective mattress can cause.

What about a mattress in a box?

Mattresses-in-a-box have changed the mattress market over the last few years. You no longer need to go to a showroom and vie for a lie-down on prospective new mattresses. After you make your purchase online, the product is vacuum-sealed and delivered to your door.

Some of the best-rated mattresses on ProductReview are the ones you get in a box, like the Koala Mattress and the Sleeping Duck Mattress.

Here are some plus and minus points for taking the plunge and shopping differently to buy a mattress in a box:

What is the best mattress?

Best mattress for side sleepers

The side sleepers who purchased a Zenna mattress all had very positive things to say about it. The Zenna is made from a single block of latex, with 7 different density zones for each part of your body.

Best mattress for back sleepers

People who sleep face-up particularly liked the Sleeping Duck Medium firmness option offered by Sleeping Duck. While your personal preferences may lean one way or the other, the SD Medium seems to be a great one-size-fits-all option.

Best mattress for front sleepers

If you sleep on your stomach, you will probably like a firm mattress that gives you plenty of support, especially if you also use a low-profile pillow. Sleeping Duck's award-winning Sleeping Duck Firm mattress comes with a couple of firmness options so you know you're getting their highly-rated base product with just a bit more support.

Best mattress for kids

The Eco Kids mattress makes a lot of claims, including that it is "Specifically designed to help children grow". While we didn't ask parents for a copy of their kids growth chart with their reviews, there are plenty of reviewers raving about this mattress, praising its bamboo fabric and sturdy edges.

Best mattress for hot sleepers

The Onebed Original mattress has two different top layers which you can alternate to your preference - a latex layer and a memory foam layer. By having the latex layer on top, many reviewers found this to be a great summer mattress that didn't retain too much heat. If nights do start to get too chilly, you always have to option to swap to the warmer memory foam top layer.

Best mattress for those with neck or back issues

When we looked at ratings solely from reviewers who indicated they had pre-existing neck or back issues, the Emma Comfort mattress was one of the top performers. These reviewers felt like they were getting the full body support they needed, and felt like they weren't going to be easily displaced during the night.

Best latex mattress

If you're looking for a latex mattress, it's hard to go past a specialist. The Pure Comfort from Latex Mattress Australia has a few different firmness options, and they offer individualised advice to help you decide which of their products will be best for you.

Best spring mattress

If you're a traditionalist who is not on board with the wave of all-foam mattresses that have washed over the market in the last decade, Sleeping Duck have you covered. The latest version of their award-winning mattress, the Mach II, has just been released and comes Medium, Firm, or Half-and-Half support options. You can choose a different firmness via a free foam swap within the first 100 nights. The mattress comes compressed and vacuum sealed so you get all the convenience of modern delivery with tried-and-true comfort of springs.

Conclusion

Overall, buying a mattress requires the careful consideration of a number of factors, the most important of which include: your most common sleeping position, the comfort level you'd prefer (soft, medium or firm), which mattress materials are most compatible with your sleeping habits, and any existing ailments or allergies you have. Of course, the price weighs in as well, and a bed in a box is cheaper than one bought in store. However, nothing can really beat the true test of experience, so look for a mattress that offers a free trial period of at least 30 days, with the offer of a full refund if you get anything less than your forty winks. That way you can sleep on it, then continue the search if you haven't yet found your mattress match made in heaven.