Sleep Health
Published March 9, 2022
12 minDifferent Types of Mattresses
Are you planning to buy a mattress but confused as to which one to buy? Well, in order to make the right decision, you must first know what are the different types of mattresses in the market that hav
Table of contents
What Are the Different Types of Mattresses?Other Mattress TypesConclusionFrequently Asked Questions
Are you planning to buy a mattress but confused as to which one to buy? Well, in order to make the right decision, you must first know what are the different types of mattresses in the market that have a high demand. You also need to know how they differ in feel, comfort, and support and what each one is ideal for. Here is a mattress guide to educate you on different types of mattresses, the type of mattress material used in each one of them, the advantages and disadvantages of different types of bed, and more. Read this to find what is the most comfortable mattress for you.
| Mattress Type | Firmness | Lifespan | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Innerspring | Medium to Firm | 5 - 8 Years | $600 - $1,100 |
| Memory Foam | Soft to Medium | 8 - 10 Years | $900 - $1,300 |
| Latex | Medium | 10 - 12 Years | $1,600 - $2,000 |
| Hybrid | Medium | 8 - 10 Years | $1,300 - $2,000 |
What Are the Different Types of Mattresses?
There are different types of mattresses available in the market and the difference lies in design and materials used for construction. This section details some of the popular types of mattresses along with their intent and purpose.Innerspring Mattresses
An innerspring mattress is made of a layer of coils, which are surrounded by a layer of comfort materials - mostly natural fibers, foam, or latex - on the top and a layer of supportive material on the bottom. These coils compress as you apply pressure on them and spring back as you remove the pressure. For this reason, innerspring mattresses are well able to accommodate the body’s weight. They are comfortable, soft, bouncy, and offer great support. Please note there is no comfort layer above the coil and if there is any layer it is of minimal thickness and mostly cotton or polyester that affects the overall feel of the mattress. Innerspring mattresses allow easy flow of air through the coils, which is why they don’t retain heat.Pros of Innerspring Mattress- Temperature regulation
- Affordable price - due to less robust design
- Offers great back and edge support
- Good bounce
- Available in different firmness levels
- May damage quickly than foam due to direct pressure on coils
- Provide less pressure relief on joints
- Uncomfortable for side sleepers and those with major pressure points
- Noise from older springs
- Does not offer motion isolation
- Continuous Coils - Only one single piece of wire is used to construct all of the individual springs and lattices. This type of spring mattress is easy to transport and can be flipped to prolong its lifespan. But, the quality is on the lower end and offers less individual pressure point support.
- Bonnell Coils- These coils are shaped like an hourglass. They are placed evenly throughout the mattress and are tightly bound together with an interior network of smaller helical coils. There is high pressure on the coils as you compress, which results in more motion transfer. Better localized support is the biggest advantage of this innerspring mattress subtype. That said, it is one of the least durable subtypes.
- Offset Coils- These are cylindrical coils placed slightly apart from each other and a small, different piece of metal is used to connect them together. When compared to Bonnell coils, offset coils have a little more contouring and motion isolation. Offset coils offer individualized coil support and are more durable than the Bonnell spring mattresses. However, they are very expensive spring mattress types.
- Marshall or Pocketed Coil - Each coil is wrapped in a fabric casing, and then all of them are sewn together. Therefore, the coils have more scope to move and compress without disturbing the surrounding coils, improving contouring to pressure points and motion isolation.
Memory Foam Mattresses
This mattress type is popular ever since NASA invented memory foam and is widely available in the market. Memory foam is one of the most popular mattress materials. Foam mattresses contain layers of foams (varying in density). Such a combination enhances softness and support. In foam mattresses, the support core is usually a thick layer of polyfoam that is quite denser and firmer than the polyfoam in the comfort system, which is also made of one or more layers including polyfoam, latex, memory foam, or other fabrics. Unlike the innerspring mattress, there is no coil-like construction in the memory foam mattresses. Therefore, foam mattresses are highly comfortable and some of the softest mattresses which provide adequate pressure relief and motion isolation. There are different types of foam mattresses depending on how the interior layers are arranged Pros of a Foam Mattress- Ideal for side sleepers
- Softer on people with joint pain
- No springs no noise
- Provide pressure relief
- Absorbs motion of sleepers who toss and turn a lot
- Long-lasting than spring mattresses
- Some types of foam may trap heat
- Inadequate support for certain sleepers
- Softness can cause sink
- Lack of bounce
- Weak edge support
- More expensive than the spring mattress
Latex Mattresses
Latex mattresses are made of rubber material and latex is used to construct the comfort system and the support core. It is the use of latex that makes this type of mattress conform to the body and promote spinal alignment. Besides, latex makes the bed bouncy, and significantly responsive - a notable aspect of mattress for couples to have good sex. When compared to memory foam, latex transfers more motion, but it can be a little disruptive for people who are sensitive to movement on the bed. The support core latex is designed to be firmer and denser to provide stability. The latex used for the comfort system is designed to have more contouring as compared to the support core latex. Different manufacturers can employ different types of latex. Pros of Latex Mattress- Higher bounce back capacity
- No feeling of sinking
- Can be manufactured using natural materials
- Latex is one of the most durable options
- Some latex mattresses may feel “spongy”
- Higher price than many other foam types
- Not suitable for people with latex allergies
- The heavyweight of the mattress makes it difficult to transport
- Dunlop Latex - It is slightly denser and firmer on one side. During the making of this latex, a thick sap is extracted from trees and whipped into a froth, and poured in a mold. It is then baked at a high temperature so that it turns into its final configuration.
- Talalay Latex - It is lighter and airier with consistent texture. In this latex-making process, once the sap is whipped and poured in a mold, it is vacuum-sealed. Then it is frozen and baked so that there is limited sediment flow.
Hybrid Mattresses
The construction of a hybrid mattress includes innerspring coil support and a comfort system, both working in tandem to provide you with enhanced support. Users get a balanced feel and can reap the benefits of both innerspring and memory foam. Besides memory foam, a comfort system can be made from latex, polyfoam, and textile fabrics. The design of the comfort system has a great impact on the performance of the hybrid mattress. It has got a great demand and is trending in the mattress industry. Pros of Hybrid Mattresses- Ideal for side, back, and stomach sleepers
- Best for couples looking for combined sleep needs
- Designed to have balanced features
- Offers good bounce
- Provide solid temperature regulation
- Expensive if the mattress construction is a combination of innerspring or foam
- Memory foam layers are too soft for some sleepers
- A heavier and bulkier mattress is difficult to transport
- Lacks motion isolation due to pocketed coils
