MEMORY foam mattresses have come a long way since they were first introduced back in the ‘90s and now incorporate pretty high-tech features.
The best memory foam mattresses offer support and comfort, and when teamed with springs create a sleeping environment that’s second to none.
They’re ideal for anybody suffering from aching joints or back pain, as they mould to the shape of your body while keeping your spine and neck in alignment and relieving pressure on your hips and shoulders.
Memory foam can be hot to sleep on and it retains body heat. However manufacturers have gotten round this by adding a top layer with a more open structure, which allows air to circulate and so helps keep you cool.
Side and back sleepers will notice greater support than with a traditional sprung mattress, while people who sleep on their front should opt for a medium to firm foam mattress or a hybrid model (a clever combination of memory foam and pocket springs) to make sure they don’t sink into the foam too much.
This type of mattress comes in at all price points so there’s something to suit all budgets, though you will pay more for the most feature-rich versions.
We tested a selection of the best memory foam mattresses available in the UK right now so read on for our thoughts and find the one that will help you sleep soundly each night.
Best memory foam mattresses at a glance:
- Best mattress overall: Simba Hybrid
- Best luxury hybrid mattress: Panda
- Best value memory foam mattress: Emma Original mattress
- Best value hybrid mattress: Brook and Wilde Lux Mattress
- Best for longest guarantee: Dormeo Octasmart Plus
Simba Hybrid Mattress
Support your sleep with the Simba Hybrid mattress.[/caption]
Simba Hybrid Mattress, from £599
Pros: Supportive, comfortable, 200-night trial, 0% finance option, 10-year guarantee
Cons: Very heavy, especially when in the box, may require deep-fitted sheets, plastic smell when first unboxed
Rating: 4.5/5
Our reviewer found the Simba Hybrid Original easy to unbox but heavy to move into position. It took around three hours for the mattress to expand enough to sleep on and around 24 hours before it reached its full size.
The mattress is 25cm deep so may require deeper sheets, though our tester found her regular sheets fitted – just. The initial plasticky smell on unpacking disappeared within days.
The Hybrid Original has five layers, including a breathable sleep layer and one of Aerocoil springs, which work together to keep you cool.
While the Simba Hybrid Original is more expensive than similar bed-in-a-box mattresses, it is often discounted and currently has 25% off in the Simba sale.
Although the Simba was firmer than our tester was used to, she slept amazingly from the off and found it comfortable and supportive. She had been suffering from insomnia before trying out the Simba Hybrid Original so was delighted when her sleep improved during the trial.
‘The mattress has transformed my sleep, and I feel more rested than I have done in years,’ she revealed.
‘I would (and have) recommend this mattress to close family and friends, especially since the 200-night trial and 10-year guarantee means you can always return it if you don’t love it as much as I did.’
Type: Hybrid, Trial period: 200 nights, Guarantee: 10 years
Read our full Simba Hybrid Mattress review.
Panda Hybrid Bamboo Mattress Pro
Panda Hybrid Bamboo Mattress Pro, from £950
Pros: Feels supportive, really comfortable, cooling bamboo, sustainable, several layers of foam and 1,200 individually enclosed springs, helped sort out my morning aches
Cons: Heavy to move, expensive, took a couple of weeks to get used to the firmness
Rating: 4/5
The Panda Hybrid Pro is made up of six layers, including a layer of 800 springs and several layers of foam that work together to provide optimal support and comfort.
It cradles your body so there’s no pressure on your hips or shoulders, and it keeps your spine nicely in alignment.
Memory foam can retain heat so if you’re a hot sleeper it can disturb you, however the Hybrid Pro has a top layer of BioCell Foam to help stop this. It has an open structure so allowing more air to circulate helping keep you cool.
Below this is a layer of orthopaedic grade foam, which supports you as you sleep, while on top is a cooling – and naturally antibacterial – bamboo cover.
I found this mattress a dream to sleep on, though firmer than I’m used to. It took a week or so to get used to after having slept on a soft mattress for too long, and now not only do I sleep really well, but I wake with fewer aches in the morning.
Type: Hybrid, Trial period: 100 nights, Guarantee: 10 years
Emma Original Mattress
Emma’s Original is the perfect memory foam mattress.[/caption]
Emma Original Mattress, from £339
Pros: Super comfortable, good support, doesn’t get too hot, trial period
Cons: More expensive than many traditional mattresses, needs to be left to expand when first unpacked
Rating: 4/5
The Emma Original mattress aims to be the ultimate “bed in a box”. It has won several awards and is a hit with shoppers, with over 2,000 five-star reviews, according to its website.
Our reviewers found the vacuum-packed mattress easy to open and manoeuvre into place, thanks to the handles on the side.
Though at first glance it was thinner than expected, it expanded to full size within a few hours and was found to be comfortable and sturdy from the get-go.
The Original incorporates several layers of memory foam within a removable, temperature-regulating outer cover.
This includes a 3cm Airgocell foam layer, which helps ensure a cool night’s sleep, allowing heat to escape, while the remaining layers offer ‘advanced zoning’, which the company says gives support in all areas, adapting to any body shape.
One of our reviewers found the mattress absorbed the movement of their restless partner, minimising the impact – a bonus that helped them sleep better.
Currently, the Emma Original is on sale for £254.15, which is slightly cheaper than other comparable products. Emma offers sales during the year so it’s worth waiting for one of those before buying; you can also take advantage of the 200-night trial period to test it and the mattress comes with a 10-year guarantee.
Type: Memory foam, Trial period: 200 nights, Guarantee: 10 years
Read our full Emma Original Mattress review.
READ MORE
- Best mattress deals and sales
- Emma Original mattress review
- Simba Hybrid Pro mattress review
- Nectar mattress review
Brook & Wilde Lux Mattress
The Lux mattress from Brook & Wilde will be comfortable for years.[/caption]
Brook & Wilde Lux Mattress, from £500
Pros: Supportive, comfortable, stands the test of time
Cons: Nothing notable
Rating: 5/5
Our reviewer tested the Brook & Wilde Lux mattress in medium firm and though it seemed a little spongy at first, it was supportive to sleep on and very comfortable.
The vacuum-packed mattress was delivered to the bedroom and unpacked onto the bed by the delivery team. After several hours it had expanded to its full size and was ready for use.
With five layers, the Lux incorporates cooling memory foam, support foam, 1,00 pocket springs and a specialised support foam base, all within a breathable mattress cover.
The five layers work together to provide lumbar, leg and foot support as well as keeping your spine in alignment.
Overall, our tester gave the Lux the thumbs up. While it is on the expensive side, regular discounts and sales bring the price down – currently, there’s a 60% discount on purchases over £749, which reduces the price of a double mattress to £359.60 (from £899).
In conclusion, our reviewer said: ‘Overall we love the Lux. It’s so amazing to have a proper mattress to sleep on after years of back-breaking cheap versions – and we’re still sleeping like babies on it more than two years later.’
Type: Hybrid, Trial period: 200 nights, Guarantee: 10 years
Read our full Brook & Wilde Lux Mattress review.
REM-Fit 400 Hybrid Mattress
The REM-FIT 400 Hybrid is ideal for back support.[/caption]
REM-Fit 400 Hybrid Mattress, from £399.50
Pros: Provides excellent back support, incredibly comfortable, good to share
Cons: Nothing notable
Rating: 5/5
The REM-fit 400 arrived in plain plastic wrapping as the manufacturer is keen to reduce unnecessary packaging. Once freed from its wrapping our testers noticed a slight plasticky smell, but that quickly dissipated.
It had expanded to its full size after a few hours and our reviewers found it the comfiest mattress they’d ever slept on. It was also very supportive and helped relieve the sporadic back problems they’d suffered over the years.
The mattress is made up of several layers, including cool open-cell memory foam and 2,000 pocket springs that help ensure correct spinal alignment.
Edge-to-edge side support walls prevent roll-off and the cover is removable for washing.
Due to its 25cm depth, fitting regular sheets to the mattress can be a bit of a struggle so our reviewers suggest investing in a couple of sets of deep bed sheets will make life easier.
While the mattress is more expensive than some models, it compares with other bed-in-a-box brands in price – and regular discounts bring down the price further. Currently, the REM-Fit 400 is on sale with 60% off, which reduces the price to £399.60 for a UK double.
Type: Hybrid, Trial period: 100 nights, Guarantee: 15 years
Read our full REM-fit 400 Hybrid Mattress review.
Dormeo Octasmart Plus
Dormeo’s Octasmart Plus mattress regulates your temperature.[/caption]
Dormeo Octasmart Plus, from £499.99
Pros: Lightweight, supportive, great for cold sleepers
Cons: Warm sleepers may need lighter sheets in summer
Rating: 4/5
The Dormeo Octasmart Plus is a lightweight, thin mattress that is easy to manoeuvre into place and once opened, expanded to its full size within four hours.
Unlike some other bed-in-a-box mattresses, the Octasmart doesn’t require deep sheets and because it’s lightweight, fitting sheets is easier too.
Our tester slept well on the Octasmart Plus from the get-go but found it softened up a little over the first week. They found it to be between soft and medium-firm, and quite warm – great during the winter, but perhaps requiring a thinner blanket in summer.
They found the mattress supportive, and despite a fidgety partner, they slept soundly. In conclusion, they said they’d struggle to go back to their previous mattress after sleeping on this one.
Our tester commented: ‘The new mattress managed to be soft, snug and supportive and came in a small enough package that it was practical, as well as incredibly comfortable.’
While the price can be more expensive than similar mattresses, regular deals throughout the year make the Octasmart Plus an affordable buy.
Type: Memory foam, Trial period: 60 nights, Guarantee: 18 years
Read our full Dormeo Octasmart Plus Mattress review.
Where to buy memory foam mattresses in the UK?
The best place to buy memory foam mattresses in the UK is usually the websites of individual brands. That way you don’t miss out on the latest discounts and sales, which may not be offered elsewhere.
We found the memory foam mattresses our reviewers tested at:
What are the benefits of a memory foam mattress?
A memory foam mattress adapts to your shape so no matter how you sleep – on your back, side or front – it will support and cushion you. The foam also absorbs movement so if you or your partner move around a lot at night, the movement is isolated and you won’t disturb each other much.
If you suffer from back pain or have other aches, then the best memory foam mattresses could help that, as they support your shoulders and hips, help keep your spine in alignment and relieve pressure points.
What are the drawbacks of a memory foam mattress?
Memory foam mattresses can give off a plasticky smell when first unpacked, however, this fades after a few days.
They can be hot because the memory foam moulds to your body. Although they’re supportive you also sink into the top layer to varying degrees depending on your mattress, which can make you too warm. Many memory foam mattresses however have specially designed open-cell upper layers to keep you cool; some contain gel, which also has a cooling effect on the body.
On the other hand, if you’re a cold person or it’s snowing outside, this characteristic of memory foam mattresses could well be a bonus!
How much are memory foam mattresses?
Prices for memory foam mattresses vary according to materials and size, but expect to pay around £400 for a double.
Mattresses that incorporate more layers, cooling technology, removable top covers and different degrees of firmness are more expensive, but there are often special offers available – check the home page of the individual websites for discounts and offer codes.
The most expensive memory foam mattresses can cost several thousand pounds, but all of the big players in the sector offer a home trials so if you buy and you’re not happy you can return your purchase.
Memory foam mattress types
Traditional
Traditional memory foam became popular in the 1990s and offered support and comfort to enhance circulation and decrease stress on your joints. It is very good at absorbing heat.
Best for: Those with back or joint pain and cold sleepers.
Open Cell
Once manufacturers realised that the heat absorption of memory foam was putting some people off buying it, they modified the structure so the foam had more air pockets, making it better at dispersing heat and therefore regulating body temperature better.
It also responds more quickly to pressure, so helps avoid the feeling of sinking often associated with traditional memory foam.
Best for: Hot sleepers who prefer more freedom of movement.
Gel
This memory foam has been infused with gel to offer better cooling properties. Like open-cell designs, gel is helps regulate body temperature, but has a firmer feel than open-cell.
Best for: Hot sleepers who want greater support.
Hybrid
These types of mattresses are made up of a traditional spring layer together with a layer or more of memory foam.
They offer the pressure relief of memory foam yet have the classic feel of a sprung mattress. They are both cosy and supportive.
Best for: Those looking to switch from spring to foam for the first time.
