Different Types of Mattresses,
Explained

Buying a mattress can be extremely stressful, since it’s a major investment and is one of the objects in the home that has the most influence on the quality of your daily and nightly life. Especially since there are so many different types of mattress, trying to narrow down your options by comfort, quality, and cost can feel overwhelming.
 
Luckily, it doesn’t have to be — our guide is designed to simplify the process and make buying a mattress as comfortable as the sleep you’ll be having as soon as you bring it home.
 

The first thing you need to determine is whether you want a spring mattress or a foam mattress (or both, also known as a hybrid mattress).
 
Here’s everything you need to know to decide between spring, foam, and hybrid:
 
Innerspring Mattresses
The most traditional type of mattress, the spring mattress is made up of a layer of coils surrounded by layers of comfort material that can consist of materials like latex, natural fibers, or foam. Different types of spring mattresses use different coil types and layouts to achieve different effects.
 
Advantages

• Offer solid back support
• Available in a wide range of firmnesses
• Budget-friendly options available

• Can wear out more quickly than foam
• Older springs can become noisy
• Offer less pressure relief on joints

• Softer on side sleepers and those with joint pain
• Absorbs motion of restless sleepers
• Lack of springs eliminates noise
• More durable than spring mattresses long-term

• Certain foams trap body heat
• Softness can cause “sinking” feeling
• Insufficient support for certain types of sleeper
• More expensive than spring mattresses

• Softer than springs without the “sinking” feeling of foam
• Offers pressure point relief without compromising on back support
• Typically quieter than spring mattress alternatives
• Regulates temperature better than pure foam mattresses
• Can work for couples with different firmness preferences

• Higher-quality hybrid mattresses can be expensive
• Doesn’t absorb motion as well as foam

Pillow top mattresses are available in spring, foam, and hybrid constructions, and simply offer an additional layer of cushion material at the top of the mattress.
 
There are a few drawbacks to the pillow top mattress option. One is cost—the luxurious feel offered by the soft pillow top comes at an additional price. Another is that some pillow top mattresses are too tall to fit into standard fitted sheets, so they require special linens.

 
Different spring mattress constructions offer different comfort characteristics, and finding the correct type can really enhance sleep quality.
 
In addition to differences in construction, spring mattresses can vary by the thickness or gauge of the coil. The thickest available coil is the 12-gauge, which will feel the most firm.
 
Continuous Coil
Made up of rows of flat, connected, single-wire coils, the spring layer of a continuous coil mattress looks less like a series of coils and more like a latticework of metal supports.
 
Advantages

• Can be flipped to extend mattress lifespan
• Easy to transport

• Less individual pressure point support
• Lower-quality feel

• Better localized support

• One of the least durable spring mattress types

• Offer individualized coil support
• More durable than Bonnell spring mattresses

• Generally the most expensive type of spring mattress

• Absorbs motion of restless sleepers
• Best spring mattress for contouring to pressure points

• Generally the most expensive type of spring mattress

 
Most foam mattresses combine two or more different types of foam, but generally each mattress is characterized by one dominant foam style. Different foam mattresses offer different pro’s and con’s.
 
Memory Foam
Memory foam is the type of mattress that most people are talking about when they talk about foam mattresses. Invented by NASA in the 1970s to make aircraft cushions safer and then adopted for use in hospital beds, memory foam has an advanced capacity for absorbing pressure and motion. This makes it a popular option for those with certain types of body pain.
 
Advantages

• Offers gentler mattress support for painful joints
• One of the best options for absorbing motion

• Least bounce back quality of the foam mattress types
• Can trap body heat, causing discomfort
• Generally more expensive than other mattress types

• Gentle on hips and joints
• Better temperature regulation than memory foam

• Usually more expensive than memory foam

• Higher bounce back capacity than other foam options, lessening “sinking” feeling
• Can be produced using natural materials

• Can feel “spongy”
• More expensive than many other foam types
• Not an option for those with latex allergies

• Similar to memory foam in feel
• Higher bounce back capacity than memory foam, lessening “sinking” feeling

• High resiliency foam is expensive to manufacture, which increases cost

 
Adjustable Bed Mattresses
Adjustable beds allow the sleeper to prop up the head or foot of the mattress to enhance circulation, increase comfort, and customize their sleep experience. However, it’s essential to note that not all mattresses are compatible with adjustable beds.
 
If you have or are considering buying an adjustable bed, your best option is to purchase your mattress and adjustable bed from the same company. (For instance, Casper makes an adjustable bed frame that is compatible with all three of its mattress models.)
 
Usually Compatible:

• Memory foam
• Latex foam

• Hybrid mattresses

• Innerspring mattresses unless specifically manufactured for use with adjustable bed

• Relieve pressure on painful body parts
• Water can be heated to therapeutic effect

• Difficult to set up and transport
• Can weigh as much as 2,000 pounds when full
• Potential for leaks
• Absorb very little motion