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How to choose a mattress on a budget: a UK buyer's guide

By Lewis Whitter, wedding & events photographer (11+ years) · How we pick

How to choose a mattress on a budget: a UK buyer's guide — Photo: PPR 19, CC BY-SA 4.0. Credits

A mattress is one of the few things you use every single day for years, so it's worth getting right. But "right" doesn't have to mean expensive. Plenty of well-reviewed mattresses sell for a few hundred pounds, especially in sales, and the big online brands let you try them at home.

Here's how to choose one without overspending. For our current picks, see the SkintSTUFF beds and mattresses page.

Step 1: check it's the mattress, not the base

Before you buy anything, look at what's under your mattress. Which? points out that sagging and poor support can come from a weak frame or broken slats. Check the slats are evenly spaced and fixed in place. A cheap, solid frame can fix a "bad mattress" for a lot less money.

Step 2: pick a type

Memory foam: moulds to your shape and soaks up movement, so you're less likely to feel a partner turning over. Usually the cheapest for the comfort you get. Some people find foam sleeps warm.
Pocket sprung: individual springs in fabric pockets. Bouncier and more breathable than foam, and a traditional choice from UK makers.
Hybrid: springs underneath, foam on top. The middle ground: the cooler, bouncier feel of springs with the pressure relief of foam. Hybrids used to be pricey, but there are now well-rated ones at budget prices.

If you share a bed and one of you is a restless sleeper, foam or hybrid usually works better. If you run hot, look at sprung or hybrid.

Step 3: get the firmness right

Firmness is personal, but a rough guide helps:

Side sleepers usually prefer medium to medium-soft, so shoulders and hips can sink in a little.
Back sleepers often like medium to medium-firm.
Front sleepers tend to need firmer support so their hips don't sag.
Heavier people usually find a mattress feels softer than its label says, so go a step firmer.

"Medium" isn't a standard measure. One brand's medium can feel like another's firm, so read lots of reviews from people with a similar build and sleeping position to yours.

Step 4: use the sleep trial properly

Most online brands offer a sleep trial. Which? says they usually run for at least 30 days, and some are much longer. But the small print matters:

Some make you keep the mattress for a minimum number of nights before you can return it.
Some collect it free; others charge a fee.
Some only let you exchange it, not get a refund.
Online and in-store terms can be different, even from the same brand.

Read the trial terms before you buy, and keep your order email. And give it time: Which? suggests three to four weeks for your body to adjust to a new mattress, and it may soften in that time. Don't judge it on night one, especially if your old mattress was past its best.

Step 5: buy in the sales, not at "full price"

Mattress brands run sales almost constantly, and the bigger events (Black Friday, January, bank holidays) often bring the best prices. Be wary of huge "was" prices: compare the sale price with what it's sold for over the last few months, not with a list price that nobody pays.

Cheap fixes before you replace

Too firm? A memory foam topper can soften it while keeping support underneath. Which? notes a duvet is no substitute, as it squashes flat. A very soft topper can make the bed warmer.
Want it to last? A waterproof mattress protector keeps spills and sweat out, and many warranties need the mattress to be clean.
Base worn out? A simple metal frame is a cheap, solid upgrade over a sagging old divan.

Mattress size and delivery

Measure your bed frame before you order. UK sizes differ from European and US ones, so a "double" from an overseas seller may not fit a UK frame. Most budget mattresses now arrive rolled in a box: give them the full time the maker says to expand (often a day or more) before you judge how they feel, and check whether the delivery includes taking your old mattress away.

The quick version

Rule out the bed base first.
Foam for value and stillness, sprung for bounce and cooler sleep, hybrid for a bit of both.
Match firmness to how you sleep and your build.
Read the trial terms, then give it three to four weeks.
Buy in a sale, and don't trust inflated "was" prices.