Mattress Types: Foam, Bonnell and Pocket Spring

Strip away the marketing and there are really three mattress types on the market: foam, bonnell spring and pocket spring. They feel different, they wear differently, and they suit different people. Knowing which is which makes choosing far less daunting.

The three mattress types, side by side

Bonnell spring: the traditional choice

Bonnell springs are hourglass-shaped coils wired together into a single unit. Because they are connected, movement travels across the mattress — turn over and your partner feels it. In exchange you get a familiar, supportive, springy feel at the best price in the range, which is why bonnell remains the sensible pick for guest rooms, children’s rooms and tight budgets.

Pocket spring: independent support

In a pocket spring mattress every coil sits in its own fabric pocket and compresses on its own. The practical result is that the mattress follows the shape of your body rather than averaging it out, and one sleeper moving barely disturbs the other. If you share a bed and one of you is a restless sleeper, this is the upgrade that matters most. See what is currently on pocket spring special, or read about our Comfort Pocket 130.

Foam: close contouring

Foam has no springs at all. It moulds to your shape and returns slowly, which suits side sleepers and anyone with pressure-point pain in the shoulder or hip. It transfers almost no movement. The trade-offs are that it sleeps warmer than a spring mattress and has no bounce, which not everyone likes.

Which type suits you

• Share a bed with a restless partner — pocket spring.
• Side sleeper with shoulder or hip pressure — foam, or a plush pocket spring.
• Guest room or a child growing fast — bonnell spring.
• Heavier build — a firmer pocket spring rated for the weight, not a soft foam.
• Sleeps hot — spring over foam, for the airflow.

Type and firmness are separate decisions — you can have a plush pocket spring or a firm one. Our firmness guide covers that half, and why choose a plush mattress goes deeper on the softer end. For a heavier-duty build see heavy-duty spring mattresses.

Browse the full mattress range or the matching bed sets — or ask us which type suits how you sleep.