Best pocket sprung mattresses for 2025

If you're not keen on the idea of memory foam, take a look at the best pocket sprung mattresses from our expert tests and the key questions to consider when buying.

Whether you want a traditional pocket sprung mattress or one with natural fillings, our Best Buy recommendations will help simplify your search.

Not sure if a pocket sprung mattress is for you? See pros and cons of the different mattress types in our best mattress guide.

Best pocket sprung mattresses

Only logged-in Which? members can view our recommendations in the table below. If you're not yet a member, join Which? to get instant access.

Pocket sprung mattress reviews by price

• Pocket sprung mattresses under £400
• Pocket sprung mattresses under £600
• Pocket sprung mattresses under £800
• Pocket sprung mattresses over £800

Why you can trust our mattress reviews

We work hard to ensure our reviews are independent and based on robust scientific data not personal opinion.

To keep them free from bias, we refuse free products from PRs and manufacturers and pay for all the mattresses we review.

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Once purchased, we test all the mattresses to the same rigorous test programme. Our tests completely ignore brand and price and focus instead on the most important aspects of a mattress based on what mattress owners tell us is most important.

We go to extraordinary lengths to ensure you can trust our verdicts, including our helpful Best Buy and Great Value recommendations.

Take a look at our full list of mattress reviews to help you get the best night's sleep.

How to buy the best pocket sprung mattress

There are a few key questions you should ask yourself before you invest in a new pocket sprung mattress.

• Do you get hot and sweaty in bed? If you tend to overheat or suffer from hot flushes in bed, a pocket sprung mattress can be the ideal choice. The spring construction means they tends to be more breathable than the other types, and can be cooler when you get into bed. Choose one that our reviews rate as 'cold' or 'very cold' and scores at least three stars on breathability.
• Do you like to sink into your mattress? A pocket sprung mattress won't necessarily mould to your shape in the same way memory foam does, although the pocket springs are designed to be responsive to your shape.
• Do you sleep on your side? Pocket sprung mattresses enclose each spring in its own fabric 'pocket', which reacts to pressure from your body independently. A decent pocket sprung mattress will distribute this evenly across the mattress rather than letting one part sink in more than the other – important if you like to curl up on your side. 
• Do you want a long-lasting mattress? Overall, pocket sprung mattresses are durable, in the sense that they come through our tests undamaged. However, some suffer with a problem – the layers compress, which causes a reduction in height as the mattress ages. In some cases, spinal support is affected. This means your mattress may not stand the test of time and you'll need to get a new one, or invest in a mattress topper.
• Will I be able to move the mattress myself? The pocket sprung mattress we've tested weigh from less than 20kg to over 50kg, so some of them are pretty hefty and may need two people to move. Some are delivered flat, as opposed to rolled up, so it's worth considering how easy the access is to your bedroom.  
• How much are you willing to spend? Pocket sprung mattresses tend to cost less than hybrid, but more than the basic open coil sprung mattresses (these are usually the cheapest). We've tested a range of pocket sprung mattresses from less than £200 to more than £2,000, so there's something for everyone's budget.

Not sure about pocket sprung? See our guide to the best memory foam mattresses.

Where to buy a pocket sprung mattress

Most mattress retailers stock pocket sprung mattresses.

• Ikea offers a decent selection of own-brand pocket sprung mattresses to buy online and in stores. Most are cheaper than the average pocket sprung mattresses we've tested. They come in standard UK sizes as well as European sizes in some ranges. Read more about Ikea mattress sizes in our UK bed sizes guide.
• John Lewis stocks more than 600 pocket sprung mattresses on its website, at the time of writing, so there are plenty to choose from including its own-brand range and mattresses from the likes of Silentnight, Jay-Be, Sealy and Hypnos.
• Dreams also stocks a range of pocket sprung mattresses from brands such as Silentnight, Sleepeezee, Relyon and its own-brand Hyde & Sleep. You can visit a store or order online if you don't have a store nearby.
• MattressOnline stocks a range of pocket sprung mattresses for most budgets, and they're often on offer, too. This online-only retailer stocks mattresses from brands such as SleepSoul, Relyon, Silentnight and Harrison Spinks.
• Mattressman stocks a selection of Silentnight and Sleepsoul pocket sprung mattresses, several of which we've tested. Buy online or visit one of the brand's nine stores.

Not happy with your purchase? Find out how to return a mattress.

How many pocket springs should a mattress have?

When we test mattresses, we count their springs and then work out the density of the springs per square metre of mattress.

Which? test lab experts say you should look for a spring density value of more than 250 springs/sq m of the ideal spring diameter, wire gauge and number of coils. As a guide, this equates to more than 640 springs in a UK double mattress (135cm x 190cm, if we assume springs to the edge – construction of mattresses may differ). 

Mattress retailers often use the number of springs or 'spring count' in the names or descriptions of their mattresses as a selling point. We've seen premium mattresses that claim to have more than 1,500 springs inside them. Some mattresses have several layers of springs, or small springs inside larger ones, increasing their spring count. Large mattresses may also have a higher spring count, simply because their size offers more space inside to cram with springs.

But a high spring count doesn't automatically mean a better mattress. We've tested mattresses with spring densities ranging from 111 springs/sq m to 826 springs/sq m, and found a wide variation in performance.

Our advice? Don't buy a mattress because it promises thousands of springs and therefore a better sleep. An excellent mattress is more likely a result of its various layers working together effectively than the number or configuration of its springs.

* Note: the lowest spring density we've seen in our tests (111 springs/sq m) is more typical of simple Bonnell spring or open-coil mattresses than pocket spring mattresses.

Emma vs Simba vs Eve: find out who makes the best mattresses.

Do more pocket springs mean a firmer mattress?

Not necessarily. The number of springs can sometimes be less important than how the mattress is constructed overall. 

What will affect firmness of a pocket sprung mattress are the number of coils in the pocket springs, the gauge of wire used and the pre-tension of the springs in the pocket. 

Is a firm mattress better for back pain? Read our guide on the best mattresses for back pain to find out.

How often should you turn a pocket sprung mattress?

These days, many mattresses we test are designed to be used on one side only, making them single-sided, which means you don't need to flip them over. However, you will still need to rotate the mattress from head to toe to help keep it in the best condition and maximise its lifespan. 

The position and size of the grip handles, which you'll usually find on the side, make a big difference to the ease of moving the mattress. Some mattresses require turning every three months, but may not have handles. And even those that do have them, the size and weight may still mean it's a two-person job!

Always check the care label for the instructions specific to your mattress. 

Read more about our rigorous mattress tests in how we test mattresses.