Best Innerspring Mattress

The innerspring mattress was one of the very first mattress types—it’s been around since the 1800s. Since their invention, innerspring beds have undergone many changes, and are now a lot more comfortable than they were years ago.

You likely grew up sleeping on an innerspring, as they’ve been the most popular mattress type up until only a few years ago when memory foam mattresses took the industry by storm.  Now, there are even more variations of innerspring beds available, made with innovative foam layers and sleep-enhancing technologies. Considering the number of options to compare, it can be pretty tricky to find the best innerspring mattress for you.

That is why the editors of Simply Rest compiled a list of the best innerspring mattresses of 2022 to suit every type of sleeper.

Best Innerspring Mattresses

 

Amerisleep AS3 Hybrid	Sleepers with back pain	Open-cell memory foam and pocketed coils	Medium	$1349	100 nights	20 years
Zoma Hybrid	Athletes	Gel-infused memory foam and pocketed coils	Medium	$999	100 nights	10 years
Vaya Hybrid	Most Affordable	Responsive foam comfort layer and pocketed coils	Medium	$699	100 nights	10 years
The Purple® Hybrid Premier	Side sleepers	Gel-polyfoam and pocketed coils	Medium-Soft/Soft	$2199 or $2999	100 nights	10 years
Aviya	Back sleepers	Poly-foam and pocketed coils	Plush/LuxuryFirm/Firm	$1099	100 nights	10 years
The Brentwood Home Oceano	Stomach sleepers	Double pocketed coils	Medium-Soft	$1495	1 year	25 years
The Alexander Signature	Couples	Poly-foam	Medium/Luxury Firm	$1599	100 nights	Lifetime
Avocado Vegan	Heavy sleepers	Latex foam and pocketed coils	Medium/Medium-Firm	$1349 or $1799	1 year	25 years
The Pure Echo	Most eco-friendly	Latex and pocketed coils	Firm	$1399	120 nights	20 years

In a rush? You can skip to the part that interests you most:

• Innerspring mattress for sleepers with back pain
• Innerspring mattress for athletes
• Most affordable innerspring mattress
• Innerspring mattress for side sleepers
• Innerspring mattress for back sleepers
• Innerspring mattress for stomach sleepers
• Innerspring mattress for couples
• Innerspring mattress for heavy sleepers
• Most eco-friendly innerspring mattress
• Pros and cons of an innerspring mattress

Innerspring Mattress for Sleepers With Back Pain – Amerisleep AS3 Hybrid

Our favorite mattress on this list, the Amerisleep AS3 Hybrid, is built with top-notch materials to help sleepers of all body types and sleeping positions get better rest. Consisting of three well-designed layers, this mattress is a perfect choice for sleepers with back pain. 

Let’s have a look at its design:

1. The cover of Amerisleep AS3 Hybrid is made from a breathable blend of fabrics to promote airflow and dissipate body heat. It is soft to the touch and stretchy, it’s also removable and washable, which helps to keep the mattress fresh and clean. 
2. Under the cover, is a comfort layer of Bio-Pur®. Bio-Pur® is plant-based, open-cell memory foam that’s responsive and breathable. This memory foam layer conforms to the body of the sleeper and takes the pressure off the lower back.
3. Below, lies the pocketed steel coil system. These coils are carefully arranged to offer targeted support and provide sufficient pressure point relief. Under the torso, these coils are firmer to keep you lifted, and under the shoulders and hips, they have more give to allow for deeper compression.   
4. Last, we find a thin, sturdy foam layer, that acts as a base for the coils and the mattress itself.

Firmness

The Amerisleep AS3 Hybrid mattress is rated as medium in firmness. This is perfect for sleepers who enjoy just about any sleeping position. It’s also great for sleepers with back pain, as a firmer mattress may put too much pressure on the lower back. 

Pressure point relief

The zoned pocketed coils do a great job at pressure point relief. Because they are only connected by a thin piece of fabric, they are able to move individually. This allows the mattress to conform to the body properly and take off the pressure from the hips and the back. 

Motion isolation

The AS3 Hybrid isolates motion very well because it contains pocketed coils that move individually and memory foam layers to prevent motion transfer. Even if you share the mattress with someone who tosses and turns, you can get comfortable sleep on the AS3 Hybrid. 

Noise

Amerisleep’s AS3 Hybrid is silent since the coils are pocketed and buried below the foam layers, so you won’t have to worry about hearing creaky or squeaky coils a few years down the line. 

Size 

A queen-sized Amerisleep AS3 Hybrid comes at 12 inches tall. 

Free Trial & Warranty

Amerisleep offers a standard 100-night sleep trial period with a 30-night break-in period. If you decide that this mattress suits your needs, you’ll get a 20-year warranty. In the first 10 years, you’ll be covered for a full replacement in case of manufacturing defects. In the second 10 years, you’ll have a prorated warranty, which means it’ll only cost you 50% of the original price to replace your mattress.

Price

A queen size Amerisleep AS3 Hybrid costs $1349.

Read more about popular mattress choices for sleepers with lower back pain.

Innerspring Mattress for Athletes – Zoma Hybrid

Athletes and those who live an active life need a mattress that promotes deep relaxation, so their muscles can recover during sleep. For these individuals, we recommend the Zoma Hybrid. With a gel-infused comfort layer and breathable cover, athletes experience deep contouring and pressure relief with the risk of overheating.

Let’s take a look at the layers of the Zoma Hybrid:

1. The cover of the Zoma Hybrid features AirCloth, a soft, ventilated cover that allows warm air to quickly escape the mattress.
2. The comfort layer just beneath this airy cover is made with Zoma’s proprietary gel memory foam with zoned support. While the gel infusion works to pull heat and moisture away from the surface of the mattress, segmented cutouts ensure even weight distribution and proper spinal alignment.
3. The transition layer of the mattress features Reactiv™, a highly responsive foam to keep the body aligned and prevent excess sinking.
4. Support both foam layers is a base of pocketed spring coils. Each coil is wrapped in a lightweight yet durable material to increase the lifespan of the mattress and increase comfort.
5. Lastly, there is a thin, sturdy foam layer beneath the coil base to absorb shock and provide further protection against sagging and indentations.

Firmness

The Zoma Hybrid has a medium firmness, ideal for most sleepers including side, back, and combination sleepers.

Pressure point relief

The segmented cutouts on the comfort layer of the Zoma Hybrid are zoned to be softer near the hip and shoulder joints. These cutouts are placed near sensitive areas and are spaced further apart. allowing them to compress easily and reduce pressure points.

Motion isolation

The coil springs in the Zoma Hybrid are individuals wrapped and move independently of one another. This movement provides more accurate contouring and motion isolation.

Noise

The pocketed spring coils in the base of the Zoma Hybrid will not make noise when compressed. On the Zoma, couples won’t have to worry about waking their partner when getting in and out of bed.

Size

The queen size Zoma Hybrid is 12-inches thick—a 2-inch comfort layer, 1-inch transition layer, 8-inch coil base, and 1-inch support foam layer.

Free Trial & Warranty

Each Zoma mattress comes with a 100-night sleep trial period, allowing sleepers to test out the bed at home and make sure it meets their needs. If the mattress is not right for you, Zoma will provide a full refund.

The mattress is also protected by a generous 10-year warranty that covers manufacturing defects, such as rips and tears, cracks in the foam, or sags and indents greater than .75 inches.

Price

A queen size Zoma Hybrid Hybrid costs $999. This price includes their 10-year warranty and 100-night sleep trial period, plus free shipping and free returns.

Most Affordable Innerspring Mattress – Vaya Hybrid

For a high-quality innerspring mattress that won’t hurt your budget, we suggest the Vaya Hybrid. This mattress a medium comfort layer that works well for most sleepers. Plus, the pocketed coil base won’t cause excess sinking and spinal misalignment.

Below, we breakdown the layers of the Vaya Hybrid:

1. A lightweight, airy cover surrounds the layers of the Vaya Hybrid. This fabric has built-in air channels to reduce heat retention and prevent night sweats.
2. The 2-inch comfort layer of the Vaya Hybrid has a medium firmness, providing the perfect balance of cushioning and support. Since Vaya foam has a natural elasticity, similar to latex, sleepers won’t experience uncomfortable sinkage that could force the spine to bow.
3. A base of pocketed spring coils supports the softer top layer. This base prevents sagging and indentations and ensures body weight is evenly supported.  Since the coils are individually wrapped, they provide deep contouring and pressure relief.
4. Beneath the coil base, a 2-inch layer of Vaya’s firm support foam helps absorb shock and reduce motion transfer.

Firmness

The Vaya Hybrid has a medium firmness, which is perfect for couples which different firmness preferences. This firmness also works well for combination sleepers because it is soft enough to cushion the joints when side sleeping but firm enough to support the lumbar spine when back sleeping.

Pressure point relief

The 2-inch comfort layer of Vaya’s proprietary foam cradles the curves of the body to prevent pressure points. However, the natural bounce of this material also encourages a healthy spinal position.

Motion isolation

The coils in the Vaya Hybrid are individually wrapped and move separately, rather than as a unit. This gives the mattress better motion isolation than traditional innerspring mattresses.

Noise

The lightweight fabric surrounding the coil springs in the Vaya Hybrid helps reduce noise, so your sleep is never disrupted by a loud, creaky mattress.

Size

The Vaya Hybrid is 12-inches thick—a 2-inch comfort layer, 8-inch pocketed coil layer, and 2-inch firm support foam in the base.

Free Trial & Warranty

Vaya offers a 100-night sleep trial with each of their mattress. They want to ensure you are satisfied with the comfort and support of the mattress. If you are unhappy for any reason, they provide a full refund.

The 10-year warranty also covers manufacturing defects, such as sagging and indentations greater than .75 inches.

Price

Vaya’s Hybrid is the most affordable innerspring mattress on our list. The queen Vaya Hybrid costs just $699. This price includes their 10-year warranty, 100-night sleep trial, free shipping, and free returns.

Innerspring Mattress for Side Sleepers – The Purple® Hybrid Premier

The Purple® Hybrid Premier is one of three mattresses Purple offers. Featuring the well-known, “No-Pressure” Purple Grid™ and pocketed coils, this is the best innerspring mattress for side sleepers. 

Let’s have a look at its layer to see why:

1. The Premium StretchMax Cover found on the Purple® Hybrid Premier is stretchy, soft, and breathable. It’s designed to bring out the best features of the Purple Grid™ underneath by enhancing its contouring features. This cover also has ultra-breathable side panels, which improves the airflow and breathability of the mattress.
2. Under the cover, we find the Purple Grid™.  It’s made with hyper-elastic polymer, a stretchy, gel-like material. This layer is designed as a grid to provide a unique pressure point relief system. It works by collapsing in the areas where the pressure is applied, relieving the potential pain points of the body.
3. Under the Purple Grid™, we find a thin layer of poly-foam which acts as a transition to the coils underneath.
4. The pocket coils within this mattress are 7.5 inches tall. They are very buoyant to provide the mattress with better response and support. The pocketed coils also improve the breathability of the mattress, as air is able to flow freely within them. So if you’re a side sleeper that also sleeps hot, this is a huge advantage for you.
5. Lastly, we find another thin layer of poly-foam, which stabilizes the coils and the overall structure of the mattress.

Firmness

The Purple® Hybrid Premier mattress comes in two firmness levels:

• Medium
• Medium-soft

The only difference between the two options is the thickness of the Purple Grid™ within. The medium version features the Purple Grid™ that’s 3 inches thick, while the medium-soft has one that’s 4 inches thick. All in all, the thicker the grid, the softer the mattress. For side sleepers, we recommend going for the medium-soft. 

Pressure point relief

The Purple Grid™ works together with the pocketed coils to provide the sleeper with sufficient pressure point relief. The grid, especially if it’s 4 inches thick, allows the shoulder and the hip to sink in properly when you sleep on your side. All the while, the rest of the body stays in a healthy position with the spine aligned. 

Motion isolation

Although motion isolation is not as good as that found within memory foam beds, the Purple® Hybrid Premier still stops most of the motion transfer. But if you will be sharing your bed with a restless sleeper, there is a chance that you will feel them toss and turn at night.

Noise

The Purple® Hybrid Premier is a silent mattress, both the Purple Grid™ and the pocketed coils below are noiseless. 

Size 

This mattress comes in two sizes. The queen size medium version is 12 inches tall and weighs 145 lbs. While the queen-sized medium-soft option is 13 inches tall and weighs 168 lbs.

Free Trial & Warranty

Purple offers a standard 100-night sleep trial with a 21-night break-in period, meaning you have to wait a minimum of 3 weeks to initiate a return. Purple puts this in place so customers give the bed a shot through the adjustment period. If you end up deciding it’s not a good match, you can return for a full refund or exchange for a different model.  If you keep the Purple bed, it’s backed by a standard 10-year warranty covering manufacturing defects and sagging greater than 1 inch.

Price

Seeing as this mattress comes in two sizes, the prices of them also differ. The mattress with a 3-inch thick Purple Grid™ costs $2199 for a queen size. And the one with a 4-inch thick Purple Grid™ is priced at $2999.  

Innerspring Mattress for Back Sleepers – The Aviya Mattress

Designed to suit just about any sleeper, the Aviya mattress is an especially good choice for back sleepers.

Let’s have a look at its layers to see why:

1. Their organic cotton cover is quilted with 1 inch of high-density breathable foam. This provides the mattress with extra comfort and cushioning.
2. The second layer of the mattress is their anti-sagging, high-density foam. This layer allows some sinking for extra pressure point relief and lumbar region support.
3. The third layer of this mattress is support foam. It’s firmer and higher-density than the previous foam layer to provide stability and support to the coils.
4. The fourth layer is the pocketed coil system that provides targeted pressure point relief.
5. The fifth layer is one inch of high-density poly-foam that supports the mattress with more durability and stability.

Firmness

The Aviya mattress comes in three different levels of firmness:

• Plush – rates at 4 out of 10.
• Luxury Firm – rates at 6.5 out of 10.
• Firm – rates at 8 out of 10.

For back sleepers, the editors at Simply Rest highly recommend going for the Luxury Firm. This will provide your body with just enough support to keep your spine in its natural alignment.

Pressure point relief

The pocketed coil system inside the Aviya mattress offers targeted pressure point relief. And the three layers of high-density poly-foam provide great contouring and support in the lumbar region.

Motion isolation

When it comes to motion isolation, the Aviya mattress takes the gold medal. Considering this is an innerspring mattress, the motion transfer is as low as it can be.

All thanks to its design, the three layers of high-density foam absorb the motion before it reaches the coils. In other words, the mattress’s design itself keeps the motion transfer to a minimum.

Noise

Unlike our previous mattress, Aviya does not have any reports of noise.

Free trial & warranty

Every Aviya bed comes with a 100-night sleep trial and a 10-year warranty.

Price

At the price of $1099 for a queen size, Aviya is not the cheapest innerspring mattress on our list.

Innerspring Mattress for Stomach Sleepers – The Brentwood Home Oceano

The Brentwood Home Oceano mattress combines traditional spring craftsmanship and modern gel foam. It is one of their newer designs, that aims to provide the best of traditional and modern qualities fused together.

Let’s have a look at its layers:

1. The top cover of the mattress is made from organic wool that is wrapped with Tencel stretch-knit fabric. This provides some cooling to the body, as the wool naturally wicks away moisture.
2. The second layer is 2 inches of gel memory foam. Known to be cooling it helps with temperature control, and also provides contouring and support. All of which are perfect for a stomach sleeper.
3. The third layer of the mattress is 2.5-inch tall pocketed micro coils. These provide great pressure point relief, preventing your stomach from sinking too deep when you sleep.
4. The fourth layer is a transitional layer of high-density memory foam.
5. The fifth layer is 8-inch tall pocketed coils for targeted pressure point relief.
6. The sixth layer is 0.5-inch extra-dense foam to provide support and durability to the mattress.

Firmness

The Brentwood Home Oceano mattress is rated as a Medium Plush on the original website. An ideal firmness for a stomach sleeper.

Pressure point relief

The Brentwood Home Oceano mattress has two layers of pocketed micro coils. The top layer is shorter and works to provide support and comfort. The bottom layer is much taller and contains 5 support zones, providing targeted pressure point relief.

Motion isolation

What the Brentwood Home Oceano mattress wins at pressure point relief, it loses at motion isolation. A layer of coils is known to transfer motion more easily. And having two layers of coils in one mattress doubles that effect.

Noise

There have been some reports of noise coming from this mattress. However, nothing serious enough to disturb your sleep.

Size

The Brentwood Home Oceano mattress comes at 15.5 inches tall. A giant of a mattress that might not work with certain bed frames. The Brentwood Home Oceano mattress also weighs 135 lbs.

Free trial & warranty

Brentwood Home offers 120 nights to decide if you want to keep their mattress. And if you do, the bed comes with a 25-year warranty—slightly longer than the industry average.

Price

The Brentwood Home Oceano mattress comes at $1495 for a queen size.

Read about other top mattress choices for stomach sleepers.

Innerspring Mattress for Couples – The Alexander Signature mattress

The Alexander Signature mattress is a copper-infused memory foam mattress with a pocketed coil system. Its low motion transfer and adaptability make it a good choice for couples.

Let’s take a look at its layers:

1. The top cover is a cotton/polyester blend quilted with 1.5 inches of gel memory foam. This naturally gives the mattress a cooling feel and provides gentle cradling support.
2. The second layer is 1.5 inches of convoluted foam. The foam provides some pressure relief to the sleeper, while its wavy design allows for better airflow.
3. The third layer of the mattress is another 1.5 inches of copper-infused, latex-like foam that not only cools the mattress but also provides great response.
4. The fourth layer is 1 inch of high-density memory foam.
5. The fifth layer of the mattress is an 8-inch pocketed coil system. It provides good breathability, pressure point relief, and motion isolation.

Firmness

The Alexander Signature mattress comes in three options for firmness:

• Plush – rated at 3 out of 10.
• Medium – rated at 6 out of 10.
• Luxury Firm – rated at 8.5 out of 10.

For couples, we recommend going for the Medium firmness as it’s a great compromise that suits most sleepers.

Pressure point relief

The Alexander Signature mattress’s 8-inch pocketed coils have a 5-zone support design. This offers great pressure point relief to the body parts that need it most. And the top layers of foam deliver additional support.

Motion isolation

The three layers of foam in this bed isolate almost all motion, and motion isolation is key for anybody who shares their mattress.

Noise

The materials in this mattress produce no noise and allow for peaceful, silent sleep.

Size

The size of the Alexander Signature mattress is 12.5 inches in height and weighs anywhere between 100 and 150 pounds depending on the size.

Free trial & warranty

Nest Bedding offers a 100-night sleep trial and a Lifetime warranty with each of their beds.

Price

The queen-sized Alexander Signature mattress comes at $1399.

Innerspring Mattress for Heavy Sleepers – The Avocado Vegan

Avocado is one of the most eco-conscious mattress companies on the market. They co-own the latex plantations and farms that produce materials for their mattresses. All of the materials are also certified 100% organic and natural. And the Avocado Vegan hybrid mattress is their best model for heavy sleepers and stomach sleepers.

Let’s have a look inside the mattress:

1. If you choose to go for the optional pillowtop topper, you’ll find it cushy and plush. It’s filled with 2 inches of contouring organic latex foam. This provides a soft cradling effect, which is great for back sleepers and side sleepers. 
2. The cover of the Avocado Vegan is made from high-quality pure white organic cotton. It is tufted by hand so the mattress does not contain any solvents or adhesives. Cotton also naturally wicks away moisture and heat, helping to regulate the temperature of the sleeper.
3. Under the cover, we find a 1-inch-thick Dunlop latex layer, acting as a transition between the foam layers above and the pocketed coils below.
4. Finally, we come to the pocketed coils, with a coil count of 1414. These bouncy coils are split into five ergonomic support zones to ensure each part of the body receives custom support and pressure relief. It also helps to reduce motion transfer and keep the spine aligned throughout the night.

Firmness

The Avocado Vegan comes in two firmness options:

• Gentle Firm (if you choose the Avocado Vegan Standard version)
• Luxury Plush (If you opt-in for the optional Euro pillowtop)

For heavy sleepers, we recommend going for the standard. It will offer enough support and pressure point relief to ensure a good night’s sleep. The optional pillowtop version can make the mattress a little too plush, which might make it more difficult to move around. 

Pressure point relief

The zoned pocketed coil support system is very good at pressure point relief. Each zone contains coils of different gauges, allowing the mattress to adapt to your body shape and keep you comfortable. The reinforced steel perimeter going around the mattress also greatly improves the edge support. This can be a huge bonus for heavy sleepers, as it will make getting in and out of bed much easier. 

Motion isolation

Latex is known to be more responsive and buoyant, which can affect motion transfer in a negative way. And while the Avocado Vegan mattress is relatively good at motion isolation, it’s still not nearly as good as memory foam mattresses. 

Noise

This mattress is as silent as they come. There is no noise coming from it even when it’s being moved or jumped on (which we do not recommend).

Size 

If you take the Avocado Vegan mattress standard, it’ll be 11 inches tall and have a weight range of 59 lbs (twin) to 122 lbs (king). If you choose to go for the additional pillowtop too, the mattress will be 13 inches tall and have a weight range of 80 lbs (twin) to 166 lbs (king).

Free Trial & Warranty

Avocado offers a full year to try out their mattress with a risk-free return policy. If at the end of this 365-night sleep trial you decide to keep it, you’ll also get a 25-year warranty. 

Price

The Avocado Vegan Standard mattress comes with a price tag of $1349 for a queen size. And an optional pillowtop add-on is $400, which brings the price point up to $1799 for a queen size. 

Read about other top mattress choices for heavy sleepers.

Best Eco-Friendly Innerspring Mattress – The Pure Echo Mattress

The Pure Echo is an all-natural, hypoallergenic mattress offering good lumbar support. Taking its aspects into consideration, our editors at Simply Rest chose it as the best eco-friendly innerspring option for 2019.

Let’s have a look at its layers:

1. The cover is made from quilted organic cotton to provide natural cooling effect.
2. The top is all-natural wool layer for comfort and temperature control.
3. The second layer is made from heavyweight organic cotton batting.
4. The third layer of this mattress is 3-zoned pocketed coil system that provides pressure point relief and response.
5. If you chose to have this mattress two-sided, the next layer will then be heavyweight organic cotton batting.
6. And the fifth layer will be the all-natural wool layer.

Firmness

The Pure Echo mattress scores at 7.5 out of 10 when it comes to firmness. This places it in a medium-firm bracket, which is ideal for those that like to sleep a little firmer than average.

Pressure point relief

The pocketed coil system is designed with 3 support zones. This allows the pressure points to get the relief they need.

Motion isolation

This mattress doesn’t have great motion isolation. Therefore, if you or your partner are a restless sleeper, this mattress will not be the best option for you.

Noise

The Pure Echo mattress is virtually silent. The heavyweight wool on both sides of the mattress absorbs any noise the pocketed coils make.

Size

Two-sided Pure Echo mattress comes at 11 inches tall and 90 lbs heavy. A relatively small mattress, that functions just as well.

Free trial & warranty

My Green Mattress offers a 100-night free trial and a 10-year warranty.

Price

You can be prepared to pay $1149 for a two-sided queen-sized mattress.

What Makes the Best Innerspring Mattress?

The strategy we used in choosing the best innerspring mattresses for 2022 included three important factors:

• The type of coil that is used in the design
• The gauge and coil count
• The materials that are used in the manufacturing process

Then we took our top choices and compared them to one another. So let us begin by walking you through different types of coils.

Types of Coils

There are four main types of innerspring coils. Each one has its own advantages and disadvantages. But they all serve the same purpose—to provide you with quality sleep.

Bonnell coils

Bonnell is the traditional innerspring coil and the very first type of coil ever invented. It was used to soften up the seats of horse carriages back in the 1800s. And since then, it has made its way to present-day without changing much at all.

As it is visible in the picture above, Bonnell coils are shaped like an hourglass. They have round tops and bottoms. Also, they are connected with a thick wire frame to keep the mattress in shape.

Bonnell coils are the most cost-efficient type of coils to manufacture. Therefore, they are still a popular choice for low-quality budget mattresses on the market. However, their lifespan is the shortest when compared to other coil types, and their quality the lowest.

Offset coils

Offset coils took the design of Bonnell coils and improved it to give it durability and support. They are also shaped like an hourglass, but their bottoms are slightly straightened. This creates a hinging effect when the mattress is being compressed.

The double offset coils are almost the same as ordinary offset coils. Except it’s not only their bottoms that are designed to hinge together, but also their tops as well. This creates a more responsive and durable mattress.

The free arm offset coils look exactly the same as the previous two models. However, they are not hinged at the top or the bottom. They are free to move around individually, providing the mattress with more pressure point relief but less durability.

All three models of offset coils are relatively durable and effective when compared to Bonnell coils. Therefore, their price is higher too.

Continuous coils

Continuous coils are made from one continuous wire. It is bent into numerous S shapes (or circles) and is joined by helical wire on both sides, creating a mattress that is very durable and supportive. However, zoned pressure point relief and spinal support are practically non-existent.

Continuous coils are probably the least popular type of coils used for innerspring mattresses.

Pocketed coils (Marshall coils)

Pocketed coils, also known as Marshall coils, are by far the most popular choice of coil type and are most often used in high-quality hybrid mattresses. Each coil is individually placed in a fabric pocket, which is then loosely connected to other pockets around it. This design creates a mattress with good motion isolation, pressure point relief, spinal support, and lack of noise.

Pocketed coils are also the most expensive to manufacture, placing them in a luxury bracket. However, thinking about the advantages this design offers, it’s definitely worth the price.

Understanding Coil Gauge & Coil Count

Aside from the different types of coils, innersprings also differ in coil gauge and coil count. Both of these have a major effect on the support, durability, and bounce of the mattress.

Coil gauge

Coil gauge is the measurement that shows the thickness of the wires and coils. It ranges from 12 (thickest) to 18 (thinnest). The thicker the wires and coils, the firmer the mattress will be, and the longer it will last.

Coil count

Coil count represents the number of coils that are found in the mattress. This number usually ranges from 300 (in cheaper mattresses) to 2000 (in more expensive mattresses). However, it is important to mention that the high number of coils does not necessarily mean a better quality mattress. As some scientists suggest, anything above 1000 coils stops making any difference to the way the mattress sleeps.

Pros and Cons of an Innerspring Mattress

Just as any other type of mattress, innerspring beds have their advantages and disadvantages. It is important to look at both to get a well-rounded picture of what you should expect when you make the purchase.

Pros	Cons
Affordable	Potential for premature sagging
More responsive	Lower overall owner satisfaction rate
Breathable	Shorter lifespan
Lack of odors	Less motion isolation
Wide availability	More potential for noise

FAQs

Which is better: A memory foam or innerspring mattress?

Choosing the “best” mattress really comes down to personal preference, but many sleepers do prefer memory foam mattresses over innersprings because they provide substantially more cushioning and pressure relief. Innerspring mattresses are nice if you want a bouncy bed, you’re a particularly hot sleeper, or you’re shopping on a restricted budget, but most side sleepers and sleepers with pain (the majority of sleepers) find innersprings don’t provide enough comfort. In fact, hybrid mattresses have become so popular because they combine the benefits of both beds while minimizing the drawbacks of traditional innersprings.

How much should a good innerspring mattress cost?

Innerspring mattresses are some of the most inexpensive when compared to more modern mattress types like memory foam, latex, and hybrids. And obviously mattress size will play a role in cost, as well. However, quality innerspring mattresses can range in price from $500 to $1200. That said, some top-tier mattress brands have made their own “luxury innersprings” with more cushioning materials, and those can cost a couple of thousand dollars.

How often do innerspring mattresses need to be replaced?

In general, mattresses need to be replaced every 7 to 9 years; however, innersprings have the shortest lifespan and can need replacing after only a couple of years. To ensure you’re buying a long-lasting innerspring, look at the quality of coils and thickness of cushioning materials. It also doesn’t hurt to opt for a pillow or Eurotop option if available, as these extra padded layers can extend the bed’s lifespan for a little longer.

Do I need a box spring with an innerspring mattress?

Yes! As a matter of fact, innersprings are the only mattress types you can pair with a box spring. Box springs used to be the go-to mattress support, but this was during the time innerspring mattresses were the most popular and dominated the mattress-sphere. Now, foam mattresses, like memory foam, latex, and hybrid options, have become far more popular, and those mattress types cannot be paired with box springs. Instead, they require more solid, sturdy support, and work better with mattress foundations and platform beds.

Some innersprings can work without a box spring, but most mattress brands will suggest using some sort of support beneath your mattress.

Are innerspring mattresses good for side sleepers?

Innerspring mattresses aren’t great for side sleepers because they can’t contour and don’t contain a lot of pressure-relieving materials—two necessary things to prevent pain and soreness in the shoulders and hips. Side sleepers who like the responsive feel of innersprings typically opt for hybrid mattresses because they contain a thicker layer of foam for cushioning while still feeling bouncy and breathable.

Have You Made Your Decision?

We hope we helped you find the best new mattress that will suit your personal needs. And if not, then at least we equipped you with the necessary knowledge to understand what you should be looking for.

And if an innerspring is not the only type of mattress you are open to, have a look at our list of best memory foam mattresses.