Best Mattresses For Sex

Best Mattresses For Sex - UK (2024)

Last updated: 31.10.2023 Reading time: 10 Min.

Did you know that your mattress affects not only the quality of your sleep but also the quality of your sex life?

We wouldn't go as far as saying that a bad mattress could ruin your relationship. ๐Ÿ˜ณ

But you certainly wouldn't want to risk it, would you?

Plus, a good mattress can really enhance your sex life! ๐Ÿฅณ

So what new mattress should you choose?

Let's help you figure that out with this guide on the UK's best mattresses for sex. ๐Ÿ‘‡

Best mattresses for sex

The UK's best mattresses for sex

Sleep Hero Favourite

Emma Luxe Cooling Mattress

The Emma Luxe Cooling Mattress is made with temperature regulation technology.
  • ThermoSyncย foam, memory foam, & pocket springs
  • 25 cm (10 inches)
  • Medium-firm

Tell me more about the Emma Luxe Cooling Mattress

Emma Sleep's most advanced Luxe Cooling mattress combines six layers of foam and springs for medium-firm support.

It ensures optimal spinal alignment with targeted support and sufficient push-back to prevent excessive sinking.

The mattress offers exceptional edge support, a standout feature not common in bed-in-a-box options.

It features enhanced temperature regulation technologies, so you won't feel as hot and clammy on this mattress as you may feel on other Emma memory foam mattresses.

The machine-washable cover is ideal for allergy sufferers and hygiene maintenance.

Delivered compactly rolled in a box, though it is notably heavy for easy manoeuvring.

Reasons to buy

200-night trial 

10-year guarantee

Excellent edge support 

Reasons to avoid

The foams retain some heat and feel warmer than non-memory foam products

We experienced some delivery issues during testing 

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Best For Side Sleepers

Simba Hybrid

The Simba Hybrid mattress is a high-quality pocket-sprung mattress with multiple layers of foam. With 10 year guarantee.
  • Simbatex &ย Aerocoil springs
  • 25 cm (10 inches)
  • Medium-firmย 

Tell me more about the Simba Hybrid

Theย Simba Hybridย is an award-winning hybrid pocket sprung foam mattress by Simba Sleep.ย 

This is aย medium-firm mattressย that's an excellent choice for a wide range of sleepers but is particularly suited to side sleepers.ย 

The Simba mattress is supportive enough to prevent a build-up of tension but also soft enough to allow your body to sink in where necessary.

This allows for optimal spinal alignment.ย 

The Simba Hybrid mattress comes with an antibacterialย hypoallergenic cover, which isย removable and machine-washable.

The Simba comes with free delivery, a 200-day risk-free trial period, and a 10-year guarantee.ย 

Reasons to buy

200-night sleep trial

10-year guarantee 

Excellent support for side sleepers 

Washable cover 

Reasons to avoid

May be too soft for larger builds

Luxury Option

DreamCloud Luxury Hybrid

The DreamCloud Luxury Hybrid mattress is a 5-layered premium mattress.
  • Memory foam &ย pocket springs
  • 28 cm (11 inches)
  • Medium-firm

Tell me more about the DreamCloud Luxury Hybrid

The DreamCloud Luxury Hybrid is a premium mattress from the same company that makes the Nectar memory foam mattress.

It combines high-quality memory foam with full-size pocket springs (called ActiveEdge coils), each measuring 15 cm (5.9 inches).

This is an orthopaedically designed mattress with medium-firm support to help eliminate back, neck, and shoulder pains.

The mattress offers enhanced breathability to help keep you cool and refreshed all night long.ย 

It also has low motion transfer and great edge support, making it an excellent choice for couples.

Reasons to buy

365-day trial period

Lifetime warranty

Excellent motion isolation for couples

Reasons to avoid

Extra deep sheets required 

Too firm for lightweight side sleepers

The cover is not removable 

Natural Latex

Hypnia Supreme Hybrid Mattress

The Hypnia Supreme Hybrid mattress includes an integrated pressure-relieving memory foam topper.
  • Natural latex layer, memory foam & pocket springs
  • 30 cm (11.8")
  • Medium feel

Tell me more about Hypnia Supreme Hybrid mattress

The Hypnia Supreme Hybrid mattress combines different materials for targeted support.ย 

It includes a memory foamย layer for added relief for your joints and natural latexย for pressure relief and temperature regulation.ย 

The pocket springs in 7 support zones maintain spinal alignment and minimise motion transfer.ย 

The Hypnia Supreme Hybrid mattress offers a medium comfort level, which we rated on the softer side at 5/10 on our firmness scale, where 1 is the softest and 10 is the firmest.

However, the integrated topper makes it an excellent choice for side sleepers.

Delivery is free within the UK, and the Hypnia Supreme Hybrid mattress arrives vacuum-packed, making it easier to manoeuvre.ย 

Reasons to buy

200-night sleep trial 

15-year guarantee

OEKO-TEX STANDARD 100 certified

Reasons to avoid

It may feel too soft for stomach sleepers

Extra deep sheets required with this mattress

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How do you choose the best mattress for sex?

Most of us choose a mattress that's the most comfortable to sleep on. ๐Ÿ˜ด

This makes sense, of course.

You spend a third of your life sleeping, so it's important to get a mattress that matches your sleep needs perfectly.

But while some only use their mattress for sleeping, there are just as many who spend a good chunk of time in bed doing other things.

  • You may be an avid reader or enjoy catching up on the latest Netflix shows. ๐Ÿ“บ
  • You may enjoy lounging on your bed chatting on the phone. โ˜Ž๏ธ
  • Sometimes, you even want to sit on your bed and look through photographs, write in your journal, or do any other admin-type activity. ๐Ÿ“—

And most people would probably also use their mattress for quality time with a significant other.

man and woman in bed reading

Ultimately, you need a mattress that fulfils its core function of providing a comfortable and supportive base for sleeping.

But you also need your mattress to meet all your other requirements. ๐Ÿ‘Œ

So what should you pay attention to when choosing a bed for sex?

There are a few important factors to consider.

These include bounce & responsiveness, temperature, noise, firmness, support, and durability.

We'll take you through all of these in the following sections. ๐Ÿ‘‡

Responsiveness & bounce: How your mattress adapts to movement

We've chunked responsiveness and bounce together as they're often interdependent.

Generally, the more responsive a mattress is, the more bounce it will have.

So what do responsiveness and bounce refer to?

  • Responsiveness: How quickly the mattress responds to movements.
  • Bounce: How well the mattress rebounds after having been compressed.

If you're looking for the best mattresses for sex, you need to find a bed that works with you and not against you. ๐Ÿ’ช

The ideal mattress for sex should adapt quickly to changes in position, bouncing back to its original shape swiftly so you and your partner will be well supported on a stable surface.

This allows you to easily switch positions and stay active, which is likely during sexual activity. ๐Ÿƒโ€โ™‚๏ธ

Mattresses made of latex or springs are particularly suitable - these respond quickly and provide a good amount of bounce.

Other mattresses, like memory foam mattresses, will give you more of that sinking-into-quicksand feeling.

Take a look at the memory effect in the images below:

Memory foam

Memory foam with hand

Memory foam imprint

This is great for orthopaedic concerns, back pain, and relief of pressure points - but not so great for sex.

Excessive sinking makes positional changes cumbersome and hinders free movement. ๐Ÿ˜ฉ

We'll look at different mattress materials in more detail further down but, for now, remember that a good mattress for sex will be responsive and bouncy!

What about motion isolation?

On the downside, mattresses with great bounce don't always have the best motion isolation. ๐Ÿฆ˜

This means that you may be able to feel your partner move during sleep.

All-foam mattresses made from materials like memory foam tend to have the best motion isolation.

Motion isolation
A mattress with sound motion isolation ensures that you won't feel movement carried through the bed

But:

We'd recommend looking for a mattress that offers good bounce without compromising too much on motion isolation, like a good hybrid mattress or quality pocket sprung mattress.

Firmness & edge support: How your mattress supports you

There are dozens of different mattress firmness options.

Firmness is primarily a matter of personal preference, but your body weight and sleeping position play a role. ๐Ÿค”

In general:

  • Lighter-weight people and side sleepers will sleep better on softer mattresses.
  • Heavier-weight people or back sleepers & stomach sleepers will do better on firmer mattresses.

When choosing the right degree of firmness for sleeping, you need to consider both comfort and optimal spinal alignment. ๐Ÿฆด

Mattress firmness
A mattress with the right degree of firmness will support you optimally

But how do you choose the right firmness level for sex?

Since sexual activity usually requires quite a bit of movement, you want a mattress that's firm and supportive enough but also soft and comfortable.

We'd recommend that you choose a medium-firm mattress.

In our mattress reviews, you can look at mattresses rated between 5 - 7.5 out of 10 on the Sleep Hero firmness scale, where 1 is the softest and 10 is the firmest. ๐Ÿฅณ

The Simba Hybrid, for example, has a firmness rating of 6, making it the ideal firmness for sex.

FREE PILLOW - SIMBA HYBRIDยฃ 599

You don't want a mattress that's too soft; otherwise, it'll feel like you're sinking into the material, and you won't have freedom of movement.

But if you have a mattress that's too firm, you'll lack responsiveness and comfort. ๐Ÿ˜”

Ultimately, the ideal mattress for sex will be both comfortable and incredibly supportive to carry you and your partner during sexual activity.

What about edge support?

Importantly, you need your ideal mattress for sex to offer edge-to-edge support.

Many of the modern-day bed-in-a-box mattresses - and especially foam mattresses - lack edge support.

This means that the mattress may feel firmer in the middle, but support will decrease as you go towards the edge of the bed. โ›ฐ

Nectar mattress edge support
A mattress with low edge support - like a bed-in-a-box memory foam mattress - will make you feel like you're rolling off the sides

A mattress with good edge support will support you no matter where you lie on the mattress - meaning you can enjoy the entire width of your bed! ๐Ÿ‘Œ

It also means that you and your partner won't ever feel like you'd be falling off the sides of the mattress.

Temperature: Your mattress shouldn't turn up the heat (in a bad way)

Sexual activity creates more body heat, so you're likely to feel hot and sweaty.

The last thing you want is a mattress that stores all of that heat and makes you feel hot and clammy. ๐Ÿฅต

The ideal mattress for sex will regulate temperature well by being breathable & carrying heat and moisture away from you.

Memory foam mattresses tend to store the most heat.

Temperature regulation

The best memory foam mattresses will contain gel memory foam, which is much more temperature neutral, but these still cannot compare with the best cooling mattresses.

Generally, hybrid, latex foam, and spring mattresses are more breathable. ๐Ÿ’จ

Even though all mattresses will contain a top layer of foam, springs create natural ventilation channels at the mattress's core.

This means that they allow for a steady flow of air, which carries heat and moisture away to keep you cooler and more comfortable. โ„๏ธ

A mattress like the DreamCloud Luxury Hybrid, for example, may have a top layer of memory foam but it also features cooling technology and 15 cm (5.9 inches) pocket springs.

These create space within the actual mattress and allow air to move freely.

BUY DREAMCLOUDยฃ 499

Dreamcloud mattress composition
The DreamCloud mattress is an excellent hybrid option

How to protect your mattress from sweat

While we don't want our mattress to store heat, sexual activity will undoubtedly make things a little sweaty. ๐Ÿ˜…

That's why you need to take extra care to protect your mattress.

Most mattresses contain removable and washable covers - but these will not protect your mattress against moisture! ๐Ÿ›€

Instead, you'd need a waterproof mattress protector.

A mattress protector is a thin layer of waterproof material that you place over your mattress to safeguard it against dirt, sweat, stains, and moisture.

It'll also help keep your mattress in mint condition and extend its lifespan. โœ…

Our favourite UK mattress protectors:

Noise: How discreet do you want to be?

Sometimes, there is a need for discretion. ๐Ÿคซ

But even if there isn't, there's nothing worse than a noisy bed that squeaks with every movement.

The ideal mattress for sex will limit noise.

All-foam beds will generally be the quietest, while very bouncy and responsive spring mattresses tend to be noisier, especially if they're of lower quality. ๐ŸŽต

Hybrid mattresses are a good compromise.

Hybrid mattresses
Hybrid mattresses combine bounce with noiselessness

They feature pocketed coils and generally give you good bounce and responsiveness, but they also feature layers of foam, which help keep things quiet.

A high-quality pocket sprung mattress, perhaps even with a foam pillow top for extra comfort, is also a good choice. ๐Ÿ‘

The Hypnia Supreme Hybrid mattress is an excellent hybrid option that combines pocket springs with a memory foam pillow top.

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Durability: How long a mattress will last

Most mattresses have an expected lifespan of 8 - 10 years, but wear and tear - including frequent sexual activity - can "break it down" more quickly. ๐Ÿคธโ€โ™€๏ธ

That's why it's vital to choose high-quality, durable mattresses.

Generally, the higher the quality of your mattress, the more durable it will be and the longer it will last.

Most of the beds we recommend are high-quality mattresses that you can count on. ๐Ÿงฎ

Time to replace your mattress
Worn mattresses will have to be replaced

But how do you determine quality?

  • For spring mattresses, consider the number of springs used. We'd recommend sticking to a minimum of 350 springs for the smallest available size.
  • For foam mattresses, consider the density of foams. We'd recommend sticking to a minimum density of 40 kg/m3.

The material used also plays a part.

Pocket sprung mattresses last the longest, followed by latex foam and memory foam. ๐Ÿ—“

Which type of mattress material is best for sex?

We've mentioned mattress materials throughout this article and, by now, you should have a good indication of which mattress materials are best for sex. ๐Ÿ’‹

But let's look at this again in more detail:

Advantages Disadvantages
Memory foam mattresses: Very comfortable, contouring, good pressure relief, quiet Difficult to move around on; store body heat; generally lack edge support
Latex foam mattresses: Comfortable, supportive, durable, breathable, and quiet Natural latex is generally very expensive
Innerspring mattresses: Supportive and breathable Cheaper options can be excessively noisy
Pocket sprung mattresses: Comfortable, supportive, durable, and breathable Not available as bed-in-a-box options
Hybrid mattresses: Comfortable, supportive, breathable, quiet Will store more heat than pocket sprung mattresses but not as much as foam mattresses

Our recommendation?

Unless you're adamant on foam or have the budget for a high-quality latex mattress, we'd suggest sticking to pocket sprung or hybrid mattresses. ๐Ÿ™Œ

These will offer you the best combination of support, comfort, breathability, and durability.

And this, in turn, makes them excellent mattresses for sexual activity.

They also happen to be great mattress choices to catch a good night's sleep. ๐Ÿ’ค

Wake up feeling refreshed

What's the best bed frame for sex?

While other accessories may influence comfort, your bed frame will influence the noise levels of your nighttime activities. ๐Ÿ›

Padded bed frames and divan bases tend to be the quietest, but frames (especially wooden & metal frames) with slats have a tendency to squeak.

Well-designed frames, though, should also serve their purpose squeak-free.

Make sure to tighten your bed frame regularly and invest in a high-quality structure to provide a stable base for your mattress. ๐Ÿ”ฉ

If you like the look of headboards, consider the following:

  • Floor-standing headboards may be more expensive but they're also more sturdy and quieter.
  • Strutted headboards are cheaper but they also tend to wobble a bit more.
  • If you want to add some play to your bedroom activities, it's best to opt for wooden or metal headboards.

Always look for the highest quality you can afford.

Some of our favourite beds:

Which pillows are best for sex?

Choosing a good mattress for sex may be the most important, but don't forget that your pillows play a role too.

A good pillow not only supports your head but can also come in handy to spice up your sex life. ๐Ÿ”ฅ

As Tim Ferriss explains at length in The Four Hour Body [1], certain positions would require you to lie on a firmer pillow to lift your hips - or other body parts.

So which pillow should you choose?

We'd recommend opting for a firmer adjustable pillow, like the Emma Premium pillow.

The Emma pillow contains individual layers of memory foam, and you can adjust both the height and the firmness of the pillow depending on how many layers you keep in the pillow cover. ๐Ÿคฉ

This means that the pillow could prove very handy during sexual activity.

You could also try the Brightr Eclipse pillow, which is similar in style.

Read more about our favourite customisable pillows:

What bedding is best for sex?

Your mattress and pillow will fulfil more of a functional role during sexual activity, but your bed linen will affect your overall comfort. ๐Ÿค—

After all, is there anything better than smooth and silky bedding?

We'd recommend opting for organic cotton bedding with a high thread count or even silk and bamboo bedding for more of a luxurious feel. โญ๏ธ

Our favourite luxurious bedding:

So what's the best mattress for sex?

There are several factors to consider when choosing the best mattress for sex.

Ultimately, you want a mattress that's:

  • Bouncy and responsive
  • Supportive but comfortable
  • Temperature-neutral
  • Quiet
  • Durable

We'd recommend that you opt for pocket sprung or hybrid mattresses. ๐Ÿ‘

But, don't forget that you also need a quality mattress that will allow for a great night's sleep.

Any of our top mattress choices will be a great fit.

Our favourite mattresses for sex:

Frequently asked questions

  • How much should a good mattress for sex cost?


    Budget does matter, but we'd recommend looking at higher-quality mattresses.

    Mattresses with too low a price point are unlikely to offer you what you're looking for.

    Thankfully, many quality mattresses - including the ones we recommend - offer exceptional value for money! ๐Ÿ’ฐ

    Most online sleep brands also offer frequent discounts and promotions.

    This means you'll get an even better deal on great new mattresses! ๐Ÿคฉ

    Take a look at our discounts page for all the latest deals.ย 

  • Do mattresses bought online come with a trial period?


    Most bed-in-a-box mattresses come with a few unique features.

    These include:

    • Free delivery and returns
    • Risk-free trial periods
    • Attractive warranty conditions

    Our favourite mattresses all offer a sleep trial.

    This means that you can try out the bed in the comfort of your own home to see if it's the right fit for you. ๐Ÿ˜

    If it isn't, you can return it (free of charge) for a full refund.

    Most of our favourites also come with a 10-year warranty, so you're guaranteed to be getting a high-quality, durable product.

    Some of our favourites - like the Nectar and the DreamCloud - even come with a lifetime warranty!

  • Will my mattress last longer if I flip it regularly?


    Most modern-day mattresses are not flippable. ๐Ÿ™…โ€โ™‚๏ธ

    This is because they have a very distinct top-to-bottom composition, usually consisting of:

    • A top comfort layer
    • A core of foam or springs, and
    • A sturdy base layer.

    Even though these mattresses shouldn't be flipped, you should rotate them from head to toe every six months. ๐Ÿ—“

  • Can I buy popular American mattresses in the UK?


    If you've read up on great mattresses for sex, you've likely come across popular American brands like Saatva, Casper, Helix Sleep, and Layla. ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ

    You can order some of these from the US and ship themย to the UK.ย 

    But we wouldn't recommend that.

    Many UK and European brands are just as great, cheaper, and come with less of a carbon footprint! ๐ŸŒŽ

  • References

Nicky

Nicky

Editor & Certified Sleep Therapist

Nicky is an experienced writer and editor with numerous qualifications. As a certified sleep coach, her interests lie in understanding how sleep problems arise from hormonal and environmental issues, particularly as part of stress and anxiety management.

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