Your Sleep Matters!
Your Sleep Matters!
We've tried dozens of bed-in-a-box mattresses - so that you don't have to!
Finding a new mattress can be exhausting, but we hope to make this process much, much easier by giving you all the information you need before buying.
We share all our personal experiences in our in-depth mattress reviews👇
We've reviewed dozens of mattresses, but here is a snapshot of our favourite ones.
Bestselling mattress by the award-winning Emma brand; perfectly designed as an orthopaedic choice.
A premium choice at a great price with a risk-free 365-day trial period and 'forever guarantee'.
The medium-firm flagship mattress by the proudly British Eve Sleep.
Finding a new mattress can be an overwhelming task. And finding the perfect mattress is even harder.
But that's exactly where Sleep Hero comes in 🦸♀️🦸♂️
We'll guide you through every step of your journey to help you find a mattress that's perfect for you.
To get started, here are a few quick tips that will help make the process of buying a bed-in-a-box mattress much simpler.
"Budget" is such an adult word ... but, unfortunately, it's something we all have to consider.
You can't decide what type of mattress you want to buy if you don't know how much you can afford to spend.
While opting for a cheap mattress may seem like a good idea, this will backfire in the long run.
You spend a third of your life sleeping. That's a lot of time spent on your mattress.
So you want to make sure you choose a mattress that will support you well, night after night.
High-quality products don't necessarily have to cost a fortune 💰💰💰
There are many great bed-in-a-box mattresses available at really good prices.
We divide our mattress reviews into three broad categories based on price (taking the cost of a standard double bed into consideration)
If your budget is quite low, you need to be very careful about the mattress you choose.
Many cheap mattresses are inferior products that can lead to long-term back problems.
We'd recommend that you always test the mattress first to make sure it's comfortable.
Most IKEA mattresses fall into this price range.
Most of the mattresses we recommend tend to fall within this range.
Some, like the Eve Lighter Hybrid, will fall into the lower end of this price range and average between £300 - £600.
The majority, however, falls into the upper range of this price category, and you'll spend between £600 and £800 for a mattress like the Emma Original, Eve Original, or Simba Hybrid.
These are expensive, luxury mattresses, that offer unparalleled quality.
Mattresses like the Tempur Sealy, Emma Original Hybrid, and Eve Premium Hybrid fall into this range.
While these mattresses are well worth investing in, most of the average-priced mattresses are just as good.
Most bed-in-a-box mattresses are described as "one-for-all" mattresses, meaning that they offer universal comfort and will work well with the majority of sleeping positions and body types.
While we think this is great in theory, it's not necessarily true.
Some mattresses are still better suited to some sleepers than to others.
Your preferred sleeping position and body type play a role here.
Side sleepers generally need a softer mattress that allows their hips and shoulders to sink into the foam a little more deeply so that their spines remain straight.
Back sleepers and stomach sleepers, in contrast, can do with a little more firmness.
People who are smaller and more light-weight (under 70 kg/154 lbs) tend to sleep more comfortably on a slightly softer mattress.
People who are heavier or of a larger build tend to require more support and stability.
Here, a firmer mattress would be a better choice.
Most people believe that a firm mattress is better for your back.
But this isn't necessarily true.
A mattress that's too firm can actually cause lower back pain because your body can't fully relax into the foams.
But you also don't want a mattress that's too soft, as this results in the so-called hammock effect, where your hips sink in too much and your spine bends.
While it's easy to think that this relates purely to the firmness of a mattress, it's actually more related to the stability a mattress can provide.
A soft mattress can provide as much stability as a firm mattress.
Most of the high-quality mattresses we recommend provide sufficient stability and support, regardless of the actual mattress firmness.
The degree of firmness you choose, then, depends on the level of comfort you want to experience when you lie down.
Do you like your mattress to be soft and squishy? Or would you prefer lying "on top of" rather than "sink into" your mattress? What about that sleeping-on-a-cloud feeling? ⛅️
Firmness is a matter of personal preference.
Most high-quality mattresses fall into the 5 - 7 out of 10 range on the Sleep Hero firmness scale, where 1 is the softest and 10 the firmest.
These qualify as medium-firm mattresses.
We’ve designed this firmness scale to help guide you in our mattress reviews.
If you've chosen a mattress that's too firm for you, you can always soften it up with a quality mattress topper.
The reverse isn't true though, so make sure you never buy a mattress that's too soft.
We can recommend the below:
There are dozens of different mattress sizes, and you'll find different dimensions available in different countries.
In the UK, the most common standard mattress sizes include:
Your ideal mattress size depends on a number of factors. Consider the following questions:
The answers to all of these will help guide you towards the right mattress size.
In general, though, people sleeping alone will be quite comfortable on a single or double mattress, while couples should opt for a king or super-king mattress.
While the above steps will help you narrow down your choices and our mattress reviews will hopefully help you make a final decision, there really is no better way to make sure a mattress is right for you than by testing it.
That's why we love bed-in-a-box mattresses.
Sure, you can test a mattress in-store at a specialist retailer under the scrutinising eyes of a commission-hungry sales assistant, but you could also try a mattress for a few months in the comfort of your own home.
We certainly prefer the latter.
Most bed-in-a-box mattresses come with a risk-free trial period of either 100 days or 200 days.
The Nectar mattress even comes with a 365-day trial period!
That's a long time to try a mattress.
But it's so necessary.
After all, it'll take your body a minimum of three weeks to get used to a new mattress, so you need at least that time to see if you sleep comfortably or wake up with aches and pains.
And even if the mattress isn't quite right for you, it's no big deal - you can return it, free of charge, and get a full refund.
Convenient and hassle-free. All shopping should be like that 🥳
You'll be pleased to know that Amazon often honours these trial periods too!
You've gone through all of the above steps, tried the mattress, have had the best night's sleep of your life ... and you're still happy?
That's gold - you’ve found your perfect mattress 🥇
Now, let's help you get there.
We still need to help you find your perfect mattress.
But, don't worry. You're not alone.
Our mattress reviews are here to help you.
Each mattress review dives into the nitty-gritty of the mattress in question, and you'll learn everything you need to know about it.
We consider a wide range of factors.
Not all mattresses are created equal.
Some have three layers of memory foam, others have five layers of different types of foam, and others combine foams and springs.
All of the different mattress materials have unique features.
Some of the most common mattress materials include:
There is no best mattress material, though some certainly have great properties.
Memory foam, for example, demonstrates body-contouring support, which makes it a great material for orthopaedic mattresses.
Many mattresses feature a cushioning memory foam layer to provide that comfy, body-hugging support 🤗
The material a mattress is composed of and the way it is constructed will influence its firmness, comfort, breathability, and more.
The base layers often influence the stability and support, while the comfort layers influence the feel of the mattress.
Why does this matter?
The mattress cover determines the design and aesthetic of the mattress 🎨
It also plays an important part in the breathability of the mattress - you want a cover that allows air to flow through the mattress to keep the materials well-ventilated and to keep you cool and comfortable!
And, then, the mattress cover also plays a role in determining whether or not the mattress is a hypoallergenic choice.
Most quality mattresses come with a removable and washable cover.
That's good news for people prone to allergies 🤧
We'd also always recommend investing in a good mattress protector to extend the lifespan of your mattress and protect it from dirt, spills, stains, and bacteria.
The firmness of a mattress is influenced both by the materials used in the mattress and the specific composition thereof.
You may find two mattresses with exactly the same materials, and yet the firmness levels are completely different.
We rate each mattress according to our firmness scale.
We also consider edge support, which refers to how firm the sides of the mattress are.
Sometimes, you'll find that a mattress is quite firm throughout but very soft at the edges, so you'll feel like you're rolling off the sides. That's not ideal.
This is what you really want to know.
How comfortable is the mattress? How well does it support you? Does it keep your spine well-aligned?
We discuss specifics such as:
All of these specifics influence not only how comfortable a mattress is, but also how good it is for your body and spinal health.
The sleep surface of your mattress can feel cool, warm, clammy, or anywhere in between.
Some mattresses are more breathable than others 💨
Pocket sprung mattresses, for example, allow for much greater air circulation as the space between the springs creates natural ventilation channels.
Memory foam mattresses, in contrast, tend to feel a bit more clammy as the foam retains heat.
Most quality mattresses combine different materials to improve airflow and thus allow for greater breathability, keeping the mattress more temperature neutral.
For example, you'll often find hybrid mattresses, like the Simba Hybrid Pro, that combine pocket springs with top layers of foam to get the best of both materials.
This becomes important if you're sharing your bed with a partner.
If a mattress isolates motion well, that is, if it has low motion transfer, then you won't feel movement carried across the mattress.
This means you can sleep easily, even if your partner tosses and turns.
Of course, you want to know whether or not a mattress comes in the size you need - and if you can afford it!
Most online mattress brands offer regular discounts and promotions that can help you save £££ when buying a new mattress.
We link to all of them, but you can always check out our discounts page for more.
Many online mattress brands also offer bundle deals, where you can get your mattress with free gifts, such as bed frames, duvets, sheets, and more.
We like award-winning mattresses, so we try to list any awards a mattress has won 🏆
We also look at the Which? test results to make sure that our mattress review matches general consensus (but sometimes it doesn't).
Which? is the UK's largest consumer association, and they test thousands of products.
We'll also consider consumer reviews through platforms like TrustPilot.
We want to know that the products we recommend are good for you - and the environment 🌱
While most bed-in-a-box mattresses are not organic mattresses, many do pay attention to the quality of materials used.
Many foams, for example, carry the Oeko-Tex-Standard-100 certification.
This certification guarantees that the foams are free from harmful chemicals and toxic substances.
The UK also has strict safety requirements and all mattresses need to be fire-retardant and comply with the BS 7177 regulation.
On that note, if you are interested in organic mattresses, then you could consider a natural latex mattress. These are more expensive but are generally well worth the investment.
Most online mattress brands offer free delivery within the UK 🇬🇧
We also consider things like how to unpack your mattress, off-gassing, and whether or not the company offers an old mattress removal service.
It's also important to pay attention to the weight of a mattress. Sometimes, mattresses are very heavy and you'd definitely need help unpacking these!
If you buy your mattress online from one of our recommended bed-in-a-box mattress brands, you'll benefit from a risk-free trial period and free returns.
This is so necessary as you really need to be able to test a mattress to see if it's right for you.
A 100-night trial is standard, though many brands now offer much longer trial periods.
The Emma Original mattress, for example, currently comes with a 200-night trial.
This is even better for you.
If you're choosing a high-quality mattress, you can expect a good 10-year guarantee.
Of course, the mattresses we recommend are made using high-quality materials and feature high-density foams or a high spring count. This result in a mattress with a long lifespan.
A warranty guarantees this durability.
By going into detail on all of the above points, we can help you decide if a mattress is right for you.
So let's get started and look at the Sleep Hero mattress reviews 👇
We have an affiliate relationship with some manufacturers, where we receive a commission on sales if you click over from our site. This does not affect the purchasing price. In contrast: By using our discount codes, you'll get the best deal possible.
Looking for the best deal? We track all discounts, vouchers, and coupons so that you will always get the best price through our site. No matter which mattress or product you end up choosing.
We're a team of sleep enthusiasts and experts. We test hundreds of sleep products - mattresses, pillows, toppers, bed frames, and more! - to provide you with the best reviews. Our mission is to help you make the right choice for your sleep. Read more about us.
