How do we decide what mattresses to review?
An essential part of our Sleep Hero mission is to be fully transparent about our entire reviewing process with you. 🔓
When deciding whether a mattress is worth reviewing, we consider the benefit for our readership.
We consider the following:
- Is the mattress popular in the UK market?
- Does the brand deserve more recognition?
- Is there anything missing from other mattress reviews that we can shed some light on?
- Is this a product we would consider buying ourselves?
Most of the products we receive are sponsored through partnerships, but that doesn’t change how we review the mattress.
It’s vital that we give a completely unbiased account of our experience.
We’ll discuss that in more depth below. 👇
Where do we test our products?
Many mattress review sites test mattresses in clinical labs with state-of-the-art machines to determine mattress comfort.
But we don't need robots to tell us if a mattress is comfortable.
We test mattresses in the comfort of our own homes from a consumer perspective.
It is our belief this reflects the experience of our readers.
But we also have a live-in testing facility with full-time product testing managers, who do nothing but test, sleep, photograph, and analyse products from the UK, Europe, and beyond!
By testing in real homes, we can see how practical delivery actually is and how a mattress performs under normal sleeping conditions.
When testing in a lab, a tester can usually only evaluate whether the mattress is comfortable for a certain amount of time (often just overnight).
However, our testers sleep on the mattresses for an extended period while continuing their normal daily routines.
This means we can see if the mattress cooperates when sitting on the edge of the bed in the morning to put on our slippers or sleep beside our partners at night.
It also allows our test sleepers to get used to the feel of the new mattresses before making any concrete decisions.
Many mattresses may feel uncomfortable or unusual initially, as it takes the body a little while to get used to new sensations.
Testing at home also gives us the chance to see how the mattress adjusts to different kinds of bedding and seasons throughout the year.
And we don't need fancy equipment and machines to determine if a mattress is comfortable.
Instead, we're well equipped with our expertise, methodology, and in-home testing methods that we monitor over an extended period.
Though, occasionally we'll rely on some gadgets for more accurate measurements and objective tests.
So, what factors do we consider?
How do we test mattress performance?
Even though we test mattresses in our own homes or in our live-in testing facility to get a consumer perspective, we treat the process very seriously.
We monitor the entire experience and leave no stone unturned.
As mentioned on our About Us page, we consider numerous factors.
These include:
- Delivery and packaging
- Sleeping experience
- Practicality and longevity
But the real nitty gritty of it all comes as part of the sleep experience tests.
Unfortunately, there is no one-size-fits-all mattress, and it'll be impossible to find the perfect mattress.
But, there is a perfect mattress for you.
Your ideal mattress will depend on:
So, how do we test this?
We measure:
- The comfort and pressure relief of the mattress
- The firmness and support provided
- How suitable the mattress is for different sleeping positions
- How suitable the mattress is for different weights
- If it offers good temperature regulation throughout the night
- Whether it has high/low motion transfer
We understand that many of these factors are subjective, so we typically have two or more people testing the mattress with different personal preferences/requirements. 🧑🤝🧑
This allows us to make a fair overall assessment.
Let's look at the individual factors we consider in more detail.
Comfort and firmness
Comfort is the key to finding the perfect mattress.
Let's put it this way:
A cupboard's primary function is storage, and an oven's main function is providing the perfect base to cook well.
But, for a mattress, what matters most is how well you sleep.
Of course, actually sleeping on the mattress is the best way to test comfort.
We work with a variety of testers who can tell us how comfortable they think the mattress is, reflecting average consumer concerns.
Comfort is subjective, though, so we have to rely on some external data to be able to translate comfort into something that may be useful to our readers.
To do this, we look more closely at the firmness of the mattress and consider a variety of sinkage tests.
By testing how deeply a person sinks into the materials of a mattress, we can adequately determine how supportive a mattress will be - and how comfortable you're likely to find it.
We rely on a number of different sinkage tests.
For our first test, we stand directly in the centre of the mattress and measure how deeply our test subject sinks into the bed.
Something like this:
This allows us to analyse the mattress's support when body weight is concentrated in a single area.
It's also a great indication of point elasticity and overall firmness.
We also measure sinkage depths in different sleeping positions:
- If sleeping on the stomach, we measure at the stomach.
- If sleeping on the back and sides, we measure at the shoulders and hips.
This way, we can better assess whether a mattress is suitable for a particular sleeping position and how much support you'll get.
High sinkage depths indicate a softer mattress, while lower sinkage depths indicate a firmer mattress.
The degree of firmness you desire may come down to what you find comfortable, but it's far more accurate to choose the degree of firmness that best matches your body weight and sleep position.
A quick look at those two factors:
- Sleep position: Your sleeping position is one of the most important factors when choosing a mattress. We record our personal experiences sleeping in all positions, but our sinkage depths also help determine if a mattress is suitable for a specific position or not.
- Body weight and size: A person's size and weight can completely change the feel of a mattress. We often use two testers with different builds or body weights so we can give a fair indication of how a mattress responds.
While sleeping, you'd ideally lie in an optimal position, with your spine following its natural curve without being pushed out of alignment.
Spinal alignment and correct body posture can only be maintained if the firmness and stability of the mattress perfectly match your body weight and build, height, and preferred sleeping position.
Once we've measured our sinkage depths using testers of different body weights and sizes, we can compare individual test results and overall data to that of other mattresses.
This allows us to give the mattress a firmness level on a scale of 1 to 10, where 1 is the softest and 10 is the firmest.
Most mattresses we test will fall in the 4 - 8 range on the Sleep Hero firmness scale.
Edge support
A mattress's edge support may be slightly related to its overall firmness, but this isn't always the case.
What exactly is edge support?
It's the overall support you'll receive when lying or sitting at the very end (or edge) of the bed.
For some people, edge support can be a deciding factor when purchasing a mattress.
It's particularly important if:
- You share your bed with a partner and want to use the mattress's full width.
- You enjoy using your bed for other activities, like reading or painting your nails.
- You often sit at the side of your bed before going to bed or getting up in the morning.
The best way to test edge support is to exert pressure on the edge of the mattress to see how supportive it is.
We do this by sitting and/or kneeling at the end of the bed:
We can also test edge support during the night by moving right up to the side of the bed when sleeping.
Most mattresses will sink in slightly when sitting and kneeling on the edge, but some will squash down completely, which can prove quite uncomfortable.
Ideally, we'd be looking for mattresses that offer good edge support.
Motion isolation
Motion isolation (or, by inverse, motion transfer) indicates how effectively a mattress absorbs movements.
Imagine sleeping in bed with a partner.
A mattress with low motion isolation (or high motion transfer) would carry movement every time your partner moves, keeping you awake and frustrated.
In contrast, a mattress with high motion isolation (or low motion transfer) would effectively absorb motion, and both partners could sleep more comfortably.
Ideally, you'd want a mattress with low motion transfer, but, in some cases, you'd also want a mattress with a bit of bounce (such as when choosing the perfect mattress for sex).
We test motion transfer in several ways.
One of the ways in which we test is by using a motion reader to measure motion transfer when moving around on or getting out of bed.
This will give us results like the following:
The motion reader gives a pretty clear indication of when more movement takes place.
The above figures actually illustrate the difference between memory foam mattresses (left), which are known for their exceptionally low motion transfer, and pocket sprung hybrid mattresses (right), which have a bit more bounce.
We also test motion transfer by running a set of "more fun" experiments, like placing a glass of water on the mattress and creating some movement at the other end.
Take a look at the video below:
Our results show that this mattress absorbs motion very well, and the water glass - luckily - doesn't fall over.
Temperature
Temperature is subjective because our bodies function differently.
Some people sleep hotter, while others feel cold much more quickly.
But did you know that different mattress materials regulate temperature differently and affect how warm you feel at night?
The below illustration gives a quick overview of this:
Of course, we consider the materials used in a mattress and how they may affect how warm you feel during the night.
But this does not mean you'll always feel hot and clammy on a memory foam mattress, even though memory foam retains the most heat.
The best mattresses are designed to regulate temperature effectively, carrying away excess heat and moisture and keeping you cooler and more comfortable.
We test this temperature regulation by getting accounts from different test sleepers (both male and female) to see how hot they felt on the mattress.
But we also use a heat map in our tests so you can get a better idea of what temperatures you can expect between the sheets.
Look at the below heat maps as an example:
With the image on the left, the mattress retained heat where the sleeper lay but stayed temperature neutral elsewhere.
This ensures a cooler and more comfortable sleep.
But the mattress on the right heated up significantly more all over, meaning you're in for a night of warmer sleep.
This isn't terrible if you tend to feel cold at night, but it may be a dealbreaker if you're a hot sleeper.
Incidentally, both of the above heat maps depict memory foam mattresses.
What other factors do we consider?
Obviously, tests and analytical data are important to us.
But they're only relevant to our research once we've understood the needs of our readers.
We're focused on consumer reviews, after all, and want to focus on everything that's important to the customer journey.
When testing mattresses, we consider what other unique factors may contribute to the overall user experience.
Delivery
Most online brands promise a quick and easy delivery service. 🚚
But this isn't always the case, so we start by considering the delivery and returns processes and everything associated with unpacking the product.
A problematic delivery process is not always the fault of the brand (many outsource the process), but we think it's important to flag any issues we experience during delivery.
We consider some of the following:
- How long does delivery take?
- How much communication do we get during the delivery process, and is it effective?
- Is the product delivered to the door or brought into our room of choice?
- Is the product (or box) delivered damaged or in good condition?
- How is the mattress packaged (i.e. bed-in-a-box product or delivered flat)?
- What packaging is included, and is it recyclable?
- How much packaging is used?
- Are there any additional niceties, like thank you notes or a gift?
- Is the product easy to unbox?
- Is there off-gassing, and if so, how long does it take for the smell to disappear?
- Is there an old mattress removal service?
We may focus on other aspects of the delivery process, but this is often product- or brand-specific.
We also take you through the step-by-step unboxing process with images and/or videos to document how easy (or difficult) it is to unpack the product.
Some readers value the importance of eco-friendly materials in a mattress review, whilst others prioritise a seamless and stress-free delivery process. 😅
Therefore, we try to observe the entire delivery process from every possible angle.
As part of the delivery process, we'll also take a closer look at the returns process.
Questions we consider:
- Does the brand offer a risk-free trial period?
- Does the brand offer full refunds or exchanges only?
- Are returns easy to set up?
- Does the customer incur any costs?
- Does the brand pick up the product?
While many brands now offer trial periods, the details of the returns process can affect how comfortable this process is for consumers.
Practicality
It's great to have fast delivery and a comfortable mattress that feels cool and doesn't transmit motion.
But many review sites ignore the practicality and convenience of a mattress.
It's like buying the perfect pair of trousers, only to discover that the item can only be dry-cleaned using particular products.
Would you wear that pair of trousers daily?
Probably not.
Since you will be using your mattress daily, you'd need a convenient product.
We all lead busy lives, so ultimately we want a product that will be easy to take care of - and one that lasts a long time.
That's why we look at convenience factors such as the following:
- Whether the mattress has a removable and/or machine-washable cover
- How easy the mattress cover is to wash, dry, and put back on
- How to clean the mattress itself, if possible
- Whether the mattress needs to be flipped and how to turn it
- How difficult it is to move the mattress (i.e. if it comes with side handles)
- How heavy the mattress is
These are factors you wouldn't necessarily think of at first.
But, these seemingly small factors can create big problems.
For example, the elderly or people with mobility issues will do better with a lightweight mattress with handles or one that doesn't need to be turned frequently.
Similarly, allergy sufferers or people struggling with eczema are better off with a mattress with a washable cover or one that repels dust mites.
We can investigate these aspects by testing in our own homes - and may even come across other factors we'd not initially considered.
When you spend a lot of money on a mattress, you want to take care of it. 🥰
But you also don’t want this to create too much interruption.
So, we consider mattress care and determine how easy it is to look after.
This ensures that even if your mattress passes the initial comfort test, it will also be a product that suits your busy lifestyle. 😅
Durability
The average lifespan of a high-quality mattress is 8 - 10 years.
While we don't run our mattress tests for that long, we consider the average durability of a mattress depending on the quality of materials used in the construction of the product.
Mattresses with high-quality materials (and a good guarantee period) should be expected to last that long, while mattresses made of lower-quality materials are likely to wear out more quickly.
Sometimes, we've even encountered mattresses - and other products - that already fail during our testing period!
This is often due to manufacturing faults, but luckily it gives us a good opportunity to test how brands deal with those issues as well.
Price
When we test a mattress, we also ask ourselves whether or not this product is good value for money.
There's often no easy answer to that as everyone's budget varies, but we do consider a few things.
These include:
- The overall quality of the materials, including foam density and spring count
- The sustainability of the product
- Whether or not the mattress comes with a sleep trial
- The length of the warranty period
We've found that, very often, mattresses that seem expensive actually work out cheaper in the long term - and thus offer better value for money.
For example, a £1000 mattress may seem expensive, but if it's a high-quality product that lasts for 10 years, it's still cheaper than a £500 mattress that only lasts 4 years.
We also consider what kind of discounts are available to customers throughout the year and whether or not the brand offers good deals compared to others.
Available sizes
Size might not seem a huge concern, particularly if you already know what size you need.
UK sizes include single, small double, double, king size and super king, but that doesn’t mean every UK mattress will come in these sizes. 🤔
Sometimes, we'll encounter brands that only focus on EU sizes, which are slightly different to the UK standard mattress sizes.
Other times, we'll see that a certain mattress is only available in larger mattress sizes.
Both of these factors influence how convenient a mattress or certain brand will be for our UK readers, so it's always something we consider in our testing and our reviews.
Sleep trials
We've briefly touched on sleep trials when we spoke about the delivery and returns processes, but it's such an important point that it deserves its own section.
Most of our recommended bed-in-a-box mattress brands offer risk-free trial periods.
This means you get to test a mattress in the comfort of your own home to see if it’s right for you and return it for a full refund if you're not satisfied.
But not all brands have amazing, risk-free trials.
We consider some of the following:
- How long is the trial period?
- Is the returns process complicated?
- Does the brand cover the cost of the return?
- Does the brand pick up the product from your home?
- Are you eligible for a full refund or does the brand only offer product exchanges or gift vouchers?
- Are there any other costs involved for the customer?
High-quality brands should offer a minimum of a 30-night sleep trial with a full refund if unsatisfied.
Guarantee
A guarantee works a bit differently from a sleep trial.
A mattress guarantee or warranty protects you from manufacturing faults such as seams coming apart or the mattress dipping.
While we often don't test a mattress long enough to make use of the guarantee, we have had some negative experiences where the warranty came into play.
For example:
- We've tested some products where the zipper or handle broke during testing.
- We've tested a few mattresses that didn't expand to their full size (beyond the 2 cm leeway most brands allow).
- We've even received faulty products with rips, tears, or incorrect measurements.
If this happens, it gives us a golden opportunity to test how brands deal with warranty claims.
But if all goes well during testing, we simply consider how long the guarantee period is and what faults are covered, and then compare this to what other brands or retailers offer.
A good mattress guarantee should be at least 7 years or more (as this is the average lifespan for a mattress).
Of course, the mattresses we recommend use high-quality materials and feature high-density foams or a high spring count for a long lifespan.
Do we look at awards and certifications?
Sometimes, we'll also look at how other organisations have rated a mattress, so it's not unusual for us to consider mattress awards and certifications.
However, we do always make a point to consider how trustworthy other reviews or awards are.
Some questions we ask ourselves when looking at other reviews include:
- Has the product been thoroughly tested?
- Are the claims backed up by data, or is it just someone's opinion?
- Does the organisation or site discuss the disadvantages of the product?
- Are all concerns and questions answered?
- Are alternatives provided, or is only one product or brand recommended?
Most mattress review sites like ours will receive a small commission when you buy a product by clicking on one of the links.
This doesn’t affect the cost to you, and we aren’t required to give any product a positive review.
But some other organisations or sites may feature "reviews" written by brands or paid-for rankings.
So, keeping that in mind, which are the most common mattress awards and certifications we'd look at?
UK product awards
Let's take a closer at some of the most common UK product awards in the sleep world.
Which? Best Buy
Which? is the UK’s largest consumer association, and they test thousands of products alongside mattresses, including car seats, washing machines, and smartphones.📱
These products are thoroughly tested in laboratories where the mattresses are bashed and rolled over with advanced machinery. 🔬
Which? is an independent organisation and we can rely on the fact that their awards will be unbiased.
Product of the Year
Product of the Year is the UK’s largest survey for products and has been running for almost two decades. 😮
The product in question must have launched within the year to be eligible for the Product of the Year award.
Journalists and industry experts will first assess the mattress to see if it meets the required standards.
If the mattress is selected, it will go through to the vote, where over 10,000 shoppers will decide on a winner. 👑
This ensures that Product of the Year awards reflect general consumer consensus.
Good Housekeeping awards
Good Housekeeping has tested home products for almost 100 years, and some of their awards include the likes of Good Housekeeping Institute and Good Housekeeping Getting Greener.
They have an 18,000-square-foot testing facility and a team of engineers, scientists, data analysts, and researchers who thoroughly test contending products. 🥼
They also send out items to select readers to see how well a product performs with various consumers.
This helps to provide a broad range of results of user experience, and we know we can generally rely on Good Housekeeping results.
Other awards
Other independent journalist awards include T3, Mattress Guide, Wired, Expert Reviews, The Independent, and Ideal Homes.
Each review site will have its own standards for distributing awards, but we'll look at any other awards with a more cynical eye to establish authenticity.
Product certifications
Certifications work a little differently from awards, as they typically determine whether the products are good for you and the environment.
We always consider whether a product carries certain certifications.
While most bed-in-a-box mattresses are not organic, many brands pay attention to the quality of materials used. 🧵
Many products, for example, carry the OEKO-TEX-Standard-100 or the CertiPUR-US certifications.
These certifications guarantee that the materials are free from harmful chemicals and toxic substances.
We may also look at the GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard) and GOLS (Global Organic Latex Standard) certifications if we're considering organic or latex-based products.
The UK also has strict safety requirements, and all mattresses need to be fire-retardant and comply with the BS 7177 regulation.
What other products do we test?
We don't just test and review mattresses.
We've also tested a range of sleep accessories from some of the UK's most popular brands.
Below, we go into detail about how we test some of these products.
Testing pillows
We've tested some of the best pillows in the UK.
And we don't just test bed pillows.
We've also tested bath pillows and body pillows and hope to try all kinds of pillows in the future.
But what actually makes a good pillow?
Just like mattresses, the experience of a pillow is subjective and depends on the individual.
That said, there are still a few key factors we consider.
These include:
- Loft: The height of the pillow you need depends on your build and preferred sleep position.
- Material: Pillow material affects the overall loft and feel of the pillow but is also important to consider for allergy sufferers.
- Adjustability: An adjustable pillow has removable layers or shredded foam so that it can be adjusted to your ideal firmness and height.
It's important to remember that the feel of a pillow can be influenced by the mattress you use, and you may need a higher/firmer or lower/softer pillow, depending on how soft or firm your mattress is.
Other questions we ask ourselves when testing pillows:
- How is the pillow delivered?
- Does the pillow come with a removable and/or washable cover?
- Does the pillow hold its shape over time?
- Does the pillow sleep cool?
- In what sizes is the pillow available?
All these factors influence your sleep comfort or the overall practicality of the pillow.
Since we test at home or in our live-in facility, we have the advantage of being able to test pillows over a longer period of time.
Unlike testing labs, we can see if the pillow is still comfortable after a while and update our articles accordingly.
Testing duvets
We've also tested some of the best duvets in the UK.
Contrary to what you may think, a duvet can make or break your sleep experience.
It's also one of the most significant factors when considering the overall sleeping temperature.
In addition to standard delivery and quality questions, we also consider duvet materials, tog size, and comfort.
Another thing we pay attention to is whether or not the duvet is machine-washable.
Many duvets are, but they don't have to be.
But since we're testing in real homes, we can decipher how practical washing a duvet actually is.
Look at the below image:
Even though this coverless duvet was washable, it didn't actually fit into our washing machine, and we had to take it to a laundrette.
By going through this entire process and documenting it in our review, we can prevent readers from buying a duvet that's unsuitable for their lifestyle.
Testing mattress protectors
A mattress protector safeguards your mattress against stains, spills, moisture, and bacteria.
Using a protector is a great way to increase mattress longevity and keep it looking fresh and clean for longer.
There are a few things we consider when testing a mattress protector.
These include:
- Is the mattress protector made from quality materials that are soft and breathable?
- Is it easy to put on the bed?
- What's it like to sleep on, and does it change sleep comfort negatively?
- Does it actually protect the mattress?
We consider how easily the protector wrinkles, if it makes any noise (some feel and sound very plasticky), and if it fits on easily like a fitted sheet.
To test the mattress protector's waterproof claims, we recreate those "accident" situations by simply spilling water over the mattress.
Look at the results below:
Luckily, the mattress protector adequately safeguarded the mattresses, and none of the water seeped through.
Mattress protectors may seem irrelevant, but we firmly believe that investing in a good waterproof mattress protector should be a non-negotiable.
Testing mattress toppers
A mattress topper can completely change the way a mattress feels.
These thick layers of material are placed on top of your mattress, usually to make your mattress more comfortable.
Testing a mattress topper is similar to testing mattresses since the topper will affect your sleeping surface so much.
This is why we'll run many of the same tests.
But keep in mind that the mattress underneath the topper greatly affects the topper, so it's often impossible to draw generic conclusions.
In addition to the more standard questions, we also consider the following:
- What materials is the topper made from?
- Is the topper soft and squishy or slightly firmer?
- What sleeping position is it best suited for?
- Is it thick enough to make enough of a difference?
- Does it sleep hot or cool?
- Does it come with a removable and/or washable cover?
- Does it have straps to attach it to the mattress?
- Can it be stored away easily?
Unlike a mattress protector, duvet, and pillow, a mattress topper isn't necessary.
We always pay attention to whether or not this is a product you should actually invest in.
Testing beds and bed frames
No bed setup is complete without a good divan base or bed frame.
Most people will choose a bed according to the overall design, but there are also some practical factors to consider.
When testing bed frames, some of the things we look at include:
- How economical the frame is for smaller bedrooms
- Whether or not the frame offers a practical storage solution
- If the materials are durable, stain-resistant, and/or easy to clean
- How easy it is to put together
- How easy it is to take apart and transport if needed
We also consider how sturdy the frame is and what type of mattress it is suitable for.
Unfortunately, we've had some negative bed frame experiences, so there definitely are some beds that are better than others!
But wait, there's more ...
We've covered some of our most tested sleep accessories above, but there are many more.
Other sleep accessories and gadgets we've tested include:
- Weighted blankets
- Sleep masks
- Ear plugs
- Sleep & health monitoring devices (like the Oura ring)
- Smartwatches
- Massage guns
We're continuously expanding our range of product tests to offer you the most informative reviews.
Why you can trust us
While we spend a considerable amount of time testing products and getting hands-on experience, we also rely on our in-depth knowledge of sleep products and the sleep industry.
Each article we write involves countless hours of research.
We speak directly with manufacturers, keep up to date with the latest trends in the sleep world, and continuously expand our knowledge base with sleep accreditations.
We also trust our international sleep experts to provide continuous training to our team and verify our information.
And we won’t stop there ...
We'll continue to update this page with new practices, testing methods, products and discoveries.
Despite our experience, the sleep industry is constantly changing, and our testing methods must reflect all new developments in sleep research.
Your opinion means a lot to us.
So if you have any further questions or suggestions about our testing process, please feel free to reach us at info@airi.media.
