Here at the Strategist UK, we like to think of ourselves as crazy (in the good way) about the stuff we buy, but as much as we’d like to, we can’t try everything. Which is why we have People’s Choice, in which we find the best-reviewed products and single out the most convincing ones. (You can learn more about our rating system and how we pick each item here.)
And while we’ve written about lots of ways to get a good night’s sleep on our US website — including the best mattress toppers, the best pillows, and the best sheets — here, we’ve rounded up the best mattresses, as praised by the most enthusiastic reviewers on Amazon.
Note: To even the playing field a bit, we focused on UK double-bed mattresses (135 cm x 190 cm), but all of these mattresses are available in other sizes as well. According to reviewers, every mattress on this list comes rolled and tightly packed for delivery.
Best-rated mattress
This mattress, from the UK-based company Starlight Beds, is the best-rated double bed mattress on Amazon and the most affordable mattress on this list. Score. Hundreds praise the mattress’s good value, with 30 customers saying it’s great for bargain-hunters and folks on a budget. The mattress uses an open-coil-spring design and is topped with a layer of memory foam, which provides medium-soft support (20 reviewers say that the softness makes it particularly popular with kids). It’s important to note that not all customers were impressed by the mattress — critical reviewers do say that you get what you pay for. However, most reviews are very positive, and dozens of people say that they were amazed or surprised by the quality for the price. According to one reviewer, they would have happily paid double.
Best mattress for couples
This Inofia mattress has 500 five-star reviews, from buyers who describe the mattress as firm, supportive, and comfortable. More than a hundred positive reviews are written by couples, or else specifically mention that the mattress was a hit with the reviewer’s partner. The mattress uses a combination of foam and individual pocket springs, which provide firmer support than open coil springs, and reduce the amount of movement and ‘roll together’ that can be felt if you’re sharing the bed with someone else. As one customer says, the mattress has great individual support with no sagging, rolling into the middle, or waking each other up. Although this mattress is more costly than the Starlight mattress, over 100 reviewers call it affordable or great value for money. Several mention that it outperforms the £1000-plus mattresses they have had in the past. Like the Starlight mattress, the Inofia comes vacuum-packed for easy delivery. In addition, the company provides a 100-night test period, during which they guarantee a full refund if you wish to return the product.
Best mattress for back pain
In the reviews for this DOSLEEPS mattress, 70 customers say that they experience aches and pain in their back or joints. Among those customers, 60 give this mattress a five-star review. The company claims that the mattress’s orthopaedic benefits come from its high-quality, individually pocketed springs combined with a thick top-layer of memory foam. According to DOSLEEPS, the combination of these materials allow the mattress to ‘intelligently adjust’ to a sleeper’s body, enabling their hips and shoulders to sink comfortably into the mattress while providing ample support for the neck and head. Consequently, two-thirds of all reviewers describe the mattress as comfy, including ten people who call it the most comfortable mattress they have ever owned. Dozens of reviewers — who identify as back, side, and stomach sleepers — also say the mattress offers good support and resistance without feeling too hard. The outer fabric is made of sustainable Tencel lyocell fibers and, similar to the Inofia, the mattress comes with a money-back guarantee for 90 days.
Best medium-soft mattress
This mattress has a similar pocket spring and foam structure to the DOSLEEPS and Inofia mattresses, but offers a slightly softer surface for buyers who prefer a medium-soft feel. Customers give the mattress top marks for comfort, and more than 40 attest that it is just the right balance of softness and supportiveness, whether you’re sitting or lying down. Two customers report that, according to their family members, it’s like sleeping on clouds. Another writes that they can’t tell if the mattress is technically firm or soft — all they know is that it’s ‘comfy as hell’. This mattress also comes with a 100-night trial period, but according to reviewers, this is only if you order it direct from the manufacturer.
Best firm mattress
This open-coil-spring mattress is layered with high-density reflex foam, making it one of the firmest mattresses on this list. Customers call the mattress sturdy and well-made, and several reviewers state that although the mattress may appear worryingly hard at first, it is highly effective for people with back pain. This model is particularly popular among reviewers who report bad experiences with memory foam in the past. But if you’re worried that the mattress may be too firm for your taste, 20 customers also report that you can easily soften it with a mattress topper. Unlike the memory-foam-topped mattresses on this list, the two sides of this mattress are identical — this means it can be flipped head-to-tail as well as back-to-front during long-term use. Amazon does not currently list this mattress in a UK double (135 cm x 90 cm), so the price quoted is for a UK small double (120 cm x 190 cm).
Best memory-foam mattress
For one happy customer, one of the best things about this memory-foam mattress is how silent and stable it is. The customer adds that he and his wife can move around on their own sides of the bed without bouncing each other around. Like many of the products on this list, reviewers commend this memory-foam and reflex-foam mattress for its value, comfort, and quick delivery. Although some customers say that they were nervous about the mattress’s low price, the majority of buyers express satisfaction with the product’s feel and quality. One reviewer states that the Bedzonline model outperforms other mattresses in this price range (especially sprung mattresses), and that although the mattress appears thin it is very comfortable. Take note, however, that over 100 customers say the foam has a strong plastic-like smell upon opening. But positive reviewers are unconcerned: They claim that this is normal for memory foam and say that the smell wears off quickly in a well-ventilated room.
Best hybrid foam mattress
The all-foam Emma mattress has won a variety of ‘best buy’ awards in UK publications, and is another popular choice on Amazon. The mattress is made of three types of foam with a top-layer of Airgocell foam, a material that promises the body-moulding benefits of memory foam but with better air circulation. According to five customers, these materials also mean the mattress is lighter and easier to handle than spring-based models. For 15 customers, it’s the great back support that won them over (positive and negative reviews emphasise that this is a pretty firm mattress). But two reviewers, both of whom experience back or neck problems, say it’s still yielding enough to sleep in any position. Some reviewers acknowledge that the Emma mattress is pricey compared to its mattress-in-a-box peers. But many buyers say they are fully convinced by the quality — one reviewer raves that, by helping him wake up better, the mattress has given him a new lease on life. This mattress also has a 100-night trial period, and Emma says that it will pay for any return postage.
Best mattress for hot sleepers
This DOSLEEPS mattress is similar to our best-rated pick for back pain, but with an added ‘3-D quilting pad’ for better air circulation while you sleep. Customers rank it highly for breathability, especially for hot sleepers. One reviewer mentions that their old memory-foam mattress would easily make them sweat in the summer — by comparison, they think this mattress is breathable, comfortable and very unlikely to get mouldy. Ten reviewers say that the mattress looks and feels much more expensive than it is. Another reviewer claims that the mattress is suitable for plus-size sleepers, and can take 30 stone (190 kg) comfortably. Like the DOSLEEPS Tencel mattress, this comes with a 90-day moneyback guarantee.
Some Strategist-recommended mattress accessories
For those wanting a little luxury, this is the best-rated feather mattress topper on Amazon. Softness is the main attraction for 40 customers, who use adjectives such as “thick,” “deep,” and “billowy” to describe the feel of the topper. In one woman’s words, while writing the review, all she wanted to do was crawl back into bed with a hot chocolate and a good book.
If you run hot, this memory-foam topper (another highly-rated Amazon option) is specifically designed to help you keep cool at night. (Bamboo is known to be cooling, but apparently the gel-infused foam is also a natural temperature regulator). More than 25 reviewers confirm that they’re comfortably cool sleeping on this mattress topper, including several women who experience hot flashes.
The Strategist UK is designed to surface the most useful, expert recommendations for things to buy across the vast e-commerce landscape. Read about who we are and what we do here. Our editors update links when possible, but note that deals can expire and all prices are subject to change.