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Best Innerspring Mattresses of 2026
Expert Tested and Sleeper Approved
Back in the day, before memory foam beds gained popularity and prior to the mattress-in-a-box craze, innerspring mattresses were practically your only option. Traditional innerspring mattresses are still available today, though they’re less commonly sold online because they typically can’t be compressed for shipping. For this reason, some of the best online mattresses that are marketed as innersprings are actually closer in spirit to hybrid mattresses, with steel coils that are wrapped in fabric to cut down on motion transfer and thick comfort systems with foam or latex layers.
Check out our guide to the best mattresses of 2026 to learn about our top picks and how we select them. We also cover beds geared toward certain types of sleepers, such as the best mattresses for side sleepers.
Our Top Picks
Best Mattress Overall
:WinkBed
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Best Value Mattress
:Brooklyn Bedding Signature Hybrid
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Most Comfortable Mattress
:Helix Midnight Luxe
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Best Luxury Mattress
:Saatva Classic
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Best Mattress for Side Sleepers
:Nolah Evolution 15
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Best Mattress for Couples
:Leesa Sapira Chill Hybrid
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Best Mattress for Back Pain
:Bear Elite Ultra Hybrid
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Best Mattress for Combination Sleepers
:Birch Luxe
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Best Cooling Mattress
:Lull Luxe Hybrid
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Best Mattress Deals Happening Now
- Save $771 — WinkBed
$1,799(List Price $2,570) - Save $520 — Brooklyn Bedding Signature Hybrid
$1,212(List Price $1,732) - Save $652 — Helix Midnight Luxe
$1,847(List Price $2,499) - Save $325 — Saatva Classic
$1,854(List Price $2,179) - Save $797 — Nolah Evolution 15
$1,480(List Price $2,277)
How We Tested the Best Innerspring Mattresses
Testing Criteria
Let’s review what to look for in an innerspring mattress: Beyond performing well across the board, it should offer a supportive feel, offer excellent airflow, and have great edge support. This is why we considered the following factors when we tried out the best innerspring beds:
- High support: Evenly distributed coils in a quality innerspring mattress should provide solid overall support, especially for back or stomach sleepers. Ideally, you’ll receive more of a “push back” sensation rather than a cushiony, sinking feel.
- Temperature regulation: The space between each coil spring should promote airflow and breathability, which is why they’re ideal for hot sleepers.
- Responsive surface: Compared to foam mattresses, innerspring mattresses are usually bouncier, making it easier for sleepers to move around and change positions. Sleepers who have mobility challenges may also appreciate this.
- Mattress coil type: An innerspring mattress can be made up of one of several coil types. Those with pocketed coils, in which each coil is wrapped in an individual fabric sleeve, are considered to be some of the most comfortable.
How We Evaluated
The database in our Seattle test lab includes over 1,000 mattresses, including hundreds of innersprings. In addition to evaluating their overall performance, we also looked for innerspring mattresses that scored highly in the following categories:
- Overall comfort
- Variety of sleeping positions
- Pressure relief
- Coil gauge and count
After going through our database, we selected a short list of top contenders. After that, our testing team tried out each option, providing numerical scores for key performance categories like motion isolation, edge support, and temperature regulation. From there, they selected accolades for each mattress, and then decided which options were fit to make our list.

Our Testing Team

Logan Foley
Editorial Director
Full Bio

Mary Fenton
Head of Product Content
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Jeremy Klein
Senior Product Testing Manager
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Brad Nehring
Senior Product Analyst
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Colin Simpson
Product Research Manager
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Best Mattress Overall: WinkBed
Best Mattress Overall
9.4/10Test Lab Score
WinkBed
High end hybrid bed providing ample support, cushion, and cool sleep.
Key Details
- Who It’s Best For: Just about every sleeper.
- Feel: Firmness levels ranging from medium soft (4) to firm (8). All have responsiveness, lumbar support, and edge support.
- What It’s Made Of: A core of pocketed innerspring coils. Most versions have top layers made of polyfoam and a layer of natural latex.
- What We Don’t Like: Some vibrations from a bed partner’s movement. May not suit sleepers who want to be closely hugged by their mattress.
Scoring & Reviews
The following ratings show how suitable this mattress is for different sleeping positions and sleeper weights. These scores are determined by how well the mattress supports and relieves pressure for each sleeper type.
In addition to the hands-on feedback from our team, we conduct a number of quantitative tests in our Test Lab. The below ratings are based on the experience of our testers.
Performance


As a hybrid mattress, the WinkBed combines the sturdy support of traditional innersprings with the deep cushioning of an all-foam model. The result is an exceptionally balanced design that excelled at pressure relief, edge support, and temperature control during our tests. You can choose from four firmness levels based on your body type and sleep position, and WinkBeds’ generous return policy allows you to exchange the mattress for a softer or firmer model if your first choice isn’t quite right.
How It Performs
Our team tested all four firmness levels and found that each one can accommodate different types of sleepers. Side sleepers up to 230 pounds and back sleepers under 130 pounds should appreciate the close contouring and cradling of the Softer WinkBed, which rates as a 4 on our 10-point firmness scale. The Luxury Firm (6) and Firmer (7) designs offer more support for back and stomach sleepers up to 230 pounds. If you weigh more than 230 pounds and need maximum support, we recommend the WinkBed Plus (8), a model specifically designed with this weight group in mind.
We found that pressure relief and motion isolation were two major strengths of the Softer WinkBed. While many hybrids are firmer and more responsive, this design’s close conforming is more akin to an all-foam mattress. The three other designs earned higher marks in performance categories like temperature control, edge support, and ease of movement.
Best Value Mattress: Brooklyn Bedding Signature Hybrid
Best Value Mattress
8.5/10Test Lab Score
Brooklyn Bedding Signature Hybrid
A high-quality, affordable hybrid with multiple firmness options.
Key Details
- Who It’s Best For: Side and back sleepers.
- Feel: Responsive surface with a degree of bounciness and light cushioning. Firmness levels include medium soft (4), medium firm (6), and firm (8).
- What It’s Made Of: Soft quilted cover, two top layers of polyfoam, and pocketed innerspring coils in the support core.
- What We Don’t Like: Return fee of $99. Foam materials can make it harder to move on top of the mattress.
Scoring & Reviews
The following ratings show how suitable this mattress is for different sleeping positions and sleeper weights. These scores are determined by how well the mattress supports and relieves pressure for each sleeper type.
In addition to the hands-on feedback from our team, we conduct a number of quantitative tests in our Test Lab. The below ratings are based on the experience of our testers.
Performance
The Brooklyn Bedding Signature Hybrid is both affordable and high-quality, constructed with quality materials and optimized performance features.
How It Performs
The Signature Hybrid is available in three firmness levels: medium soft (4), medium firm (6), and firm (8). The medium-soft model was most popular with our side sleepers weighing up to 230 pounds and back sleepers under 130 pounds. This design provides the deepest body contouring to alleviate aches and pains along the spine. The medium-firm design was most popular among our testers, earning favorable ratings from side and back sleepers across different weight groups, as well as stomach sleepers up to 230 pounds. Back and stomach sleepers weighing at least 130 pounds also found the firm model comfortable.
Thermoregulation is a major strength of the Signature Hybrid. Cooling infusions in the foam layers and steady air circulation throughout the coil layer help the mattress maintain a comfortable temperature. Our team was also impressed by the support system. We felt generous pushback from the coils when lying near and sitting along the edges, and none of us had trouble moving across the surface — even when testing the medium soft model.
Most Comfortable Mattress: Helix Midnight Luxe
Most Comfortable Mattress
9.7/10Test Lab Score
Helix Midnight Luxe
A premium quality, hybrid mattress created with side sleepers in mind.
Key Details
- Who It’s Best For: Side and back sleepers who weigh under 230 pounds.
- Feel: Medium firm (6) with substantial cushioning around hot spots like the low back, shoulders, and hips.
- What It’s Made Of: Memory foam top layers, followed by a responsive polyfoam. The tallest layer is pocketed innerspring coils supported by a dense polyfoam. Covered with a breathable Tencel exterior and optional cooling cover.
- What We Don’t Like: Firmness level may limit support for stomach sleepers, especially those over 230 pounds. Can emit a slight odor for a brief period after unboxing.
Scoring & Reviews
The following ratings show how suitable this mattress is for different sleeping positions and sleeper weights. These scores are determined by how well the mattress supports and relieves pressure for each sleeper type.
In addition to the hands-on feedback from our team, we conduct a number of quantitative tests in our Test Lab. The below ratings are based on the experience of our testers.
Performance



The Helix Midnight Luxe is specifically geared toward side sleepers between 130 and 230 pounds, but our tests show the mattress can accommodate people who use this position across a wide range of body types.
How It Performs
The medium firm (6) Midnight Luxe is one of the most balanced Helix hybrid mattresses we’ve tested. It earned solid ratings from side and back sleepers on our team weighing up to 230 pounds, and stomach sleepers under 130 pounds. Anyone who weighs more should consider one of Helix’s firmer models, such as the Twilight (7) or Dawn (8).
The foam layers absorb a fair amount of movement and reduce motion transfer well, so the Midnight Luxe is a good option for couples — especially those who have found other hybrids and innersprings too disruptive.
Edge support was another testing highlight. Although our testers over 230 pounds noticed some sinkage, most of us felt decent pushback when getting on and off the mattress. Hot sleepers should consider the cooling cover option, as some of our testers found the mattress warm during our temperature control tests.
Best Luxury Mattress: Saatva Classic
Best Luxury Mattress
9.5/10Test Lab Score
Saatva Classic
Traditional innerspring with a plush euro-top and excellent breathability.
Key Details
- Who It’s Best For: Almost any sleeper, depending on firmness level.
- Feel: Firmness levels: plush soft (3), luxury firm (6) or firm (8) model, all with cushioning comfort, moderate bounce, and solid edge support.
- What It’s Made Of: Polyfoam top layers, supplemented by memory foam lumbar support. Features a layer of micro-coils and a tall layer of innerspring coils in the support core.
- What We Don’t Like: Firmest model may be too hard for sleepers under 130 pounds, while the plush model may not be firm enough for people over 130 pounds. Return fee of $99.
Scoring & Reviews
The following ratings show how suitable this mattress is for different sleeping positions and sleeper weights. These scores are determined by how well the mattress supports and relieves pressure for each sleeper type.
In addition to the hands-on feedback from our team, we conduct a number of quantitative tests in our Test Lab. The below ratings are based on the experience of our testers.
Performance
The Saatva Classic is a luxury hybrid constructed with comfort in mind. The plush pillow-top and pressure-relieving foam greatly alleviate pressure-induced pain in your joints. The Classic also doubles down on the benefits of coils, employing a supportive coil-on-coil construction that you won’t find in many other mattresses.
How It Performs
The mattress is available in a 11.5-inch and 14.5-inch option. For both models, you can select between a soft (3), medium firm (6), and firm (8) feel. During performance tests, the bed appealed especially to side and back sleepers on our team. The cushioning from the pillow-top coupled with the pushback from the coils was ideally suited to these sleep positions, which require contouring as well as support for healthy sleep posture. While helping with spinal alignment, the micro-coils also generated bounce to make moving around a cinch on top of the surface.
Best Mattress for Side Sleepers: Nolah Evolution 15
Best Mattress for Side Sleepers
8.7/10Test Lab Score
Nolah Evolution 15
A cloud-like experience with a plush euro-top in multiple firmnes options.
Key Details
- Who It’s Best For: Most sleepers, depending on firmness level.
- Feel: Superbly comfortable, supportive around the joints and lumbar spine. Firmness options: medium (5), medium firm (6), and firm (8).
- What It’s Made Of: Four separate layers of resilient polyfoam on top and zoned, pocketed innerspring coils in the base layer.
- What We Don’t Like: Height may require a fitted sheet with deep pockets. Return fee of $99.
Scoring & Reviews
The following ratings show how suitable this mattress is for different sleeping positions and sleeper weights. These scores are determined by how well the mattress supports and relieves pressure for each sleeper type.
In addition to the hands-on feedback from our team, we conduct a number of quantitative tests in our Test Lab. The below ratings are based on the experience of our testers.
Performance



The Nolah Evolution 15 is a luxury Euro-top hybrid with a balanced feel we found extremely effective at reducing back pain. The thick foam comfort system has an adaptive feel that closely contours to the body to alleviate pressure-prone areas, while the robust coil system helps you maintain healthy sleep posture.
How It Performs
The mattress is available in three firmness levels, each one suited to different types of sleepers. The medium (5) feel conformed closely to the body during our tests and appealed to side sleepers. The other two options, medium firm (6) and firm (8), felt more supportive and were most comfortable for back and stomach sleepers — especially those who weigh at least 130 pounds.
With pocketed coils and foam layers that are engineered to minimize heat retention, the bed should feel comfortable for hot sleepers compared to other foam hybrids we’ve tested. The coil system is also zoned to create added stability along the perimeter, so our testers felt relatively secure when they lay near the edges or got on and off the mattress.
Best Mattress for Couples: Leesa Sapira Chill Hybrid
Best Mattress for Couples
9.0/10Test Lab Score
Leesa Sapira Chill Hybrid
A foam hybrid that cushions your body without trapping heat.
Key Details
- Who It’s Best For: Side and back sleepers who sleep hot and need pressure relief from their sleep surface.
- Feel: Available in medium (5), medium firm (6), and firm (7) designs to accommodate different sleeper types.
- What It’s Made Of: Four foam comfort layers, followed by multi-zone pocketed coils with perimeter reinforcement and dense base foam.
- What We Don’t Like: Thick profile requires a deep-pocket fitted sheet, and initial off-gassing odor can be strong for up to 72 hours after unboxing.
Scoring & Reviews
The following ratings show how suitable this mattress is for different sleeping positions and sleeper weights. These scores are determined by how well the mattress supports and relieves pressure for each sleeper type.
In addition to the hands-on feedback from our team, we conduct a number of quantitative tests in our Test Lab. The below ratings are based on the experience of our testers.
Performance
The Leesa Sapira Chill Hybrid stands out from traditional innersprings thanks to its cushy comfort system. Four individual layers create a plush surface that conforms to your body without sinking too much and isolating motion exceptionally well. These qualities, along with strong edge support and decent temperature control, make the mattress a great option for couples.
How It Performs
The Sapira Chill Hybrid is available in three firmness levels. During hands-on tests, we found the medium (5) model was a good fit for side and back sleepers under 130 pounds. This design provides a close contour and may buckle beneath your body if you weigh 130 pounds or more. The medium firm (6) model earned high marks from most of our side sleepers who weigh at least 130 pounds and back sleepers weighing up to 230 pounds, as well as some of our stomach sleepers under 130 pounds. If you weigh more than 230 pounds and sleep on your back or stomach, you’ll probably need the firm (7) design to ensure adequate support.
Given the Sapira Chill Hybrid’s thick comfort layers, the mattress regulates temperature quite well. The foams have an open-cell composition, so they don’t retain too much heat, and the topmost layer is infused with cooling gel to help maintain a comfortable surface. At the same time, the foam layers prevent movement from transferring across the bed – a major bonus for couples – and cradle the body to prevent pain and pressure buildup in sensitive areas.
Best Mattress for Back Pain: Bear Elite Ultra Hybrid
Best Mattress for Back Pain
8.8/10Test Lab Score
Bear Elite Ultra Hybrid
A luxurious dual-coil hybrid available in three firmness levels.
Key Details
- Who It’s Best For: Sleepers looking for spinal support, as well as hot sleepers.
- Feel: Available in medium (5), medium firm (6), and firm (8) designs, all with zoned coil support core for a sturdy, responsive feel and memory foam to gently cradle pressure points.
- What It’s Made Of: Copper-infused memory foam on top of microcoils and polyfoam, followed by a pocketed coil system with five-zone targeted support. The cover is a polyester blend woven with Celliant fibers for extra cooling and heat resistance.
- What We Don’t Like: The foam layers can give off “new mattress smell” for a few days after unboxing.
Scoring & Reviews
The following ratings show how suitable this mattress is for different sleeping positions and sleeper weights. These scores are determined by how well the mattress supports and relieves pressure for each sleeper type.
In addition to the hands-on feedback from our team, we conduct a number of quantitative tests in our Test Lab. The below ratings are based on the experience of our testers.
Performance
Couples who value both motion isolation and responsiveness for sex can have difficulty finding a mattress that meets both of these criteria. The Bear Elite Ultra Hybrid is a quintessential foam hybrid that absorbs most movement to help couples sleep soundly, while coils create a bouncy feel that makes it easy to move and change positions.
How It Performs
The mattress comes in three firmness levels: medium (5), medium firm (6), and firm (8). Our team’s side and back sleepers under 130 pounds enjoyed the softest feel’s extra cushioning. We found the medium firm model to be the most versatile. Side sleepers between 130 and 230 pounds and back sleepers up to 230 pounds awarded this model the highest ratings. Our side sleepers over 230 pounds, back sleepers who weigh at least 130 pounds, and stomach sleepers between 130 and 230 pounds enjoyed the firmest model’s supportive surface.
Motion isolation and pressure relief were the Elite Ultra Hybrid’s standout features, but it also earned high marks in other key categories. All three firmness levels performed well in our temperature regulation tests thanks to the cooling cover, aerated foams, and breathable support core. However, the hot sleepers on our team noted that the two firmer models ran slightly cooler than the softer one.
Best Mattress for Combination Sleepers: Birch Luxe
Best Mattress for Combination Sleepers
9.3/10Test Lab Score
Birch Luxe
Luxury latex hybrid with a medium firm feel.
Key Details
- Who It’s Best For: People with sustainability in mind, as well as combination.
- Feel: Medium firm (6) with light cushioning around joints and enhanced support for the lower back. Dependable edge support and sleeps exceptionally cool.
- What It’s Made Of: Multiple layers of organic wool on top of two separate layers of responsive organic latex. Support core is made with pocketed innerspring coils that rest on a layer of wool batting. Cover is quilted with organic cotton and organic wool.
- What We Don’t Like: Some vibration spreads to the other side when switching positions.
Scoring & Reviews
The following ratings show how suitable this mattress is for different sleeping positions and sleeper weights. These scores are determined by how well the mattress supports and relieves pressure for each sleeper type.
In addition to the hands-on feedback from our team, we conduct a number of quantitative tests in our Test Lab. The below ratings are based on the experience of our testers.
Performance
The Birch Luxe is a hybrid model that pairs luxurious layers of wool and latex with a sturdy coil base. The result is a bed that gently cushions your body while maintaining ample support to ensure proper spinal alignment.
How It Performs
The mattress has a medium firm (6) feel that suited an impressive range of body types and personal preferences during testing. The moderate cushioning and responsive feel made it especially compatible for back and side sleepers over 130 pounds. Stomach sleepers between 130 and 230 pounds also gave the bed high marks.
The plush surface helps relieve areas prone to pressure buildup, such as the shoulders and hips. Meanwhile, the responsive feel ensures against too much sinkage, making the surface easy to roll around on. The mattress is made with naturally cool materials that retain little heat and coils that enable strong ventilation, so the bed performed exceptionally well during our temperature neutrality tests.
Best Cooling Mattress: Lull Luxe Hybrid
Best Cooling Mattress
8.7/10Test Lab Score
Lull Luxe Hybrid
A balanced foam hybrid with light cushioning and responsive support.
Key Details
- Who It’s Best For: Side sleepers weighing at least 130 pounds and back sleepers up to 230 pounds, as well as couples and hot sleepers.
- Feel: Medium firm (6) with light contouring on the surface and sturdy underlying support.
- What It’s Made Of: A comfort system with memory foam, adaptive polyfoam, and transitional foam layers over pocketed coils with dense foam encasing their perimeter.
- What We Don’t Like: The expensive sticker price will be a barrier for some budget shoppers, and most stomach sleepers need a mattress that feels firmer and more supportive.
Scoring & Reviews
The following ratings show how suitable this mattress is for different sleeping positions and sleeper weights. These scores are determined by how well the mattress supports and relieves pressure for each sleeper type.
In addition to the hands-on feedback from our team, we conduct a number of quantitative tests in our Test Lab. The below ratings are based on the experience of our testers.
Performance
The Lull Luxe Hybrid delivers a balanced sleep experience for couples, hot sleepers, and people with sharp or painful pressure points that flare up during the night. Soothing foam layers that cradle your body and robust pocketed coils create a comfy balance of cushioning and support, resulting in a medium firm (6) feel conducive to side and back sleeping for most weight groups.
How It Performs
Most side and back sleepers on our team enjoyed the Lull Luxe Hybrid and awarded it favorable ratings. Side sleepers of at least 130 pounds and back sleepers up to 230 pounds were particularly impressed, but the majority of stomach sleepers found the mattress a bit too soft and didn’t get enough support around their midsections.
Since the Luxe Hybrid’s comfort system contains thick layers, you and your partner shouldn’t notice too much motion transferring on the surface when the other person moves in bed. Open-cell and gel-infused foam layers also help to ensure the mattress sleeps cool up top, while steady airflow through the coil system keeps the interior at a comfortable temperature.
Video: We Tested the Best Innerspring Mattresses – Here Are Our Favorites
Watch the video below to get a close-up look at some of our top picks for best innerspring mattress.
What Is an Innerspring Mattress?
A traditional innerspring mattress consists primarily of a layer of interconnected steel coils with a thin layer of cushioning beneath the cover. This results in a supportive, breathable, and bouncy sleep surface that makes it easy to move around and change positions. At the same time, traditional innersprings lack significant pressure relief and tend to transfer a significant amount of motion since the coils are connected to one another.
Modern hybrid mattresses, by contrast, typically use pocketed coils that are individually wrapped in fabric. This design helps limit motion transfer while still maintaining a responsive feel. Hybrids also feature thicker comfort systems with foam or latex layers that add cushioning and contouring for greater pressure relief.
Confusingly, some manufacturers use the term innerspring to refer to any mattress that contains steel coils. However, we’ve found that many of the best innerspring mattresses are innerspring in name only and have designs closer to the best hybrid mattresses, with pocketed coil support cores and comfort layers made from premium materials like memory foam, polyfoam, and natural latex.
Who Should Buy an Innerspring Mattress?
Innerspring mattresses are a good fit for anyone who enjoys a mattress with a more “traditional” feel. While many innerspring mattresses have robust cushioning in their top layers, they don’t provide the same hug that an all-foam mattress does.
Innersprings Are Best For:
Shoppers Who Appreciate a Supportive Feel
- Because of their coils, innerspring mattresses offer a good deal of push back and a solid, supportive feel.
- Choose an innerspring if you like the sensation of sleeping “on” your mattress rather than “in” it. If you need more cushioning, a hybrid might be a better fit.
Those Who Sleep Hot
- Because your body won’t sink deeply into an innerspring mattress, you won’t experience as much heat buildup as you sleep, as is common with memory foam.
- Coil systems are also great at promoting airflow, so innerspring mattresses are a good fit for hot sleepers.
Sleepers With Mobility Challenges
- Innersprings tend to have responsive surfaces, meaning it’s easier to move around on them.
- Anyone who has trouble getting in or out of bed will also appreciate an innerspring’s strong edge support.
Innersprings Are Less Than Ideal For:
Sleepers Who Enjoy Deep Contouring
- If you need deep pressure relief, you might opt for a foam mattress rather than an innerspring.
- If you do like the solid feel of innerspring mattresses but want more cushioning, look for a model that’s on the softer side.
Some Couples
- Innersprings don’t isolate motion as well as other mattress types, so some couples might feel their partner’s movements.
What to Look For in an Innerspring Mattress
As with any new mattress, there are a few important factors to take into account when choosing an innerspring.
Quality and Durability
Traditional innersprings are less durable than other mattress types, with an average lifespan of about six years. The coils in an innerspring mattress can wear down over time and lose their ability to spring back to their full, original height. When this happens, the mattress begins to sag and falter in supporting your body. Hybrid mattresses — innersprings with thicker comfort layers and pocketed coils — tend to last longer and have an average lifespan of six to eight years.
Temperature Control
For many innersprings, cooling is a major strength, with air circulating throughout the coil system to help the mattress maintain a comfortable temperature. Since traditional innersprings have thin comfort layers or just a thin layer of padding beneath the cover, there isn’t much heat retention on the surface. As a result, hot sleepers often find innersprings to be the most comfortable mattress type.
Coil Gauge and Count
Gauge refers to the coil’s thickness. Most innerspring coils fall between a gauge of 12.5 (thickest) to 17 (thinnest). The lower the gauge, the more robust and supportive the mattress will feel.
Most traditional innersprings contain between 400 and 1,200 individual coils in a queen size. Mattress brands often advertise the coil count of their innersprings, but we’ve found that the total number of coils does not play a significant role in how supportive a mattress feels, or how well it performs during tests.
Types of Coils
Although various coil designs are available, most traditional innersprings and hybrids sold today contain one or more of the following four mattress coil types. Here’s a quick breakdown of each:
| Coil Type | Description |
|---|---|
| Bonnell Coils | Bonnell coils are molded into an hourglass shape and joined together with wires. This creates a strong support system that withstands compression well, but innersprings with Bonnell coils tend to feel very bouncy and may be disruptive for couples. |
| Continuous Coils | Continuous coils consist of thin wires running parallel to one another that are joined together on both sides by helical wires. Innersprings with this coil type tend to be quite durable and supportive, but contouring and pressure relief is limited. They’re also typically bouncier and creakier than offset coils. |
| Offset Coils | Like Bonnell coils, offset coils resemble an hourglass, but the top and bottom are flattened into a square shape to create a hinged effect when the mattress bears weight, making them both quieter and more responsive when pressure is applied. Offset coils are generally more expensive than Bonnell or continuous coils but cheaper than pocketed coils. |
| Pocketed Coils | Pocketed coils are encased in fabric and are designed to move independently from one another, resulting in strong support without much motion transfer. Most hybrids contain pocketed coils, but they are also found in some luxury innerspring models. |
Cushioning and Pressure Relief
Traditional innersprings contain thin cushioning layers and tend to be fairly firm, so contouring and pressure relief are not their strong suits. Hybrids with thicker comfort layers are a better option for people with pressure points who want more cushioning and a closer hug from their mattress.
Edge Support and Motion Isolation
Many innersprings excel at edge support because their thick, sturdy coils push back against your weight when you get in and out of bed. Those with low-gauge perimeter coils feel especially robust along the edges.
Innerspring coils tend to make the mattress feel quite bouncy, and their thin comfort layers don’t absorb movement well. As a result, motion isolation for most traditional innersprings is fair at best.
How We Test: Your Comfort Is Our Science
Our industry-leading product testing team cares deeply about improving your sleep. Having a holistic understanding of a mattress’s role as part of a sleep system is paramount to our testing process. Since a bed’s comfort and feel depend largely on body weight and sleeping position, our testing team represents a wide range of body types, sleep positions, and comfort preferences.
In our Seattle-based Test Lab, we use an objective, hands-on process to evaluate mattresses across performance categories. The following are the key guidelines that inform our performance ratings. Our ultimate goal is to ensure you have all the information you need to make the best purchase decision for you.
Construction analysis:We begin testing each mattress by analyzing its design and making note firmness, height, individual layer composition, and sticker price. This allows us to evaluate qualities like support, durability, and value.
Product testing:Firsthand testing is crucial to our evaluation and ratings system. We use a wide range of tools and technology to test mattresses in six performance categories: motion isolation, pressure relief, temperature control, ease of movement, edge support, and odor potential.
Field testing: In addition to lab-based tests, we base our ratings on feedback from field testers who use the mattresses in their own homes. They spend several weeks collecting data — this gives us insights into how the mattress performs night after night for an extended period.
User testing:We curate feedback verified owners have provided in surveys, sleep stories, and product reviews. This helps us evaluate our initial findings and, if needed, tweak our ratings to reflect real-world experiences.
How We Determine Our Overall Scores


To determine a mattress’s overall score, we assign weighted percentages to performance categories based on how important they are to the individual sleep experience. For instance, areas like pressure relief and temperature control tend to matter more to people than something like off-gassing, and because more people sleep on their side and back than on their stomach, we weigh those positions more heavily.
Performance Categories
Motion Isolation
This criteria alludes to the amount of motion a mattress absorbs when a sleeper moves on the surface. We use two testers lying side by side to evaluate motion isolation, who each feel for transfer while the other person moves on the mattress.
Temperature Control
To determine how well a mattress regulates temperature, we perform temperature tests and look closely at its materials and construction. Many mattresses are designed with cooling components meant to reduce heat retention.
Pressure Relief
A bed with strong pressure relief excels at preventing pressure from building up in areas like the shoulders and hips. Beds with even contouring and weight distribution are top performers when it comes to pressure relief.
Off-Gassing
A mattress in a box may release unpleasant chemical odors for a short period after you’ve unboxed it. The initial smell may be strong but typically fades within 2 or 3 days.
Ease of Movement
This criteria reflects how easily a sleeper can move across a bed’s surface. Responsive surfaces made of latex typically perform better than foam surfaces, which can inhibit movement.
Edge Support
We perform sit tests along a bed’s perimeter to measure how well the edges push back against weight. Mattresses with strong edge support have minimal sagging when sleepers sit on or lie close to the perimeter.
Dive Deeper – Mattress Guides
Still having a hard time deciding on a mattress model? Check out some of our other mattress picks selected by our team of product testers and sleep experts.
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