Despite being the oldest type of mattress available, innerspring mattresses still have a lot to offer potential users, which is why sales aren’t going down. If you’re considering such a mattress as your next major purchase, there should be a couple of things and features you check for to ensure you get the best innerspring mattress for your needs.
We’ve also reviewed and rated these types of mattresses using the same list of features you should consider. They include the firmness rating, construction, size options available, warranties, and any extra features. These give you a preview of what it will be like to sleep on the bed and tell you how long the mattress is expected to last. What’s more, you find out the kind of protection the manufacturer offers to buyers of their mattresses, if any. With these in mind, we compiled a list of eight of the best innerspring mattresses in the market. We also share the reasons for the ratings in the sections below.
Other features: 120-night trial, 100% natural Eucalyptus-derived Tencel® cover, 3-Step Back-Relief System™
The Winkbed Luxury Mattress, as the name suggests, is a mattress that you can get for a relatively hefty price. However, it is not just an innerspring mattress as it features foam construction as well. You can get twin size, California king-size, and the four other size options in between. Also, buyers get a 120-night sleep trial and a lifetime warranty, two pretty convincing arguments to get the bed. Notably, the coils in the bed are individually pocketed therefore providing multiple support zones. The cover is also made from eucalyptus-based performance fabric. The bed is ranked as the best option for heavy people in the year 2020 by the Sleep Foundation. However, it’s also been rated the best in other areas by different authorities in the mattress space. Worth mentioning is that there are four firmness options, including softer, luxury firm, firmer, and plus, which is the option you pick if you’re a heavier-set individual.
Notably, the Winkbed Luxury Mattress is one of three options from the manufacturer. It differs from the Gravity Lux alternative by being a hybrid mattress while the lux is a foam option. When you compare the Luxury Mattress with the EcoCloud from the same manufacturer, you also notice they feature different components despite both being hybrid mattresses.
Other features: 120-night trial, 5-zoned individually wrapped innerspring support system
The EcoCloud is another offering from Winkbeds. This option features coils on the underside and a Talalay latex comfort layer which means it’s a hybrid just like its predecessor. The latex components are designed to be breathable and to allow more cool sleep. Also, we noticed this bed is made mainly from organic materials, including latex and the cover that’s comprised of cotton and new Zealand wool. In stark contrast to the Luxury Mattress predecessor, this bed only comes in one firmness option, which means the potential market is fairly limited.
If the sleep foundation is anything to go by, this bed is great for people who want more pressure relief. This includes people with back pain. It’s also a great pick for anyone who is environmentally conscious. Most of the components in the mattress, including the cover and the latex layer, are organically sourced. The coils, on the other hand, are made from recycled steel.
Other features: super soft quilted thermic phase change fabric, CertiPUR-US® certified
Another contender for the best innerspring mattress for back pain is the Nestbedding Alexander Signature Hybrid which is available in three firmness options. The foam layers in the bed are of particular interest since there are different variations. They include gel-infused memory foam, TitanChill Endurance Foam, and smartflow control foam. There is, of course, the pocketed coils layer as well. The bed also comes with a zipper. During and after your sleep trial, you can open this zipper and insert a different comfort layer to help determine which firmness level you prefer. After the sleep trial, you can periodically remove and flip the comfort layer, so it lasts longer.
As mentioned above, this bed is excellent for users with back pain. Also, if you’re not sure which firmness option is for you, this manufacturer allows you to try the different options before settling on the one you like. It also works well for couples who prefer different levels of firmness. With the internal split, both sleepers can choose between luxury firm, medium, and plush. However, this is only available for the larger bed sizes such as King and California King sizes.
Other features: 100-night trial period, made in the USA
Next on the list is the BEARHYBRID, and as you can probably tell from the name, it is a hybrid bed with an innerspring core. Of course, it features better air circulation because of the springs. However, the foam layers are also meant to enhance breathability. Speaking of foam layers, there are about four of them in this mattress, including the high-density support foam under the springs. Worth mentioning is that the bed is GREENGUARD Gold Certified, meaning it’s safe to sleep on.
For people who toss, turn and change positions regularly while sleeping, the medium-firm rating of this bed will be an asset. The airflow management in the bed means you’ll also be able to sleep cool. Additionally, you get the support offered by a spring layer without giving up the comfort of foam mattresses.
Other features: 120-night trial, made in the USA, Infinity Edge coil system
Taking the cake for the best flippable innerspring mattress on the list is the Layla Hybrid Mattress. Since the manufacturer fully expects buyers to try out both sides of the bed, it comes with handles that make it easier to flip. Notably, one side gets a firmness rating of 4 while the other gets a 7. As such, the only people not catered to are the ones who prefer medium-firm alternatives.
This bed is an upgrade from the Layla memory foam mattress, which also happens to be flappable. One noticeable difference is, of course, the construction since this bed is fitted with springs. This adds the edge support that’s missing from the foam option. Also, the exterior cover is slightly different. The memory foam bed has different colors to indicate the different sides and firmness levels. As for the hybrid pick, you’ll have to read the information on the edge of the bed to determine which side is firm and which one is soft.
Other features: 120-night trial, TitanCool™ fabric
Another option that allows you to pick the firmness level you prefer is the Brooklyn Aurora. There are instructions provided to potential buyers, so you know which option would suit you best according to your sleeping positions. There are also multiple foam layers included inside the bed cover. However, the layers that you get will depend on the firmness level you pick. That said, some of the components of the bed remain constant, e.g., the coil layer and the high-density foam base.
Compared to the other innerspring mattresses in the Brooklyn Beddings lineup, the Aurora option differentiates itself by having superior cooling technology.
Other features: 100-night trial, made in the USA
As a medium-firm option, the Amerisleep AS3 Hybrid is one of the best innerspring mattresses in the market for side sleepers. It has American roots in terms of manufacturing which is also implied in the product name. Additionally, it features hybrid construction with a mix of springs and foam layers on top.
This bed is great not only for side sleepers but also for people who switch positions often. It performs amazingly for people looking for pressure relief. Lastly, you can turn to this bed option if you’re looking to avoid sleeping hot.
Other features: poly jacquard and fiber padding, iCoil technology
As for the best innerspring mattress under $500, the Zinus Tight Top Spring Mattress is the top contender. Buyers are limited to twin, full, queen, and king-size options. You also only get one firmness option. Worth mentioning is that the bed incorporates Bonnel springs in its design. Since all the springs are interconnected, buyers should not expect any motion isolation with this bed.
The Zinus Tight Top Spring Mattress is one of the best options for those looking for an inexpensive innerspring bed. You can get it for a fraction of the price of the other mattresses on this list.
Ultimately you can only pick one bed from the list of options mentioned above. As such, you need to pick the option you feel would be best for you after comparing the features. If you’re unsure how to go about this, the buying guide below should be of some assistance.
Due to the rigid coil structure, innerspring mattresses tend to provide more support to sleepers. As such, they are a good pick for stomach sleepers and heavier people who want more pushback from the bed. Additionally, they tend to be more responsive, although that can be affected by the cushion layers on the bed if there are any.
Next, there are so many options to choose from, and you’ll find different add-ons on each innerspring mattress you encounter. As you can see from the bed options mentioned above, each option features different kinds of top layers. This gives you different firmness options to pick from. Also, a lot of people are already used to sleeping on other innerspring mattresses.
Even with multiple innerspring mattresses available in the market, you can likely only pick one. As such, you have to know how to make an effective purchase choice. Usually, this involves rating and ranking the different options according to the features they have. However, this would be impossible if you don’t have enough information on the said features. We’ve listed and explained them below to help you bridge that information gap, so you have an easier time selecting your mattress of choice.
Innerspring mattresses need to have at least one layer of spring coils. After that, the other layers incorporated are up to the manufacturer. Notably, these layers affect the firmness and feel of the bed. Also, depending on their composition, they might affect the bounce and responsiveness of the bed. Lastly, they have a lot of influence on the temperature control of the mattress.
The BEARHYBRID mattress, for instance, has cooling gel foam, comfort foam, and responsive transition foam as the top three layers of the bed. These are responsible for the medium-firm feel as well as the cooling effect of the bed. In contrast to that, the Brooklyn Aurora has multiple layer options to pick from that influence whether you get a medium-soft, medium-firm, or firm mattress.
Consequently, you should look at all the bed layers and the benefits they offer before deciding which option to buy.
The types of coils incorporated also affect your experience with the bed. Most of the beds listed above come with pocketed coils. As such, they have minimal motion transfer, even if they are innerspring mattresses. The Zinus Tight Top Spring Mattress, on the other hand, has Bonnel springs that tend to be interconnected. As such, you should expect high levels of motion transference from the bed.
A point to note is that pocketed coils may also be zoned to give different levels of support for varying areas of the body.
Worth mentioning is that your coil gauge also affects your sleep experience. Notably, the standard coils range from gauge 12 to 15. The options with a lower gauge tend to be thicker, more durable, and longer-lasting than those with a higher gauge. However, those with a high gauge rating such as a 14 are generally more forgiving. As such, if you want more support, you should pick an option with a lower gauge. On the other hand, if you prefer a mattress that sinks slightly, a higher gauge should be your go-to option.
It’s also generally a good idea to be aware of the coil count of the mattress. Depending on the size, there is a minimum number of coils that a bed should have. For instance, queen mattresses should not have a coil count below 400. The beds with higher than the minimum coil count offer better support, and the mattress is likely to last longer. However, the coil count doesn’t affect the comfort level of the bed.
The firmness is what dictates how people feel when they sleep on the bed. Mattresses with a firm rating don’t sink much when you put your weight on them. This is in stark contrast to the mattresses rated as soft. Also, the firmness option you pick should be informed by your sleeping position. For instance, you don’t want your mattress sinking and arching your back if you’re a stomach sleeper. As such, you should opt for a firm bed.
For people who sleep on their sides, the mattress should sink in the hip and shoulder areas. As such, either the medium-firm or even a soft option may work depending on your weight and body structure.
The mattress should also be the same size as your bed frame. Additionally, you can check on the height of the mattress to make sure it’s in line with what you want. It can be too thick or too thin, depending on your circumstances.
There’s always the chance that you might not be happy with the mattress you pick. In such a scenario, the sleep trial comes in handy since you can return the bed. Notably, the longer the sleep trial, the better for you since you’ll get enough time to test the bed. As such, an option like the Winkbed Luxury Mattress, which comes with a 120-night trial, may be slightly better than the Amerisleep AS3, whose sleep trial is only 100 days.
Also, check the warranty of the bed. Winkbed mattresses like the EcoCloud are excellent since they come with lifetime warranties, while other alternatives on the list only get 10-year coverage. Additionally, you should look into the type of compensation you get if the mattress is defective. Some manufacturers will give you a full refund. Others may give you another bed instead.
It also makes sense to purchase a mattress you can afford. Some are, of course, cheaper than others, with the price range being fairly large. For instance, one of the mattresses on the list costs less than $200, while most other alternatives cost upwards of $1000.
Both the first and second mattresses on the list are from the same manufacturer. We liked that they are made from premium materials and have several features to enhance the user’s comfort. One example is the 3-step back-relief system in the Luxury Mattress.
The Nestbedding Alexander Signature Hybrid also makes a case for why it should be on the list. The CertiPUR-US certification, lifetime warranty, and impressive fabric cover are some of its perks. After the Nestbedding, we have the BEARHYBRID, which is fairly impressive in terms of cooling features.
Our fifth favorite option, the Layla Hybrid Mattress, is the only flappable mattress on the list. That said, all the bed options listed deserve their place on the list of best innerspring mattresses curated above.
