MATTRESSES are a hefty investment, and experts recommend replacing them every 8 years on average – but if you’re not a mattress expert, knowing the best mattress to buy and why is like the wild west.
Sleeping on a mattress that is too old or doesn’t offer enough support can impact the quality of your sleep, and that’s a sure fire way to ruin your day.
If you have stayed on a rubbish hotel mattress – naming no names – you know how the broken sleep can make you feel.
If your current mattress has seen better days, getting a new one should be a priority in 2025.
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Whether you’re a lone ranger in the sack or have a better half, the size of your bed, your preferred level of firmness and whether or not you move a lot in your sleep should also be taken into account.
It can be nerve-wracking buying a mattress online, but you needn’t worry because most companies offer extended trial periods of 100 nights PLUS.
So if you do buy one online and it doesn’t make you sleep like a baby, you can return it for a refund – but make sure to double check the T&Cs beforehand, because each retailer is different.
There’s also thousands of customer reviews online so make sure you read a few to help you decide what mattress is right for you.
We’ve also tested a fair few here at Sun Shopping, so read on for our reviews of the best mattress to buy in the UK, in 2025.
Best Mattresses at a glance:
- Best comfort – Simba Apex
- Best cooling – Emma Hybrid Thermosync Mattress
- Best price point – Origin Hybrid Pro Mattress
- Best for side sleepers – Otty Hybrid
- Best for back pain – Simba Hybrid Original Mattress
- Best service – Zoma Hybrid Mattress
- Best all rounder – Brook and Wilde Lux Mattress
- Best saving – REM-Fit 400 Hybrid Mattress
- Best luxury mattress – Simba Hybrid Ultra Mattress
- Best delivery – Panda Hybrid Bamboo Mattress Pro
How we tested the mattresses?
Our Sun Shopping team tried and tested the mattresses for an average of 100 days.
All mattresses tried and tested were hybrid, which is a mattress type that suits most sleep styles.
Our reviews also factored in delivery, ease of installation, first night thoughts and prolonged use, to paint an honest overall picture of what you can expect.
1. Simba Apex Mattress
Simba Apex Mattress, £1,999
Pros: Relieved my back and neck pain, luxurious design, Eco-friendly
Cons: Very expensive, heavy, no removable cover for washing
Overall Rating: 4/5
I’ve always been a fan of Simba mattresses, so I was thrilled to try their top-tier model, the Simba Earth Apex. With its luxurious blend of cashmere, mohair, and silk, this mattress promises a premium sleep experience.
While it comes with a hefty price tag, I can confidently say it delivers on comfort, even if the upgrade from the Simba Pro isn’t life-changing.
Unlike previous Simba mattresses I’ve owned, the APEX didn’t arrive rolled up in a box.
Instead, it came fully formed, ready to use straight away. The champagne gold cover, made from wool and viscose, feels as luxurious as it looks.
The QuadCore spring technology is a game-changer, reducing partner disturbance—I barely noticed my partner getting up in the night.
After four months of testing, including tracking my sleep with an Oura Ring, I saw some improvements. My average sleep score increased by 6%, and the medium-firm feel was perfect for easing my back and neck pain, providing the right mix of support and softness.
Even my picky Labrador, who usually sticks to the sofa, has claimed the foot of the bed—a true seal of approval.
The Apex is packed with thoughtful details: 5,750 springs, premium materials like Yorkshire-grown hemp, and eight handles for easy rotation. It’s 30cm deep and comes with a generous 200-night trial, a 10-year guarantee, and a 0% finance option.
At £3,329 for a king size, the price is jaw-dropping. But when you break it down to 91p per night over ten years, it feels like an investment in nightly luxury.
If you’re ready to spend big for exceptional comfort, the Simba Earth APEX is worth considering.
Read my full Simba Apex mattress review.
Review by Aaron Dowler
Mattress type: Hybrid, Trial period: 200 nights, Guarantee: 10 years
2. Emma Hybrid Thermosync Mattress
Emma Hybrid Thermosync Mattress, £819
Pros: Firm and supportive, keeps my temperature well-regulated throughout the night
Cons: Could be too firm for some
Rating: 5/5
I have had my Emma NextGen Cooling mattress, now renamed the Emma Hybrid Thermosync Mattress, for around a year and I have to say I am as impressed now as I was when I first got it.
I previously had a pocket-sprung mattress which after years of use became lumpy and bumpy to sleep on.
In contrast, the hybrid layers of the Emma mattress make this a dream to sleep on, it fully supports my body so I never wake up with any aches or pains.
I tend to move around a lot as I sleep so this is essential. While I love the firmness because I want to feel held and cocooned as I rest, I don’t think this would be the right option for someone who prefers a softer feel to their mattress.
I take a while to really warm up when in bed, so I fully appreciate the ThermoSync foam technology, which helps keep your body at an optimal temperature through the night.
It’s great during the winter when you want to retain warmth or in the summer when excess heat is captured in the foam fibres to help cool your body down.
Another bonus of this Emma mattress is how easy it is to unpack. It arrives compact and rolled up in a box, so it is straightforward to set up.
I was even able to lug the box upstairs myself and open it, so it had a few hours to fully expand before I slept on it that night.
Review by Chantelle Symester
Mattress type: Hybrid, Trial period: 200 nights, Guarantee: 10 years
3. Origin Hybrid Pro Mattress
Origin Hybrid Pro Mattress, £689
Pros: Medium-firm support with a soft, breathable top layer, effective cooling technology, easy-to-handle boxed delivery, outstanding value for money.
Cons: Very tall, so deep sheets may be needed, limited range for specialist needs, may not suit fans of very firm mattresses
Rating: 4.5/5
The Origin Hybrid Pro Mattress has impressed me with its quality, comfort, and excellent value for money. Origin, founded in 2018, focuses on “improving sleep worldwide by cutting out the gimmicks.”
Their flagship Hybrid Pro Mattress, the UK’s most award-winning luxury mattress, comes with a generous 200-night guarantee trial, giving you plenty of time to decide if it suits your needs.
The Hybrid Pro offers a medium-firm feel with a plush, cooling pillow top, combining over 5,700 TitaniumCoil springs, pressure-relieving layers, and bamboo-infused wool.
It provides orthopaedic-level support while keeping you cool on warmer nights.
Delivered compressed in a box, setup is quick and hassle-free.
However, its height may require deep-fitted sheets, and it might not suit those who prefer very firm or very soft mattresses.
At a discounted price of £689 for a double size, it’s significantly cheaper than competitors like the Emma Elite (£1,389) and Simba Hybrid Pro (£1,149).
Despite the lower cost, it delivers a luxury sleep experience.
After three weeks of testing, my sleep score improved from 60.5 to 74 out of 100.
Mattress type: Hybrid, Trial period: under 100 nights, Guarantee: 15 years
Review by James Hunt
4. Otty Original Hybrid Mattress
Otty Original Hybrid Mattress,
£599.99 (was £699.99)
Pros: Suitable for side sleepers, supportive, well-made
Cons: A bit firm at first, no side handles to help with flipping
Rating: 4.5/5
I’ve been using the Otty Original Hybrid for five months now, and I’ve been sleeping like a baby. I move around a lot in my sleep, which used to disturb my partner, but since this mattress has arrived, we’ve both been sleeping better.
It is sturdy and has made a noticeable difference in keeping me cool, even in the summer.
Delivery was super quick (the next day!), and it only took a few hours to expand.
One thing to keep in mind – you’ll probably need deeper sheets as standard ones might not fit properly.
The mattress is really comfy with just the right amount of firmness. I sleep in all sorts of positions, and this mattress supported all of them.
Plus, I’ve stopped waking up with back pain, which is a huge win for me.
The only downsides? It was a bit too firm initially, and it doesn’t have side handles, so rotating it is a bit of a faff.
However, I noticed it didn’t sag like our old mattress did after a few months.
This Otty Original Hybrid mattress bounces right back every morning and I cannot fault the quality.
The only reason this mattress didn’t get a perfect score is because it’s important to flip mattresses to extend their lifespan and without handles, this is nearly impossible to do.
All in all, I’m really happy with it and would genuinely recommend it to friends.
Review by Pavlina Theodoulou
Mattress type: Hybrid, Trial period: 150, Guarantee: 10 years
5. Simba Hybrid Original Mattress
Simba Hybrid Original Mattress, £799
Pros: Easy setup, supportive, comfortable
Cons: Very heavy, may require deep fitted sheets, plasticky smell when first unboxed
Rating: 4.5/5
Like many in this list, the Simba Original Hybrid is a mattress in a box which means it needs some time to ‘inflate’ before use, but this takes just a couple of hours to develop enough to be slept on and 24 hours before it’s expanded fully. Not bad.
Made up of five layers – a breathable sleep surface, a layer of open-cell Simba-pure (Simba-pure= TCPP-free foam), a layer of patented Aerocoil springs, another layer of Simba-pure with edge support and a Simba-pure support base – it makes use of patented titanium Aerocoil springs to keep you supported and cool.
It’s thick, which can mean it’s quite heavy for putting on sheets, but also incredibly comfortable and thousands of reviews have stated it helps with back pain.
While it is firmer than my previous mattress, it was such a huge step up I barely even noticed.
It’s not going too far to say it transformed my sleep: I slept soundly from the first night and I feel more rested than I have done in years.
Read my full Simba Hybrid Mattress review.
Review by Clara Wolsey.
Mattress type: Hybrid, Trial period: 200 nights, Guarantee: 10 years
6. Zoma Hybrid Mattress
Zoma Hybrid Mattress, £599 (was £849)
Pros: Very comfortable, easy to sleep on from the start, supportive,
Cons: May be a little too soft for some, warm
Rating: 4.5/5
I tested the Zoma Hybrid in king size and from the get-go I found it incredibly comfortable to sleep on.
There was no having to get used to it for a week or so to break it in; from the first night I slept soundly and woke up feeling rested.
The mattress arrived vacuum-packed and rolled. After cutting away the plastic and leaving it to inflate for several hours it was ready to sleep on – and there was none of that plasticky smell, which you can get with bed-in-a-box mattresses.
I found it supportive, but not too hard, in fact I’m surprised just how soft it feels for a medium firm mattress. That’s a good thing for me, but some people may find it a little too soft.
The hybrid is made up of a pocket spring base topped by Zoma’s Reactiv response layer and finished with a layer of advanced gel memory foam with cooling channels.
Working together, these different sections cradle your body, shaping to its contours while providing optimum support and relieving any pressure points.
All of this is covered in a stretchy AirCloth fabric cover that wicks away heat.
The cover and the advanced memory foam together are designed to keep you cool as you sleep, however my only (little) complaint is I found it quite warm. Admittedly I was testing it over the summer though.
Zoma is a relative newcomer to the bed-in-a-box market in the UK but is well known in the United States and counts many athletes among its fans, because of the supportive foam which helps tired muscles recover and its pressure-relieving features, which reduce joint pain.
The company’s sustainable practices are also to be admired – zero waste from its factories go to landfill, returned mattresses are recycled or refurbished, all excess foam is repurposed and they will even recycle your old mattress for free on request!
Overall I think the Zoma Hybrid is a great mattress – I don’t feel like I’m sinking into it nor that I’m simply perched on top; it’s deliciously comfy and supportive at the same time. It’s also great at isolating motion – so much so I don’t notice my dog settling on it during the night (she loves it by the way).
Because it’s so lovely to sleep on, I never want to get up in the morning.
Mattress type: Hybrid, Trial period: 100 nights, Guarantee: 10 years
Review by Lisa Burn
7. Brook and Wilde Lux Mattress
Brook and Wilde Lux Mattress, £600
Pros: Supportive, comfortable, stands the test of time
Cons: Expensive
Rating: 4.5/5
The Brook and Wilde Lux mattress has two separate layers of memory foam which sandwich two layers of pocket springs, which means it’s pretty soft but also very comfortable.
I opted for medium firmness and my mattress arrived with white glove service, which saw two delivery people carrying it to the bedroom and removing all the packaging. Nice touch.
As with all bed-in-a-box mattresses, the Lux needed a few hours to expand but then was ready to go.
My first impression of the mattress was that it was pretty spongy for a medium, but I quickly discovered it is actually very supportive and incredibly comfortable.
Overall I love the Lux. After years of backbreaking, cheap mattresses it’s lovely to have a well-made, well-designed and comfortable mattress to sleep on.
Read our full Brooke and Wilde Lux mattress review.
Review by Joel Watson
Mattress type: hybrid, Trial period: 100 nights, Guarantee: 10 years
8. REM-Fit 400 Hybrid Mattress
REM-Fit 400 Hybrid Mattress, £598.95 (was £1,089.00)
Pros: Provides excellent back support, incredibly comfortable, good to share
Cons: Not particularly attractive presentation on arrival
Rating: 4.5/5
If back pain is something you battle with, then it might be time to upgrade your mattress. If that’s the case, then the REM-Fit 400 Hybrid needs to be on your radar.
Granted, it’s not presented aesthetically, but that’s not a dealbreaker because this soft mattress helped to alleviate back issues.
As it’s a softer mattress, you can feel your partner moving around the bed a bit, but not enough to disturb your sleep or wake you up.
The REM-Fit 400 is also incredibly comfortable and very supportive.
If you’re more of a firmer mattress lover then this one might not be your cup of tea, but if a soft, moulding option is for you then get your hands on the REM-Fit 400 Hybrid.
Read our full REM-Fit 400 Hybrid mattress review.
Review by Joel Watson.
Mattress type: Hybrid, Trial period: 100 nights Guarantee: 15 year
9. Simba Hybrid Ultra
Simba Hybrid Ultra, £2,799
Pros: effective cooling, supportive, UK-made with UK materials
Cons: expensive, hard to move, difficult to put sheets on
Rating: 4/5
The Simba Hybrid Ultra mattress is a premium mattress with a premium price tag to match, but its cooling properties are impressive.
I’m a warm sleeper and I find mattresses topped with memory foam can lead to me waking up sweating in the night, especially in the warmer months.
But that’s not been a problem since I started testing out the Simba Hybrid Ultra mattress
It only comes in medium-firm, which isn’t rock hard, but isn’t squishy either; instead, it’s supportive with a good amount of flex.
Simba says it’s got two layers of Simbatex foam on top to help with air circulation and that, combined with the firmness of the mattress, led to me retaining very little of the heat that I normally bottle up in bed.
Simba also says the Ultra is packed with technology to help with airflow, including how its 8,000 springs are configured, to keep air flowing around your body as they compress.
The downside of this mattress is the price, it’s pretty expensive, even for a premium mattress, with prices ranging from £1,999 for a single, to £3,459 for a king size.
On top of this, it’s very heavy and rigid, which means it’s a pain to manoeuvre, even if you’re just changing the sheets. If you’ve got to move this from one room to another, you’ll need a team of people to prevent it from becoming an ordeal!
In all though, this mattress delivers on its promise of giving you a cooler night’s sleep and will be a faithful servant in the summer months.
Just make sure you buy some extra deep sheets to prevent changing sets from feeling like a judo match.
Review by Joel Watson.
Mattress type: Hybrid foam and springs, Trial period: 200 nights, Guarantee: 10 years
10. Panda Hybrid Bamboo Mattress Pro
Panda Hybrid Bamboo Mattress Pro, £1,290
Pros: Feels supportive, really comfortable, cooling bamboo, sustainable, several layers of foam and 1,200 individually enclosed springs, helped sort out my morning aches
Cons: Heavy to move, expensive, took a couple of weeks to get used to the firmness
Rating: 4/5
There’s nothing like a good night’s sleep to set you up for the day – and a great mattress is a prerequisite for this – so testing the Panda Hybrid Bamboo Mattress Pro was a dream of a task.
This bamboo hybrid is composed of six layers that work together to support your body, keeping your spine aligned and easing pressure on your joints, which is essential for your hips if you’re a side sleeper.
I am. And a back sleeper. Sometimes a front sleeper too, so I’ve always wondered about mattresses that are designed for one or other of these, I mean, where do you start? No need to worry with this beauty though as it’s made to support all sleep positions in comfort – and it absorbs the movement that accompanies such a nighttime dance, keeping you sleeping soundly throughout.
The Panda hybrid bamboo mattress arrived wrapped in plastic and was dutifully placed in position by two helpful delivery guys (who obligingly took the wrapping with them when they left).
As with other ‘bed-in-a-box’ mattresses, it looked too thin, but, freed of its restraints, immediately began to swell. I left it to its own devices until bedtime, six or so hours later, by which point it had fully expanded.
The plasticky smell that seems to accompany these types of mattresses lasted a few days before dissipating, but it didn’t concern me as I was expecting it.
Memory foam has a reputation for being hot to sleep on so Panda has added a top layer of its BioCell Foam, which has an open-cell structure to increase airflow and breathability, coupled with bamboo for freshness.
Bamboo is naturally antibacterial and it helps regulate your body’s temperature, so it’s a great material to include in a mattress – and in the mattress cover. This one feels soft to the touch and it’s removable so you can wash it (handy).
I had no problems with fitting standard-depth sheets – even with several different layers the Panda Hybrid Bamboo Mattress Pro is not massively deep – and snuggled down for my first night.
It was firm. On the mattress firmness scale this one comes in at a 7, according to Panda, and it felt like I was lying on top of it, rather than sinking into it. This is not a bad thing, but it took a week or so to get used to after the softness of my old mattress.
During those first weeks there was a certain amount of give as we both became accustomed to each other and I’m glad to say it has all worked out fine; we’re very happy. I even wake up with fewer grumbling aches these days.
Mattress type: Hybrid foam and springs, Trial period: 100 nights, Guarantee: 10 years
Review by Lisa Burn
What is better, memory foam or spring mattress?
According to Simba’s mattress specialist Ian Atkins, ‘both are equally supportive and reliable [mattress options]’ but what really matters is the position you sleep in, because that will help you know what to prioritise.
Side sleepers usually need a softer layer to cushion the impact on the side of the body, while back and stomach sleepers do better with the support of springs that evenly distributes body weight.
Our Sun Shopping team tried the best memory foam mattresses and it’s so important to do your research to ensure you’re getting the best product and price for your needs.
If you are shopping around, head to our shopping mattress page dedicated to the best mattress deals, reviews and updates and once you have selected your preferred brand, open the live chat box and speak to a company representative to talk through the specifics of the available deals.
I’m no expert, but a combination of the two – aka a Hybrid – seems like the best of both worlds when picking a mattress.
While mattresses can be pricey, it’s an investment that’ll give you years of restful sleep – totally worth it!
However, if you’re looking for a bargain, we have done the hardwork and scoured the web for the best mattress deals, so you don’t have to.
Which mattress is best for back pain?
This advice isn’t to replace the opinion of a medical professional, and it’s really important to seek medical advice for back pain.
But if your mattress is giving you jip, there could be a couple of reasons why: including its age, its fabrication (not offering enough support), or its overall quality.
It’s really important to prioritise a good night’s sleep because we spend so much of our life in the sack.
Overall, you need support but comfort shouldn’t be ignored either.
Back pain mattress guide:
Simba’s mattress specialist Ian Atkins, recommends shoppers follow the advice below to help them pick the best mattress for back pain according to the position you sleep in.
If you have back pain but sleep on your front – Pick a mattress with a firm surface to keep your body supported, especially the waist area.
If you have back pain but sleep on your side – Pick a mattress that allows the shoulders and hips to sink in whilst at the same time having enough support.
If you have back pain but sleep on your back – Pick a mattress that allows the shoulders and hips to sink in, but is supportive enough to cushion the lower back area.
Remember, most online mattress retailers have LIVE chat boxes, so you can get real-time advice if you’re stuck not knowing what mattress to choose.
What size is a double mattress?
Double mattresses are a common size for shoppers as they fit easily in most bedrooms and offer enough room for couples to sleep comfortably.
Double mattresses are 135cm wide and 190cm long or sometimes described as 4ft 6ins wide and 6ft 3ins long.
A King size mattress is slightly bigger, measuring 150cm wide and 200 cm long, which is 5 feet by 6 feet 6 inches.
Its important to note that the mattress dimensions for each size varies around the world, so if you are buying a mattress internationally make sure you are buying the right dimensions to avoid disappointment.
What mattress is good for kids?
If you’re on the market for a new mattress for your child, check out the best mattresses for kids article.
They grow up so quickly and if you’re shopping for a child, it’s important to pick something that supports their growing bodies, similar to how you would approach picking a mattress for yourself.
Bare in mind that as they grow, their bodies will change and get heavier, so if you haven’t changed your child’s mattress in the last few years, just check there are no visible signs that its structure is past its lifespan.
How do I take care of my mattress?
Most mattress manufacturers include guidelines on how to look after your new mattress.
But common guidance is to flip or turn your mattress regularly to allow the internal fillings a break from supporting you, basically meaning your mattress is evenly used and wont dip and reduce the support in areas regularly slept in.
The above is the minimum you should be doing to take care of your mattress, reading the guidance provided by mattress manufacturers and buying accessories like mattress protectors etc could help extend the lifespan of your mattress.
If you’re wondering how often to change your mattress, look for signs of wear and tear, sagging, rips and well-worn dips where you commonly lay.
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