A mattress is something you’ll use every night for years, so choosing the right one is worth a little thought. But does spending more always mean sleeping better? And how much should you realistically budget for a good mattress?
The answer depends on what you need from your bed. Mattress cost can vary considerably depending on its size, fillings, spring system, construction and where it’s made. A simple memory foam mattress may cost a few hundred pounds, while a luxurious handmade mattress made with natural fillings and thousands of individual springs can cost well over £1,000.
In this guide, we’ll explain what you can expect at different mattress price points, what affects the cost of a mattress and how to find the best option for your budget.
How much does a mattress cost?
In the UK, mattress prices can range from a couple of hundred pounds to several thousand.
At Soak&Sleep, our current mattress collection includes affordable memory foam mattresses alongside pocket sprung, hybrid, wool and luxurious handmade Harrison Spinks mattresses.
Rather than focusing solely on price, it can help to think about the features that matter most to you. Consider your preferred sleeping position, firmness, mattress filling, whether you tend to get hot at night and how much you’re comfortable investing in your sleep.
What can you expect to spend on a mattress?
Under £500: affordable comfort
You don’t necessarily need to spend £1,000 or more to find a comfortable mattress.
If you’re shopping on a tighter budget, memory foam and simpler spring constructions can provide good everyday comfort without the premium price associated with complex spring systems or natural fillings.
For example, our Deep Memory Foam Mattress is one of the most affordable mattresses in our range. It provides adaptive memory foam support with a firmer feel, making it a good option if you’re searching for a firm memory foam mattress without stretching your budget too far.
Our Cooling Memory Foam Mattress is another affordable choice. It combines adaptive memory foam with cooling technology to help dissipate heat, making it particularly useful if you like the contouring feel of memory foam but tend to sleep warm.
For those who prefer a combination of foam and springs, our Zoned Hybrid Deep Memory Foam Mattress combines memory foam with pocket springs and zoned support. It’s designed particularly with side sleepers in mind.
Best for:
First homes, guest bedrooms, tighter budgets and anyone looking for good-quality memory foam or hybrid comfort at an accessible price.
Around £500–£1,000: more materials and features
Increasing your budget can open up more choice in terms of construction, natural fillings and spring counts.
Our Next Generation 1000 Spring Mattress uses individually responsive springs and is available in different firmness levels, making it a versatile option if you want traditional sprung support at a mid-range price.
If you prefer natural materials, our Wool 2000 Pocket Spring Mattress combines temperature-regulating wool with 2,000 individual pocket springs. It’s available in medium-firm and firm options, so you can choose the feel that suits you.
This price bracket can be a particularly useful place to look if you want to invest in additional comfort features without moving into the premium end of the mattress market.
Best for:
Everyday master bedrooms, natural filling lovers, couples and shoppers looking for a balance between price, comfort and more sophisticated mattress construction.
£1,000+: luxury and handmade mattresses
At the premium end of the market, you’re more likely to find mattresses made with greater quantities of natural materials, more complex spring systems and specialist craftsmanship.
Our Harrison Spinks Natural 5750 Pocket Spring Mattress is handmade to order in Yorkshire and combines responsive springs with natural fillings. It’s available in medium and firm tensions, allowing you to choose your preferred level of support.
For an even more sumptuous sleeping surface, the Harrison Spinks Natural 8250 Pocket Spring Pillowtop Mattress combines an 8,250-spring system with natural fillings and a luxurious pillowtop.
These mattresses cost more because of the materials, construction and craftsmanship involved rather than simply because they’re labelled as luxury.
Best for:
Those looking to invest in their main bed, lovers of natural materials and sleepers who value handmade construction and a more luxurious finish.
What affects the cost of a mattress?
Two mattresses of the same size can have very different price tags. That’s because mattress price is influenced by much more than its dimensions.
Mattress type
The internal construction is one of the biggest factors affecting mattress cost.
Memory foam mattresses can often provide excellent comfort at a lower price point, while pocket sprung and hybrid mattresses may cost more due to the additional materials and more complex construction involved.
Natural mattresses can command a higher price again where materials such as wool and other natural fibres are used.
Number and type of springs
A higher spring count doesn’t automatically make a mattress better for everyone, but more sophisticated spring systems can increase both the complexity and cost of its construction.
Our range demonstrates this clearly. The Next Generation 1000 Spring Mattress contains 1,000 responsive springs, while our premium Harrison Spinks Natural 8250 Pocket Spring Pillowtop Mattress incorporates a much more extensive spring system.
What matters most is choosing a mattress that offers the right type of support and comfort for you.
Mattress fillings
The fillings used inside a mattress can have a significant impact on price.
Synthetic foams can offer great value, while natural materials such as wool typically cost more to source and work with.
For example, our Wool 2000 Pocket Spring Mattress uses naturally temperature-regulating wool, while our Harrison Spinks mattresses feature premium natural fillings alongside their spring systems.
Handmade construction
Some premium mattresses require considerably more craftsmanship to produce.
Our Harrison Spinks mattresses are made to order in Yorkshire, which contributes to their higher price compared with simpler foam mattress constructions.
Mattress size
Unsurprisingly, a larger mattress generally costs more because it requires more materials.
A double size mattress will therefore usually cost more than the equivalent single mattress, while king, super king and specialist sizes typically increase in price again.
If you have enough space in your bedroom, however, it can be worth considering whether investing in a larger mattress would improve your sleep, particularly if you share your bed.
How much should you spend on a double mattress?
The right budget for a double mattress depends on the materials and construction you’re looking for.
If you’re shopping for an affordable double size mattress, memory foam can be a good place to begin. If you’d prefer pocket springs, wool or premium natural fillings, expect the price to increase accordingly.
Instead of setting an arbitrary budget first, consider which mattress features are most important to you and then compare options within that category.
For example:
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Choose memory foam if you love a contouring, adaptive feel.
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Consider a hybrid mattress if you want the combination of foam and springs.
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Look at pocket sprung mattresses if you prefer responsive traditional support.
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Explore natural mattresses if breathability and natural fillings are priorities.
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Consider a premium handmade mattress if you’re looking for additional craftsmanship and a more luxurious finish.
Is an expensive mattress worth it?
It can be, but spending more doesn’t automatically mean a mattress will be more comfortable for you.
A premium mattress may contain higher-quality natural fillings, more complex spring systems or handmade construction. Those features can justify a higher price, but they’re only worthwhile if they match what you personally want from your bed.
For example, someone who loves the feel of memory foam may be perfectly happy with our more affordable Cooling Memory Foam Mattress rather than spending considerably more on a natural pocket sprung design.
Equally, if natural fibres, temperature regulation and traditional craftsmanship are important to you, investing in a Harrison Spinks mattress could make sense.
The best value mattress is therefore not always the cheapest or most expensive. It’s the one that gives you the features you’ll actually benefit from.
Is it worth buying a cheap mattress?
A lower-cost mattress isn’t automatically a poor-quality mattress.
There are affordable mattresses that can provide excellent comfort, particularly if you don’t need premium natural fillings or complex spring systems.
However, choosing purely on the lowest possible price can be a false economy if the mattress doesn’t suit your sleeping style or needs replacing sooner than expected.
Consider:
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The materials and construction
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The firmness
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Your sleeping position
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The mattress guarantee
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Whether it has the comfort features you need
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How frequently the mattress will be used
For a guest bedroom used occasionally, for example, you may choose to spend less than you would on your main mattress.
What is the best budget mattress in the UK?
The best budget mattress UK shoppers choose will depend on the type of feel they prefer.
If affordability is the priority, our current range gives you several different options:
For affordable memory foam
Our Deep Memory Foam Mattress provides adaptive support with a firmer feel and is one of the lowest-priced mattresses in our range.
For cooling memory foam
Choose our Cooling Memory Foam Mattress if you want the contouring properties of memory foam alongside technology designed to help reduce heat build-up.
For affordable hybrid support
Our Zoned Hybrid Deep Memory Foam Mattress combines memory foam and pocket springs and is particularly suited to side sleepers.
For an affordable pocket sprung mattress
The Next Generation 1000 Spring Mattress provides responsive spring support and a choice of firmness, making it a versatile option if you prefer a more traditional mattress feel.
Foam vs spring mattress: which offers better value?
Neither type is automatically better value. It depends on what you want from your mattress.
Memory foam mattresses
Memory foam moulds around the body in response to heat and pressure. It can provide excellent adaptive support at relatively accessible price points.
Our Deep Memory Foam Mattress and Cooling Memory Foam Mattress are good examples if you want foam comfort without moving into premium mattress pricing.
Spring mattresses
Pocket sprung mattresses use individual springs that respond independently to the body.
They can vary considerably in price depending on spring count, fillings and overall construction.
Our range stretches from the Next Generation 1000 Spring Mattress through to premium Harrison Spinks designs containing thousands of springs and natural fillings.
Hybrid mattresses
Hybrid mattresses combine different technologies.
Our Zoned Hybrid Deep Memory Foam Mattress, for example, combines pocket springs with memory foam, making it a good option if you’re struggling to choose between a foam or spring mattress.
Ultimately, the best value comes from choosing the construction that matches the way you like to sleep.
Should I spend more on my main mattress?
If your budget allows, your main bed is generally where it makes the most sense to prioritise your mattress spend.
You may spend around eight hours a night in bed, so small differences in comfort can become much more noticeable over time.
For a guest bedroom that’s only used occasionally, you may be happy choosing a simpler, lower-priced mattress. For your own bedroom, it may be worth investing more in the materials, firmness and features you really prefer.
How can I get the best value when buying a mattress?
Value isn’t simply about finding the lowest price.
Look for a mattress that:
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Suits your preferred sleeping position
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Comes in the right firmness
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Uses materials you find comfortable
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Fits your bed correctly
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Provides the temperature regulation you need
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Comes with an appropriate guarantee
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Fits comfortably within your budget
Spending a little more on the right mattress can represent better long-term value than saving money on one that doesn’t suit you.
Which Soak & Sleep mattress suits my budget?
Not sure where to start? Think of our collection in three broad groups.
For a more affordable mattress:
Explore the Deep Memory Foam Mattress, Zoned Hybrid Deep Memory Foam Mattress and Cooling Memory Foam Mattress.
For a mid-range mattress:
Consider the Next Generation 1000 Spring Mattress or Wool 2000 Pocket Spring Mattress for more traditional spring support and a choice of firmness levels.
For a premium mattress:
Explore our Harrison Spinks Natural 5750 Pocket Spring Mattress and Harrison Spinks Natural 8250 Pocket Spring Pillowtop Mattress for natural fillings, more complex spring systems and handmade British craftsmanship.
Find the right mattress for your budget
So, how much should you spend on a mattress?
There’s no magic number. The right amount is whatever gives you the comfort, support and features you need without paying extra for things that aren’t important to you.
Whether you’re looking for an affordable memory foam mattress, a supportive pocket sprung design or a luxurious handmade natural mattress, our collection includes options across a range of budgets.
Explore our full mattress collection to compare mattress types, firmness levels and sizes and find the one that feels right for you.
