Despite being one of the oldest types of beds, innerspring mattresses remain popular today due to their durability, comfort, and considerable support; there will always be sleepers out there who love that traditional innerspring feel. In this guide to the best innerspring mattresses, we’ll go over their benefits, as well as which specific coil beds might be good for different sleepers.
When deciding which mattresses we wanted to include on this list, we paid attention to each bed’s bounce while testing it out. Even softer innerspring mattresses should be fairly easy to move around on. Also, while some of these beds also include other materials such as foam and latex (thus technically making them hybrid mattresses), every product has a substantial layer of springs and offers the classic, responsive feel of an innerspring mattress.
Our Top Innerspring Pick
The Helix Midnight Luxe is at the top of this list because it offers excellent pressure relief while still providing support in a variety of sleeping positions.
Best Innerspring Mattresses of 2024
- Best Overall – Helix Midnight Luxe
- Best Innerspring Mattress for Seniors – DreamCloud
- Best Innerspring Mattress for Stomach Sleepers – WinkBed
- Best Innerspring Mattress for Side Sleepers – Nolah Evolution
- Best Value Innerspring Mattress – Brooklyn Bedding Signature Hybrid
- Best Innerspring Mattress for Back Sleepers – Saatva
- Best Luxury Innerspring Mattress – Bear Elite Hybrid
- Best Innerspring Mattress for Heavyweight Sleepers – Titan Plus
- Best Firm Innerspring Mattress – Plank Firm Luxe
- Best Organic Innerspring Mattress – Birch Natural
Best Innerspring Mattress: Video Review
What We Look For In The Best Innerspring Mattresses
Support and Durability
Innerspring mattresses are an older style of mattress, but they are popular today because of their sturdy support and long-lasting durability. When testing these mattresses, we are actively taking notes on the quality of materials, layers of construction and how it will last long term so you make sure you invest in the right mattress.
Motion Isolation
Motion isolation is a crucial factor when we are testing innerspring mattresses. We know you don’t want to be awoken by your pets or partner moving in the bed, so every mattress selected is tested with a seismograph test, drop ball test and red wine test to make sure each mattress absorbs movement.
Cooling
One appeal of an innerspring mattress is that its breathable coils keep the mattress cool. We know how important cooling and temperature regulation is to most customers, so we were sure to test the cooling properties of each mattress using a temperature gun test.
Compare Best Innerspring Mattresses
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| Helix Midnight Luxe Mattress | DreamCloud Original Mattress | WinkBed Mattress | Nolah Evolution Hybrid Mattress | Brooklyn Bedding Signature Hybrid Mattress | Saatva Mattress | Bear Elite Hybrid Mattress | Titan Plus | Brooklyn Bedding Plank Firm Luxe Mattress | Birch Natural Mattress | |
| Rating | ||||||||||
| Firmness | Medium-soft: 6/10 | Firm: 7/10 | Firm: 7/10 | Multiple firmness options | Medium-firm: 6.5/10 | Multiple firmness options | Multiple firmness options | Firm: 7.5/10 | Multiple firmness options | Firm: 7/10 |
| Material | Hybrid | Hybrid | Hybrid | Hybrid | Hybrid | Innerspring | Hybrid | Hybrid | Hybrid | Hybrid |
| Cooling | — | — | — | — | ||||||
| Best For |
Back Sleepers, Stomach Sleepers, Side Sleepers, Hip Pain, Seniors
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Back Sleepers,
Hot Sleepers, Seniors |
Back Sleepers, Stomach Sleepers, Back Pain, Hot Sleepers, Side Sleepers
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Side Sleepers, Back Sleepers, Hip Pain, Seniors,
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Couples,
Back Sleepers, Hip Pain |
Back Sleepers, Stomach Sleepers, Back Pain, Hot Sleepers, Seniors
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Back Sleepers, Stomach Sleepers, Hot Sleepers, Hip Pain, Seniors
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Back Sleepers, Stomach Sleepers, Back Pain, Hip Pain, Seniors
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Hot Sleepers, Back Sleepers, Stomach Sleepers, Side Sleepers, Couples
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Back Sleepers, Stomach Sleepers, Hot Sleepers, Seniors,
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Best Overall – Helix Midnight Luxe
Helix has a line of six hybrid mattresses, each with a different level of firmness. The Midnight is one of their medium models. It has enough contouring for side sleepers, but should still be supportive enough for back sleepers, as long as they don’t mind a softer bed. Learn more in our video review.
What our tester says:
“I like the Helix Midnight Luxe for back sleepers and side sleepers. The medium-soft to medium-firm feel should give these folks the right balance of comfort and support.” – Nichole Mondshein, lead reviewer and mattress tester
Expert Opinion
The medium-firm Helix Midnight is a hybrid innerspring-memory foam model, which is partly why it’s such an outstanding pick for many types of sleepers. The base layer is made of poly foam, giving us a responsive feel when we lie down on it. At the same time, the top two layers of foam provide us with ergonomic support and a bit of sinkage. The level of pressure relief here helps cushion sensitive joints, and our pressure map graphic showed low buildup in this position. The overall balanced feel results in a combination of comfort and support that many sleepers tend to rely on.
Best Innerspring Mattress for Seniors – DreamCloud
With soft foam and a sturdy layer of innerspring coils, the DreamCloud strikes a balance between comfort and support — a little bit of contouring up top and on-top-of-the-bed feel that comes from the bottom. It’s a fairly firm mattress that we think is most comfortable for back sleepers. It also has some luxury touches such as a cashmere-blend cover that are reminiscent of a high-end hotel. Learn more in our DreamCloud video review.
What our tester says:
“I really like how luxurious this mattress feels and how it could work for a variety of sleepers. Along with that, I found that the breathable cashmere cover helps the DreamCloud sleep cool throughout the night. Thanks to its medium-firm to firm support, I think the DreamCloud is a durable mattress. It balances support with plenty of pressure relief for back sleepers.” – Bridget Chapman, former Sleepopolis senior product editor
Expert Opinion
Seniors do best with an innerspring-style mattress that’s pressure-relieving enough for joint pain, but supportive enough that they don’t sink into the material too far. The DreamCloud is marketed as a durable mattress with supportive coils, and after testing, we couldn’t help but agree. We got some gentle contouring from the upper layer of soft memory foam, while getting a nice lift from the springs. This combination helps prevent and alleviate back pain for older folks.
Best Innerspring Mattress for Stomach Sleepers – WinkBed
The WinkBed is a luxury hybrid mattress. It has a similarly supportive and sturdy feel to a traditional innerspring mattress, but upgrades like a Euro top and cooling Tencel cover give it a touch of modern luxury. Available in three firmness levels, there is a WinkBed for just about every sleeper. And a responsive and bouncy feel makes it a great pick for combination sleepers. Learn more in our video review.
What our tester says:
“If you like the feel of a traditional innerspring mattress, the WinkBed could work for you. Since this bed offered great pressure relief around my lumbar region, I’d also recommend it to folks who suffer from lower back pain.” – Nichole Mondshein, lead reviewer and staff writer
Expert Opinion
Stomach sleepers tend to need support from their mattress to keep their hips and shoulders aligned and ward off back and neck pain, and the WinkBed Original definitely provides that. The mattress comes in three firmness levels: Softer, Luxury Firm, and Firmer. The Firm and Luxury Firm are both suitable options for stomach sleepers. We also found by testing the perimeter that it has excellent edge support, meaning you can spread out and use the entire surface of the mattress.
Best Innerspring Mattress for Side Sleepers – Nolah Evolution
The Nolah Evolution’s hybrid construction offers the cushioning of memory foam with the responsiveness of coils. The Luxury Firm model is a good option for side and back sleepers due to its medium-firm feel, though there are Plush and Firm versions as well. Those who share a bed may also appreciate its low motion transfer, so you won’t be disturbed by a partner’s movements and its solid edge support to allow you to maximize surface area. For more information, check out our video review.
What our tester says:
“I laid down to rest on this mattress on my back — my primary sleep position. I felt comfortable, but also appreciated the cozy, plush top of the bed. After some time lying on my back, I switched over to my side. I didn’t find this position quite as comfortable, as I did feel some slight pressure buildup in my shoulder.” – Amelia Jerden, senior staff writer
Expert Opinion
If you’re a side sleeper on the prowl for a gentle innerspring-style mattress, consider the Nolah Evolution, which incorporates layers of contouring foam and coils into its design for a balanced feel of pressure relief and support. It also comes in three different firmness levels. While we tested out the Luxury Firm model, we recommend side sleepers choose the Soft firmness option since it has the best comfort layer for contouring the hips and shoulders.
Best Value Innerspring Mattress – Brooklyn Bedding Signature Hybrid
The Brooklyn Bedding Signature Hybrid mattress combines a foam comfort layer and sturdy coils. This combination of materials makes it bouncy and easy to move around on. It comes in three firmness levels, and we recommend the Medium model for most back sleepers. It’s a great choice for shoppers who are looking for a new mattress on a budget. For more information, check out our video review.
What our tester says:
“Given that the Signature Hybrid has some excellent bounce, I’d highly recommend this mattress for combination sleepers who often change positions multiple times throughout the night. I also think the Signature Hybrid could be a great fit for couples. You shouldn’t be overly disturbed by a restless partner on this bed, and it has nice, firm edge support.” – Nichole Mondshein, lead reviewer and staff writer
Expert Opinion
Technically, the Brooklyn Signature is a hybrid mattress, but we’re placing it on this list, as it has a coil support system that provides some nice bounce. Best of all, you can get this hybrid bed (a type of mattress that tends to be more expensive than foam) for a great price. That’s because Brooklyn Bedding owns its own factory, allowing the brand to cut down on manufacturing costs and pass the savings onto the customer. You can often find a queen size for under $1,000 after discounts. Additionally, it comes in three different firmness levels: Soft, Medium, and Firm. We tested out the Medium and felt ourselves slinking slightly into the foams up top while still getting a lift from the coils below.
Best Innerspring Mattress for Back Sleepers – Saatva
The Saatva’s coil-on-coil construction provides a classic innerspring feel. It’s a good option for combo sleepers, who will want to feel free to switch positions and avoid feeling “stuck” in the mattress. It comes in three firmness levels, so you should be able to find one that suits your needs. The white glove delivery Saatva provides is an added perk and will save you the headache of getting rid of your old mattress (they take it away for free!). For more information, watch our video review.
What our tester says:
“I think the Saatva is a great option for back sleepers, as the Luxury Firm model provides enough cushioning for their lumbar region, but also lots of support to keep their spine in a neutral alignment.” – Nichole Mondshein, lead reviewer and staff writer
Expert Opinion
The Saatva has a coil-on-coil construction, meaning that there are two layers of springs right on top of each other. During testing, we found this gives the mattress a traditional innerspring feel and enough support to keep the spine in a neutral alignment when back sleeping. We should also note that the mattress comes in three different firmness levels, so it should cater to most sleeping positions and body types. For back sleepers, we recommend the Luxury Firm model, which we gave a 7 out of 10 on our mattress firmness scale.
Best Luxury Innerspring Mattress – Bear Elite Hybrid
The Bear Elite Hybrid uses foam and coils for a mix of support, cushioning, and cooling. While designed for athletes prioritizing wellness and recovery, sleepers of all activity levels can enjoy the many luxurious features. Enjoy zoned support for targeted relief, an “on top of” feel allowing for ease of movement, and cooling features throughout. For more information, watch our video review.
What our tester says:
“I’d recommend the Bear Elite Hybrid for most back and stomach sleepers.I think these sleepers will get the needed pressure relief and contouring around the lower back and hips. This mattress does a wonderful job at offering body contouring while still helping the sleeper stay elevated and lifted as well. The layers of foam should provide comfort while the coil system should offer lots of support.” – Nichole Mondshein, lead reviewer and mattress tester
Expert Opinion
Bear has made a name for itself in the sleep industry by creating mattresses for those with active lifestyles, and the Bear Elite Hybrid adds a little bit of luxury to this design. While it has a traditional innerspring feel due to its support layer of pocketed coils, it includes several upgrades. For instance, the comfort layer of memory foam has been infused with copper to help it sleep cool, and its contour layer is equipped with five zoned sections — each with a different level of firmness.
Best Innerspring Mattress for Heavyweight Sleepers – Titan Plus
The Titan Plus mattress is a durable mattress made with heavy sleepers in mind. It’s firm and features heavy-duty coils and Titanflex foam that makes it bouncy and easy to move around on. We think that heavy back sleepers and stomach sleepers should be especially comfortable. For more information on the Titan Plus, check out our video review.
What our tester says:
“I think the Titan Plus lives up to its name as a good mattress for heavier sleepers. It will offer them the deep compression support and durability they need.” – Nichole Mondshein, lead reviewer and staff writer
Expert Opinion
The Titan Plus is designed specifically for heavier individuals, who have different needs when it comes to picking the right mattress. They’ll usually want to opt for a bed constructed with exceptionally durable materials for support. The Titan Plus has just that, with a strong base of high-density poly foam and extra-tall coils for innerspring support. This is all topped with a responsive layer of TitanFlex foam, plus one inch of memory foam quilted into the cover for pressure relief.
Best Firm Innerspring Mattress – Plank Firm Luxe
The Plank Firm Luxe by Brooklyn Bedding is a flippable mattress with different firmness levels on either side. It’s like getting two mattresses for the price of one! This mattress is great for any sleeper seeking the firmest mattress possible. The extra-firm side is one of the firmest we have tested, while the firm side has a more classic medium-firm feel. For more information, watch our video review.
What our tester says:
“The mattress is incredibly bouncy and was very easy for me to change sleeping positions and to move freely on top of this mattress. It felt like I was on a trampoline. I gave this bed a perfect score for responsiveness so this bed is an excellent pick for combination sleepers as well as a good bed for sex!” – Nichole Mondshein, lead reviewer and mattress tester
Expert Opinion
If you love a firm mattress, the Plank Firm Luxe gives you options. With a flippable design, the bed has both a firm side and an extra-firm side. Regardless of which side you end up going with, each one has a core of individually wrapped TitanCore coils, giving us lots of responsiveness. This construction is different than the standard Plank Firm, which maintains a flippable nature but uses an all-foam construction.
Best Organic Innerspring Mattress – Birch Natural
The Birch Natural is a latex mattress utilizing individually wrapped coils for added support. This mattress specializes in cooling and responsiveness, and the firmer nature suits back and stomach sleepers well. Perhaps the most special part about this mattress is the material quality. Not only is the Birch organic, but it has also earned multiple certifications for safe production and materials. For more information, check out our video review.
What our tester says:
“One of my favorite things about the Birch is how cooling it is. I think any hot sleeper will be satisfied by this breathable bed. It’s definitely one of the most cooling mattresses available thanks to its wool and latex layers. These cooling materials also make it one of my favorite organic mattresses.” – Madison Schaper, Sleepopolis staff writer
Expert Opinion
Organic mattresses are usually made with latex foam, which tends to have a bouncy and responsive feel similar to a true innerspring mattress. And in the case of the Birch Natural, there’s a layer of coils at the bottom, which adds to these traits. We think it’s an ideal match for anyone looking for an innerspring bed made out of eco-friendly materials. It comes outfitted with an organic cotton cover, a fire barrier made of organic wool, and a comfort layer of natural Talalay latex.
Why You Can Trust Sleepopolis
Our team of Certified Sleep Science Coaches has reviewed more than 300 products in our mattress lab, running each one through tests such as pressure-mapping and measuring motion transfer with a seismometer. From there, we give every bed an overall score based on materials, comfort, support, cooling, and edge support. We also factor in brand performance with categories such as value and warranty.
However, some factors are more important than others depending on the mattress’s category. When handpicking the best innerspring mattresses for this roundup, we first and foremost considered the support scores in our Sleepopolis mattress lab. Innerspring beds emphasize the sturdy coils in their construction, and should excel in support and stability. When testing each bed, we found that 10 of these organic mattresses scored at least a 4 in support.
We also made a point to include beds with stellar cooling properties and responsiveness. It’s one of the most common traits amongst the best innerspring beds, as the coils allow room for airflow, as well as a bouncy feel. All 10 mattresses in this roundup received cooling scores and responsiveness scores at or above 4 out of 5.
What Is An Innerspring Mattress?
Unlike foam mattresses, innerspring mattresses use a dense layer of metal spring coils in varying gauges and densities to provide even support and pressure relief. Many of these beds use encasement foam on the top and sides of the mattress to protect the coils and provide an added comfort layer on the top. Find out more in our foam vs spring mattress comparison guide.
When shopping for the best innerspring mattress, be sure to look at the type of coil used, the gauge of the coil, how many are used, and how the coils connect to each other. An innerspring mattress that performs well in these four categories is likely to be a very high-quality mattress.
Wondering what other factors to consider? Check out our Mattress Buyer’s Guide for a complete rundown of how to buy a mattress.
What Makes a Good Innerspring Mattress?
A good innerspring mattress has a couple of important components. The first is a quality feel, meaning that it is responsive but not overly bouncy. The edges should feel sturdy and strong, and the foam layer should be comfortable but still supportive. Next, the mattress should be made with quality materials, like cooling, contouring foams, and carefully placed and wrapped coils. By personally testing and looking inside these mattresses, we can determine the quality of each mattress on this list to only recommend you the best quality innerspring mattresses.
How we Test the Best Innerspring Mattresses
Motion Isolation
Motion isolation refers to how much movement can be felt across a mattress. If someone or something moves in the bed and you can feel their movement, that mattress may have poor motion isolation. This is an especially important factor for people who sleep with their partners or pets. Innerspring mattresses are fairly bouncy, meaning they don’t usually have very good motion isolation.
In order to test for motion isolation on our mattresses, we use a ball drop test where we take a 10-pound steel ball and drop it from three different heights. Then, we measure the level of disturbance with a seismograph, which shows smaller waves for good motion isolation, and larger ones for poor motion isolation.
Cooling
With respect to cooling, innerspring mattresses perform very well. Foams, especially memory foam, can be notorious for heat retention and “sleeping hot.” The coil construction of an innerspring means excellent airflow, resulting in better cooling. For some of our favorite options, see our roundup of the best cooling mattresses.
When testing mattresses ourselves, we run each bed through a cooling test. First, we examine the construction interior to see what layers are dedicated to cooling. For innerspring, we pay attention to how the coils are wrapped and set up to make sure they have good breathability. Then, we lie down on it and determine how fast-acting any cooling properties on the mattress’s surface are. Sometimes, we’ll test a cover that’s quite literally cool to the touch.
We also use a thermal heat gun test. This device utilizes color-coded imaging and tells us how long it takes for a mattress to cool down, and at what temperature. Beds that heat up more than 15 degrees Fahrenheit are considered to have poor cooling capabilities. 10 to 15 degrees indicates decent cooling, 5 to 10 degrees indicates good cooling, and less than 5 degrees indicates excellent cooling.
Pressure Relief
Pressure relief refers to the amount of pressure that is alleviated on certain parts of your body when lying on a mattress. Pressure relief is important because it can help make you more comfortable and also aid in pain relief. To determine whether or not a mattress provides adequate pressure relief for certain sleeping positions, we put it through our pressure map test. We spread a special mat across the bed’s surface. When we lie on it, it presents a graphic that uses our body temperature to track areas of high, moderate, and low pressure.
As you can see below, high-pressure areas show up in red and orange, moderate in yellow, and low in green and blue. A lot of green and blue on a pressure map result shows us that a mattress is good for pressure relief in those areas. Innerspring mattresses can provide good pressure relief for back sleepers but are usually not supportive enough across the shoulders and hips for side sleepers. You can look at our recommendations for the best mattresses for side sleepers to find mattresses that will provide better pressure relief.
Edge Support
Edge support is an important part of all mattresses, and it refers to the strength of the edges of the mattress. When you push down on the side of the mattress, you want to feel some resistance, which indicates strong edge support. The stronger the edges, the more supportive, durable, and usable a mattress is. It’s also especially important for older people, who may need more support to get in and out of the bed. You can learn more about the best mattresses for older sleepers on our page. Edge support is also important for couples who want to use the whole surface of the bed and not feel it sag. Read more on our best mattresses for couples page.
We test out a mattress’ edge support by sitting on and pushing on the edges of the mattress and seeing how much it sinks. The easier it is to push down on the mattress and make it sag, the worse edge support it has. We also sit on the edge of the mattress and measure how much it sinks with a tape measure or yardstick.
Sleeping Positions
How you sleep affects the firmness and composition you want in your mattress. To accommodate this and help you find exactly what you are looking for, we test all of our mattresses by lying in different sleeping positions, as you can see above. You can also read below for more information on each sleep style and how they might like innerspring mattresses.
Back Sleeping
People who sleep on their backs generally need a lot of support and pressure relief, particularly in their lower back and lumbar region. They also generally benefit from a firmer mattress, something that can lift their hips and keep their spine aligned. Innerspring mattresses are generally firm and supportive enough for back sleepers, but they may not be everyone’s cup of tea because they are bouncy and some people don’t find them particularly comfortable. Check out our recommendations for the best mattress for back sleepers if you want more information.
Stomach Sleeping
Stomach sleepers generally need support through their hips, back, and shoulders to help alleviate pain and keep them comfortable. We generally recommend stomach sleepers look for a mattress that is around a 6.5 to an 8 on our firmness scale. Innerspring mattresses may provide enough firmness and support, but you can also look at other options on our best mattresses for stomach sleepers page.
Side Sleeping
Side sleepers generally need soft to medium-firm mattresses, so innerspring may be a bit too firm for them. However, there are options for softer innerspring mattresses that have thicker foam top layers. If this still doesn’t sound exactly right, you can read more on our recommendations for the best mattresses for side sleepers.
Firmness
The firmness of your mattress affects its comfort and support. Innerspring mattresses are generally available in various levels of firmness, and what level you are looking for depends on how much support, pressure relief, and comfort you are looking for. Regardless of what you find the most comfortable, we test all of our mattresses using our firmness scale, which places a mattress on a scale from 1 to 10, with 10 being the most firm and 6.5 being medium firmness.
Our expert testers lay on each mattress to determine their firmness scale. We generally recommend that side sleepers opt for softer mattresses, from 3 to 6, and back and stomach sleepers go for medium-firm from 4-7.
Company Policies
Sleep Trials
One concern shoppers have when buying a mattress online is not being able to try it in person first. The purpose of a sleep trial is to be able to test the mattress in your own home for several weeks to determine if the bed fits your sleep preferences and lifestyle. Each company has different policies so make sure to take a closer look, however most have 30, 60 or 90 days sleep trial. We recommend buying a mattress that has at least 30 days of trial as that is enough time for you to break in the mattress and have a good idea if its working for you or not.
Shipping
Innerspring mattresses can sometimes be more expensive so the last thing you want to do is pay extra for shipping. Every mattress we recommend on this list offers free shipping so you don’t have to stress about adding that cost to your budget.
Some companies, like Saatva for example, offer white glove delivery for an extra cost, which is a service that hand delivers the bed to your door, sets it up in your room and removed the old mattress. So if you don’t want the hassle, or don’t think you can lift the mattress up the stairs, we highly recommend this service.
Warranties
Mattress Warranties refers to how long a mattress company ensures the durability of your mattress and means that if something happens to your mattress within that time frame, they’ll replace it for free. Many companies offer a 10-year warranty, while others offer life-time warranties. Keep in mind, typically the higher your price-point of mattress, the better the policies but all mattresses we recommend in this list have great warranty policies.
Durability of Innerspring Beds
Durability in a mattress refers to its ability to maintain comfort and support over time without significant wear or sagging. Innerspring mattresses generally offer good durability if they have high-quality coils and robust construction, but their longevity can vary based on coil gauge and overall build. To shop for great durability in innerspring mattresses, look for high coil counts, strong edge support, and thicker gauge wires, and consider models with reinforced construction or reputable brands known for their long-lasting quality.
Innerspring mattresses typically last between 7 to 10 years, depending on their construction quality, usage, and maintenance. Higher-quality models with robust coil systems and durable materials may last closer to the upper end of this range, while lower-quality options might wear out sooner. Regular rotation and proper care can help extend the lifespan of an innerspring mattress.
Why You Should Buy An Innerspring Mattress
Despite the surge of foam-based mattresses, there’s still a large selection of innerspring mattresses on the market right now. A coil mattress provides a lot of bounce and a cooling, low-temperature feeling. The best innerspring mattresses are durable, supportive, and well-equipped to last you many years.
Traditional Feel
For sleepers looking for a more traditional feel, innerspring mattresses are a great choice. They’ve got the bounce, density, and feel of the classic mattress that many people are used to.
Wide Variety
Since innerspring was a popular mattress type for many decades, manufacturers really mastered how to deliver a variety of different feels, firmnesses, and support levels while using the same coil-based construction.
Budget Range
You can easily find an innerspring mattress for $700 or $2,700. Be wary of extremely inexpensive mattresses, however. These are typically made with lower-quality materials and thin-gauge coils that will likely collapse sooner than expected, leaving you with a sagging mattress. Higher-quality innerspring mattresses use quality steel and other metals, so you can rest assured that they will last for years.
See our Sleepopolis coupons page for some of the industry’s best deals.
Bounce and Responsiveness
Innerspring mattresses are well known for having great bounce (perfect for those amorous activities) and a nearly instantaneous response time. This means the mattress can respond and adjust just as quickly as you do and you can avoid that “sinking in quicksand” feeling.
Limited Off-Gassing
Since innerspring mattresses do not generally contain as much foam as an all-memory-foam or latex foam mattress, they generally have very little smell and can be used right away or within a few hours of unboxing.
For a closer look at how we test our mattresses, see our Review Methodology.
Why You Shouldn’t Buy An Innerspring Mattress
As helpful as innersprings can be when seeking more responsiveness or support, these beds aren’t for everyone. Read on to see why this construction may not be the best fit for your needs.
Lack of Options
Innerspring mattresses are decreasing in popularity and many shoppers side with hybrid mattresses or all-foam mattresses. So, if you’re seeking a mattress construction with a large amount of options from every brand, you won’t find that versatility with the innerspring.
Heavy
With all of these supportive coils, innerspring mattresses are naturally heavier than models without coils. This can make the mattress setup and/or unboxing process much more difficult. We suggest investing in white glove delivery for some assistance, or selecting a brand like Saatva, which includes free white glove delivery with each purchase.
Poor Motion Isolation
The bouncy, responsive nature of innerspring mattresses, along with their much thinner comfort layers, results in poor motion isolation more often than not. This means that if you sleep with a partner or pet, you’re more likely to feel their movements at night. Anyone who finds themselves easily disrupted by movement should consider a bed with a thicker comfort layer to trap some of that movement. All-foam beds and pillow top mattresses typically excel at this.
Pressure Buildup
With thinner comfort layers, the innerspring mattress’s weakness lies in its pressure relief. This trait isn’t important for everyone; stomach sleepers tend to prefer innersprings for their firm nature. However, side sleepers and those with joint pain require extra cushioning for sensitive areas, and this is something that innersprings are typically unable to provide.
Who is an Innerspring Mattress Best For?
Innerspring mattresses are a great choice for a lot of sleepers, especially those who sleep hot, like the feel of a traditional mattress, enjoy a bouncier bed, and those shopping on a budget. Innerspring mattresses are exceptionally cooling, a very traditional make, are generally bouncier than other kinds of mattresses, and can be very affordable. There are also models of innerspring beds for back sleepers, stomach sleepers, and side sleepers, making it a great option across the board.
Types of Coils and Springs
When searching for the best innerspring mattress, you’ll find that there are four main types of coils: Bonnell coils, pocket coils (also known as Marshall coils), offset coils, and continuous coils (also known as Mira coils). Within these categories, some people may even refer to the whole assembly by a different name: innerspring, coil-on-coil, coil, or simply a spring mattress. Keep in mind that looking at wire gauge, coil count, and the quality of encasement foam will help you to know if the mattress you’re examining is a quality choice.
| Coil Type | Description | Image |
| Bonnell Coils | – First type of coil in traditional innersprings – Used in inexpensive mattresses – Its hourglass shape compresses or expands based on the amount of pressure applied – The individual coils are laid out in rows across the mattress, and woven together using a helical lacing to connect coils and cause them to react together as a complete assembly |  |
| Pocketed Coils | – Usually individually wrapped in a thin fabric that’s joins them together without wire – Coils perform independently of each other (unlike Bonnell coils), resulting in more contour and less motion transfer – Typically more expensive |  |
| Offset Coils | – Similar to Bonnell coils, but have a straight side that results in a “D” shape instead of a rounded top – The design helps the coils have better hinging action when laced together – Less of a gap between each coil |  |
| Continuous Coils | – Use a single piece of wire that turns on itself to form individual coils – Doesn’t isolate motion as well as other coils – Typically inexpensive |  |
Coil Counts
With any innerspring mattress, coil count and density are going to play a large role in how supportive and comfortable it will be. A mattress with a smaller number of coils provides fewer areas of contact with the body, which can lead to uncomfortable pressure points. In contrast, a mattress with more coils is going to generally have better contouring, hug, and responsiveness. The higher number of coils also translates to a more even firmness, since there are additional contact points.
What About Pocketed Coils?
Typically, pocketed coils are going to use a smaller coil than Bonnell, offset, or continuous coils. For this reason, you can expect a higher coil count in pocketed coil mattresses.
Since the pocketed coils react individually, it’s necessary to have the higher count for complete support and a full contour. With Bonnell, the coils work as a group since they are laced together with the joining wire. Pressure on one of the larger coils dissipates through the joining wire and releases into adjacent coils.
FAQs
How much should an innerspring mattress cost?
Because of how much it takes to manufacture the springs and other materials, innerspring mattresses tend to cost more than all-foam mattresses. Expect to pay upwards of $1,000 for a high-quality queen-size. To give you some context, the mattresses in this roundup range from about $1,200 to $2,100. Keep in mind that these prices are before discounts, so you can usually get them for a lot cheaper by clicking on their purchase links.
Are innerspring mattresses good for hot sleepers?
In general, yes. The coils in innerspring mattresses leave plenty of room for air to flow through the mattress, which helps the bed stay cool. Some innerspring mattresses also have added cooling technology to help with temperature regulation.
Do you need a box spring for an innerspring mattress?
Many modern innerspring mattresses don’t require a box spring, but many older ones — which usually don’t contain much, if any, foam — do. It could vary from bed to bed, so be sure to check a mattress’s care instructions before purchasing. You can usually find this on the mattress brand’s website.
Do people still buy innerspring mattresses?
The same traditional innerspring you might be visualizing isn’t as widely available on the mattress market today. It’s more difficult to transport these beds, which is probably why they’re not seen online as much as hybrid or all-foam options. However, some brick-and-mortar stores still offer innerspring beds, and many hybrid mattresses available are constructed to provide an innerspring-style feel.
Do hotels use innerspring mattresses?
As the number of true innerspring mattresses on the market have declined in past years, many hotels utilize hybrid beds that incorporate a combination of foam and coils. Some of these hybrids do have an innerspring-style feel. Other hotels, like Marriott, use all-foam beds paired with a box spring.
Best Innerspring Mattresses 2024
| Mattress | Best For | Price (Queen) | Coupon | Review |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Helix Midnight Luxe | Overall | $2,373.80 | Helix Coupon | Read Our Review |
| DreamCloud | Seniors | $1,332 | DreamCloud Coupon | Read Our Review |
| WinkBeds | Stomach Sleepers | $1,799 | WinkBed Coupon | Read Our Review |
| Nolah Evolution | Side Sleepers | $2,499 | Nolah Coupon | Read Our Review |
| Brooklyn Bedding Signature Hybrid | Value | $1,332 | Brooklyn Bedding Coupon | Read Our Review |
| Saatva | Back Sleepers | $1,995 | Saatva Coupon | Read Our Review |
| Bear Elite Hybrid | Luxury | $2,111 | Bear Coupon | Read Our Review |
| Titan Plus | Heavyweight Sleepers | $1,249 | Brooklyn Bedding Coupon | Read Our Review |
| Plank Firm Luxe | Firm | $1,532 | Brooklyn Bedding Coupon | Read Our Review |
| Birch Natural | Organic | $1,874 | Helix Coupon | Read Our Review |
Bridget Chapman
Former Senior Product Editor
About Author
Bridget is a Certified Sleep Science Coach and senior editor here at Sleepopolis. From testing mattresses to writing about various sleep health topics, her goal is to help you get a good night’s sleep. You can also find her in videos on our YouTube channel. Bridget graduated magna cum laude from San Diego State University with a degree in journalism and a minor in English. Before joining the Sleepopolis team, she was a TV news reporter and worked in cities across the country. She loves spending time outdoors, checking out new restaurants, snuggling with her pets, and of course — getting some quality Zzz’s.
Combination Sleeper