Innerspring mattresses are one of the most traditional styles of mattress on the market today, and in some ways they could be considered the predecessor of modern memory foam and latex mattresses. That said, innerspring mattresses are still incredibly popular with a large number of sleepers. There are still many quality innerspring mattresses available that provide great support, lots of comfort, and lasting durability.
This guide will provide my personal recommendations for innerspring mattresses, followed by a review of the benefits of an innerspring mattress and what kind of sleeper a coil bed might be good for. I should note that the information below is comprised of my opinions, reflecting my own preferences and biases, so just use it as a starting point.
Want to see the full list of recommendations for innerspring mattresses? Click here to get right to my favorite spring mattresses! And make sure to check out our full mattress review series to find the best models for all types of sleepers.
TOP 6 INNERSPRING MATTRESSES
I said it up top, but I’ll emphasize again that these mattress picks are reflective of my own personal preferences – so please just use them as a starting point!
Now on my top 6 innerspring mattresses for:
- Side Sleepers — WinkBeds Mattress
- Heavy Sleepers — Big Fig Mattress
- Back Pain — Saatva Mattress
- Stomach Sleepers — WinkBeds Firm Mattress / Saatva Firm Mattress
- For the Money/Value — Aviya Mattress
- Luxury — Beautyrest Mattress
Read on for why I chose these models!
Innerspring mattresses offer great bounce, cooling, edge support, and a classic feel
BEST INNERSPRING MATTRESSES – TOP CHOICES DETAILED
Below I have listed my favorite innerspring mattresses. I’ll continue to update this list as I test and review new mattresses.
Side Sleepers — WinkBeds Mattress
Queen size WinkBeds mattress
The WinkBeds Mattress comes in three firmness levels, and I really like the softer version for side sleepers. Side sleepers experience extra pressure around their hips and shoulders, and the soft version of the WinkBeds Mattress provides good pressure relief in these areas. Its combination of foam layers and pocketed support coils provide traditional innerspring support with a bit of extra softness and give to contour to a side sleepers’ profile.
Read our full WinkBeds Mattress review here.
Heavy Sleepers — Big Fig Mattress
Big Fig sitting on the special foundations included with purchase
The Big Fig Mattress is designed specifically for heavier individuals, who have different needs when it comes to picking the right mattress. The Big Fig has a strong base and robust innerspring support (along with extra edge support), all topped with a quilted cover and foam layers for comfort. The result is an innerspring mattress that can support heavier sleepers while still providing a comfortable and pressure-relieving surface.
Read our full Big Fig Mattress review here.
Back Pain — Saatva Mattress
Saatva Mattress,
The Saatva Mattress is an innerspring model that could be great for people who experience back pain. Mattresses that are too soft or that sag can allow the sleeper’s hips to sink lower than other parts of their body, and over the course of a night’s sleep, this can exacerbate back and spinal pain. Saatva’s Mattress leans more toward a firmer feel, helping keep the sleeper’s weight evenly distributed. It also comes in three mattress levels, and I’d generally say the firmer two will likely be better for individuals who have a history of experiencing back pain (though individual preferences and needs will vary).
Read our full Saatva Mattress review here.
Stomach Sleepers — WinkBeds Firm Mattress / Saatva Firm Mattress
Showing the edge support of the WinkBeds mattress
For stomach sleepers, I think the WinkBeds Firm Mattress and Saatva Firm Mattress are both potentially good picks. These two innerspring mattresses both come in different firmness options. The reason I suggest going firm for stomach sleepers is because soft mattresses can allow the hips and torso to sink too far in, which can create an uncomfortable amount of curve on the spine. These models both have excellent pressure relief without exhibiting so much give that the sleeper feels like they’re collapsing into the mattress.
Support while sitting on the edge of the mattress
Read our full WinkBeds Mattress review here. And read our full Saatva Mattress review here.
For the Money/Value — Aviya Mattress
Showing the layers of the Aviya mattress
The Aviya Mattress is a direct to consumer model that cuts out middlemen, resulting in a competitively priced yet very comfortable mattress. Aviya actually features several layers of foam along with pocketed coils and extra edge support, a combination of materials you might also find in much more expensive mattress models. It also performs exceptionally well at reducing motion transfer, which can be an important factor if you’re a restless sleeper and/or sleep with a partner.
Read our full Aviya Mattress review here.
Luxury — Beautyrest Mattress
Beautyrest Black Desiree mattress layers (top to bottom) – 2.25″ memory foam, 1″ gel memory foam, 0.5″ memory foam, 9.75″ pocketed coils
The Beautyrest Mattress is made by Simmons, one of the most well-known names in the mattress industry. And the Beautyrest certainly appeals to the luxury consumer with benefits of both innerspring and foam mattresses elegantly combined. It’s 13.5” tall and is built from pocketed coils and several layers of memory and gel memory foam. The Beautyrest also has a significant amount of ege support foam, helping ensure the sleeper gets the most out of the full surface of the mattress. The mattress’ cover is aesthetically pleasing and conveys a luxurious look.
Read our full Beautyrest Mattress review here.
Benefits of Innerspring Mattresses
Unlike foam mattresses, innerspring uses a dense layer of metal spring coils in varying gauges and density to provide even support and pressure relief. Many innerspring mattresses use an encasement foam on the top and sides of the mattress to protect the coils and provide an added comfort layer on the top.
Saatva mattress layers (top to bottom) – Euro-style pillow top, 0.5″ coil encasement foam, 4″ foam encasement coils, 7″ high-profile coils, 0.5″ coil encasement foam, & 5″ of edge support foam
Generally, the thicker the gauge of metal used, the firmer the mattress will feel. A higher number gauge means the spring is thinner, while a lower number gauge produces a denser, thicker spring.
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 other factors to consider? Check out our Mattress Buyer’s Guide for a complete rundown of how to buy a mattress.
So, what are the benefits of an innerspring mattress?
- Wide Variety – Since innerspring was the most popular mattress for many decades (and continues to be the most popular), manufacturers really mastered how to deliver a variety of different feels, firmnesses, and support levels while using the same coil-based construction.
- Wide Budget Range – You can easily find an innerspring mattress for $200 or $2000. Be wary of extremely inexpensive mattresses. 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.
- Excellent Bounce – It comes as no surprise that innerspring mattresses are widely loved for their bounce. The coil support base provides a fast response time and a little fun for more amorous activities.
- 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.
- Great 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.
Types of Coils & Springs
When searching for the best innerspring mattress, 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.
Bonnell Coils
This coil was the first type of coil in traditional innersprings. Its familiar hourglass shape compresses or expands based on the amount of pressure applied. Each individual coil is laid out in rows across the mattress, and all the rows are then weaved together using a helical lacing technique that uses a ling spiral wire to connect all the coils. This helps the coils react together as a complete assembly.
Bonnell coils
Most inexpensive spring mattresses will use this type of coil because they are relatively inexpensive to create, but that’s not to say that there can’t be a high-quality mattress with Bonnell coils. Again, 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.
Pocketed Coils
Pocketed coils, or pocket coils, are individually wrapped in a thin fabric. These fabric pockets are then joined together (wire-free) to unify the assembly. Unlike Bonnell coils, pocket coils perform independently of each other, which provides a bit more hug / contour and a little less motion transfer. A mattress with pocketed coils is typically going to be more expensive than Bonnell coils since they are costlier to manufacture.
Pocketed coils
Offset Coils
Offset coils are very similar to Bonnell coils, but instead of the rounded top, these coils have one straight side, resulting in a “D” shape. This shape allows for the coils to have better hinging action when laced together and less gap between coils.
Offset coils
Continuous Coils
Continuous coil mattresses are created using a single piece of wire that coils and turns into itself to form the individual coils. Since it uses only one piece of wire, the drawback to this type of mattress is motion transfer. This method is typically inexpensive to produce and may use low-quality materials.
Continuous coils
Hybrids
Like the idea of a foam mattress but not ready to give up your innerspring? Hybrid mattresses can be great compromises, as they have the supportive innerspring base with a foam top layer (thicker than what you will find in the encasement foam alone). This top layer of foam may be a memory foam, poly foam, or latex foam, but generally it is added to provide extra comfort and body contouring.
Read: Our favorite hybrid mattress models
The springs themselves may be any of the assemblies listed above, but pocketed coils are most common in hybrid mattresses due to the higher quality. Hybrids may also make less noise thanks to the “pockets” around the coils as well as the foam top.
Hybrid – coils and foam
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 on 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.
Typically, pocketed coils are going to be a smaller coil that 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 is 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.
Should I Buy an Innerspring Mattress?
Despite the surge of foam-based mattresses, there is still a large selection of innerspring mattresses on the market right now. The best innerspring mattresses are durable, supportive, and well equipped to last you many years.
I would recommend an innerspring mattress to sleepers who:
- Want a more 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 most people are used to.
- Want great bounce – 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.
- Want a cool mattress – An innerspring is also going to sleep much cooler than most foam-based mattresses, especially those made of memory foam. This coolness comes from the added airflow between the coils and limited material layers that can retain heat.
Best Innerspring Mattresses
There can be some really nice benefits of an innerspring mattress and for some sleepers who don’t like the feel of foam, it can be the right choice. When selecting the best innerspring mattress for you, be sure to consider type of coil, coil gauge, coil count, and the mattress encasement.
| Mattress | Best For | Mattress Brand | Description | Price (Queen) | Coupon | Review |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WinkBeds | Side Sleepers |  | The construction uses a coil on coil support system that provides a good bounce to the mattress. The WinkBed comes in three different firmness levels as well as a plus version for heavier individuals. | $1,299 | See Current Offer | Read My Review! |
| Big Fig | Heavy Sleepers |  | Uses gel infusion in cover to promote cooling as well as high density foams to avoid sagging of the mattress over time. The support layer of the mattress consists of pocketed coils and there is a layer of edge support foam surrounding the coils to strengthen the side of the mattress. | $1,499 | See Current Offer | Read My Review! |
| Saatva | Back Pain |  | Coil on coil design creates a bouncy and supportive mattress. The Saatva also includes a euro-style pillowtop for pressure relief, and a high density poly foam edge support layer, which strengthens the side of the mattress allowing you to sleep all the way to the edge of the bed without worrying about collapsing the side. | $999 | No Current Offers | Read My Review! |
| WinkBeds Firm | Stomach Sleepers | | The construction uses a coil on coil support system that provides a good bounce to the mattress. The WinkBed comes in three different firmness levels as well as a plus version for heavier individuals. | $1,299 | See Current Offer | Read My Review! |
| Saatva | Stomach Sleepers | | Coil on coil design creates a bouncy and supportive mattress. The Saatva also includes a euro-style pillowtop for pressure relief, and a high density poly foam edge support layer, which strengthens the side of the mattress allowing you to sleep all the way to the edge of the bed without worrying about collapsing the side. | $999 | No Current Offers | Read My Review! |
| Aviya | For The Money/Value |  | The Aviya mattress is offered in three firmness levels: Plush, Luxury Firm, and Firm. The construction of the mattress provides solid bounce while still doing a good job of isolating motion. | $999 | See Current Offer | Read My Review! |
| Beautyrest | Luxury |  | The Beautyrest Black is constructed of a combination of memory foam and coil layers. The mattress has a medium firmness, providing a good mix of pressure relief and support, with some bounce as well. | $2,099 | No Current Offers | Read My Review! |
Logan Block
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