Updated for 2026 · Independent advice — nobody pays for a place in this guide.
It is the most-asked mattress question in the UK, and the hardest to get a straight answer to — because almost everyone answering it sells one of the two. Memory foam brands will tell you springs are outdated technology. Traditional bed makers will tell you foam is a sweaty fad. Both are selling you something.
This guide has no mattress to sell you. We compare the two types on feel, support, temperature, motion isolation, durability and price — and give a verdict by sleeper type, not a fake overall winner.
A note on scope: this is about comfort and practical differences, not medical advice. If you have a back condition, talk to your GP or physiotherapist — no mattress article replaces that.
Memory foam (viscoelastic polyurethane foam) is a dense foam that softens with body heat and moulds around you, then slowly returns to shape when you move. Most UK memory foam mattresses are all-foam constructions: a comfort layer of memory foam over a firmer support foam base. Higher-end versions add cooling gels, copper infusions or open-cell structures — all attempts to solve foam's biggest weakness, which we will get to.
The defining sensation: you sleep in a memory foam mattress, nestled into a body-shaped dip, rather than on it. Some people find this deeply comfortable; others feel stuck, especially when changing position at night.
A pocket sprung mattress contains hundreds or thousands of individual steel springs, each sewn into its own fabric pocket. Because the springs move independently, the mattress responds to pressure point by point — your heavier hip sinks without dragging your lighter shoulder down with it.
Pocket sprung is the traditional British mattress, and quality varies enormously: a 2000-spring mattress with natural fillings (wool, cashmere, horsehair) is a different product entirely from a 600-spring budget model with polyester fillings. Spring count matters, but fillings matter more — a point budget retailers hope you won't notice.
The defining sensation: you sleep on a pocket sprung mattress, with a gentle responsiveness and bounce when you move. It feels like what most people picture when they picture "a mattress".
| Memory foam | Pocket sprung | |
|---|---|---|
| Feel | Contouring, "hugged"; slow response | Supportive, responsive; gentle bounce |
| Pressure relief | Excellent — foam distributes weight evenly | Good — depends on spring count and fillings |
| Motion isolation | Excellent — partner movement barely registers | Good — independent springs help, but some transfer |
| Temperature | Sleeps warm — dense foam traps heat | Breathable — air circulates between springs |
| Edge support | Often weak — edges compress when sat on | Usually stronger, especially with reinforced perimeters |
| Durability | 7–10 years; can develop body impressions | 8–12 years; springs rarely fail, fillings compress |
| Weight | Heavy — dense foam is hard to move/rotate | Heavy too, but more manageable |
| Typical price (double) | £150–£600 | £200–£1,000+ |
| Off-gassing smell | Common when new — usually fades in days | Minimal |
This is the most subjective — and most important — difference. Memory foam's contouring feels wonderful if you like being cradled, and claustrophobic if you like to move freely. Combination sleepers (people who change position) often dislike foam because each move means climbing out of one dip and sinking into another. Pocket springs respond instantly, which restless sleepers tend to prefer.
Honest advice: if you have only ever slept on springs, memory foam will feel strange for the first week regardless of quality. Most foam brands offer 100-night trials for exactly this reason — use them. A mattress you need three weeks to decide about is a mattress you should be allowed three weeks to decide about.
Memory foam sleeps warmer than springs. This is physics, not opinion: dense foam insulates, and the contouring that makes foam comfortable also means more of your body is in contact with the mattress, with less airflow. "Cooling gel" and open-cell foams help at the margins, but no memory foam mattress breathes like a sprung one.
If you are a hot sleeper — you kick the duvet off, you wake up warm — this alone may decide it: pocket sprung. If you sleep cold or neutral, foam's warmth is a non-issue and some people actively like it in winter.
The reverse is equally clear-cut. If your partner tosses, turns, or gets up at 5am, memory foam absorbs it almost completely. Pocket springs are good — far better than old-fashioned open-coil mattresses — but some movement still travels. Light sleepers sharing a bed should weight this heavily; it affects every single night, unlike temperature, which varies by season.
Memory foam's enemy is body impressions — permanent dips where you sleep. Quality foam (density 50kg/m³+) resists this for years; cheap foam (under 40kg/m³) can dip within two. Always check foam density in the specs; if the retailer won't state it, that tells you everything.
Pocket springs rarely fail structurally. What wears is the fillings above them — they compress, and the mattress needs turning (or rotating, for no-turn models). A well-made pocket sprung mattress with natural fillings often outlasts foam by a couple of years, which matters when you divide price by lifespan.
At the budget end (£150–£300), memory foam usually gives you more for the money — a decent all-foam double at £200 is genuinely comfortable, while a £200 pocket sprung mattress is cutting corners on spring count and fillings. Above £500, the tables turn: premium pocket sprung mattresses with natural fillings are superb, while expensive memory foam is often paying for branding and marginal cooling tech.
The sweet spot for most buyers: £250–£450, where both types offer genuinely good options and the choice comes down to feel preference rather than quality compromise.
Hybrid mattresses (pocket springs + memory foam comfort layers) genuinely combine strengths: the bounce and breathability of springs with the contouring of foam. They are also, honestly, a way for brands to charge premium prices. A good hybrid at £400–£600 is an excellent mattress; a bad hybrid is the worst of both worlds with a luxury price tag. Judge them by the same specs — spring count, foam density — not the marketing.
Amazon's range lets you filter by size, firmness and price — and the verified reviews are genuinely useful for spotting heat complaints (foam) or sagging reports (springs). Check foam density and spring count in the product specs before buying, and use the trial period: sleep on it for at least three weeks before deciding.
For our tested shortlist across all mattress types, see 9 best mattresses in the UK (2026).
No mattress type is inherently good or bad for backs — what matters is support and spinal alignment for your sleeping position. Both types can support well or badly depending on quality and firmness. If you have a back condition, speak to a GP or physiotherapist rather than relying on marketing claims.
Most have a slight chemical smell when first unpacked (off-gassing). It usually fades within a few days in a ventilated room. If it persists beyond two weeks, contact the retailer.
Typically 8–12 years depending on spring count, filling quality and body weight. Rotate (or turn, if double-sided) every 3–6 months to even out wear. A visible dip or waking with aches are the signs it is done.
Yes, provided the slats are no more than 7–8 cm apart — wider gaps let foam sag through over time. This applies to both foam and pocket sprung mattresses, and it is worth checking before blaming the mattress for dipping.
Memory foam, for motion isolation — unless one of you sleeps very hot, in which case pocket sprung's breathability may matter more. Couples who disagree should look at hybrids or simply prioritise the lighter sleeper's needs.
Ready to choose? Browse our 9 best mattresses in the UK (2026) — nine tested picks across foam, sprung and hybrid at every budget.