Finding the best mattress for couples is not easy, particularly if one of you is much heavier than the other.
The main issue is firmness, because lighter people need softer mattresses than heavier people.
One option is to find a couples’ mattress which is a compromise which will be OK for both of you. The other option is to find a couples’ mattress which has different levels of firmness on either side.
A moving issue for those looking for the best mattress for couples
Another issue is movement isolation or motion isolation, which is how much you’ll feel each other move in the night. Ideally, get a king size or super king size mattress if that is an issue for you. Some people also find that memory foam does a good job of disguising movement as it’s not as bouncy as a sprung mattress.
Here’s our pick of five of the best mattresses for couples which you can buy in the UK. Prices are for double mattresses or king size if that’s the smallest size available. Prices and review scores are correct at the time of writing.
1. Nectar Sleep Memory Foam Bed In A Box Mattress – medium/firm – £480
One option when you’re looking for the best mattress for couples is to plump for one which is somewhere in the middle when it comes to firmness.
There are plenty of medium tension and medium-firm mattresses to choose from. However, Nectar Sleep’s Memory Foam bed in a box is worth considering for a couple of reasons.
Firstly, it comes with a colossal home trial period. You can try it out for a whole year and return it for a refund if it doesn’t feel right for you. That’ll give you a much better idea if the mattress is comfortable for both of you than a few tense minutes in a showroom. Unwanted mattresses are donated to charity.
Secondly, it has a ‘forever’ warranty which is something we’ve not seen elsewhere (apart from the DreamCloud mattress which has the same owners). Check the small print for the warranty and trial period, of course.
Minimal movement is important if you want the best mattress for couples
It’s made with a generous layer of memory foam, whereas some foam mattresses are made with a cheaper layer of foam underneath and a very thin layer of memory foam on top.
It also claims to ‘Minimize Motion Transfer’ so that you can ‘Move around freely without waking your partner or spilling your wine’.
Regarding reviews, the Nectar Sleep scores 4.3/5 overall from 12000+ reviews. It’s also won some awards from Good Housekeeping, Ideal Home and others.
One other thing worth mentioning is that memory foam isn’t for everyone. Some people don’t like the slight sinking feeling whilst other people find that it makes them feel too warm. This one is designed to offer ‘Nonstop Air Flow’. Of course, you’ve got the option of a refund if you don’t like it.
Pros: option to return if you don’t like it, industry leading warranty length, positive reviews and several awards
Cons: single sided, relatively new brand, single sided, same firmness on both sides.
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Similar mattresses from Nectar Sleep which you might prefer
When we first wrote this masterpiece, Nectar Sleep was a one-mattress-wonder. They were one of several brands shaking up the industry with their long trial periods and generous warranties.
After the success of the Nectar Sleep Mattress (now rebranded as the Nectar Memory Foam Mattress), the company has gradually released four more mattresses. Each of them comes with the same 365 night trial period and ‘forever’ warranty. We are still fans of the original Nectar mattress, but it’s worth giving a mention to the newer models.
The cheapest Nectar mattress is called the Nectar Essential Hybrid Mattress. It uses slightly different technology and is a little thinner but it will do the job for a lot of people. The hybrid bit in the title means that it uses springs as well as foam. The springs are pocket springs, which is a good thing as ‘open coil’ or ‘traditional’ springs are much cheaper and less supportive. The spring count – at around 750 – is a little on the low side, but a compromise had to be made somewhere. It also has a slightly thinner layer of memory foam, which is another area where a bit of money has been saved on the manufacturing process.
If you want an upgrade from the Nectar Sleep Memory Foam mattress (i.e. the standard and ‘original’ model) then you have a few choices.
The 100% foam upgrade is the Nectar Premier Mattress. It adds an extra bit of depth, which includes a thicker layer of memory foam. They’ve also tinkered with the bottom layer, so that it works slightly differently. The idea is that it is more in tune with your curves, lumps and bumps.
Alternatively, you might want one of Nectar’s two hybrid mattresses which are an upgrade – at least in terms of price. The Nectar Hybrid Mattress is one step up and includes a layer of small springs.
The Nectar Premier Hybrid Mattress is the top of the range model, as it adds mini and full size springs to the design.
One key thing to mention is that you get the same trial period and warranty with each mattress in the Nectar Sleep range. So, if you go for one of the cheaper models and don’t like it then you could return it and buy an upgraded model.
2. Flaxby Nature’s Creation 4450 Split Tension Mattress – one side medium, one side soft – £1499
If you are much heavier or lighter than your bed-sharer then you might like to look at split tension mattresses. These are also called dual-tension mattresses.
This All Seasons model from Flaxby requires deep pockets but it’s made by Harrison Spinks. They are a posh UK mattress maker which have won multiple awards and which makes beds for John Lewis & Partners.
The idea is that it is medium tension on one side of the mattress and soft on the other side. You can only buy choose this option if you get the king size or super king size model.
High quality springs make a good mattress for couples
Flaxby use pocket springs in their mattresses, which is what most of us are used to sleeping on. If you’re a traditionalist who doesn’t want to try out memory foam then I would stick with pocket springs.
Apologies if this sounds a bit jargon-heavy but it’s worth pointing out that cheap sprung mattresses are made from ‘open coil’ springs. They wobble around like jelly whilst better quality sprung mattresses use pocket springs.
At the risk of adding to the jargon, I’ll also point out that it has a couple of other nice features which you tend to get on posh mattresses. One is called ‘hand side stitching’ which gives it strength when you’re sat on the edge of the bed pulling up your socks. The other is that it has a ‘hand tufted’ top which means that it should hold its shape nicely.
The downsides with this couples’ mattress
Finally, let’s mention a couple of less good things about this mattress.
It is only single sided, whereas a lot of posh mattresses are double sided to help them last longer. You can still rotate it round, of course, which should help it last for a long time. The warranty is also a little bit underwhelming at five years, although that’s not terrible.
If you want a similar mattress which is firm on one side and medium tension on the other, you’ll need the Flaxby 8150 model. It’s slightly more expensive but it is double sided.
Pros: choice of two firmness levels on each side, award winning manufacturer, traditionally made pocket spring materials
Cons: single sided, expensive, not available with split tension in double size
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3. Dormeo S Plus Memory Foam Split Tension Mattress – one side softer, one side firmer – £638
If you like the idea of a split tension mattress for a couple, but don’t want to spend quite so much then I would look at the Dormeo S Plus memory foam mattress.
It’s a rather clever design which set my heart racing when I first saw it. Each side of the mattress has a firmer and a softer side so you can try both until you’re both comfortable.
It uses memory foam, which some people can find a little warm. However, memory foam tends to offer a good level of consistent support. Dormeo claim this design is more breathable than most.
Besides the neat design, it comes with a 60 night comfort trial and a generous 15 year warranty. Both of these have Terms and Conditions which will need your attention before you make a purchase.
Pros: clever design with multiple combinations to try, longer warranty than most, comfort trial, respected and highly rated brand
Cons: relatively expensive, not as deep as most mattresses of this price
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4. Sleepeezee Jessica 1800 Pocket Gel Mattress – soft/medium – £716
A zip link mattress may be the answer if your biggest issue about sharing a bed is that you can feel your other half move the whole time.
The idea is that you have your own mattress but that they are joined with a zip down the middle. They are usually the same tension of mattress.
There are several zip and link mattresses on the market. The Sleepeezee Jessica 1800 is worth a mention as it’s won a Best Buy away from expert testers and it scores really well with customers (4.5/5 on Mattress Online). It’s available as a super king size, so you will need a large bedroom to accommodate it.
The mattress is medium firmness and it has three layers before you get to the 1800 pocket springs, including memory foam, ‘staycool gel’ and ‘white fibre’.
The memory foam layer aims to offer a nice bit of consistent support. Some people find memory foam a bit warm, but the idea is that the ‘staycool gel’ will counteract this. It’s another synthetic material but there doesn’t seem to be many reviews complaining of overheating (natural materials are generally better at regulating heat than synthetic materials).
If you’re after a firmer zip link mattress then I would look at the Sealy Posturepedic Backcare Mattress (£374).
Does a topper make a couples’ mattress more comfortable?
The use of a topper on a mattress was explored within laboratory conditions by academics in China. They looked for the ideal ‘combination of thickness and hardness’ for people sleeping in the supine position. That means sleeping on your back.
They reached the conclusion that ‘A thin mattress topper (30 mm) caused significantly lower body pressure and temperature distribution’ and that it should be combined with a ‘soft topper’.
This mattress uses two layers of 30mm and is medium firmness, so it is not far off that suggestion. The research was by Yu-Chi, Chih-Yun et al in 2020.
Three more good points – and a downside
Sleepeezee as a brand is excellent, in my opinion. They have been going for a long time and have held Royal Warrants.
Its TrustPilot brand rating is currently 4.3/5. This is excellent for a ‘traditional’ mattress brand. You will find higher scores amongst the newer bed in a box brands but Sleepeezee beats several similar brands.
You get a 60 night comfort trial with this mattress. That’s not as long or as flexible as some mattresses with trial periods but it does offer some extra peace of mind if you spend £1000 and then don’t like it. Read the rules of the trial period, as it’s not a simple case of sending it back for a refund.
Another very positive point is the 10 year warranty. I would expect a warranty of closer to 7 years on a mattress of this price and specification. Trendy modern brands which specialise in foam mattresses will dazzle you with 10 year, 15 year or ‘forever’ warranties. Traditional pocket spring brands tend to offer slightly shorter warranties but point out that they have been trading longer than their warranties are valid. That isn’t always the case with modern mattress brands.
A downside worth pointing is that this is a one sided mattress so you can’t flip it over to help keep it in tip top condition. In some cases this is a sign that a mattress company is scrimping on materials. That’s not really the case here. The reason is that the design uses layers of foam for comfort and support which sit on top of the springs. It would become a very deep mattress if you put the foam layer on both sides.
Pros: big name brand, zip and link is good at masking movement, Best Buy award winner, 10 year warranty
Cons: same firmness on left and right sides, can’t be flipped over
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