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6 best memory foam mattresses online - 2020 and 2021
Memory foam mattresses are a good choice if you want consistent all-over support. Various guides I've read say that they generally keep their shape for longer than pocket sprung mattresses and they are much better for people with allergies to dust mites.
They're also good because you can use them on a divan or a bedframe/bedstead (as long as you aren't using a flimsy old thing which can't take the weight or a bedframe with massive gaps between the slats).
On the downside, some people don’t like the odd sinking feeling of memory foam. Others find they get a bit hot on a memory foam mattress, although companies have attempted to improve that by putting the memory foam as a middle layer, with a cooler material on top. Other companies keep the memory foam on top but use magical techniques to make it more 'breathable' than older memory foam.
We’ve picked out 6 of the best memory foam mattresses on the UK market in 2020 and 2021, based on customer reviews, awards and value for money. Prices are for double mattresses and are correct at the time of writing.
They're also good because you can use them on a divan or a bedframe/bedstead (as long as you aren't using a flimsy old thing which can't take the weight or a bedframe with massive gaps between the slats).
On the downside, some people don’t like the odd sinking feeling of memory foam. Others find they get a bit hot on a memory foam mattress, although companies have attempted to improve that by putting the memory foam as a middle layer, with a cooler material on top. Other companies keep the memory foam on top but use magical techniques to make it more 'breathable' than older memory foam.
We’ve picked out 6 of the best memory foam mattresses on the UK market in 2020 and 2021, based on customer reviews, awards and value for money. Prices are for double mattresses and are correct at the time of writing.
1. NEctar Sleep Memory Foam Mattress (Medium/firm - £549)
**Nectar January Sale: £125 off any size mattress + 2 free pillows + free delivery**
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Nectar Sleep is one of the newer 'bed in a box' memory foam mattresses on the market but it offers a longer warranty and home trial than any other memory foam mattress we've found. In fact, the warranty lasts 'forever' and you can try it out at home for a whole year (check the FAQ for terms and conditions). Most similar mattresses offer a 10 year warranty and a 100 night trial.
Reviews averaged 4.3/5 on TrustPilot when we checked and it has been given a thumbs up by several expert websites, including Good Housekeeping and Ideal Homes. It cunningly puts a 'cooling layer' on top of the memory foam layer in an effort to stop you feeling hot. It's also manufactured in a carbon neutral way and they'll take away your old mattress for a fee (lots of 'bed in a box' companies don't offer this so you have to persuade the council to do it or stick it on your roof rack). It's 25cm deep, which is similar to the Emma Mattress. You'll find that cheap mattresses are thin, so don't offer quite as much support particularly if you're on the heavy side. The Nectar Sleep has a weight limit of 46 stone, which is much higher than most mattresses on the market in the UK. |
The Nectar Sleep mattress comes with a 365 day trial and a 'forever' guarantee
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2. Ergoflex 5G Memory Foam Mattress (medium/firm - £749)
**Ergoflex discount code: up to 40% off with code SAVE40**
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The Ergoflex memory foam mattress is another 'bed in a box' which comes with a 'risk-free' trial period, although it's a 30 day trial rather than the 200 days you get with the Emma Mattress or the 365 days you get with Nectar Sleep.
We've included it because of its outstanding TrustPilot reviews which were averaging 4.7/5 when we checked. That makes it the the second highest scoring mattress brand at the time of writing (posh latex mattress brand Dunlopillo was number one. See the full list here as it doesn't include every brand). The Ergoflex 5G has got a generous 9cm layer of memory foam on top, whilst some budget memory foam mattresses only have 2cm or 3cm (see the Silentnight 3 Zone further down this list). Independent experts gave it rave reviews and it comes with a 10 year guarantee. Much like most of the other memory foam mattresses on this list it comes in a box and then magically expands on arrival. It’s 23cm deep, so slightly thinner than the Nectar Sleep but I wouldn't say that's a major thing. |
Ergoflex is the joint highest rated mattress brand on TrustPilot (when we checked, anyway)
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3. Emma Mattress (Medium firmness - £549)
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Customers and experts fall over themselves to say nice things about The Emma Mattress (also known as Emma Original, in case you're getting confused).
As with several others on this list, you get a generous guarantee (10 years) and several months to try it out at home before deciding if you want to keep it (200 days). It's been given approval by experts including Ideal Home and Good Housekeeping. Customer reviews were averaging 4.5/5 on Amazon when I checked whilst the brand as a whole scored 4.6/5 on TrustPilot, which is decent but not quite as high as Ergoflex (4.7/5). If you've not lost interest already in this guide, I'll point out that this mattress sandwiches memory foam in between two other types of foam. The top layer is a breathable foam with the odd name of Airgocell. The idea is that you won't get as hot in bed and you don't get as much of a sinking feeling as you usually get with a memory foam mattress. The Casper mattress has a similar design. Read our full Emma Mattress guide (if you've got nothing better to do) |
The Emma Mattress comes with a trial period which lasts for several months
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4. Studio by Silentnight (medium - £599)
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Studio by Silentnight is worth a look because it's made by the biggest name in the UK mattress market.
It's a medium firmness memory foam mattress which has been given a glowing report by independent expert testers. Customer reviews were 9/10 on Mattress Online when I checked. It's worth noting that it comes with a 60 night 'comfort trial' during which time you can swap it for a different firmness, whereas some others on this list come with a 'risk free' 100/200/365 night trial, so you can send it back for a refund (e.g. Emma, Nectar). The memory foam layer is towards the middle of the mattress, which aims to stop you feeling too hot (that's a common complaint about memory foam). Most sizes arrive squashed up so they can be carried upstairs, although the larger versions come flat. It's 26cm thick, which is a sign of good quality (most high quality mattresses are 25cm or more). |
Silentnight is the UK's biggest mattress company
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5. Silentnight 3 Zone Memory Foam Mattress (medium firmness - £199)
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The Silentnight 3 Zone mattress is a decent budget memory foam mattress which gets good customer reviews on Amazon (4.3 out of 5) and on Mattress Online (8.4/10) and which is made by the biggest name in the UK mattress market.
It’s a little bit thinner than the more expensive memory foam mattresses on this list (18cm deep) but it should do the job as long as you haven’t been eating too many pies. The top layer of memory foam is only 3cm deep, which is where the main cost cutting has been made. The ‘3 Zone’ name means that it is firmer towards the middle where your bottom rests and softer for your head and your feet. That’s a good thing, apparently. There’s also a slightly more expensive 7 Zone version which is 2cm thicker for an extra £50ish. I've seen them both in Black Friday sales at a bargain price. |
This is one of Silentnight's cheapest mattresses, but it gets good reviews
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6. Tempur Original/Cloud/Hybrid/Sensation Memory Foam Mattress (Soft/medium/firm - £2399)
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Tempur mattresses cost three times as much as most, but they’re the original and (according to some people) the best.
The company took NASA technology and developed it into the first memory foam mattress. Other companies have been trying to catch up since. Tempur sell four different mattresses which are available in different thicknesses, depending in your budget:
In each category you can pick a 'supreme' (cheapest) 'elite' (mid-priced) or 'luxe' (most expensive). The main difference is the thickness of the mattress - heavier people will benefit from the thicker options. We’ve picked this 'elite' 25cm deep one which gets strong customer reviews, but there is also a 21cm version which is cheaper and a 30cm version which is more expensive. Tempur also offer a 100 night trial, so you can send it back if you don’t think it’s worth the money (check the Ts & Cs). Tempur were scoring 3.7/5 on TrustPilot when we checked in January 2021. Tempur reviews on Dreams were mostly 4.5/5 or higher. Read our full Tempur guide. |
Tempur mattresses aren't cheap but they are the original memory foam mattress brand
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