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    • By firmness >
      • 5 best soft mattresses 2020 and 2021
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      • 5 best firm mattresses 2020 and 2021
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      • 5 best mattresses for back sleepers 2020 and 2021
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      • 6 of the best emperor mattresses, beds, bedsteads and divans 2020 and 2021
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      • 5 of the best single beds and single mattresses 2020 and 2021
      • 6 best single memory foam mattresses 2020 and 2021
      • 5 of the best small double mattresses 2020 and 2021
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      • 5 of the best double beds 2020 and 2021
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  • Retailers
    • 10 best places to buy cheap mattresses and divan beds under £500, £200 or £100
    • 10 of the best mattress retailers online 2020 and 2021
    • Buying a John Lewis & Partners mattress - 5 top tips for 2020 and 2021
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The Best Mattresses Guide

Simple advice on the UK’s best mattresses and beds

This site uses cookies - see our privacy policy. Ads & links in bold may give us a small payment from the seller, at no cost to the buyer. However, this never affects our views - if we like it, we recommend it.

5 of the best small double mattresses 2020 and 2021

A small double mattress is one which is 120cm wide and 190cm long. You'll also see a small double mattress referred to as a 4ft mattress or as a queen size mattress in the UK (rather confusingly, a queen size bed is much larger in the USA and is similar to a UK king size mattress).

Small double mattresses tend to be popular with single sleepers who don't want to feel like they're sleeping in a child's bed or a couple who are pushed for space. You generally don't save a lot of money by getting a small double mattress instead of a double (in fact, they're often the same price).

There's a huge choice of small double mattresses on the UK market. We've picked out five which are worth considering after looking at factors including warranty length, specification, value for money, customer reviews and ratings, industry awards and the reputation of the brand. 

We've tried to choose a good range of prices including some cheap small double mattresses and some more luxurious small double mattresses. Some come with home trial periods.

Prices are correct at the time of typing.

1. Nectar Sleep Memory Foam Small double Mattress - £549 (medium/firm)

**Nectar January Sale: £125 off any size mattress + 2 free pillows + free delivery + 30% off bedding until 19/01/21**
I reckon that normal people only really think about mattresses about once every five or ten years when their previous mattress starts to poke them in the back or cause them problems.

If that's you then you might have missed the thrilling developments in the mattress world in recent years (Ed: er, really?). 

Let me fill you in. I promise I'll keep it brief.

There are now a dozen or more 'bed in a box' mattress brands which courier you a mattress which you try out at home. If you don't like it, you can send it back for a refund, much like ordering a new pair of trousers from M&S. The companies keep overheads low as they don't have shops and you get to try out a mattress for longer than five seconds in a showroom. 

The Nectar Sleep Memory Foam small double mattress is one such 'bed in a box'. It stands out from the competition and makes our list because:
  1. it's cheaper than some of its rivals
  2. it offers the longest trial period on the market at a whopping 365 nights, whilst rivals such as Emma (£499) offer 200 days (admittedly, that's still plenty of time to try out a mattress)
  3. it offers a 'forever' warranty whereas other popular bed in a box mattresses such as Simba Sleep (£799) and Eve Sleep (£629) offer a (still impressive) 10 year warranty 

The Nectar Sleep small double mattress has a decent layer of memory foam, whereas some cheap small double memory foam mattresses just use a very thin layer. It's won awards from the likes of Good Housekeeping, Ideal Homes and Expert Reviews and the brand overall scores 4.3/5 on TrustPilot.

The idea of memory foam is that you get a snug hugging feeling and consistent support. Several expert guides also recommend memory foam. For example, the UK charity Versus Arthritis, reckons that ‘many people find memory foam mattresses or toppers helpful’. Obviously that is referring to a specific condition but it's a useful bit of advice, particularly as they aren't trying to flog mattresses.

The main downsides with memory foam mattresses are that some people don't like the sinking feeling and other people find that it makes them feel a bit too warm in bed. A modern memory foam mattress like the Netar Sleep one attempts to overcome this with 'breathable memory foam'. Of course, if it's not for you then you've got the option of returning it - just like your M&S trousers. 
Nectar Sleep small double mattress
The Nectar Sleep is a small double mattress with an industry leading trial period...
Side view of Nectar Sleep small double mattress
...and a 'forever' warranty
Search latest deals on 
Nectar Sleep Small Double Mattress

2. Sleepeezee Memory Comfort 1000 Pocket Pillow Top small double Mattress - £419 (medium/firm tension)

Before I tell you why this Sleepeezee small double mattress is a good'n, it's worth understanding a little bit about mattress firmness ratings. I'll try not to bore you to sleep.

The general advice is that lighter people need softer mattresses than heavier people so they sink in just the right amount. Also, back sleepers need slightly firmer mattresses than side sleepers for the same reason. 

If you combine those two then you'll get an idea of what firmness is best for you (e.g. a heavy person who sleeps on their back will probably want a firm mattress). The slight complication is that mattress brands aren't consistent in what they mean by a 'firm' or 'soft' mattress as there's no industry wide agreed standard measurement. 

With all that waffle in mind, a mattress with a home trial period is very appealing. With Sleepeezee's small double mattresses you can't ask for a refund but you can swap it for another one if you find that it doesn't feel right (if you buy it via Mattress Online).


Besides the trial period, Sleepeezee also have several signs of quality without costing as much as most high quality mattress brands.

Sleepeezee has a Royal Warrant meaning it is used by a Royal Household. Meanwhile, customers give it a very high score of 4.4/5 on TrustPilot at the time of writing.

Several Sleepeezee small double mattresses have won awards from expert testers in recent years such as the 
Sleepeezee Hybrid 2000 Pocket Gel Mattress ​(£549) and the top of the range Sleepeezee Mayfair (£859).


We've picked out this cheaper option - the Sleepeezee Memory Comfort 1000 small double mattress. It's a pocket spring mattress (which is what most of us sleep on) but it also has a layer of memory foam on top for a bit of additional comfort. 

This model doesn't have the very high pocket spring count that you'll find in the poshest mattresses, but it's certainly enough for most people, unless you're particularly heavy. It's a good depth and it has outstanding customer reviews (more than 9/10 from about 400 reviews on Mattress Online). You can also buy small double divan beds from Sleepeezee.
Sleepeezee memory comfort small double mattress
This Sleepeezee small double mattress has hundreds of positive reviews...
Small double divan bed by Sleepeezee
...and the brand is used by a Royal Household
Search latest price on the
Sleepeezee 1000 Small Double Mattress

3. ​Happy Beds Majestic 1000 Pocket Sprung small double Mattress  - £195 (medium tension)

Broadly speaking, you get what you pay for with a mattress. A £1000 mattress will be made with better materials than a £100 mattress. However, that doesn't mean that all cheap mattresses are rubbish and unsupportive. You sometimes pay a lot for a brand's prestigious reputation and my view is that some mattresses are deliberately over-priced so that a heavy discount can be added later (shocking, I know).

This cheap small double mattress from Happy Beds offers a good specification for the very modest price tag. 

There are a few boring but important signs that it's been well made.

Firstly, it's got 1000 pocket springs. Very cheap and nasty small double mattresses use 'open coil' springs which wobble around and don't offer such good support. 1000 is a fairly low spring count, but it will be fine unless you're particularly heavy, in which case I would be looking for a number nearer to 2000 (such as this small double mattress). 

Secondly, it can be turned over. Some cheap mattresses put the good stuff on top and the cheap stuff at the bottom. If you flip this one over regularly, it should reduce the chance of it getting an indent of your body so quickly.

Thirdly, it has something called a tufted finish which means that it is held together with those buttons you see on top. That should make a mattress last longer.

It's also a good depth (25cm), it gets good reviews (4.6/5 on Happy Beds, 4.1/5 on Amazon and it comes with a 5 year guarantee. That's not sensational, but it's better than the year or two that some cheap small double mattresses offer.

On the downside, it doesn't have a trial period. There also aren't any fancy materials so there's no pretentious talk of 'sumptuous Hungarian Yak Feathers' in the description. But for an unfussy and traditionally made small double mattress, it should do the job.
Happy Beds small double pocket spring mattress
This small double mattress offers a lot for less than £200
Search latest price on Happy Beds
Majestic Small Double Mattress

4. The Emma small double mattress - £499 (medium firmness)

The Emma Mattress is another popular 'bed in a box' which is available as a small-double mattress. As I said earlier, the idea of a 'bed in a box' is that you can try it out at home and return it for a refund if you don't like it. 

Emma is worth a mention as it has a long trial period (200 nights), a long guarantee (10 years) and it's cheaper than many similar rival small double mattresses. 

Customer scores are also good, with an average of 4.6/5 on Google reviews, 4.5/5 on Amazon and 4.6/5 on TrustPilot (although that last one is for the brand as a whole).

Emma also claims to be 'the UK’s most-awarded mattress in 2019' with various experts giving their approval, including The Independent and Good Housekeeping. 

As with the Nectar Sleep mattress it is made from foam and doesn't use any springs at all. However one notable (but quite boring) difference is that the Emma Mattress sticks the memory foam layer under a different type of foam called Airgocell which it reckons is more breathable. The theory is that you get the support of memory foam without as much of a sinking feeling or an overheating problem.

You'll also see it labelled as the Emma Original small double mattress.
Emma small double mattress
This small double mattress from Emma offers several months to try it out
Search latest deals on the Emma
Small Double Mattress

 5. John Lewis & Partners Natural Collection 5900 Pocket Sprung small double Mattress -  MEDIUM OR FIRM - £999

**John Lewis & Partners Boxing Day Sale: up to 20% off mattresses**
As you might expect, John Lewis & Partners offer plenty of high quality small double mattresses, including this 5900 model.

​The posher end of their mattress range is called the ​John Lewis & Partners Natural Collection with prices ranging from about £600 - £2500 for a small double mattress.

They're made by Harrison Spinks, which is a Yorkshire based mattress manufacturer which was named as the National Bed Federation’s best manufacturer in 2015 and 2018. They've also got something called a Manufacturing Guild Mark which is only given out to a few mattress makers (just three companies last time I checked).

The 5900 model mattress is somewhere in the middle of the range but I reckon it's a good balance of specification and price. It's made with pocket springs and has also got a layer of smaller springs for a bit of extra comfort. 

It uses natural and breathable materials like cotton and wool (the top of the range ones use more expensive materials like cashmere and silk). If you have allergies to dust then you might find that a synthetic foam mattress is better than natural materials.

You can buy this small double mattress in medium or firm tensions. Unusually, John Lewis & Partners actually offers some guidance whereas most mattress brands just leave you to make an educated guess. They suggest that if you weigh 8-16 stone then you should go for the medium firmness version whilst the firm version is best for people who weigh 16+ stone. 

One downside is that you can't turn this one over, whereas you can turn over pricier ones like the Swaledale model.

It comes with a 7 year guarantee which is OK, but not as good as other posh brands like Vispring which offer up to 30 years on their small double mattresses.
John Lewis small double pocket spring mattress
A small double mattress from the John Lewis Natural Collection is made from high quality materials
Search latest price on John Lewis 
​5900 Small Double Pocket Spring Mattress

Related guides from the Best Mattresses Guide

Mattress with sheets and pillows

10 of the best mattress retailers

Where to start your search for good quality beds and mattresses in the UK​
Tufted pocket sprung mattress

10 of the best mattresses of 2020/2021

10 mattresses which have won awards and rave reviews 
Teddy bear on a quilted mattress

Best places to buy cheap mattresses

Where to shop for a mattress on a budget of £500, £200 or £100

Buying advice

Beginners' guide
​
Best retailers
Cheap retailers
Divan or bedstead?
​
How to choose a mattress
​John Lewis mattresses
​Memory foam or springs?

Best mattresses

Top 10 mattresses
Arthritis
Back sleepers​
Bed in a box
Best for bad backs
​Cheap mattresses
Cheap memory foam
​Emperor mattresses
​Best firm mattresses
Mattresses with free trials
​
Front sleepers
​Best for heavy people
​Hybrid mattresses
​Kids mattresses
Best latex mattresses
Medium firm mattresses
Top 5 memory foam
​Pillow top mattresses
Pocket sprung mattresses
​
Queen size mattresses
​Side sleepers
​Single mattresses
​
Single memory foam
​Small double mattresses
​Small single mattresses
Best soft mattresses
Wool mattresses
Zip link mattresses


Other guides

​Adjustable beds
Air beds
​Best bedding
Bedspreads
Blankets/throws
​Bunk beds
​Bunk bed with desk
Best carpets
Chair beds
​Cheap beds
Cot bed mattresses
​Day beds
Double beds
Double bunk beds
Double storage beds
Duvets
​Electric blankets
​Fitted sheets
Folding beds
Guest beds
Headboards
Mattress protectors
​Metal beds
Ottoman beds
Pillows
​Silk pillowcases
Silk pyjamas
​
Sleigh beds
​5 best sofa beds
Best toppers
Trundle beds
TV beds
Weighted blankets
White beds
​Wooden beds
​
​




Brands

Casper
Dormeo
Dunlopillo
Emma
Ergoflex
Eve
Hypnos
Nectar
OTTY
Sealy
Silentnight
Simba
Sleepeezee
Tempur
Vispring

About

Disclaimer
Privacy policy
​Advice for plagiarists
​
While we endeavour to keep the information on this website up to date and correct, we make no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, about the completeness, accuracy, reliability, suitability or availability with respect to the information, products, services, or related graphics contained on the website for any purpose - please see our disclaimer for more details. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. 
© COPYRIGHT 2021. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
  • Home
  • Mattress advice
    • How to choose a mattress
    • Best Mattresses beginners guide
    • Memory foam v pocket spring mattresses - which is best?
    • 6 tips for buying the best pocket spring mattress
    • 5 tips for buying the best memory foam mattress
    • The 5 questions you need to answer before buying a bed
    • Is an orthopedic mattress the best for a bad back?
  • Best mattresses
    • 10 of the best mattresses of 2020 and 2021
    • By type >
      • 6 best pocket sprung mattresses 2020 and 2021
      • 6 best memory foam mattresses 2020 and 2021
      • 5 best latex mattresses 2020 and 2021
      • 5 best pillow top mattresses 2020 and 2021
      • 5 best bed in a box 2020 and 2021
      • 5 best hybrid mattresses 2020 and 2021
    • By brand >
      • By brand - A to E >
        • Casper Mattress
        • 5 best Dormeo mattresses 2020 and 2021
        • Dunlopillo mattresses
        • Emma Mattress
        • Ergoflex Mattress
        • Eve Mattress
      • By brand - F to R >
        • Hypnos mattresses >
          • The Premier Inn Hypnos Mattress
          • 5 best Hypnos mattresses 2020 and 2021
        • Nectar Sleep Mattress
        • OTTY mattresses
      • By brand - S to Z >
        • 5 best Sealy mattresses 2020 and 2021
        • 5 best Silentnight mattresses 2020 and 2021
        • Simba Sleep mattresses >
          • Simba Hybrid Mattress
          • Simba Hybrid Pro Mattress
        • Sleepeezee mattresses
        • Tempur mattresses
        • 5 best Vispring mattresses 2020 and 2021
    • Specialist mattresses >
      • 10 best cot mattresses for baby's beds 2020 and 2021
      • 7 mattresses for heavy people 2020 and 2021
      • Best mattresses for back pain and bad backs 2020 and 2021
      • Best mattresses for arthritis 2020 and 2021
      • 5 best wool mattresses 2020 and 2021
      • 5 best kids mattresses 2020 and 2021
    • By firmness >
      • 5 best soft mattresses 2020 and 2021
      • 5 best medium firm mattresses 2020 and 2021
      • 5 best firm mattresses 2020 and 2021
      • 5 best orthopedic/orthopaedic mattresses 2020 and 2021
    • By sleeping position >
      • 5 best mattresses for side sleepers 2020 and 2021
      • 5 best mattresses for front/stomach sleepers 2020 and 2021
      • 5 best mattresses for back sleepers 2020 and 2021
    • By price >
      • 5 best cheap mattresses under £200 2020 and 2021
      • 5 best cheap beds 2020 and 2021
      • 6 of the best mattresses with a free trial 2020 and 2021
      • 5 cheap memory foam mattresses 2020 and 2021
    • By size >
      • 6 of the best emperor mattresses, beds, bedsteads and divans 2020 and 2021
      • 5 best zip link beds and mattresses 2020 and 2021
      • 5 of the best small single mattresses 2020 and 2021
      • 5 of the best single beds and single mattresses 2020 and 2021
      • 6 best single memory foam mattresses 2020 and 2021
      • 5 of the best small double mattresses 2020 and 2021
      • 5 of the best queen size beds and queen mattresses 2020 and 2021
      • 5 of the best double beds 2020 and 2021
  • Best Beds
    • Divan base or bedstead - which is best?
    • Day beds, sofa beds and guest beds >
      • 5 best sofa beds 2020 and 2021
      • 5 of the best air beds 2020 and 2021
      • 5 of the best day beds 2020 and 2021
      • 5 of the best guest beds 2020 and 2021
      • 5 of the best trundle beds 2020 and 2021
      • 5 best chair beds and single sofa beds 2020 and 2021
      • 5 of the best folding beds 2020 and 2021
    • Bunk beds >
      • 5 of the best bunk beds with desks 2020 and 2021
      • 6 of the best bunk beds 2020 and 2021
      • 5 of the best double bunk beds 2020 and 2021
    • Wooden, metal and fabric bedframes >
      • 5 of the best wooden beds 2020 and 2021
      • 5 of the best metal beds 2020 and 2021
      • 5 of the best sleigh beds 2020 and 2021
      • 5 of the best white beds 2020 and 2021
      • 5 of the best leather beds 2020 and 2021
    • Storage beds >
      • 6 of the best ottoman beds and storage beds 2020 and 2021
      • 5 best single beds with storage and single ottoman beds 2020 and 2021
      • 5 best double ottoman beds and double beds with storage 2020 and 2021
    • Specialist beds >
      • 6 best adjustable beds 2020 and 2021
      • 5 of the best TV beds 2020 and 2021
      • 5 of the best cheap headboards 2020 and 2021
  • Duvets, pillows & bedding
    • Duvets and blankets >
      • 5 of the best duvets for summer and winter 2020 and 2021
      • 5 of the best electric blankets and heated blankets 2020 and 2021
      • 5 of the best weighted blankets 2020 and 2021
      • 5 best bedspreads 2020 and 2021
      • 5 best blankets and throws 2020 and 2021
      • 5 best wool blankets and wool throws 2020 and 2021
    • Pillows and pillowcases >
      • 5 of the best pillows 2020 and 2021
      • 6 best silk pillowcases 2020 and 2021
    • Bedding, sheets and toppers >
      • 5 of the best bedding sets 2020 and 2021
      • 5 of the best fitted sheets 2020 and 2021
      • 5 of the best mattress protectors 2020 and 2021
      • Which are the best mattress toppers?
    • Other guides >
      • 5 best silk pyjamas 2020 and 2021
      • Which is the best type of carpet material?
  • Retailers
    • 10 best places to buy cheap mattresses and divan beds under £500, £200 or £100
    • 10 of the best mattress retailers online 2020 and 2021
    • Buying a John Lewis & Partners mattress - 5 top tips for 2020 and 2021
  • About
    • About
    • Disclaimer
    • Plagiarism advice
    • Press/PR
    • Privacy policy