We receive free products to review and participate in affiliate programs, where we are compensated for items purchased through links from our site. See our disclosure page for more information.
Our team of Certified Sleep Science Coaches have reviewed 600+ mattresses and accessories for over seven years using proprietary analysis and hands-on testing. We assess each bed for support, cooling, firmness, pressure relief, and more.
We’ll be discussing our top picks for the best innerspring mattresses that offer high-quality coil construction for breathability, durability, and support.
Many of us grew up sleeping on traditional innerspring mattresses and love the support, breathability, and durability that they can offer. But with so many options to choose from, it’s hard to determine the best innerspring mattress for one’s needs. To help people find the right innerspring mattress, we’ve put together a list with 10 of our favorite high-quality, supportive mattresses that stand out from others in the market.
Because most beds these days have foam in their construction, some of these beds are technically hybrids, as opposed to true innersprings. However, they all contain at least one layer of coils that provide most of the support, and you can be sure that they all have a traditional innerspring feel.
Our team of sleep specialists have reviewed more than 600 mattresses, using proprietary analysis and hands-on testing to establish easy-to-understand scores. In addition to an overall score, we measure subscores for support, edge support, cooling, motion transfer, durability, trial period, and warranty.
Sleepers love innerspring mattresses for their support and durability — two factors that contribute to a bed’s firmness and responsiveness. That’s why we mostly stuck to mattresses that scored high in both of these categories. Of the 10 beds on this list, nine received at least a 4/5 in both support and durability.
The WinkBed is a mattress that creates an excellent balance of comfort and support. Its construction is great for back pain and also delivers an innerspring feel.
We recommend this mattress for the following sleeper types:
Back Sleepers
This bed’s strong support is ideal for back sleepers because it helps keep the spine neutrally aligned.
Stomach Sleepers
This mattress is ideal for stomach sleepers as its firm support promotes spinal alignment.
Back Pain
This bed is a good match for anyone struggling with back pain, as it cushions the lumbar region and has enough support to keep the spine neutrally aligned.
Hot Sleepers
This bed features extra cooling technology, making it great for hot sleepers.
Side Sleepers
This bed offers pressure relief at both the shoulders and hips, making it a great fit for side sleepers.
Hip Pain
This bed should be comfortable for anyone struggling with hip pain since it contours the hips and keeps them supported.
Seniors
This bed is perfect for senior sleepers, as it provides them support and easy mobility.
Financing Options
Financing options are available for this mattress.
Our Expert’s Take on Why the WinkBed Original is Best Overall
The WinkBed is a mattress that features coil-on-coil construction and a soft pillow-top. This should give the mattress an innerspring feel, and with four different firmnesses available, people of all three sleeping positions should find something to love. But regardless of which model they opt for, they’ll enjoy the benefits of zoned support: A queen size WinkBed includes more than 1,000 individually wrapped coils made from high-grade recycled steel. The steel coils, designed to vary in thickness or “gauge,” provide targeted support on the lower back.
The bed’s gel memory foam layer, topped off by a quilted pillow top, creates a cushioning surface, all wrapped in a cover of moisture-wicking Tencel, a fiber derived from Eucalyptus. Our testers felt that the WinkBed’s unique construction and quality materials gave the WinkBed a dynamic feel that helps target back pain, in addition to making it one of the most comfortable mattresses on this list. The bed earned perfect scores in the lab for edge support, and an impressive 4/5 for cooling.
What We Love About the WinkBed
The WinkBed is versatile and suitable for all sleep positions, making the bed a terrific option to accommodate couples whose sleep styles aren’t necessarily in sync with each other: Back, stomach and side sleepers alike can get cozy on the WinkBed.
Sleepers with back pain can rest easy knowing they’re lying atop a bed with extra lumbar support, thanks to the zoned construction that provides the lower back a more robust, reinforced surface.
What to Keep in Mind About the WinkBed
Although heavyweight back sleepers may get adequate lumbar support on the WinkBed’s Luxury Firm model, sleepers who exceed 300 lb may be better off opting for the additional support of the WinkBed Plus.
The WinkBed has more middling motion isolation compared to some other innerspring mattresses, which can be a deal breaker for couples who sleep light.
What Customers Say
Buyers have left more than 8,500 reviews of the WinkBed on its website. With an overall ranking of 4.8/5 at publishing time, reviews cite relief of back pain, improved sleep and the bed’s overall quality build in positive comments. Some negative reviews bemoaned the bed’s lack of a “hug” feeling that is associated with memory foam beds.
The hybrid construction of the Helix Midnight has an excellent balance of comfort and support that should help back sleepers keep a neutral spinal alignment. Testers said the top foam layers — including a 2” gel memory foam layer — conform to your body and let your hips sink the right amount. Meanwhile, the coils hold up your body and provide an innerspring feel, helping the bed earn a 4/5 score from our testers for support, and a 4/5 score for its bounce and responsiveness
The Helix Midnight earns its reputation as one of the best hybrid mattresses in more ways than one: edge support, cooling and motion transfer also earned top marks. We would suggest if you’re a larger person that you consider the Helix Plus: The bed is extra-supportive and should be able to handle heavier weights. However, even so, we’ll note that our heaviest tester, at 6’7″ tall, only experienced about a 2.25″ drop (or about the diameter of an Oreo) when he sat on the bed’s edge, helping the bed earn a solid edge support score (4/5).
What We Love About the Helix Midnight
Although back sleepers tend to have the luxury of the most options when it comes to finding a bed that fits, Helix Midnight is exceptionally well suited to back sleepers with its supportive coils and plush but not-too-smushy surface that provides ample. pressure relief.
Helix will send customers who aren’t happy with their mattress firmness a complimentary mattress topper, an elegant solution that won’t void your sleep trial but keeps you from potentially having to return your mattress if the feel isn’t just right.
Put head-to-head against comparably cooling beds, Helix Midnight is a fantastic value for the build, often falling under $1,200 when sales events are live. And the bed truly does keep up with other cooling hybrids based on our heat gun test: After a tester rested on the bed, the temperature only rose about 3.4 degrees F, earning a 4/5 cooling score in the process.
What to Keep in Mind About the Helix Midnight
While Helix Midnight can accommodate most light and average-weight side sleepers, if you share your mattress with a stomach sleeping partner, you may need to consider a bed that offers more support.
Those who are sensitive to sounds should be aware that testers say the Helix Midnight is a little noisier than some other innerspring beds.
What Customers Say
Helix customers give the bed a 4.5/5 rating overall, leaving more than 6,500 reviews. One reviewer wrote that the Midnight worked as an excellent guest bed: “Bought it as a guest bed for a variety of sleepers. Everyone has stated that it was extremely comfortable,” wrote verified buyer Bonnie R. Negative reviewers found that the bed wasn’t to their preferred firmness.
The Saatva is an organic innerspring mattress that’s ideal for alleviating back pain. It comes in multiple firmness options to fit a variety of sleepers.
We recommend this mattress for the following sleeper types:
Back Sleepers
This bed’s strong support is ideal for back sleepers because it helps keep the spine neutrally aligned.
Stomach Sleepers
This mattress is ideal for stomach sleepers as its firm support promotes spinal alignment.
Back Pain
This bed is a good match for anyone struggling with back pain, as it cushions the lumbar region and has enough support to keep the spine neutrally aligned.
Hot Sleepers
This bed features extra cooling technology, making it great for hot sleepers.
Seniors
This bed is perfect for senior sleepers, as it provides them support and easy mobility.
Financing Options
Financing options are available for this mattress.
The Saatva is a comfortable and supportive innerspring mattress that features dual layers of coils and a dense foam to secure the perimeter, as well as a plush, Euro-style pillow-top. The coils offer a good amount of support, while the pillow-top provides some nice pressure relief. Because of the bed’s five-layer construction, along with the different firmness levels offered, the Saatva is a great match for all body types and sleeping positions.
Testers felt nice support on their backs and stomachs, helping the bed earn 4.5/5 in the mattress lab for support, and pressure-relieving comfort while side-sleeping. All in all, this balance of comfort and support makes it optimal for alleviating and preventing back pain. It provides an excellent amount of lumbar support as well, making it one of the best mattresses for lower back pain. Plus, unlike the other mattress-in-box brands in this list, Saatva provides concierge-like service, delivering a ready-to-sleep-in mattress to your door.
What We Love About the Saatva
Saatva can ease back pain in more ways than one, from the bed’s supportive dual-coil build that features firm zoned layers to support the lumbar, to its customer service: Saatva provides complimentary white glove service technicians to set up the mattress, so the 120 lb weight of a queen-sized bed won’t fall on your achy back.
Sleepers who tend to drift to the perimeter of their mattress will feel supported, as Saatva has some of the best-rated edge support among innerspring mattresses.
Saatva’s 365-night sleep trial and lifetime warranty place the brand squarely at the top of the class when it comes to providing buyer peace of mind.
What to Keep in Mind About the Saatva
Stomach sleepers, especially those on the lighter side, may need a firmer mattress that provides more lift in the hips to keep the spine aligned and pain-free.
Couples who are sensitive to their partner’s night movements may need a bed with more locked-down motion transfer compared to the more modest isolation provided by Saatva.
What Customers Say
More than 3,000 reviews average 4.8/5 stars for the Saatva classic mattress. Many reviewers overwhelmingly said they experienced both instant and long-term back pain relief, and a much slimmer slice of negative feedback reported a lack of back pain relief.
We recommend this mattress for the following sleeper types:
Back Sleepers
This bed’s strong support is ideal for back sleepers because it helps keep the spine neutrally aligned.
Hot Sleepers
This bed features extra cooling technology, making it great for hot sleepers.
Back Pain
This bed is a good match for anyone struggling with back pain, as it cushions the lumbar region and has enough support to keep the spine neutrally aligned.
Stomach Sleepers
This mattress is ideal for stomach sleepers as its firm support promotes spinal alignment.
Financing Options
Financing options are available for this mattress.
Per its name, the Nectar Hybrid is technically a hybrid mattress with somewhat of an innerspring feel. But its layer of springs results in some nice responsiveness, making it easy for couples to switch positions during sex. At the same time, its layer of slower-moving memory foam up top helps isolate motion so that you won’t wake up your partner if you toss and turn at night. Pair that with the mattress’ excellent cooling capabilities and you have a bed that’s the perfect match for lovebirds.
Plus, the bed’s scores out of the mattress lab reflect the bed’s hype. Multiple testers felt that each layer of the hybrid mattress dissipated heat, including the bed’s quilted cooling cover designed for breathability, earning the bed a near-perfect score (4.5/5) in the cooling category. The individually wrapped coil construction helped Nectar Hybrid earn 4.5/5 for edge support.
What We Love About the Nectar Hybrid
The Nectar Hybrid is an excellent compromise bed for a split household of sorts: If one partner loves an innerspring and one loves memory foam, this hybrid mattress has a slow-moving memory foam feel on top, but with a sprinkling of a bouncy feeling underneath.
Even at its regular retail price ($1,100 for a queen), this is a bang for the buck mattress. Better yet, sales events run frequently, making the bed even more affordable — as of publishing time, you could get the Nectar Hybrid for as little as $799, for example.
Testers found that lighter sleepers could get comfortable regardless of sleep position on the Nectar Hybrid, and the bed performed similarly well for medium-sized sleepers (with the exception of stomach sleepers).
What to Keep in Mind About the Nectar Hybrid
Medium-weight (130 – 230 lb) stomach sleepers and heavier sleepers of all sleep position preferences may need a more supportive mattress build, with a firmness of at least 7.5/10 to prevent hip sinkage.
Although the coils add some degree of give-and-take, innerspring enthusiasts might find Nectar Hybrid’s bounciness to be lacking.
What Customers Say
One of Nectar’s newer beds, the Hybrid has 2,000 reviews compared to the staggering 50,000+ of the Nectar Original. Reviews of the Hybrid are largely positive, averaging 4.5/5 stars. One reviewer, echoing similar feedback, wrote, “There is no motion transfer,” and the bed is “so comfortable.” Negative reviews complained about poor customer service and some exacerbated pain points.
If you love hybrid mattresses but aren’t a big fan of memory foam, check out the Nolah Evolution. This bed contains proprietary Nolah AirFoamICE, a cooling material that’s infused with graphite, and helped the bed earn perfect scores (5/5) in the cooling category. For support, the Nolah Evolution has 8” of durable coils. Together, these combine to create a balanced feel.
Testers felt that the bed was a great pick for combination, back and side sleepers, as well as couples, since the mattress scored exceptionally well in motion isolation (4/5) for an innerspring bed. The bed, with a soaring 15” height, is designed for heavier weights than standard memory foam mattresses, yet packs down into a tidy bed-in-the-box for easy delivery.
What We Love About the Nolah Evolution
Sleepers who tend to overheat can find relief from the uniquely cooling build of the Nolah Evolution, which features both a graphite-infused foam and a base of coils to promote airflow.
The Nolah Evolution stands at a strapping 15″ height, a construction robust enough to help the bed earn a perfect score in durability.
Nolah’s lifetime warranty puts the brand among a limited bunch that offers the highest tier of purchase coverage.
What to Keep in Mind About the Nolah Evolution
Mattress Clarity testing data pertains to the Luxury-Firm model of the Evolution, however, we can’t offer as much feedback on the Firm model, which is recommended for heavier (230 lbs+) sleepers.
Although we furnish coupons that can help with the cost, the Evolution is still Nolah’s most luxurious mattress model, so the price point may be out of reach for those on tighter budgets.
What Customers Say
There wasn’t a readily available way to find negative comments or comments deemed helpful by others on the Nolah Evolution. Overall though, the Evolution Hybrid is rated 4.9/5 by verified buyers. One reviewer wrote that the mattress is “cradles” while also feeling “supportively firm.”
This luxury mattress from Bear feels supportive, comfy, and cooling. The cover is made out of phase change material, which feels cool to the touch and helps lower body temperature. To make things even cooler, its comfort layer contains copper. This material helps dissipate body heat, so you shouldn’t wake up feeling sweaty. Below, a zoned comfort foam layer enhances airflow through divots in the material. Altogether, the cooling build helped Bear Elite earn 4.5/5 in the cooling category.
The bed is supported by individually encased pocketed spring coils for responsiveness and additional coils around the perimeter for edge support, earning the bed 4.5/5 for edge support. Testers with back pain also appreciate any type of mattress — including the Bear Elite Hybrid — with zoned support, which means the bed feels firmer in the center, promoting the proper spinal alignment.
What We Love About the Bear Elite Hybrid
Bear Elite Hybrid boasts a nice amount of bounce for sex, a feature typically sought out in the best mattresses for sex since every square inch of the mattress responds with you, rather than slowing you down.
Bear Elite Hybrid makes bold claims about its proprietary cooling materials that are backed by its score (4.5/5) in the mattress lab.
Many sleep styles (stomach, back and side sleepers) are suited to the Bear Elite Hybrid, including sleepers who tend to drift to their bed’s perimeter, thanks to top-notch edge support.
What to Keep in Mind About the Bear Elite Hybrid
Heavier (>230 lb) stomach sleepers may find that their hips sink too far into the Bear Elite Hybrid’s top comfort lower, throwing the spine out of its preferred state of neutral alignment.
You’ll have to pay a premium to sleep on Bear’s most luxurious mattress, putting the bed out of some budgets. If you’re willing to sacrifice some of the bounce of a bed with coils, the brand’s Bear Original mattress is a solid, more affordable all-foam alternative with some of the same cooling materials.
What Customers Say
The Bear Elite Hybrid has 2,898 5-star reviews among 3,705 on our last inspection, averaging 4.6/5 overall. One reviewer wrote that the bed has the “perfect firmness” and “really does make you feel cooler when you sleep.” Negative reviews cited the off-gassing smell when their mattress arrived, and some customer service issues.
Brooklyn Bedding has amazing products that are sold at very affordable prices. This mattress is extremely high-quality and a great option for combination sleepers.
Mattress Clarity Test Results: Brooklyn Bedding Signature
Poor
Average
Excellent
1
2
3
4
5
Our Expert’s Take
The Brooklyn Bedding Signature Hybrid is one of the best affordable mattresses on this list. That’s because the company owns its own factory, so it’s able to pass the savings directly along to the customer. As for the mattress’ construction, it contains pocketed coils and proprietary TitanFlex Foam. Testers said that the TitanFlex foam lent a feeling similar to that of a latex mattress — the top of the mattress has a bouncy innerspring feel, adding responsiveness and ease of movement.
Performance-wise, the bed excelled for the price point in the mattress lab. Our mattress testers assigned an overall score of 4/5. Bright spots included the bed’s cooling and edge support, which each netted scores of 4/5.
What We Love About the Brooklyn Bedding Signature
You get the comfort of a plush foam top with the cooling breathability of innerspring coils at an unusually modest price point. In fact, seasonal and holiday deals often put the mattress just under $1,000.
Whereas some modern innerspring mattresses are more slow-moving, lovers of traditional innerspring mattresses should find the Brooklyn Signature’s bouncy feel comfortingly familiar.
The bed is furnished in multiple firmness levels that will ultimately suit all sleep positions. The Medium being a medium-firm feel that makes for a nice, universally comfortable sweet spot for most positions (combination, side and back sleepers).
What to Keep in Mind About the Brooklyn Bedding Signature
The Brooklyn Bedding Signature might be too humble a build for those seeking a more luxurious mattress, with more layers and a thicker, plusher Euro-top.
Even at its more humble price, the bed’s 10-year warranty is less coverage than what we’d typically expect for a home purchase of this size.
What Customers Say
Most of the 11,000+ reviews (averaging 4.7/5) left for the Brooklyn Bedding Signature are positive, with one reviewer saying they’d recommend the bed to anyone “looking for great value” in addition to a great bed. Negative reviews cited shipping delays, the mattress not working for their sleep position, and choosing a model that didn’t match their preferred firmness.
The Plank Firm Luxe by Brooklyn Bedding is a flippable mattress that has two firmness options: firm and extra firm. This is one of the firmest mattresses we’ve ever tested and could be a good fit for back and stomach sleepers.
The Plank Firm Luxe is an ultra-firm hybrid that uniquely offers two firmness options in the same mattress. The mattress is flippable, with one side having an 8/10 firmness and the other a 9/10 firmness, making the mattress very versatile for sleepers who need an ultra-firm bed. However, this level of firmness does not make it a great fit for most side sleepers who need a softer feel and specific pressure relief. On the other hand, after testing the Plank Firm Luxe, our testers found the 8/10 side a great fit for average-weight (130 lbs to 230 lbs) back and stomach sleepers, and the 9/10 side an excellent fit for heavier (230 lbs and over) back and stomach sleepers.
When testing the Plank Firm Luxe, our average weight and heavier testers experienced exceptional lumbar and hip support when sleeping on the bed, giving the mattress a 4.5/5 in the category. Furthermore, testers of all sizes experienced very little sagging when sitting on the Plank’s edges, giving the bed a 4.5/5 for its edge support. This not only makes the mattress a great one to share, but quality edge support makes getting in and out of bed much more accessible for people with injuries or seniors who struggle to do so.
The Plank Firm Luxe stands at a tall 13″ and has a six-layer construction. On the extra-firm (9/10) side, there is a .75″ quilted cover top and 2″ high-density foam. On the firm (8/10) side, there is a 1.5″ quilted cover top and 2″ responsive comfort foam. At the bed’s core is a massive innerspring layer of 961 individually encased coils that create durability (4/5) while enhancing orthopedic support for the upper comfort layers, isolating motion (4/5) and helping to promote airflow through the bed’s core, helping with temperature regulation (scoring a 4/5 for cooling ability according to our testers).
The Plank Firm Luxe is best understood as one of the firmer and more multifaceted hybrid mattresses around, making it a quality choice for people who need a firmer mattress that will keep them cool and offer them versatility.
What We Love About the Plank Firm Luxe
The Plank Firm Luxe uniquely offers two firmness options in the same bed, allowing you to flip the bed to your preferred firmness of either firm (8/10) or extra-firm (9/10).
Due to the materials used and innerspring core, the Plank Firm Luxe does a good job at not trapping body heat and keeping you cool, according to our testers.
The bed is great for couples due to its ability to prevent disruptive motion (4/5 motion transfer score by our testers) from one person to another and its quality edge support. Its level of edge support allows each person to get the same support on the sides of the bed as they would in the center.
What to Keep in Mind About the Plank Firm Luxe
Most side sleepers will likely find both firmness options on the Plank Firm too firm and should consider a mattress designed more specifically for side sleepers with a softer firmness option.
While our testers found the Plank Firm Luxe to offer a breathable cooling surface without it, extra-hot sleepers who want their additional cooling panel, which Titan claims uses Phase Change Material to further dissipate heat, will need to pay an additional $112.50 for their queen-size model.
What Customers Say
On Amazon, the Plank Firm Luxe has over a hundred reviews, scoring an average of 4.3/5. One verified buyer took the time to write, “After having back issues, I finally broke down and purchased a (very expensive) Tempurpedic mattress a year ago, which started out fairly firm, but softened up quite a bit after about 6 or 7 months. Looking at reviews online for firm mattresses, this Brooklyn Bedding Plank mattress seemed to always be at the top of every list. The price was quite reasonable and so I thought I’d give it a try, and I am so glad that I did. I have had it for one month now, and it is perfect. This is one dang firm mattress! And it feels so good.”
Titan Plus Luxe – Best Innerspring Mattress for Heavy People
Best Innerspring Mattress for Heavy People
Brooklyn Bedding Titan Plus Luxe
The Brooklyn Bedding Titan Plus Luxe mattress is designed with heavier-weight sleepers in mind, creating a pleasant sleep experience for several types of heavyweight sleepers.
The Titan Plus is one of the few mattresses on the market that caters to larger sleepers, and the Titan Plus Luxe is the softer version of the mattress. The Titan Plus Luxe is durable, supportive, and provides body contouring for sleepers, especially heavier back and side sleepers. The mattress ranks at a 6.5/10 on our firmness scale which makes it a medium firm mattress, perfect for heavy sleepers looking for a balance of comfort and pressure relief.
The Titan Plus Luxe mattress comes with a soft cover featuring 1” of gel memory foam for pressure relief and cooling properties, with an option to upgrade to a cooler GlacioTex cover. The bed earned 4.5/5 for its cool-to-the-touch feel. Its main comfort layer consists of 2” of TitanFlex Foam, providing medium-firm support, targeted pressure relief, and motion transfer absorption. Supported by 8” of TitanCaliber coils for extra support and a high-density foam base for structure, helping the bed earn a near-perfect 4.5/5 for overall support.
What We Love About the Titan Plus Luxe
The Titan Plus Luxe is a breath of fresh air in an arena where finding the right mattress can be a sore subject for larger sleepers. This bed is one of the few models you’ll find designed with the extra support heavier sleepers need in mind.
The hybrid bed’s memory foam is infused with cooling gel to keep body heat at bay, and is impressively edge-supporting, ensuring that heavy sleepers who stray from the center feel supported all through the night.
The bed is from Brooklyn Bedding, which owns its mattress factory, eliminating some of the middleman retail costs, and cutting the price of the mattress.
What to Keep in Mind About the Titan Plus Luxe
The firmer Titan Plus, also from Brooklyn Bedding, may be the better option for stomach sleepers.
Like the Emma Hybrid Comfort, the Titan Plus Luxe’s 10-year warranty coverage falls behind many other premium hybrids, like Saatva and DreamCloud.
What Customers Say
Over 1,800 reviews of the Tital Plus Luxe average 4.7/5. Verified buyer Shannon L. wrote that he’s “never owned a better bed” and that at 260 lbs himself, the Titan Plus Luxe is “big man certified.” There were no 1- or 2-star reviews, and 3-star reviews often cited poor edge support.
Birch is an eco-friendly mattress-in-a-box that’s made with natural latex and organic cotton and wool. It has a base layer of individually wrapped coils and comfort layers made with chemical-free latex foam.
Most non-lightweight side sleepers will prefer a softer mattress
Mattress Clarity Test Results: Birch Natural
Poor
Average
Excellent
1
2
3
4
5
Our Expert’s Take
Birch Natural is an all-natural hybrid mattress that uses organic materials and has one of today’s most certifiably eco-friendly manufacturing processes. Beyond its conscientious construction and build, our main tester of the Birch Natural said it was “one of the best organic mattresses I’ve ever reviewed.” Notably, our sleep specialists were impressed by the versatility of Birch Natural’s design, giving the mattress a 5/5 for its support when it comes to optimizing spinal alignment and acting as a vital base for your joints.
In addition, the bed kept our testers super cool when napping on it, to the point they also gave the Birch Natural a 5/5 for its cooling, insisting that this is an excellent choice for hot sleepers. However, we found the Birch Natural a bit firm (7/10), which made it great for all back and stomach sleepers (including heavier sleepers). Still, when testing the bed, only our lightweight side sleepers found the support they needed when resting on the Birch Natural, suggesting that most side sleepers will find it too firm. This firmness comes from its coiled and latex layers that create exceptional bounce and responsiveness (great for sex and edge-to-edge consistent support) but prevent that super soft classic memory foam feel side sleepers tend to enjoy sinking into.
If you’re a back or stomach sleeper (especially one who overheats) seeking an all-natural bed, this would be the first that comes to mind. The bed has three super soft top layers of organic cotton and wool. Underneath this is an all-natural latex layer that is eco-INSTITUT certified (produced with lower emissions) to help ensure consistent cushioning throughout the bed’s upper layers. At its base is a massive layer of 1,000 individually wrapped 100% steel coils for firm support and airflow, with an additional base made of organic wool. Impressively, Birch Natural is Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) certified, Fair Trade certified, GREENGUARD Gold certified, and its parent company is a member of the Forest Stewardship Council.
Overall, it’s hard to find a mattress brand so committed to being eco-friendly while still delivering what our testers found to be an exceptional and cool sleep experience due to the bed’s luxury hybrid design and production process.
What We Love About the Birch Natural
The airy, soft organic cotton cover and top wool layers make for an exceptionally cool sleep experience. Our testers gave the Birch Natural a perfect score for its temperature regulation.
People struggling with back pain or who sleep on their back can expect excellent lumbar support.
The Birch Natural is one of the most certifiably eco-friendly mattresses available today. Furthermore, it is also Fair Trade certified.
What to Keep in Mind About the Birch Natural
Average weight (130-230 lbs) and heavier (230 lbs and up) side sleepers may find the mattress too firm and prefer a softer firmness.
What Customers Say
At the time of writing, Birch Natural has over 5000 verified customer reviews averaging a 4.6/5 score. One customer wrote, “My wife and I LOVE this mattress. It is cool and comfortable. It’s certainly on the firm side, but that’s what we prefer. And we were happy to pay more for a high-quality mattress made of sustainable and more health-conscious materials. It arrived right on time and in great shape. The pillows we received are also quite nice. We are likely Birch customers for life.”
You can read our in-depth guide on what is an innerspring mattresses for more information, but in the simplest terms, an innerspring mattress is a bed with coil springs inside. The springs lend support and help distribute your weight evenly. The best part: modern innerspring mattresses, also known as hybrid beds, are topped with layers of padding for extra cushioning. You can think of a hybrid mattress as like buying an innerspring bed that includes a built-in plush foam mattress topper.
Who Should Get an Innerspring Mattress?
Innerspring mattresses can be a good option for a wide range of sleepers, but they may be particularly well-suited for certain types of people. Here are some groups of people who may benefit from an innerspring mattress:
People who need strong support: Innerspring mattresses are known for providing strong and stable support, thanks to the metal coils used in their construction. This can be beneficial for those who need extra support for their back, hips, or shoulders, or who prefer a firmer feel.
Hot sleepers: Innerspring mattresses can promote better airflow and ventilation, which can help dissipate heat and keep you cool while sleeping.
People who prefer a bouncier feel: Innerspring mattresses can provide a noticeable bounce and responsiveness.
Budget-conscious shoppers: Innerspring mattresses are often more affordable than other types of mattresses like memory foam or latex.
Who Shouldn’t Get an Innerspring Mattress?
Innersprings are a traditional mattress type that continues to be a popular choice for many mattress shoppers. But innerspring mattresses may not be the best choice for everyone, especially those who need more pressure relief or who are easily disturbed by motion transfer or noise.
Benefits of an Innerspring Mattress
Again, while not all of these mattresses are true innerspring mattresses — especially since most mattress companies include foam in the construction — they all still have that traditional innerspring feel. Here are some of the benefits of innerspring mattresses, including the mattresses listed in our article:
More breathable: One of the great things about innersprings is that they allow for air to flow through the mattress. All-foam mattresses are more densely packed with material and don’t have that space. If someone is a hot sleeper, an innerspring mattress could be worth considering.
More supportive: Coils also offer more support than what someone might find in an all-foam mattress. Their design allows the bed to handle more weight than base foams. If someone is a larger person or simply needs some extra support, an innerspring mattress should be a good option to consider.
More durable: Coils add a level of durability to the mattress as well. They shouldn’t sag the way some foams are known to do. Also, they should offer longer-lasting support. While someone might spend some more money up front, an innerspring mattress could be a good long-term investment and a good option for those looking for a mattress that won’t sag.
Drawbacks of an Innerspring Mattress
While innerspring mattresses do have their benefits, they aren’t perfect for everyone. A few things that could make you want to seek other options might be:
Motion transfer: Innerspring mattresses can transfer more motion than other types of mattresses, as the coils can transfer movement across the bed’s surface, which may disturb a partner’s sleep.
Noise: Innerspring mattresses can produce noise, especially if the coils are older or of lower quality, which can disrupt sleep.
Limited pressure relief: Innerspring mattresses may not provide enough pressure relief for some sleepers, especially those with chronic pain or pressure points, as the coils can push back against the body.
Prone to sagging: Innerspring mattresses can develop sagging or body impressions over time, especially if they are of lower quality or not maintained properly.
What People Should Look for When Buying an Innerspring Mattress
As we mentioned, there are a lot of pros and cons of an innerspring mattress. Once you decide that an innerspring mattress is the best fit for your needs, there are a few additional things to consider when looking at quality to ensure you’re getting the best innerspring mattress that will last you a long time. We’ll go over coil count & gauge as well as coil types so you can narrow down what mattress works best for your needs.
Top Layer
Not all innerspring mattresses are made equal. There’s a wide range of materials that can be used to add comfort to the springs, and that makes the feel of the mattress quite different. For example, an innerspring with a thin layer of latex on top will feel much different from one with a very thick layer of memory foam.
As a result, it’s beneficial to understand the differences between the different types of comfort layers. It’s also worth knowing the difference between poly foam, memory foam, and latex foam, so that way you can decide which type of top layer best suits you.
Also, understand that the thickness of the comfort layer matters a lot, too. If the mattress has a thick layer of memory foam, then it’s more of a hybrid mattress and will feel more like a memory foam mattress, which tends to have a different feel than an innerspring mattresses.
Coil Count and Gauge
If someone is in a store or on a website, they’ll hear a lot of talk about how an innerspring mattress has a certain number of coils, a certain gauge, etc. Here’s a quick overview of what these mattress coils terms actually mean:
Coil countrefers to the number of coils used in the mattress. Depending on the size of the mattress, there can be as few as 200 or as many as 2,000.
Coil gaugeis a measure of how thick the metal wires are in a given mattress. The lower the number, the thicker the wire.
These types of stats have the potential to be pretty misleading for a variety of reasons.
For example, many people think more coils equals a better quality mattress. However, there can be a higher coil count with coils made of lower-quality steel. There are many different factors that go into the quality of the innerspring unit, so I would definitely recommend being a little cautious when using this rationale.
An innerspring mattress can be made more or less firm in a number of ways, and a lot of it depends on what’s in the top layer. Therefore, a blanket statement like “thicker gauge means firmer mattress” isn’t always true, because it depends on a few other factors as well.
Types of Coils
People will also probably hear a lot about the type of coil being used in a mattress’ construction. There are differences between the
The type of coil matters more or less, depending on the rest of the components in a mattress. So I would take statements like “it has pocket coils, so it’s better” with a grain of salt. For example, if there’s a thick layer of memory foam on top of the mattress, the fact that the innerspring unit has pocket coils doesn’t really matter as much, because the memory foam does the contouring.
Overall, the type of coil does matter, but its importance is dependent on the rest of the mattress. Here are a few quick overviews of of the coil types you might hear about while researching mattresses:
Pocketed Coils
Pocketed coils are individually wrapped, meaning each coil is housed in its own fabric casing, and the casings are then sewn or glued together to create a continuous layer of coils. While these are typically more expensive, they do provide more contour, as each coils is able to move independently of the others.
Another plus of each coil moving independently is motion isolation. If you sleep with a partner, their movements are more likely to only affect their side of the bed on pocketed coils. With other coil types there’s a chance you’ll experience more disruption from your partner’s movements.
Open coils
Open Coils represent the most affordable and oldest innerspring design. In this system, there are numerous coils held together by a wire frame. Essentially, they are pocketed coils without the individual wrappings, so you likely won’t experience the same motion isolation or contouring.
Offset coils
Offset Coils feature an hourglass shape and offer better contouring than open coils. This design might also help provide more support for heavyweight people, as well as limit the amount of noise the the coils make.
Continuous coils
Continuous Coils consist of one metal wire that runs throughout the mattress to create rows of coils. You’ll often find this type of coil system in inexpensive mattresses. While inexpensive, though, continuous coils tend to be very durable. On the negative side, they don’t usually do a great job at isolating motion, and, in our experience, they are somewhat noisy.
How Do Innerspring Mattresses Compare to Other Mattresses?
How do innerspring mattresses compare to other types, such as memory foam, latex, or hybrid mattresses?
Innerspring vs Memory Foam
Comparing innerspring vs memory foam mattresses is a bit like comparing apples to oranges. The materials, performance, and feel can all be pretty drastically different. Innerspring mattresses use metal coils for support, while memory foam mattresses use foam layers to provide pressure relief and contouring.
When it comes to performance, innerspring mattresses tend to offer more bounce and responsiveness, while memory foam mattresses can provide better pressure relief and contour to the body’s shape. Memory foam mattresses also tend to isolate motion better and are often quieter than innerspring mattresses.
Innerspring mattresses can be a good option for those who need extra support or prefer a firmer feel, while memory foam mattresses can be a great choice for those who need more pressure relief, especially for side sleepers or those with chronic pain.
Innerspring vs Latex
Innerspring mattresses use metal coils for support, while latex mattresses use layers of natural or synthetic latex foam for support and comfort. You’ll find some similarities when comparing the feel and performance of latex vs innerspring.
When it comes to performance, latex mattresses can provide a similar level of support to innerspring mattresses but with more pressure relief. Both latex mattresses and innerspring mattresses tend to sleep cooler than memory foam, but latex is usually more durable than innerspring mattresses.
Innerspring mattresses can be a good option for those who need extra support or prefer a firmer feel, while latex mattresses are a good choice for those who need more pressure relief, especially for side sleepers or those with chronic pain. Latex mattresses can also be a good choice for those who want a more eco-friendly or natural mattress option.
Innerspring vs Hybrid
Hybrid mattresses combine innerspring coils with layers of other materials like memory foam, latex, or gel. When comparing innerspring vs hybrid, the biggest factor to consider is whether you prefer more support and bounce (innerspring) or more pressure relief and cushioning (hybrid).
Hybrid mattresses can provide a mix of support and pressure relief, depending on the specific materials used. They can be a good compromise for those who desire the support of an innerspring mattress but need the pressure relief of memory foam or latex.
Innerspring mattresses can be a good option for those who need extra support or prefer a firmer feel, while hybrid mattresses are a good choice for those who need a mix of support and pressure relief, or for those who are unsure which type of mattress is best for them. Hybrid mattresses can also be a good choice for couples with different sleep preferences, as they can provide a compromise between support and comfort.
Overall
Here’s a summary of our top picks for the best innerspring mattresses:
It all comes down to personal preference. An innerspring mattress is an especially great option for those who sleep hot or want a more supportive mattress. The coils inside the mattress allow for more air flow while providing a strong support system. Additionally, innerspring mattresses tend to be quite durable, especially when compared to some all-foam mattresses that can sag over time if constructed with lower quality materials.
Does an innerspring mattress need a box spring?
Typically, yes, an innerspring mattress will need a box spring. When you move around on an innerspring mattress, you put strain on the coils. A box spring provides additional support and absorbs some of the shock, helping the mattress last longer. However, not all spring mattresses require a box spring, so be sure to check with the manufacturer if you are not sure.
How long does an innerspring mattress last?
A quality innerspring mattress should easily last seven to 10 years, although many of them may last longer.
Can an innerspring mattress be rolled up?
No. Unlike some other mattress types, an innerspring mattress should not be rolled up, as doing so can damage the springs and compromise the bed’s structure.
Subscribe to Mattress Clarity!
Get special coupons, discounts, and giveaways!
Marten Carlson
Lead Mattress Reviewer
About Author
Marten has been writing about mattresses and sleep health for six years. He is the lead reviewer at Mattress Clarity where he tests mattresses, bedding, and sleep accessories.
In his role here, Marten’s reviewed over 500 mattresses and 150 sleep accessories (so you can rest assured that if he recommends a product, it’s been put through the wringer in our Austin studio). In addition, he has written more than 400 articles reviewing the quality of sleep and sleep products as well as sleep health. He’s especially interested in the correlation between sleep and mental health.
Marten’s also got a personal stake in sleep health. After writing dozens of pieces on the dangers of sleep apnea, he decided to get tested for the condition. Realizing he did, in fact, suffer from sleep apnea, he immediately started using a CPAP machine. He knows all too well the importance of a healthy night’s sleep and is passionate about helping others get the healthy, restorative sleep they deserve.
He received his bachelor’s degree in Film Production from Denison University and his master’s degree in Film Studies from Emory University.