The Mattress Guide

Everything you need to know about mattress types, sizes and firmness

We like to make sure our customers make informed choices about the product they buy, so we put together this guide which we hope will allow you to find exactly the right type, size or firmness of mattress.

Mattress Types

We make 5 unique types of mattress at The Mattress Factory:

• Memory Foam Mattresses
  These are made from flexible foam bases with memory foam top layers.

• Pocket Sprung Mattreses
  A great mixture of high quality pocket springs, foam and memory foam top.

• Natural Latex Mattresses
  A latex foam core with foam and zone-cut memory foam top.

• Foam Mattresses
  Traditional foam mattresses with no springs (not memory foam) - a budget option.

• Cot Mattresses
  Designed to fit cots from Ikea and Mamas & Papas - made from foam or foam and pocket springs.

If you're not sure which mattress would suit you best, feel free to call us on 0845 600 9041 for expert advice.

Standard UK Mattress Sizes

• Small Single - 2' 6" x 6' 3" ( 75cm x 190cm )
• Single - 3' 0" x 6' 3" ( 90cm x 190cm )
• Small Double  - 4' 0" x 6' 3" ( 120cm x 190cm )
• Double - 4' 6" x 6' 3" ( 135cm x 190cm )
• King - 5' 0" x 6' 6" ( 150cm x 198cm )
• Super King - 6' 0" x 6' 6" ( 180cm x 198cm )

European Mattress Sizes

These include mattresses that may fit some Ikea and Habitat bed frames.

• Single - 3' 3 " x 6' 6 " ( 100cm x 200cm )
• Small Double - 4' 0" x 6' 6 " ( 120cm x 200cm )
• Double - 4' 7 " x 6' 6 " ( 140cm x 200cm )
• King  - 5' 3 " x 6' 6" ( 160cm x 200cm )
• Super King - 6' 0" x 6' 6" ( 180cm x 200cm )

Mattress Firmness Ratings

This is always a difficult area to classify. How a mattress 'feels' is quite a subjective thing and will differ according to individual perception. As a general guide, at The Mattress Factory we classify our mattresses in one of 5 ratings:

• Soft
• Medium Soft
• Medium
• Medium Firm
• Firm

Mattress Jargon & Glossary

Here's our explanation of some of the phrases used within the mattress industry:

• Bonnell Springs
  An hourglass shaped wire coil found within many mattresses - some of our cot mattresses contain bonnell springs. 
  
  
• Pocket Springs
  A barrel shaped, knotless coil of wire surrounded by a man-made fabric pocket. Our pocket sprung mattresses use pocket springs instead of bonnell springs.
  
  
• Memory Foam
  Essentially a polyurethane with chemicals added to it to increase it's density and viscosity. Invented by NASA in 1966 to increase the safety of aircraft cushions, memory foam didn't reach the mattress industry until 1980. Memory foam is denser and heavier than traditional foam.
  

We hope this guide has helped you to understand more about mattresses - if you do need additional help please contact us for more information and guidance.