Quick answer: a "bamboo mattress" is a normal mattress, springs or foam, with bamboo fibre in the cover or comfort layer. Bamboo makes the surface softer and better at wicking moisture, which helps if you sleep hot, but the core decides how the mattress supports you. The best we have tested is the Luff Prestige Bamboo Hybrid, a UK-made hybrid with a bamboo cover and a 10-year warranty.
What "bamboo mattress" actually means#
No mattress is made of bamboo. The word refers to one of three things:
- A bamboo cover: the most common. The fabric is made from bamboo fibre, usually blended with polyester or other fibres.
- Bamboo in the comfort layer: bamboo fibre blended into a wool or fibre filling.
- Bamboo charcoal foam: foam with charcoal made from bamboo, marketed for odour control.
Most bamboo fabric is bamboo viscose: bamboo pulp dissolved and spun into a new fibre. It is soft and breathable, but it is a processed, regenerated fibre rather than a natural one like wool or cotton, so treat "natural bamboo" claims with some caution.
What bamboo does for your sleep#
- Moisture wicking: bamboo viscose absorbs and moves moisture away from the skin well, which makes a cover feel drier and cooler if you sweat at night.
- Softness: the fabric has a smooth, silky hand-feel.
- Breathability: a thin, open-knit bamboo cover lets heat escape from the layers below.
What it does not do is change support or firmness. A bamboo cover on a soft foam mattress is still a soft foam mattress, and it will not cool a dense memory foam core that traps heat. For hot sleepers the construction underneath matters more: see our best cooling mattress guide.
The bamboo mattresses we have tested#
| Mattress | Where the bamboo is | Type | Firmness | Price (double) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Luff Prestige Bamboo Hybrid | Nanoweave bamboo cover | Hybrid: 2,000 pocket springs, cooling memory foam | Medium or firm | £999 (sale) |
| LuxeTherm Hybrid | Tencel and bamboo cover | Hybrid: phase-change foam, pocket springs | Medium | about £337 |
| Simba Hybrid Luxe | Bamboo-infused British wool layer | Hybrid: three microspring layers, sprung base | Medium | £1,799 |
Prices are for a double at the time of writing (October 2026), using the sale price where one applies. Live prices and full scores are on each review page. We may earn a commission if you buy through our links, at no extra cost to you; it never affects a score.
The Luff Prestige is the most bamboo-focused: Luff Sleep specialises in bamboo bedding, and the mattress pairs its bamboo cover with 2,000 pocket springs and a cooling memory foam layer. It is handmade to order in the UK and has a 10-year warranty, though that asks you to rotate it monthly, and as a sale purchase it cannot be returned under Laud Sleep's policy. The LuxeTherm is the budget route to a bamboo-covered hybrid and our best value pick for hot sleepers. The Simba Hybrid Luxe uses bamboo inside, blended with wool in its comfort layer, and is the plushest of the three.
Is a bamboo mattress worth it?#
Choose the mattress for its core and firmness first, then treat a bamboo cover as a pleasant extra rather than the reason to buy. If you sleep hot, a sprung or hybrid core with a breathable cover, bamboo or otherwise, is what makes the difference. If you love the feel of bamboo bedding, a bamboo mattress topper or bamboo sheets give you the same surface for much less; see our best mattress topper guide.
Frequently asked questions#
Are bamboo mattresses good for hot sleepers?#
The bamboo cover helps by wicking moisture, but the core matters more. A bamboo cover over pocket springs sleeps much cooler than one over solid memory foam.
Are bamboo mattresses hypoallergenic?#
Bamboo viscose is smooth and does not harbour dust mites easily, but no fabric makes a mattress allergy-proof. A washable protector does more; see our guide to mattresses for allergies and dust mites.
Can you wash a bamboo mattress cover?#
Only if it zips off and the label says so. Most bamboo mattress covers are fixed, so spot clean them and use a protector.
