About Nectar Sleep#
Nectar Sleep is a US mattress brand that has become one of the most prominent in the UK market, largely on the strength of its 365-night free trial, the longest of any major mattress brand in the UK. Founded in 2017, Nectar targets value-conscious buyers who want quality memory foam without the premium pricing of Tempur or the hype premium of some UK brands. Nectar backs its mattresses with a "forever warranty" (lifetime, subject to conditions).
Nectar Memory Foam: construction#
The Nectar Original is a five-layer foam mattress approximately 25 cm deep:
- Tencel cover: A moisture-wicking, breathable cover. Tencel (lyocell fibre) is more breathable than standard polyester knit covers, a notable advantage for temperature management.
- Gel memory foam comfort layer (3 cm): A quilted gel-foam layer provides initial softness and some temperature regulation.
- Adaptive hi-core memory foam (3 cm): Medium-feel memory foam for pressure relief and body contouring.
- Shift transition layer (2 cm): A faster-response foam that bridges the contouring layers above and the support base below.
- Dynamic support base (17 cm): High-density base foam providing the structural support for the mattress.
Firmness and feel#
Nectar rates the Original as medium-firm. Most average-weight UK sleepers find it a genuine medium, slightly firmer on the surface than the Emma Original but with a similar contouring memory-foam feel. The gel quilting in the cover provides a luxurious initial surface feel that many buyers appreciate.
Temperature performance#
Despite being an all-foam mattress, Nectar performs reasonably well on temperature thanks to the Tencel cover and gel layer. It sleeps warmer than a hybrid but cooler than a standard memory foam mattress. Moderate hot sleepers may find it acceptable; very hot sleepers should consider the Nectar Hybrid.
The 365-night trial: what it actually means#
Nectar's year-long trial is a genuine differentiator. The conditions: you must sleep on the mattress for at least 30 nights before initiating a return (giving your body time to adjust), the mattress must be in clean condition, and one return per household. Nectar arranges free collection and donates returned mattresses to charity. In our assessment, this is a genuine, customer-friendly policy, not just marketing.
Value for money#
Nectar consistently offers some of the best price-to-quality ratios in the UK memory foam market. During sales, the Original is available for under £350 for a double with accessories included. At this price, the construction quality exceeds what budget foam competitors offer.
Who Nectar suits#
- Best for: Side sleepers and combination sleepers of average weight; value-conscious buyers who want quality memory foam; anyone who values the security of a year-long trial; those who want a well-made foam mattress without paying a brand premium
- Less suitable for: Hot sleepers (consider Nectar Hybrid), heavy sleepers (over 16 stone), those who want a bouncy or spring-like feel
Our verdict#
Nectar's combination of quality construction, competitive pricing and market-leading trial period makes it one of the best-value propositions in the UK online mattress market. It won't suit everyone, but for its target audience it's hard to beat.
From the shop floor#
Nectar sells on two numbers, a 365-night trial and a forever warranty, and both deserve a second look. A year-long trial is genuinely generous, but almost nobody uses more than eight weeks of it; the value is psychological. The forever warranty is real as far as it goes, but read what it covers: sagging beyond a set depth and manufacturing defects, with the usual base and protector conditions, and typically a repair-or-replace remedy on the brand's terms. It is not a promise the mattress will feel new forever. We never saw a memory foam mattress that did.
The mattress itself is exactly what it looks like: a plush, slow-response memory foam bed that side sleepers love in the showroom. What we heard back over time was the standard memory foam list, in this order: warmer than expected, harder to turn over on than expected, softer by year three. If those three do not bother you, Nectar delivers the feel it promises.
How Nectar compares with the mattresses we have scored#
Nectar is a mid-market memory foam mattress that is almost always sold at a discount or bundled with pillows and a protector. These are the memory foam mattresses in our catalogue at prices from a quarter of Nectar's to a little above.
| Model | Type | Depth | Feel | Support | Comfort | Price (double) | Where it fits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Saffron Comfort Deep | Foam | 23cm | Medium | 8.3 | 8.5 | £174 | Deep medium memory foam for £174; no trial |
| Superior Cashmere | Foam | 23cm | Medium | 8.5 | 8.8 | £198 | The best foam feel we have found under £200 |
| Emma Original | Foam | 25cm | Medium | 8.4 | 8.9 | £469 | The direct rival: medium foam, 200 nights, higher scores |
| Emma NextGen Premium Plus | Foam | 27cm | Medium | 9.0 | 9.1 | £679 | Memory foam done cooler: graphite, 9.0 support |
Prices are for a double at the time of writing (September 2026), using the sale price where the brand runs a permanent one. 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.
Judge Nectar on the price you actually pay, not the crossed-out one, and compare that against Emma Original, which scores higher on our tests and has a trial long enough for anyone. If you would rather spend under £200 and skip the trial, Superior Cashmere gives a very similar plush foam feel. Our Foam People vs Nectar and Luxe vs Nectar comparisons take both routes.
Frequently asked questions#
Is the Nectar mattress firm or soft?#
Marketed as medium-firm, but the plush memory foam top makes it feel medium to medium-soft for most people, especially heavier sleepers. Side sleepers tend to like it; front sleepers usually find it too soft.
Is Nectar's 365-night trial genuine?#
Yes, subject to conditions: usually a minimum period before returning, a protector requirement and an undamaged mattress. Few buyers need more than eight weeks to decide, so treat the length as reassurance rather than a feature you will use.
What does Nectar's forever warranty actually cover?#
Manufacturing defects and sagging beyond a specified depth, on the brand's terms and with base and protector conditions. It does not cover the gradual softening every memory foam mattress undergoes, which is the change you will notice.
Does the Nectar mattress sleep hot?#
Warmer than a sprung mattress. Dense memory foam stores heat and the cover mitigates it only partly. Hot sleepers should look at a hybrid or a graphite-infused foam such as the Emma NextGen Premium Plus.
Related reading#
- The Foam People vs Nectar – the budget memory foam route
- Luxe vs Nectar – foam versus springs at the same money
- Simba vs Nectar – hybrid versus memory foam
- Mattress warranties explained – what a lifetime warranty does and does not cover
- Best memory foam mattress UK – the field ranked
