The headline differences#
Pocket spring mattresses use individually wrapped steel springs as the primary support and comfort system. Memory foam mattresses use layers of viscoelastic foam throughout. Both can produce excellent sleep, they just feel and perform differently in ways that matter to different sleepers.
Support and alignment#
Pocket springs: Individual springs respond independently to pressure points across the sleep surface. Under a heavier hip, adjacent springs compress more; under a lighter shoulder, less. This creates naturally zoned support without engineering, higher spring counts produce finer-grained zoning.
Memory foam: Contours uniformly across the surface in response to heat and pressure. Modern foam mattresses with waffle-cut or zone-differentiated base layers can approximate zoned support, but traditional foam responds to all pressure points similarly.
Temperature regulation#
Pocket springs: clear winner. The air space between springs provides natural ventilation. Pocket spring mattresses sleep significantly cooler than memory foam. This is the most consistent complaint about memory foam and the primary reason many hot sleepers opt for springs or hybrids.
Memory foam: Dense foam traps body heat. Gel infusions and open-cell formulations (like Emma's Airgocell) mitigate this, but memory foam mattresses still sleep meaningfully warmer than pocket spring alternatives.
Motion isolation#
Memory foam: clear winner. Foam absorbs movement at source. Your partner's midnight repositioning barely registers on your side of the mattress. This is the primary advantage of memory foam for couples where one partner is a light sleeper.
Pocket springs: Individual springs reduce motion transfer significantly compared to open-coil, but some movement transmission remains. The coil connections and fabric pockets transmit vibration in a way that foam cannot.
Durability#
Quality pocket springs: Tempered steel springs maintain their form for 10–15 years if the mattress is rotated regularly. Premium springs (as in Hypnos or Vi-Spring) last significantly longer.
Memory foam: Quality foam (high-density) can last 8–10 years. Budget foam compresses within 4–5 years. Memory foam durability is more variable than spring durability and more dependent on foam quality.
Price#
Quality pocket-spring mattresses and quality memory foam mattresses are comparably priced in the mid-range (£400–£800 for a double). At the budget end, entry-level memory foam is often cheaper than entry-level pocket-sprung. At the premium end, natural-filling pocket-spring mattresses (Hypnos, Vi-Spring) are the most expensive category in the UK market.
The verdict by sleep type#
- Hot sleeper: Pocket springs or hybrid
- Side sleeper with joint pain: Memory foam or hybrid with foam comfort layer
- Couples with motion sensitivity: Memory foam
- Back sleeper: Either, depending on firmness preference
- Heavier sleeper (over 15 stone): Pocket springs or hybrid
One of each from our catalogue#
At a similar price, here are the pocket-sprung and memory foam mattresses we would put side by side, plus the hybrid that splits the difference.
| Model | Type | Depth | Feel | Support | Comfort | Price (double) | Why it is here |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Imperial 2000 Pocket Spring | Pocket spring | 29cm | Firm | 8.7 | 7.8 | £449 | Traditional pocket springs with fibre fillings; cool and bouncy |
| Emma Original | Foam | 25cm | Medium | 8.4 | 8.9 | £469 | Pure memory foam; deep contouring, silent, still |
| Reverso Memory | Foam | 25cm | Soft | 7.4 | 8.2 | £329 | Memory foam over pocket springs; the compromise |
| Luxe Velour Hybrid | Hybrid | 28cm | Medium | 8.2 | 8.4 | £399 | Pocket springs with a foam comfort layer; the modern default |
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.
Most people who think they want one or the other end up happiest with a hybrid, because it removes the main weakness of each. But the two pure types still have their buyers: hot sleepers who want maximum airflow (springs) and restless couples who want total motion isolation (foam).
Frequently asked questions#
Is pocket sprung or memory foam better for back pain?#
Either can work if firm enough. Pocket springs give even, responsive support and suit heavier sufferers; dense memory foam contours and suits lighter sufferers and side sleepers. A zoned hybrid combining both is the safest single recommendation.
Which is cooler, pocket springs or memory foam?#
Pocket springs, clearly. Air moves through the spring layer and traditional fibre fillings breathe. Memory foam holds heat unless it is open-cell, gel-infused or sitting over springs.
Which is better for couples?#
Memory foam for motion isolation; pocket springs for edge support and temperature. Pocket springs also transmit far less movement than open coils, so a good pocket-sprung mattress is a reasonable middle ground.
Which lasts longer?#
Comparable at equal quality: eight to ten years. Pocket springs fail by losing tension and springs breaking; memory foam fails by softening and forming impressions. Spring count and gauge matter for one; foam density for the other.
Related reading#
- Pocket springs vs open coil – the two spring systems
- Memory foam pros and cons – foam in depth
- Memory foam vs hybrid – the compromise option
- Pocket spring collection – every sprung mattress we score
- Memory foam collection – every foam mattress we score
