About Purple#

Purple is an American mattress brand founded in 2016 that has achieved significant brand recognition in the UK through viral marketing, most famously the "raw egg test" video demonstrating the grid's pressure-relief properties. The brand's unique selling proposition is its patented Hyper-Elastic Polymer grid, which is unlike any other mattress material on the market.

The Purple Grid: how it works#

The Purple Grid is a three-dimensional grid structure made from a non-toxic polymer material. Unlike foam (which compresses uniformly across a surface) or springs (which push back against pressure), the grid is designed to do something different: the vertical walls of the grid structure buckle and collapse under concentrated pressure points (like shoulders and hips), while remaining firm under distributed weight (like the torso and legs). The result, in theory, is simultaneous pressure relief and support without the trade-off that other materials require.

The grid is also air-permeable: approximately 50% of the grid's cross-section is open air, which Purple claims makes it significantly cooler than foam alternatives. The polymer material is also temperature-neutral, it doesn't respond to body heat the way memory foam does, so it doesn't soften and create the "sinking" sensation.

Range overview#

  • Purple Original: The entry model. A 5 cm grid layer over a two-layer foam base.
  • Purple Plus: Adds additional foam beneath the grid for more progressive support.
  • Purple Hybrid: Pocket springs replace the foam base. The grid comfort layer over a spring base is Purple's most versatile option.

Who benefits from the grid technology?#

The Purple Grid is particularly beneficial for:

  • Hot sleepers who find all foam alternatives too warm (the grid genuinely sleeps cooler than foam)
  • Those who want genuine pressure relief without the slow-sinking feel of memory foam
  • Combination sleepers who want quick response to position changes
  • Back and side sleepers of average weight (the grid's buckle-under-pressure mechanism works most effectively within a certain weight range)

Limitations to consider#

  • The grid has a distinctive feel that some people love and others find unusual. There is no equivalent to try in a UK showroom, the 100-night trial is essential.
  • Heavier sleepers may compress the grid enough to reduce its differential-response benefit.
  • The polymer material can make the mattress surface feel slightly "wobbly" when sitting on the edge.

Our verdict#

Purple's grid technology is genuinely innovative and delivers on its core promise of cool, pressure-relieving sleep without foam's trade-offs. Whether it's better than a quality hybrid depends on your priorities. For hot sleepers and those who dislike the memory foam feel, it's worth the 100-night trial. For those who prefer a traditional mattress feel, the unusual texture may take significant adjustment.

From the shop floor#

Purple's grid is one of the few genuinely different mattress technologies of the last decade, and the customers who liked it really liked it. What we learned from selling unusual surfaces is that the first thirty seconds tell you nothing; the grid feels odd to everyone, then either becomes invisible within a fortnight or never does. That makes the trial the whole purchase decision, and it makes UK availability the first thing to check, since Purple's presence here has been through retailers and has varied.

The grid's real strengths are airflow and responsiveness, which are the two things memory foam is worst at. Its weakness is that it is a comfort layer over conventional foam, so the support underneath is ordinary. Heavier sleepers who want firm support should not expect the grid to provide it.

How Purple compares with the mattresses we have scored#

Purple's appeal is a cool, responsive surface that does not feel like memory foam. These catalogue mattresses achieve the same two things with latex, springs or cooling technology, and are straightforward to buy in the UK.

ModelTypeDepthFeelSupportComfortPrice (double)Where it fits
Pocket Reflex 1000Pocket spring28cmMedium8.28.0£399Responsive springs and reflex foam, no memory foam sink
LuxeTherm HybridHybrid28cmMedium8.08.0£337 (sale)Phase-change cooling over springs for £337
LuxeOrganic Hybrid LatexLatex hybrid30cmMedium8.68.8£471 (sale)Latex is the closest conventional material to the grid's bounce
Emma Luxe CoolingHybrid30cmMedium9.28.7£1,099The most cooling technology we list in one mattress

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.

If the grid appeals because it is bouncy and cool, natural latex is the nearest conventional equivalent, and LuxeOrganic Hybrid Latex pairs it with springs for £471 on sale. If the appeal is purely temperature, LuxeTherm Hybrid does it for less. Our cooling mattress guide ranks every option.

Frequently asked questions#

Can you buy a Purple mattress in the UK?#

Availability has varied and has been through retailers rather than Purple directly. Check current UK stockists and their trial and warranty terms before planning around it.

What does the Purple grid feel like?#

Unlike anything else: a flexible polymer lattice that yields under the hips and shoulders and stays firm elsewhere, with a slight jelly-like give. Most people either stop noticing it within two weeks or never adapt, so the trial matters.

Is Purple good for hot sleepers?#

Yes; the open grid is one of the most breathable comfort layers available. Airflow through the lattice is far better than through any foam.

Is Purple supportive enough for heavy people?#

The grid provides pressure relief, not support; the foam base beneath is conventional. Heavier sleepers who need firm support should look at deep firm hybrids instead.