Who are The Foam People?#
The Foam People are a UK manufacturer specialising in made-to-order foam and memory-foam mattresses. Their pitch is simple: custom sizes, all-foam builds and genuinely budget pricing, with models starting around £109. That makes them one of the most affordable ways to get a brand-new, made-to-measure mattress in Britain.
The range at a glance#
| Model | From | Feel | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Westwood Core Supportive Firm | £107 | Firm | Bunk beds, children, firm on a budget |
| Westwood Memory Foam | £109 | Medium | Lowest-cost memory foam |
| Core CoolMax Memory Foam | £147 | Medium | Warmer sleepers |
| Core Bubble Memory | £148 | Medium | Pressure relief |
| Comfort Ortho Firm | £157 | Firm | Back/stomach sleepers |
| The Saffron Comfort Deep | £174 | Medium | Deeper, plusher feel |
| Superior Cashmere | £198 | Medium | Premium cover finish |
| Comfort Bubble Memory | £200 | Medium-soft | Side sleepers who want a plush surface |
What's good#
- Price: hard to beat for new, made-to-order foam, ideal for guest rooms, children's rooms, caravans and tight budgets.
- Custom sizes: made-to-order means awkward or non-standard bed frames are covered.
- CoolMax options: the Core CoolMax and Comfort CoolMax models use moisture-wicking covers, sensible given that surface materials measurably affect how warm foam sleeps.1
- Firm orthopaedic option: the Comfort Ortho Firm gives a supportive, flatter surface for those who want it.
The trade-offs#
- All-foam, so warmer and less bouncy than a hybrid, hot sleepers should favour the CoolMax models.
- Foam edge support is softer than sprung mattresses.
- Expect some new-foam smell at first. Research shows memory-foam VOC emissions sit well below health limits and fade within weeks, so just air it out for a day or two.2
- Made-to-order can mean longer lead times and stricter return terms, check before buying.
Verdict#
The Foam People are a smart pick if you want a brand-new, custom-sized foam mattress on a budget, particularly for secondary bedrooms or warm sleepers who choose a CoolMax model. If you need spring-like bounce, strong edges or the coolest possible sleep, look at a hybrid instead. See the full Foam People range or compare against others with our quiz.
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Every Foam People mattress we have scored#
We score each mattress out of 10 for support, comfort and value, using the construction, depth and firmness against the price. Here is the full range in price order.
| Model | Type | Depth | Feel | Support | Comfort | Price (double) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Westwood Core Supportive Firm | Foam | 10cm | Firm | 8.1 | 7.4 | £107 |
| Westwood Memory Foam | Foam | 18cm | Medium | 7.8 | 8.0 | £109 |
| Core CoolMax Memory Foam | Foam | 15cm | Medium | 8.0 | 8.3 | £147 |
| Core Bubble Memory | Foam | 15cm | Medium | 7.9 | 8.2 | £148 |
| Comfort Ortho Firm | Foam | 20cm | Firm | 8.6 | 7.9 | £157 |
| The Saffron Comfort Deep | Foam | 23cm | Medium | 8.3 | 8.5 | £174 |
| Comfort CoolMax Intelligent | Foam | 20cm | Medium | 8.4 | 8.6 | £192 |
| The Aerotac Superior Bubble | Foam | 20cm | Medium | 8.4 | 8.6 | £195 |
| Superior Cashmere | Foam | 23cm | Medium | 8.5 | 8.8 | £198 |
| Comfort Bubble Memory | Foam | 20cm | Medium-soft | 8.2 | 8.7 | £200 |
Prices are for a double at the time of writing (updated October 2026), using the sale price where the brand runs a permanent one. Rival brand terms are as published at the time of writing; check the retailer before you buy. 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.
How to choose within the range#
The Foam People line-up is easier to navigate once you see it as three depth tiers rather than a list of models.
10–18cm: guest rooms, children and occasional use#
The Westwood (18cm, £109), Core CoolMax (15cm, £147) and Core Bubble Memory (15cm, £148) are real two-layer mattresses, not foam slabs, but there is not enough material for an average adult to sleep on nightly for years. Buy them for a spare room, a student let, a child's first big bed or a rental. The Core CoolMax is the pick if the room gets warm; the Westwood is the pick if the budget is the whole brief. Our guest room guide covers the trade-off. Below all three sits the 10cm Westwood Core Supportive Firm (£107): a firm, single-layer foam mattress that is the right answer for a bunk bed, a cabin bed or a child who needs a firm surface, and not for an adult.
20cm: everyday mattresses with a specialism#
The Comfort Ortho Firm (£157) is the range's firm main-bed mattress and the best support-per-pound figure we list, at 8.6 for £157. The Comfort CoolMax Intelligent (£192) puts the CoolMax cover over a proper 20cm build and is the main-bed choice for hot sleepers. The Aerotac Superior Bubble (£195) gives a softer, profiled surface for side sleepers, though the Superior Cashmere is £3 more and scores higher. The Comfort Bubble Memory (£200) is the softest mattress in the range, with 5cm of memory foam over a 15cm base under a profiled surface, for side sleepers who found the Aerotac too firm.
23cm: the main-bed tier#
The Saffron Comfort Deep (£174) is the first model we would recommend without qualification as a primary bed, with balanced 8.3 / 8.5 scores and no obvious weakness. The Superior Cashmere (£198) is the plushest and best-scoring mattress in the range (8.5 / 8.8), with a cashmere-blend cover that belies the price. If you are buying a Foam People mattress to sleep on every night, start here.
Firmness: mostly medium, with exceptions at both ends#
Most of the range is medium, which is the feel the evidence favours for most sleepers: a systematic review of 39 studies found medium-firm best for comfort, sleep quality and spinal alignment.3 There are two firm exceptions. The Comfort Ortho Firm is genuinely firm, built on reflex foam rather than memory foam: if you sleep on your front, weigh over about 14 stone, or have been advised to sleep on a firm surface, it is the one to buy. The 10cm Westwood Core Supportive Firm is firmer still, a single slab of high-density foam for bunk beds, cabin beds and children rather than a main bed. At the other end, the Comfort Bubble Memory is the one model we rate medium-soft, with 5cm of memory foam under a profiled surface for side sleepers. Everyone else should stay with the medium models. Our firmness-by-weight chart gives a quick answer.
Custom sizes: what you can order#
Every Foam People mattress is cut to order, which means you can specify dimensions outside the standard UK sizes. That covers continental frames (140 × 200cm, 160 × 200cm), antique beds, caravan and motorhome berths with cut corners, boat cabins, bunk beds and loft rooms with awkward alcoves. Measure the inside of the frame, not the old mattress, and allow a small tolerance for the cover. Our EU sizes guide and UK sizes guide list the standard dimensions to check against.
Delivery, returns and warranty explained#
- Lead time. Made to order means a wait of days rather than next-day dispatch. Check the current estimate at checkout.
- No home trial. Unlike Emma (200 nights) or Luxe (100), you cannot return a Foam People mattress just because it does not suit you.
- Cancellation rights. Standard-size orders carry the normal 14-day online cancellation right. Custom-size orders do not: goods made to the consumer's specification are exempt under the Consumer Contracts Regulations. Treat a custom order as final unless it arrives faulty.
- Warranty. Five years against manufacturing defects. That is half what Emma and Luxe offer, but at £109–£198 the mattress costs a fraction of the price. Foam softens gradually with use whatever the brand,4 and gradual softening is not a warranty claim. Our warranty guide explains what is.
How The Foam People compare with rivals#
We have written full head-to-heads against the brands most shoppers cross-shop:
- The Foam People vs Emma – budget foam against the bed-in-a-box benchmark
- The Foam People vs Luxe Mattresses – two British value brands, foam against hybrid
- The Foam People vs Simba
- The Foam People vs OTTY
- The Foam People vs Nectar
- The Foam People vs Casper
- The Foam People vs Eve Sleep
The short version of all seven: The Foam People win on price and custom sizing every time, and lose on trial length, spring support and heavier-sleeper suitability every time. Which of those matters more is your decision to make.
Who should buy, and who should not#
Buy if you are furnishing a spare room, a child's room or a rental; you need a non-standard size; you want a firm mattress for the least money; or you want a real main-bed foam mattress under £200 and are of light-to-average build.
Look elsewhere if you weigh over about 16 stone and will sleep on it nightly; you want springs, strong edges or a responsive surface; you sleep very hot; or you are not confident about the firmness you need and want a trial to fall back on. Our best budget mattress guide lists the sprung and trialled alternatives at the next price up.
Frequently asked questions#
Are Foam People mattresses any good?#
For what they cost, yes. The 23cm Saffron Comfort Deep and Superior Cashmere are genuine main-bed mattresses with support scores of 8.3 and 8.5, and the Comfort Ortho Firm is the best support-per-pound mattress we list. The 15–18cm models are honest guest-room mattresses rather than everyday beds.
Do The Foam People offer a home trial?#
No. There is no sleep trial, and custom-size orders are exempt from the 14-day online cancellation right because they are made to your specification. Standard-size orders retain the normal cancellation right.
Which Foam People mattress is best?#
The Superior Cashmere (£198) has the highest scores in the range at 8.5 for support and 8.8 for comfort. The Saffron Comfort Deep (£174) is the best-value main bed, and the Comfort Ortho Firm (£157) is the pick for anyone who needs a firm surface.
Can I get a Foam People mattress in a custom size?#
Yes. Every mattress is cut to order, so you can specify non-standard dimensions for continental frames, antique beds, caravans, boats and bunk beds. Measure the inside of the frame rather than the old mattress.
How long will a Foam People mattress last?#
The 5-year warranty is a fair guide. Deeper models (20–23cm) under a light-to-average adult should comfortably see it out; the 15–18cm models under a heavier adult sleeping nightly will soften sooner. Rotate head-to-toe every few months to even out wear.
Do Foam People mattresses smell when new?#
A faint new-foam odour is normal for a day or two. Independent testing has found memory-foam emissions sit well below health-based guidance levels and fade within weeks, so unpack it in a ventilated room and air it before use.
References#
- Li X, Zhou B, Wu Z, et al. Exploring the effect of mattress cushion materials on human–mattress interface temperatures, pre-sleep thermal state and sleep quality. Indoor and Built Environment. 2021;30(5):650–667. doi:10.1177/1420326X20903375
- Beckett EM, Miller E, Russman E, Pierce JS, Unice K. Evaluation of volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions from memory foam mattresses and potential implications for consumer health risk. Chemosphere. 2022;303:134945. doi:10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.134945
- Caggiari G, Talesa GR, Toro G, Jannelli E, Monteleone G, Puddu L. What type of mattress should be chosen to avoid back pain and improve sleep quality? Review of the literature. Journal of Orthopaedics and Traumatology. 2021;22:51. doi:10.1186/s10195-021-00616-5
- Vlaović Z, Klarić N, Domljan D. Investigating the Impact of Long-Term Use on Mattress Firmness and Sleep Quality: Preliminary Results. Applied Sciences. 2024;14(21):10016. doi:10.3390/app142110016
