The quick answer#

The Foam People make budget, made-to-order all-foam mattresses from around £109, with custom sizes. Casper is a well-known bed-in-a-box with engineered foam (and hybrid) models designed around a balanced, zoned feel and a home trial. Choose The Foam People to spend the least or get a custom size; choose Casper for a refined, zoned all-rounder with a risk-free trial.

Price and value#

  • The Foam People: roughly £109–£198, the cheapest credible route to a supportive bed, and the only one here that makes non-standard sizes.
  • Casper: higher prices, though often discounted. You pay for the zoned engineering and a longer trial.

Feel and support#

The Foam People build 100% foam, close contouring, strong motion isolation, a medium feel that suits side sleepers and couples. Casper's zoned construction aims to be firmer under the hips and softer at the shoulders for balanced support across positions. For most people a medium feel is the safest target, a systematic review of 39 studies found medium-firm best supports comfort, sleep quality and spinal alignment.1

Sleeping cool and foam smell#

All-foam mattresses can sleep warmer and have a faint initial odour. Independent testing of memory-foam emissions found volatile organic compounds well below health-based guidance values, decaying within weeks, so a short airing is usually enough.2 If you sleep hot, look at The Foam People's CoolMax options or Casper's cooling-focused models, and see our cooling guide.

Durability#

Quality foams retain much of their firmness through extended use, though all foam softens over time.3 Rotate either regularly to even out wear; denser cores last better.

Which should you choose?#

  • Choose The Foam People if: you want the lowest price, a custom size, or an all-foam contouring feel.
  • Choose Casper if: you want a zoned, balanced all-rounder with a long home trial.

Read our Foam People review and Casper review, or take our quiz to match a bed to your sleep style.

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References#

  1. 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
  2. Beckett EM, Cackovic K, Charles S, et al. Quantification of volatile organic compound emissions from memory foam mattresses and predicted inhalation exposures. Chemosphere. 2022;303:134945. doi:10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.134945
  3. 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