Best Innerspring Mattresses
Introduction
Innerspring mattresses were first manufactured in the early 1900s and have largely dominated the mattress industry ever since, due in part to widespread availability and relatively low pricing. Recent data estimates that 60% to 70% of mattresses sold today are
Innersprings have qualities and characteristics that make them particularly suitable for certain sleepers:
- Coil-based support cores help distribute weight equally across the mattress, making them supportive enough for many
back – and stomach-sleepers and heavier individuals. - A highly responsive sleep surface with considerable bounce makes these mattresses better for sex than other types.
- Minimal body heat retention, allowing most sleepers to remain cool and comfortable throughout the night.
- More edge support than foam- or latex-based mattresses, which leads to less sinkage where people sit at the edges.
- Faster break-in period due to a firmer, less conforming sleep surface.
What types of innerspring mattresses are on the market?
When categorizing innerspring mattresses, the type of coil is the primary consideration. Most mattress coils today are
- Bonnell: Bonnell coils are the oldest type of coils used in
innersprings , and still widely available today at a relatively low price. They aremolded from tempered steel in an hourglass shape and coupled with spiral-shaped wires calledhelicals ; they may also be reinforced with additional wires. Bonnell coils can support a relatively high amount of body weight over a long period of time. As a result,bonnell -coilinnersprings are frequently used in commercial settings that accommodate a steady stream of sleepers, such as hotels, hospitals, nursing homes, and college dorms. - Offset: Offset coils are also made from tempered steel, hourglass-shaped, and joined with
helicals , but the bottom ismolded into a straight line. This creates a hinge effect when the springs are bearing weight. In addition to this standard design, there are two common variations: double offset coils are straightened at the top and bottom for addedsupport; and free-arm offset coils are not joined withhelicals . Offset coils are exceptionallydurable, and usually found in mattresses with above-average price-points. - Continuous wire: These mattresses are designed with rows of singular wires
molded from non-tempered steel into circular shapes and joined withhelicals on both sides, resulting in the same hinging motion as offset coils. Continuous wireinnersprings are highly stable and durable, but these mattresses offer little to no body-contouring or spinal support. - Pocketed: Also known as Marshall coils or encased coils, pocketed coils are covered in cloth and coupled with
neighboring coils using adhesives or glues, rather thanhelicals . Pocketed coilinnersprings tend offer more contouring and often reduce motion transfer compared to other coil types. They are found ininnersprings with relatively highprice-points, and used in hybrid mattresses as well. They are also fairly thin and ― unlike the other three coil types ― usually made from non-tempered steel, resulting in relatively short lifespans.
When comparing innerspring coils, wire ‘gauge’ (or thickness) is an important quality to keep in mind. The higher the gauge, the thinner the wire; low-gauge wires feel firmer than high-gauge wires, and tend to be more durable. The bulk of today’s
Another measurement commonly used for innerspring marketing is ‘coil count’, which simply refers to the total number of springs. Most Queen-size
The table below summarizes the four main coil types in terms of shape, configuration, gauge, coil count, and price-point:
Coil Type | Shape | Joiner | Gauge | Average Coil Count | Cost |
Bonnell | Hourglass with rounded top and bottom | Helicals and low-gauge wire | Low to high | 300 to 600 | Low price-point |
Offset | Hourglass with straightened top and/or bottom | Helicals | Low to medium | 600 to 2,000 | Medium to high price-point |
Continuous Wire | Straight lines in uniform rows | Helicals | Medium to high | 400 to 800 | Medium price-point |
Pocketed | Spiral encased in cloth or fabric | Adhesive | High | 800 to 1,200 | Medium to high price-point |
What is the typical construction of an innerspring bed?
The term ‘innerspring’ refers specifically to the support core of the mattress. The tempered-steel coils are evenly spaced throughout the core for optimal support, pressure relief, and weight distribution. Coils positioned at the edges of the mattress may be reinforced with materials like foam or webbing because they are more susceptible to sagging than the central areas of the bed. This helps provide overall support and minimize sinking at the edges where people usually sit when they get up from or into bed.
In terms of the comfort system, or topmost mattress layers, most
How does an innerspring mattress feel?
According to our findings, innerspring owners and users have reported the following experiences:
- Firmness: Compared to mattresses made of latex or foam,
innersprings tend to have relatively firm sleep surfaces that offer little to no conforming. Medium-firm is considered the best option for most sleepers, although heavier sleepers and those who sleep on their backs or stomachs may feel more comfortable on mattresses rated as ‘Firm’ or ‘Very Firm’. - Responsiveness: Innersprings are highly responsive and fairly bouncy. As a result, they
are often considered the best mattresses for sex. - Temperature: Because they conform less and retain lower levels of body heat,
innersprings sleep fairly cool compared to latex and foam-based mattresses. - Motion isolation: How well an innerspring reduces motion transfer often depends on the coil type. Bonnell and continuous wire coils offer below-average motion isolation, while pocketed and offset coils tend to minimize motion to a greater extent.
Who should buy an innerspring?
Innersprings are constructed with evenly spaced coils in the support cores that help withstand compression and distribute weight. For this reason, they are often suitable for sleepers who weigh 230 pounds or more, as well as those who sleep on their back or stomach.
Innersprings do not contour to sleeper’s bodies very
What is the lifespan/durability of an innerspring mattress?
The average lifespan of an innerspring mattress is five and a half years. This is considerably lower than the average lifespan for all mattress types, which is roughly seven years. Sagging is the primary reason for the below-average longevity of innerspring mattresses. Sagging occurs when body impressions cause the sleep surface to become uneven, which often results in added back pain and pressure. A significant number of innerspring owners report noticeable sagging within three years of their original purchase.
However, many factors impact the overall lifespan of an innerspring mattress. Coil type is one major consideration. Generally, lower-gauge coils made from tempered steel (
Significant sagging or indentations are usually covered under the mattress warranty. In most cases, the warranty will specify a sagging/indentation depth ― typically one to one and a half inches ― that constitutes a mattress defect. Sagging or indentations that do not reach this depth are considered normal wear and tear ― not defects ― and manufacturers will not cover the costs of repairing or replacing the mattress.
Sagging and indentation benchmarks are not the only factor to consider when comparing innerspring mattress warranties.
Nonprorated coverage refers to the initial period of the warranty when the manufacturer will replace or repair defective mattresses at no extra cost to the owner, with the exception of shipping and handling fees in some cases. When
How much do innerspring mattresses cost?
In addition to mattress size, here are a few more factors that can impact the price-point of an innerspring:
- Coil type: As mentioned above, mattresses with offset or pocketed coils tend to be more expensive than those made with
bonnell or continuous wire coils. - Coil count: The number of coils may not affect the price to a significant extent, but many brands apply higher price-points to mattresses with higher coil counts.
- Comfort layer materials: Innersprings made with
specialty memory foams ― such asgel or copper-infused foam ― may be priced higher than those with standard memory foam or polyfoam comfort layers. Foam density may also play a role in pricing. - The brand: Regardless of performance or longevity, some brands price their innerspring mattresses higher than others.
Price-points for innerspring mattresses may range anywhere from less than $100 to more than $3,000. However, most Queen-size
What are the pros of innerspring mattresses?
Some benefits of choosing an innerspring include:
- Innersprings are widely available online and in brick-and-mortar stores, and most leading brands offer multiple models.
- Innersprings are highly responsive and fairly bouncy, making them easier to get on and off of, and generally better for sex than other mattress types.
- The coils in
innersprings are evenly spaced to provide optimal support and weight distribution for heavier individuals and those who sleep on their backs or stomachs. - Edge support in
innersprings is above-average compared to mattresses made of foam or latex. - Most
innersprings retain low amounts of body heat, allowing sleepers to remain relatively cool throughout the night. - Innersprings usually produce minimal off-gassing
odor compared to latex and foam-based models. - Innersprings tend to be priced lower than other mattress types.
What are the cons of innerspring mattresses?
Drawbacks associated with using
- Innersprings have below-average lifespans compared to other mattress types, and many owners report significant sagging or indentations after three to four years of use.
- Due to their high levels of responsiveness, most
innersprings (particularly those withbonnell or continuous wire coils) do not isolate motion as much as latex or foam-based mattresses. - Because they do not conform as closely as other mattresses,
innersprings do not alleviate as much back pain or pressure. - Innersprings can be quite noisy due to their metal components, particularly during sex.
- Innersprings have the lowest overall customer satisfaction ratings among all mattress types.