Your Ultimate Mattress buying guide
A perfect mattress is one of the most important sleep decisions you'll make.
Buying a perfect mattress is one of the most important decisions you may need to make, since we spend one third of our life on bed, one-night good sleep has a refreshing effect that benefit to our health and rebuild our energize for the next day, and Mattress is the most important impacts of a quality sleep. However, when choosing the right mattress, the numbers of selections, the wide range of materials, the technics using on them could be overwhelming, picking a perfect mattress is almost become mission impossible.
Fortunately, we will help you to do a little research and take you through exactly on choosing a mattress that takes the guesswork out of your way finding the perfect one for you and your family. Here is what we are going to talk about
How do you know you need a new mattress?
Most mattresses last 5-10 years as their lifespan and general after 7 years you will most likely need a new mattress. Although it is also depending on how you care and maintain it, for example my kid’s most favourite family time is "five little monkeys jumping on the bed" while we do not expect our mattress will last 7 years at all. Then how do you know exactly when do you need a new mattress? Pay attention on below warning signs that may help you.
- Waking up with body pain or numbness.
- Tossing and turning a lot, having difficulty to find comfortable position through the night.
- You are feeling like sinking too deeply into mattress
- Having difficulty to turn around.
- You can feel your partner making movement on the other side.
- Your mattress feeling a little saggy or uneven.
- Visible sunken 5cm lower than mattress surface.
Type of mattress and its pros and cons
When you walk into a mattress shop you are more likely to be greeted by a salesperson to introducing you a lot of words that you know but not knowing what they really are and ask you to lie down and feel the difference. However, apart from soft or firm, few seconds of lying down may not going to get you a true impression of what the bed feels like This guide will outline few popular types of mattresses in the market, from its constructions, material and the pros and cons to start with, so you could understand what they are trying to sell you and narrow down your selection while not spending exceed amount on unknown features.
Foam Mattress
Built from different layers and combinations of foam to deliver softness, support, and targeted pressure relief. The category’s most popular variants are memory foam and latex foam.
Memory Foam
Invented by NASA in 1966 to improve aircraft cushion safety, memory foam was released for public use in the early 1980s. Its slow-moving, body-conforming feel creates a “cradled” sensation, and its motion-absorbing properties reduce partner disturbance.
Many brands add cooling systems or a latex top layer to counteract heat retention — though it still runs warmer than other materials, and some sleepers dislike the deep “stuck-in-bed” sinkage.
Latex Mattress
Latex foam is favored for its light, breathable feel, fast response, and natural bounce. It comes in two types:
·Natural latex: Made from rubber trees, highly durable.
·Synthetic latex: Made from blended materials, slightly less durable but far more cost-effective.
PROS
- Excellent pressure relief and body contouring
- Near-zero motion transfer, great for couples
- Hypoallergenic, dust-mite resistant options
- Latex variants offer cooler sleep and faster bounce
Cons
- Tends to sleep warmer (especially memory foam)
- Deep sinkage or "stuck" feel for some users
- Heavier to move or rotate
- Natural latex has a higher price point
Innerspring Mattress
The most traditional, time-tested mattress design still widely used today. Innerspring mattresses use metal coils as their core support system, topped with layers of foam, fibers, or latex for consistent comfort.
The two most common spring systems are:
·Bonnell Spring: The classic, interconnected coil design since the 1950s. Durable and supportive, it distributes pressure evenly for a reliable, budget-friendly feel.
·Pocket Spring: Individual coils wrapped in fabric, stitched into zones. Each coil responds independently to your body, offering softer comfort, targeted joint support, and reduced partner disturbance.
A simple rule of thumb: the more coils an innerspring mattress has, the more responsive, supportive, and comfortable it tends to be.
PROS
- Naturally cool, with great airflow between coils
- Strong edge support for easy in/out of bed
- Budget-friendly options widely available
- Durable, long-lasting construction
Cons
- Higher motion transfer than foam mattresses
- Less precise pressure relief than foam
- Risk of coil noise or sagging over time
- Less personalized support in basic Bonnell designs
Hybrid Mattress
The ultimate combination mattress, built with both spring coils and foam comfort layers to merge the best of both worlds.
Typically featuring 1–2 layers of coils (including standard or micro-coil options) topped with 3–5 layers of memory foam, latex, or other cushioning materials, hybrid mattresses deliver the supportive bounce of an innerspring and the soft, pressure-relieving comfort of foam.
Thanks to its versatile, customizable construction, hybrid mattresses work well for most sleep styles — making them one of the most popular choices on the market.
PROS
- Balanced spring support + foam pressure relief
- Good motion isolation and cooler sleep than all-foam
- Versatile for most sleep positions and couples
- Reduces common downsides of both foam and innerspring
Cons
- Higher price point than basic foam or innerspring
- Heavier to move or rotate
- Quality varies widely depending on materials
- Can feel firmer or softer depending on coil/foam ratio
In conclusion — the comparison at a glance
Different types of mattresses work for different feels and bodies. Use this chart to scan trade-offs by type and popular sub-variants.
| Type of Mattress | Popular Types | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|---|
| Foam Mattress | Memory foam mattress | *Slow bounce that help release pressure *Motion absorbing that minimizes partner disturbance |
*May get hotter *May feel that sink too deep into mattress *May feel difficult in turning body due to its slow bounce |
| Latex Mattress | More bounce Cooler than memory foam Some latex made by nature material | Does not offer motion isolation | |
| Innerspring Mattress | Bonnell Spring Mattress | Affordable Firm and provide support evenly Better temperature control | Less comfortable Spring encouges motion transfer Less durable, can be squeaky |
| Pocket Spring Mattress | Provide more specific support to joins and body Better temperature control Durable and less noise | Motion isloate to minimize parter disturbance | |
| Hybrid Mattress | — | Customizable on features | Can be pricy |
Firm Mattress or Soft Mattress?
Lots of people having the same questions that is which one is better between firm mattress and soft mattress, and the answer is your body type and sleep position matters.
Before we stared into details, please keep in mind that firmness refers to how hard or soft a mattress feels by the person, meaning no matter a mattress being label as firm mattress or soft, weather it is a soft enough is depending on your own personal preference. Hence, we’re recommending you come to mattress store, armed with all knowledge provided in this article to have a try before you made your decision.
Now, lets go through few most common sleep positions and its best mattress for each and how preference vary by weight and body type.
Back Sleepers
The most important factors for back sleepers are support as well as pressure relief. When a mattress is too firm, those sleepers could experience necessary pressure on their lower back which can develop soreness or tiredness. On the other hands, if a mattress is too soft, their hips could sink too much into the mattress that could lost the balance of spine alignment may result in back pain.
In this case, the best mattress for back sleepers is midrange firmness that provide both support and comfort, a hybrid mattress that features pocket spring system and memory foam would provide a great balance of both that make it the best suit for back sleepers.
Side Sleepers
Side sleepers typically want to stick with a softer mattress as when you sleep on your side, most of the body weights rests in the shoulder and then hips areas which would require deep pressure relief at these areas.
Memory foam mattress is one of the good options for side sleepers due to its softness and the slow bounce feature that can provide better contour to sleeper’s body and pressure relief. While, if you are not a fun of foam mattress, soft to midrange 7 zone hybrid mattress with memory foam or latex would well suited.
Stomach Sleepers
Of all sleeper types, stomach sleepers require firm mattress most. The biggest the issue a stomach sleeper will face is a soft mattress that can cause the neck and hips to sink out of the alignment with rest spine of the body. However, it does not mean that stomach sleeper would end up getting a mattress that feel like sleeps on a rock, an inner spring mattress might be the choice for those sleepers. If you do not like the shaking from a bonnell spring mattress or you are a light sleeper that easily impacted when your sleep partner turns, then pocket spring mattress that combined with either pillow top (more likely a hybrid mattress now) or an extra layer mattress topper would provide a good amount of support on spine while offers enough contour to the body at the same time.
Combination Sleepers
Combination sleepers who move around between positions during sleep will want a mattress that do not sink too deep to hardly rotate, as the slower bounce a mattress offers, the harder to rotate your body.
A medium firm mattress is an excellent choice, you will get a good mount of support from it while it is able provide comfort across your back, side and stomach.
Body shape and weight impacts your feels
If you find yourself always feels too firm or sometimes even feel hard when lying down on a claimed medium or soft mattress in a bed store, I will assume you are a light weighted person that below 58kg. While if you always find mattresses are too soft, and you could not feel the bounce or mattress that do not feel supportive enough, you are more likely over 100kg.
As in mattress world, the scale of firmness was based on an average body weight of 58kg – 100kg. Hence if you are looking for a medium firm mattress, for those lightweight sleepers, you may want to try on with soft ones while for those heavy weight sleepers may discovered a firm mattress is something you feel just enough soft.
After all, no matter how sellers are defining their mattress as firm mattress or soft mattress, your own body and own feeling, tells the truth.
New Zealand Mattress sizes
Selecting the right size of the are really comes down to the size of your bedroom and how would you like to layout your bedroom furniture , which is typically your personal choices and lifestyles.
While queen bed is the most popular size in NZ in the past many years, you may want to have larger size such as king or super king for your main bedroom while maybe a double for kids room hence understand the size of mattress is a must.
Mattress sizes and names in New Zealand may vary between Australia or UK, please see below mattress nz size chart and our suggestions.
| Mattress NZ Size Chart | ||
|---|---|---|
| Mattress Sizes | Dimensions | Recommendation |
| Single Mattress | 188cm x 91cm | 1 person, children or teens, or small spaces |
| King Single Mattress | 203cm x 107cm | 1 person, taller children or teens |
| Double Mattress | 188cm x 135cm | 1-2 person |
| Queen Mattress | 203cm x 153cm | couples or 1-2 person |
| King Mattress | 203cm x 165cm | couples, couples with children or pets |
| Super King Mattress | 203cm x 183cm | couples, couples with children or pets who prefer larger spaces |
What to look for when picking a mattress? The key features
Motion Transfer
Motion Transfer measures how well a mattress absorbs motion that to minimum patterner distribution. It is one of the most important factors to look for when buying mattresses especially for those light sleepers, any small disturbing can end up losing the whole good night sleep, then day by day, night after night of the same situation, it may impact your health and your life.
Memory foam tend to be the best material that absorbing motions, hence Memory foam mattress will be a great option for those couples who share bed or families having kids or pets around climbing up and down all the time.
In the meantime, if you are not a fun of sink into mattress too much or you are a hot sleeper, certain hybrid mattress that constructed by individual pocket spring system would provide you same motion isolation as well.
Responsiveness
Responsiveness measures how well the mattress response to your movement, in general, the more bounce the more responsiveness a mattress offers.
Memory foam mattress due to its slow bounce that provide much more contour of your body that feel like you are sink into or cuddled by mattress which then the responsiveness would be slow, while innerspring mattress will provide you instant response when you move your body.
If you are frequently changing your sleep position, responsiveness is something you definitely want to put into consideration.
Temperature Control
Temperature control measures if a mattress retains heats or how well its present airflow or breathability. You will want to make sure the mattress is helping transfer the heat away but not keeping them.
Mattress with breathable material such as latex mattress, gel foam mattress will provide a cooler sleeping surface while innerspring mattress will help with the airflow underneath your body.
Support and pressure relief
Support measures if the mattress is firm enough to keeps alignment of your spine while provide a good amount of softness for your body to distribute weight evenly.
When a mattress is too soft, you may find your shoulder and hips that sinking too deep into the mattress that may impact the spine alignment while too firm you will feel the most pressure given to your shoulder and hips that you cannot find a comfortable position when lying on bed.
Hence, a mattress provides enough support but not too firm would be something you want to look for. Hybrid mattresses that often combines spring system that provide good amount of support while the top layers that features memory foam, latex or gel that provide you with the comfortable to help even out the body weight that your muscle could rest.
How to maintain mattress to make them last longer?
If you are still reading, you have put a lot of efforts into electing a mattress and I believe you have something in mind already. Then, it is time to think about the next steps to make the most use of your investment.
Caring a mattress is relatively easy and simple but an effective way to help against wear and tear to make it last longer.
No matter you are end up buying foam mattress or hybrid mattress, a soft or firm mattress, a single or queen mattress, most manufactures recommend regularly rotating your mattress from head to foot regularly to help promote more even wear.
The most simple but effective way to protect your mattress is to use a mattress protector. A good protector offers waterproof protection to against sweat, dirt and dust it is also a guard to avoid spills and accidents. A protector also makes your clean job a snap.
Remove and wash your sheets, beddings, and protector that maybe your regular routine already, vacuuming your mattress during your laundries will help prevent a build up of dust mites and allergens.
Well, little monkeys that are jumping on the bed are only putting the monkeys in an unsafe place while adding necessary pressures on the mattress that may damage the spring system overtime.
Although breakfast in bed on Valentine's Day sounds so romantic and having snacks during movie night in bed are creasy cosy, food and drinks do leave nothing but small unnoticeable residue that bugs will take these as invitation to join you in bed. If you decide to enjoy the life no matter what, make sure your cleaning routine that happens more frequently.
A second-hand mattress or bed sound like a great deal but you may bring in something unwanted such as those flat, small, brown bugs. Keeping your bedroom clean, wash your sheets and beddings regularly and be careful what you bring in and out of your bedroom.
Where to buy good mattress that are affordable?
Good quality mattress could be expensive sometime but aren’t necessarily to be unaffordable, especially there are mattress stores online that reducing their store costing to offer cheaper options for you in the market.
There are clear benefits and downsides to both in-store shopping and online shopping.
The main benefit to shop a mattress in-store is that you do get to feel the mattress directly. However, lying down on a mattress for a few minutes may not going to tell you the true feelings of you actually sleeping on it. The environment in store, the crowned shoppers and the passionate salesperson who want their sales target done, may makes you overwhelmed to make wrong choices. That being said, you’d better arm yourself with knowledge and did enough research and comparison between their models before you head to store to ensure the best outcome.
On the other hand, shopping mattress online that allows you to compare all their mattresses and get a clear understanding the features of each model and make your own decision slow and clear. However, as we mentioned in this article before, your weight and body type may result in different feelings on the firmness of a mattress in regardless of their labelling as soft or firm.
Is there any way we can do both? Can we pre-read all the mattress information and do enough comparison online to narrow done the selections and go straight away to the store to try it on and to confirm, yes, it is what I wanted? The answer is yes, a lot of furniture stores has now had their own website that offer online shopping opportunities while you are still able to shop instore, Treasurebox is one of them that not only offering good mattress on budget as well as beds and bedroom furniture that allow you to create your cosy bedroom at one stop.
FAQs about mattress
How to clean a mattress?
General cleaning a mattress is relatively easy, follow the steps to help keep your sleep environment fresh.
Waking up with body pain or numbness.
Tossing and turning a lot, having difficulty to find comfortable position through the night.
You are feeling like sinking too deeply into mattress
Use a protector
How to remove stains from a mattress?
To proper clean a stain from a mattress, you will want to gather below supplies before you start
Cold water
Baking soda
Few Towels
A gentle, bleach-free laundry liquid
Dish soap or enzyme cleaner
Once you have all supplies ready, following below steps
Apply a small amount of the laundry liquid on a clean towel, rub it until foaming
Gently blot the stain area with the towel
Apply cold water to a different clean cloth
Gently blot the stain area with half-wet cloth
Repeat if necessary
Let dry
Apply a layer of baking soda over the surface to absorb the moisture and odor.
There are few important factors you need to keep in mind
Use as little laundry liquid as possible
Never apply cleaning solutions directly on a mattress, use cloth instead
Avoid too much of wet or do not soak the mattress
Use different type of clean solutions on different of stains such as blood, sweat, urine etc. The best option is an enzyme cleaner or as simple as foaming from a 1:1 mixed soap water.
