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Written by
Daniel Noyed
Sleepfoundation.org is reader-supported. We may earn a commission through products purchased using links on this page. Learn more about our process here
No other mattress type boasts the same track record as the innerspring. These mattresses have long served as a cornerstone product in the industry and are fashioned around a tried-and-true coil-based support system.
Historically, innersprings have been made with limited or no extra layers placed above the springs, leaving the compression of the coils as the only means of providing support to the body. However, this bare-bones design has been fading in popularity and increasingly replaced by innerspring cores with multiple layers placed above them. These models offer a major step up from traditional innersprings and are the focus of our top picks.
Innersprings typically offer significant bounce, making it easy to adjust your sleeping position or move on top of the bed. They normally have quality edge support and stay cool because coils retain virtually no body heat. Depending on the comfort system, innersprings can come at an affordable price point and offer average durability of 6 years or more.
If you’re trying to decide if an innerspring mattress is right for you, consider the following guidance:
Choose an innerspring if:
Skip an innerspring if:
The Saatva is built with attention to detail throughout its coil-on-coil design that receives an added boost of support with a foam-filled pillow top.
The Saatva mattress doubles down on the benefits of coils, employing a coil-on-coil construction that is further enhanced by a pillow top filled with pressure-relieving foam.
The two coil layers in the Saatva has distinct build styles. The bottom layer, which is either 4 or 7 inches thick depending on the model you choose, utilizes bonnell coils. With 13-gauge steel, these coils are strong and offer a reliable support core and meaningful edge support.
Above those coils is a 4-inch layer of micro-coils. These are individually wrapped, letting each coil compress in a way that is more tailored to the weight is applied to the bed. While helping with spinal alignment, these coils also generate bounce to make moving around a cinch on top of the Saatva.
The pillow top layer has an arrangement of polyfoam as well as a memory foam lumbar pad that provides extra appeal to stomach and back sleepers who tend to need more cushioning for the lower back. A breathable organic cotton cover rounds out the overall construction.
For both the 11.5-inch and 14.5-inch models, customers can select between a soft, medium, and firm feel, which broadens the Saatva’s ability to serve all types of sleepers regardless of their weight and preferred sleeping position.
As an additional perk, the Saatva comes with free installation and removal of an old mattress as well as a 180-night sleep trial. However, if you choose to return the bed, Saatva does charge $99 to cover the cost of return shipping. The mattress has a 15-year warranty against defects.
It’s hard to find a mattress that tops the edge support of the WinkBed, which also strikes a compelling blend of bounce and contouring.
The WinkBed puts a range of materials to use in creating a dynamic mattress with stout edge support and the ability to suit a broad swath of sleepers regardless of their weight or sleeping position.
A coil-on-coil design drives the performance of the WinkBed. Its support core uses individually wrapped coils that are specially arranged to provide a more robust feel near the edges and give extra support to heavier parts of the body. Right above this layer are micro-coils, which are also individually wrapped, letting all of the springs in this mattress cushion the body in a tailored way.
In addition to micro-coils, the WinkBed uses gel-infused polyfoam that is part of the fill material for a stitched pillow top. This lets the mattress provide greater contouring and hug, especially for people who opt for the softer firmness options.
With medium soft, medium firm, and firm options available, the WinkBed can deliver necessary support for back, stomach, and side sleepers. Back and stomach sleepers usually find that the firm option works best for them. A special model, known as the WinkBed Plus, is also available with a design intended specifically for people over 300 pounds.
After delivery, a 120-night return window allows customers to test out the WinkBed and truly get a sense of its performance. Over the long-term, it is backed by the company’s lifetime warranty policy.
A coil-based support core and bouncy Talalay latex layer drive high-end performance from the EcoCloud, which also features multiple organic and natural components.
The EcoCloud is a new offering from the WinkBeds team that gets the most out of coils, natural latex, and organic textiles like cotton and wool. With a thick latex comfort layer above a robust support core, it offers considerably greater durability than many innerspring models.
A key selling point for the EcoCloud is its natural materials. The cover is fashioned out of a blend of organic cotton and wool. In addition to being environmentally friendly, these materials are soft and breathable.
Beneath the cover is a 4-inch layer of natural latex made using the Talalay process. This material provides a notable softness and contouring without jeopardizing bounce. By opting for a thick comfort layer made with a trustworthy material, WinkBeds has built the EcoCloud to last.
In the support core, the EcoCloud has pocketed coils organized into five zones to allow for even more tailored spinal support. The edges are reinforced to prevent excess compression when sitting or sleeping near the perimeter of the bed.
Available in a medium feel, this mattress tends to be the best fit for side sleepers of any weight as well as back and stomach sleepers under 130 pounds.
The EcoCloud comes with a 120-night sleep trial with free returns, and WinkBeds helps customers sleep easy over the long-term thanks to a lifetime warranty covering mattress defects.
The Brooklyn Bedding Aurora utilizes three foam layers above a sturdy core of coils to cultivate a comfortable, supportive feel that appeals to sleepers in all positions.
The Brooklyn Bedding Aurora mattress offers one of the best luxury sleeping experiences the market for an innerspring with a thick, reliable comfort system. With a mix of foams, it relieves pressure without allowing too much hug or sink.
The comfort system of the Aurora involves three different foams. The first is Brooklyn’s proprietary Energex polyfoam, which is a responsive foam infused with copper to prevent heat absorption. Under this is a layer of TitanFlex foam, another responsive proprietary polyfoam. This is followed by a layer of gel memory foam, which conforms closely to the sleeper’s body to relieve pressure. The cover is made with phase change material, which absorbs heat from the sleeper’s body and disperses it away from the bed.
These foam layers allow the Aurora to keep the sleeper’s spine aligned while maintaining an ease of movement on top of the bed. That feel is augmented by the support core, which is made with 8 inches of pocketed coils and a base layer of high-density polyfoam. The coils make the mattress stronger around the edge, and the underlying foam softens impact to prevent noise.
Brooklyn Bedding provides customers with 120 nights to test out the Aurora with the option to return it for a full refund. Brooklyn Bedding also backs the Aurora with a 10-year warranty against defects in materials and manufacturing.
The Aviya mattress delivers responsiveness and spinal support through its pocketed coil system and three layers of cushioning foam.
The Aviya mattress has made its mark as a coil-based mattress that elevates its performance with a foam-based comfort system. This mattress is a solid pick for people looking for a quality innerspring with a wallet-friendly price.
An 8-inch layer of individually-wrapped, 15-gauge coils form the base of the Aviya mattress. Extra coils are clustered near the center of the bed, stepping up the amount of support for the lumbar spine. This feature can be especially helpful for stomach and back sleepers who are prone to experience back pain in this area.
Above the coils are three layers of polyfoam that bring additional conforming and pressure relief. The topmost layer is quilted into a cotton cover, and two other high-density foam layers both cushion the body and reduce the risk of sagging or putting excess strain on the coils.
Aviya offers three versions of this mattress based on firmness. Customers can choose from Plush, Luxury Firm, and Firm options, so almost all sleepers, regardless of body weight or sleeping position, can find an Aviya model that can match their needs.
The Aviya boasts a competitive price-point that makes it more affordable than many other mattresses with similar components. The mattress comes with a 100-night sleep trial with no return shipping or restocking fees. The company provides a 10-year non-prorated warranty that covers defects in materials and manufacturing.
The Joybed LX uses a natural cotton and wool comfort system instead of chemical foams, over a supportive bed of pocketed coils.
The Joybed LX is an eco-friendly mattress that combines natural and organic materials with the robust support of strong, individually pocketed coil springs.
As the Joybed LX’s support core is made of pocketed coils, the bed provides a bouncy feel and a stable surface. The springs are able to respond to changes in pressure independently of each other, rather than compressing as a unit.
Rather than using foams, the Joybed LX’s comfort system is made of a combination of layers of both organic cotton and organic wool. The cotton and wool are both highly breathable, moisture-wicking materials that help keep the bed sleeping cool through the night, even for those who sleep hot. The lack of foam comfort layers means the Joybed LX avoids the common pitfalls of retaining heat and off-gassing foam odors.
The mattress’s cotton cover is Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) certified organic. The natural materials used in the bed, as well as their suppliers, go through multiple testing and certification programs to ensure the animals are raised responsibly and the cotton and wool are free of harmful chemicals and other substances. Lastly, the mattress employs a plant-based fire barrier rather than making use of a chemical flame retardant.
The coil system and natural padding give the Joybed LX a firm (7-8) feel that suits the needs of sleepers of a wide variety of sizes and sleep positions. Back and stomach sleepers especially should find the blend of strong support and comfort that they need with this mattress.
The Joybed LX ships for free to the contiguous U.S., while paid shipping may be available to Alaska and Hawaii. White Glove delivery along with old mattress removal are available for an additional fee. The mattress is backed by a 120-night sleep trial along with a 10-year warranty.
The Real Bed mattress is a hybrid innerspring mattress made using natural materials that is available at an affordable price-point.
The Real Bed mattress combines a strong base of Powercore pocketed innerspring coils with multiple layers of latex, wool, and other natural and organic materials. The result is a hybrid innerspring model that provides a combination of support and pressure relief suitable for a wide variety of different sleepers.
The mattress is wrapped in a cover made of organic cotton with a breathable, eucalyptus-based rayon lining. Underneath the surface of the mattress is a layer of moisture-wicking wool, followed by 3 inches of bouncy natural latex.
The core of the mattress is the Powercore spring unit, which is made of sturdy, individually pocketed coils. These coils provide a healthy degree of pushback and bounce, while also isolating motion to a greater extent than a traditional coil system. This support core rests on a base of more layers of natural latex, wool, and eucalyptus-based rayon.
The Real Bed’s construction makes it a solid choice for sleepers of all sizes and preferred sleeping positions, especially back and stomach sleepers. The coil core’s strong support and the bed’s medium firm feel have broad appeal and meet the needs of a wide variety of sleepers. The multiple layers of latex and natural materials provide a responsive, moderate amount of contouring. That being said, side sleepers who weigh less than 130 pounds will likely find the bed a bit too firm and may want a model with deeper cradling.
The Real Bed ships free to the contiguous U.S., with paid shipping available to Alaska, Hawaii, and some international locales. White Glove delivery is available in many of the contiguous states for an additional fee. The mattress comes with a 100-night sleep trial period and a 10-year prorated warranty. The coil core unit is covered under a separate 25-year warranty.
The Big Fig is thoughtfully designed for people with higher body weight and achieves its goal of offering these customers a more durable and supportive mattress.
People who have a higher body weight can face significant challenges when selecting a mattress. Firmness levels may not account for them, edge support can be insufficient, and long-term durability can be a serious concern. Big Fig has taken on those challenges by designing and manufacturing a mattress just for people with a bigger figure.
The Big Fig mattress has a support core of 15-gauge pocketed coils that are strong enough to prevent sagging and flexible enough to respond to the distribution of weight across the bed. A dense polyfoam is used to encase the coils around the perimeter of the mattress in order to bolster edge support.
Four separate layers form the comfort system. The top layer is a gel-infused latex. Latex is durable and conforming enough to cushion pressure points but bouncy and stable enough to hedge against deep hug. The next three layers are all polyfoam with densities ranging from 1.8 to 2.5 pounds per cubic foot (PCF). These combine with the latex to offer a responsive yet comfortable sleeping surface.
A ThermoGel technology in the cover resists heat buildup, and both latex and the coil system score well with customers when it comes to temperature regulation. The Big Fig has a medium firm feel for heavier-weight sleepers, which makes it especially suitable for those who sleep on their side or back.
Big Fig customers have 120 nights to use the mattress in their own bedroom and decide if it’s the right fit for them. If they choose to keep the mattress, a 20-year warranty provides product protection over the longer-term.
Innerspring mattresses can be found at a huge range of prices. The most bare-bones models with thin, low-quality coils and no comfort layer can be found for only a few hundred dollars for a queen size. Luxury innersprings with thick coils, double-tempered steel, reinforced edges, advanced comfort systems, quality materials, and added features can cost up to and even above $2,500.
For a quality innerspring, the price tends to be similar to or slightly more than all-foam mattresses and less than all-latex mattresses and airbeds. The exact nature of the innerspring design, such as the type, thickness, and quality of its materials, will influence the price and how much any model’s cost compares to other mattress types.
The coils in an innerspring mattress can wear down over time, losing their ability to maintain or spring back to their full, original height. When this happens, the mattress begins to sag and falter in supporting your body.
With traditional innersprings, an average lifespan was around five years, but with most modern innersprings, including our top picks, we expect a lifespan of 6-8 years and perhaps more.
Several factors can influence the longevity of an innerspring:
As these criteria demonstrate, a higher-end innerspring is likely to have a significantly longer lifespan than a cheaper model. Looking closely at the specifications can help you determine how long you can hope to use any given model.
With almost any type of innerspring, you can occasionally rotate the mattress, putting what had been the head of the bed underneath your feet but without flipping the mattress. This can keep any one part of the mattress from wearing out more quickly from excess use.
If you’re diving deep into the available innerspring options, it may be helpful to know about a few other items that are sometimes listed with this type of bed.
Coil gauge is a way of describing how thick the coils are. While it can be confusing to remember, the lower the gauge, the thicker the coils. Coil gauge often ranges from around 13 to 18, and a lower gauge will normally be firmer and more durable.
Some mattresses will use multiple coil gauges in the support core. For example, they may have certain zones with thicker coils, such as around the perimeter or under the shoulders and hips.
The coil count is the total number of coils present in the system. Unfortunately, coil counts can be confusing and even misleading. If the coils are very small or use thin steel, a higher coil count may give a false sense of the durability or quality of the support core.
While you can look at the coil count, remember to consider it within the context of other factors such as the type of coils, their quality, and their gauge.
For most online mattresses, shipping is free and is done by compressing the mattress, sealing it in packaging, and then mailing it in a box. Once you take the box to your bedroom and remove the packaging, the mattress quickly takes its full shape. Some innersprings can be heavy, so this process often requires two people, especially for a larger bed.
With some innerspring options, installation may be included or available with your purchase. This involves a team coming to your home and setting up the mattress in your bedroom. Often they will be able to remove an old mattress at the same time if requested. You can check with the mattress seller or with third-party service providers in your area about setup and haul-away services.
