Construction, size and everyday use
Compare bed & mattress types
Compare bed and mattress types side by side. These 40 guides explain construction, size, storage, care and the questions to ask before buying. Start with a pair you are considering, then follow the practical checks for your room and mattress. Firmness labels and product details still need checking on the exact model.
Information only — constructions and use cases. BedGuide does not rank brands, and payment never changes a comparison. For searched topics in one place, see type comparisons people look up .
Mattress types
Understand the springs, foam and latex inside the mattress.
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Comparison
Bed-in-a-box (rolled) vs Traditional (flat) mattress
A bed-in-a-box mattress is vacuum-compressed and shipped in a carton, then expands at home. A traditional mattress usually arrives flat at full loft. Compression is a delivery method — both still need UK size, a suitable base, support matched to body weight and clear trial or warranty rules.
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Comparison
Firm vs Medium-firm
A firm mattress lets you sink very little, so you lie more on top of it. A medium-firm mattress has some give on top and firmer support below. Many UK shops put firm at about 8–9 and medium-firm at about 6–7 on a 1–10 scale, but each shop’s scale differs. Compare within one shop.
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Comparison
Hybrid vs Pocket sprung
A pocket sprung mattress is defined by its in fabric pockets coil core; a hybrid adds substantial foam or latex comfort layers above that (or a similar) spring core. Every hybrid with pockets is pocket-based, but not every pocket mattress is a hybrid — the label hinges on how thick and intentional the comfort stack is.
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Comparison
Latex vs Pocket sprung
Latex mattresses use natural or synthetic latex foam for buoyant contouring. Pocket sprung mattresses use individual coils in fabric pockets for zoned spring support. Latex often feels springy without metal coils; pocket units tune tension with wire and coil design. Compare feel and care needs, not slogans.
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Comparison
Memory foam vs Hybrid
A memory foam mattress supports mainly with foam layers that contour under heat and pressure. A hybrid combines coils with foam or fibre comfort layers for more bounce and airflow paths. Choose by how you want the bed to move and vent — not by carton marketing. Both still need a suitable base and correct UK size.
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Comparison
Memory foam vs Latex
Memory foam is memory foam with slow recovery and heat-sensitive softness. Latex foam (Dunlop or Talalay) typically rebounds faster and feels more buoyant. Memory foam contours deeply; latex often sleeps cooler relative to classic memory foam formulations and commonly lasts longer in durability bands.
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Comparison
Pocket sprung vs Memory foam
A pocket sprung mattress supports with individual in fabric pockets steel coils; a memory foam mattress contours with memory foam that softens with heat. Pocket units usually feel bounceier with more airflow paths; memory foam contours more slowly and can sleep warmer unless open-cell. Choose by support mechanism, not brand slogans.
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Comparison
Pocket sprung vs Open coil (Bonnell)
Pocket sprung mattresses encase each coil in fabric so springs act more independently. Open-coil Bonnell units lace hourglass springs into one wire grid, so load shares across the lattice. Expect lower movement felt from a partner and finer moulding to shape from pockets; open coil remains common where cost-efficient interconnected support is the design goal.
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Comparison
Split tension (one mattress) vs Zip-and-link (two mattresses)
A split tension mattress is one unit with two firmness or spring-tension bands. A zip-and-link bed is two mattresses joined with a zip. Split tension looks like one bed. Zip-and-link can mix types and go up stairs in two pieces. Ask which build you are buying before you compare shop labels.
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Comparison
Spring tension vs Surface comfort feel
Spring tension is how hard the support unit resists compression and should suit body mass. Surface firmness is the softness of fillings and foams above the springs. Soft/medium/firm retail labels often blur these two specs. A mattress can have firm springs with a soft quilt — or the reverse.
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Comparison
Talalay latex vs Dunlop latex
Dunlop and Talalay are latex manufacturing processes, not botanical labels. Dunlop is poured and heat-set into typically denser foam; Talalay is vacuum-expanded and frozen before vulcanising for a more uniform cell structure. Either process can use natural, synthetic or blended latex raw material.
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Bed bases & frames
Divan, ottoman, slats, sleigh and adjustable — what moves and what stores.
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Comparison
Adjustable base vs UK divan
An adjustable base bends the mattress at the head and often the foot. A UK divan is a box base, often with drawers, that stays flat. Adjustable needs a mattress the maker says can flex. A divan is the common UK storage and height setup. This page compares mechanisms, not brands or medical claims.
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Comparison
Box spring vs Solid foundation
A true box spring contains coils in a timber frame and adds bounce under the mattress. A solid foundation is a rigid deck without coils. Many modern foam and hybrid mattresses need a firm foundation rather than a flexing traditional box spring — always follow the mattress warranty base rules.
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Comparison
Bunk bed vs High sleeper
A bunk bed stacks two sleep surfaces. A high sleeper lifts one mattress to free floor space for a desk, sofa or storage underneath. Both need guardrails, ladder clearance and strict age/weight rules. Choose by whether you need two beds or one bed plus under-space.
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Comparison
Cabin bed vs Mid sleeper
A cabin bed is a raised kids bed with drawers, cupboards or shelves built in underneath. A mid sleeper sits higher, with open space below for storage, play or a pull-out desk, and a short ladder. Shops use the names loosely, so check the exact height, ladder and mattress depth for each bed.
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Comparison
Divan bed vs Ottoman bed
A divan is a box base that supports a mattress, often with drawers; an ottoman uses a hinged platform lifted by gas struts to expose a large storage void. Divans trade storage volume for simpler access; ottomans maximise void space but need strut–mattress weight matching and opening clearance.
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Comparison
Platform-top divan vs Sprung-edge divan
Platform-top divans present a firm, non-sprung upper surface so almost all cushioning comes from the mattress. Sprung-edge divans contain a spring unit beneath the top, adding give under the mattress. The mattress still dominates firmness; the base is a secondary influence.
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Comparison
Plush velvet vs Crushed velvet
Plush velvet has a more even pile and smoother light catch. Crushed velvet is finished for mottled sheen and more visual texture. Both are cover fabrics for upholstered bases and headboards — neither changes mattress support or drawer layout.
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Comparison
Side-lift ottoman vs End-lift ottoman
Side-lift ottomans hinge along a long edge and need flank clearance. End-lift ottomans hinge at the head and need clear space at the foot. Both expose a storage void with gas struts; choose by room layout and access, then match strut rating to mattress mass.
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Comparison
Sleigh bed vs Divan bed
A sleigh bed is a bedstead with outward-curving headboard and often footboard that increases external footprint beyond the mattress. A divan is a box base under the mattress, often with drawers or a sprung/platform top. Sleigh emphasises furniture form; divan emphasises base support and storage.
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Comparison
Sofa bed vs Day bed
A sofa bed is a sofa that opens into a bed, with a fold-out mattress or seat cushions that become the bed. A day bed is a single bed frame shaped like a sofa, using a normal Single mattress. A day bed suits frequent sleeping; many sofa beds suit occasional guests. Check the open size in centimetres.
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Comparison
Solid slats vs Sprung slats
Solid slats are rigid strips; sprung slats are bowed and flex in their holders. Both need to meet the mattress maker’s support requirements. Measure the clear gaps, check the centre support and inspect the fittings. There is no single gap limit that approves every mattress and frame combination.
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Comparison
TV bed vs Ottoman bed
A TV bed has a motorised lift in the footboard that raises a television. An ottoman bed lifts the whole base on gas struts to reveal storage under the mattress. Some beds do both. Choose a TV bed for a hidden screen, and an ottoman for the most storage without motors or cables.
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Comparison
Upholstered bed vs Wooden bed
An upholstered bed frame is covered in fabric, often with a padded headboard. A wooden bed frame shows its timber, veneer or painted board. Upholstered beds are softer to lean on and come in many fabrics; wooden frames are easier to wipe clean. Both usually hold the mattress on slats.
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Sizes
UK, EU and US names in centimetres. The same word can mean different plans.
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Comparison
Double vs King size
A UK Double mattress is 135 × 190 cm. A UK King is 150 × 200 cm, so it is 15 cm wider and 10 cm longer. Two people get 67.5 cm each on a Double and 75 cm each on a King. Choose by room space, height and how many sleepers. Check centimetres, not names.
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Comparison
Single vs Small Single
A UK Single mattress is 90 × 190 cm (3ft). A UK Small Single is 75 × 190 cm (2ft 6). They share the same length, so the Single is just 15 cm wider. Small Singles often suit children, bunk beds and narrow rooms. Check the frame size before you buy a mattress.
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Comparison
Small Double vs Double
A UK Small Double is 120 × 190 cm (4ft). A UK Double is 135 × 190 cm (4ft 6). Both are 190 cm long, so only the width changes, by 15 cm. A Small Double suits one adult or a narrow room. A Double suits two people who accept a snug fit.
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Comparison
UK Double vs EU / IKEA Double
A UK Double mattress is commonly 135 × 190 cm. Many EU and IKEA doubles are 140 × 200 cm — wider and longer. The shared name “Double” causes fit errors when UK frames and European mattresses are mixed without measuring.
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Comparison
UK King vs UK Super King
A UK King mattress is typically 150 × 200 cm; a UK Super King is typically 180 × 200 cm. Both share 200 cm length — longer than UK Double at 190 cm — while Super King adds 30 cm of width for couples who need more personal space.
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Comparison
UK Single vs UK Double
A UK Single mattress is typically 90 × 190 cm. A UK Double is typically 135 × 190 cm. Single suits one sleeper. Double is the usual smallest couple size, with limited width each. Both are 190 cm long, shorter than King and Super King at 200 cm. Always check centimetres. EU size names differ.
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Comparison
US Queen vs UK King
A US Queen is typically about 152 × 203 cm; a UK King is typically 150 × 200 cm. They are close in width but the US Queen is longer. Sheets, protectors and frames are not reliably interchangeable — measure centimetres before cross-border pairing.
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Care
Turn versus rotate, protector versus topper — jobs that sound alike.
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Comparison
Mattress protector vs Mattress topper
A mattress protector is a thin barrier that shields the mattress from fluids and allergens while aiming to change feel little. A topper is a thicker comfort pad that softens or firms the surface. Protectors support hygiene and many warranty conditions; toppers modify contact feel without replacing a worn core. Use both when you need shield plus feel change.
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Comparison
Mattress topper vs New mattress
A mattress topper changes how the top of your bed feels. A new mattress replaces the support underneath. A topper can soften a firm mattress or add a fresh comfort layer, but it cannot fix sagging, deep dips or broken springs. If the support has gone, replace the mattress instead.
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Comparison
Turning (flip) vs Rotating (end-to-end)
Rotating spins a mattress 180° so head and foot swap while the sleep surface stays up. Turning flips it upside down. Double-sided mattresses can use both; many modern single-sided pillow-top and foam hybrids are rotate-only.
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Bedding
Weaves, fills and warmth ratings. TOG is not a quality score.
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Comparison
4.5 TOG duvet vs 10.5 TOG duvet
A 4.5 TOG duvet is a light, summer-weight duvet for warm rooms. A 10.5 TOG duvet is a common all-season middle choice. TOG measures warmth, not quality. Many people keep both, or buy an all-seasons set that clips two duvets together for winter. Choose by room temperature and how warm you sleep.
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Comparison
Cotton vs Polycotton
Cotton sheets are made only from cotton, a natural fibre that breathes and softens with washing. Polycotton sheets blend polyester with cotton, so they crease less and dry faster. Cotton often feels cooler and softer; polycotton is easier to care for. Read the fibre percentage on the label before you buy.
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Comparison
Down / feather vs Hollowfibre / microfibre
Down clusters trap air efficiently and are rated by fill power; hollowfibre and microfibre use synthetic fibre geometry for loft and are often easier to wash. TOG still measures the finished duvet’s insulation. Choose by loft preference, care method and allergy considerations — not by which fill sounds more premium.
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Comparison
Duck down vs Goose down
Duck down and goose down are both soft clusters that trap warm air in a duvet. Goose down clusters are often larger, so goose duvets can reach a higher fill power. Warmth still depends on the TOG, the fill weight and the down-to-feather mix. Compare those labels, not just the bird.
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Comparison
Percale vs Sateen
Percale is a plain one-over-one weave that feels crisp and matte. Sateen uses float yarns for a smoother, more lustrous surface. Both can be cotton or blends — the names describe structure, not fibre quality. Choose by feel and thermal preference, not by thread-count marketing alone.
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Comparison
Wool duvet vs Synthetic duvet
A wool duvet uses wool fill that can buffer moisture; a synthetic duvet uses polyester hollowfibre or similar fills that are often easier to wash at home. TOG still sets insulation. Choose by care, moisture feel and washing practicality — not by which sounds more premium.
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