---
title: "Latex Foam (Dunlop and Talalay)"
description: "What latex foam is in mattresses, how Dunlop and Talalay latex are made, and why the process does not prove natural content."
url: "https://bedguide.co.uk/glossary/latex-foam/"
category: "glossary"
primary_entity: "latex foam"
date_published: 2026-10-21
date_modified: 2026-10-21
---

# Latex Foam (Dunlop and Talalay)

> Latex foam is a springy foam made from liquid latex. Dunlop latex is poured into a mould and heated, and usually feels denser. Talalay latex is expanded with vacuum, frozen and then heated, giving more even air pockets. Either process can use natural latex, synthetic latex or a blend. The process name does not tell you the source.

**Definition.** Latex foam is made from liquid natural or synthetic latex. Dunlop and Talalay are the two main ways of turning it into foam.

Also called: latex, Dunlop latex, Talalay latex, natural latex.

Latex pushes back faster than memory foam, so it feels bouncier. It may be a
thin comfort layer or a full core.

Ask what share is natural latex, and check any certificate covers the part you
are buying.

Full guide: [Talalay vs Dunlop latex](/mattresses/latex-talalay-vs-dunlop).
Also: [memory foam vs latex](/compare/memory-foam-vs-latex).

---

Source: https://bedguide.co.uk/glossary/latex-foam/ · BedGuide — independent UK bed guide; paid links are labelled (see /how-we-make-money/). Facts checked against official sources where possible; see https://bedguide.co.uk/editorial-policy. Report an error: https://bedguide.co.uk/corrections.