--- title: "Memory Foam Mattresses UK: Types & Buying Guide | BedGuide" description: "Memory foam mattresses in UK sizes: how the foam works, layer depth and density to compare, heat and rolled delivery, and verified UK sellers to buy from." url: "https://bedguide.co.uk/mattresses/memory-foam-mattresses/" --- Mattress types # Memory foam mattresses A memory foam mattress has a slow-moving foam layer that softens with body warmth. It moulds around you as you lie still. Most have firmer support foam or springs underneath. UK shops sell them in every standard size, often rolled in a box. Compare layer depth, foam density, the support core and the trial. **Verified UK sellers** 8 **Makers and factories** 4 **UK sizes** 75–180 cm wide Also called: memory foam mattress, foam mattress, memory foam mattress UK, visco foam mattress, rolled memory foam mattress. ## Where to buy memory foam mattresses and compare prices ### Check prices at verified UK sellers | Seller | Type and town | Range to look at | Link | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Silentnight | Manufacturer · Barnoldswick | Memory foam mattress ranges | Check price ↗ | | Starlight Beds | Manufacturer · Ossett | Spring and foam mattresses | Check price ↗ | | Balmoral Furniture | Manufacturer · Dunmurry | Divans and mattresses | Check price ↗ | | DUSK | Retailer · Leeds | Memory foam and pocket-sprung hybrids | Check price ↗ | | Nectar Sleep | Direct-to-consumer · London | Nectar Memory Foam mattress | Check price ↗ | | Deeplay Beds | Retailer · Luton | Mattresses | Check price ↗ | Prices change often, so we link to each seller’s own page instead of copying them. These 6 sellers are picked at random each day from the 8 below. Nobody pays to appear here. [How we make money](/how-we-make-money/). ## What are memory foam mattresses? Memory foam is a type of polyurethane foam. It squashes under weight and springs back slowly when the weight is gone. That slow return gives the moulding, sink-in feel that people know it for. Body heat softens memory foam. So the same mattress can feel firmer in a cold bedroom and softer once it warms up. That is how the material works. It is not a fault. Most memory foam mattresses are not solid memory foam. They have a memory foam comfort layer on top of firmer support foam, or on top of springs. The support layer stops you sinking too far, so read what sits underneath as well as on top. ## What types of memory foam mattresses are there? ### All-foam memory foam A memory foam layer over firmer support foam, with no springs. These are often lighter than spring mattresses and usually arrive rolled in a box. ### Memory foam with pocket springs A memory foam comfort layer on a pocket spring core. Many shops sell this build as a hybrid. It mixes the slow moulding feel with springier support. ### Open-cell or gel memory foam Foam with more tiny air paths, or with gel added. These can feel cooler to the touch. Treat “cooling” as a feel claim unless the listing names a test. ### Memory foam on reflex foam Reflex foam is a UK name for firm, springy polyurethane foam. It is often used as the support layer under a thinner memory foam top. ### Memory foam toppers A separate memory foam layer that sits on an existing mattress. It changes the surface feel, but it cannot fix a sagging mattress underneath. ## What are the pros and cons of memory foam mattresses? ### Good points - Moulds around shoulders and hips and spreads contact over a larger area. - Passes on very little movement, so you feel less of a partner turning over. - Often lighter than spring mattresses, and many arrive rolled, which helps on narrow stairs. - No springs to creak or squeak. - Many are designed to bend, so some suit adjustable beds (check the maker first). ### Things to weigh up - Can feel warm, because dense foam keeps heat close to the body. - Slow to move: some people feel “stuck” when they change position. - Feels firmer in a cold room until it warms up. - New foam can smell for a few days after unpacking. - Lower-density foams may soften and dip sooner than denser ones. ## What sizes do memory foam mattresses come in? Memory foam mattresses come in all the standard UK sizes, from Small Single 75 × 190 cm to Super King 180 × 200 cm. Rolled mattresses are also sold in EU sizes. An EU Double is often 140 × 200 cm, which does not fit a UK Double frame of 135 × 190 cm. Always check the centimetres on the label. Depth ranges from slim mattresses for bunks and guest beds to deep layered models. Measure the depth before you buy fitted sheets, or use it on a bunk bed. A rolled mattress needs time to expand to full size after you open it. Follow the recovery time the maker gives for that model. | UK size | Mattress size | Shop name | | --- | --- | --- | | Small Single | 75 × 190 cm | 2ft 6 | | Single | 90 × 190 cm | 3ft | | Small Double | 120 × 190 cm | 4ft | | Double | 135 × 190 cm | 4ft 6 | | King | 150 × 200 cm | 5ft | | Super King | 180 × 200 cm | 6ft | | Emperor (common) | 200 × 200 cm | 6 ft 6 | Frames and headboards can be bigger than the mattress. Ask for the outer size in centimetres. ## What should you check before buying memory foam mattresses? - The depth of the memory foam layer in centimetres, and whether it is the top layer. - Foam density in kg/m³ for each foam layer. Higher density often lasts longer, but density is not the same as firmness. - What the support core is made of (support foam, reflex foam or springs) and how deep it is. - The firmness label and the maker’s weight guidance. Every shop uses its own scale. - Whether the cover zips off and can be washed. - The base the maker approves, the widest slat gap allowed, and whether it can go on an adjustable bed. - The trial and returns terms for rolled mattresses. Ask how a returned mattress must be packed. - A permanent UK fire-safety label, usually naming BS 7177. Online orders usually also come with 14 days to cancel from delivery. ## Will memory foam mattresses fit your room? Rolled memory foam mattresses are easy to carry up narrow stairs and into loft rooms or flats. Measure the inside of your bed frame in centimetres before you order. A mattress that is too short or too wide will slide or overhang. On a slatted frame, keep the slat gaps within the maker’s limit, so the foam is supported evenly. Plan it with the [bed room planner](/tools/bed-room-planner/). ## Delivery and assembly Many memory foam mattresses arrive vacuum-packed and rolled in a box. They are easier to carry upstairs than a flat spring mattress. Open the box in the room where the mattress will go. Unroll it on the bed and cut the plastic carefully, away from the fabric. There is no single waiting time for every foam mattress. Use the time in the instructions for your model, and air the room while any new-foam smell fades. Read the returns terms before you open it. A rolled mattress cannot usually be rolled back into its box. Check your doors, stairs and turns with the [delivery fit checker](/tools/delivery-fit-checker/). ## How do you look after memory foam mattresses? Spot-clean with as little water as possible. Never soak memory foam, because liquid stays trapped inside and dries slowly. Use a washable mattress protector to keep sweat and spills out of the foam. Rotate head to foot as the label says. Most memory foam mattresses are one-sided, so do not flip them unless the label allows it. Shallow impressions where you lie are common. Check the warranty for the depth that counts as a fault. ## UK companies that sell memory foam mattresses (A–Z) Memory foam mattresses are sold by these 8 verified UK companies. Each is active on Companies House and has a checked official website. Range topics come from each checked profile; they are examples, not a full stock list. The list is in A–Z order and payment never changes it. ### Factories and manufacturers (4) - [Balmoral Furniture](/companies/balmoral-furniture/) Manufacturer · Dunmurry [Website ↗](https://balmoralhomefurniture.co.uk/) - [Silentnight](/companies/silentnight/) Manufacturer · Barnoldswick [Website ↗](https://www.silentnight.co.uk/) - [Starlight Beds](/companies/starlight-beds/) Manufacturer · Ossett [Website ↗](https://starlightbeds.co.uk/) - [The Sleep People](/companies/the-sleep-people/) Manufacturer · Ossett [Website ↗](https://www.thesleeppeople.co.uk/) ### Retailers and online brands (4) - [Deeplay Beds](/companies/deeplay-beds/) Retailer · Luton [Website ↗](https://deeplaybeds.co.uk/) - [DUSK](/companies/dusk/) Retailer · Leeds [Website ↗](https://dusk.com/) - [Nectar Sleep](/companies/nectar-sleep/) Direct-to-consumer · London [Website ↗](https://www.nectarsleep.co.uk/) - [Sonno](/companies/sonno/) Retailer · Drighlington [Website ↗](https://sonno.co.uk/) Missing a UK company? [Suggest a free listing](/method/get-listed/). Make or sell memory foam mattresses? [Sell on BedGuide](/sell-on-bedguide/). ## Frequently asked questions ### Is a memory foam mattress good for side sleepers? Many side sleepers like the way memory foam lets shoulders and hips sink in. Heavier side sleepers may prefer a firmer support layer so the hips do not sink too far. Comfort is personal, so try the feel if you can. ### Why does my memory foam mattress feel hard? Memory foam stiffens when it is cold and softens with warmth. A cool bedroom or a brand-new mattress can feel firmer at first. Give it time to warm and settle, and check the firmness label you bought. ### Do memory foam mattresses sleep hot? They can feel warm, because dense foam keeps heat near the body. Open-cell foam, breathable covers and lighter bedding can help. Treat “cooling” as a feel claim unless the listing names a test. ### How long does a memory foam mattress take to expand? There is no single answer. Each maker gives its own recovery time for the model. Unroll it on its base, follow that time, and contact the seller if it stays uneven or under size. ### Is memory foam better than pocket sprung? Neither suits everyone. Memory foam moulds slowly and passes on little movement. Pocket springs feel bouncier and let air move. A hybrid mixes both. Compare the exact builds rather than the labels. ### How long does a memory foam mattress last? Many guides give about 6 to 8 years as a typical range. Foam density, body weight, base support and care all change that. It is a guide, not a warranty promise. ### Can you put a memory foam mattress on an adjustable bed? Many memory foam mattresses are made to bend, but not all. Check that the mattress maker approves that model for an adjustable base before you buy. ### Does a new memory foam mattress smell? New foam often has a smell for a few days after unpacking. Open the windows and air the room. If a strong smell lasts, contact the seller and read the maker’s guidance. ### Where can I buy memory foam mattresses in the UK? BedGuide lists 8 verified UK companies that sell memory foam mattresses, including 4 factories and manufacturers. Each is active on Companies House and has a checked website. Compare prices on each seller’s own page. ## Read before you buy - [Memory Foam Mattress Explained →](/mattresses/memory-foam/) - [Foam Density Explained (kg/m³) →](/mattresses/foam-density-explained/) - [Reflex Foam Explained →](/mattresses/reflex-foam-explained/) - [Gel Foam Mattresses: How to Check Cooling Claims →](/mattresses/gel-foam-and-cooling-claims/) - [Bed-in-a-Box and Rolled Mattresses →](/mattresses/bed-in-a-box-rolled-mattresses/) - [Rolled Mattress Expansion and First Use →](/care/rolled-mattress-expansion/) - [Cleaning Memory Foam Mattresses →](/care/cleaning-memory-foam/) - [Why Does My Mattress Feel Hot? Checks for UK Beds →](/care/mattress-heat-and-cooling/) - [New Mattress Off-Gassing and Smell →](/health/mattress-off-gassing/) - [Mattress Firmness Scale: 1–10 Chart Explained →](/mattresses/mattress-firmness-scale/) ## Compare other types - [Hybrid mattresses](/mattresses/hybrid-mattresses/) - [Pocket sprung mattresses](/mattresses/pocket-sprung-mattresses/) - [Electric adjustable beds](/beds/electric-adjustable-beds/) - [Divan beds](/beds/divan-beds/) [All bed and mattress types](/where-to-buy/) · [UK bed directory](/companies/) · [How we make money](/how-we-make-money/) Last updated 2026-10-21. --- Source: https://bedguide.co.uk/mattresses/memory-foam-mattresses/ · BedGuide — independent UK bed guide; paid links are labelled (see /how-we-make-money/). See https://bedguide.co.uk/editorial-policy · Report an error: https://bedguide.co.uk/corrections.