What does wool do in a mattress?

Wool provides bouncy, resilient cushioning. It can handle moisture better than many synthetics. It sits as a comfort filling above the support unit, not instead of springs or foam cores.

Is horsehair still used in mattresses?

Yes in some traditional and higher-specification UK upholstery. Horsehair is springy and open when properly prepared. It is a filling choice, not a medical claim.

mattresses

Natural Mattress Fillings — Wool, Cotton and Horsehair

Entity: natural mattress fillings

Neat mattress with turned-down sheets on an upholstered bed in soft daylight — How a finished mattress and bedding stack can look once the bed is made.

In short

Traditional UK mattresses often use natural fillings above the springs. Wool adds bouncy loft and helps with moisture. Cotton makes soft quilt layers. Horsehair gives a springy, open fill in higher-spec beds. Fillings shape how the surface feels and how air moves. The spring or foam core still does the main support job. Natural does not automatically mean hypoallergenic.

Materials diagram of wool, cotton and horsehair fillings in a mattress stack — Natural fillings change loft, moisture feel and care — not automatically “better” for everyone.

Materials used

wool
cotton
horsehair
coir or other vegetable fibres (related traditional fills)

Average lifespan

8– 12 years

What each filling does

Filling	Traits
Wool	Bouncy loft, resilience, moisture buffering
Cotton	Soft quilt layers; can compact over years
Horsehair	Springy open fill in traditional stacks
Coir / vegetable fibres	Firmer, more rustic support pads in some builds

Where fillings sit in the stack

Natural fillings are usually comfort and insulation layers above pocket or open coil units. Tufting helps stop fillings moving around. Modern hybrids may combine thin natural quilts with foam comfort layers.

Frequently asked questions

What does wool do in a mattress?: Wool provides bouncy, resilient cushioning. It can handle moisture better than many synthetics. It sits as a comfort filling above the support unit, not instead of springs or foam cores.
Is horsehair still used in mattresses?: Yes in some traditional and higher-specification UK upholstery. Horsehair is springy and open when properly prepared. It is a filling choice, not a medical claim.