Does a higher spring count mean a firmer mattress?

Not necessarily. Firmness depends on wire gauge, coil shape, comfort fillings and foam hardness. A high-count unit with soft padding can feel softer than a lower-count unit with firm fillings.

What spring count should a pocket sprung mattress have?

UK retail education often treats counts below about 600 in adult sizes as basic. Many guides suggest looking at 1,000+ in Double or King classes. Density per square metre and materials matter more than one magic number.

Why do open coil mattresses show lower spring counts?

Open-coil Bonnell units use larger linked coils, so total counts are often a few hundred rather than thousands. Compare construction type first, then count within the same type and size.

mattresses

Mattress Spring Count Explained

Entity: mattress spring count

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

Spring count is the number of springs in a stated mattress size. On pocket sprung beds it mainly shows packing density, not firmness alone. Always read count with size: one thousand springs in a Single is denser than one thousand in a Super King. Wire gauge, zoning and comfort layers still govern support and durability.

Educational diagram showing why the same spring count is denser in a Single than in a Super King, with a wire-gauge firmness callout — Spring count must be read with mattress size. Gauge and comfort layers still govern firmness more than the headline count.

Materials used

steel pocket springs
fabric pockets

Average lifespan

7– 10 years

Count depends on mattress size

Shop listings quote spring count for a specific size. When comparing:

Note the mattress size attached to the count.
Prefer springs per m² when sizes differ.
Ask whether the count includes micro-coils stacked above the main unit.

Pocket vs open coil counts

Construction	Typical count pattern	What count mainly reflects
Pocket sprung	Hundreds to thousands	How densely pockets are packed
Open coil / Bonnell	Often ~300–500	Larger linked coils
Hybrid	Pocket counts plus foam specs	Spring density and comfort chemistry

Gauge and zoning matter as much as count

Wire gauge — thicker wire generally resists permanent set longer under load.
Zoning — firmer coils under hips, softer under shoulders, changes alignment feel without changing the headline count.
Comfort layers — wool, foam or latex above the unit dominate the first centimetres of feel.

Frequently asked questions

Does a higher spring count mean a firmer mattress?: Not necessarily. Firmness depends on wire gauge, coil shape, comfort fillings and foam hardness. A high-count unit with soft padding can feel softer than a lower-count unit with firm fillings.
What spring count should a pocket sprung mattress have?: UK retail education often treats counts below about 600 in adult sizes as basic. Many guides suggest looking at 1,000+ in Double or King classes. Density per square metre and materials matter more than one magic number.
Why do open coil mattresses show lower spring counts?: Open-coil Bonnell units use larger linked coils, so total counts are often a few hundred rather than thousands. Compare construction type first, then count within the same type and size.