The world of hybrid mattresses is impossible to ignore, with multiple ‘mattress-in-a-box’ brands vying for your hard-earned cash.
But is that expensive, beautifully-marketed hybrid mattress really any better than a humble innerspring mattress? And what’s the difference?
This article reveals everything you need to know about hybrid vs. innerspring mattresses to help you make the right purchase.
Let’s jump in!
What is the difference between a hybrid and an innerspring mattress?
Some innerspring mattresses are mistaken for hybrid mattresses because they have a memory foam layer. However, they are not the same.
Hybrid mattresses have a compact spring system and generous memory foam layers, using springs and dense foam for support and memory foam for comfort.
Simply put, hybrids balance these materials for the best of both worlds.
Innerspring mattresses have a robust spring system for support and thinner layers of foam/fibre. The spring system makes the bed bouncier and less squishy.
While a hybrid mattress’s spring system might make up 25% of the support system, that number jumps to 90% with an innerspring mattress.
That compact spring system lets the mattress roll up (providing the springs compress into each other) – and this is the magic behind mattress-in-a-box brands. Most innerspring mattresses don’t roll up, so they come ready to go.
The case for hybrid
Pictured: Sleepeezee Hybrid 2000 Zip & Link 6FT Superking Divan Bed, Available from Bedstar.
Hybrid technology is a newer mattress technology adopted by mattress-in-a-box brands because it lets the mattress rollup. A compact spring system and foam layers provide moderate bounce and high squishiness.
Hybrid mattresses can use open coil springs or pocket springs, although open coil springs are more common because they are cheaper to make. Also, pocket springs are unnecessary when hybrid mattresses have zoned foam.
A hybrid mattress provides a squishier sleep than an innerspring mattress with less bounce, which helps isolate movement.
A hybrid mattress is best if you want your mattress to offer pressure relief and body contouring with some bounce.
If you want no bounce at all, look at memory foam mattresses. Our article on hybrid vs. memory foam provides additional comparisons.
Hybrid advantages
- Squishy feel
- Moderate bounce
- Good movement isolation
Hybrid disadvantages
- Less supportive
- More expensive
The case for innerspring
Innerspring mattresses use open coils or pocket springs. In any case, the mattress is bouncier and more supportive than hybrid technology at the expense of squishiness. This will probably sway you towards one or the other.
Our pocket spring vs. open coil article details the differences between innerspring technologies. In the case of hybrid technology, innerspring technology is cheaper but by no means the poorer of the two.
An innerspring mattress provides a firmer feel than a hybrid mattress and is recommended if you have back pain.
Pictured:Giltedge Beds MayfairMattress, medium/firm comfort feel, deep mattress. From only £239 delivered. Available from Bedstar.
If you like your mattress to provide maximum support with bounce, then an innerspring mattress is a better option than a hybrid.
Innerspring advantages
- Unbeatable support
- Firmer feel
- Cheaper
Innerspring disadvantages
- Less squishy
- More prone to failure
- Poor movement isolation unless you go for pocket springs.
Pricing and availability
You can spend thousands of pounds on an innerspring or a hybrid mattress, but hybrid mattresses are more expensive overall.
The companies that make hybrid mattresses (e.g., Simba, Emma) spend a lot of money on marketing, which is reflected in their prices.
While an entry-level hybrid might cost £500, an entry-level innerspring mattress starts from around £300 for comparable quality and comfort.
Overall
Hybrid mattresses provide the perfect balance of bounce and squishiness, while innerspring mattresses provide more bounce and support.
Which is best depends on how you like a mattress to feel; if you like a squishy, body contouring mattress, go for a hybrid. If you want a bouncy, supportive mattress, go for an innerspring mattress, and don’t look back.
If you enjoyed this article, read our definitive UK mattress size guide to ensure you buy the right size mattress for your bed frame.
