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If you’ve ever wondered what the best type of mattress is for your body, sleep position, or budget, you’re in the right place. This complete mattress buying guide from DFI Beds explains everything, from mattress types and firmness levels to sizes and care tips, so you can make an informed choice and sleep better for years to come.
Whether you’re buying your first bed, upgrading for comfort, or searching for extra support to ease back or joint pain, this guide breaks down every major mattress style — coil sprung, pocket sprung, memory foam, hybrid, and orthopaedic options — helping you discover which mattress type truly suits the way you sleep.
As the old saying goes: always buy good shoes and a good bed, because if you aren’t in one, you’re in the other!
Experts recommend replacing your mattress every 6–8 years on average. Once you’ve bought your mattress, you’re in it for the long haul — which is why researching different mattress types and identifying the best type of mattress for your body and budget is essential. If you’re unsure whether you actually need a new one, check out our guide Do I Need a New Mattress? to learn the tell-tale signs that indicate your mattress is past its best.
When buying a mattress, there’s a lot to consider, from size and firmness to comfort layers and specialist designs. The range of options available can quickly become overwhelming! It’s safe to say there’s no “one-size-fits-all” solution when it comes to finding the best mattress type. It’s a personal choice, so taking the time to explore your options is worth it. Great mattresses don’t have to cost the earth either, see our guide to the best budget mattresses to discover options that won’t break the bank.
To make your research easier, we’ve gathered everything into one place, the DFI Mattress Buying Guide. Here you can explore all your options, understand each mattress type, and find the perfect fit for the way you sleep.
Did you know...
The first modern mattress was invented in Germany in the 1870s by Heinrich Westphal. Using metal coils designed for the seats in carriages he created a completely new form of mattress, the innerspring, one vastly superior to the straw and feather stuffed mattresses of the time.
Finding the right mattress size for you and, equally as importantly, for the space available in your bedroom, is essential. Named mattress sizes (e.g. King, Super King etc) and corresponding dimensions tend to differ between countries (in fact some sizes, such as Queen, don't even exist in Ireland) which can make it confusing when researching different bed size options online.
DFI Beds has put together an A-Zzzz (see what I did there?) of bed and mattress sizes in Ireland to make the process easier and ensure you get the right mattress and bed for you. You can check out our mattress size guide here.
There are many different types of mattresses available today, from traditional coil models to advanced hybrid designs. Choosing the best type of mattress depends on your comfort preferences, sleeping position, and budget. To keep this guide practical, we’ll focus on the most popular mattress types in Ireland and explain what each one does best.
The original modern mattress, the coil sprung (or open coil) design dates back to 1871 and remains one of the most widely used mattress types. It’s known for being firm, supportive, and budget-friendly, ideal for guest rooms or occasional use.
Coil sprung mattresses are made up of three key parts:
These mattresses tend to feel bouncier and firmer than others, with a simple design that keeps costs low. Learn more in our full guide: What is a Coil Sprung Mattress?
A pocket sprung mattress is an upgraded version of the coil model. Each spring is individually wrapped in its own fabric pocket, allowing it to move independently and contour to your body. This design provides better motion isolation, support, and durability, ideal for couples or those needing extra spinal alignment.
Discover how to choose the right one in our guide: What is a Pocket Sprung Mattress?
Memory foam mattresses use viscoelastic foam that moulds to your body’s shape, offering pressure relief and excellent motion isolation. They’re perfect for side sleepers or couples who want less movement transfer during the night.
There are four main types of memory foam mattresses available in Ireland:
Learn the pros and cons of each in our guide: What is a Memory Foam Mattress?
A hybrid mattress combines the best of both worlds, the bounce and airflow of springs with the contouring comfort of foam or gel layers. These are among the most popular modern mattress types for all-round sleepers and those who want balanced support and softness.
Learn more about hybrid mattresses in our guide: What is a Hybrid Mattress?
Orthopaedic mattresses are designed to provide extra-firm support for your spine, joints, and posture. They’re often recommended for people with chronic back or joint pain and those who prefer a firmer sleeping surface. Learn more in our Orthopaedic Mattress Guide.
Pillowtop mattresses feature an extra plush layer sewn on top of the main structure, adding softness and comfort without sacrificing support. They’re a great choice for side sleepers and anyone who loves a “hotel bed” feel.
Pros
Cons
For more detail, see our guide What is a Pillowtop Mattress?
Every mattress type has its own strengths. The key is understanding which design best suits your body, budget, and sleep style, that’s how you’ll find the best type of mattress for you.
When buying a mattress, finding the right firmness level to meet your needs is arguably the single most important consideration.
The mattress firmness you desire is really down to personal preference, however, it’s important to consider which firmness level is best suited to your sleeping style, as well as which firmness you think you’d prefer. This will help to ensure a good night’s sleep and waking up without aches or pains over time.
Soft: Soft mattresses are best suited to those who sleep on their side or tend to change position during the night. A soft mattress will mould to the changing position of your body and relieve pressure points.
Medium soft: A medium soft firmness of mattress will provide a good night’s sleep for those who change sleeping positions while sleeping. As with a soft mattress, it will still mould to your changing body positions, while offering some additional support.
Medium firm: People who sleep on their back require additional lower-back support, a medium firm mattress will offer adequate support.
Firm: A firm mattress is ideal for front sleepers, those who weigh more (>15 stone) or anyone that suffers from back pain. A firm mattress doesn’t allow the body to sink into it, this ensures even weight distribution and a stable sleeping position.
If you suffer from aches and pains, or, you are expecting a baby then it is worth spending some extra time researching to find the mattress that will best alleviate any discomfort associated with your particular condition.
Back Pain: Probably the most common ailment, a bad back can make a good nights sleep almost impossible so choosing the right type of mattress is critical. As it is quite a broad topic we have put together a dedicated guide to help you choose the best mattress for a bad back.
Sciatica: Another common ailment and a very uncomfortable one, Sciatica is described as an “irritated or compressed static nerve, which runs fromyour lower back to your feet”. Our guide to the best mattress for sciatica can help guide you to the best mattress for your condition.
Hip Pain: Another common complaint, hip pain is particularly hard for side sleepers. As with back pain, the right mattress can make a huge difference to your comfort and sleep quality (and quantity!). Check out our guide to choosing the best mattress for hip pain.
Pregnancy: The aches and restlessness that arise during pregnancy may be temporary but come at a time when good sleep is of the utmost importance. The right mattress can make a huge difference in this situation. We have created a guide to choosing the best mattress for pregnancy to help you assess your options.
Shoulder Pain: Many of us suffer from shoulder pain, whether on an occasional or an ongoing basis. Our guide to choosing the best mattress for shoulder pain will help you pick the mattress that will provide the most comfort and support for your condition.
Neck Pain: When you’re suffering from neck pain, trying to get comfortable can be an issue. Our guide to choosing the best mattress for neck pain looks at the best mattress types for those who suffer from this particular condition.
Back, Front or Side? We all have a preferred sleeping position and, believe it or not, this should be factored in when choosing a new mattress!
Side Sleepers: You are not alone! Based on our Big Irish Sleep Survey, over 65% of people in Ireland are side sleepers! So what is the best type of mattress for you and so many others? Check our our Best Mattresses For Side Sleepers guide to find out!
Front Sleepers: The second most common sleeping position in Ireland based on our Sleep Survey, around 15% of respondents prefer to sleep on their stomach. Our guide to the Best Mattress For Front Sleepers will help you discover the perfect mattress for stomach snoozers!
Back Sleepers: Somewhat surprisingly, only a small proportion of the Irish population actually sleep on their backs! In our Big Irish Sleep Survey, only 6.5% of respondents reported sleeping on their backs. If you are one of this elite group of back sleepers check out our Best Mattresses For Back Sleepers guide, you'll discover that the mattress options for back sleepers are many!
It is an exciting time when you take delivery of your new mattress, you are looking forward to a great night’s sleep and can’t wait for it to arrive on your doorstep. Here are a few tips to get the best from your new mattress, and how you should dispose of your old one.
A ‘new mattress smell’ is a very real phenomenon, in the industry this is referred to as ‘off gassing’. Whether it be Memory foam, pocket sprung, or a hybrid mattress they are all made up of a number of chemicals. Similar chemicals are also found in sofas, car seats and other household items. When mattresses have been sealed in their packaging for a period of time, the chemical smell builds up.
Off-gassing occurs with pretty much every type of mattress. When a mattress is manufactured and packaged, safe gasses (from the materials used in its construction) build up over time. When the mattress is delivered to a customer and the packaging removed, the off gasses release creating the ‘new mattress smell’.
So, how can you get rid of this new mattress smell? Simply air the mattress! When you take delivery remove all packaging, stand the mattress on its edge and leave it for a minimum of 2-3 hours before placing it on the bed frame/base.
What this means is that the mattress fillings beneath the customer are compressed and body impressions becomes more visible. Learn more about Mattress Settlement here.
Your new mattress will almost certainly feel completely different to your old one. If you are replacing a mattress it is usually because the old one is past its best, the difference in the level of comfort and support provided by a worn out 5-6 year old mattress and that provided by a new, modern mattress is significant! Allow some time to get used to the new levels of comfort and support offered by your new mattress. To maximise sleep quality (and quantity!) check out the tips in our How to sleep better guide.
Your old mattress should be brought to a civic amenity site or mattress recycling project facility. You can find your nearest facilities using the Irish government site MyWaste.ie, specifically the page https://www.mywaste.ie/waste-service-locator/
Disposing of a mattress can be a cumbersome process for those without access to a trailer or van to bring it to a civic amenity site, fortunately, collection services exist where, for a fee, your mattress will be collected from your house and taken to a recycling facility. A quick internet search will help you discover the options in your area.
Check out our detailed guide How To Dispose of Your Old Bed & Mattress
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