If you only plan on replacing one piece of furniture this year, your mattress might be a good idea! While there are dozens of different mattress types and combinations available, the two main ones are memory foam and inner springs.

We all know the importance of a good night’s sleep. And a lot of the time, getting a good night’s rest comes down to ensuring our mattress is up to par.  So, if you’re in search of a new mattress and wondering, ‘What’s the difference between memory foam and innerspring,’ we’ve got everything you need to know.

Foam Mattresses 

DescriptionProsCons 
Memory foam mattresses are newer than inner springs. Often, they contain a mix of memory foam (also called polyurethane foam), along with other materials. When sleeping on this type of mattress, the foam material compresses under the weight of the person, almost moulding to one’s body. 1. Soft but supportive
2. Body contouring 
3. Provides pressure relief for tender or painful areas
4. Affordable for those on a budget but also can be found at higher, more luxurious price points
5. More motion isolation than other mattress varieties
6. A good option for side-sleepers and back sleepers
1. May cause temperature regulation issues, such as overheating at night, as its denser and has relatively low breathability (Although this may depend on the brand since some may come with cooling technology)
2. Initially, it may need time to “off-gas” (usually a couple of days) due to an unpleasant odor released by the materials
3. Has little bounce and a slow-reacting feel to it

Inner Spring Mattress

DescriptionProsCons 
This is the most well-known type of mattress. It consists of springs or coils, with a standard single mattress having a coil count of 300. A comfort layer is on the top, often made up of foam or quilted materials.1. Very affordable good amount of firmness
2. Good breathability and airflow (The coils create a lower density to the mattress when compared to memory foam)
3. A better choice over a foam mattress for overweight individuals
4. Has a good amount of bounce
5. Best for stomach sleepers
1. May create a higher noise level when someone moves due to the coils or springs
2. Motion transfers across the mattress easier
3. Depending on the brand, it may have a lower lifespan
4. Durability may also depend on the size and weight of the person
5. Sagging of this type of mattress is common over time
6. May aggravate existing pressure points or pain areas

What Is a Foam Mattress?

If you’ve been wondering, ‘Do memory foam mattresses last longer and spring,” the general answer is yes! The best memory foam mattress will have high durability and won’t sag like the innerspring variety. A foam mattress consists primarily of memory foam, which compresses and shapes to a person’s body as they sleep. This can provide optimal comfort for side sleepers and even back sleepers.

Types of Memory Foam Mattresses

Since foam tends to trap heat, many brands and manufacturers have worked hard to overcome this with cooling technology. With that in mind, here are a few of the most common types of foam mattresses.

  • Traditional Memory Foam: This is the type most of us are familiar with. It conforms to the shape of the body but doesn’t allow for much airflow.
  • Open-Cell Memory Foam: This mattress has tiny openings between cells, which increases airflow and makes for a cooler sleep.
  • Gel Memory Foam: This memory foam mattress contains gel liquid or beads. These gel capsules or beads help keep the mattress cool as you sleep.

At Homeline, we recommend the Odearest range of mattresses and the Respa Pocket mattress for the best memory foam mattresses.

What is the Best Memory Foam Mattress?

The Respa Pocket mattress features a luxury pocketed-springing system and cool open-celled Visco memory foam. The Odearest range of mattresses are some of our best sellers and for good reason. Odearest is an Irish brand and the mattresses are manufactured in Ireland using traditional methods. The company uses traditional hand tufting or micro-stitched quilting, which gives a better shape and a longer lifespan.

What Is an Innerspring Mattress?

An innerspring mattress consists of coils and a layer of fabric over the top. However, there are various versions of these coils, as well as notable brand comparisons when it comes to the construction of the top layer.

Some people find memory foam mattresses too hot as they are temperature sensitive, softening and moulding with your body heat. If you often find that you are very warm in bed a sprung mattress will offer you a cooler sleep.

Spring mattresses can also offer firmer support, which can be useful for someone who is very overweight as they are easier to get in and out of.

Types of Innerspring Mattresses 

There are various types of innerspring mattresses, including:

  • Bonnell Coils: These were the very first coils made for mattresses (originally made from buggy seat springs!). The coils in this type of mattress are shaped like an hourglass. However, since these are the cheapest coils available, they often aren’t too durable.
  • Offset Coils: These square coils offer firm support and a durable mattress. However, they also tend to transfer motion quite easily, making them less ideal for shared beds. 
  • Continuous Coils: This type of mattress consists of coils made from one giant wire, making a very durable and long-lasting mattress.
  • Pocket Coils: These mattresses include coils that aren’t attached to one another but instead are secured in their own separate fabric pocket. In turn, this helps reduce motion transfer. But it also makes these types of mattresses some of the most expensive.

For the best innerspring mattress, we recommend the Respa Posturecare Mattress.

What is the Best Spring Mattress?

The Respa Posturecare Mattress manages to combine luxury and comfort with back-friendly posture and support. Their innerspring design system is covered with high-density foam and a super soft knit multi-quilted outer fabric. This provides a firm and comfortable mattress that will suit a range of sleepers.

So Which Is Better? Memory Foam or Innerspring?

Well, this depends on your needs. Memory foam mattresses vs innerspring mattresses have variations in durability, support, bounce, motion transfer, and more. Memory foam mattresses tend to be more durable since they don’t experience the sagginess that occurs with the coils.

Meanwhile, innerspring mattresses have more bounce. The amount of support each offer will also depend on your sleep position and preferences. Memory foam tends to have more motion isolation than innerspring mattresses as well. Yet, memory foam, depending on the type, may make for a hotter sleep.

In fact, most hotels use innerspring mattresses (unless you’re in a very luxurious resort!) due to their affordability. Most often, hotels will pair these mattresses with a box spring to enhance durability and reduce maintenance costs.

Innerspring or Memory Foam for Back Pain

Generally, the recommendation for back pain is memory foam since it won’t aggravate pressure or pain points. At the same time, you’ll want to pay attention to the different firmness levels of different mattresses. For back pain, we don’t want it too firm or too soft. Always check customer reviews to see what others have said before purchasing. 

Find Your Perfect Mattress at Homeline 

memory foam mattress available at homeline

At Homeline, we believe you deserve the very best. With over 40 years in the furniture industry, we carefully select all the furniture and items we offer, including mattresses. Whether you’re looking for the best mattress for a bad back in Ireland, the best orthopedic mattress in Ireland, or generally, the best mattress in Ireland, we’ve got you covered. Check out the mattresses offered at Homeline here.