Double memory foam mattresses

Is a memory foam double mattress good for couples?

A memory foam double suits couples who wake each other, because memory foam passes on very little movement, and on a double each of you has only 67.5 cm, less than the 70 cm width of a cot bed mattress.

With so little room, a restless partner, an early alarm or a child climbing in can easily wake the other person. Memory foam softens under each body separately, so one of you can turn over or get up without the whole surface moving. There are trade-offs: memory foam is slower to move on, can feel warmer, and usually gives more at the edge when you sit on it than a sprung mattress does.

If you still wake each other on foam, the fix is space rather than a different material: a king size memory foam mattress gives 75 cm each.

Are memory foam double mattresses hot?

A memory foam double can feel warmer than a sprung mattress, because the foam softens with body heat and fits closely around you, and two people sharing 135 cm give off more heat than one.

If one of you runs hot, look at a hybrid mattress, which keeps a foam comfort layer but adds pocket springs underneath so air can move, or a pocket sprung double. Bedding and the room matter too: The Sleep Charity suggests a bedroom of around 16 to 18°C.

Memory foam or pocket sprung for a double bed?

For a double bed, memory foam is the better choice if partner movement wakes you, and pocket springs if heat, a springier feel or a firm edge matters more; a hybrid sits in between.

Check the firmness as well as the type: every mattress page rates it from 1 to 10, so you can compare all our double mattresses on the same scale.

How deep should a double memory foam mattress be?

For two adults sharing every night, a double memory foam mattress of standard depth, about 18 to 25 cm, is the usual choice; heavier sleepers tend to do better on a deep one, 25 cm and over.

Check the depth of the memory foam layer as well as the whole mattress. The memory foam does the moulding, while the firmer foam or springs beneath it do the supporting, so a deep mattress with a thin memory foam layer can feel firmer than you expect. Read more about how memory foam mattresses are built. Fitted sheets need a pocket deeper than the mattress, so check yours before a deep one arrives.

Can a memory foam double go on a slatted base?

A memory foam double can go on a slatted base as long as the gaps between the slats are no wider than the mattress maker recommends, because foam can sag into wide gaps over time.

Don't leave it straight on the floor: a mattress there can trap moisture and grow mould underneath, so use a slatted or breathable base, or lift and air it regularly. Memory foam is flexible, so it's also one of the types that can go on an adjustable bed; check the bed maker's guidance first.

Will a memory foam double fit up narrow stairs?

A memory foam double usually arrives rolled, compressed, vacuum packed and boxed, so it goes up narrow stairs and round tight landings far more easily than a flat mattress 135 cm wide.

Take the box to the bedroom and unbox it soon after delivery, because a double is awkward to move once it expands. It can be slept on after a few hours and reaches full shape within 24 to 72 hours, and any faint new smell fades with airing. Each mattress page says whether it arrives rolled or flat, and most of our mattresses can be delivered the next working day. Our rolled mattresses and delivery page explain more.

As a family business, we'd rather you chose the right mattress than the most expensive one, so get in touch if you're torn between foam and springs.

Written by the Mattress Town team. Last updated 9 October 2026.