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Open coil mattresses
An open coil mattress, also called standard sprung, has one unit of springs linked together by wire. It's lighter, bouncier and usually cheaper than pocket sprung, which makes it good value for guest rooms, children's rooms and occasional use.
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What is an open coil mattress?
An open coil mattress has a single unit of springs joined to each other by wire, with padding and fillings on top; it's also sold as a standard sprung or continuous coil mattress.
Because the springs are connected, the unit flexes as one piece. Press on one spot and the springs around it move too, which gives open coil its bouncy, even feel. It's the simplest spring design to make, so open coil mattresses are usually lighter and cheaper than pocket sprung ones. Many are two-sided, so you can flip them over as well as turning them head to toe.
Are open coil mattresses any good?
Open coil mattresses are good for the right job: a guest bed, a child's room, a rental or anywhere a mattress is used lightly or the budget is tight.
| Where it's going | Open coil? | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Guest room | Good fit | Used a few nights a year, so value matters more than fine-tuned support |
| Child's bed | Good fit | Supportive and good value while they grow; choose medium to medium-firm |
| Rental or student let | Good fit | Light to move and cheaper to replace |
| Couple sharing every night | Think twice | Movement travels across the bed |
| Heavier sleeper every night | Think twice | A pocket sprung or hybrid mattress with a strong spring unit usually suits better |
As a family business, we'd rather sell you the right mattress for the room than the dearest one, and for a spare room that's often open coil. Choosing open coil means giving up some refinement, not safety: every mattress we sell, open coil included, meets UK fire safety rules (BS 7177).
Open coil or pocket sprung: which is better?
Pocket sprung is better for couples and for an adult's everyday bed, because each spring moves on its own; open coil is better value where a mattress is used lightly or replaced often.
- Movement: on open coil, a partner turning over is felt across the bed. Pocket springs keep more of it on their side.
- Feel: open coil is bouncier and more uniform, while pocket springs shape themselves more closely to your body.
- Weight: open coil is lighter, which helps if you move house often or turn the mattress regularly.
- Turning: many open coil mattresses are two-sided and can be flipped, while a one-sided pocket sprung mattress can only be turned head to toe.
If you share a bed every night, start with our pocket sprung mattresses.
Should you flip an open coil mattress?
You should flip an open coil mattress only if the maker says it's two-sided, which many are; flipping it and turning it head to toe spreads the wear, so it doesn't dip where you lie.
Turn it head to toe every few weeks for the first three months, then every three months, and if it's two-sided, flip it over now and then as well. An open coil mattress also needs the right base: a firm, even one, or slats spaced as the maker recommends. Open coil usually isn't suitable for an adjustable bed, which needs a mattress that can bend, such as foam. And keep it off the floor, where trapped moisture can lead to mould underneath.
Open coil or foam: which is better for a budget mattress?
For a budget mattress, open coil gives a bouncier sprung feel with air moving through the springs, while foam is quieter, has no springs to poke through and usually arrives rolled.
Both suit guest rooms and children's beds. Foam comes in slim depths that sit under the maximum mattress line on a bunk bed or high sleeper, and a rolled foam mattress is easy to get up narrow stairs. Open coil gives a little more bounce and lets more air through. For more ways to keep the cost down, see cheap mattresses, or foam mattresses for spring-free options. Whichever you choose, a mattress protector keeps spills, sweat and accidents out of the mattress.
For children's rooms, see kids mattresses, and for spare rooms our single mattresses cover the size most guest beds take. Questions about a particular mattress? Ask us.
Open coil mattresses: your questions answered
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What is a sprung mattress?
A sprung mattress is any mattress with a layer of springs inside, which includes open coil, pocket sprung and hybrid mattresses. When people say standard sprung, they usually mean open coil, where the springs are linked by wire into one unit rather than sitting in separate fabric pockets.
Who is an open coil mattress best for?
An open coil mattress is best for guest rooms, children's rooms, rentals and anyone on a tight budget, where good value matters more than refinement. Couples who share every night and light sleepers usually do better with pocket springs, which pass on less movement from one side of the bed to the other.
Is an open coil mattress good for a child?
An open coil mattress can be a sensible choice for a child, as long as it's supportive (medium to medium-firm suits most children) and the right depth for the bed. On a bunk bed or high sleeper, the mattress must sit at or below the maximum mattress line marked on the frame.
Why are open coil mattresses cheaper?
Open coil mattresses usually cost less because a unit of springs linked by wire is simpler and quicker to make than one where every spring is sewn into its own fabric pocket. The simpler unit is also lighter, which makes an open coil mattress easier to carry upstairs and turn.
How long does an open coil mattress last?
How long an open coil mattress lasts depends mostly on how much it's used and how well it's looked after. The usual guide for an adult mattress is around 7 to 10 years, and one in a guest room sees far fewer nights. Replace an open coil mattress sooner if it sags, has lumps or you can feel the springs.
Can you put an open coil mattress on an adjustable bed?
An open coil mattress usually isn't suitable for an adjustable bed, because a unit of springs linked by wire doesn't bend well and can be damaged. Adjustable beds need a flexible mattress: foam, or a pocket sprung mattress without stiff edge rods. Check the bed maker's guidance before you buy.
Are open coil mattresses comfortable?
Open coil mattresses can be comfortable, especially with a good layer of padding or fillings over the springs. The springs give a bouncy, even feel. What you give up compared with pocket springs is how closely the mattress follows your shape, and how well it keeps a partner's movement on their own side.
Which is firmer, open coil or pocket sprung?
Neither open coil nor pocket sprung is automatically firmer: firmness depends on the springs, the wire and the comfort layers on top. Open coil often feels bouncier, while pocket springs respond more to your shape. Every mattress page shows firmness on the same 1 to 10 scale, so compare the numbers rather than the spring type.
Not sure which mattress?
Tell us about your bed and how you sleep, and we'll suggest a few that fit.