Single pocket sprung mattresses

Is a pocket sprung single mattress good for a child?

A pocket sprung single suits most school-age children and teenagers, particularly those who sleep warm, because air moves freely between the springs. Each spring sits in its own fabric pocket and moves on its own, so the mattress follows a child's shape instead of dipping as one unit.

As with any child's mattress, aim for medium to medium-firm. Pocket springs feel springier than foam, so it's easy to change position, and a strong spring unit gives responsive support as a teenager grows taller and heavier. Many pocket sprung mattresses also have firmer edges, which helps a teenager who sits on the side of the bed to read or play games. For younger children, see our kids single mattresses.

Can you get a pocket sprung mattress for a bunk bed?

You can get a pocket sprung mattress for a bunk bed: slim pocket sprung singles around 15 cm deep are made for bunks, high sleepers and cabin beds, as long as the mattress sits at or below the maximum mattress line on the frame.

Under BS EN 747 that line keeps the guard rail at least 16 cm above the mattress, and on many raised beds it allows 15 to 16 cm. A 15 cm pocket sprung mattress (about 6 inches) has room for the springs and a thin comfort layer rather than deep padding, so it usually feels firmer than a deeper one. A pocket sprung bunk bed mattress also weighs more than a foam one of the same depth, so think about who'll be lifting a corner to change the sheet. For an older teenager, check the bed's maximum user weight as well as its mattress line. Our thin mattresses bring the slim options together, and bunk bed mattresses has more on fitting a bunk.

How many springs should a single mattress have?

No particular number of springs makes a single mattress good, and because counts are usually quoted for one size, often a double or king, the single in the same range has fewer springs simply because it's smaller.

More springs isn't automatically better either. The thickness of the wire (its gauge), the comfort layers and the fillings all change how a single feels, so compare those as well as the count, and check which size any figure refers to.

Pocket sprung or memory foam for a single bed?

Choose a pocket sprung single for a child or teenager who sleeps warm, is heavier or likes a bouncier surface; choose memory foam for a side sleeper who wants closer pressure relief, or when the mattress needs to be light and rolled.

With one sleeper on a single, partner disturbance rarely matters, so the choice comes down to heat, feel and handling. Compare our single memory foam mattresses, or read how pocket sprung mattresses are built.

Are pocket sprung single mattresses heavy?

Pocket sprung singles are heavier than foam singles of a similar depth, because of the steel springs inside. The weight matters most on a top bunk or high sleeper, and every time the mattress needs rotating.

Many pocket sprung mattresses can't be rolled, so they come flat and wrapped, and can be slept on as soon as they're unwrapped. At 90 cm wide, a flat single is much easier to get round a tight landing than a flat double at 135 cm, but measure any awkward turn on the stairs first. Each mattress page says whether it arrives rolled or flat, and most of our mattresses can be delivered the next working day; see delivery and returns for details.

If you're not sure what depth or firmness a child's bed needs, ask us with the bed's make and model, or browse every single mattress in the range.

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