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5 best mattresses for a dreamy night’s sleep in 2026
Take your slumber to the next level
If you want to get a good night’s sleep, obviously you'll need the right mattress. No matter how early you stop scrolling through TikTok, or how many sleep potions you use, it’s the one essential that can truly take your sleep to the next level.
Make sure you do your research first though - it's an expensive mistake to make if you end up buying the wrong one for your needs. Lucky for you, we've done the digging already and found the ones worth splurging on.
So whether your bed is strictly for sleeping in, or you love a well deserved bed-rot, here are the ones that we’ll be snoozing and scrolling from:
- Best overall mattress: Origin LumbarCloud Mattress
- Best mattress in a box: Emma Original
- Best hybrid mattress: Simba Hybrid Mattress
- Best budget mattress: Ikea VALEVÅG
- Best for gym goers: Dreams Campbell Pocket Sprung Mattress
What type of mattress is best for you?
There are three main types of mattress: memory foam, pocket spring and hybrid. The best way to decide which one you want to get cosy with is by thinking about how you sleep.
If you curl up on your side each night, a soft to medium mattress is a good place to start, as your hips and shoulders can sink in slightly to relieve the pressure on your joints. Both memory foam or hybrid mattresses are good for this, but if you suffer from allergies, stick to memory foam as it’s hypoallergenic.
If you've been known to have suffered with the occasional back pain memory foam is your go-to. They aren’t the most breathable though, so if you tend to toss and turn, a hybrid may be more your style.
Sleep like a starfish every night? A firm mattress is the ultimate for dozing off face down, as it keeps your body supported. You’ll need a pocket spring or hybrid design.
Finally, if you sleep on your back, look for a medium-firm mattress with pocket springs or memory foam. Just make sure you don't have too much of a gap between your lower back and the mattress (slide your hand between your back and the bed to check).
Where to buy a mattress?
You don’t have to break up with online shopping. Mattresses in a box have a lot to offer, and some serious eco-credentials too. By vacuum packing mattresses into smaller boxes that are dropped off at your door, they cost brands less to package and deliver, making them cheaper to buy for you. This also means more can be delivered at once, lowering their carbon footprint.
Most come with 100- or 200-night free trials, so you can send them back if you aren’t completely happy.
How to care for your mattress
You’ve splashed the cash, now it’s time to make sure your mattress lasts. Luckily, they’re pretty low maintenance. Lasting for at least seven years before needing replacing, you can prolong its life by investing in a mattress protector, to keep it free from stains and dust mites.
Don’t forget to check the care instructions before you chuck them away too, as some mattresses will need turning every now and then (don’t worry, there are normally handles to help!).
The best mattresses in 2026
Not to sound clichéd but if you've dreamt of sleeping on a cloud, then you need to invest in a Origin LumbarCloud Mattress. It was rated 87/100 by The Good Housekeeping Institute and for good reason - it's ideal for back and joint support, and thanks to its layered design it has a more luxurious feel to it.
And if you struggle with staying cool while sleeping this may be the mattress for you as it incorporates a CoolWeave 'cool-touch' cover, breathable Kapok fibres, and three layers of gel-infused latex to give you the most temperature regulating sleep possible.
Key specs
Sizes: Single, small double, double, king, super king
Type: Foam
Firmness: Medium to firm
Mattress depth: 35cm
Free trial: 200 nights
Emma Original Mattress
Commitment-phobes will appreciate bed-in-a-box-brand Emma’s 200-night free trial, but we’d be surprised if you wanted to return it.
Gym-goers will appreciate that it helps ease back pain, while its foam design makes it super comfy for different sleep styles. It’s not cheap, but given all that time we spend in bed, it’s worth the investment.
Key specs
Sizes: Single, small double, double, king, super king, EU double, EU King
Type: Foam (mattress in a box)
Firmness: Medium to firm
Mattress depth: 25cm
Free trial: 200 nights
Simba Hybrid Mattress
Simba Hybrid Mattress
Made up of both foam and springs, this hybrid design is a great pick for couples. There’s no creaking or dipping, so you won’t get woken up by your partner’s movements, and it’s super supportive.
Another big tick in our books is that it’s 100% recyclable, so when you do eventually say thank you, next (after the 10 years it’s covered by its guarantee that is), your mattress will go on to have a whole new life.
Key specs
Sizes: Single, small double, double, king, super king, EU single, EU double, EU queen
Type: Hybrid
Firmness: Medium
Mattress depth: 25cm
Free trial: 200 nights
You can always count on Ikea for kitting out your flat, and that stretches to your mattress too. This bargain buy will leave you with enough money to treat yourself to that cute bedding, and there are no compromises on comfort either.
The pocket spring mattress makes for a cosy night’s sleep, and you don’t need to flip it - that’s one less bit of housemin to worry about. Sweet and chic dreams, incoming.
Key specs
Sizes: Single, small double, double, king, and super king
Type: Pocket spring
Firmness: Medium/firm
Mattress depth: 24cm
Free trial: Try it at home for 365 days return policy
Dreams Campbell Pocket Sprung Mattress
Dreams Campbell Pocket Sprung Mattress
There’s nothing like a good night’s sleep to help you recover from that spin class, and this mattress should give you the comfort you need to bounce back stronger.
This medium-firm hybrid mattress evenly distributes body weight for a more supportive sleep, while still providing just the right level of snugness for settling down to binge watch Below Deck.
Key specs
Sizes: Single, small double, double, king and super king
Type: Hybrid
Firmness: Medium
Mattress depth: 22cm
Hannah is our homes editor, specialising in reviewing the latest kitchen appliances, cleaning products, mattresses and bedding, and crafting equipment. Hannah has written about hundreds of products, from air fryers to smoothie makers to pillows, and is committed to finding the most reliable and best value for money buys.
Hannah is also interested in sustainability in the home and has completed a course with the University of the Arts London in sustainable textiles, so she can help cut through the noise on what’s green and what’s not. Hannah has an MA in Magazine Journalism and has previously worked as a freelance lifestyle and women’s sports journalist, working for Stylist, Sky Sports and more.
Hannah has also previously worked in a florist and can normally be found caring for her house plants or sewing something new for her home or wardrobe.
Lydia Venn is Cosmopolitan UK’s Senior Entertainment and Lifestyle Writer. She covers everything from TV and film, to the latest celebrity news. She also writes across our work/life section regularly creating quizzes, covering exciting new food releases and sharing the latest interior must-haves. In her role she’s interviewed everyone from Margot Robbie to Niall Horan, and her work has appeared on an episode of The Kardashians. After completing a degree in English at the University of Exeter, Lydia moved into fashion journalism, writing for the Daily Express, before working as Features Editor at The Tab, where she spoke on BBC Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour and Talk Radio. She has an encyclopedic knowledge of Gilmore Girls and 00s teen movies, and in her free time can be found with a margarita in hand watching the Real Housewives on repeat. Find her on LinkedIn.
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