When a mattress has poor motion isolation, getting in and out of bed disturbs the other person. It also increases the sensation of bounce and movement, making the mattress less refined and comfortable.
The worst mattresses for motion isolation are open coil mattresses – these have an interconnected spring bed that operates as a single part. Memory foam and pocket spring varieties are the best mattresses for motion isolation.
This article explores the best mattresses for motion isolation with tips to help you choose the best mattress for your lifestyle.
Let’s jump in!
What is motion isolation?
Mattresses with motion isolation prevent one person from disturbing the other when getting in and out of bed.
Most modern mattresses have some motion isolation, but the refinement of support layers to reduce motion transfer and bounce can be expensive to engineer, so high-end mattresses often have the best results.
The key is for the comfort and support layers to deform individually, with as little impact on the materials around them as possible.
Pocket springs are the best-sprung technology, while memory foam is the best comfort layer for motion isolation. Most sprung and hybrid mattresses use memory foam, but latex foam is also a suitable motion isolator.
Our Best Mattresses For Motion Isolation
Without further ado, here are the mattresses we recommend. All our picks are based on actual testing and user feedback:
Sleepeezee G2 and G3
The Sleepeezee G2 (medium-firm, £789) and G3 (medium, £949) are luxury hybrid mattresses with 2,200 and 3,200 pocket springs, respectively. They isolate movement with a thick support layer and graphite memory foam that is highly breathable.
The G2 has 20mm of memory foam, while the G3 has 40mm, with zoned pocket springs and a pillowtop to absorb energy and boost comfort.
Giltedge Beds Comfort 1000
The Giltedge Beds Comfort 1000 has 1,000 pocket springs for zoned support and a deep memory foam layer for squishy comfort. It’s rated medium, perfect for side sleepers and people weighing 130 and 170 lbs.
Priced at £449 for a king, it offers excellent value and achieves sound motion isolation with a 27cm depth and zoned support.
If you’re looking for cheap memory foam mattresses, the Silentnight Zone memory foam range is for you. It includes the medium-soft 3 Zone Memory Foam (great for tummy sleepers) and the medium 7 Zone Memory Foam (great for side sleepers).
Pictured: Silentnight 7 Zone Memory 5FT Kingsize Mattress
Coming in at £349 and £399, these mattresses offer excellent motion isolation with memory foam and zoned support foam.
Shire Beds Pennine Pillowtop
The Shire Beds Pennine Pillowtop (medium) provides a traditional sleeping experience, with 1,000 pocket springs for motion isolation and 4cm of soft foam for squishiness. 5cm of memory foam absorbs impacts and boosts motion isolation further.
We love this mattress’s pillowtop, filled with foam and fibre. It’s priced at £549 for a king, offering excellent value.
What about cheaper open-coil mattresses?
Open coil mattresses have worse motion isolation than pocket-sprung and pure foam mattresses. However, if your budget only stretches this far, check out the Giltedge Beds Gel Bonnell (£379, king), which has a memory foam comfort layer and quality springs.
Pictured: Giltedge Beds Gel Bonnell 5FT Kingsize Mattress
