Guest bedrooms don’t need a super-expensive mattress because you can find fantastic options with zoned support and quality materials for 300 to 400 quid.
Look for mattresses with individual pocket springs wrapped in fabric - this lets each spring move separately to match the curves of your body. Look for 800 to 1,200 pocket springs – a higher number usually means superior support.
Hybrid mattresses combine pocket springs with dense memory or gel memory foam layers, which mould to your shape and relieve pressure points.
In this price range, you should be able to find a supportive, comfortable double or king guest mattress around 23-26 cm thick – the thicker a mattress, the better it usually is at isolating motion and softening the feel of a solid platform.
Consider stepping up to the £500-£600 tier if your budget allows. Here, you'll often find upgraded hybrid mattresses with thicker comfort layers and more sophisticated spring systems. These mid-range models create a luxurious sleep surface for your overnight visitors.
Look for hybrids with at least 2 inches of memory foam in the comfort layer. Deeper memory foam allows more cushioning and contouring. The springs are often thicker gauge or wrapped in extra cushioning for a plusher feel. Many mattresses in this price range have over 1,200 pocketed coils.
You can expect excellent pressure relief for side sleepers along with robust support for back and stomach sleepers from a £500-£600 guest mattress. The balance of cushioning and support makes these models comfortable for most body types and sleep positions.
Spending over £600 on a guest mattress is hard to justify, considering occupancy will be periodic. However, if budget is not a concern, there are exceptional mattresses above this price point. For example, some high-end pocket spring mattresses have over 3,000 springs, significantly improving conforming and support—though remember that you hit diminishing returns over 2,000 springs or so.
Luxury mattresses also incorporate advanced comfort materials like latex, micro-coils, and phase-change covers to help manage the temperature. While delightful for overnight guests, it's debatable whether these indulgences warrant their lofty price tags for infrequent use – although if you have the dosh, why not?
While the mattress might be the centrepiece, creating a comfortable guest room involves other considerations, too:
Bedding Quality
Cheap bedding undermines even the best mattress. Invest in soft, breathable sheets, duvet covers and pillowcases. For the fillings, pick mid-weight hollow fibre options that feel cosy in summer and winter.
Duvet Tog
Have a lighter 4.5-tog duvet for hotter months and a warmer 13.5-tog duvet for cooler months. This ensures your guests stay nice and cosy regardless of the season.
Mattress Firmness
Medium and medium-firm mattresses suit most overnight visitors. Medium-firm offers robust support for back sleepers, while medium caters to side sleepers. Either works well for stomach sleepers.
Summing Up
For most people, budgeting £300-£400 for a guest mattress hits the sweet spot between comfort and value. Look for pocket springs or basic hybrid models with thick foam layers to cushion pressure points.
If you want to pamper spare bedrooms with a luxurious sleep surface, mid-range hybrids with advanced coil systems and plush memory foam run £500-£600.
