Latex Foam vs Memory Foam – What’s The Difference?
Latex and memory foam are both high-performance foams used in mattresses – but that’s just about the only thing they have in common.
Latex is natural, while memory foam is synthetic; latex provides bounce and mobility, while memory foam softens with heat and moulds to your body.
Both foams offer a sublime sleep but are suited to different people. This article runs through the key differences to help you choose between them.
Let’s jump in!
How they feel
Memory foam is soft and squishy, slowly expanding back after deformation – hence the name ‘memory foam’. It feels softer than latex foam and more pliable, giving the sensation of sinking into the mattress rather than laying on it.
Latex foam is firm and bouncy with elastic properties, bouncing back immediately after deformation. It absorbs less energy than memory foam but isolates it, providing excellent motion isolation and a firmer platform.
Edge support
Latex foam is superior for edge support because the foam structure is resilient against deformation and isolates load to the first few centimetres.
This video (skip to 1:10) demonstrates this by placing a dumbbell at the edge of latex and memory foam. The dumbbell deforms the memory foam significantly, eventually rolling off, while the latex foam isn’t affected.
This happens because memory foam deforms significantly at the weakest point, allowing roll-off, while latex foam spreads the load.
Editor’s note: some memory foam mattresses have encapsulation to improve edge support, but latex is still the superior technology.
Winner: latex foam.
Body contouring
Memory foam is better for body contouring because it’s squishier and less resilient, allowing a more profound impression that moulds with your body.
While latex foam allows some sinkage and compression, it fights back against it. Memory foam deforms and expands slowly, keeping its shape, creating a hugging sensation and making you sink into the mattress.
If you want ultimate pressure relief, memory foam is the way to go because it will put your spine and hips in a natural sleeping position. Latex will also contour to your body, but it won’t hold its shape, and you won’t sink into it as much.
Winner: memory foam.
Motion isolation
Memory and latex foam offers excellent motion isolation, so pressing down on one side of the bed won’t deform the other side.
However, they handle energy differently. While memory foam absorbs energy on impact, latex foam provides rebound. The bouncier feel of latex means the sensation of motion isolation is less than with memory foam.
Despite this, both offer similar levels of motion isolation – getting in and out of bed won’t cause any discomfort or annoyance with either mattress. Still, the bouncier characteristic of latex creates more movement overall.
Winner: memory foam.
Breathability
While memory foam has poor breathability, you can get charcoal-bamboo varieties with good breathability.
Latex foam is superior to regular memory foam for breathability, but the difference between it and breathable memory foam is negligible.
Regular memory foam is probably the worst option for hot sleepers and summer nights, while latex is one of the best.
Winner: latex foam.
Eco-friendliness
Latex foam is made from the sap of rubber trees, a sustainable resource that is biodegradable and recyclable.
Memory foam is made from polyurethane, a synthetic material that is not biodegradable and only recyclable under the right conditions.
Latex foam is more eco-friendly than memory foam because it’s made from a natural resource and will eventually return to the earth. Memory foam is hard to recycle, and most of it is sent to a landfill.
Winner: latex foam.
Price
Memory foam is significantly cheaper than latex foam, with mattresses running anywhere from 10% to 50% cheaper. This is because it’s easier to manufacture in large quantities, so it has economies of scale over latex foam.
However, there are deals to be had on latex mattresses. The Giltedge Beds Laygel costs only £449 for a king and delivers a sublime sleep.
Winner: memory foam.