Pocket Spring vs. Open Coil

Spring mattresses have either pocket springs or open coil springs, and both are extremely popular, with open coils being cheaper and pocket springs claiming better performance. But what's the difference, and should you care?

What is an open coil mattress? 

An open coil mattress has a spring support system of hundreds of interconnected springs joined together to make a spring bed.

The interconnected springs perform as a single system rather than each spring operating independently like pocket springs.

With both open coil and pocket springs, the mattress firmness is determined not by the spring count but by the 'gauge' of the wire (thickness).

How they perform 

Open coils are supportive and comfortable, although they lack the deep pressure relief of foam and the ultimate support of pocket springs.

Compression on an open coil mattress section affects other areas because the interconnected springs deform collectively. However, 'zonal' open coils remedy this to some extent with two or more independent spring beds.

Open coil mattresses are cheap because they are easy to mass-produce. The cost to manufacture an open coil mattress is less than half that of a pocket spring mattress, but this does not mean open coil mattresses are low-quality.

Open coils offer excellent support, and most new mattresses have plush comfort layers that deliver good pressure relief and comfort.

Overall, an open coil mattress is fine if you have a small budget. Open coil mattresses are known as 'continuous coil,' 'standard coil,' and 'Miracoil' with Silentnight.

Open coil mattress recommendations 

• Giltedge Beds Topaz - Affordable, medium, and comfy. £279.00 (king).
• Giltedge Gel Comfort – Memory foam gel for cooling, medium. £379.00 (king).
• Silentnight Memory Lyra - Plush, medium, zonal. £419.00 (king).

You can view more open-coil mattresses here.

What is a pocket spring mattress?

A pocket spring mattress has hundreds (sometimes thousands) of individual springs that operate independently.

The individual springs have different gauges for zonal support, and because they are independent, they isolate movement exceptionally well.

Pocket spring mattresses are superior to open coil mattresses in support and movement isolation, although comfort levels are very similar.

How they perform 

Pocket spring mattresses are less bouncy than open coil mattresses because the individual springs isolate bounce. Getting into bed is less shaky, and tossing and turning in bed is less disruptive to your sleep and your partner's.

Another big difference is the support offered. While both mattresses provide support, the individual springs in a pocket spring mattress give manufacturers more control in refining comfort in different mattress areas.

For example, a pocket spring mattress might be firm towards the edges and softer in the middle by changing the spring gauge. Open coil mattresses tend to be consistent in their firmness, so the support is less refined.

Because pocket spring mattresses are more expensive, they also tend to have more excellent materials, like thicker memory/latex foam and higher-quality fibrous layers.

This makes a big difference to plushness.

Overall, a pocket spring mattress is a worthwhile upgrade if you have a bigger budget. On average, you will pay 30% more for a comparable mattress.

Pocket spring mattress recommendations 

• Giltedge Eco Lux - Medium/soft, natural fillings. £369.00 (king)
• Sleepsoul Balance 800 – Medium, memory foam, plush. £399.00 (king).
• Shire Eco Grand – Medium/firm, 4,000 pocket springs, luxury. £769.00 (king).

By following the link you can view more pocket spring mattresses

Summing up the differences between coil and pocket spring

Have hundreds or thousands of independent springs.

The open coil is a cheaper, easier-to-manufacture technology with similar comfort levels to pocket springs but with lower support and poor movement isolation.

Pocket spring is a superior technology with excellent movement isolation and support, with greater support refinement in zonal areas.

Those on a small budget can't go wrong with a high-quality, branded open coil mattress, but if you can spend a bit extra, pocket spring is worth it.