What Are the Different Types of Mattresses?

The right mattress type depends on how you sleep, how warm you run, and whether you share a bed. The five main mattress types are: innerspring, memory foam, latex, hybrid, and adjustable air. Each offers a distinct feel and set of trade-offs. For most sleepers, a hybrid mattress delivers the best balance of support, pressure relief, and airflow. However, your sleeping style, body weight, and budget should guide the final decision. This guide breaks down every major type, so you can choose with confidence.

How to Choose the Right Mattress Type for You

There is no perfect mattress for everyone; however, these key factors can help you select the mattress that best suits your needs. For back and joint pain specifically, how mattress type affects back and joint pain is worth reviewing before you decide.

Sleep Position

Sleep position is one of the biggest factors in mattress comfort:

• Side sleepers need a softer mattress with contouring foam to relieve pressure at the hips and shoulders. Memory foam or a plush hybrid is typically the best match.
• Back sleepers often need medium-firm support with proper lumbar alignment to keep the spine neutral. A medium-firm hybrid or firm latex mattress works well.
• Stomach sleepers generally need firmer support to prevent hip and lumbar sinkage. Innerspring or firm hybrid mattresses are the strongest options.
• Combination sleepers do best on a medium-firm hybrid mattress that accommodates movement between multiple sleeping positions without sacrificing support.

Body Weight

• Under 59.9 kg (130 lb): A softer foam or plush hybrid prevents pressure buildup on lighter contact points.
• 59.9 kg to 104.3 kg (130-230 lb): Medium or medium-firm works across most mattress types.
• Over 104.3 kg (230 lb): A firm hybrid or latex mattress provides the durability and support depth needed to prevent premature sagging.

Temperature Sensitivity

• Hot sleepers: Innerspring or latex mattresses offer the best airflow and are least likely to trap body heat.
• Average temperature sleepers: A hybrid mattress balances breathability and comfort well.
• Cold or neutral sleepers: Memory foam's slight heat retention is less of a concern; its pressure-relief benefits take priority.

Motion Sensitivity

• Couples or lighter sleepers: Memory foam or a pocketed coil hybrid with good motion isolation minimises sleep disruption.
• Solo sleepers: Motion transfer is not a concern - any mattress type works.

Budget

• Budget ($300-$3,900 for a Twin): Innerspring mattresses offer the most value - solid edge support, great airflow, durable coils.
• Mid-range (~$500-$7,800 for a Queen): Memory foam or an entry hybrid delivers better motion isolation and pressure relief.
• Premium ($2,500+ for a Queen): Latex mattresses, luxury hybrid designs, or adjustable air beds offer the highest performance and longest lifespan.

What Are the Main Types of Mattresses?

Mattresses differ by construction, contouring ability and temperature regulation. The four main mattress types are foam, innerspring, hybrid, and adjustable air; latex is in its own category given its distinct origin and feel. With so many different types of mattresses available, understanding what's inside before you buy is the most reliable way to find the right fit.

Pocket Coil & Innerspring Mattresses

Innerspring mattresses use a steel-coil foundation for support, topped with a thin comfort layer of foam or fibre. Coil type matters: Bonnell coils are interconnected and budget-friendly but transfer motion across the bed. Offset coils hinge more naturally with the body. A continuous coil system is durable but offers limited motion isolation.

Unlike traditional interconnected Bonnell coils, pocketed coils are fabric-wrapped and move independently, reducing motion transfer and conforming better to body contours. This makes individually wrapped coils the preferred choice in both premium innerspring and hybrid mattresses.

Innerspring mattresses offer excellent airflow and strong edge support, making them a top pick for hot sleepers and stomach and back sleepers. They come at a lower price point than most other types, though the thin comfort layer provides limited pressure relief. Most innerspring models last five to seven years and suit lighter sleepers and budget-conscious shoppers.

Memory Foam Mattresses

Memory foam (technically called “viscoelastic polyurethane foam”) was originally developed by NASA. It softens in response to body heat, contouring closely before slowly springing back. Today, a memory foam mattress is made entirely of foam layers: a viscoelastic top, a transition layer and a high-density support base. Foam types include standard memory foam, open-cell foam (better airflow), and gel-infused memory foam (reduces heat retention). Look for CertiPUR-US certified foam to ensure the materials meet rigorous safety and emissions standards.

New memory foam mattresses may release a temporary chemical odour called off-gassing during the first few days. This is common and the gas is typically gone in 24-72 hours.

Memory foam absorbs movement rather than transferring it across the mattress, which is a key advantage for couples or light sleepers sharing a bed. The contouring layers also relieve pressure points at the hips, shoulders and lower back, making memory foam a strong choice for side sleepers and people managing joint pain. Foam mattresses are lightweight and accessible in price, but offer weaker edge support than coil-based designs and can trap body heat in older closed-cell models. Foam mattresses typically last 8 to 10 years.

Latex Mattresses

Latex foam is processed from the Para rubber tree, and unlike memory foam, has a buoyant, responsive feel rather than a slow-sinking one. There are two main types of latex: Dunlop and Talalay. Dunlop latex is denser and firmer, making it popular for support cores. Talalay latex is airier and softer, commonly used in comfort layers. Both are durable and naturally breathable.

Natural latex uses rubber tree sap, while synthetic latex is petroleum-based; blended combines both. If you are looking for the most eco-conscious option, look for latex mattresses that use GOLS-certified natural latex.

Latex mattresses are naturally hypoallergenic, with excellent airflow and temperature regulation. They resist body impressions and last 15 to 20 years - significantly longer than foam or innerspring options. Their main drawbacks are a higher price point and considerable weight. Latex mattresses suit hot sleepers, eco-conscious shoppers and heavier sleepers who need durable long-term support.

Hybrid Mattresses

Hybrid mattresses combine foam layers with a coil support system; they typically feature pocketed coils at the base topped with several inches of foam or latex comfort layers. The coils provide airflow, bounce and edge support, while the foam handles contouring and motion dampening. A well-built hybrid has at least two inches of foam above the coil layer; anything thinner performs more like a cushion-top innerspring.

Hybrid mattresses are the most versatile of all mattress types. The coil base keeps them cooler and more responsive than all-foam mattresses, while the foam layers relieve pressure points and absorb motion transfer. Combination sleepers do best on a hybrid because it supports back, side, stomach, and mixed positions. Hybrid mattresses offer better edge support than foam and last 8 to 10 years. Their main shortcomings are higher cost and a thicker profile that may require a compatible mattress topper or deep-pocket sheets.

Adjustable Air Mattresses

Adjustable air mattresses use internal air chambers that adjust firmness using electronic pumps. Premium models feature dual air chambers (one per side), allowing partners to set their own firmness independently via remote or app. Foam comfort layers sit above the chambers to cushion the surface. This is significantly different from all other mattress types because the core support is adjustable rather than fixed.

The key benefit of this mattress type is full firmness control on demand, which is ideal for couples with different sleep preferences or anyone whose needs change over time. When paired with an adjustable bed, the system becomes highly personalized.

The trade-offs: these are among the most expensive mattress types ($1,500 to $5,000+ CAD) and mechanical components introduce potential failure points other options don't have. They're best suited for couples with differing firmness needs and those who have the resources required for the purchase.

Pillow Top - A Comfort Layer, Not a Type

A pillow top is a layer of soft material (foam, fibre, cotton or wool) stitched to the top of an innerspring or hybrid mattress for added cushioning. It is not a mattress type per se but it's an option worth knowing about. Pillow tops can compress over time and develop permanent body impressions. A mattress topper is a removable alternative that achieves a similar effect and can be replaced independently.

Pillow top is just one of several “top types” used to describe a mattress's outermost layer. A Euro Top is built flush with the edges of the mattress for a tailored, streamlined look. A Tight Top has no added top layer at all, giving a firmer, more traditional feel. A Smooth Top is a flat, quilted surface without extra sewn-on padding. Knowing which top type you're looking at can help set expectations for feel before you buy.

Mattress Type Comparison Table

Use this quick-reference table to compare the different types of mattresses side by side.

Why a Complete Sleep System Matters

A mattress is only one part of proper sleep support. To get your best sleep, your mattress, pillow, and foundation should work together to help support proper alignment and comfort. The mattress supports the body, the pillow supports the head and neck, and the foundation or base supports the mattress itself. When one part of the system is not properly matched, it can affect the overall comfort, support, and performance of the sleep surface.

This is why speaking with a Sleep Expert can be helpful: the goal is not simply to choose a mattress, but to build the right sleep system.

Explore our mattress collection online or connect with a Sleep Expert to find the mattress type, pillow, and foundation or base that best fit your sleep position, comfort preference, support needs, and complete sleep system. Our Sleep Experts are available at over 300 Sleep Country locations across Canada.

Price ranges referenced in this blog are valid at the time of publication (for the sizes referenced), but are subject to change over time. Please check online or with a Sleep Country Canada representative about the correct price of the specific mattress you are interested in.

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between innerspring and hybrid mattresses?

An innerspring mattress has a coil core with a thin comfort layer, typically under an inch (2.54 cm) of foam or fibre. A hybrid mattress uses the same coil foundation but adds a substantial foam or latex comfort system; they're typically three inches (7.62 cm) or more thick, which significantly improves pressure relief, motion isolation and contouring.

Which mattress type lasts the longest?

Latex mattresses last the longest, from 12 to 20 years with proper care. High-density memory foam hybrids follow at 8 to 10 years. Innerspring and basic foam mattresses typically wear out sooner, at 5 to 7 and 7 to 10 years, respectively.