The Best Innerspring Mattresses Are Classic for a Reason

Reading up on Domino’s shopping guides is like having your own personal product concierge. We do the tedious part—deep-dive research, hands-on testing, and tapping experts for advice—so all you have to do is hit “add to cart.” That’s why we call them Simply the Best.

Once upon a time, mattresses were made with whatever softish material people could get their hands on—straw, horsehair, or (for the fanciest of the fancy) down feathers. Then in the late 1890s, inventors discovered that adding tightly wrapped metal coils gave beds a firm, bouncy feel. And while manufacturing techniques and materials have evolved, an innerspring mattress is still a great choice for anyone looking for firm support while they slumber. 

“Stomach sleepers and hot sleepers also benefit from innerspring mattresses,” says Sleep Foundation’s product expert, Keith Cushner, since both groups often report discomfort with plusher options (mainly memory foam, which tends to surround the body rather than keep it lifted). From foam hybrids to classic coils, the best innerspring mattresses, below, offer a perfect fit for anyone who prefers to sleep on top of their bed rather than be hugged by it. 

Our Favorites

• Best overall: Beautyrest Harmony Sand Pearl Medium Mattress
• Best value: IKEA Haugesund Spring Mattress
• Best hybrid: Purple Hybrid Mattress
• Best customizable: Saatva Classic Innerspring Mattress
• Best luxe: The Westin Heavenly Bed

Best Overall: Beautyrest Harmony Sand Pearl Medium Mattress

Coil number: 842 | Soft top: Yes | Sleep trial: This brand is sold by a number of major retailers, many of which offer sleep trials | Firmness level: Medium

Why we chose it: This bed does it all, from strong motion control to all-night edge support. 

Worried about the dreaded middle-of-the-night wake-up due to tossing and turning? Beautyrest designed this mattress with minimal motion transfer in mind. No matter if you share the bed with a partner having bad dreams or a pet with boundary issues that likes to come and go throughout the night, individually wrapped coils offer supreme control. Edge support made from foam ensures you won’t fall off in the middle of the night, and a cooling, cushioned top is a luxurious addition to the classic medium-firm support sought by stomach and back sleepers. 

Best Value: IKEA Haugesund Spring Mattress

Coil number: 594 in a queen | Soft top: No | Sleep trial: N/A | Firmness level: Medium-firm and firm options available 

Why we chose it: This mattress proves that sometimes keeping it simple is the way to go. 

Whether you’re moving into a dorm, furnishing your first apartment, or just looking to save a little cash, IKEA is not only a must-visit destination for dishwares, bright textiles, and Swedish meatballs, but budget-friendly mattresses as well. The Haugesund’s supportive pocket springs offer two levels of firmness: firm and medium-firm. Although the coil count is lower than what you’d find in a higher-end mattress, the coils are individually wrapped, offering better motion control and long-lasting support (all backed by a 10-year warranty). Whether you’re shopping online or in-store, it’s easy to find everything you need for a new bedroom setup, from mattresses to pillows to linens. 

Best Hybrid: Purple Hybrid Mattress

Coil number: 540 | Soft top: Yes | Sleep trial: 100 nights | Firmness level: Firm

Why we chose it: Foam for soft comfort, coils for support—what’s not to love?

Foam mattresses are designed to wrap around the body; the common refrain is that you sleep in them, not on them. It can be tricky to find that same level of comfort but with a standard amount of support. Look no further than Purple’s innerspring hybrid, a cult favorite, as the answer. This bed’s foundation is made of a thick layer of individually wrapped coils beneath its gridded foam, designed to absorb movement and decrease pressure on the body’s typical pain points (we’re talking mainly hips and shoulders) as you sleep. As an added bonus, it sleeps cooler than a traditional foam mattress by promoting airflow, so it’s worth looking into if you like the feeling of foam but prefer the breathability of a traditional innerspring bed. 

Best Customizable: Saatva Classic Innerspring Mattress

Coil number: 884 | Soft top: Yes | Sleep trial: 365 nights | Firmness level: Very firm 

Why we chose it: We can’t think of anything more luxurious than being able to choose the size, firmness level, and height of your mattress. 

This innerspring mattress has not one, but two layers of coils. Add to that a 3-inch-thick Euro pillow top, and you have a game-changing bed for couples with particularly different sleep needs. For instance, stomach sleepers who want something firm will appreciate the 884 individually wrapped coils (yes, you read that right) that work overtime to keep you elevated and supported, while back and side sleepers who prefer something a little more plush will appreciate the cozy, comfortable upper layer. We also like that this mattress comes in a few different heights, giving you a bigger range of bed frames and even linens to choose from, as well as comfort levels (plush soft, luxury firm, and firm). In other words, your dream mattress is just a few clicks away. 

Best Luxe: The Westin Heavenly Bed

Coil number: 850 | Soft top: Yes | Sleep trial: No | Firmness level: Medium-firm

Why we chose it: Feel like you’re on vacation every night with the cult-favorite bed you can now bring home.

Frequent fliers have long sung the praises of the Westin’s bed, with some insisting they sleep better in it than they do their own beds at home! After years of begging for the secret recipe (spoiler alert: the mattress) that has overnight guests coming back to the chain’s hotels again and again, it finally released a version of its famous bed, manufactured by Simmons: the Heavenly. This is a true medium-firm bed, meaning sleepers of all styles will appreciate the balancing combination of a soft upper and firm interior coils. 

One last thing to note: The bed comes with a box spring, so it’s pretty much ready to go once it arrives, though we do recommend adding the signature comforter and deep-pocket sheets for the ultimate luxury staycation. 

How We Chose These Products

Let’s face it: The world of bedding is super-saturated and overwhelming, especially when you’re looking for a product with so many options—like an innerspring mattress. At Domino, we strive to prioritize bedding brands that balance style, high-quality manufacturing, and eco-conscious attributes. Our editors and writers conduct hands-on testing when possible, and we tap industry experts for their input, dig into brand stats, and conduct independent research to determine which mattresses will offer the best bounce for your buck. The thing is: There’s really no shortcut to finding your ideal mattress—you just have to try them (that’s why we like sleep trials!).

Our Shopping Checklist

Firmness Level and Support

Coil count is crucial: Most every bed you’ll look at in the category has at least 500 coils, which is the minimum count for a comfortable, durable bed. On the higher end, beds top out at around 900 coils—the more coils, the more support and more motion control you’ll find.

Looking for an innerspring bed with edge support is also a good idea. Since you won’t sink down into the mattress as much, rolling off the sides can be a concern for some sleepers. Many of the beds on our list use foam to create a barrier around the sides of the bed, keeping you snug and safe no matter how much moving around you do. 

When it comes to thickness, coils are considered to be higher gauge if they’re thinner and lower gauge if they’re thicker. For maximum firmness, look for a lower gauge, and if you’re interested in a bed that feels firm but still has plenty of give, choose a bed with higher-gauge coils. 

Motion Isolation

Individually wrapped coils will help isolate motion on your innerspring mattress. When each coil is wrapped in its own pocket, you’ll feel the coils shift less, whereas on a bed where every coil is connected, motion transfers more easily. 

Sleep Trials and Returns

DTC brands are still the leaders when it comes to sleep trials, but most of the legacy brands are the ones making innerspring beds. Don’t be afraid to shop around—not just for a good price but a warranty and return policy that will cover you if the bed you buy ends up not being the right fit for you. 

Ask Domino

Q: Does an innerspring mattress need a box spring?

Traditional innerspring mattresses work best when paired with a box spring, which means they also pair well with more traditional bed frames. 

Q: Do I ever need to flip an innerspring mattress?

It varies from mattress to mattress, but generally, flipping the mattress is a housekeeping trick that doesn’t make sense with modern beds. The Westin Heavenly bed, for example, is a no-flip bed, as are most other pillow-top beds. An innerspring mattress should be rotated a few times a year, however, according to the Sleep Foundation. 

Q: Is it true that innerspring mattresses are less durable?

Since innerspring coils are made from metal, they will eventually wear out. If you’ve ever sat on a bed and heard it squeak, its coils are begging for retirement! That being said, many innerspring mattresses use both foam and cushioned tops, which can help extend the life span of your bed. Generally, the more coils your bed has, the longer it will last. 

The Last Word

Innerspring mattresses are a tried-and-true classic, designed to offer both stability and support. The best innerspring mattresses keep you elevated all night long—they offer the kind of support stomach sleepers and back sleepers alike can appreciate.