Mattress Reviews > Innerspring Mattress Reviews
Advantages & Disadvantages of Innerspring / Coil Mattresses → Based on Data From 1,800+ Actual Owners
Page last updated July 27, 2011
Advantages
Familiarity
Innerspring mattresses have generally dominated for decades, and they are what most people currently own.
As a result of this familiarity, people often feel less risk in buying an innerspring bed as opposed to a mattress type that they may be less familiar with, such as memory foam, air or latex.
Less Sleeping Hot
Unlike some other types of mattresses, especially memory foam, innerspring mattresses do not have complaints to any significant number regarding "sleeping hot." Sleeping hot is caused by the mattress retaining a person's body heat, resulting in an unnaturally warm sleeping surface. However, innerspring beds with substantial amounts of memory foam may retain body heat.
Less Off-gassing / Initial Odor
Innerspring beds without memory foam tend to not substantially off gas (give off a smell initially due to the manufacturing and / or packaging process). However, some reports of strong off gassing from non-memory foam innerspring beds do exist.
Better For Sex
For many people, innerspring mattresses may be more suitable for sex. The other types of beds have some complaints about them regarding this issue, but innerspring mattresses (especially those without a layer of memory foam) do not have complaints in any significant number. (See mattresses and sex for more information.)
Disadvantages
Premature Sagging
According to our research, innerspring mattresses have the most problem, by far, with premature sagging when compared to the other types of beds.
Premature sagging is defined in our research as sagging of the mattress that takes place within 3-4 years, resulting in discomfort and or pain.
The reason(s) why sagging is such an issue for innerspring mattresses is not totally clear. However, it is probably caused by a combination of factors, including but not limited to the following: a one-sided mattress which cannot be turned to avoid uneven wear / compression; the type of upholstery used as well as the upholstery's grade of quality; the type and quality of insulator, padding and wire or netting layer that keeps the upholstery from sinking into the coils; the quality of steel used for the coils; the number of helicals (connecting wires) used and; the overall quality of construction.
At least 25% of innerspring mattress owners in our research report that their bed has premature sagging. In comparison, the other types of mattresses with complaints of premature sagging are memory foam and latex beds in which about 10% of those owners report that their bed has the problem.
| Brand | Percentage
of innerspring mattress owners reporting that their beds prematurely sagged |
| Spring Air | 60% |
| Kingsdown | 34% |
| Serta | 34% |
| Stearns/Foster | 28% |
| Simmons | 27% |
| Sealy | 18% |
A lack of mattress turning and or flipping is not likely the main cause of premature sagging in most cases because many people who reported sagging claimed to turn / flip their mattress regularly if possible.
In addition, a person's weight does not appear to be a main cause for sagging since many people who said they weigh less than 170 pounds reported the problem.
Owner Satisfaction
Individually and as a group, innerspring mattresses / brands scored lower than the other types of mattresses / brands, according to our research. It should be noted that most people who found innerspring beds uncomfortable did so because of the premature sagging of the beds. Prior to premature sagging, people were often pleased with the comfort of the mattresses.
Little Or No Dust Mite / Allergy Protection
The fibrous and cellular structure of many innerspring mattresses make an ideal living and breeding environment for dust mites. The shedded skin and feces of dust mites are recognized to be the main cause for Asthma, chronic Rhinitis (Hay Fever) and other allergies. The composition of most other types of beds generally discourage the growth of substantial dust mite populations. See mattresses and dust mites for more info.
Too Tall / High
A significant percentage of owners, especially those with pillow tops, say that their bed is too tall, meaning that the top of the mattress can be considerable distance from the floor. As a result, getting onto the bed or off requires extra effort and in some cases a foot stool.
Noise
Unlike memory foam and latex beds, innerspring mattresses, especially as they age, can make noise when in use. Specifically, the innersprings may squeak and or creak especially on cheaper models which can be annoying to the sleeper(s).