Pocket springs v standard coil springs (innersprings)

If you want a mattress that uses springs, then you have two primary choices, they are pocket springs and coils (innersprings). The difference between the two is simple.

Pockets springs are separate and independent springs that sit in individual fabric pockets. They compress and function independently to all of the other springs that surround them.

Coils or innersprings are not independent. They are made from one continuous wire that leaves every spring interconnected. This means that applying a pressure to one spring automatically results in the movement of many of the other adjacent springs.

For these reasons, pocket spring offer superior performance to innersprings.

Retail price

The coil spring is the poor brother of the pocket spring, so it is cheaper and is targeted at the budget end of the mattress market. Innerspring mattresses are not considered orthopedic in their quality or construction.

Springiness

Both of these mattress constructions can have a springy feel, but springiness does not necessarily equate to quality. In most cases applying pressure to an innerspring mattress will result in a greater area of the mattress surface deflecting and springing, however this is not desirable.

Cool or warm feel

Nearly all spring mattresses have a neutral feel when it comes to sleeping cold or warm. The exception is a spring based mattress with a memory foam top layer.

Ability to mould

The ability to deflect only where the pressure is being applied (i.e. where the person is lying down) is determined by firstly having pocket spring and secondly having a high spring count of small springs. As a very rough guide, innerspring beds will rarely have more than 600 to 800 springs, whilst pocket sprung mattresses normally have a minimum of 1000 spring and usually many more.

Mattress displacement

Pocket springs displace the springs around them to a very limited extent. Inner spring coil mattresses have a large area of displacement. They are much more likely to disrupt another sleeper in the same bed.

Hypoallergenic properties

Only foams like visco elastic memory foam and latex foam are hypoallergenic.

Life expectancy

High quality high spring count pocket spring beds may last for up to 20 years. Innerspring mattresses are an economy mattress and they will probably only last for 3 to 5 years before serious reductions in their performance start to become apparent.

Turn or none turn

Most innerspring mattresses can be turned over. Some pocket spring mattress designs are "no turn".

Cleaning and maintenance

There should be no difference and no requirement for maintenance.

Sales popularity

Both of these mattress types are popular, but each appeals to a very different sector of the market. The innerspring or coil is cheap and cheerful, but many people like the springy bouncy feel that it offers.

New or old technology

Both are well tested technologies.

Packing and delivery

Both will usually be packaged ready for immediate use once delivered.

Weight

A pocket spring bed will be heavier than a coil bed. This is because there will be more springs, a generally better quality build and more padding and higher quality ticking.

Our verdict

These mattress types cannot be compared in a like for like way because one is directed at the economy budget market and the other at the higher quality higher priced market. However pocket springs are superior to innersprings in nearly every case.