Marks & Spencers Mattresses; Are they any good?
We’ve been answering questions about Marks & Spencer’s mattresses for many years now. As one of the oldest high street retailers, their reputation proceeds them as a trusted retailer for homeware as they have branched out into furniture and soft furnishings. As with all mattress manufacturers, it’s important to delve a little deeper into the stated technical specifications of their mattresses. We aim to explain whats in their mattresses and provide some alternatives to compare to.
If you’ve read our other hundred or so detailed bed articles you will know by now that the only way to accurately compare mattresses is to know the full breakdown of the mattress upholstery. Once again, as with many retailers, Marks & Spencer only give very brief details of the fibres and spring units. However, they do provide detailed cutaways which help us, the mattress geeks, explain in more detail what you’re getting for your money.
We’re going to be looking at the most popular Marks & Spencers mattress models and giving some more detail alongside any alternatives to compare to.
- Ortho Firm Support 1500 Marks & Spencer
- Natural 1250 Medium Mattress Marks & Spencer
- Marks & Spencer Luxury 5800 Mattress
- Marks & Spencers Cashmere Comfort 2000 Pillowtop
Ortho Firm Support 1500 Marks & Spencer
This model is one of Marks & Spencers most popular mattresses. We’ve talked at length about the real niggles with Orthopedic beds and their link with bad backs which you can read more of here. Listed as the ‘super supportive’ option we certainly would think so at an Extra Firm feel. Its worth noting that an extra firm feel mattress needs to be looked at with caution. Your body weight, height and sleeping position really needs to be taken into account. If not, you may find yourself with an uncomfortable mistake of a mattress if you’re not used to such a firm unforgiving bed.
This is a one-sided mattress meaning that the fillings are layered up with more weighting on one side. You usually find one-sided mattresses at the cheaper end of the market. On one hand, you don’t need to turn it (as you can’t you would crush the fillings of the top layer) but it does limit the lifespan of your mattress.
| Marks & Spencer Ortho Firm Support 1500 | John Ryan By Design Origins Reflex | John Ryan By Design Artisan 1500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Soft 'White Fibre' (unknown gsm) | 750gsm Very soft Polyester | 500gsm Wool |
| 2 | Cotton layer | One inch reflex foam layer | 600gsm Rebound Poly Cotton (50/50) |
| 3 | Foam (unknown depth) | 270gsm Polyester | 700gsm Polyester |
| 4 | Insulator Foam (unknown depth) | One inch reflex foam layer | 600gsm: Rebound Poly Cotton (50/50) |
| 5 | NA | NA | 700gsm Polyester |
| 6 | NA | NA | 1200 gsm Cashmere Hair Pad as Insulator |
| 7 | 1500 Spun Bond Pocket Springs (unknown gauge) | 1000 Spun Bond Pocket Springs (Medium gauge) | 1500 Spun Bond Pocket Springs (Soft/Med or Firm) |
| Total GSM | Not specified | 1020gsm | 4300gsm |
| Price | £899 | £575 | £965 |
| Find out more | Find out more |
For the price point of nearly £900, we would expect to see at least a two-sided mattress construction method. Also without the GSM, it is hard to see exactly what support the upholstery is providing. The term ‘Ortho enhanced wool & cotton’ causes confusion, as the only way to firm up these natural fibres is to blend them with Polyester. Which would hint that they are not 100% natural blends? Again, its impossible to say without accurate GSM details.
Our Origins Reflex provides a firm feel at a more reasonable price point and its two-sided
The two alternatives show what you should expect from an entry-level ‘Firm support’ mattress such as our Origins Reflex (at a fraction of the price) or what you should expect from the near £900 mark, our Artisans 1500.
At the £900 price point, the Artisan 1500 can be used as a good guide comparing GSM and construction methods
Natural 1250 Medium Mattress Marks & Spencer
The next model we get asked about frequently is the Natural 1250 Medium feel mattress from M&S. Again, frustratingly, this is a one-sided mattress meaning you can only ever use one side. The breakdown shows it has ‘Luxury white fibre’ which we are asked frequently about.
What is White fibre?
White fibre is a term that a number of retailers are now using to describe upholstery in mattresses. White fibre is usually blended polyester and other traces of synthetic fibre. It’s a blend so is cheap to produce. We’re not sure what makes this blend luxury unless it maybe has some cotton or such in their too? Looking at the price point we are thinking probably not.
The next layer from the cutaway shows a very small amount of lambswool, maybe a 200GSM sheet if we had to guess. The other layer is then listed as Cotton but again no GSM or blend given. It’s based on a 700 spring count synthetic pocket spring unit again no tension given.
We think for this price point you should be looking for a two-sided mattress at the minimum. You’re not going to get lashings of natural fibres at this price point but our Origins Pocket 1500 should be a good comparison at this level.
| Marks & Spencer Natural 1250 Medium Mattress | John Ryan By Design Origins Pocket 1500 | John Ryan By Design Artisan Naturals | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Luxury 'White Fibre' (unknown gsm) | 300gsm Wool | 1200gsm Blended British Fleece Wool and Cotton |
| 2 | Lambswool layer(unknown gsm) | 750gsm Very Soft Polyester | Hairproof Cambric Cover |
| 3 | Cotton (unknown gsm or blend) | 500gsm Polyester Pad | 1250gsm Rebound Poly Cotton |
| 4 | NA | One Inch Foam Insulator Layer | 1500gsm 100% Pure Mohair |
| 7 | 700 Spun Bond Pocket Springs (unknown gauge) | 1500 Spun Bond Pocket Springs (Medium gauge) | 1600 Calico encased Pocket Springs [ 49mm ] [1.28mm ] |
| Total GSM | Not specified | 1550gsm | 3950gsm |
| Price | £599 | £620 | £1235 |
| Find out more | Find out more |
If you’re looking at a real Natural fibre mattress then our Artisan Naturals should be the mattress to aspire to, although the price reflects this.
Click to Shop Artisan Naturals
The Artisan Naturals is our Best Seller
Marks & Spencer Luxury 5800 Mattress
This is Marks and Spencers ‘twin up’ mattress which contains two layers of springs. The manufacturer has decided to use Micro springs which we have detailed the drawbacks of at length here. A true twin up should really use the same spring twice for the desired effect and be two-sided. Again this model is still a no turn one-sided model which is a real shame given the £1000+ price point.
The upholstery layer detail gets even more brief on this model. From the specification and cutaway we can see there are the following layers:
- Polyester (synthetic fibre)
- Blend of Polyester and Cotton
- Natural Lambswool
- Sumptuous Natural Wool, Cashmere and a deep Silk layer
There’s zero GSM given and looking at the cutaway the Natural Wool, Cashmere and Silk has to be a blend. It’s still using synthetic springs which is a surprise. At the £1000+ price point, you should expect calico encase pocket springs which are far more breathable and progressive.
| Marks & Spencer Luxury 5800 Mattress | John Ryan By Design Tailored Pocket 2000 | John Ryan By Design Artisan Sublime | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Polyester (unknown gsm) | 1200gsm Blended British Fleece Wool and Cotton | 800gsm Bamboo |
| 2 | Blend of Polyester and Cotton (unknown gsm) | Hairproof Cambric Cover | 1200gsm Alpaca |
| 3 | Natural Lambswool (unknown gsm) | 1250gsm Poly Cotton | Hairproof Cambric Cover |
| 4 | Natural Wool, Cashmere and a deep Silk layer (no gsm or blend) | 1500gsm Pure 100% Mohair | 1200gsm Pure Horsetail |
| 5 | NA | NA | 1200gsm Organic Flax |
| 6 | NA | NA | 1000gsm Coconut Fibre Coir |
| 7 | Spun Bond Pocket Springs (unknown amount or gauge) | 2000 Double Tier Spun Bond Pocket Springs (Soft/Med or Firm) | 2508 (2 tiers) Calico encased Pocket Springs [56mm] [1.40mm] |
| Total GSM | Not specified | 3950gsm | 5400gsm |
| Price | £1299 | £1120 | £3025 |
| Find out more | Find out more |
The nearest comparison we have for review is the Artisan Tailored Pocket 2000 featuring a ‘twin up’ of Spun bond pocket springs. It also is two-sided and features a huge 85% Natural filling content.
Click to Shop Artisan Tailored Pocket
If budget is no option then the next model with a similar feel would be our Artisan Sublime which is 100% Natural fibre and has an eye-watering total GSM of 5400 and a 15-year guarantee.
Our Artisan Tailored Pocket 2000 is 85% Natural Fibre and features a Dual Calico Spring support system
Marks & Spencers Cashmere Comfort 2000 Pillowtop
If you haven’t already seen our reviews of pillowtop mattresses then definitely read why you should avoid them first. They are fraught with settlement problems and once the pillowtop fails that’s the end of your mattress as you can’t remove it.
The Cashmere Comfort struggles with the same issues with the other Marks & Spencers models in that there’s very little information to accurately compare to. This model has zero information about the fillings of the actual pillowtop for example, which is the prime comfort layer.
It features a dual spring unit of synthetic pocket springs and then some of that ‘White fibre’ again which at £1299 is a shame.
| Marks & Spencer Cashmere Comfort 2200 Mattress | John Ryan By Design Origins Comfort 1000 | John Ryan By Design Artisan Bespoke 004 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Soft 'White Fibre' (unknown gsm) | 500gsm Polyester Pad | Hairproof Cambric Cover |
| 2 | Blend of Cotton, Cashmere & Silk(unknown gsm) | One Inch Foam Insulator Layer | 200gsm Soft Bamboo |
| 3 | Polyester (unknown gsm) | NA | 1200gsm Pure Horsetail |
| 4 | NA | NA | 1000gsm Bonded British Fleece Wool and Cotton |
| 5 | 2200 Spun Bond Pocket Springs Dual Layer (unknown gauge) | 1000 Spun Bond Pocket Springs (Medium tension) | 1600 Calico encased Pocket Springs [ 49mm ] [1.28mm] |
| Total GSM | Not specified | 1250gsm | 5400gsm |
| Price | £1299 | £525 | £1580 |
| Find out more | Find out more |
What we would actually recommend to get a similar feel as the Cashmere comfort, and save a small fortune, would be to pair our Origins Comfort with a separate topper of your choice. You will get the same soft sink and medium support but without any of the pillowtop drama.
If you’re wanting a 100% Natural fibre mattress instead then our Artisan Bespoke 004 is unbeatable for the price in comparison. Both of these alternatives are two-sided and fully turnable.
Our Origins Comfort will provide a soft sink and none of the drama of a pillowtop mattress
Who makes Marks & Spencers Mattresses?
Relyon used to make ‘white label’ mattress goods for Marks & Spencer, though it is hard to find out if that’s still the case. We would guess that they have a number of manufacturers supplying their products looking at the product range. It covers everything from pillowtop one-sided mattresses to firm orthopaedic models and then memory foam quilted mattresses.
Summary
Marks and Spencers have a really wide range of mattress options including Natural Fibre and pocket sprung mattresses. However, you really need to be able to assess both the GSM and spring count to fully compare other mattresses to Mark & Spencer’s range. The comparisons above are based on the breakdown of the mattress specification and feel of the bed. Hopefully, this discussion will prompt manufacturers to be more detailed with the mattress specifications. If you need any further help when comparing or choosing a new mattress please get in touch with our small friendly team on 0161 437 4419
