Mattress Choices
February 2023What's the best mattress for £1250?
If you have a budget of around £1250 and are looking for a new mattress then you’re slap bang in the middle of the market. Luckily it’s around £1250 where the really decent mattress models start to emerge. So this should be really good news for you and help provide a better nights sleep.
This article will explain exactly what you can expect from your bed budget. Let’s discuss in more detail the best £1250 mattress choices you have to decide from.
- What to expect from a £1250 Mattress
- Mattress Support & Upholstery for £1250
- Best Mattresses for £1250
- Vispring Baronet Superb
- M&S Luxury 5800
- John Lewis Natural Collection Fleece Wool 8400
- Dunlopillo Go Energise
- Mammoth Prestige Advance 6000
- John Ryan By Design Artisan 1500
- What else can I get for my money?
It’s worth considering that a quality mattress and good nights sleep should be budgeted for. If you opt for a cheap mattress you may end up making multiple purchases every 2-3 years meaning its a false economy.
| Mattress Price Range | Average Retailer Life Span | Cost Per Nights Sleep |
|---|---|---|
| £1000 | 7 years | 0.39p |
| £2000 | 7 years | 0.78p |
| £3000 | 7 years | £1.17 |
What to expect from a £1250 mattress
So what can you expect for your money in terms of support units and fillings from a £1250 mattress? By understanding what’s available for this price, you can be better prepared to whittle down the endless selection of mattresses. Meaning you can quickly compare a handful before making your new bed purchase.
It also means that before you hit the shops, you will have a really good grasp of what to expect—saving you time and money with your new bed purchase.
Mattress Support
A pocket spring unit should provide support for your £1250. The entry-level pocket spring will be spunbond whereas the high-end models will feature calico-encased pocket springs.
Pocket springs are the best form of support in a mattress. Pocket springs will individually contour to your body weight. They also reduce transference and provide a really robust support unit for your mattress. This results in less settlement or sagging issues if the mattress is looked after.
At this price point, you should easily avoid open coil spring units or cheap foam support.
The support offered at this price point should provide bespoke tensions based on your bodyweight. We have written extensively here about choosing the correct spring gauge which is based on your weight. If you want to understand more on spring tensions then read our detailed guide to work out the best tension for you. Alternatively, there’s a handy table below.
| Spring Tension | Wire diameter (Gauge) | Weight Range |
|---|---|---|
| Soft | 1.2mm | Bespoke Tension (Please Call) |
| Medium | 1.4mm | Upto 16 stone |
| Firm | 1.6mm | 16 stone plus |
| Extra Firm / Orthopaedic | 1.9mm | 20 stone plus |
In terms of how many springs you should look for the number is around 1200-1500 in a one layer spring method. The minimum amount is 600 (usually found in £500 beds or £750 mattresses), and the maximum is around 2,000 in a single layer. Anything over 2000 uses additional layers of micro springs to bulk up the spring count. Micro springs are mainly used in a mattress at the detriment of upholstery comfort layers which we will come onto next.
In terms of gauge and tension, most entry-level mattresses are based on a 1.4 gauge wire in a pocket spring, equating to medium tension. As always you need to ask any retailer the exact spring tension and or gauge to know this.
Upholstery in a £1250 Mattress
Once you’ve reviewed the spring support used in a potential mattress the next area for consideration are the upholstery layers. These are also known as ‘Comfort Layers’ of the mattress. The overall comfort ‘feel’ of your new mattress is dependant on what these layers are made of and how they are layered. This is where most care needs to be taken when choosing a new mattress. You’re going to be faced with a number of
- Fillings
- Brand names
- Woolly Descriptions
- Vague Benefits
The key is interpreting these for what they really are.
For a £1250 mattress you should start to see a large proportion of Natural Fibre fillings, at least 30% for the price point. Obviously this depends on what type of fillings you’re looking at. For example, Alpaca is incredibly expensive and rare when compared to Wool or Cotton.
If you encounter beds and mattresses described by phrases like ‘Contains Alpaca’ or ‘Including Bamboo’, then these are usually nominal amounts. Would you believe that there is no law against these containing as 1% natural fibre blended then with 99% polyester?
You need to know what the GSM (Grams per square meter) of each fibre is within a mattress. If not you’re simply guessing and rolling the dice with your budget.
In a £1250 mattress, you can expect to receive around 2000GSM of fibres minimum in a quality kingsize mattress. At this price point, you shouldn’t be looking at synthetic foams. If you’re looking for a foam mattress then have a look at a 100% Natural Latex model instead. They are far more breathable, are two-sided and will last far longer than their memory foam counterparts.
Below is a list of the types of Natural Fibres you should expect to see. You may see more premium fibres like Alpaca but beware of the blends (or lack of detail) as these are too expensive to be found at this price point. The likelihood is they have been blended with cheaper fibres.
| Upholstery Layer | Fibre Type | How it will feel? | Price Point |
|---|---|---|---|
| Polycotton | Synthetic/Natural Blend | Soft/Medium | Mid Price |
| Linen | Synthetic/Natural Blend | Medium | Mid Price |
| Wool (Pure) | Natural | Soft/Medium | High-End |
| Cotton (Pure) | Natural | Soft | High-End |
| Horsehair | Natural | Medium | High-End |
| Coarse Cashmere | Natural | Firm | High-End |
For £1250 you should be expecting primarily Natural Fibres in a mattress
This price point is where the real quality mattress models start.
Mattress Detailing for a £1250 Bed
As you enter the price point where quality mattresses start to emerge so do the finer exquisite details. Mattress Detailing refers to the stitching method, construction skill and cover fabric of the mattress which at £1250 should start to excel. Things you should expect at this level:
- Hand Side Stitching
- Natural Fibre Covers / Viscose (No polyesters)
- Tufting
- Hand Tape Edging
Best Mattresses for £1250
So we have worked out what you can expect for your money so its time to see which are the best mattress models for £1250 out there using real-life retail comparisons. We’ve reviewed hundreds of mattresses and here are a few to give you a basis for comparison.
We will provide 5 different mattresses at around the £1250 price point, including one of our own models for you to see what you can expect. If you want to view even more then please have a look here at our online Mattress Comparison database.
Vispring Baronet Superb
We will go to the best model we have found for your money first which is the Vispring Baronet Superb. We absolutely love Vispring mattresses. Not only are they 100% Natural Fibre but they use some absolutely brilliant detailing to finish off their range. The Baronet Superb is a great example of the build quality at the top end of the mattress market for around £1250. It retails at £1380 for a kingsize mattress and is two-sided.
The Vispring Baronet Superb mattress features:
- 1,000gsm bonded British fleece wool and cotton and then 1,200gsm blended British fleece wool and cotton.
- Upholstered with horsehair, needle-teased onto hessian and enclosed in a hair-proof cambric cover. (The spring insulator layer)
- Covered with satin ivory Belgian ticking from the Vispring collection.
- Hand-tufted with felt washers.
- 1326 Calico Pocket Springs (1.52 gauge firm springs)
- Total 2300GSM
- 100% Natural Fibre Upholstery
This Vispring model features 2 rows of genuine hand side stitching and felt washers. Both lovely touches. It has a relatively soft sink feel before firm support. It’s a relatively thin mattress at 21cm perfect for those who struggle with extra deep mattresses or need assistance turning your mattress each month.
Marks & Spencer Luxury 5800 Mattress
This is Marks & Spencer’s mid-level model and features a spunbond pocket spring system, in a medium (probably 1.4 gauge) tension. Its fillings are primarily recycled man-made fibre with some layers of lambswool. It’s really interesting that M&S are using recycled clothes through their donation scheme as an insulator filling in this mattress. It’s a great idea.
M&S don’t give the exact GSM for these fillings but do show a cross-section of them. In our experience, if these layers are to scale, most of them look to be around 200gsm each. It has 4 rows of side stitching.
Strangely two of these are hand side stitched and two machine stitched. We can only imagine this is done to keep the cost down. Usually, you either get hand side stitching or machine-side stitching and never a mix of the two.
This model is a one-sided mattress which means you can only use one side and can only rotate it. This does negatively affect its lifespan. You have to weight this up when comparing to other two-sided models. Two-sided models will have generally twice as many upholstery fillings as you can use both sides.
For the price, this is a well-put-together mattress (with the exception of the one-sided drawback) and provides a medium comfort layer feel and suitable support for those up to 16 stone. It retails at £1299 for a kingsize.
- Recycled fibre, Lambswool, Wool & Silk (No GSM or blends are given)
- Made in Great Britain
- 4 rows of side stitch
- 2 rows engineered & 2 rows traditional hand side stitched
- 4 handles and 8 silver vents
- Mattress Spring count: 5800 (No gauge given probably 1.4 medium spring mixed with micro springs)
- Mattress Type: Pocket Sprung & Micro Springs
- Mattress Handle: Yes (One-sided Model)
John Lewis & Partners Natural Collection Fleece Wool 8400 Mattress
John Lewis & Partners have a really good mattress range around this price point of £1250. They have some great examples of high-end mattress manufacture to choose from and their Natural Collection Fleece Wool 8400 is a prime example of what to expect. This model retails at £1299 for a kingsize and is made by Harrison Spinks who are one of Britains best mattress makers.
- British Wool & Viscose Blend (No GSM or blend given)
- British Wool, Hemp & Flax Blend (No GSM or blend given)
- 2500 HD (Mini) Springs (No tension or gauge given)
- 3400 Cortec Spun Bond Pocket Springs (No tension or gauge given)
This model is primarily made up of Wool to give it a forgiving and soft comfort layer. They use micro springs instead of the traditional mattress spring insulator layer which makes this mattress feel livelier than most. Careful maintenance is required with this mattress due to the high Wool content which has a habit of settling. So you will need to turn and rotate this mattress diligently each month to even out the natural settlement.
This is the same for all softer Wool filled mattresses regardless of the brand. This mattress is two-sided so you can use both sides of the mattress, meaning you can get twice as much lifespan when compared to a no-turn mattress such as memory foam or cheaper construction method. This mattress is a firm feel for those under 16 stone.
This John lewis mattress has a soft feel and will provide medium support for up to a 1 stone sleeper. The natural fillings will also be far cooler during the night than synthetic or blended man-made fibres.
Dunlopillo Go Energise Mattress
This a Dunlopillo model from Furniture Village which features a mix of pocket springs and latex. Retailing at £1169 for a kingsize it shows what can be expected from a pocket spring and latex foam mattress at this price point. Offering a medium feel with a slow sink this model is suitable for anyone who wants the feel of memory foam without all the heat build-up of a solid foam mattress by using Latex and pocket springs. Trying to achieve the best of both worlds.
If you want the feeling of latex but without the price tag, this is an excellent starter model, particularly if you are not used to sleeping on latex. When looking at Latex mattresses its really key that you find out the density (ie 70kg or 80kg) of the Latex which dictates how it will feel along with the depth (5cm, 7.5cm or 10cm) so you can work out how far you will sink. This model has a medium-firm feel to it with a light sink so we estimate its 5cm of 80kg synthetic latex.
- British-made 25 cm medium tension mattress is topped with a layer of Dunlopillo latex for instant pressure relief. (No density or depth is given)
- A layer of foam-encapsulated pocket springs with 850 springs in king size. (No gauge or tension given)
- The mattress cover is made of a flexible knitted fabric which keeps your body as close as possible to the latex layer. (Synthetic Cover)
Care needs to be taken with the one-sided issue but other than that it’s a solid contender for the price. As a like-for-like mattress comparison have a look at our Origins Pocket Latex here which shows you a similar construction method to give you an idea of what to expect if you’re looking at Dunlopillo mattresses.
Mammoth Prestige Advanced 6000 Mattress
The Mammoth Prestige Advanced 6000 mattress is an interesting model. Mammoth has made a niche in the market for their alliance with sports stars in recommending and advertising their mattresses through their large-scale ad campaigns.
We’ve discussed elsewhere on the site what usually constitutes medical-grade foam. As a refresher, it’s usually used in hospital beds and is high-density firmer foam. This is to cope with the huge demand of people lying in bed all day and also the volume of sleeper weights. So the Mammoth has used this to its advantage to create a very robust mattress with a firm feel. Albeit whilst losing some of the finer details of a natural fibre mattress.
The way Mammoth provide the softer feel of this mattress is by using micro springs to create a very lively core to the mattress. The biggest problem with any foam and spring combo mattress is it is a one sided bed. This a real shame given its moving price point between £1899 and £1399 (final reduction price was used for this guide). For this money there really should be a two-sided option.
However, this is a good option for those who want a longer lasting foam mattress when compared to non medical grade foam.
- Mattress type: Mammoth Medical Grade™ Foam and pocket spring.
- Depth: 32 cm.
- Firmness: Soft feel
- Springs: 6000 pocket springs in king size.
- Pillow top: No.
- Fillings: 10 cm of Mammoth Medical Grade Foam with PostureCell™ comfort technology.
- Borders: Velvet central panel, loop stitching, tape edge on top and bottom.
- Cover: Polyester with natural fibres in upper surface.
- Requires turning: No.
John Ryan By Design Artisan 1500
Our popular Artisan 1500 mattress model features 53% Natural fibres and contains 1500 pocket springs in different spring tensions for a completely customisable sleep experience. Like Vispring, Savoir and Hastens, we pride ourselves in letting you the consumer know exactly what’s inside it and our models.
Our Artisan 1500 is our mid-range Natural fibre pocket spring, two-sided mattress model. Handmade here in the UK. It provides a medium feel and features 4300gsm of Natural & man-made fibres. It also has 2 Rows of Hand Side stitching and a Chemical-free mattress cover using plant-based Fire retardancy. It costs £1005 for a kingsize with free delivery and interest-free finance options available.
- 500gsm Wool
- 600GSM Rebound Polycotton (50/50 Blend)
- 700GSM Polyester
- 600GSM Rebound Polycotton (50/50 Blend)
- 700GSM Polyester
- 1200GSM Cashmere Hair Pad as an Insulator
- 1500 Spunbond Pocket Springs (1.4 Medium Gauge)
- Total GSM: 1250GSM
- Depth: 30-33cm
- Hand Made in the UK
- Chemical-Free Damask Cover
What else can I get for my money?
Now we’ve shown what you can expect for around £1250 for a new mattress you may be wondering what else you can expect if you increase your sleep budget.
- What to expect from a £500 Mattress
- What to expect from a £750 Mattress
- What to expect from a £1000 Mattress
- What to expect from a £1500-£2000 Mattress
- What to expect from a £2000 Mattress
Below is a handy guide of exactly what your money should buy you when choosing a new mattress.
How much to spend on a double mattress? What can I expect for my money?
Under £500 Will not get you much at best a 13.5 gauge open coil/cage sprung with a thin polyester layer or a solid foam mattress.
£500 Entry level spunbond springs with some form of synthetic upholstery. Usually one sided mattresses.
£750 The beginnings of a basic pocket springs unit with 800 – 1000 count. No substantial amount of filling other than foams and synthetic materials. Two sided models.
£1000 Should get you away from most low ranges and into the mid-range pocket spring models.
£1250 Should get you a decent pocket sprung mattress with some Natural Fibre content.
£1500 Should get you many manufacturers mid-range models with Natural Fibres
£1500-£2000 Should get you a Hand Made primarily Natural Fibre Quality Mattress
£2000+ You should expect 100% Natural Fibres and Traditional Hand Made Construction Method.
£5000+ A Bespoke Hand Made Sleep System, High-end Spring Units & Featuring the Worlds Most Luxurious Natural Fibres.
Summary
If you have £1250 to spend on a new mattress, then there really are some excellent models in this price range. You’re not going to be in the dizzy heights of ultimate luxury, but you can certainly avoid the entry and mid-range offerings. Meaning your mattress will last far longer and offer better-quality fillings.
These more natural fillings will help the mattress breathe and thus keep you cooler at night. We can’t stress enough that a 2-sided mattress model should always be chosen over a one-sided one. One-sided beds only provide half the fillings to sleep on and suffer from far faster settlement.
Lastly, make sure to ask each retailer you visit the exact details of their spring systems and the grams per square meter of any fibre fillings. It’s only with this information that you can make an accurate comparison. Our online mattress comparison tool here can help save you time and money before hitting the shops, so make sure you check it out.
If you’re still struggling to decide which new mattress to buy, why not call our small friendly team on 0161 437 4419 or drop us a message below for more help?
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