How we test and assess mattresses

We don't physically test mattresses ourselves, yet. Instead, our assessments draw on data from across the UK market, so every mattress is judged against the alternatives you could buy for the same money.

What our assessments are built on

1. Our own market data.
We track prices for 1k+ mattress models across 22+ UK retailers, checked regularly, with a recorded price history behind them. That data tells us what a mattress really costs, how often it is discounted, whether a "sale" is real, and which retailer is genuinely cheapest for a given size on a given day.

2. Manufacturer and retailer specifications.
Construction, materials, layer counts, spring counts, firmness, depth, certifications, trial periods and warranty terms, gathered and standardised so models can be compared like for like across brands.

3. Verified owner reviews, at scale.
You often see one-off, glowing mattress reviews. Alone they tell us very little. We look for what owners say again and again across large numbers of verified purchase reviews, like comfort that lasts or repeated complaints about sagging.

4. Recognised independent sources.
For sleep health context we report recognised authorities such as the NHS and peer-reviewed sleep research, and we attribute them. We report what qualified sources say rather than presenting medical opinions as our own. Our full standard for this is in our editorial policy.

5. Cross-market comparison.
No mattress is assessed in isolation. Every verdict considers the real alternatives at the same price point, because "good" only means something relative to what else your money buys.

How our verdicts work

When we compare two mattresses, we currently score them against each other on seven points: construction, layers, cooling, trial and guarantee terms, value for money against similar mattresses, size choice and certifications. The verdict goes to whichever wins more of them, and when it's too close to call, we say so. We don't allow brands or retailers to influence or change a verdict, including paid partners. You can read more on how we make money.

What we will not do

We will not write as though we slept on a mattress if we haven't. We will not present a retailer's claimed RRP saving as a real discount; we judge deals against our own recorded price history. And we will not let commission decide a ranking.

What's next

First-hand physical testing is on our roadmap, and we'll set out exactly how we do it once we start.