Need a mattress for uni? This is the one I'd buy

(Image credit: Eve)

published 11 August 2021

Heading off to uni in September? For some of you, amongst all the other back to school essentials, that means investing in your first mattress. There are a wide, wide range of options on the market, and it can be difficult to know where your money is best spent. A big part of my job is to review mattresses, so I can help you out there.

I'm going to assume you don't want to spend a fortune. If money is no object, you can get some truly excellent mattresses, but the more luxurious options in our best UK mattress ranking will be out of reach and/or overkill for most students. You'll find more options in our best cheap mattress deals guide, but these are my top current recommendations:

Silentnight Pocket 1200 Eco Comfort| was £369, now £296.65 at Mattressman (save £73)
Silentnight is a good brand to look at for competitively-priced pocket sprung options, and this clever mattress is zoned to deliver different levels of firmness where they're really needed. It's hypoallergenic and designed to promote airflow through the mattress, to help you sleep cooler. Be aware you will need to flip it at regular-ish intervals. For a sprung mattress, it comes at a very competitive price (Silentnight is a good brand to look at for great value sprung mattresses in general).

So what else do you need to know? Here are some buying tips I've picked up in my time testing mattresses.

Sales are super-common

A nice perk (or a further complication to get your head around, depending on how you look at it), is that mattress brands flipping love a sale, so you can take that sticker price with a large pinch of salt. If you're savvy, you shouldn't need to pay full price. However, that does mean you'll need to be on it in terms of buying, and not leave it until the last minute.

Our cheap mattress deals guide is regularly updated with the best offers. If you've decided what you want, you'll also find links on that page to dedicated deals pages for specific brands. These include info on the kinds of discounts you can expect from each brand, to make it clearer whether the current price is actually a bargain or not.

If a mattress is provided, definitely take a topper

If you're heading into halls or pre-furnished accommodation of any other kind, I'd strongly recommend purchasing a mattress protector or – even better – one of the best mattress toppers. Both will provide a barrier between you and whatever grubbiness lies beneath (you don't know what that mattress has been through), but the latter will also transform the feel of even the most uncomfortable old mattress into something that'll deliver a dreamy night's sleep.

Practical considerations

There are a few more things to note in terms of comfort. Memory foam is a good choice if you're a restless sleeper, as it seems to promote a less wriggly, more restful sleep. However, I'd be slightly wary of very cheap memory foam models if you tend to sleep hot, as these can trap heat and make things even more sweaty, which isn't ideal for sleeping well.

Similarly, while a soft mattress might sound dreamy, and even feel dreamy when you first lie on it, my experience is that after a couple of nights your body will start craving a bit more support. I'm not saying you need to pick something rock solid, but it's something to bear in mind.

Finally, be wary of maneuverability if you know you're going to have to take this mattress into different rooms / flats / houses throughout your uni experience. Springs add weight but the floppiness of a memory foam mattress can be equally exasperating when it comes to moving a mattress around. And side handles are most definitely your friend.

Ruth is a lifestyle journalist specialising in sleep and wellbeing. She has tested more mattresses than her small flat can handle and will talk at length about them to anyone who shows even a passing interest, and has had to implement a one-in-one-out pillow policy for fear of getting smothered in the night. As well as following all the industry trends and advancements in the mattress and bedding world, she regularly speaks to certified experts to delve into the science behind a great night's sleep, and offer you advice to help you get there. She's currently Sleep Editor on Tom's Guide and TechRadar, and prior to that ran the Outdoors and Wellness channels on T3 (now covered by Matt Kollat and Beth Girdler-Maslen respectively).