Best memory foam mattresses 2024

We've rounded up the best memory foam mattresses from our tests, to help you choose one that will get you a great night's sleep.

The data from our independent and rigorous tests will help you pick your perfect mattress containing memory foam and foam. 

Not sure if a memory foam mattress is for you? See pros and cons of the different mattress types in our best mattresses guide.

Best memory foam mattresses

Only logged-in Which? members can view our recommendations in the table below. If you're not yet a member, join Which? to get instant access to our table and all of our online reviews.

Take a look at our full list of mattress reviews to find the best option for you.

How to buy the best memory foam mattress

There are a few key questions you should ask yourself before you invest in a mattress that contains memory foam.

• Have you slept on a memory foam mattress before? Some people swear by memory foam mattresses, but they don't suit everyone. They feel very different to lie on than regular sprung mattresses and may take some getting used to. If you're trying one for the first time, choose a brand that offers a longer mattress sleep trial, so you can return it if you need to. Do check any sleep trial T&Cs first, though.
• Do you tend to get hot in bed? Some Which? members say that they find memory foam too hot to lie on. If you're prone to overheating in bed, it may be wise to choose a different type of mattress. A hybrid (combination of springs and foam) may suit you better, or pick one of the memory foam mattresses we've rated as cold or very cold to lie on.
• Do suffer from painful joints? Memory foam mattresses are said to relieve pressure on painful joints, so could be a good choice for you.
• Do you normally use an electric blanket? Many mattress manufacturers warn not to use electric blankets with memory foam mattresses, as it's a potential fire hazard. We flag any manufacturer warnings in our reviews.
• How much are you willing to spend? Memory foam mattresses tend to cost more than traditional pocket sprung mattresses. However, we've found one Best Buy memory foam mattress that costs less than £200. We've also tested several that cost £500 or less, which is cheaper than the average price of the mattresses we've tested. See our monthly round-up of the best mattress deals.

Not sure what size memory foam mattress to buy? See our guide to UK mattress sizes.

Do memory foam mattresses mould to your body shape?

Memory foam is affected by room temperature, so you might find the memory mattress cold and hard when you first lie in bed.

As it reacts to your body heat, it moulds to your shape – this can make it more difficult for you to move or get out of bed compared to other mattress types, such as pocket sprung mattresses. We look out for this in our tests, so you can easily see which mattresses are the best to move about on.

Some memory foam also reduces air circulation around your body, which can make the mattress feel warmer. Many people find this helpful in winter but it can feel too hot in summer. Look for the memory foam or foam mattresses that are rated cold in our insulation tests. 

These type of mattresses also need a bit of looking after. If you don't rotate them enough, you could end up creating a dip in the middle so always check the care labels and follow instructions. 

Head to our best duvets guide to find the ones our members rate.

Is memory foam good for your back?

Some people feel the pressure-relieving properties of memory foam help with back trouble or back pain.

However, as back pain or discomfort can have several causes, changing to a new mattress may not solve the underlying issue. In some cases, it can even aggravate symptoms so it's best to seek professional advice. 

If you do suffer with back discomfort and you're sleeping on a saggy old mattress, here are three things to consider when choosing a new mattress: 

1. Body support

Back problems can worsen in bed if your posture isn't well supported.

Regardless of what position you sleep in, it's important to keep your spine in an optimum position. Ideally, it should be in the same natural position it's in when you're standing up. This is why we place a high importance on how well a mattress performs in our body support tests. 

Use our mattress reviews to find a mattress that has a high star-rating for body support for your favourite sleeping position.

2. Pressure distribution

A mattress with even pressure distribution will also help stop parts of your body sinking into the mattress more than other parts, which could lead to discomfort.

3. Firmness

Foam or memory foam mattresses can feel comfortable, due to the way the layers envelop you as you lie down, but this doesn't necessarily mean good body support.

Arguably, mattress firmness is subjective and down to many factors, including your own personal preference.

We use a specially designed machine to objectively measure mattress firmness. It’s based on the mattress standard, and uses a scale of one (firmest) to 10 (softest). We test each mattress in exactly the same way, so they are comparable, and add the softness rating into our reviews.

If you continue to suffer from back pain, seek medical or professional advice. 

Make sure you're sleeping on a decent pillow, too. See our guide to the best pillows.

Are memory foam mattresses durable?

Yes, they are pretty durable. Around 20% of memory foam and foam mattresses earn four or five stars for overall durability in Which? tests.

However, in the past we have uncovered memory foam mattresses that did abysmally in our durability tests or lost points for damage.

While memory foam mattresses tend to bounce back pretty, it's still really important to ensure you follow the correct care instructions and rotated them regularly, so there's no less maintenance than with a pocket sprung option.

Based on our tests, hybrid mattresses tend to be the be the most durable mattress type of all, with over a third earning four or five stars in our lifespan (durability) test. 

Find out more about how to buy the best pocket sprung mattress.

Should I buy a memory foam mattress topper instead?

If you're not sold on a memory foam mattress, but fancy getting a feel for the how the foam moulds to the shape of your body, consider buying a memory foam mattress topper. A decent topper can really change the feel of a mattress, especially one that feels too firm.

In our mattress topper survey of 2,000 Which? Connect panel members in September 2021, 59% of owners told us that they bought their topper to make their current mattress more comfortable. And a whopping 85% said using one made a difference to the comfort of their mattress.

Our mattress topper tests reveal which toppers make the biggest difference with how a mattress feels, how much it alters the body support and what difference it makes to pressure distribution. The best make a big difference, which means you'll be able to make a new mattress feel softer or revamp an older mattress. 

Buying a mattress topper? See our list of the best mattress topper brands.