Latex vs Innerspring Mattress — What’s the Difference?

If you’re new to mattress shopping, you probably just recently discovered how many different kinds of mattresses there are to consider. Between hybrids, innersprings, latex foam, memory foam, gel memory foam, serene foam, and just about every other kind of foam you can think of, there’s a ton of info to absorb about every potential new mattress.

Two of the most popular types of mattresses on the market right now are natural latex and innerspring. These two mattresses have wildly different feels, weights, and structures. Below, we’ll talk about the differences between them and which could be right for you.

Latex Mattress

There are two types of latex foam: natural and synthetic. While synthetic is made by combining petroleum products, natural latex is made by processing the liquid sap from the rubber tree into a durable, high-density foam.

Natural latex foams are supportive, contouring, and cushioning, which is why they’ve become so popular as a mattress option. What’s more, organic natural latex is one of the purest mattresses you can buy because of the limited chemicals allowed during its processing. Latex is also great if you have allergies, as it naturally resists many common allergens like dust, pollen, dust mites, and mold.

Synthetic latex is made with a mix of the petroleum compounds Styrene and Butadiene. These compounds can be processed to form an imitation latex that can be turned into foam and used to manufacture some cheaper “latex” mattresses. However, these mattresses won’t have the support, responsiveness, or feel of natural latex. There’s no substitute for the real deal.

Types of Natural Latex

Talalay and Dunlop are the two basic kinds of natural latex. These aren’t two different types of rubber. Rather, the difference between them comes from the way they’re processed and manufactured.

Dunlop processing is the simplest and most energy-efficient of the two processes. To make Dunlop latex, manufacturers whip the liquid into a foam, pour it into a mold, and bake it in a vulcanization oven. Dunlop foam is denser, heavier, and more durable than Talalay, and also a little bit more budget-friendly.

The Talalay process is a bit more complex. The liquid latex is whipped into a foam, like with Dunlop, but it’s then allowed to “proof” inside a vacuum seal before being flash-frozen and then vulcanized. This process results in a lighter, bouncier, and more breathable latex, though it will have a higher price tag.

Natural Latex Mattress Feel

Though they are a bit different, both Dunlop and Talalay latex foam feel almost like a bouncier version of memory foam. Latex is not quite as flexible and contouring as memory foam, but it’s more responsive and cooler.

Natural Latex Mattress Cost

Natural latex mattress prices can vary pretty widely, but latex is generally on the costlier end of the spectrum because natural latex is difficult and expensive to grow, harvest, and process. With that in mind, you can expect a steeper price tag than innerspring. For a high-quality latex foam mattress, expect to pay anywhere from $900 to $5,000, depending on size and additional sleep technologies.

Pros and Cons of a Natural Latex Mattress

Pros

• Hypoallergenic
• Organic latex contains minimal toxins
• Durable
• More contouring is better for spinal alignment

Cons

• Heavy and hard to move
• Sleeps warmer than innerspring
• More costly than coil

Our top latex mattress recommendation is the Amerisleep Organica. Since it’s technically a latex hybrid mattress, this bed is all about bounce and breathability. It’s great if you want to shop more sustainably but are still looking for a more traditional feel for your bed.

The Amerisleep Organica is the company’s only latex mattress, containing natural Talalay and Dunlop latex along with organic cotton and wool. The mattress has four certifications attesting to its eco-friendly production.

The Organica is 13 inches thick with a medium feel. It contains a 1-inch New Zealand Joma Wool® layer, 3 inches of Talalay latex, 8 inches of pocketed coils, and a 1-inch Dunlop latex base. The mattress’s cover is made from organic cotton and is both soft and breathable.

The wool in the Organica adds an extra bit of cushioning to the bed while also regulating the heat. Wool naturally stays cool and wicks away moisture to keep you comfortable.

Talalay latex provides immense pressure and pain relief for sleepers. It’s soft without causing you to sink or feel “stuck” in your bed.

The Organica features pocketed coils which add an extra element of bounce and support to your bed. The coils on the edges of the bed are firmer to support the edges and prevent sagging. Beneath this layer is Dunlop latex which minimizes sagging and general wear.

Amerisleep provides free shipping and returns, a 100-night guarantee, and a 20-year warranty for all of their mattresses.

Innerspring Mattress

Innerspring mattresses are composed of a support layer made of metal coils and a thin comfort layer of plush material like cotton, foam, or fiberfill. These mattresses have been around for well over a hundred years, as they were invented in the 19th century. Traditional innersprings used to be the most popular mattress type because they were superior to lumpy pre-industrial mattresses made of things like cotton or straw.

However, since the perfection of foam bedding material, innersprings have been losing popularity. While they promote airflow and are highly responsive, they have a few issues—such as lack of contouring, reduced motion isolation, and a tendency to sag— that make them less attractive to many sleepers.

Types of Spring Support Systems

While there are a lot of different types of spring supports, the two basic setups are traditional innerspring and pocketed coil. Traditional innerspring encompasses three common types of coil layouts: Bonnell, offset, and continuous coil.

Bonnell coils are shaped like an hourglass—thinner in the middle than on both ends. They’re the cheapest to produce and typically found in lower quality mattresses. Continuous coils are rows of coils connected with a single piece of wire that runs through the mattress, usually from head to toe. Offset coils are also hourglass-shaped, but they have square rather than round corners on each end and are laced together by a thin wire, making them more supportive than Bonnell coils.

The other main option in innerspring support layers is the pocketed coil system. Pocketed coils are each encased in their own pocket of fabric or foam rather than being linked together. This promotes motion isolation, as well as increasing the mattress’s contouring ability by allowing each coil to move independently.

Innerspring Mattress Feel

Spring mattresses are the bounciest of all bed types because of the coil support layer. If you love a highly responsive mattress, innerspring beds may be for you. However, the bounciness comes at a price. Coil mattresses aren’t nearly as contouring as latex ones. Even the pocketed coil mattresses just can’t compete with latex when it comes to conforming to your body’s shape and relieving pressure points.

Innerspring Mattress Cost

Coil beds tend to be more budget-friendly mattresses than some other options on the market. It’s not that tough to get a quality spring mattress for well under $1,000. If you want additional sleep technologies, that can push the price up into the thousands, but the average price of an innerspring queen is between $950 and $1,200.

Pros and Cons of an Innerspring Mattress

Pros

• Promotes air circulation
• Sleeps cooler
• Lighter and easier to move
• Very responsive

Cons

• Does not prevent motion transfer
• Less durable because coils break down
• Prone to sagging
• Doesn’t conform to body shape
• Does not promote spinal alignment as well as foam

When it comes to innerspring mattresses, the Zoma Hybrid is one of the best options out there. Zoma designs their beds with athletes in mind, ensuring the beds enhance your muscle recovery and physical performance. Regardless, the Zoma Hybrid—and other Zoma mattresses—are a great choice for anybody.

The Zoma Hybrid’s comfort layer is made from gel foam. It gently cushions your body’s curves without feeling too soft or firm. The gel prevents the foam from trapping heat so you stay comfortable while sleeping. The bed also contains a transition layer to increase the bed’s responsiveness and ensure sleepers don’t bottom out on the coils.

As a hybrid innerspring bed, the Zoma Hybrid contains pocketed coils. Unlike the open or continuous coils in most other innerspring beds, pocketed coils are wrapped in fabric for better durability, motion isolation, and spinal support. Beneath the coils is a thin, 1-inch layer of foam which protects the coils and helps extend your bed’s lifespan.

When you purchase the Zoma Hybrid, you get a 100-night sleep trial, a 20-year warranty, and free shipping and returns.

FAQs

Is latex better than memory foam?

It’s not really possible to say which is better—memory or latex foam—because each of these foams has advantages and drawbacks. Memory foam mattresses are more contouring than latex ones, they conform to all your curves to offer unbeatable pressure relief. Latex foam is cooler, bouncier, and more responsive than memory foam, quickly regaining its shape. Choosing between latex and memory foam really comes down to your personal preferences and what you prioritize in a mattress.

Do they make latex hybrids?

Yes! Hybrid mattresses are a combination of a pocketed coil support layer with at least two inches of foam comfort layer on top. Hybrids often utilize memory foam in their comfort layer, but many hybrids swap out the more commonly used memory foam or latex. If you want a hybrid that’s extra-cool and extra-responsive, spring for a latex one.

How can I tell if my latex is organic/non-toxic?

The best way to tell if your latex has been grown, processed, and manufactured to high standards is looking to see if it has a GOLS certification. GOLS stands for Global Organic Latex Standard, and mattress manufacturers with a GOLS Certified label on their products have jumped through a lot of hoops to prove they’ve gone above and beyond minimal legal standards.

GOLS doesn’t just focus on limiting toxic chemicals in the manufacturing process, but it also regulates everything from growth and harvesting to shipping and sales. These guidelines ensure your mattress isn’t just safe for you as the consumer, but ethical for the environment and the workers who produced the latex. However, organic latex mattresses may also cost more than standard ones.

Which option is firmer?

Mattress material doesn’t really affect firmness. All mattress types come in a range of different firmness levels. Rather, mattress material affects things like feel, weight, temperature, and responsiveness. Innersprings are lighter, cooler, and more responsive because of their coil base layer. Latex mattresses are more contouring and cushioning because of their multiple foam layers. But both of these mattresses should come in firmnesses ranging from extra-soft to extra-firm.

Do innersprings ever come with extra cushioning?

Sure. The most common form of extra padding found on any innerspring mattress is a pillow top. A pillow top is an additional layer of cushioning sewn over the innerspring comfort layer. Regular pillow tops are sewn on top of the mattress cover, while European pillow tops (Euro tops) are sewn underneath the mattress cover. Pillow tops can come in a variety of materials, and some of the most common ones include cotton, foam, wool, fiberfill, and down.

Another option if you want to add an additional layer of padding to your existing mattress is by adding a mattress topper. Toppers come in all kinds of materials, including memory foam and latex foam. So if you want the bounce of coils and the cushioning of foam, a topper on your innerspring mattress might be a good option.

Bottom Line

Latex and innerspring mattresses are as different as day and night. But if you want to have a good night’s sleep on one of them, you need to be aware of your personal preferences and your sleep needs so you can know which is right for you before you shop.

If you want an eco-friendly foam mattress that sleeps cool, has a low amount of synthetic chemicals and still retains some bounce, latex foam may be for you. And if you want a mattress with extra bounce and maximum airflow at a reasonable price, spring mattresses might be up your alley.