How Much Should You Spend on a Mattress? | Rochdale Trade Beds
Share
It's one of the most common questions we hear at Rochdale Trade Beds — and it's a fair one. Mattresses range from under £100 to well over £2,000, and the sheer range of options makes it genuinely difficult to know where to pitch your budget. Here's our honest guide to getting the best mattress for your money.
Why Your Mattress Budget Matters More Than You Think
The average person spends around 8 hours a night in bed — that's roughly a third of your life. A good mattress doesn't just affect how comfortable you feel; it directly impacts your sleep quality, your posture, and even your long-term back health. A mattress that's too soft, too firm, or simply worn out can cause aches, poor sleep, and fatigue that affects your entire day.
When you break down the cost of a mattress over its lifespan, even a £600 mattress works out at around 20p per night over 8 years. That's a remarkable return on investment for something that affects your health so directly.
What Do You Get at Different Price Points?
Under £200
Budget mattresses at this price point are perfectly fine for guest bedrooms or children's rooms that get occasional use. However, if this is your main mattress, be realistic: the materials and construction at this price will typically mean a shorter lifespan (3-5 years) and less sophisticated support. You'll usually find open coil or basic foam at this level.
£200 – £500
This is the sweet spot for most people looking for a reliable everyday mattress. At this price you start to see pocket sprung constructions — individually wrapped springs that move independently and provide much better support than open coil systems. Many excellent mattresses live in this range, and for a single or double bed used by one person, this budget is often more than enough.
£500 – £1,000
Step up to this range and you get noticeably better materials — natural fillings like wool, cotton, and silk, deeper comfort layers, higher spring counts, and better edge support. These mattresses tend to be more durable and are well suited to couples or heavier sleepers who need more from their mattress. Many of the best-value mattresses we sell sit in this range.
£1,000 and Above
At this level you're looking at handmade, luxury mattresses — often with high-grade natural fillings, very high spring counts, and traditional tufting or hand-stitching. These are built to last 10+ years and offer an exceptional sleep experience. If you're investing in a premium bed, it makes sense to match it with a mattress at this level.
Tips for Getting the Best Value
-
Always try before you buy — lie on the mattress for at least 10 minutes in your usual sleeping position
-
Don't buy the most expensive mattress just because it costs more. The right firmness for your body type matters more than price
-
Consider your sleeping position: side sleepers usually need a softer mattress, back and front sleepers typically benefit from something firmer
-
If you're a couple, look for mattresses with individual pocket springs — they reduce partner disturbance significantly
-
Check what the mattress is filled with — natural fillings tend to be more breathable and durable than synthetic alternatives
Our Honest Recommendation
For most adults using a mattress every night, we'd suggest a minimum budget of £300-£400 for a double. This puts you in pocket sprung territory with decent comfort layers and a realistic lifespan of 7-10 years. Anything below that is fine for a spare room but we wouldn't recommend it as a primary mattress for regular use.
At Rochdale Trade Beds, we stock mattresses across every price point and our team will never try to oversell you. We'd rather you sleep well on the right mattress for your budget than spend more than you need to.
Explore our full mattress range at rochdaletradebeds.co.uk, or come and try them in person at our Rochdale showroom on Drake Street.