How to Choose a Mattress

You’ll find the right mattress by matching its firmness, size and materials to your sleep position, body weight, temperature needs and budget.

Mattress shopping gets easier once you know which details deserve your attention. This guide covers mattress types, sizes, firmness, pricing, useful features, back-pain needs, sleep trials and recycling.

3 Questions to Ask Before Buying a Mattress

Start with the sleeper, room size and budget to narrow down your mattress options quickly.

1. Who will sleep on it?

Think about sleep position, body weight, temperature needs and whether two people need space to move comfortably.

2. How much room do you have?

Measure the bedroom and leave enough space to walk around the bed, open doors and fit other furniture.

3. What can you spend?

Set a realistic range before comparing models. A higher price can bring better materials, cooling or durability, but it does not always mean a better fit.

Signs It’s Time for a New Mattress

Most mattresses last around 7 to 10 years, but age isn’t the only sign that yours needs replacing.

Look for sagging, worn edges, noisy springs or areas that feel uneven. Waking up stiff or sore can also mean the mattress is no longer supporting you properly. Another clue is sleeping better in a hotel or guest bed than you do at home.

Mattress lifespan depends on its materials, how often it is used and how well it has been cared for. Read our article on signs it’s time for a new mattress for a complete checklist.

What Type of Mattress Should You Get?

Hybrid mattresses suit balanced comfort, innersprings offer firmer bounce, memory foam provides close contouring, and latex feels responsive and breathable. 

The right mattress type depends on how much cushioning, bounce, cooling and motion control you prefer.

Hybrid Mattress

Combines springs with foam or latex for balanced support, airflow and pressure relief. It suits couples, combination sleepers and anyone who wants both bounce and cushioning.

Innerspring Mattress

Uses a coil system with a thinner comfort layer for a firmer, more responsive feel. It can work well for back sleepers, hot sleepers and shoppers on a tighter budget.

Memory Foam Mattress

Moulds closely to the body to ease pressure and limit movement across the bed. It’s a good fit for side sleepers, light sleepers and couples who disturb each other at night.

Latex Mattress

Feels supportive and springy while remaining breathable and durable. It suits allergy-prone sleepers and people who prefer a firmer, more responsive surface.

For a closer comparison, see how memory foam and spring mattresses differ in comfort, bounce and cooling.

What Size Mattress Do You Need?

Your mattress should fit both the sleeper and the room without making the space feel cramped.

Allow enough room to walk around the bed, open doors and use nearby furniture. It is also worth checking hallways, staircases and entryways before delivery.

See our mattress size guide for a fuller comparison of each size.

Finding Your Ideal Firmness

Your ideal mattress firmness depends on your sleep position, body weight and how much cushioning feels comfortable.

Side sleepers often need more give around the shoulders and hips, while back and stomach sleepers may prefer a firmer surface that limits sinking.

Your weight also determines the ideal firmness for you. Lighter sleepers can find firm mattresses harder than expected, while heavier sleepers may need extra resistance to stay well supported.

Firmness labels also vary between brands, so “medium-firm” can feel different from one mattress to another. Our guide to how to choose mattress firmness explains the full firmness scale and helps narrow down the best feel for your body.

How Much Should You Budget for a Mattress? 

For a queen mattress in Australia, expect to spend around $250 to $1,500, depending on materials, comfort and durability. 

A cheaper mattress can work well for occasional sleep, but daily use usually calls for better materials and construction. Higher prices may bring improved cooling, edge support or longevity, though cost alone does not guarantee a better fit.

Read our guide on how much a mattress costs for a fuller price breakdown.

Features Worth Paying For (and Which Ones Aren’t)

Cooling construction, edge support, motion isolation and a washable cover can be worth paying for when they solve a problem you actually have.

Worth Paying For

• Cooling systems
  Hot sleepers should look for breathable layers, airflow channels and heat-drawing materials working together. Our Ecosa CoolComfort Mattress combines a cooling cover, open-grid layer, mesh sides and copper-infused foam.
• Edge support
  Stronger edges give couples more usable sleeping space and make getting in and out of bed easier.
• Motion isolation
  This can help light sleepers rest through a partner’s tossing and turning.
• Washable covers
  A removable, machine-washable cover makes regular cleaning much simpler.

Worth Questioning

• High layer counts
  More layers do not automatically mean better comfort.
• Fancy fabric names
  Focus on breathability, moisture control and washability instead.
• One cooling ingredient
  Cooling gel alone may do less than a mattress built around airflow and heat release.

Living With Back Pain? Here’s What Your Mattress Should Do

A mattress for back pain should feel stable through your middle while cushioning areas such as the shoulders and hips.

Firmer is not always better. In a randomised trial of 313 adults with chronic non-specific low-back pain, researchers concluded, “A mattress of medium firmness improves pain and disability among patients with chronic non-specific low-back pain.” 

Medium-firm will not suit every sleeper, though. Your sleep position, body weight and preferred cushioning still affect how the mattress feels.

All Ecosa mattresses include a 100-night sleep trial, giving your body time to adjust and decide whether the firmness feels right. Speak with a health professional about ongoing or severe pain.

Sleep Trials, Returns and Warranties Explained

Sleep trials let you test a mattress at home, while warranties cover eligible faults rather than a change of mind.

All Ecosa mattresses include a 100-night sleep trial. We recommend sleeping on yours for at least 14 nights, giving your body time to adjust. If it still does not feel right, contact us within the trial period. The mattress must be clean and in good condition, and proof of purchase is required. We’ll arrange collection through a charity partner, then process your refund after pickup.

Our warranty length varies by mattress model, so check the terms for covered defects, exclusions and claim requirements.

Recycling Your Old Mattress

Recycle or donate your old mattress instead of sending it to landfill.

• Donate it if it is clean, undamaged and still comfortable. Check the charity’s acceptance rules before arranging delivery.
• Book a recycling service that can separate materials such as foam, timber and metal springs for reuse.
• Check local options through your council or waste facility, as services and fees vary by location.

Ecosa’s recycling program can collect old mattresses from your home in selected areas. Mattresses in good condition are donated to charity, while older ones are dismantled so their individual materials can be recycled.

Shop Ecosa Mattresses for Better Sleep

Awarded #1 Mattress Brand in 2025 & 2026 (by CHOICE®), Ecosa offers foam and hybrid mattresses with options ranging from plush comfort to adjustable firmness. You can also visit one of our Australian stores to compare mattress types and test different firmness levels in person.

Every Ecosa mattress includes a 100-night sleep trial and a limited warranty of up to 15 years, depending on the model.

Complete your setup with a pillow suited to your sleeping position and bedding in breathable bamboo or crisp Australian cotton.

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