800 vs 1000 vs 2000 pocket springs

A high headline spring count is not a durability score: Sleep Foundation says high coil totals do not directly translate to a sturdier or more durable mattress, while wire and coil design affect feel.

• Which? describes each pocket spring reacting independently inside its own fabric pocket and recommends comparing spring density, diameter, wire gauge, and coil count.
• Mini-spring sheets can be stacked inside a mattress alongside a conventional spring core, raising the total count.
• John Ryan By Design says a well-made mattress with 1,000 springs can suit you better than one with 2,000 if the latter uses sub-optimal build techniques such as foam encapsulation.

Firmness labels differ across these counts, so use the model’s label rather than treating spring count as a firmness choice. A high spring count does not automatically mean a better mattress.

800 springs with memory foam

MattressNextDay lists an 800-spring memory-foam mattress as medium.

• Its responsive foam is described as preventing pressure points at the shoulders, lower back, and hips.
• Compare those stated pressure-relief areas with your own comfort concerns.

1000 springs with memory foam

A Sognare 1,000-spring memory-foam model is described as having a medium feel.

• The listing says its medium feel works across most sleep positions.
• It says the memory foam adds enough comfort to feel noticeably better than a basic spring mattress.
• A retailer guide lists 1,000 to 2,000 springs for a UK king-size mattress.

2000 springs with memory foam

One 2,000-spring memory-foam hybrid is labeled medium/firm.

• Another seller labels its 2,000-spring memory-foam mattress medium.
• Check the individual model’s firmness label rather than expecting one feel from the count.

Which? notes that a larger mattress may have a higher spring count simply because it offers more space, and gives a UK double size as 135 by 190 cm. Pocket Spring Store lists these counts by size.

Dusk specifies 2,000 springs in a king-size mattress. REM-Fit says its 1,000 full-height pocket springs and medium-firm support stay the same across its offered sizes.

An advertised count may include mini-springs alongside a conventional spring core; sometimes springs in a bed base may be used to top up the figure.

• Sleep Foundation says microcoils, nanocoils, and minicoils are most often used in comfort or transition layers.
• Marshall & Stewart says high totals can include sheets of mini-springs alongside a conventional spring core.
• Pocket Spring Store advises checking whether many counted coils are pencil-thin side coils.
• John Ryan By Design warns that sometimes springs in a bed base may be used to top up the figure.

Wire gauge and spring pre-tension affect firmness; a pocket-sprung or open-coil sprung divan can make a mattress feel softer than a slatted or solid platform base.

• Lower-gauge coils are firmer and more durable than higher-gauge coils, while higher-gauge coils are more responsive and flexible.
• John Ryan By Design lists 1.4 mm as medium and 1.6 mm as firm in one range, while its calico-encased units span 1.4 mm soft to 1.9 mm ultra-firm.
• Snug Interiors says a sprung divan can make a mattress feel softer than a slatted or solid platform base, and a person too light for a spring tension may not compress it enough to engage its support.

Memory foam can mold closely to the body, while pocket springs respond to shape differently.

• Sleep Foundation says memory foam slowly molds under pressure and distributes body weight.
• Open-cell memory foam has internal pockets that allow ventilation and airflow, which helps disperse heat.
• Which? says pocket springs are designed to respond to the sleeper’s shape, but may not mold to it in the same way memory foam does.
• John Ryan By Design says some people like the molded feel of memory foam with a more supportive pocket-spring base.

Use body weight, sleep position, and pressure points to narrow your firmness choice.

Sleep Foundation says mattresses tend to feel firmer to sleepers under 130 pounds and softer to those over 230 pounds. If a spring is too firm for your weight, it may not compress as it should, according to John Ryan By Design.

Pocket springs move independently, and bed sharers are less likely to wake one another on a pocketed-coil mattress.

Tom’s Guide tested movement transfer on the OTTY by placing an empty wine glass at the center and dropping a weight 4, 10, and 25 inches away.

Compare the full build because how the mattress’s layers work together matters, not just spring count or configuration.

• Sleep Foundation says wire gauge and coil count affect coil performance; some mattresses use multiple coil layers, while others alternate foam and microcoils.
• Snug Interiors says a sprung divan provides additional support and upholstery from the base.
• Wink Sleep’s guide says to consider edge support, comfort layers, breathability, durability, and heat dispersion too.
• Which? tested pocket-sprung mattresses ranging from under 20 kg to over 50 kg.

Check the wait, return window, condition rules, and fees before buying.

• Casper allows mattress returns after 30 nights and up to 100 nights.
• Its trial requires the mattress to be in donatable condition.
• Naturepedic requires keeping the mattress for at least 30 nights before starting a return, and says its stated trial has no restocking or return-shipping fees.

A higher spring count does not reliably predict mattress lifespan; durability also depends on wire quality, fillings, and base compatibility.

• Which? found that some pocket-sprung mattresses lose height as their layers compress.
• Marshall & Stewart says sagging can come from unevenly compacted fillings, spring wire losing tension, or a compromised base.
• Consumer Reports tests durability by rolling a 300-plus-pound wood roller across each mattress 30,000 times to simulate 8 to 10 years of use.
• Casper’s warranty covers visible indentation greater than 1 inch only when it is not associated with an improper or unsupportive foundation, and excludes comfort preference.

Does memory foam over pocket springs determine firmness?

Memory foam does not decide firmness alone; pocket-sprung firmness also depends on wire gauge and spring pre-tension. Dusk markets a 2,000-spring memory-foam mattress as medium/firm, and John Ryan By Design says upholstery layers shape whether a mattress feels soft, medium, or firm.

What should you check in a mattress trial and return policy?

Check when the trial starts, product eligibility, condition rules, and collection or processing fees before buying. John Lewis starts its 60-night clock on delivery and lists £19.95 collection and £39.95 recycling fees for exchanges. Casper allows free returns after 30 nights, requires the mattress to be donatable, and charges no restocking, pickup, or processing fees.

Can an 800-spring memory foam mattress be medium?

Yes, an 800-spring memory-foam mattress can be medium.

Can a 1000- or 2000-spring memory foam mattress be medium?

A REM-Fit 1,000-spring hybrid is listed as medium-firm at 7/10. Dusk labels one 2,000-spring memory-foam mattress medium/firm. Another 2,000-spring memory-foam mattress is listed as medium.

We read 23 published pages from 18 sites (Sleep Foundation, which.co.uk, mattressnextday.co.uk, dusk.com and 14 more), checked in October 2026. Every sentence in the answers above cites one of them; the offer card at the end names its own source. This page reports published sources only; we did not test mattresses in person.