What is a spring mattress?

The springs in a mattress are metal coils that support the mattress and form a durable surface for sleep. When comparing models, look for a clear description of the coils and their support role.

Repeated heating and cooling is used to improve a coil’s resiliency. If a product listing mentions repeated heating and cooling, treat the stated benefit as coil resiliency, not a guarantee about every part of the mattress.

A&S describes pocket coils as springs placed one by one in fabric pockets to create a highly flexible system. Check whether a pocket-coil listing says each spring has its own fabric pocket.

Different types of mattress coils include pocket coils and microcoils. Pocket coils are wrapped in cloth and move independently of neighboring coils.

• Check whether a listing says pocket coils are wrapped in cloth if independent movement matters to your comparison.
• Microcoils may sit in a comfort or transition layer, either individually wrapped or sandwiched between two pieces of foam; check the listed placement.
• Connected continuous-wire coils may still transmit some movement when responding to pressure.

A queen innerspring or hybrid can have 400 to 1,200 coils.

Coil Count

A high coil count alone does not show that a mattress is sturdier or more durable.

• Treat the count as a range, not a fixed target for a queen innerspring or hybrid.
• Do not use a high advertised count by itself as proof of greater sturdiness or durability.

Coils leave room for airflow, so coil-based mattresses tend to sleep cooler than all-foam mattresses. This can be useful to consider if sleeping temperature matters to you.

• The design described provides progressively firmer support as more pressure is placed on the mattress. When testing a bed, compare how support changes as pressure is added instead of judging only the first contact with the surface.
• Casper says some sleepers prefer the springy, on-the-bed feel of coils. A traditional innerspring may not contour as well as a hybrid with plush foam layers, so weigh that difference if you prefer more contouring.
• Microcoils may sit in a comfort or transition layer and can add pressure relief, airflow, and mild resistance. Check the listing for the layer and whether the microcoils are individually wrapped or sandwiched between foam.

Sleep Foundation says pocketed coils tend to reduce noise and isolate motion better than other coil patterns.

• Use coil pattern as a comparison point if noise or movement transfer matters, while keeping the pocketed-coil benefit as a tendency rather than a guarantee.
• Continuous-wire coils are tightly connected and may still transmit some movement when responding to pressure, so note that caveat in the design description.

Some mattresses add low-gauge perimeter coils to strengthen edge support. A&S offers perimeter-reinforced models such as DualGauge and RelaxGuard solutions with a pencil-coil edge.

• If you are comparing A&S products, check whether the listing names DualGauge or a RelaxGuard pencil-coil edge.
• The general design described uses additional low-gauge coils around the mattress perimeter.

Casper says hybrids can have thicker comfort layers than traditional innersprings, but this is not stated for every hybrid. Coils can be covered with memory foam, wool, or fiberfill to create a comfort layer. Hybrid mattresses typically have a core of pocket coils with a buffer such as foam, latex, or wool.

In innerspring beds, coils can lose tension or break, causing dips in places where people lie most.

• Look for dips in frequently used areas, since coil tension loss or breakage can cause them.
• If springs poke through when you lie down or their outline is visible, Tom’s Guide says it is time to replace the mattress.
• Sealy’s Limited Warranty excludes coverage if Sealy determines, in its reasonable discretion, that the foundation, base, or frame is inadequate.
• Read the base, foundation, and frame conditions in Sealy’s warranty before relying on coverage.

Avocado recommends a topper when a mattress is still supportive and the goal is to change its feel. A soft topper is another option that Tom’s Guide suggests for a mattress that feels too firm.

• If the mattress is still supportive and you only want a different feel, consider a topper.
• If the mattress is too firm, consider a soft topper.

Casper describes innerspring mattresses as typically less expensive than hybrids. Use that as a broad comparison, not a model-specific price; compare the actual models you are considering.

Are spring mattresses still made?

Yes, A&S Innersprings USA currently lists both pocket and Bonnell innersprings among its products.

Can you flip a modern innerspring mattress?

Modern designs are generally made to be slept on only from the top side, not flipped, as Tom’s Guide says. Check the maker’s care instructions for the specific mattress before flipping it.

We read 9 published pages from 6 sites (Sleep Foundation, Casper, asinnersprings.com, tomsguide.com and 2 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.