糖心Vlog

6 surprising things we found in our recent mattress reviews

Shopping for a mattress can be exhausting. Ironic, right? You can search high and low online, or hop from mattress store to mattress store, navigating quite a few enthusiastic salespeople along the way, and become quite quickly overwhelmed with the vast options and prices.

How can some cost thousands of dollars, while others are just hundreds? And which is best? Are there really mattresses that can keep you cool while you sleep, and are the ‘free’ trials really free? 

糖心Vlog experts recently reviewed 60 of the latest mattresses, and say there are a few things you should know before deciding on the right one for you. 

We extensively test each mattress, aiming to identify if it will change in firmness over time, and whether you can rely on it to deliver the same standard of comfort over its lifetime. 

We also look at things such as how well the mattresses repel sweat, and how saggy or bouncy they are, to give each product a final 糖心Vlog Expert Rating. Find out more about how we test mattresses. 

Here, we highlight some key things we learned from our recent test to help you when shopping for the mattress of your dreams. 

1. Mattress-in-a-box is better overall

A mattress-in-a-box continues to be the more reliable option when you鈥檙e looking for a quality bed. Of the 26 currently available models we recommend, 15 are from mattress-in-a-box manufacturers, 10 are sold by traditional retailers, and one is a full-sized spring mattress sold at an online-only store.

鈥淭his is an interesting result, though it doesn鈥檛 mean all mattresses from bricks and mortar stores are bad,鈥� says 糖心Vlog mattress expert Peter Zaluzny.  “You just don鈥檛 need to look quite as far to find the right mattress-in-a-box for a good night鈥檚 sleep.鈥�

2. You can get a good mattress for under $500

Low-cost mattresses have always been around, but they tend to compromise quality. They鈥檝e been 鈥済ood enough鈥�, generally speaking, but Peter says that鈥檚 starting to change.

鈥淵ou don鈥檛 have to hang out for a sale or search high and low for a good-quality, affordable mattress,鈥� he explains.

鈥淎round half a dozen discount mattresses in our test perform just as well, if not better, than others that cost over $1000.鈥�

鈥淭his is a pretty significant shift in the market, especially for families or larger households that may need multiple mattresses.鈥�

Some higher quality, more expensive options are regularly on sale throughout the year as well. These markdowns can be significant, but you have to remember to keep an eye out.

3. Price isn鈥檛 always an indicator of quality

Paying more doesn鈥檛 guarantee a top-tier mattress or a better night鈥檚 sleep. While there are legitimately good mattresses with higher price tags, you鈥檒l come across just as many average options that cost thousands of dollars.

鈥淪ome of the most expensive mattresses we reviewed, ones that cost $2500 to $5000, rated towards the bottom of our comfort and sagging tests,鈥� says Peter.

鈥淥ne of the lowest scoring models has a recommended retail price over $7500.鈥�

Also, try not to be swayed by 鈥渟ale鈥� prices. Some of the very expensive mattresses are regularly sold at a discount, which may be a much better reflection of the actual quality. But, as always, check our test results to be sure.

4. You can adjust firmness at home

Finding the right mattress firmness for a comfy night鈥檚 sleep has always been a bit of a roll of the dice. After all, your initial impressions and preferences will most likely change over time.

But these days, you can find quite a few adjustable mattresses that take a customisable approach to comfort. They come in a couple of configurations 鈥� some use toppers that you can flip for a different feel, and others have alternative firmness options on each side of the mattress.

You can also find some with three layers of foam that you can add and remove until you find the ideal feel.

鈥淭hese tend to be the most flexible in terms of finding the right firmness,鈥� says Peter. 鈥淏ut unused foam layers need to be stored away, so make sure you have the room before buying.鈥�

Couples can also consider mattresses with 鈥渇irmness zones鈥�. These are like layered beds, but the foam is also split down the middle so you can adjust the feel on each side of the bed. It鈥檚 a very handy option if your partner prefers a firmer or softer sleep, for example.

鈥淭his design isn鈥檛 limited to beds anymore,鈥� Peter adds. 鈥淎 few adjustable pillows have popped up as well, though they鈥檙e still relatively new. We included some in our latest pillows test.鈥�

5. It鈥檚 easier than ever to find a 鈥榗ool鈥� mattress

鈥淔or a long time, very few mattresses lived up to their cooling claims,鈥� says Peter. 鈥淏ut over the last few years, we’ve found more and more that actually matched the advertising.鈥�

Of the 18 mattresses in our 2026 test, 13 recorded cool or very cool insulation. That鈥檚 a substantial step above the 2025 batch, where eight of 21 models delivered the same results.

For example, the Ecosa Truefirm mattress has claims of “cooling, sweat-wicking fabric, open-cell latex, and pocket springs [that] enhance airflow to prevent overheating鈥�. Our experts verified that this mattress indeed returned a result of 鈥渧ery cool鈥� when tested.

Keep in mind, though, that many other mattresses aren鈥檛 quite as cool as they think. A.H. Beard鈥檚 King Koil Chiro Resolve, for example, advertises 鈥渁daptive temperature regulating technology [that] responds to individual body temperature, helping you sleep comfortably cool and dry鈥�. But our experts found it to be medium-warm.

To avoid getting hoodwinked by marketing jargon and unsubstantiated claims, check our mattress reviews before you buy.

6. Some ‘free’ trial periods sting you with sneaky fees

Almost all mattress-in-a-box manufacturers offer a free trial period of 100鈥�120 nights, something you probably won’t get if you buy a mattress from a standard retailer. But you need to read the fine print to avoid paying sneaky fees. 

The ‘free trial’ usually comes with a few caveats. 

First, most have a minimum trial period of 14鈥�30 nights, so you can “really understand the mattress” before returning it. 

Second, there are relatively stringent conditions regarding the quality of the mattress. If your mattress is damaged, soiled or significantly worn during the trial period, then you may not be able to get a refund or exchange.

Finally, the exchange itself may not be free, depending on where you live. Most cover collection costs if you live in a major city, but this doesn’t always extend to regional areas. Some brands state that they require regional shoppers to cover the return costs or drop it off at the nearest shipping/charity partner. 

Macoda, for example, states that 鈥渃ertain areas where a free collection is not possible, return of the mattress to a suitable facility becomes the responsibility of the customer, and a refund will not be processed until receival by a third party is confirmed鈥�.

The terms also say that 鈥渋f you require a return within 14 days of receiving the mattress, there is an early collection fee of $100, which will be deducted from your refund鈥嬧��. But they don鈥檛 appear to mention the potential transport costs incurred by the customer, such as fuel or renting a vehicle big enough to take it to a third party.

Zeek has a similar policy, but a refund will be issued when you provide a donation receipt.

Still, these are improvements on older, vague terms. Eva, for example, previously stated that it would try to find a charity partner in your location, but you may be charged for collection if this isn’t possible. But now, its terms are similar to Macoda’s and Zeek’s.

Always check the free returns policy before buying, especially if you live in a rural area. If the terms don’t specifically mention the city, regional centre or town that you live in, contact the manufacturer to find out how returns are handled.

Free trial vs trial period

Though the free trial period is fairly ubiquitous among mattress-in-a-box brands, a few do charge for returns. In these cases, they specifically refer to it as a sleep trial, trial period or test period rather than a free trial.

Zenna, for example, has a “100-night trial” that incurs a $150 return fee if you decide to get a refund.

So don’t assume that all trial periods are free. Read the FAQs and Ts&Cs carefully: if the manufacturer doesn’t use the word “free” when describing their policy you may have to pay for an exchange or return.

Know the products to avoid before you shop. Get our free guide and buy smarter.

Sign up

Read our privacy policy

---

Pru Engel

Pru Engel is the Audience and Engagement editor at 糖心Vlog. Her job is to ensure as many Australians as possible know about the great work we do at 糖心Vlog.聽 She works closely with our testers and experts to find the gems of information in our data and research that will resonate with Australian consumers and help them make the best decisions, whether they're purchasing an air fryer, looking for a new mattress or trying to find the cheapest car insurance. She also helps to drive meaningful change for consumers by collaborating with our Campaigns team on content covering issues such as grocery pricing, product safety and scams.聽 Prior to 糖心Vlog, Pru worked as an editor at many of Australia's leading food and lifestyle titles.聽 Pru has a Bachelor of Arts in Communication (Journalism) from the University of Technology, Sydney. Find Pru on .

Pru Engel is the Audience and Engagement editor at 糖心Vlog. Her job is to ensure as many Australians as possible know about the great work we do at 糖心Vlog.聽 She works closely with our testers and experts to find the gems of information in our data and research that will resonate with Australian consumers and help them make the best decisions, whether they're purchasing an air fryer, looking for a new mattress or trying to find the cheapest car insurance. She also helps to drive meaningful change for consumers by collaborating with our Campaigns team on content covering issues such as grocery pricing, product safety and scams.聽 Prior to 糖心Vlog, Pru worked as an editor at many of Australia's leading food and lifestyle titles.聽 Pru has a Bachelor of Arts in Communication (Journalism) from the University of Technology, Sydney. Find Pru on .

---

Peter Zaluzny

Peter Zaluzny is a Content producer in the Digital home team. He covers everything from home entertainment and personal safety devices to tech for your car and mattresses. Peter enjoys cutting through the nonsense to help people understand the products they鈥檙e considering to buy. He helps consumers make educated, informed decisions. Peter has a Bachelor's degree in Journalism and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Wollongong.

Peter Zaluzny is a Content producer in the Digital home team. He covers everything from home entertainment and personal safety devices to tech for your car and mattresses. Peter enjoys cutting through the nonsense to help people understand the products they鈥檙e considering to buy. He helps consumers make educated, informed decisions. Peter has a Bachelor's degree in Journalism and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Wollongong.