Hybrid vs. Innerspring Mattress — What’s the Difference?

If you’ve spent more than ten minutes shopping for a mattress, you’ve probably noticed there are tons of materials out there—from coils to memory foam to latex to serene foam. It can get pretty confusing pretty fast, but two of the most popular types of mattress are innerspring and hybrid.

These two mattresses both have their advantages and drawbacks; and depending on your needs, you may have a strong preference for one or the other. Let’s talk a little more about the differences between these two mattress types.

Hybrid Mattress

Hybrid mattresses combine the fun bounce and cooling airflow of the innerspring with the plush comfort and contouring power of foam. They do this through the use of an innerspring support system and at least 2 inches of foam on top.

Many hybrids come with more than 2 inches of foam, often laid out in several layers. For instance, some hybrids have a transition layer of firm foam between the coil and plush layers. And many hybrids may also contain a base layer of poly-foam for added shock absorption. One thing they all have in common is their pocketed coil system.

While innerspring mattresses have a coil network, the coils in a hybrid mattress are individually wrapped in their own pocket of fabric or foam. This helps reduce motion transfer and increase the longevity of the coil support layer.

Pros and Cons of a Hybrid Mattress

Hybrid mattresses have tons of advantages: the comfort of a foam or other plush layer, the coolness of the innerspring system, and the support of both. The main drawback is the cost, since all the different layers and materials make the manufacturing process a lot more expensive than either traditional innerspring or straight memory foam beds.

There are a couple of other drawbacks, though they’re minor. For instance, a hybrid will last longer than an innerspring, but the coils still might cause the mattress to sag before a pure memory foam mattress or latex mattress does. Hybrids are also a lot heavier than innersprings, meaning if you relocate a lot, they’ll be a pain to move.

Pros

• Better airflow than straight foam
• Improved motion isolation
• More responsive than all-foam beds
• Offers contouring and pressure relief
• Available in all firmness options

Cons

• Heavy and hard to move
• Costlier than just about any other mattress type
• May pick up dust mites and allergens due to the open coil system

Hybrid Mattress Cost

We won’t make any bones about it—hybrid mattresses are expensive. Depending on the size, firmness level, and additional sleep technologies, hybrid mattresses can go for anywhere from $1,000 to well over $3,000 (and even more if you go for the luxury ones).

That may seem exorbitant, but hybrids are totally worth the cost. They can alleviate pain associated with sleep position, and they come in a variety of firmnesses that make them great for side, stomach, and back sleepers.

Innerspring Mattress

Innersprings are one of the oldest mattress types still in use today, so if you like a traditional, bouncy bed, a coil mattress may be for you. They’re also great for really hot sleepers because the spring network and thinner comfort layer allow for even more airflow than a hybrid.

To make a traditional innerspring mattress, manufacturers create a mesh of coils wired together to form a network that both supports your bodyweight and compresses under it. It’s also possible to get an innerspring mattress with pocketed coils instead, but pocketed coils come at a price (and it’s usually steeper than regular coils).

The coil support layer goes in a fabric cover and comes with a comfort layer, normally composed of natural fibers like cotton and wool.

Pros and Cons of an Innerspring Mattress

Innersprings promote a lot of airflow, so they’re less prone to mold and sleep cooler than just about any other mattress. However, the lack of thick comfort layers has some downsides.

One of the biggest issues with innersprings is they start sagging when the coils lose tension. This can cause back pain, neck cricks, and other issues. Coil mattresses also transfer motion and don’t conform as well to your body’s curves, meaning they won’t keep your spine aligned as well as a hybrid.

Pros

• Often the most budget-friendly mattress options
• Great cooling mattresses for hot sleepers
• Lighter and easier to move

Cons

• Transfers lots of motion
• Coils break down and cause sagging
• Mattress may not last as long
• Thinner comfort layer isn’t very supportive
• Too much pressure for side sleepers

Innerspring Mattress Cost

Innersprings are a lot more budget-friendly than hybrids because they don’t have as many materials or layers. It’s not hard to find an innerspring for under $1,000, but if you want additional bells and whistles, you might pay more.

FAQs

What base is best for hybrid/coil mattresses?

Mattress foundations and platform beds are best for hybrids. Hybrid mattresses are too heavy for box springs, which are really only suitable for lighter innerspring mattresses. However, even with innersprings, foundations and platforms are usually best because they offer more rigid support than box springs—helping to stave off sagging and make the innerspring mattress last longer.

Can I flip a hybrid mattress?

No. The layers of a hybrid mattress only work one way. If you turn the mattress over, the comfort layer will be at the bottom and the support layer will sit on top, inverting the design. This won’t just mess up your support while you’re sleeping, but it could also damage the mattress, so you can’t flip it the way you can with a lot of coil mattresses.

However, what you can do is rotate your hybrid mattress every few months to help prevent too much wear and tear on specific areas of the bed. Just turn it 180 degrees about once a quarter to ensure even compression and slow down aging.

Is a pillow top the same as a hybrid?

No. A pillow top is basically an innerspring mattress with a thicker layer of padding made of cotton, wool, foam, gel, down, etc. sewn into the comfort layer. Older coil mattresses often came without pillow tops, but nowadays most of them have one. As you probably suspected, if your innerspring mattress comes with a pillow top, you can’t flip it either.

What are gauge and coil count in an innerspring mattress?

Coil gauge is the measure of coil thickness. The higher the gauge, the thinner the metal of a mattress coil will be. High-gauge coils compress more easily, and hybrid mattresses normally have the highest gauge coils—using a larger number of thinner, pocketed coils to provide softer support. Hybrids normally have a gauge range of between 14 and 18, while innersprings have a range of between 12 and 15.

Coil count is simply the number of coils in the mattress. The more coils in the mattress, the more durable it is. The ideal coil count for a queen size hybrid is between 800 and 1,000, and the ideal count for an innerspring queen is around 1,000. Unless you’re buying a king or California king, a count higher than 1,000 won’t do much to increase comfort or support. Higher coil counts than this are just a marketing gimmick to excuse upping the mattress price.

Which mattress should I get if I have back pain?

Since the comfort layer of a hybrid mattress offers more contoured support than the comfort layer of an innerspring, a hybrid mattress may be a better option for back pain sufferers. To relieve back pain, it’s important to maintain spinal alignment. The foam layer of a hybrid mattress does a better job of conforming to your body, filling in the gaps in your lumbar area and helping to keep the heavier parts of your body, like your hips and torso, from sinking.

Bottom Line

While the innerspring has its advantages, the hybrid typically wins out when it comes to comfort, support, and durability. Innersprings may be bouncier and easier to move, but they just don’t provide the same level of contouring and pressure relief that hybrids do.

What’s even better about hybrids is they come in such a large range of firmnesses, materials, and makeups that there’s a hybrid out there for just about every sleeper’s needs and personal preferences. Whether you’re a hot stomach sleeper who wants a firm mattress with a ton of airflow or a side sleeper who prefers a soft mattress to offer you pressure point relief, there’s a hybrid out there for you.