The Pros and Cons of a Memory Foam Mattress

Memory foam is a mattress manufacturer favourite because it's cheap to produce and satisfies most sleepers' expectations for a sleep surface: mouldable and soft, like a hug.

However, there are pros and cons to memory foam mattresses.

For instance, while memory foam is unequalled at conforming to your body's contours, it provides zero support, meaning you will sink into the first few inches of your mattress. Not everyone likes the way that feels.

Join us below to discover the pros and cons of a memory foam mattress with advice to help you choose the best mattress for your needs.

How memory foam feels

It's impossible to escape memory foam when shopping for a new mattress. The question is, is it a match for how you like a mattress to feel?

Memory foam mattresses vary in how deeply you'll sink into them based on the foam's density and thickness. High-density foams offer resilient support with less sinkage, while low-density foams provide a softer, deeper sink.

Mattress makers use different density and thickness combinations to create a range of feels, from cloud-like softness to firmer support, catering to diverse sleep preferences.

Memory foam pros and cons

These pros and cons will help you decide if memory foam is suitable for you:

Memory foam pros

Conforms to your body

Your body heat brings memory foam to life, softening it to embrace your unique shape. Move, and you'll see its signature trick: a fleeting imprint of where you were, slowly fading away. This gradual, molasses-like response is the "memory" in memory foam, creating that distinctive, adaptive comfort you sink into each night.

If you love sinking into your bed, memory foam is fantastic. But if you prefer a mattress that bounces back, a Laygel mattress sounds a better match.

Relieves pressure

Memory foam relieves pressure by evenly distributing your body weight across the sleep surface. The foam fills gaps to eliminate pressure points – in contrast, a fibrous surface has more areas of high pressure.

If you sleep with back, shoulder, or hip pain, a memory foam mattress can relieve pressure and reduce pain.

Related read: Which Type of Mattress is Best for Back Pain?

Reduces motion isolation

Memory foam doesn’t transfer vibration or movement, making it a top choice for couples and young children who love clambering into bed at ungodly hours.

Motion isolation also depends on the support system. Pocket springs and micro-springs in hybrids are fantastic at motion isolation. Pure foam mattresses are the best for motion isolation but lack bounce.  

Quiet

Memory foam absorbs sound, creating a silent sleep surface that is beneficial for light sleepers or those sensitive to noise.

Tossing and turning on memory foam doesn’t make any sound, although the springs inside your mattress and your bedding might.

Hypoallergenic

Memory foam is hypoallergenic, so it's unlikely to cause an allergic reaction and is resistant to dust mites and other common allergy triggers.

Some mattress manufacturers go further with a special anti-allergy treatment at the factory that combats the development of allergens.

Memory foam cons

Sleeps warm

Memory foam's heat retention is a double-edged sword. It's a cosy dream in winter, keeping you snug and warm. But that same quality can turn your bed into a sweat lodge come summer.

The good news is you can counteract this with a memory gel mattress. Memory gel is memory foam with thousands of gel beads, or strands, embedded in the foam, which help dissipate heat for a cooler sleep surface.

Off-gassing

Memory foam is manufactured with chemicals, so you can expect some off-gassing after unpacking your mattress.

Off-gassing happens when chemicals in the mattress vaporise and release moisture. It can cause headaches and make your bedroom smell like a chemical plant, but it isn’t toxic and doesn’t last long – a week max.

Not the best for edge support

Memory foam does not provide edge support on its own. It relies on encapsulation and a spring or foam support core.

Because of this, some pure foam mattresses have terrible edge support, although this isn’t an issue with most pocket spring and hybrid models.

Durability depends on foam quality

High-quality memory foams use stable compounds that resist degradation over a 10-year lifespan or more. However, not all memory foams are created equal — their durability varies significantly based on the unique 'recipe' of chemicals each manufacturer uses.

Higher-density foams are also more durable because they resist the permanent deformation that plagues low-density foams.

Summing up

Memory foam is the best mattress material for conforming to your body and providing a squashy, cloud-like sleep experience.

These mattresses reduce motion transfer, relieve pressure points, and promote proper spinal alignment. While some may find them warm or heavy, innovations like cooling technologies address these concerns.

Whether you're a light sleeper, deal with back pain, or crave that body-hugging feel, memory foam could be your ticket to better sleep.

Browse our complete range of memory foam mattresses here.

Still unsure which mattress to choose? Read our mattress buyer’s guide.

FAQs

What is memory foam?

Memory foam is a viscoelastic polyurethane foam developed by NASA engineer Charles Anthony Yost in 1966 to improve aircraft safety. It was commercialised in the 1980s.

How does memory foam work?

Its mouldability comes from long, flexible poly chains and additives like polyols and low-molecular-weight plasticisers, which lower the foam's glass transition temperature to around the same as your body temperature.

When you lie on memory foam, your body weight and heat cause the foam to soften and flow around your contours. The open-cell structure allows air to move out of the material as it compresses under your weight.

What are some memory foam alternatives?

The main alternative is latex foam (natural or synthetic). Latex foam is a fantastic support material because it is highly responsive and bounces back instantly.

Latex foam offers more bounce, greater edge support, and a cooler sleep experience than memory foam. However, it's usually more expensive.

The cheapest memory foam alternative is reflex foam, a firmer, denser material that offers more support but less contouring.