Giving you some much-needed extra space, the best king mattresses are designed to get you through the night as comfortably as possible.
All products are independently selected by our editors. If you buy something, we may earn an affiliate commission.
If you’ve already bitten the bullet and decided that the extra space of a king bed is worth it, you might as well make sure your mattress counts. Luxurious as it might be to have an extra few inches to stretch out with every night, if you’ve got a bad mattress, you might as well have focused your energy on a double bed instead. Enter, the best king mattresses that’ll live up to your expectations.
Including memory foam, hybrid and pocket spring options, we’ve run down the very best mattresses below that are all available in a king-size design. Mattresses are key to your sleep and thus to your overall health and wellbeing, so we’ve taken the time to test these out where possible to make sure we’re only recommending brands we love and products that have personally improved the lives of GQ writers and editors. Make that king bed count and get one of the best below.
Which king-size mattresses are the best?
An excellent all-rounder, this high-tech hybrid combines organic materials with the very latest innovation to ensure optimal, cloud-like sleep. It also features clever temperature control properties, promising to keep you comfortably cool.
This is a luxurious but affordable pocket-sprung mattress that promises to literally have your back. It features a zoned spring system for exceptional support, a breathable layer for optimal temperature regulation, and a cooling sleep surface.
Made with layers of innovative foam, this high-tech king cleverly adapts to all body types and is suited to back, side and front sleepers, thanks to its multi-zone support system. It also offers great edge-to-edge support, so you won’t see any sagging here.
- Best all hybrid king-size mattress: Simba Hybrid Ultra, £3,199 at Simba
- Best pocket-sprung king-size mattress: Silentnight Eco Comfort Miracoil Ortho, £469 at Silentnight
- Best memory foam king-size mattress: Hypnia Supreme Memory Foam, £610.99 at Hypnia
- Best sustainable king-size mattress: Luff Prestige Hybrid Bamboo, £1,399.99 at Luff
- Best wool king-size mattress: Woolroom Hebridean 3000, £1,084.30 at Woolroom
Why choose a king-sized bed and mattress?
Opting for a king-sized bed comes with several advantages, including ample space for couples to spread out comfortably and the reduction of disturbances caused by movement. A king also provides extra room for weary parents (including pet parents) who invariably end up sharing their bed with kids or dogs, enhancing overall sleep quality. Additionally, king-sized mattresses often come with advanced features such as enhanced support, motion isolation and customisation options, catering to various needs and sleep preferences.
What factors should I consider when buying a king-sized mattress?
When buying any mattress, you’ll need to consider what type will suit you best, be it memory foam, pocket-sprung or hybrid, and much of this comes down to personal preference. Think about firmness level, too, although you’ll find most contemporary mattress brands have hit upon a perfect medium-firm for optimal comfort and support. You could also consider the materials used, breathability, as well as any specific health concerns you may have, such as back pain or allergies. For king size mattresses in particular, motion isolation and edge-to-edge support become all the more important.
What role does motion transfer play in choosing a king?
Motion transfer refers to the amount of movement felt on one side of the mattress when the other side is disturbed. In a king-sized bed, which is more often than not shared, minimising motion transfer is vital for uninterrupted sleep. Look for mattresses with features like pocketed coils and high-tech memory foam, both of which absorb movement and isolate it to specific areas, reducing disturbances for both you and your bed buddy.