Open Coil vs Pocket Spring Mattresses: What’s The Difference?

Nowadays, you have tons of options when it comes to spring mattresses. You can choose between hybrids and innersprings, high gauge and low gauge coil systems, and open coil and pocketed coil support cores.

Below, we’ll give a quick rundown of the differences between open coil support systems and pocketed coil ones, as well as talk about some other factors that can impact your choice of spring mattress.

Open Coil

Open coil systems always come in innerspring mattresses (hybrids always come with pocketed coils), but there are several different types of open coil mattresses to choose from.

Bonnell Coils

Bonnell coils are hourglass-shaped coils with rounded tops. They’re connected together using cross wire helicals to create a network called the Bonnell unit. Bonnell is the oldest and the most common hourglass coil design because it’s less expensive and easier to assemble than other hourglass coils.

Continuous Coils

Continuous coils, also called mira-coils, are S-shaped coils laced together using a single piece of wire throughout the whole coil network. This makes manufacturing easier and quicker, but it also leads to a mattress that doesn’t contour as well as hourglass coils do.

Offset Coils

Another hourglass coil, offset coils are a bit more durable and flexible than their Bonnell counterparts. They feature a circular design with two squared corners so the coils can be hinged to each other. This creates an innerspring mattress that conforms better to your body’s shape than either Bonnell or continuous coil units.

Pocket Coil

Both innerspring and hybrid mattresses can come with pocketed coil systems. In fact, hybrids should only feature this design. In a pocket coil support core, each individual coil is wrapped in its own foam or fabric pocket. Pocket coil mattresses improve on a lot of the problems that come with open coil designs:

• Pocket coils reduce motion transfer better
• They’re better at conforming to your body
• They wear out slower
• They’re flexible enough to bend with an adjustable base
• They make less noise than open coils

Coil Gauge

Coil gauge indicates the thickness of each coil. The lower the gauge, the thicker the coil and the firmer the mattress. Coil gauges usually range between 12 and 15.

If you want a very firm mattress, go with the lowest gauge you can get. If you want a mattress that’s better at conforming to your body and relieving pressure points, stick with the higher end of the spectrum.

Coil Count

The number of coils in your mattress can have an impact on both its feel and durability. Mattresses with a higher coil count will offer better support and last longer, so you should avoid mattresses with a low coil count.

On the flip side, there is a threshold where increasing the spring count doesn’t make much difference, and manufacturers just do it as a marketing technique or an excuse to overcharge. The ideal coil count should sit in the middle of these two extremes, coming in between 400 and 1,000 for a queen size mattress.

FAQs

Do memory foam or latex mattresses have coils?

Unless they’re hybrids, latex and memory foam mattresses will not have any coils. Rather, they will be made with several layers of foam with different firmnesses. The hardest foams go in the bottom to form the support and base layers, while the softest go on top to form the comfort and transition layers.

What is a tempered coil?

Tempered coils have been heated and cooled repeatedly to solidify the coil’s shape and make it more durable. Tempered coils offer firmer support and are also more durable than non-tempered coils because they maintain their shape and tension longer.

Are hybrids or innersprings better?

Hybrids and innersprings might both have coil support layers, but they have very different feels.

Hybrid mattresses always have a pocketed coil support core and at least two inches of either latex or memory foam in their comfort layer.

Meanwhile, innerspring mattresses can have an open coil or pocket coil design and can feature other plush materials in their comfort layer, such as cotton, wool, fiberfill, or even down.

If we had to give the edge to one mattress type, we’d have to go with the hybrid. Hybrids combine all the best features of foam beds with the best features of innerspring beds to create a mattress that’s cooling and responsive yet contouring with tons of pressure relief for stressed joints.

How long will my coil mattress last?

That depends on several factors. Lower gauge coils will last longer than higher gauge ones. Mattresses with higher coil counts will outlast those with lower coil counts. Pocketed coil systems will be more durable than open coil systems. And hybrids will usually outlast innersprings.

That means, if you want the most durable mattress, look for a high-quality hybrid with a low coil gauge, high coil count, and latex foam or plant-based memory foam.

How much should I pay for a coil mattress?

Coil mattresses have a huge range of prices and construction qualities. Generally speaking, you should pay between $500 and $1500 for an innerspring mattress, while you should expect hybrids to come in between $1,000 and $3,000.

If you find a mattress cheaper than these ranges, you should consider the quality of its construction or materials before purchasing. If you find one more expensive, you should ensure you’re not being overcharged before you buy.

Bottom Line

Spring beds are quite a diverse bunch. While they all feature metal coils, they can come in a range of feels, firmnesses, and durabilities. If you’re looking for spine alignment, pressure point relief, and durability, a hybrid might be the right mattress for you.

If you want tons of bounce and airflow in your bed, a traditional innerspring mattress with an open coil spring system may be better for you.