Mattress shopping in Singapore: The complete guide for first-time buyers

 Most people don’t give much thought to the costs involved in buying a mattress in Singapore. After all, how often do we actually need to buy new ones? Not very often at all, but for 20-somethings who are preparing for their new homes, a mattress is actually a pretty big-ticket purchase that many people forget to budget for.

Take me as an example: I used to think that mattresses were a $100 affair but boy, was I in for a rude awakening. Those branded mattresses I saw at mega stores actually go for 10 to 20 times that price, all with the promise of a good night’s rest.

Which begs the question: How much do mattresses in Singapore cost and where can you get the best deals for them?

1. Should you buy a cheap mattress?

Well, let’s just say that when it comes to mattresses…you usually get what you pay for.

Non-branded mattresses that you typically find at neighbourhood stores, cheap online marketplaces (like Qoo10) and Ikea, can cost under $500.

However, these tend to provide inferior comfort and wear out faster than their branded counterparts. They’re mostly standard innerspring types (read more about that below) and while they may feel adequately comfy upon purchase, many of these lose their springy-ness in a matter of months. When they begin to lose support, they’ll start to give you aches and pains.

That’s not to say all affordable mattresses are bad. If you have a tight budget and simply can’t afford a premium mattress, then the next best thing you can do is to read whatever reviews you can find online for some indication of its quality and lifespan. If you can find one with a decent warranty period, even better.

Now, if you value comfort above all (and can squeeze out some budget for it) then it goes without saying that in general, quality branded mattresses are more comfortable, and give you more bang for your buck.

Well known international mattress brands include Simmons, Dunlopillo, and Sealy, and these typically come with a heftier price tag because of the research and (usually patented) technology that goes into developing these mattresses.

These mattresses are made with superior materials that translate to improved comfort and durability and thus, a longer lifespan. A good mattress should last you seven to 10 years, whereas if you get an inferior one, you may need to swap it out as often as every one to two years.

2. What's a "bed in a box"?

In the recent years, there’s been a rise in the "bed in a box" trend. The term comes from an American brand (literally BedInABox®), and it’s basically just online mattress shopping — you’ll receive your bed in a box, get it?

While the US site doesn’t ship to Singapore shores, there are local online mattress brands too:

• Haylee
• Noa Sleep 
• HipVan
• Baton 
• Sonno 
• Woosa

Unlike most of the other similarly priced beds, Haylee and Noa’s mattresses actually boast premium materials like memory foam and latex layers.

And because you can’t jump on the beds before swiping your card, these online stores offer a 100-day return guarantee, which is pretty neat in my opinion.

3. Types of mattresses

Next, you need to decide what "comfort" is to you. Do you like it springy with extra "bounce"? Or do you like it super soft so it feels like you're sinking in a sea of sheets? Each mattress type provides varying levels of support and softness, which make for a unique sleeping experience. So in this sense, there isn't a single "best" type of mattress to buy.

Here's a summary of some different types of mattresses and their relative price points.

Standard innerspring mattresses

The most common type of mattress is the standard innerspring. These are the traditional coil-types which use metals springs that are connected throughout the mattress. The springs give it the bouncy feel, but also the squeaky noise you hear when the mattress starts to wear out.

The standard innerspring mattress is the cheapest and most widely available option. It’s popular because not only is it affordable, but it comes in a variety of firmness levels. However, it is not suitable for those with arthritic problems. Innerspring mattresses lack support, and are generally inferior when it comes to pressure relief and weight distribution.

Couples should also avoid this type of mattress. Because the coils are all linked, the motion transfer is very high. This means that if you’re bunking with a fidgety sleeper, you’ll feel every movement they make.  

You hardly find these at mattress specialty stores anymore, simply because of how outdated this technology is. These are usually the cheap, brandless ones.

Pocketed coil innerspring mattresses

The pocketed coil innerspring is a bit like the new and improved cousin of the standard innerspring, and is the kind of innerspring technology that most specialty mattress brands use now.

It also works on a spring system (so it's got the same bouncy feeling) but the coils are grouped into fabric "pockets" to minimise motion transfer and improve support. Since they're not linked, when the springs under your partner moves, those you're sleeping on won't. This is the most expensive kind of innerspring mattress, but it provides a better sleep experience than the standard one.

It's relatively affordable, and probably one of the more value-for-money options. If you want to get a branded mattress, the pocketed coil innerspring models are likely to be the cheapest. These will give you a comfortable night's sleep, but nothing more.

Memory foam mattresses

If you're not the kind who likes "springy" beds, you probably prefer the "sinking" sensation. Memory foam is a premium mattress material that was made popular in recent years. 

In terms of comfort, memory foam is one of the top runners. Like a pillow that actually hugs back, memory foam conforms to your body, explaining the sinking-in-your-sheets feeling. It's also great for your joint health; it provides superior pressure point relief and evenly distributes your weight. Like the pocketed coil innerspring, it has minimal motion transfer.

A thing to note: Although resistant to mould, mildew and dust mites, memory foam is also typically made with harsh chemicals like formaldehyde, benzene and toulene, which can cause reactions in hypersensitive allergy sufferers.

Memory foam is expensive and tends to retain heat. That's unfortunate news for us because of Singapore's hot and humid nights. If you tend to get warm when sleeping, this is something to consider. The branded memory foam mattresses may incorporate a cooling layer (or similar technology), but those that do will cost more than the already expensive memory foam ones. 

Most specialty mattress brands will carry memory foam options, with it being a component in their top-of-range products.

Latex mattresses

Latex is an eco-friendly alternative to memory foam. That said, few mattress brands in Singapore sell 100 per cent latex mattresses. Instead, they sell hybrids that offer a natural latex top layer with a synthetic base.

Latex provides a type of body-contouring comfort similar to memory, but is usually firmer and less soft. As such, there's a general consensus that latex is slightly less comfortable than memory foam. Although it provides decent support, it loses to memory foam in terms of pressure point relief and weight distribution.

It does, however, boast almost zero motion transfer and retains very little heat, making it the best choice for couples who want to keep cool at night. Latex is also almost hypoallergenic, and is naturally resistant to dust mites, mould, and mildew without the harsh chemicals of memory foam.

Latex mattresses are available at selected specialty stores, and as mentioned above, usually in hybrid mattresses only. Latex is the most expensive mattress material, and although obviously a premium choice, is not as value-for-money as memory foam.

Hybrid mattresses

The above are the four most common mattress material types, and from them, hybrids are made for even more customised comfort. They feature multiple layers with different layers for those who have unique needs and preferences.

Common hybrids include memory foam-innerspring, and latex-innerspring. This is to cater to those who like the bounciness of the springs, but want it to be soft to touch and have an added element of body-contouring that's hard for coil mattresses to replicate. Sometimes, the top layer (between your body and the base innerspring) is called the upholstery.

Hybrids are trendy options for those who want the best of both worlds. The price range depends on what it is a mix of, but it hardly comes cheap.

Pillowtop mattresses

A pillowtop mattress is simply any mattress type with an extra foam pillow layer on top. It’s puffy and soft, and is purely for comfort. Like the hybrid, the price depends on the base mattress material, but is usually paired with the affordably innerspring types.

4. Universal mattress sizes & dimensions

You probably already know what size you're interested in, but for convenience, here's a table with the exact dimensions. Keep a copy of this information handy when you go furniture shopping. Although these are the most commonly used sizes, some stores carry bed frames that follow the European dimensions, which are different.

Size	Dimensions	Suitable for
Single	190cm x 91cm	1 child or 1 petite adult
Super Single	190cm x 107cm	1 adult
Queen	190cm x 152cm	2 adults
King	190cm x 182cm	2 adults or 2 adults + 1 child

5. How much do branded mattresses cost in Singapore?

If you’re ready to invest in a premium mattress, here are the most popular brands, and what products they carry.

Ikea mattresses in Singapore

A noteworthy exception to the cheap and non-specialty brand mattress rule is Ikea. Although not a mattress brand with complicated technology, Ikea's super affordable latex and memory foam mattresses seem to have very good reviews from its users.

Ikea offers spring, memory foam and latex "mattresses" (somewhere in between mattress topper and mattress in thickness) from $99 to over $1,000. If nothing sounds right, they even have a Sleep Configurator tool you can use to customise a mattress to your needs.

If you are looking to "stack" mattresses, it adds up to around $1,500 to $2,000, but technically you can use just the foam mattresses on its own too. With new players like Haylee and Noa in the market, it's not worth it to buy a whole set at that price anyway. 

Sea Horse mattresses in Singapore

Sea Horse is a Hong Kong mattress maker that's gained immense popularity in Singapore. It's one of the top-selling brands here. Not only are the mattresses of good quality, but they are very affordable at under $2,000 for a king-size foam mattress.

As icing on the cake, Sea Horse is known for having frequent 50 per cent sales at their shops.

Sea Horse is one of the few brands to carry a full latex mattress (SEA-ALL Mattress). It is the most expensive in the Sea Horse range, with the memory foam Diamond Mattress coming in second. Their low-end non-memory foam Crystal Mattress models cost under $200 (single) and $400 (queen).

You can get Sea Horse mattresses on online marketplaces like Lazada or Shopee too, but they don’t carry the full range.

King Koil mattresses in Singapore

If its name wasn't a big enough hint, King Koil specialises in pocketed coil innerspring mattresses. The unique part about King Koil's coil system is that they distribute the pocketed coils according to where needs more support. At the centre third of the bed is where our spines usually rest is where there are the most coils to support the weight. The base layers are all innerspring with other top layers.

Prices start at around $400 for their King Koil Luxura Classic Mattress (single), and can go up to almost $7,000 for their King Koil Royal Comfort The Monarch II Mattress (single). You can get King Koil mattress at King Koil stores and many authorised on- and offline retailers. 

Haylee mattresses in Singapore

The Haylee mattress ($899, queen) is hands down the cheapest (yet kind of atas) mattress in the market. It comes with a standard foam base, but features a main memory foam layer that’s topped with an aerated foam upper and a bamboo fabric cover.

The cheap price tag comes with a 100-day trial, as well as a 10-year warranty.

It’s also quite shiok that Haylee works with Lalamove for super fast islandwide courier. Delivery can be as quick as two hours from your time of order.

Noa mattresses in Singapore

Haylee’s main competitor is Noa, which has pretty much the same concept of sending out beds in boxes. The Noa mattress, however, is a tad more expensive ($999, queen).

The $100 price difference is accounted for though. The Noa mattress has a slightly fancier makeup — on top of memory foam sits a latex layer. As mentioned above, latex is among the priciest of materials. While memory foam retains heat, latex is great for keeping cool in Singapore’s godforsaken weather.

Noa’s also has a pocket spring base that Haylee’s doesn’t. The trial period is 100 days as well, but the warranty is for 15 years.

Vono mattresses in Singapore

Vono hails from the UK, and is a relatively affordable mattress brand. It’s distributed in Singapore by Hilding Anders Asia Pacific Ltd, which also owns the Slumberland brand we’ll discuss below.

Vono focuses on backcare, so those looking for an affordable mattress with healthy support can consider this.

There’s the ErgoBed range, which has seven zones of pocketed coils for improved support and a latex top layer. This range was developed with the help of ergonomists from the AEH (Centre for Ergonomics in Switzerland), especially for spinal care. Prices start from $1,000+ for a single Ergobed Supreme and  go up to just shy of $2,000 for a King-sized Ergobed 1200 Max. For the technology, these prices are relatively affordable.

Leesa mattresses in Singapore

Leesa is one of the first brands to start the “bed in a box” trend, shipping mattresses to online shoppers. It focuses on memory foam mattresses, with three models: The Leesa Mattress (full memory foam), the Leesa Hybrid (memory foam-innerspring hybrid), and the Leesa Legend Mattress (foam and dual pocket spring system).

The online reviews are impressive, but the American brand does not ship to Singapore. If you’re lucky, you may find retailers on Amazon that deliver to our shores, but expect limited range and stock.

Price wise, we’re looking at around $1,300 for a Queen-sized Original Mattress — their bestseller and one of the more affordable mattresses they sell.

MaxCoil mattresses in Singapore

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Also using a pocketed coil innerspring system for its mattresses’ support core, MaxCoil offers memory foam and latex hybrids too.

MaxCoil mattresses cost from under $1,000 to over $6,000 for the most expensive king-size model. It is sold at authorised furniture shops, including the megastore Courts.

On the Courts e-store, you’ll find exclusive online discounts of up to almost 70 per cent. A good hack is to head down to the stores to test the mattresses, before heading back home to purchase it online.

Tempur mattresses in Singapore

With a tagline like “Born from Space”, it’s quite obvious that Tempur’s star products are memory foam mattresses. (If you didn’t know, memory foam originated from Nasa, who developed it for space use.) Tempur claims to be the only brand that’s Nasa-approved, so if you are a big fan of memory foam, this is probably as close to the astronaut version you’ll get.

Tempur mattresses come in six main ranges: Ease, One, Prima, Pro, Pro Air, and Pro CoolQuilt. We’ve arranged these in order of increasing price — a Tempur Ease mattress starts from $3,000, while a Tempur Pro CoolQuilt starts from almost $15,000. Of course, they also differ in firmness, support, and how cooling and breathable it is (you guessed it — the most expensive is also the most breathable).

Purchase your Tempur mattress directly from the Tempur website orTempur retailers in Singapore.

Slumberland mattresses in Singapore

Slumberland carries a wide variety of mattresses. The LivinGreen range is mostly latex and latex-memory foam hybrid mattress. The TempSmart range is basically their memory foam series. This UK brand is very reputable, and even supply their beds to international hotels. So if you’re a sucker for hotel beds, you may just find your dream mattress here.

You can get Slumberland mattresses at any Slumberland gallery. Retail prices are well below $10,000 for a king-size bed, but go on sale quite often too.

Sealy mattresses in Singapore

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Sealy is known for its Posturepedic range, which is designed to help alleviate symptoms of back aches and pains. The brand uses its own PostureTech Coils (innerspring), which are designed to be extra durable and bounce back into shape quickly.

The mattresses are expensive and in the same price range as Simmons, going as high at $10,000+ for a king-size premium model.

However, from the online reviews, the mattresses seem to wear out relatively quickly (most users say under five years). Users have also shared that they have trouble with the customer service team, so bear that in mind. At the very least, Sealy mattresses come with a 10-year warranty.

Available at Sealy stores and furniture megastores.

Simmons mattresses in Singapore

 

 

 

 

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American brand Simmons' key technology is known as BeautyRest, which is their pocketed coil system. Most of their mattresses feature these as the base material, whether with or without a foam, latex, or pillow top.

The memory foam options are the brand’s own AirCool and AirFeel foams that dissipate heat and keep things cool. They also feature the GelTouch foam technology, which distributes the weight evenly.

Simmons mattresses are very pricey, ranging from about $2,000 for a single to over $10,000 for a king. You can purchase it from the official Simmons website, or at any of the stores and authorised retailers.  

Dunlopillo mattresses in Singapore

A leader in latex mattresses, Dunlopillo's signature range is the LatexWorld. There are two models, the Eco and Pure, both of which are fully latex (without innerspring base). The Eco has better body contouring, while the Pure is firmer.

A LatexWorld Pure king-size mattress will set you back almost $10,000 at retail price, but because it’s so expensive it also gets bigger discounts. You can find the cheaper single beds at $300+, although these don’t come with as fancy tech as their signature lines.

6. How to extend your mattress' lifespan - accessories & care tips

Caring for your mattress is important. Not only does it provide you better comfort, it also saves you a lot of money. Here is a quick list of the do’s and don’ts.

Do:

• Rotate your mattress regularly
• Use a mattress protector
• Air it regularly
• Get a professional mattress cleaner every six months to deep clean your mattresses & sofas

Don’t:

• Sit on the edge of the bed
• Jump on the bed
• Use the straps on the side of the mattress to carry it

Rotating your mattress allows it to wear out evenly, extending its lifespan. Also, never use the straps on the side of the mattress to carry the whole thing. They're meant for adjustments only. Using them to bear the full weight of your mattress will damage them. Always carry your mattress from the bottom, and if it's too heavy, get help from another person.

If your mattress is not of an allergen-resistant material like latex or memory foam, get a waterproof mattress protector to protect your mattress. This way, your mattress is safe from liquid spills and nasty bugs, and all for under $100. If you're not fussy about brands, you can even get them at under $50 from online stores like RedMart, and Lazada.

For those who only have the budget for innerspring mattresses, you can consider getting a mattress topper. Mattress toppers are add-on layers and are generally cheap to buy. They're versatile in that they come in many materials.

For instance, if a memory foam-innerspring hybrid is out of the question, you can get a brand-less memory topper and strap it on your innerspring mattress. Of course, it won't feel as good as the real deal, but it's a lot cheaper too.

7. Should you buy mattresses online or offline?

As mentioned above, you can get mattresses from the brand stores, furniture megastores, and online marketplaces. The brand (and specialty) stores are typically the most expensive, as they sell at retail price.

However, it’s always a good idea to check the shops out to get a good feel of the mattresses you’re considering. The last thing you want is to get a good online discount, but realise you hate the feel of the mattress when it reaches your doorstep.

Once you’ve tested your options, it’s time to hunt for it online. You can find it at either the brand’s official website, or third party retailers. This could be furniture sites like FurnitureSG and FortyTwo.SG, e-stores of local furniture megastores like Courts and Harvey Norman, and even marketplaces like Lazada.  

Wait! Before you order your mattress, use the right credit card to maximise your savings. Here are some recommended credit cards for online purchases:

But before you hit "checkout", make sure you’re not missing out on bedding fairs. There are furniture sales at Singapore Expo almost every other month, so if you can, check those out for good deals too. Prices are usually the lowest at these clearance sales. You might also want to hold out for double-digit sales days like 11.11 and 12.12 for the best deals.

ALSO READ: The best things to do in Singapore this week: Nov 14 to 19

This article was first published in MoneySmart.