800 vs 1000 vs 2000 pocket springs

The numbers tell you how many springs are advertised, not which mattress will feel or perform best. Pocket springs sit in separate fabric pockets and respond independently to pressure.

A typical pocketed-coil support core has 800 to 1,200 springs, so both 800 and 1,000 fall within that range. Counts can vary across mattresses, and a total can include springs in more than one layer. Tests found wide variation in performance across mattresses with different spring densities.

A 1,000- or 2,000-spring label alone doesn't tell you what advantage that mattress has over another. Look at the complete build and try the mattress instead of treating a count as a quality grade. For more on the number itself, see Does coil count matter in a mattress?

They can. Some mattresses have several spring layers or small springs inside larger ones, which increases the total. Small coils are often used in comfort layers rather than the main support core.

Some advertised totals of 5,000 or more combine a main spring unit with a layer of tiny mini springs. A stated count may even include springs in the bed base.

Ask the seller what the total includes. Check for main support springs, mini-spring layers, springs inside other springs and springs in the base. Also ask how many springs are in the main support layer so you can compare it separately.

Size can change the count. A larger mattress may have more springs because it has more space. Compare models in the same size. Ask which size the advertised count describes.

For example, The Pocket Spring Store lists these counts for its QuadCoil 8-inch unit; they may change with machine adjustments.

Don't assume every model follows that pattern. REM-Fit says every UK size of its Pocket 1000 has the same 1,000 full-height pocket spring construction. DUSK specifies 2,000 springs for the king-size version of one hybrid, so check the count for the size you want.

One UK size guide suggests the ranges below, not a rule for every mattress. Counts can vary by mattress type, brand and model.

For more on choosing a count, see How many coils should a mattress have?

Not necessarily. Tests of pocket-sprung mattresses found that more springs did not mean better support.

Spring density means the number of springs in a given area. Consider it alongside spring diameter and wire gauge. Metal quality and whether the metal is tempered affect how firm and supportive coils feel. Spring height, shape and number of turns matter too. A well-made 1,000-spring mattress can suit you better than a 2,000-spring mattress with a less suitable build.

More springs do not necessarily mean a firmer mattress. The turns in each spring, wire gauge and spring pre-tension, meaning how tightly the spring is held in its pocket, also affect firmness.

Wire gauge describes thickness. A lower-gauge coil has thicker wire and is firmer. A higher-gauge coil is more flexible. The firmness you feel also depends on you: a mattress tends to feel firmer to someone under 130 pounds and softer to someone over 230 pounds.

Comfort layers change how the surface feels. Softer, close-fitting layers cushion the body, while firmer layers limit sinking; their material, firmness and thickness all matter.

Common materials include:

• Memory foam: It fits closely around the body and can feel like a hug.
• Adaptive polyfoam: It also fits around the body, but less closely than memory foam, and responds more quickly.
• Latex: It responds readily, fits gently around the body and does not sink much.

Springs and comfort layers work together, so two mattresses with the same count can still feel different. Coils can make a mattress feel springy, especially when the comfort and transition layers are thin. A transition layer sits between the comfort layers and the support core; some mattresses use small coils there.

Compare the whole construction, not just the advertised total. Ask for a specification sheet and check these details:

• Spring design: Look for wire gauge, spring diameter, height, shape and turns, as well as the number of springs in the main support layer.
• Spring tension: Ask about tension or pre-tension, which affects firmness along with other construction details.
• Layer materials: Check the comfort materials, their thickness and where any smaller spring layers sit.
• Size and count: Check the size behind the advertised number and whether it combines separate spring layers.

The support core and comfort layers work together. A well-made 1,000-spring mattress can suit you better than a 2,000-spring model with a less suitable build.

A higher count alone is not a reliable sign of longer life. Spring-wire quality matters too. So do how the fillings are made and held in place, and whether the mattress and base are designed to work together.

A well-made pocket-sprung mattress typically lasts eight to ten years, and may last longer. That assumes you care for it and rotate it regularly. This is a guide, not a promise for a particular spring count.

Sagging can come from unevenly compressed fillings, springs that lose tension or a compromised base. In tests of pocket-sprung mattresses, some layers compressed as they aged. This reduced mattress height and, in some cases, affected support. Check the base as well if your mattress begins to sag.

Choose the mattress, not the count. An 800, 1,000 or 2,000 label alone does not establish which mattress will support you best.

1. Compare the same size and ask what each advertised count includes.
2. Consider your weight and sleep position when choosing firmness, rather than assigning yourself a spring count.
3. Try the mattress if possible. Adjustment generally takes about a month, so don't judge it solely from one night.
4. Read the trial and return terms before buying. Check for required break-in periods, return arrangements and possible fees.

Not for the extra springs alone. A high count does not automatically make a mattress better. A well-made 1,000-spring mattress can suit you better than a 2,000-spring model with a less suitable build.

Compare mattresses in the same size, including their support and comfort layers, how they feel to you, their prices and any return fees. For long-term value, check the spring wire and fillings. Also check whether your base is compatible. The count alone won't tell you how long the mattress will last.

Do more springs improve pressure relief?

A higher count alone doesn't tell you how well a mattress will cushion pressure. Pocket springs respond independently to pressure, while softer, close-fitting comfort layers cushion the body and redistribute pressure.

We read 17 published pages from 12 sites (which.co.uk, jysk.co.uk, Sleep Foundation, betterbeds.co.uk and 8 more), checked in October 2026. Every sentence in the answers above cites one of them; the offer card at the end names its own source. This page reports published sources only; we did not test mattresses in person.