A Review Of IKEA’s Foam Mattresses

Being strapped for cash is no reason to be denied a sound sleep, and that’s the point IKEA sets out to prove with their foam lineup. With all its offerings priced under $600, this places IKEA’s foam lineup in the reach of frugal customers who want a temporary sleeping solution, or one to accommodate guests without breaking their wallets.

As is the case with budget products though, you’ll be treading on thin ice as far as durability and support is concerned. It’s better to have an idea of what you’re getting into beforehand, and manufacturer descriptions may not always explain everything cut and dry. Fortunately, you’ve got our informative IKEA foam mattress guide – backed by candid IKEA foam mattress reviews – to help you make an informed decision. Before we get into our buyer’s guide, we’ve put together a list of the best foam mattresses IKEA has to offer, so scroll down below to take a look at our picks!

Best IKEA Foam Mattresses

Features Of IKEA Foam Mattresses

Comfort Materials

– Polyurethane Foam

The cheaper products incorporate comfort layers made from polyurethane foam with densities ranging from 1.7 lb./cu.ft. (referred to as high density polyfoam in the market) to 2.2 lb./cu.ft. IKEA likes to call it high resilience foam, but I personally think it’s a compromise between price and resilience, since 2.5 lb./cu.ft. is the generally agreed upon minimum threshold for true high resilience.

– Memory Foam

IKEA uses 3.1 lb./cu.ft. memory foam layers in a couple of its foam options (these are the most expensive obviously). While this does provide marginally better pressure relief and personalized comfort for sufferers of back pain – don’t expect it to be on par with what high end 5 lb./cu.ft. memory foam mattress offer.

Again the low density of this memory foam means compromised durability, with slight body impressions likely to form in as little as a couple of months – especially if you’re closer to a BMI of 25 (which is perfectly normal).

Support Materials

Some of these mattresses lack a dedicated foam support layer, and quite unsurprisingly, they’re prone to sagging in a couple of years – even when used by those with a BMI under 20. The more expensive models have 1.7 lb./cu.ft. polyfoam support layers which slightly improve their durability. But again, I wouldn’t recommend them for those with a BMI of more than 25.

Durability

With lower quality foam materials, it’s recommended that the thickness of the comfort layer doesn’t exceed more than an inch to ensure long-lasting support (or as long-lasting as it can get, in this case). On the other hand, the thicknesses of IKEA’s comfort layers are all greater than 2”, which is another reason for their rapid degeneration, besides the low strength of the foam itself.

Firmness

These products are available in medium-firm and/or firm variants. If you’re OK with a slightly hard sleeping surface (usually back sleepers), then firm is the way to go. Medium firm mattresses will appeal better to side sleepers / back ache sufferers because of the greater degree of conformity they provide.

Budget

Perhaps the biggest attraction of IKEA’s foam mattresses (or indeed, their entire mattress lineup) is their low cost. The price range of the foam products goes from $90 to $600. Even at its most expensive, it’s a huge bargain compared to market prices from a financial perspective.

For someone on a tight budget who doesn’t want to sleep on an air mattress (keeping them topped off can become a chore after a while, speaking from experience), a proper mattress that doesn’t cost more than a few hundred dollars can be a godsend.

Warranty

This is another positive aspect of these foam mattresses – all of them, in spite of their paltry price tags, come with long-term 25 year limited warranties that cover defects in workmanship and materials. This implies that IKEA still has a reasonable degree of confidence in their craftsmanship, and that they’re at least following some quality assurance procedures. Furthermore, each mattress can be refunded over a period of one year.

All return, refund or warranty requests require the original receipt of purchase, as well as a valid photo ID to be processed. The mattress shouldn’t have been harmed in any way for the claim to be held valid. I suggest getting a mattress protector to ensure your warranty remains valid.

Potential Uses

For regular use by lightweight sleepers on a strict budget

With the explicit understanding that they’ll starting losing shape after a couple of years, you can use these mattresses for everyday sleep if you’ve got a BMI of under 25 (or under 20 for the really cheap ones). You may also use these mattresses for your kids’ bedrooms (ideally under 13) because of the lesser punishment their lower masses will exert.

For infrequent use by guest bedrooms or at a summer cabin

In my opinion, this is the ideal use for these mattresses. Using them for a week or two collectively each year at most, while allowing them to rest and recover their shape for the rest of the duration, will enable them to last you for five years or more (provided you keep them clean and well-maintained).

Tip:

Rotating the mattress may help extend its life by a few months, by allowing some of the sagged regions to regain their shape. Alternatively, you could try this homemade quick-fix to get the most use out of your cheap, sagging mattress.

Conclusion

Objectively speaking, none of IKEA’s mattresses are what most would normally consider long term solutions (and overweight individuals will do well to look elsewhere). Considering that they’re explicitly geared towards budget consumers (you’ll realize that if you read the manufacturer’s company overview), these products do offer a great deal of choice.

From the ultra-cheap Minnesund to the moderately priced Myrbacka, you’ve got an array of sizes, both firm and medium-firm feels, and comfort/support materials of different densities and types. There are plenty of options to find an affordable product that will ultimately meet your sleep preferences.

Additional Resources

• Types of Foam Mattresses
• Ikea Foam vs Spring Mattresses
• Foam vs Memory Foam