Mattress Glossary

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Adaptive Foam: A type of foam that responds to both pressure and temperature to contour to the body. Similar to memory foam but typically more responsive — it springs back faster when pressure is removed. Used by brands like Emma in their comfort layers.
Airgocell Foam: Emma's proprietary open-cell foam material. Designed to be more breathable than traditional memory foam while maintaining pressure relief. Used in Emma's top comfort layer.
All-Foam Mattress: A mattress made entirely from foam layers with no metal springs or coils. Types include memory foam, latex foam, and polyfoam. Generally excellent for motion isolation but can sleep warmer than hybrids.

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Base Layer: The bottom layer of a mattress, usually made from high-density polyfoam or springs. Provides the foundational support that prevents excessive sinking and maintains spinal alignment.
Body Impression: A permanent indentation in a mattress surface caused by regular use. Minor impressions (under 3cm) are normal. Impressions deeper than 3–4cm typically indicate material failure and may be covered under warranty.
Bonnell Coil: The oldest and most basic spring system — hourglass-shaped coils connected by a wire frame. Found in budget mattresses. Poor motion isolation compared to pocket springs, and creates pressure points more readily.
Bounce: How quickly a mattress returns to its original shape after pressure is applied. Memory foam has low bounce (slow recovery). Latex and hybrid mattresses have high bounce (fast recovery). Combination sleepers generally prefer more bounce.

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CertiPUR-US®: A certification program for polyurethane foam that verifies the foam is free from harmful chemicals including ozone depleters, heavy metals, formaldehyde, and phthalates. Most reputable Australian mattress brands carry this certification. Look for it when buying foam mattresses, especially for children.
Coil Count: The number of individual springs in a mattress. Higher coil count generally indicates better contouring and motion isolation, particularly in pocket spring mattresses. A queen mattress with 1,000+ individually pocketed coils is considered high quality.
Coil Gauge: The thickness of the wire used in mattress springs. Lower gauge = thicker wire = firmer spring. A gauge of 14 is firmer than gauge 16. Thicker gauge coils are more durable and better suited to heavier sleepers.
Comfort Layer: The top layers of a mattress that you sleep directly on, as distinct from the support core. Usually made from memory foam, latex, or softer polyfoam. Responsible for pressure relief and initial feel.

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Edge Support: How well a mattress supports a person sitting or sleeping near the edge without the edge collapsing. Important for couples who use the full width of the bed, and for getting in and out of bed. Hybrid mattresses typically have stronger edge support than all-foam options.
Ecofoam: Ecosa's proprietary foam material used in their adjustable mattress layers. Marketed as more environmentally friendly than standard polyfoam, using plant-based materials.

F

Firmness Scale: Most mattresses are described on a 1–10 scale where 1 is extremely soft and 10 is extremely firm. Medium (5–6) suits the majority of sleepers. Most in-a-box brands in Australia offer their mattresses in the 5–7 range.
Foam Density: Measured in kg/m³, foam density indicates durability and quality. Higher density foam is more durable and supportive. For comfort layers, look for 50+ kg/m³. For support cores, 30+ kg/m³ is acceptable.

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Gel-Infused Foam: Memory foam with gel particles or a gel layer added to help draw heat away from the body. An improvement over standard memory foam for hot sleepers, though hybrids still outperform gel foam for temperature regulation.

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Hybrid Mattress: A mattress that combines a pocket spring support system with foam or latex comfort layers on top. Offers the breathability and bounce of springs with the pressure relief of foam. Generally more expensive than all-foam but better suited to Australian summers.

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Innerspring Mattress: A mattress where the primary support comes from a metal coil system. Traditional innerspring mattresses use interconnected coils (Bonnell or offset). Modern versions use individually pocketed springs. Innerspring mattresses are generally more breathable than foam.

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King Size: In Australia, a king mattress measures 183cm × 203cm — 30cm wider than a queen. Note this differs from a US King (193cm wide). Australian king size is the same width as a US California King.
Kloudcell Foam: Koala's proprietary open-cell foam material, designed to be more breathable than traditional memory foam. Used in Koala's Original and Soul Mate mattresses as the primary comfort layer. Koala markets it as sleeping significantly cooler than standard memory foam.

L

Latex: A natural or synthetic rubber material used in mattress comfort and support layers. Natural latex (from rubber trees) is durable, breathable, naturally antimicrobial, and hypoallergenic. More expensive than polyfoam but typically lasts longer. Synthetic latex mimics the feel at a lower cost.
Lumbar Support: Support specifically targeted at the lower back (lumbar) region. A mattress with good lumbar support maintains the natural inward curve of the lower spine in back sleepers, preventing lower back pain.

M

Memory Foam: Also called viscoelastic foam. A temperature-sensitive foam that responds to body heat and pressure by contouring to the sleeper's shape. Excellent for pressure relief and motion isolation. Tends to sleep warmer than other foam types unless open-cell or gel technology is used.
Motion Isolation: A mattress's ability to absorb movement and prevent it from transferring across the sleep surface. Critical for couples where one partner is restless. Memory foam excels at motion isolation; pocket spring hybrids are significantly better than traditional innerspring.

O

Off-Gassing: The release of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from new foam mattresses when first unboxed. Produces a mild chemical smell that typically dissipates within 24–72 hours with adequate ventilation. CertiPUR-US certified foam has passed safety testing for harmful VOC levels.
OEKO-TEX®: A certification standard for textile products (covers, fabrics) that verifies they are free from harmful substances. Relevant for mattress covers and bedding. More common on European brands like Emma.
Open-Cell Foam: Foam with a porous cell structure that allows air to move through it, improving breathability and reducing heat retention. The opposite of closed-cell foam. Most premium foam mattresses now use open-cell technology to address the heat problem associated with traditional memory foam.

P

Pillow Top: An additional layer of soft padding sewn on top of a mattress, creating a visible "pillow" on the surface. Adds softness and pressure relief. Common in traditional retail mattresses; less common in mattress-in-a-box brands.
Pocket Spring: An individually wrapped coil spring, where each spring moves independently in its own fabric pocket. Provides better motion isolation and contouring than interconnected coil systems. The spring type used in premium hybrid mattresses including Sleeping Duck Mach II.
Polyfoam (Polyurethane Foam): The most common type of foam used in mattresses. Ranges from low-density (cheap, less durable) to high-density (durable, supportive). Used in support cores and transition layers. Not as conforming as memory foam.
Pressure Relief: A mattress's ability to reduce pressure at common contact points — hips, shoulders, and lower back. Important for side sleepers and those with joint pain. Memory foam and latex offer the best pressure relief.

Q

Queen Size: Australia's most popular mattress size at 153cm × 203cm. Suits most couples and single adults who want space. Nearly identical to a US Queen (152cm × 203cm). The default size referenced when Australian brands list their prices.

S

Single Size: Standard Australian single mattress: 92cm × 188cm. Suitable for children and single adults in smaller rooms. King single (107cm × 203cm) is a more practical choice for growing children.
Spinal Alignment: The maintenance of the spine's natural curves during sleep. A mattress provides good spinal alignment when it keeps the spine in a neutral position — not bowing upward (too firm) or sagging downward (too soft) relative to the body's natural curves.
Support Core: The internal structure of a mattress that provides foundational support — either a spring system (in innerspring and hybrid mattresses) or high-density foam (in all-foam mattresses). Different from the comfort layers above it.

T

Trial Period: The period during which you can return a new mattress for a full refund if unsatisfied. Australian brands typically offer 100–120 nights. The trial is risk-free — brands collect the mattress for free. Most reputable brands donate returned mattresses to charity.
Transition Layer: A foam layer between the soft comfort layer and the firm support core. Prevents the sleeper from feeling the harder support layer directly and helps the mattress conform to body shape more gradually.

V

Viscoelastic Foam: The technical name for memory foam. "Visco" refers to viscosity (flow under pressure) and "elastic" refers to the material's ability to return to its original shape. The foam responds to both heat and pressure.
VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds): Chemicals that off-gas from new foam mattresses as gases at room temperature. Most dissipate quickly. CertiPUR-US certification verifies that foam meets safety standards for VOC emissions.

W

Warranty: A manufacturer's guarantee covering defects in materials or workmanship. Standard for quality Australian mattresses is 10 years. Ecosa offers 15 years. Warranties typically cover body impressions beyond a certain depth (usually 3–4cm) and material defects but not normal wear.
Zoned Support: A mattress designed with different firmness or support levels in different areas — typically softer under shoulders and firmer under hips and lumbar. Provides targeted support for different body zones. Emma uses zoned foam construction in their mattresses.

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