Nectar Memory Foam Mattress review 2024

Editor's note

• Original review date: April 2022
• Updated with new cover
• Launch price (double): £449
• Official price now: £600

Updated: March 2024. It's nearly two years since we originally reviewed the Nectar Memory Foam mattress, and not a lot has changed since then. It looks different now to when we reviewed it, thanks to a refreshed cover design, but internally Nectar has observed the old adage: if it ain't broke, don't fix it. The big difference today is your chance of getting a discount; Nectar no longer runs constant price reductions and you may well see this mattress on sale at full price. Take our word for it, though: wait a bit and you'll soon be able to get 20% off.

Ruth Hamilton

Nectar Memory Foam Mattress: two-minute review

Note: Nectar sells in both the UK and the US. This guide focuses on the Nectar Memory Foam UK mattress – for the US review, toggle the flag drop-down menu in the main navigation bar. 

The Nectar Memory Foam Mattress is the entry-level option from the leading sleep specialist, designed to deliver comfort, support, pressure relief, motion isolation and temperature regulation at a very reasonable price.

It's 25cm deep with three foam layers, and it's also certified as climate-neutral. And if you check our best mattress, best memory foam mattress and best mattress for side sleepers guides, you'll find it sits highly in the rankings, thanks to its combination of support, comfort and value for money.

A 365-night trial period means that if you feel the Nectar Mattress isn't right for your sleep, you can return it at any time within a year; that's a definite bonus considering that when you buy online, you don't get to try the mattress out yourself, and have to depend on the brand's product information and reviews such as this one.

The Nectar Mattress is also competitive in terms of price, with an RRP of £475 for a single and £600 for a double, and there are regular Nectar mattress sale offers to reduce that price by 20%.

Beyond that, there aren’t many ways in which the Nectar Memory Foam stands out from its competitors. The medium firm feel is very common in the mattress in a box sector, and you can’t customise it. Nectar Sleep rates the firmness as a 6.5 out of 10 on the firmness scale, which we’d agree with for average to heavier weight bodies, but for lighter bodies it feels more like a 7 out of 10.

The Nectar's quilted top layer and pressure-relieving memory foam combine to create a ‘cradling’ sensation, and while this offers some minor sink-in cosiness, you won’t feel as though you’re disappearing into the bed here. This also helps to keep your spine aligned during sleep, depending on the body weight. A dynamic support layer adds a little bounce and breathability too, with a sturdy foam base providing a good foundation for back and side sleepers in particular.

Based on my review experience, the Nectar Memory Foam should suit you if you are of an average to slightly heavier body weight and enjoy a firmer mattress with a little push-back and contouring. If you prefer a softer feel and of a lighter weight, I’d recommend the Emma Original instead. As I explain in my Emma Mattress review, this all-foam bed-in-a-box is comfortable for all body types and sleep positions except for heavier bodies.

There’s minimal motion transfer with the Nectar Mattress too, which is good news for couples sharing a bed, but during testing I found the edge support to be weak, especially when I compared that to the Simba Hybrid Pro; the Simba is a more expensive model, though. For more on that model, read TechRadar's Simba Hybrid Pro mattress review.

Nectar Mattress review: design & materials

• Three-layer memory foam mattress
• Quilted cover draws away excess heat
• Breathable foam to boost airflow

The Nectar Memory Foam mattress features three layers of CertiPUR-certified foam. There’s open-cell foam for better breathability, premium memory foam for body support, and seven-zone support foam for spinal alignment and to reduce motion transfer. 

On top is a quilted cooling cover designed to draw heat away from the body, while also adding a nice touch of cosiness. I found this worked to an extent, but I wouldn’t call Nectar a proper cooling mattress. It does however maintain a neutral temperature for sleeping, and even the hot sleepers who tested this mattress slept more deeply on it with less kicking off of the covers. Finally, a firmer base layer provides a steady foundation to the mattress and keeps it in place on the bed frame too.

Like many other manufacturers, Nectar Sleep uses toxin-free materials for its Memory Foam mattress, meaning this bed is free from heavy metals, harmful dyes and ozone-depleting chemicals. It also packages the Nectar in recyclable cardboard, although the mattress itself is vacuum-sealed in a lot of tough plastic with an additional plastic wrap. 

Nectar Sleep states that the manufacturing process of the Nectar Memory Foam is 100% carbon neutral right up until it arrives at your home, but I'm not a fan of all that plastic.

• Design score: 4 out of 5

Nectar Mattress review: price & value for money

• The most affordable Nectar mattress
• Regularly discounted by 20%
• Well priced though not the cheapest among its rivals

With an RRP of £475 for a single and £600 for a double size, the Nectar Memory Foam is currently the brand’s most affordable mattress (don't pay too much attention to the RRP and discounts; you'll generally pay a very good price for it). That’s compared to the Nectar Hybrid, with an RRP of £750 for a double size, and the Nectar Premier, with an RRP of £875 for a double. It's sometimes bundled with free bedding too, including the brand's best pillows for comfier sleep.

Here's the official pricing for the Nectar Memory Foam mattress:

• Single: £475
• Small double: £600
• Double: £600
• King: £650
• Super king: £725

Within the context of the Nectar range, the Nectar Mattress is the most basic option. You could also look at the Nectar Essential Hybrid Mattress (usually available at the same price as the Nectar Mattress) for more responsive support thanks to its additional layer of springs, or for a more advanced foam option there's the Nectar Premier Mattress, which is 28cm deep with improved support and better temperature regulation.

Also in the range (and moving up in price) is the Nectar Hybrid Mattress, with a micro pocket spring layer for enhanced breathability and motion isolation, and topping out the selection is the Nectar Premier Hybrid Mattress, which features two spring layers and promises an optimum sleep experience. 

When compared to the Emma Original mattress, also constructed with a triple-layer of foam, the Nectar Memory Foam mattress is more expensive – the Emma Original RRP is £100 cheaper at £499, though it’s often discounted by 20% at Emma Sleep. 

Depending on the Nectar mattress deal running at the time, you can often get a double size Nectar Memory Foam for £480 (or if you really want, you can haggle with an AI chatbot for a discount). In comparison, a double size Emma Original is often reduced to £399.20 at Emma Sleep, which is a fantastic price for such a comfortable memory foam mattress.

The biggest differences between these two brands come in the trial period and guarantee. The Nectar Mattress comes on a 365-night trial and has a Lifetime Warranty, while the Emma Original comes on a 200-night trial and has a 10-year guarantee. So the longer term value lies with the Nectar. Both manufacturers offer free delivery: Emma delivers within two to five working days, while Nectar delivers within three to five working days.

Simba is the other biggest rival to the Nectar Mattress, with its Simbatex Foam Mattress being the closest in price at £629. The Simbatex has the same trial period and guarantee length as the Emma, the same medium-firm rating, and is also 25cm tall like the Nectar and Emma.

• Value score: 4.5 out of 5

Nectar Mattress: comfort & support

• A medium-firm mattress (6.5 out of 10)
• Most comfortable for back and combi sleepers
• Quilted top layer provides an extra hit of cushioning 

The soft quilted cover on the Nectar Memory Foam feels plush and I enjoyed sleeping on it, but don’t be deceived by the initial hit of softness – the Nectar is firm enough to offer stability for back sleepers and most average to heavier body weights, except for much heavier bodies. The lighter weight sleepers on my testing panel who preferred side sleeping struggled on the Nectar Mattress, and felt there wasn’t enough cushioning to reduce pressure on the hips, shoulders and knees.

The rest of my testing panel rated the Nectar Memory Foam for firmness, although I, as a combination sleeper, found it most comfortable while sleeping on my back, while stomach sleeping was fairly uncomfortable. 

After a few nights, side sleeping caused a slight ache at the hips in particular, but placing a cushion beneath my body evened this out – you shouldn’t have to do this though, which is why I don’t recommend the Nectar Mattress for lighter weight side sleepers. My average weight testers didn’t have any issues with aches and pains, even when sleeping on their sides.

While mattress firmness and comfort is entirely dependent on the individual, Nectar rates this mattress as a medium firm (6.5 out of 10), and I would say this is accurate for the average sleeper. Those lighter in body weight on our testing panel disagreed and rated it as a firm (7 out of 10).

The overall comfort of the Nectar Memory Foam is good, with plenty of support for spine alignment depending on your build. Average to heavier weight sleepers will also notice the mattress has a more cradling feel, conforming to the body for comfort. However, if you sleep particularly hot, this might be an issue for you despite the Nectar being designed with breathable foam and a heat-dissipating cover.

Testers who were average weight and heavier found the pressure relief of the Nectar Memory Foam to be decent, with the cradling quality of the foam keeping the body feeling held and the pressure points nicely cushioned. I also performed a sinkage test using a 20kg weight. I placed this in the middle of the mattress and measured it sinking in to around two inches. This is less than on comparable mattresses we have reviewed, with the Emma sinking in to around three inches and the Simba Hybrid Pro sinking in to around four inches.

While most of the testers felt their spines were aligned well when back sleeping, I didn't so much. I'm lighter and shorter than the rest of the panel; I also found that sleeping on my side was not as supportive along the pressure points, with my hips in particular feeling sore after a short while. Stomach sleeping was hit and miss across the testing panel, but this sleeping position was not typical for any of the reviewers anyway so that has to be taken into account.

• Comfort score: 4 out of 5

Nectar Mattress review: performance

• Decent temperature regulation
• Minimal motion transfer
• Edge support is lacking

I tested the Nectar Memory Foam mattress in a small double size for approximately three weeks before writing this review. As explained in TechRadar's mattress methodology, during the review process I paid particular attention to how it performed in terms of temperature regulation, motion isolation and edge support. Here's what I found.

Temperature regulation 

While memory foam can sometimes sleep hot, I encountered no particular issues with the Nectar mattress. Saying that, if you sleep very hot, then this probably won’t be the right mattress for you as there’s no cooling tech and the temperature of the mattress feels neutral in warmer weather. 

I slept on the Nectar as the seasons changed from cool nights to slightly warmer, so I was able to experience how the bed fared temperature-wise, while using different bedding ranging from a 10.5-tog duvet plus a heavy blanket, to just the duvet.

The Nectar Memory Foam features a cooling cover complete with heat-wicking fibres, and I feel these did help the mattress to feel more breathable compared to other all-foam models I've tested. In particular, the Emma Original slept warmer. Plus the addition of gel memory foam adds some freshness to the layers too, but in terms of ‘cooling’ features that’s it. 

If you have no issues with overheating, you’re likely to be fine on the Nectar. If you sleep hot, consider a hybrid mattress instead, such as the DreamCloud Luxury Hybrid. This is cooler by design because it uses coils and foam, and air flows better through and around coils.

• Temperature regulation score: 4 out of 5

Motion transfer

As well as testing the Nectar with a co-sleeper, I also paired my testing panel into couples to rate the motion isolation. For each pair, I asked one tester to lie down while the other rolled around next to them, got up from the mattress and sat back down abruptly, and even jumped into bed. I then asked them to switch roles to get a good overall opinion. 

I was impressed with the minimal motion transfer of the Nectar Memory Foam and found there was little movement on the bed even between the most restless of co-sleepers. I also tested the motion transfer with a playful toddler jumping and bouncing around on the bed next to them, and noted that the Nectar still felt stable, with surprisingly little motion from the toddler being transferred.

I also performed a drop test with a 6kg weight. I placed an empty wine glass on one edge of the Nectar Mattress, where a person would sleep, and dropped the 6kg weight from a series of different heights to see how it affected the stability of the glass (to give me an indication of motion transfer).

The 6kg weight had little effect on the stability of the glass when it was dropped from 10 inches away, then eight inches away. Only when the weight was dropped from six inches away did the glass wobble but not tip over. 

• Motion transfer score: 4 out of 5

Edge support

The edge support of the Nectar Memory Foam Mattress was its biggest let down. I and members of my testing panel took it in turns sitting on the edge of the bed, and it felt precarious for all of us. Sleeping near the edge is not so much of a problem if you sleep solo, but when co-sleeping it is an issue if you’re sharing a smaller bed and need every inch of space to both sleep comfortably.

To test the edge support further, I placed a 20kg weight near the edge on the left and right side and at the bottom. I saw noticeable compression, plus the Nectar Mattress was significantly squashed in the one corner that took a while to expand when we were unrolling the mattress. Elsewhere on the mattress it fared a little better, although it still wasn’t great. 

While we would have liked a little more edge support, for the lower price point we can’t complain too much. Heavier weight sleepers, however, should seek out a more robust mattress with better edge support. Again, we’d recommend the Simba Hybrid Pro.

• Edge support score: 3 out of 5

Nectar Memory Foam Mattress review: customer experience

The Nectar Mattress arrived in a sturdy, easy-to-manoeuvre cardboard box, delivered straight to my apartment door by couriers. There was minimal outer packaging, but there was a lot of plastic wrap used to keep the mattress tightly compressed and rolled for delivery.

Set-up was a cinch. At around 31kg, the small double size I tested was easy for me to unpack and unroll onto the mattress by myself. The wrap was easy and quick to remove with the included Nectar blue plastic cutting tool, designed to ensure you don’t damage the fabric on the mattress during the unrolling process.

Once I’d placed the Nectar onto the bedframe and unrolled it, it started to take shape straight away, although I noticed one corner remained flatter for a while and took an extra few hours to catch up. Within around six to eight hours, I’d say the mattress was suitable for sleeping on, but it properly expanded after around 48 hours. Nectar suggests it can take around 24 to 72 hours for it to fill out properly. 

Off-gassing is when the chemicals in mattress foam are released as the bed is unrolled and expanding. While Nectar guarantees all the materials in the mattress are non-toxic, with foam that is CertiPUR-US-certified and not harmful to human health, this model still had a noticeable odour as I unpacked it. While this did eventually disappear, it did take a few days to clear completely.

While off-gassing is common with foam beds and usually nothing to worry about, the odour can be unpleasant, so I always recommend fully opening the bedroom window if possible, and letting air circulate in the room as you unpack your mattress and wait for it to expand. I do the first part of the unboxing with our windows closed so that we can get a good indication of the off-gassing stench, but I open them soon after.

• Customer experience score: 4 out of 5

Nectar Memory Foam Mattress review: specs

Nectar Memory Foam Mattress review: other reviews

• Largely positive review online
• Praise for mattress's easy setup, comfort and support
• Criticism of the Nectar's off-gassing smell

Nectar Sleep has over 14,000 user reviews on its website via Trustpilot, with an average star rating of 4.2 out of 5 stars. I looked through these reviews to pinpoint any specific trends that keep popping up, which could indicate problems with the mattress over longer term use. Positive user reviews focus on how the Nectar Mattress is comfortable despite the firmer feel, with some customers reporting a reduction in backache after sleeping on it for a few weeks.

Other user reviews picked up on how easy the Nectar Mattress is to unbox and set up, with many saying it was fully inflated much quicker than what Nectar Sleep recommended. There were positive user reviews for the dispatch and delivery side too, but I also found complaints about both of these and about the returns process, with some customers feeling it all took too long. 

Other critical reviews mentioned the strong off-gassing smell and that for them it lingered for weeks – my experience was that it dissipated completely after several days. There were also some customers who stated that the mattress was either too hard or too soft, and that there was also an issue with it sleeping too hot. We noticed that the Nectar Sleep customer service team is quick to reply to feedback and to provide a solution to problems that arise.

The Nectar Mattress is also sold on Amazon and there are a handful of user reviews to look at. The critical reviews also mentioned some unevenness in the mattress, with a dip appearing after a while. One of the positive user reviews commented that their body was already feeling the benefits of this mattress after a week, while another found that it was perfect for both back and side sleeping.

Should you buy the Nectar Memory Foam mattress?

Buy it if...

✅ You're a back or combination sleeper: The Nectar Memory Foam mattress's three layers of foam provide plenty of comfort, support and spinal alignment when you're sleeping on your back or if you tend to change position in the night.

✅ You want an affordable memory foam mattress: Nectar has recently cut its RRPs and this mattress is a reasonable choice at full price, although you'll be better off waiting for a 20% discount; this doesn't happen all the time any more, so you'll have to choose your moment carefully.

✅ You share with a restless partner: The Nectar Memory Foam mattress did really well in our motion isolation tests, which means that if you or your partner tend to fidget a lot in the night, it won't be disturbing. 

Don't buy it if...

❌ You're a lightweight side sleeper: While I found that the Nectar Memory Foam mattress suited me for back and combination sleeping, as a lighter sleeper I didn't get on with it so well for side sleeping. If you're predominantly a side sleeper you'll get on better with the Emma mattress.

❌ You need great edge support: The edge support on the Nectar was the most disappointing thing about it, and if you rely on the edge of the mattress to help you get out of bed in the morning you're going to have difficulties with it. For an all-foam bed with sturdier edges, try the Hypnia Supreme Memory mattress.

❌ You sleep particularly hot: The Nectar doesn't have much in the way of cooling tech, and while I found it to be temperature-neutral, if you have a tendency to wake up hot in the night you're likely find yourself overheating on this all-foam bed. A hybrid such as the Simba Hybrid Pro offers much more airflow and would be a better option.

Nectar Memory Foam Mattress review: also consider

Emma Original
The Emma Original is the Nectar's main rival, and with a softer feel it's a much better choice if you sleep mostly on your side. It's also cheaper, particularly when on sale (which, as with the Nectar, isn't as regularly as it used to be); it's just as bad at edge support, though, and it can sleep slightly warm, too.
Read our Emma Mattress review

Levitex mattress
The Levitex mattress is designed to keep your spine properly aligned and promote the right nighttime posture, and it does a great job of this. It's a simple but well-designed mattress with great motion isolation, but it's a little on the thin side and it's rarely reduced in price.
Read our Levitex Mattress review

Hypnia Supreme
The Hypnia Supreme is a strong choice if you need a foam mattress with good edge support; it's not perfect but it's much sturdier than the Nectar. It has a medium firm feel and a luxuriously cushioned top layer for extra comfort, and it provides full-body support as well as packing great motion isolation and cooling properties.
Read our Hypnia Supreme Memory mattress review

How I tested the Nectar Memory Foam Mattress

I slept on a Nectar Memory Foam mattress in a small double size for three weeks to write this review, trying it while sleeping on my side, back and stomach. In addition to that, I invited a small testing panel of people of varying heights, weights and sleep preferences, to test the mattress and provide a broader impression of the Nectar's performance.

To get a more precise measure of the Nectar's comfort, support, edge support and motion isolation, I also ran a series of standardised tests using kettlebells.