One Sided vs. Two Sided Mattress – A Comparison Guide

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There have been few rivalries as contentious and as bitter as that of the one-sided vs. two-sided mattress. Well, maybe that’s overstating things just a bit.  But what comes out ahead in the battle of the one-sided vs. two-sided mattress? What are the upsides and downsides of each?  And most importantly, which one is right for your home?

That’s precisely what this guide is going to look into. We’ll cover all your questions about the one-sided vs. two-sided mattress, including the history of each, which material is right for each mattress type, and where to find the best flippable mattress in your area.

Read below or listen to explain by Ryan Poppie, President of The Beloit Mattress Company.

 

 

Alright, let’s jump in.

Table of Contents

• Are Both Sides of a Mattress the Same?
• Should Traditional & Foam Mattresses Be Flipped?
• What’s the History Behind the One-Sided vs. Two-Sided Mattress
• Along Comes the Pillow Tops
• Can You Still Buy a Two-Sided Mattress?
• Here Are the Flippable Mattresses We Offer
• Are Double-Sided Mattresses Better?
• Who Makes Two-Sided Mattresses?
• Great News – We Can Help

 

Are Both Sides of a Mattress the Same?

That all depends on the type of mattress you have.

The main mattress style for decades was an innerspring system designed from the core out. Since the mattress consisted mainly of an innerspring system surrounded by padding, both sides of the mattress were the same.

This meant that you could flip the mattress every three months to improve support and extend the mattress’s lifespan.

However, newer mattress types have sought to provide more comfort and support than these traditional styles by adding specific layers from the ground up, making each side different. As a result, some such mattresses are more comfortable but should not be flipped due to the precise layering involved.

Should Traditional & Foam Mattresses Be Flipped?

Simply put, a mattress with fiber paddings like cotton, wool, or polyester needs to be flipped to maintain good support and comfort levels.

That’s because the fibers in these mattress types tend to settle with use. Consequently, that can lead to a lack of necessary support, more morning back pain, and restless nights.

Flipping the mattress helps fluff the fiber and rebuild support. Consequently, the bed feels more comfortable the next time you settle in for the night.

Mattresses with all foam padding do not need to be flipped.

If foam cells break down, you can flip that mattress until doomsday, and those cells will not rebuild themselves.

And in fact, they typically shouldn’t be flipped since many foam mattresses these days have strategic material layers throughout. As a result, flipping your foam mattress may lead to less comfort.

However, you should plan to rotate your foam mattress once to twice a year.

Doing so helps change the places you put the most pressure on the mattress. And that, in turn, can help extend its lifetime (and make it more comfortable along the way).

What’s the History Behind the One-Sided vs. Two-Sided Mattress

For years, all you could buy was a flippable two-sided mattress. From the time the first innerspring mattress was made until about the 1970s, mattresses were made using springs and cotton.

Then, from the 1950s on, polyfoam gradually formed into mattress construction. It started by adding foam to the surface over the cotton, but by the 1970s, many major manufacturers went to all-foam builds.

At that point, one-sided mattresses started becoming more and more common.

Along Comes the Pillow Tops

In general, the mattress industry was very conservative in the 1970s, so they continued making two-sided beds even though it wasn’t necessary.

In the 1980s, pillow tops began to find popularity. Along with pillow tops came much thicker mattresses. Up until then, mattresses were not usually more than ten inches thick. A typical build used a five-inch innerspring with a couple of inches of 1.8-pound density foam padding on each side. This was generally a very durable build. The pillow top increased a typical mattress to fifteen inches.

A typical build used a five-inch innerspring with five inches of 1.8-pound density foam padding on each side. Still, the question “To Flip Or Not” remained. No one did much R and D testing at that time. Everyone thought that a mattress was a mattress; what could go wrong?

What began to show up by the end of the 1980s and the beginning of the 1990s was the fact that pillow tops were not lasting as long as non-pillow tops. Notably, the spring systems were failing faster because of a lack of support.

Pillow Top Issues

In the past, a mattress spring sat on top of a couple of inches of the firm to moderately firm padding and box spring.

A pillow top was on top of five inches of soft padding and then the box spring. However, the thicker and softer padding was not supporting the spring system properly. It was like putting a new mattress on an old box spring; it simply didn’t hold up. To Flip Or Not wasn’t even a question.

By the end of the 1990s, one-sided bedding began to appear. One-sided pillow tops outlasted two-sided pillow tops because the spring was adequately supported. This didn’t last long.

Foam Quality

The price of crude oil was rising, and the economy was not excellent.

Added to that, polyfoam is made from chemically derived crude oil. And to save money, the big manufacturers began cutting foam quality.

In some models, these mattresses have gradually gone from the 1.8-pound density to as low as 0.9 pounds. Many consumers’ first experience with a one-sided bed was with low-density foam, which tended to fail quickly.

The natural assumption is that the problem is the one-sided design. If that same mattress had been made two-sided with the same low density, it would have failed faster with even bigger problems.

 

Can You Still Buy a Two-Sided Mattress?

Though the mattress market shifted primarily to one-sided mattresses in the early 2000s, the answer is, absolutely, you can!  You can buy two-sided mattresses from some retailers and pay more, or, you can purchase from a factory-direct mattress comp[like The Beloit Mattress Company.

Here Are the Flippable Mattresses We Offer

Can You Flip a Single-sided Mattress?

No. You can not flip a single sided mattress like traditional double sided mattresses because the padding is only on one side. Rotate your single-sided mattress head to foot once a month for the first six months and then once every six months. Double sided mattresses flip monthly for six months, then once every three months after that. The Beloit Mattress Company offers both single sided and double sided hospitality mattresses.

Are Double-Sided Mattresses Better?

When considering a one-sided vs. two-sided mattress, you’ll probably ask yourself, which one is better? To Flip Or Not To Flip?

The answer is they are both good if produced correctly.

• Two-sided is the way to go if you want a non-pillow top mattress with cotton or wool padding.
• If you want a pillow top or a mattress with foam padding, one-sided is the way to go.

Essentially, it all comes down to the type of mattress that’s right for you. Are you looking for the conforming qualities of a gel or memory foam mattress? Or is the plush, ultra-comfortable pillow top type more your style?

There are pros and cons to each. And in the end, it comes down to you deciding which mattress type is right for you.

Whichever way you decide, ensure the manufacturer uses suitable quality components. You should never buy a mattress with foam less than the 1.5-pound density in the quilted cover and no less than a 1.8-pound density in the padding layers.

And, of course, you’ll also want to find the right mattress size for your needs.

 

Who Makes Two-Sided Mattresses?

As mentioned, name-brand mattress stores may not carry the latest and most advanced two-sided mattresses. That’s because most of the industry shifted away from these types in the early 2000s.

And for you, your best chances of finding a quality two-sided mattress are with more boutique mattress manufacturers.

However, you’ll want to be sure you only buy from a company that promises the highest levels of craftsmanship and uses only the industry’s best technology.

Otherwise, your two-sided mattress may not offer any added durability over a one-sided mattress.

 

Great News – We Can Help

Need help finding the right mattress? Not sure which suits you in the one-sided vs. two-sided mattress war? Want to find one that suits your sleep needs and your partner’s?

Our knowledgeable staff at every Beloit Mattress Company location are standing by to provide the information you need to make an informed decision and be happy with your investment even a year from now. Your sleep quality is heavily impacted by the surface you sleep on every night.

Between our handmade, factory-direct mattresses and accessories, we can help you get the sleep you deserve.

You can explore multiple flippable mattresses to find one that meets your needs.

Plus, our Mattress Match system lets you find the perfect mattress (flippable or not) that’s catered to your unique sleeping needs. Whether you’re looking for plush comfort or the responsive support of a pocket spring mattress, or a space-saving RV queen mattress, all it takes is answering a few questions to filter through the mattress types, and you’ll be presented with the best options.

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