Pocket Springs vs Bonnell vs Continuous Coil: Mattress Spring Types Explained (2026)

Last checked: 19 July 2026

"Spring mattress" covers three genuinely different constructions, and the label on the price tag rarely tells you which one is inside. The spring unit determines how the bed supports you, how much of your partner's movement you feel, and how the mattress ages. As a manufacturer, we work with these systems, so here is the honest engineering explanation of each.

Why the spring unit matters more than the label

Springs are excellent support technology. Their weakness was always the thin comfort layer on top, not the steel. But not all steel is arranged the same way, and the arrangement changes the feel of the bed more than most buyers realise. The three systems you will find in South Africa are Bonnell, continuous coil and pocket springs.

Bonnell springs: the proven veteran

A Bonnell unit uses hourglass shaped steel coils, wider at the top and bottom and narrower in the middle, joined to their neighbours with helical wires into one interconnected frame. It is the oldest spring system in the industry and it has earned its hundred year run honestly: a well made Bonnell unit is strong, distributes weight evenly, lasts for years and lets air move freely through the mattress.

The trade off comes from the interconnection. Because every coil is tied to the coils around it, pressing down on one area pulls on the whole frame. That means the unit responds to your body as a surface rather than point by point, and movement on one side of the bed travels across to the other. On a traditional spring bed with thin padding, that is the bounce and partner disturbance most of us grew up with.

Continuous coil: one wire, many rows

A continuous coil unit forms its rows of springs from a single length of wire bent over and over, rather than from individual coils. It is quick and economical to manufacture and very durable, because there are few joins to work loose. The trade off is the same interconnection problem taken further: with the entire unit made of one wire, movement and pressure travel even more readily across the bed, and the unit cannot respond to your shoulders differently from your hips. You will find continuous coil units mostly in entry level spring beds.

Pocket springs: independent support

A pocket spring unit takes the opposite approach. Each coil is a separate cylindrical spring sewn into its own fabric sleeve, and the pockets are then glued or stitched to each other. No wire connects one coil to the next, so each spring compresses only under the weight directly above it.

That independence is the whole point. Your hips can sink a little deeper while the coils under your waist keep pushing up, so the unit follows the shape of your body point by point. When your partner rolls over, their coils move and yours largely do not. Air still flows through the unit the way it does in any spring bed, so pocket springs keep the cool sleeping that makes springs popular in a South African summer. The costs are honest ones: pocket units use more material and more manufacturing steps, so a pocket spring bed costs more to build than a Bonnell or continuous coil bed of the same size.

Bonnell vs continuous coil vs pocket springs: side by side

Which spring type does Mr Mattress use?

The Mr Mattress Hybrid uses a pocket spring support core under a thick foam comfort layer. We chose pocket springs for the reasons in the table above: the independent coils follow your body and keep your spine properly supported, while the comfort foam layer above cushions your pressure points. It is the pairing that makes a hybrid work, because point by point spring support only helps if the layer between you and the coils is good enough to let you feel the benefit. Our full range guide is at best hybrid mattress in South Africa.

None of this makes Bonnell a bad system. It remains excellent, proven support engineering, and plenty of well made traditional beds use it. The point is that spring type and comfort layer have to be judged together: a premium pocket unit under thin padding will still feel hard within a few years. That is the argument we lay out in full on our best spring mattress in South Africa guide.

How to tell what is inside a mattress you are considering

Ask the retailer three questions. One: is the spring unit Bonnell, continuous coil or pocket? If the salesperson cannot answer, treat the bed as entry level. Two: what sits on top of the springs, and how thick is it? A quality spring unit under a thin quilted top will not stay comfortable. Three: what does the warranty actually cover, and for how long? Reputable manufacturers publish this. Ours is tiered by range: Comfort Foam carries 3 years, while Active, Revive and Hybrid all carry 10 years. If you are choosing between spring construction and foam entirely, our foam vs spring vs hybrid guide compares all three, and the mattress glossary defines every term you will meet on a spec sheet.

See the pocket spring Hybrid

Frequently asked questions

What is a pocket spring mattress?

A pocket spring mattress uses a support core of individual steel coils, each sewn into its own fabric pocket. Because no wire connects one coil to the next, each spring compresses only under the weight directly above it. That gives point by point support, better contouring and far less partner disturbance than interconnected spring systems.

Is a pocket spring mattress better than a Bonnell mattress?

For most sleepers, yes. Pocket springs contour to your body and isolate movement, while Bonnell coils respond as one connected surface and transfer more motion. Bonnell remains durable, proven support technology and costs less to build. Pocket units cost more but deliver the more refined feel, which is why premium spring beds and hybrids use them.

What spring system does the Mr Mattress Hybrid use?

The Mr Mattress Hybrid uses a pocket spring support core under a thick comfort foam layer. The independent pocket coils support your spine point by point while the foam cushions your shoulders and hips. The Hybrid starts at R4,999, carries a 10 year warranty and comes with a 365 night home trial.

How long do pocket springs last?

Quality steel coils, pocketed or not, hold their support for well over a decade. In practice a mattress ages at its weakest layer, which in traditional builds is the thin padding above the springs rather than the springs themselves. A well built pocket spring bed with a substantial comfort layer should serve you for many years, which is why the Hybrid carries a 10 year warranty.

Are continuous coil mattresses any good?

They are honest entry level engineering: durable and economical, because the whole unit is bent from one wire with few joins to fail. The compromises are the least contouring and the most motion transfer of the three spring systems. If you share a bed or sleep on your side, Bonnell and especially pocket springs are better choices.

Feel the difference for yourself

The pocket spring Hybrid is made in South Africa and delivered free. Free State customers: usually 1 to 3 working days; national orders: 3 to 7 working days depending on your area. You get 365 nights at home to judge it, backed by a 10 year warranty. Visit one of our stores across South Africa, with more opening, or call us on 087 087 1610.

We've been making foam mattresses in South Africa for over 15 years. Our head office and main factory are in Bloemfontein, and we manufacture through our own and approved partner facilities in Gauteng, Cape Town and East London. MR MATTRESS (PTY) LTD, 47 Piet Human Street, Bloemfontein | CIPC Reg No: 2024/177332/07 | 087 087 1610