Dunlopillo is the brand to go for if you a) want a latex mattress in the UK and b) have deep pockets. The company is based in Denmark but it has been popular in the UK for a long time.

In this guide we’ll look at the pros and cons of latex mattresses, as well as comparing the different models in the Dunlopillo range.

A double Dunlopillo mattress will probably cost you more than £1500, so you want to make sure it’s right for you.

Let’s start by figuring out which is the best mattress in the Dunlopillo range, before moving onto some advice on the pros and cons of latex as a mattress material.

Which is the best Dunlopillo mattress?

Choosing the best Dunlopillo mattress is simpler than it is for some brands. The Dunlopillo range currently includes just six mattresses and the differences are fairly easy to get your head around.

Option 1: The Dunlopillo Elite Collection (three mattresses to choose from, plus an adjustable mattress)

Four of Dunlopillo’s mattresses are within their Elite Collection. They will set you back about £1600 – £2000 for a double size.

The Elite Collection uses a combination of wool, natural latex and pocket spring mattresses. They are described as ‘hybrid’ mattresses, which is a common term for a mattress that uses springs on the bottom and a top layer of foam or latex. Honestly, it’s become a fairly vague and trendy term as all sprung mattresses have a layer of something on top.

The pocket springs will probably feel very familiar, as they are what most mattresses use for support. The idea is to create a layer of lots of little springs which work together to keep you comfy. If you’ve always slept on pocket sprung mattresses and are just looking for a small change, then these are ideal. Very cheap mattresses use something called ‘open coil’ springs but those aren’t as comfortable or supportive so should be given a wide berth.

There are three standard sized mattresses within the Elite Collection:

• The cheapest one is the Dunlopillo Elite Comfort 1460 Latex Hybrid Mattress
• The mid-priced one is the Dunlopillo Elite Comfort 1760 Latex Hybrid Mattress
• The most expensive one is the Dunlopillo Elite Supreme 2340 Latex Hybrid Mattress.

They are all medium tension and are all single sided. They’re all made in the UK and are roughly the same depth (let’s not quibble over a couple of centimetres, as the actress said to the bishop). You get the same generous 15 year warranty with all of them.

So what’s the difference between the Dunlopillo Elite mattresses?

The most notable difference between the Dunlopillo Elite mattresses (apart from the price) is the number of pocket springs. That is the number you see in the name of the mattress.

For most people, the mattress with 1460 springs will be absolutely fine and will offer an excellent level of support. I only raise a concerned eyebrow when a mattress has less than 1000 pocket springs. The 1760 model would offer some benefit to very large people, but it would only be a modest difference. The 2340 model uses a different design where there are actually two layers of springs. This makes the mattress deeper and the idea is that two layers provide more comfort.

The 1760 also uses some luxurious fabrics including cashmere and silk. Will these make a significant difference to how the mattress feels? Honestly, I doubt it but it’s something to brag about to guests (“…you can sleep in the cashmere bed”). They all use wool, which is excellent at regulating your temperature.

Personally, I would go for the 1460 model as the others have only modest gains for a big jump in prices, but you may consider it worth splashing out.

There are also some other mattresses in the Elite range sold by Mattress Online. They use slightly different numbers of springs, but they appear to be basically the same design with three different mattresses to choose from. I’m giving them a mention as you might prefer to buy a mattress from there as they do a 60 night comfort trial (with some terms attached). You won’t get a sleep trial if you buy the standard models.

What about the fourth mattress in the Dunlopillo Elite range?

The lonely cousin in the Dunlopillo Elite range is the Dunlopillo Elite Relax Adjustable Latex Mattress.

These use a similar mix of springs, latex and wool but they are thinner mattresses that you can only buy in single and small single sizes. The idea is that you put two side by side on an adjustable bedframe.

See our guide to adjustable beds if that’s something you are considering. Or don’t, I won’t take it personally.

Option 2: The Dunlopillo Signature Collection (two mattresses to choose from)

Your second option from Dunlopillo are its mattresses in the Signature Collection. These cost about £1500 – £1700.

These mattresses are called Dunlopillo Millennium and Dunlopillo Royal Sovereign. They’ve been around a lot longer than the Elite Collection, and they don’t seem to be sold in quite as many places anymore.

These don’t use any springs at all, but have a ‘100% pure Dunlopillo latex mattress core’. That will give you less of a bouncy sensation than you would get with the Dunlopillo mattresses.

They are both medium firmness, but the Royal Sovereign is 21cm deep whilst the Dunlopillo Millennium is 24cm deep, so it’s more expensive.

My opinion (if you are interested) is that 20cm or more is deep enough for a mattress, but if you are heavier than average or if you can afford a more luxurious model then go for the Dunlopillo Millennium. You might find that there isn’t much of a difference in price.

Pros and cons of Dunlopillo mattresses

The benefits of latex

Before we compare Dunlopillo’s range, I can hear you furiously asking whether latex is actually a good material for making mattresses.

Well, firstly I’d ask you not to take such an aggressive tone. It’s really not necessary. 

Secondly, I’d say that there is a strong argument for using latex in mattresses. It’s certainly a niche choice, but that doesn’t mean it’s a bad one.

According to Mattress Online, ‘latex responds to your weight and shape to provide pressure relief tailored to you’. It also bounces back quicker than memory foam, so it doesn’t have that same ‘sinking feeling’ which some people don’t like. The general opinion is that latex won’t make you feel warm in the same way that memory foam can do.

Latex is also a natural and sustainable material which comes from rubber trees. Synthetic materials like foam are plastic based, although several mattress brands do make a decent effort to be eco-friendly.   

Why is latex a niche choice for a mattress?

You may be wondering why all mattresses aren’t made from latex. The short answer – as far as I can tell – is that latex is very expensive to produce. Sure, there are several cheap and mid-priced mattresses which have a 2-4cm layer of latex but a Dunlopillo mattress is nearly all latex so it bumps the price up massively. 

I also think that a lot of us stick with what we know. Pocket sprung mattresses are much more popular and are what most of us are used to sleeping on. Many people have been persuaded to try out memory foam mattresses thanks to risk-free trials but you don’t get that with a Dunlopillo mattress.

What guarantee does Dunlopillo offer? Do Dunlopillo offer home trials?

Dunlopillo Elite mattresses come with an 15 year guarantee.

Posh mattress brand Vispring offers up to 30 years whilst Hypnos (which supplies Royal households) offers a 10 year warranty on most mattresses. Tempur, which makes expensive memory foam mattresses usually offers 10 years.

Several cheaper mattresses come with 10 year guarantees (Emma, Simba etc.) whilst Nectar Sleep (£600) or DreamCloud (£1649) both offer a ‘forever guarantee’.

It’s always worth reading the small print of a guarantee/warranty, as there’s some variation in what is covered.

Whether or not you get a trial period with a Dunlopillo mattress depends on where you buy it from. As mentioned earlier, Mattress Online sell slightly different versions of the Dunlopillo mattresses, which I assume have been made exclusively for them. You get a 60 night trial period if you buy it from them, although you will be offered an exchange rather than a refund if you don’t like it (read the terms).