How are mattresses tested?

26 Feb, 2025

Jürgen Swinnen

Content:

A mattress test, does it exist?

Next to shoes, a mattress is one of the products you use most every day. You hesitate? No way, your mattress takes you back to dreamland every night. When you start looking for a new one, you often have many personal preferences in mind. A lot of different brands and bed stores are happy to help you get a good mattress. In that case, you may be wondering: how are mattresses tested?

Organizations such as the Dutch“Consumentenbond,” the Belgian“Test Aankoop,” the German“Stiftung Warentest” and the French“Que Choisir” claim to test the best mattresses. But how are different types of mattresses really tested? We would like to take you into this special world.

What elements are examined when testing mattresses?

We try to shine a light on the most common tests. Importantly, they all serve different purposes. Some tests focus on our safety, while others focus on durability or the specific hardness of materials. Certain test methods are laid down in European standards and norms, such as EN 1957 and DIN SPEC 68200.

Consumer organizations like to slap a “best in test” designation on a product for a particular measurement or feature. Take these results with a grain of salt. We don’t suspect them of cheating, but not all tests are relevant or appropriate to make statements for a large group of users. There are literally numerous elements, prices and materials just being compared interchangeably with little nuance.

Remember that a consumer organization also has a revenue model and likes to win a lot of souls. We don’t think they are testing to favor some brand, but it is worrisome that a “best buy” designation, for example, can only be used by a brand after payment.

And then you can also ask yourself whether that mattress is really the best buy for you in a personal test by you as a sleeper … Unfortunately, it is not that simple. What is good is that you get an indication of what is available on the market. Admittedly in very broad terms.

That’s not really what European standardization is about. By providing a clear framework of what to expect as a consumer, you know that the basic mattress properties have also been examined.

What does the EN 1957 standard describe?

Huh … AND what? Sounds possibly rather technical, however this test is very often used to measure the durability and functional properties of mattresses. In short, how well do mattresses continue to function after long-term use and do they provide the comfort and support you might expect?

How does the test work?

In these tests, a bed or mattress is exposed to simulations of daily use. We are talking about normal use over a period of 8 to as many as 12 years. Some specific aspects are tested:

Mechanical load: A heavy roller (usually 140 kg) is rolled over the surface thousands of times to mimic wear and subsidence.
Measurements before, during and after the test: The height, firmness and elasticity of the mattress are measured. This allows changes due to use to be properly charted.

The video below shows a mattress roller test bench developed by Weinmann Prüftechnik.

Why is this important to you as a consumer? Well, the results of these tests provide insight into how long a bed or mattress will last without losing its quality. And you can infer whether the product is suitable for your needs, such as comfort and support. Imagine you buy a new mattress. The manufacturer mentions that the mattress meets the EN1957 standard. This means:

the mattress has been tested for durability by rolling a heavy roller over the surface 30,000 times, for example.
checked after this test that the mattress is still comfortable and provides adequate support.

As a consumer, this allows you to have confidence that the mattress will not easily collapse or lose its shape, even with intensive use. So by choosing a product that meets the EN1957 standard, you know you are investing in quality that has been independently tested!

What quality assurance does the DIN SPEC 68200 test provide?

This test was designed by the Deutsche Institut für Normung e.V. or DIN for short. The test describes methods for determining the functional mechanical properties of so-called “zoned mattresses. This standard specifically addresses mattresses designed with different zones, such as zones of varying firmness or support, tailored to body contours and weight distribution.

Often when describing a mattress you will see the statement: 7 ergonomic zones or 3 zones. These zones usually describe the logical ergonomic shapes of the human body. Mattresses usually consist of 3, 5 or 7 zones. They go from head over shoulders, to loins and hips. The hip zone is usually centrally located. So when you turn the mattress 180° (from head to feet) you count 7 zones: head, shoulders, loins, hips, loins, shoulders, head.

What does the DIN SPEC 68200 entail?

This standard examines how well a mattress provides differentiated support in different zones. This is important for mattresses that, for example, have a softer zone for the shoulders and a firmer zone for the lower back. That way you know that a well-tested mattress will help keep your spine in a natural position. It also tests how the mattress responds to pressure and load, and whether it remains consistent in its performance after long-term use. Proper pressure distribution prevents certain parts of your body from being overloaded.

If you’re considering a new mattress, you can think of the DIN SPEC 68200 as a quality assurance. This test verifies whether a mattress really does what it promises, such as provide good support for your body in the right places (for example, firmer support for your back and softer support for your shoulders). It also shows how durable the mattress is and whether it remains comfortable after years of use. If a mattress meets this standard, you can trust that it was designed with your comfort and health in mind.

The German model obviously provides good answers, but not every brand or manufacturer uses the DIN test. There are also pressure mats to measure the different pressure points of a mattress. A good mattress, with different zones, will show a good distribution of pressure and will show zones that deserve more support, such as the hips. Or specific devices are used in a well-defined and described way during the test.

Pressure measurements refer to how a mattress responds to pressure or load. This is usually measured, equivalent to the EN 1957 standard, by applying a fixed force or weight to the mattress and observing how much the material deflects or deforms. It is an objective way to assess the firmness, support and resilience of a mattress. Some manufacturers go further in this than others. Playing with humidity, for example, can reveal different results.

How is fire retardancy or fire resistance tested?

In certain areas of the world – think UK and US – or in certain circumstances – think hotels, nursing homes or medical facilities – fire resistance or fire retardancy is an important factor. Fire-resistant mattresses limit the spread of a fire or prevent an incipient fire from spreading further due to an extinguished cigarette.

The UK developed the BS 7177 standard for this purpose. It is also used internationally. Among other things, products are compared and tested with so-called CRIB tests. The standard describes important test aspects and also their risk classification.

Mattresses that meet this standard are tested for their resistance to ignition by, for example, a lit cigarette or a small open flame, such as a match. In this context, CRIB-5 is a commonly used test in commercial environments, such as hotels and offices. The material must be able to withstand a moderate source of ignition. It is a standard requirement for medium-risk environments. CRIB-7, in turn, is much more stringent. The video below shows a CRIB-5 test from a Belgian manufacturer.

The standard divides products into different levels of risk:

Low risk: for home use
Medium risk: for hotels and other commercial accommodations
High risk: for hospitals and prisons
Very high risk: for offshore installations or other environments with extremely high fire risks

European EN 597-1 and EN 597-2 standards are similar and specifically test resistance to a smoldering cigarette (EN 597-1) and a small open flame (EN 597-2), respectively. They are admittedly less comprehensive than BS 7177 because they do not distinguish between levels of risk.

America also has its rules, although California rules still deviate here and there. In the US, the CFR 1632 (Smolder Resistance Test) applies, a test that specifically determines resistance to smoldering cigarettes. It is similar to EN 597-1. The CFR 1633 (Open Flame Test) focuses on larger open flames, such as a burning candle, and is more stringent than BS 7177 in terms of fire spread. In California, a CAL TB 129 standard specifically applies. A very strict standard designed specifically for public buildings such as hospitals and hotels. Among other things, it tests flame spread and heat output, which in turn goes beyond BS 7177.

Why are these standards important?

Mattresses that ignite quickly pose a great danger. Fireproof mattresses, on the other hand, help slow the spread of fire to a great extent. In addition, in many industries, such as hotels and healthcare facilities, compliance with this standard is mandatory. And finally, businesses that comply with fire safety standards can often benefit from lower insurance premiums.