Mattress zones are one of those things that sound more complicated than they are, and the number on the label gets more credit than it deserves. We build both 3-zone and 5-zone pocket spring mattresses in our Christchurch factory, so here's what the zones actually do, who notices the difference, and how we'd choose.
Quick answer
- A zoned mattress uses firmer pocket springs under your hips and lower back and softer ones elsewhere, so the heavy part of you doesn't sink lower than the rest.
- 3 zones = softer / firmer / softer: shoulders, hips and lumbar, legs. 5 zones split the ends again, so the shoulders get their own softer band.
- Side sleepers with broad shoulders, and anyone whose lower back aches, are the people most likely to feel the difference. Most back and stomach sleepers won't.
- Choose firmness and comfort layers first, zones last. A 5-zone bed that's too firm for you is worse than a 3-zone one that isn't.
- Our zoned mattresses are rotated end to end like the rest of the range.
What a zone is
In a pocket spring mattress every spring sits in its own fabric pocket and moves independently. That's what stops your partner's turning from reaching your side of the bed. Zoning takes the same unit and changes the springs band by band across the length of the mattress: a heavier wire or a tighter coil under the middle third where your hips and lower back are, a lighter one under the shoulders and legs.
The point is spinal alignment. Your hips are the heaviest part of you. On an unzoned mattress they sink furthest and your spine bows. Firmer springs under the hips hold them level with your shoulders, which is what "zoned for additional lumbar support" means on our product pages.
Our 3-zone pocket springs
Three bands: shoulders, middle, legs, with the firmer springs through the middle. Broad bands mean the mattress feels consistent as you move around, and it's the construction in most of our pocket spring range:
- Anniversary Pocket: medium-firm, plush foam pillow top, firmer edges. 280 mm, from $549 (Single, mattress only). Our entry pocket spring and one of our best sellers.
- Sense-A-Tech Pocket: firm, high-density foam pillow top. 290 mm, from $659. The 3-zone for people who want a solid feel.
- Supreme Luxury: soft, with an organic latex and wool pillow top and bamboo-fibre fabric. 320 mm, from $2,499. Proof that zoned support and a plush feel aren't opposites.
- Millennia Plush: medium-firm, latex pillow top in a wool and silk blend. 315 mm, from $3,299. Also the bed Richie Mo'unga sleeps on, if that helps.
Our 5-zone pocket springs
Five bands: head, shoulders, lumbar, hips, legs. The extra bands let the shoulder zone be softer than the head end and the hip zone firmer than the lumbar, so the transitions are more gradual.
- Spinal Luxury G-Top: medium-firm, with a latex gusset top over plush foam and firmer edges. 300 mm, from $989. The most popular way into a 5-zone bed.
- Body Care Ultra Plush: firm, despite the name, with an organic latex and wool pillow top and a foam casing for edge support. 335 mm, from $2,199.
- Spinal Plush: firm, a 5-zone micro-pocket unit with a latex and eco-gel comfort layer. 335 mm, from $2,499.
The whole zoned range is in the Therawrap collection.
So is 5 better than 3?
Not automatically, and we'd rather lose a sale than pretend otherwise. Here is who notices:
- Side sleepers with broad shoulders or narrow waists. The separate shoulder band in a 5-zone lets the shoulder drop further while the hips stay held, which keeps the spine straighter. This is the group that feels the difference most.
- People with a sore lower back. Both help. A 5-zone gives a slightly more precise lumbar band; the Innergy coil beds below are the other option.
- Back sleepers and stomach sleepers. Weight is spread more evenly, so three broad bands do the job. Spend the difference on the comfort layer you like.
- Couples. Both are pocket springs, so partner disturbance is handled either way.
In the showroom the comfort layers dominate what you feel: the latex gusset top on the Spinal Luxury makes a bigger first impression than its five zones do. Zones are what you notice in the morning, not the first thirty seconds.
Zones aren't the only way to do lumbar support
Our BackSense range takes a different route. Instead of a pocket spring, the Windsor Backcare and Citation Box Top use Therapedic's Innergy alternating coil with an HourGlass support grid through the lumbar area. It's a continuous system rather than individual pockets, it comes in two-sided builds you can flip, and Therapedic puts the lumbar support at up to 18% more than a standard unit. If your back is the main reason you're buying, try one of these next to a 5-zone and let your back decide. The BackSense collection is here.
Do zoned mattresses get rotated?
Yes. You'll read online that rotating a zoned mattress puts the firm zone in the wrong place. Ours are built to be rotated end to end on the normal schedule, fortnightly while new and then every three to six months, and the instruction is on every product page. It's also a condition of the warranty.
Frequently asked questions
Is a 5-zone mattress better than a 3-zone?
Only for some sleepers, mainly side sleepers with broad shoulders. For most people the comfort layers and firmness matter more.
What's the difference between 3-zone and 5-zone?
Both put firmer springs under the hips and lower back. A 5-zone adds separate shoulder and leg bands so the changes are more gradual.
Are zoned mattresses good for side sleepers?
Yes. The softer shoulder band and firmer hip band are designed around the side-sleeping shape.
Does a pocket spring mattress have to be zoned?
No. The Opulence and the Comfort Touch range are pocket springs without zoning and are excellent beds.
How do I choose?
Pick your firmness first, lie on a 3-zone and a 5-zone at that firmness, and buy the one your back prefers after ten minutes.
Lie on both
Every store has an Anniversary Pocket and a Spinal Luxury G-Top on the floor. Ten minutes on each, in your sleeping position, will tell you more than any number of zones. The Bed Selector will shortlist for you first if you'd rather arrive with a plan.
Related guides: Best mattress firmness for every sleeping position · What is mattress edge support · Buying a new bed: the complete guide
