What's the Best Mattress to Buy in Australia in 2026?

ShopBack Australia is a free app and website that gives you money back when you shop online at thousands of stores, including Koala, Ecosa and Sleeping Giant. You open the store from ShopBack, shop as normal, and part of what you spend comes back to your ShopBack account as cash you can withdraw. New members can join free at shopback.com.au/signup.

Sources. Koala's, Ecosa's, Sleeping Giant's and Adairs' own websites, two peer-reviewed studies on mattress firmness and back pain indexed on PubMed, at the time of writing in October 2026. We do not list mattress prices, because they change often with sales; compare the same size on the day you buy.

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What's the best mattress to buy in Australia?

The best mattress is the one that keeps your spine supported and lets you sleep through the night, and for most adults that is a medium-firm mattress you have tested at home. A routine that works for most shoppers:

1. Start medium-firm. The best research we found, covered below, favours medium-firm over very firm, especially for people with back pain.
2. Buy on a long trial. No showroom test beats a few weeks of real sleep. Check the trial length and the return or exchange conditions.
3. Look for adjustable firmness if you are unsure. Some mattresses let you flip or swap layers to change the feel.
4. Check the warranty. Longer warranties cover manufacturing faults such as sagging beyond a set depth; read what is excluded.
5. Check delivery and removal. Free metro delivery is common, but regional delivery and old mattress removal vary.
6. Before you pay, open ShopBack, tap the store, then check out.

Steps 1 to 5 find the right mattress. Step 6 lowers what you actually end up paying for it.

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Best mattress in Australia in 2026: how Koala, Ecosa and Sleeping Giant compare

Koala, Ecosa and Sleeping Giant all sell mattresses online in Australia, and each suits a different kind of shopper.

	Koala	Ecosa	Sleeping Giant
Home trial	120 day trial	100 night trial	100 night sleep promise (conditions apply)
Warranty	Up to 10 years	15-year limited warranty on the Ecosa Mattress	Check each brand's warranty
Firmness	Koala Mattress flips between medium-firm and firm	Ecosa Mattress adjusts between three firmness levels	Range of brands and feels
Range	Koala SE, Koala, Koala Plus and Koala Luxe mattresses	Ecosa, Ecosa Pure, Essence and other mattresses, plus toppers	Art & Science, Dreamsuite, AH Beard, King Koil, Osborn and more
Delivery	Free delivery on mattresses	Free delivery in metro areas	Check delivery for your postcode

Sources: Koala's, Ecosa's and Sleeping Giant's own websites, at the time of writing.

Koala in detail. According to Koala, the Koala Mattress has a double-sided comfort layer that lets you switch between medium-firm and firm at home: you unzip the cover and flip the layer. Koala says its Kloudcell foam balances cushioning with support, and its Zero Disturbance technology absorbs movement so a restless partner is less likely to wake you. Koala's range at the time of writing runs from the Koala SE Mattress through the Koala Mattress and Koala Plus to the Koala Luxe.

Ecosa in detail. According to Ecosa, the Ecosa Mattress has easily adjustable firmness across three levels: you flip the top layers to change the feel, and the Original Edition comes pre-set at medium-firm. It has a waterproof, washable cover and comes with a 15-year limited warranty. Ecosa also sells other mattresses, including the Ecosa Pure and Essence.

Sleeping Giant in detail. Sleeping Giant is a multi-brand sleep retailer. It lists mattresses from Art & Science, Dreamsuite, AH Beard, King Koil and Osborn, sorted by type, including spring, foam, cooling and Australian-made mattresses, and says it has 40 years of experience. It suits shoppers who want to compare several brands in one place.

Other stores. Mattresses are also sold in Australia by Emma Sleep, Fantastic Furniture, Temple & Webster, Myer and Amazon Australia, among others. Compare the same size and type across a couple of stores before you buy.

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Koala vs Ecosa: best mattress in Australia price comparison 2026

Koala and Ecosa both sell boxed foam mattresses online with home trials, so the fair comparison is the same size, on the same day, against trial length, warranty and how you will adjust the firmness.

How to compare them fairly:

• Match the size. Compare queen with queen, king with king. Prices step up sharply between sizes.
• Compare the sale price on the same day. Both brands run sales, and the gap between them changes from week to week. For sale timing, see when mattresses are cheapest in Australia.
• Price the warranty per year. A mattress that lasts longer can cost less per year of sleep even if it costs more today.
• Count adjustability as value. Being able to change firmness without a return can save you the hassle of swapping mattresses.

Worked example (illustrative prices, not real shelf prices). Two queen mattresses:

	Illustrative price	Warranty	Cost per year of warranty
Mattress A	$1,000	10 years	$100 a year
Mattress B	$1,200	15 years	$80 a year

In this example the dearer mattress works out cheaper per year of warranty cover. A warranty is not a promise of lifespan, but it is a useful tiebreaker between two mattresses you like equally.

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Which mattress is best for back pain?

Research points to a medium-firm mattress for back pain, not a very firm one. In a randomised, double-blind trial published in The Lancet in 2003, researchers gave 313 adults with chronic non-specific low back pain either a firm or a medium-firm mattress. After 90 days, people on the medium-firm mattresses had better outcomes for pain in bed, pain on rising and disability than those on firm mattresses.

A 2015 systematic review in the journal Sleep Health looked at 24 controlled trials published since 2000. It found that a mattress described as medium-firm and custom inflated, meaning self-adjusted, was best for sleep comfort, sleep quality and spinal alignment.

What that means when you shop:

• Do not assume firmer is better. The Lancet trial was set up because a firm mattress is commonly believed to help back pain, and the medium-firm group did better.
• Adjustability helps. Both studies favour a mattress you can tune to yourself. Adjustable firmness mattresses let you do that at home.
• Trial it. Back pain is personal. A long trial lets you see how your back feels over weeks, not minutes.
• See a professional. If you have ongoing back pain, talk to your GP or physiotherapist. A mattress is not a treatment.

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Best mattress for back pain in Australia in 2026: options to try

For back pain in Australia in 2026, the practical shortlist is a medium-firm mattress with adjustable firmness and a long home trial. Three ways to get there:

• Koala Mattress. According to Koala, its double-sided comfort layer flips between medium-firm and firm, so you can try both feels within the 120 day trial.
• Ecosa Mattress. According to Ecosa, you can switch between three firmness levels by flipping the top layers, starting from medium-firm. Ecosa also has a dedicated mattress for back pain page explaining its approach to spinal alignment.
• Sleeping Giant. If you would rather compare several brands side by side, Sleeping Giant lists brands across spring and foam types in one place, so you can shortlist medium-firm options before ordering online.

Koala vs Ecosa for back pain. Both let you adjust firmness at home. Koala's flip gives two settings (medium-firm and firm); Ecosa's gives three. If you are not sure where on the scale your back is happiest, more settings give you more room to experiment during the trial.

Best mattress for back pain deals. The same deal sources apply: brand sales, bundles with pillows or protectors, and going through ShopBack before you pay. Watch the trial terms on sale items, since conditions can differ.

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What's the best mattress topper in Australia?

The best mattress topper depends on what you want to fix: memory foam adds contouring, wool adds softness and helps with temperature, and high loft fibre adds plush thickness. A topper changes how a bed feels, but it will not fix a mattress that has sagged or lost support.

Topper types you will see in Australia, with examples from Adairs' range at the time of writing:

Topper type	What it does	Example in Adairs' range
Memory foam	Contours to your body, eases pressure points	Adairs Memory Foam Mattress Topper
Wool fleece	Adds softness and helps regulate temperature	MiniJumbuk Sleep Restore Wool Fleece Mattress Topper
High loft fibre	Adds plush thickness like a pillow top	Adairs Luxury High Loft Fitted Mattress Topper

How to choose a topper:

1. Name the problem. Too firm? Add a soft memory foam or high loft topper. Too warm? Look at wool or breathable covers.
2. Check the depth. Thicker toppers change the feel more, but make sure your fitted sheets still fit.
3. Check care. Some toppers are machine washable; others need spot cleaning only.
4. Check the mattress first. If your mattress dips in the middle, a topper will dip with it.

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Best mattress topper in Australia: Koala, Ecosa and Adairs

For mattress toppers in Australia, Adairs, Ecosa and Sleeping Giant all list toppers, while Koala's range at the time of writing centres on mattresses with built-in adjustable comfort layers.

• Adairs lists memory foam, wool fleece and high loft toppers, plus mattress protectors. Its Linen Lovers membership shows member prices on many items, according to Adairs.
• Ecosa lists mattress toppers, underlays and overlays, including an Ultra Plush Topper.
• Sleeping Giant lists mattress toppers, including microfibre toppers, alongside protectors and pillows.
• Koala builds a flippable comfort layer into the Koala Mattress itself, which does part of a topper's job if you are buying a new mattress anyway.

Best mattress topper deals. Topper prices drop in the same sale periods as mattresses and bedding. Compare the same size and type on the day you buy, then go through ShopBack before you pay at stores on ShopBack Australia.

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Best mattress deals in Australia in 2026: where the savings come from

The best mattress deals in Australia in 2026 usually come from brand sales, bundles, member pricing and going through ShopBack before you pay.

• Brand sales. Koala, Ecosa and Sleeping Giant all run sales through the year. For the usual timing, see when mattresses are cheapest in Australia.
• Bundles. Ecosa lists mattress bundles, and pairing a mattress with a protector or pillows can lower the total.
• Member pricing. Adairs' Linen Lovers members see member prices on many toppers and bedding items.
• Free delivery. Koala lists free delivery on mattresses, and Ecosa free delivery in metro areas, at the time of writing.
• Going through ShopBack. Before you pay for an online order, go through ShopBack first, as explained below.

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How ShopBack lowers the price of your mattress

ShopBack is a post-purchase discount: go through it before you pay and the effective price drops. For a mattress, the routine is simple: open ShopBack, tap the store, then check out.

Cashback lowers what you actually pay for an order. It comes back as cash, so it works like a discount on the price, not like points or miles. You can withdraw it to your bank account.

How to do it, step by step:

1. Open ShopBack Australia (app or website) and search for the store: Koala, Ecosa or Sleeping Giant.
2. The current Cashback is shown on that page.
3. Tap through to the store, choose your mattress and check out.
4. Your purchase shows in your ShopBack account.

Working out what the mattress really costs. Your effective price is what you pay minus the cash ShopBack returns. The real rate varies by store and changes over time, so check the live rate on the store's ShopBack page before you buy.

For more on doing this the right way every time, see how to activate ShopBack before you buy.

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Promo codes, sales and ShopBack together

• Promo codes and sale prices. Yes, you can use them with ShopBack. Apply your best promo code or take the sale price, then check out through ShopBack before you pay. Cashback works like a discount code with no code to type in, so it doesn't use up your one promo code.

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Key takeaways

• For most people, the best mattress to buy in Australia is medium-firm, tested at home on a long trial.
• A 2003 Lancet trial of 313 adults found medium-firm mattresses beat firm ones for chronic low back pain.
• Koala offers a 120 day trial and flips between medium-firm and firm; Ecosa offers a 100 night trial and three firmness levels; Sleeping Giant offers several brands with a 100 night sleep promise.
• A topper changes the feel of a bed but will not fix a sagging mattress; Adairs, Ecosa and Sleeping Giant all sell toppers.
• Before you pay for an online order, go through ShopBack first.

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Frequently asked questions

What's the best mattress to buy in Australia?

For most people in Australia, the best mattress is a medium-firm one that you can test at home on a long trial, with a solid warranty. Koala offers a 120 day trial, Ecosa a 100 night trial with three firmness levels, and Sleeping Giant a 100 night sleep promise across several brands. Before you pay online, open ShopBack, tap the store and check out.

Which mattress is best for back pain?

Research points to medium-firm rather than very firm. A 2003 trial in The Lancet of 313 adults with chronic low back pain found that people on medium-firm mattresses had better outcomes for pain in bed, pain on rising and disability than those on firm mattresses after 90 days. A mattress with adjustable firmness lets you fine-tune the feel. Ask your GP or physio about your own back.

What's the best mattress topper in Australia?

The best mattress topper depends on what you want to change. Memory foam toppers add contouring, wool toppers add softness and help with temperature, and high loft fibre toppers add plush thickness. Adairs, Ecosa and Sleeping Giant all sell mattress toppers in Australia. A topper changes the feel of a bed but will not fix a mattress that sags.

Koala vs Ecosa: which mattress is better?

They suit different sleepers. According to Koala, the Koala Mattress has a double-sided comfort layer that switches between medium-firm and firm, with a 120 day trial and a warranty of up to 10 years. According to Ecosa, the Ecosa Mattress adjusts between three firmness levels, with a 100 night trial and a 15-year limited warranty. Compare the size you need on the day you buy.

Is a firm mattress better for a bad back?

Not necessarily. The Lancet trial set out to test the common belief that a firm mattress helps low back pain and found medium-firm mattresses gave better results than firm ones. A 2015 systematic review in Sleep Health also found medium-firm, self-adjusted mattresses were best for sleep comfort, quality and spinal alignment.

How long are mattress trials in Australia?

They vary by brand. At the time of writing, Koala offers a 120 day trial, Ecosa a 100 night trial, and Sleeping Giant a 100 night sleep promise with conditions. Read each trial's terms before you buy, including any return or exchange conditions.

What mattress brands does Sleeping Giant sell?

Sleeping Giant lists mattress brands including Art & Science, Dreamsuite, AH Beard, King Koil and Osborn, plus mattress toppers, protectors and bedding. It says it has 40 years of experience in sleep retail, so it suits shoppers who want to compare several brands in one place.

Does Ecosa sell mattress toppers?

Yes. Ecosa lists mattress toppers, underlays and overlays, including an Ultra Plush Topper, alongside its mattresses and mattress protectors. Check the topper's size, thickness and care instructions against your bed before you buy.

How does ShopBack lower the price of a mattress?

ShopBack is a post-purchase discount: go through it before you pay and the effective price drops. Open ShopBack Australia, tap Koala, Ecosa or Sleeping Giant, then check out, and part of what you spend comes back as cash. Each store's live rate is on its ShopBack page.

Can I use a promo code and ShopBack on the same mattress order?

Yes. Apply your best promo code or card offer at the store, then check out through ShopBack before you pay. Cashback works like a discount code with no code to type in, and the current Cashback is shown on the store's ShopBack page.

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Disclaimer

The views in this article are those of the author. Mattress prices, sales, trial lengths and conditions, warranties, delivery terms and product ranges vary by store and change often; check each store's site before you buy. Prices in the worked examples are illustrative. This article is not medical advice; if you have back pain, talk to your GP or a physiotherapist. ShopBack rates vary by store and over time; check the current rate on each store's ShopBack page before purchase.

This article is general information only and is not financial advice.