South African Mattress Manufacturer Moves to End "Hard Mattress" Confusion by Publishing Foam Density on Every Product

Mr Mattress says the word "hard" is costing South African consumers money - and that a single published number would fix it.

BLOEMFONTEIN, South Africa - South African mattress manufacturer Mr Mattress is calling on the local bedding industry to publish foam density figures on every mattress sold, saying vague firmness labels like "extra firm" and "orthopaedic" leave consumers unable to compare products - and frequently buying the wrong bed entirely.

"Every week, buyers ask for the hardest mattress in the shop because their old one sagged," says Andries Taljaard, founder of Mr Mattress, which manufactures at facilities in Gauteng, Cape Town, East London and Bloemfontein. "But 'hard' is not a specification. Foam density - measured in kilograms per cubic metre - is what determines both how firm a mattress feels and how long it lasts. A firmness label without a density figure is just a word."

The problem with "hard"

According to Taljaard, low-density foam can feel firm on a showroom floor yet sag within two years, while high-density foam holds its support for a decade. Because both carry labels like "firm" or "extra firm," consumers cannot tell them apart at the point of sale.

The company also points to research consistently favouring medium-firm mattresses over very hard surfaces for back pain - contradicting the widespread South African belief that a harder bed is automatically better for a sore back.

A published spec on every mattress

Mr Mattress publishes the density of every mattress it manufactures: its firmest everyday model, the Active Foam, carries a 50 kg/m3 high-density core (from R3,399 with a 10-year warranty), while its entry-level Comfort Foam runs 45 kg/m3 (from R2,399). Every mattress sells factory-direct with a 365-night home trial and free nationwide delivery.

"Firmness is personal, and ten minutes in a showroom can't tell you what a year of sleep will," says Taljaard. "That's why we put a number on every product and a full year of trial behind every sale. We'd like to see the rest of the industry do the same."

Consumer checklist released

Alongside the announcement, the manufacturer has published a free buyer's checklist for firm-mattress shoppers at mrmattress.co.za, advising consumers to: request the density figure in kg/m3 before purchasing; treat 45 kg/m3 as the minimum for nightly adult use; check that warranties state a measurable sagging threshold; and favour retailers offering genuine home-trial periods.

About Mr Mattress

Mr Mattress is a South African mattress manufacturer founded by Andries Taljaard, producing high-density foam, memory foam and hybrid mattresses at facilities in Gauteng, Cape Town, East London and Bloemfontein. All products are made with SABS-approved materials and sold factory-direct with a 365-night home trial and free nationwide delivery. The company's showroom is at 47 Piet Human Street, Bloemfontein.