Koala Mattress review: adjustable comfort on a budget

Koala is one of the first, and perhaps most well known mattress-in-a-box brands in Australia. Of course, it now sells all sorts of other products for your home, including sofa beds and other lounge room furniture, shelves, side tables, bed bases, bedding and even outdoor furniture. Product design is done at Koala HQ in Sydney, but the actual manufacturing is done overseas – China specifically.

The Koala website has four different mattresses to choose from, that range from very affordable through to more premium options. The Koala Mattress reviewed here is the current standard model, which costs slightly more than the budget-friendly Koala Sleep Easy (SE). Or, if you are after extra features and a little more luxury, consider the Koala Plus and Koala Luxe mattresses.

We tested the Koala Mattress in the king size, and slept on it for 60 days. We also tested the Koala Sleep Easy, including a period swapping between the two, as a comparison between these affordable options. While we think the standard Koala Mattress is well worth the minor price increase, we also loved the SE in our 4-star Koala SE mattress review.

Koala mattress: Review in brief

• Comfy 3-zone support
• Long 120-night trial
• Low partner disturbance

Mattress preference and sleep comfort varies from person to person, but there are a few things to be aware of. All-foam mattresses, like the ones sold by Koala, are typically great at reducing partner disturbance but typically also feel a bit warmer than a hybrid model that has pocket springs. Heavier sleepers may find that the support from an all-foam mattress is not quite as good as a hybrid foam and spring option. Don’t let that put you off, though, as an all-foam option can still be very comfortable (and many people prefer them) and will give a much better sleep than most old mattresses.

The Koala wesbite rates the standard mattress as medium-firm, but the top layer can be flipped to make it slightly firmer. It’s also available with partner preference, where each side of the bed can have its own firmness level. The mattress comes in single, king single, double, queen, king and super king sizes — all of which are 25cm thick. Koala backs it with a 10-year warranty, giving peace of mind that the mattress is a long-term investment in your sleep.

We tested the mattress through the warmth of summer, using just a fan at night to see how it handled the heat, and also simulating cooler nights with the air-con at 20ºC, as well as blasting at 16ºC. The plush foam on the Koala Mattress is very warm and snuggly when the weather is cold, and while warmer than a hybrid model, breathability is still decent on hotter nights. The Koala Mattress doesn't include dedicated edge support, but the foam layers give plenty of support for sleeping close to the sides, and it’s possible to sit on the end of the bed without it sagging too deeply. The mattress is a normal 25cm thickness, so it won’t make your bed feel too high, or cause problems when fitting sheets.

The mattress is heavier than it looks thoguh — the super king is 45kg, 40.34kg for the king, 33.35kg for the queen, 27.86kg for the double, 23.32kg for the king single and the single is 18.57kg. While less than most hybrid mattresses with pocket springs, it’s heavy enough that the lack of side and end handles is a frustrating oversight from the Koala design team, and moving the mattress can be a chore. This is especially noticeable when rotating the mattress (as per the care instructions), or even just sliding it forwards to make it easier to fit sheets. On the plus side, our gas-lift storage bed had no problem with the weight.

The Koala Mattress uses a 7cm thick layer of Kloudcell foam that's 1cm thicker than the Koala SE. Kloudcell is a type of high-density polyurethane foam and is used over a layer of denser support foam. The mattress includes three support zones to ensure spine alignment — in contrast pocket spring mattresses typically feature 5 or 7 zones of support. The top plush part of the mattress cover can be unzipped and removed for spot cleaning (but not machine washing) and uses quilted, breathable fabric to help regulate temperature and absorb moisture. The Koala Mattress also does a great job damping out any movements, helping reduce partner disturbance.

Read on for our full thoughts, but overall the Koala Mattress is an excellent upgrade for anyone that needs an affordable mattress, but still wants slightly more premium features like adjustable firmness and slightly thicker foam. Note that while the mattress internals have not changed, the fabric for the sides of the cover on our test model is slightly different than shown in the latest Koala website and promo photos.

Koala mattress review: price and deals

• Prices are often discounted
• Refer-a-friend savings
• Student deals available

The standard Koala Mattress is very affordable when compared to options available from other well-known brands, and is a great option for those who want better features than a basic mattress without going overboard on price. For those on a tighter budget, the excellent Koala SE mattress is 20% cheaper, but does without the flippable layers, partner preference and the cover is not removable for washing.

We have included the full list of Koala mattress RRPs below, but there are often sales throughout the year that can help save some money. There are also various bundle deals if you also want to buy other furniture along with your mattress.

The Koala website details a range of other discounts, like 10% off if you sign up to the newsletter and spend more than AU$1,000 — sadly though this discount doesn't stack with other savings. You can also refer a friend and if they buy a mattress, you'll both score AU$200 off. Koala offers 10% off for students, verified using Student Beans.

We also suggest signing up for a Koala account if placing an order, as it allows you to change or update your delivery time at any time, as long as the mattress has not yet shipped out. Plus it's the easiest way to request a return, lodge a warranty issue or cancel an order.

If you live in Sydney, Koala has a program called Second Home, where discounted items and returned furniture are refurbished and resold at 30% to 70% off full price. Unfortunately the Second Home stock can’t be viewed or bought online, and there are no delivery options. That said, the Koala team can help dismantle furniture to fit it in your car, and there are GoGet vans available for hire if you need extra space.

View the Koala mattress at Koala
It's hard to go past features like adjustable firmness and removable cover, not to mention the affordable pricing of the Koala Mattress. It’s also very comfortable, has a long 120-night trial period, and is backed by a 10-year warranty. Still, it's worth checking out the other mattresses on offer from Koala if you are after a more premium option, or even something cheaper.

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Koala mattress review: Delivery, returns and warranty

• Free weekday delivery (almost) Australia wide
• Saturday delivery available for a fee
• Room delivery and mattress unpacking available for a fee

Koala offers an above-average range of flexible delivery options compared to many competing brands. Normal delivery is free on weekdays for mattresses (though not for other furniture) and includes choosing a date (and in some cases, a time) for the delivery. In metro areas, the delivery can be same-day if ordered before 3pm, and you can buy the convenience of a Saturday morning delivery for an extra AU$70.

The mattress is brought to your front door (or typically the foyer area in apartments) and you choose to have it left if not home. The shipping is free Australia wide, but it can take 10 to 15 business days in regional or rural areas. The delivery terms do note that a few very rural postcodes may require you to collect the mattress from the nearest depot.

If you live in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide or Perth, it costs just AU$25 extra to have the mattress brought to a room of choice in your home or apartment. For those in Sydney, Melbourne or Brisbane, for AU$95 you can get the Premium Delivery option where the mattress is unpacked, placed on your bed, and all the leftover packaging is taken away.

The Koala mattress includes a 120-night trial period, and the mattress can be returned for a full refund if it's not for you. That even includes refunding any additional delivery fees paid. The returned items are cleaned and assessed before either being sent to the Koala Second Home store for resale, donated to charity partners or recycled into carpet underlay. The cost of return shipping is free in metro areas of Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Canberra and Perth.

For those who live in regional areas, be aware that a return could involve you having to bring the mattress to the nearest Koala Customer Order Fulfilment Centre in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Canberra or Perth. This might be time consuming or expensive if you have to pay someone else to do it, so if you do live in a rural area, it's worth contacting Koala customer support before ordering just to double check how returns will work at your specific address.

The Koala Mattress is backed up by a 10-year warranty, covering any material failures or lasting indentations deeper than 2.5cm. That’s a decent warranty (and similar to most other brands) and gives peace of mind that your Koala Mattress is going to be comfy and problem-free, or if not, you can have it replaced. To keep the warranty valid, you do need to follow simple but specific care instructions for the mattress. This includes rotating (but not flipping) the mattress every three months as well as giving it a regular vacuum and spots cleans as needed. It's not recommend for use on adjustable beds, and the bed base should have less than 7.5cm between the slats to ensure even support.

Koala mattress review: Design and materials

• Breathable fabric top layer
• Polyurethane foam core
• CertiPUR-US certified materials

One real good thing about all-foam mattresses is that they dampen movement better than hybrid. And while they can also be very comfortable, hybrid mattresses with pocket springs generally better accommodate varied head-to-toe support. Ideal sleeping temperature also varies and comes down to personal preference, but foam tends to retain heat and might not be the best for warm sleepers.

The Koala Mattress has a Tencell Lyocell (a type of natural fibre) fabric cover, but since it’s not machine washable, a breathable mattress protector should also be used to make maintenance easier. The underlying foam is made from polyurethane, and has specially designed cavities internally to provide varied support zones.

When it comes to material certifications, the website notes the following — the foams used in our mattresses are CertiPUR-US certified, meaning they are made without formaldehyde, ozone depleters, heavy metals and flame retardants, and promote indoor air quality through low Volatile Organic Compounds.

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Koala mattress review: Firmness and comfort

• Rated as medium-firm to firm by Koala
• Tom’s Guide firmness rating of 7 / 10 to 8 / 10
• Plush yet offers good spine support

The default medium-firm rating for the Koala mattress (without flipping the top layer) is the same as the non-adjustable SE mattress. The medium-firm rating for the mattress is accurate, and the foam gives deep, even support without creating any pressure points. Spine alignment is also good — though it took a little longer to adjust compared to a pocket spring mattress.

With the upper layer flipped, the mattress is noticeably firmer, but support and alignment is still just as good. It’s important to remember that you should sleep on a new mattress for at least a month before making any decisions, as it can take a while to adjust.

We also tested the comfort of the mattress after adding a memory foam topper, as well as a plush padded overlay. While breathability is reduced by any extra layers, it worked well to add a little more softness if needed. We also tested the mattress with an electric blanket and had no specific issues — though the foam layers do tend to trap in the heat, and it worked better to run the electric blanket at a lower setting than when used on a pocket spring mattress.

Koala mattress review: Performance

• Warm in cold weather
• Low motion transfer
• Good spine alignment

Many aspects of mattress comfort are rather subjective, whereas other performance metrics are more easily quantified. We’ve gone through all the important factors below to help provide a deeper understanding of the features offered by the Koala mattress, and how they might help improve your sleep experience.

After buying a new mattress, it’s important to sleep on it for at least a month before making any decisions — two months is even better. It takes time for your body and muscles to adapt to the new style of support, and what feels uncomfortable or different at first may be much more comfortable after a little time has passed. Just as importantly, a very soft, plush mattress feels amazing for the first few weeks, but after a month or two, spine alignment issues can build up, leading to poor sleep.

Setup

Score: 4 / 5

The Koala Mattress is shipped in two boxes, making handling it a little easier in comparison with those that come in a single box.

The main box has the mattress itself, while the second, smaller box houses the flippable upper layer. At up to 45kg (33.35kg for the queen), it’s not as heavy as most pocket spring mattresses, and the two-box delivery makes it easy to move around when unpacking. The cardboard Koala Mattress box is better constructed than most, but still doesn’t include good handles. While the box is delivered to your door, you do need to take over from there and having two people available during setup is helpful for the larger sizes.

Getting the mattress out of the box, unwrapped and unrolled on the bed isn’t too tricky, and using the included cutter to open the plastic bag and letting the mattress expand is very satisfying. The plastic bag over the mattress is quite thin, so not worth saving to use as a mattress cover if you ever need to move. Frustratingly, the Koala Mattress doesn’t have any handles, which results in a more fiddly setup once out of the box — especially if dealing with the king size. The Koala Mattress is 25cm thick, which is normal and it will work just fine with most sheets and mattress protectors, but it is heavy.

The instructions recommend rotating the mattress every fortnight for the first three months, but there’s no need to flip it. After that, it's considered good practice to rotate the mattress once every three months. Of course, this would be much easier if it was equipped with side and end handles!

Off-gassing

Score: 5 / 5

When opening the sealed packaging of a mattress, any volatiles trapped in the foam are released and an initial chemical odour is expected and completely normal. The Koala Mattress is pretty good in this regard, with a bit of foam smell (mostly from the upper layer) that quickly dissipates. The instructions recommend unboxing in a well-ventilated room (with a fan if you have one) and says the mattress will be ready to sleep on in just a few hours, and fully expanded in 72 hours.

We found that after about 4 hours there was little residual smell, and sleeping on the mattress the same night was just fine. Within 48 hours the mattress had no smell at all unless breathing deeply up close, and even that residual scent was gone within a week. The Koala Mattress is certified as using safe and non-toxic materials, so the small amount of smell produced isn’t harmful at all.

Pressure relief

Score: 4 / 5

Two reviewers of different height and weight slept on the Koala Mattress during testing. While settling into the foam layers isn’t quite as even as a model with pocket springs, the mattress provides excellent pressure relief overall, even when side sleeping.

Koala's mattresses has zoned support in the underlying foam layers, which do a good job of maintaining spine alignment — even for those who weigh more. Both reviewers are prone to lower back pain and stiffness if using a mattress that doesn't help facilitate good sleep posture, and the Koala Mattress did a great job of providing supportive comfort. That said, as expected for an affordable option, the Koala Mattress doesn’t give the same level of pressure relief and spine alignment as a more expensive, premium mattress, like the Sleeping Duck Mach II or Eva Premium Adapt.

Temperature regulation

Score: 3.5 / 5

Even with air-conditioning, a mattress without decent breathability will be uncomfortable during a scorching Australian summer. And even when cooler weather prevails, the same lack of airflow and moisture wicking can quickly build up humidity, leading to clammy sleep. All-in-all the Koala Mattress does a bang-up job of maintaining a steady sleep temperature during both hot and cold nights. It’s definitely on the warmer side, and so not recommended if you deal with hot weather without the benefits of aircon. It’s also important to use a breathable mattress protector (we favour cotton or bamboo) if wanting to have a washable top layer and avoid trapping heat in the mattress.

Overall it's not quite as breathable as a pocket spring mattress (or a specialty option like the Emma Luxe Pro), but it gives a great result for the price.

Edge support

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Score: 4 / 5

The Koala Mattress uses the same foam right to the edges and ends, rather than having a layer with extra support. Still, the mattress is solid enough to allow sitting on the end or sides, and you can sleep right to the edge without feeling like you might roll off.

The edge has a slight tendency to pull inwards under pressure, but not enough to reduce the support by a noticeable amount. Overall the edge is still softer than a mattress with a dedicated edge support layer, but it’s still better than many hybrid options we have tested.

Motion transfer

Score: 4.5 / 5

The foam construction is great at dampening any motion compared to a pocket spring mattress, but very easily disturbed sleepers should consider looking at an even more highly motion isolating latex mattress.

Normal movements in bed, such as a partner tossing and turning, are mostly absorbed. Of course there is a little bit of motion transfer, but it’s through the sheets, or from bumping the side of the mattress when getting in or out of bed.
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Durability

Score: 4 / 5

As expected, the Koala Mattress didn’t show any signs of wear or sagging during our testing, and we have no doubt it will happily last the 10-year warranty period (and longer) without falling apart. The quality of the fabric is good, the stitching uses robust thread, and the cover is reinforced where needed. The lack of handles is frustrating — as is having to spot clean the removable mattress cover rather than being able to throw it in the wash.

We also flipped, rotated and stood the mattress up on its end to see how the foam construction flexed and moved, and couldn’t find any problem areas or weak spots that might result in needing a warranty claim. The instructions suggest rotating the mattress end to end every three months, to help avoid any indentations building up that could affect comfort. If selecting a partner preference layer with different firmness for each sleeper, you rotate the mattress, but not the top layer.

Koala: user reviews

At the time of writing, on productreview.com.au (Australia’s most popular consumer opinion site) the Koala Mattress has 1,375 reviews (1,245 of them 5 star) and an overall 4.9 star rating. The Koala team do offer incentives for reviews, but these are offered for positive or negative feedback and meet the conditions to count as a fair incentive.

The reviews also give further insight into the things other customers find good or bad about the mattress. The vast majority of reviewers rate the standard Koala Mattress as medium-firm while a few call it hard, and a smaller number consider it soft. 161 reviewers noted heat retention as a problem, while 837 didn’t find that an issue at all. Very few reviews call out any specific issue, and almost all suggest it’s great value for money.

The 19 1-star reviews mostly talk about it being too hard or the smell being too strong. The 2- and 3-star reviews also focus on it being too firm, and a few mention it being a bit warm. A number of the negative reviews mention issues that are covered under warranty, and Koala support is quick to respond. The 4-star reviews mostly include minor complaints like delivery mix-ups, it being a bit firmer than expected or about the new mattress smell.

The not-incentivised 5-star reviews love the affordable price, the excellent comfort, easy setup, and simple shopping experience.

Should I buy the Koala mattress?

For anyone looking to upgrade their bedroom without going overboard on the budget, the standard Koala Mattress is definitely worth considering. The price is excellent considering the features and comfort, and the 120-night trial period means you can try it out with no risk. That said, if you live outside of a metro area, it’s a good idea to speak to Koala customer support about your local returns process before purchasing.

Of course, the Koala Mattress does have a few minor niggles. It has no side or end handles, the removable cover can't be machine washed and it may be a bit warm for some sleepers. Still, overall it's a comfy, adjustable mattress that is quite affordable compared to hybrid models.