Koala SE mattress review: comfy sleep at an affordable price

Koala is an Australian company that handles product design in Sydney, but like most other mattress brands, the actual construction happens in China. Koala sells more than just mattresses, and offers a large range of other related products, like bed frames, bedding, bedside tables, couches, tables, office furniture and more.

The Koala mattress lineup has four models — all them foam based, but otherwise constructed from a variety of materials, each with different features. The most affordable models are the Koala Sleep Easy (SE) and the standard Koala Mattress, while the newer Koala Plus mattress and premium Koala Luxe mattress are more expensive.

Koala provided the SE mattress in king size for this review, and it was tested back to back with the standard Koala Mattress to enable a detailed comparison between the two affordable options.

Koala SE mattress: Review in brief

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

Mattress preference and sleeping comfort can be a very personal experience, and foam mattresses like the Koala SE will do a good job of reducing partner disturbance, but are generally also a bit warmer than a model with pocket springs. We find that the support from foam by itself is not quite as good as a hybrid foam and spring mattress, but an all-foam option can still be very comfortable and will give a much better sleep than an older box spring mattress.

Koala has designed the SE mattress to be an all-round option that will suit the majority of sleepers without needing further customisation. The SE is rated by Koala as medium-firm, but in practice we found it feels slightly softer than it is. The mattress comes in Single, King Single, Double, Queen and King sizes — all of which are 23cm thick. Koala offers a 10-year warranty, giving peace of mind that the mattress is a worthwhile investment in your future sleep.

We tested the Koala SE through the warmth of summer, and simulated cooler nights with air conditioning set to 16ºC to ensure we experienced closer to all-season comfort. Overall, the SE mattress is warm and snuggly when the weather is cold, and has enough breathability to keep you reasonably cool on hotter nights. The SE has no specific edge support, and while it’s not as good as a mattress with a dedicated firmer layer around the outside, there was no issue sleeping close to the sides, and sitting on the end of the bed didn’t cause undue sagging. At 23cm thick, normal sheets fit just fine, and the SE mattress won’t make your bed feel too high.

The SE mattress is heavier than it looks — the king size weighs in at 32.5kg, the queen is 30.7kg, the double is 23.9kg, the king single is 19.8kg and the single is 16.2kg. While weighing less than most pocket spring mattresses, it’s still heavy enough that the lack of side and end handles is a noticeable deficiency if you need to move the mattress — especially when rotating it as per the care instructions, or just sliding it forwards on the bed frame when fitting sheets. On the plus side, the modest weight is no problem for lift-up beds with storage underneath.

The Koala SE uses a 6cm thick layer of Kloudcell foam, which is the brand’s proprietary high-density polyurethane foam mix, over the top of a layer of denser support foam. The mattress features three-zone support for optimal spine alignment and comfort — in contrast pocket spring mattresses typically feature 5 or 7 zones of support. The mattress cover can’t be removed, and uses quilted, breathable fabric to help regulate temperature and absorb moisture. Koala promises zero partner disturbance, and while it’s not quite zero, the mattress does a great job of minimising movement transfer.

Read on for our full thoughts, but all in all, the Koala SE mattress is a great option for those who just want a mattress that is simple and affordable, yet still very comfortable.

Koala SE mattress review: price and deals

• A relatively affordable option
• Bundle deals available
• Subscriber and student discounts

The Koala SE is one of the most affordable mattresses available from a well-known Australian brand, and is a great mattress that can fit a tighter budget. That said, the standard Koala Mattress with its flippable layer is not much more expensive, and is worth considering if you want to be able to fine tune your sleep experience.

Keep in mind that we have quoted list price in the table above, but Koala often runs sales throughout the year that can save a decent amount of money. Koala also offers various bundle deals if you also want to buy other furniture like a bed and could be more economical.

Koala has a few discount offers available year-round, like 10% off if you sign up to receive marketing emails and spend over AU$1,000 (this discount doesn't stack with other discounts). You can also refer a friend and score $200 for both of you if they make a purchase. Koala also has a 10% student discount available, verified via Student Beans.

If you sign up for a Koala account before or during the order process, you can change or update your delivery time or details (provided your order is not already en route), as well as request a return, lodge a warranty issue or cancel an order.

If you are based in Sydney, Koala has a program called Second Home, where returned furniture (and other discounted products) are refurbished and resold at 30% to 70% off the new price. The Koala Second Home program is in-person only, and there’s no stock checker, online purchase or delivery options — though there are GoGet vans on site and the team can disassemble furniture to help you fit it in a vehicle.

Koala SE mattress review: Delivery, returns and warranty

• Free weekday delivery (almost) Australia wide
• 120-night trial period
• 10-year warranty

Koala has a range of flexible options that can help make getting the mattress delivered a little easier. Standard delivery is free on weekdays for mattresses (though not for other furniture) and includes selecting a date (and in some cases, a time) for the delivery. For metro areas, the delivery can be same-day if ordered before 3pm and, for an extra AU$70, you can upgrade to the convenience of a Saturday morning delivery.

The mattress is carried to your front door (or foyer area in some apartments) and you can choose to have the mattress left if not home. Free delivery is available Australia wide, though regional or rural areas have an expected delivery timeframe of 10 to 15 business days, rather than same or next day. Koala does note that a few far-flung rural postcodes may not have any viable delivery options and you will need to collect the mattress from the nearest depot.

If you live in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide or Perth, it costs AU$25 extra to have the mattress delivered to a room of choice in your home or apartment. For those in Sydney, Melbourne or Brisbane, there’s even a AU$95 Premium Delivery option that includes the mattress being unpacked and set up, then all cardboard and plastic packaging removed.

View the Koala SE mattress at Koala
Mattress choices are always subjective, but it's hard to argue with the affordable pricing here. Even more so considering how comfortable it is. Still, it's worth checking out the other Koala mattresses if you are after specific features such as adjustable firmness levels.

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Koala offers a 120-night trial period, and if you aren't completely satisfied, the mattress can be returned for a full refund — including any extra delivery fees paid. The returned products don’t go to waste and are thoroughly cleaned and assessed before either being sent to the Koala Second Home program for resale, donated to those in need through charity partners or recycled into carpet underlay. The return shipping is covered for all products in metro areas of Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Canberra and Perth.

One potential catch for those who live in a regional area — return may require you to transport the mattress (or pay someone to transport the mattress) to the nearest Koala Customer Order Fulfilment Centre in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Canberra or Perth. This could potentially be very time consuming or expensive, and if you live in a rural area, it’s well worth contacting Koala customer support before ordering to clarify how returns will work at your address.

The Koala SE mattress has a 10-year warranty that covers any material failures or lasting indentations deeper than 2.5cm. That’s pretty standard, depending on the mattress type, and gives decent peace of mind that your Koala mattress is going to be comfortable for a long time. Koala does have specific care instructions for the SE mattress to ensure the warranty is valid, which includes rotating (but not flipping) the mattress every three months as well as giving it a regular vacuum and spot clean as needed.

Koala SE mattress review: Design and materials

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

The Koala SE design keeps things very simple, with no adjustable layers, or even a removable cover. Like all Koala mattresses, there are no pocket springs hiding inside, and the SE is foam all the way through. It offers 3-zone support (the same as the Koala Mattress), to better accomodate shoulders, hips and legs, whereas the more expensive Koala Plus has 5-zone support, and the Koala Luxe offers 7 zones.

While we have slept on very comfortable all-foam mattresses previously, pocket springs generally better accommodate varied head to toe support. Personal preference for sleeping temperature varies, but foam tends to retain heat and might not be the best for warm sleepers. On the flip side, foam mattresses like the SE give excellent movement dampening.

The Koala SE has a Tencell Lyocell (a type of natural fibre) fabric cover, but since it is not removable, a breathable mattress protector should also be used to make maintenance easier. The underside of the cover has little rubber nodules fused to the surface to help ensure the mattress does not move around on your bed base. The foam inside the mattress is made from polyurethane, and has specially designed cavities internally to provide the varied support zones.

When it comes to material certifications, Koala 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 SE review: Firmness and comfort

• Rated as medium-firm by Koala
• Tom’s Guide firmness rating of 7 / 10
• Decent spine and overall support

The medium-firm rating for the Koala SE is the same as the default option on the flippable layer Koala Mattress with adjustable firmness. Of course, while you can’t adjust the firmness on the SE, as with any mattress, you can add your own topper to fine tune the comfort.

We found the medium-firm rating for the Koala SE to be accurate, and the foam has enough give to ensure even support without creating any pressure points. Overall the spine alignment is quite good — though it took a little longer to adjust to the mattress compared to swapping to a pocket spring setup. When trying out a new mattress you should sleep on it for at least a month before making any decisions, as it can take a while to adjust, depending on your previous mattress.

We also tested the mattress with both a memory foam topper, and a plush padded overlay. While breathability is naturally reduced, the SE mattress worked well with the additions, and it’s an effective way to add a little extra 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 SE review: Performance

• Snug in cold weather
• Minimal motion transfer
• Decent spine alignment

Some aspects of mattress comfort are very 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 SE mattress, and how they might help improve your sleep experience.

Keep in mind that if trialling a new mattress, you should 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 different mattress, 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 at first, but longer term spine alignment issues can build up, leading to poor sleep.

Setup

Score: 4 / 5

For those who have not had the mattress-in-a-box adventure, it can be a fun experience. The Koala SE mattress comes in a single large box — which can be quite large if opting for the king size. At up to 32.6kg, the foam Koala SE is not as heavy as most pocket spring mattresses, and is easy enough to move around before unpacking. The cardboard box that Koala uses 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.

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 when or if you're moving house. The Koala SE mattress doesn’t have any handles, which (despite the comparative low weight of the mattress) does mean setup is a little more fiddle than it needs to be — especially if dealing with the king size.

The Koala SE mattress is 23cm thick, which is quite standard (tending towards being on the thinner side), and it will work just fine with any normal sheets and mattress protectors. The weight (up to 32.5kg the king size) is lighter than most and we had no trouble using it with a gas-lift storage bed.

Koala recommends rotating the mattress every fortnight for the first three months, but there’s no need to flip it. After that, Koala considers it good practice to rotate the mattress once every three months. Of course, this would be a bit easier if it was equipped with side and end handles!

Off-gassing

Score: 5 / 5

Any volatiles trapped in with the mattress are released when the packaging is opened, so an initial plastic-type odour is expected and completely normal. The Koala SE mattress is pretty good in this regard, with a bit of foam smell that quickly dissipates. Koala recommends unboxing in a well-ventilated room (with a fan if you have one) and suggests the mattress will typically be ready to sleep on in just a few hours, and fully expanded in 72 hours.

In our testing, after a few hours there was little residual smell, and sleeping on the mattress the same night was not a problem. After a day or two the mattress had no smell at all unless breathing deeply up close with no sheet, and even that went away in less than a week. The SE mattress is certified safe, with non-toxic materials used, 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 SE mattress during testing. While the give when settling into the foam isn’t quite as even as a pocket spring mattress, the SE provided excellent pressure relief overall, even when side sleeping.

Spine alignment is quite good — even for those who weigh more — due to the foam layers providing zoned support. Both reviewers are prone to lower back pain and stiffness if using a mattress that doesn't help facilitate good sleep posture, and the SE mattress did an admirable job of providing the required supportive comfort to avoid waking up stiff and sore. That said, as expected for an affordable option, the SE doesn’t give the same level of pressure relief and spine alignment as a more expensive, premium mattress. While overall the comfort is great (and we would happily sleep on the Koala SE every day), those with more specific needs should look at higher-end mattresses.

Temperature regulation

Score: 3.5 / 5

Even with air-conditioning, a hot mattress can make a scorching Australian summer miserable. 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 SE mattress does a reasonably good job of maintaining a steady sleep temperature during both hot and cold nights. It’s definitely on the warmer side, so not ideal if you live somewhere with hot summers and no aircon, but that is normal for an all-foam mattress. 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 the SE is not as breathable as pocket spring mattresses as they trap air within the open spaces of the springs, but that’s perfectly fine considering the affordable price.

Edge support

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Score: 4 / 5

The Koala SE mattress has the same firmness foam all the way to the sides and end of the mattress, but still manages to give reasonable edge support. The mattress is solid enough to allow sitting on the end or sides, and you can sleep right to the edge without feeling like it sags downwards. Importantly, the edge doesn’t tend to pull in too far when under pressure, which helps give more even support. While the edge is still softer than a mattress with a dedicated edge support layer, the SE gives good results considering the affordable price point.

Motion transfer

Score: 4.5 / 5

The foam construction of the Koala SE does a great job of decreasing motion transfer compared to pocket spring mattress, but very easily disturbed sleepers might be better looking at an even more highly motion isolating latex mattress.

Normal movements in bed are quickly damped out, and rolling over or changing position doesn’t cause any noticeable movement for another sleeper. There is some movement transfer of course, but it’s mostly through the sheets, or if the side of the mattress is jarred when getting in or out of bed.

Durability

Score: 4 / 5

As expected, the SE 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 a minor frustration — as is having to spot clean the mattress rather than being able to take the cover off for washing.

We also flipped, rotated and stood the mattress up on its end to see how the foam construction flexed and moved, and found everything very well attached. There’s no indication at all the Koala SE mattress has any weak spots that may cause the need for a future warranty claim. Koala does recommend rotating the mattress end to end every three months, to help avoid any indentations building up that could affect comfort.

Koala SE: user reviews

At the time of writing, on productreview.com.au (Australia’s most popular consumer opinion site) the Koala SE mattress has 173 reviews (164 of them 5-star), and an overall 4.9 star rating. While not a huge number of reviews compared to some mattresses, it’s still plenty to see that customers almost all love the SE. Koala does 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. 120 reviewers rate the Koala SE at medium firmness, while 9 call it hard, 21 call it soft, and one rates it very soft. Only 24 reviewers noted heat retention, while 108 didn’t find that an issue at all. 4 reviews note sagging, white 143 had no problem.

The lone one-star review had an issue with sagging just one month in, but Koala customer support gave an immediate reply mentioning warranty coverage, and that the team was reaching out to make it right. The other less than 5-star reviews speak to minor things like delivery mix ups, the mattress being firmer than normal — or give 4 stars without any specific complaints.

The 5-star reviews are especially happy about the affordable price, the great comfort, easy setup, and the simplicity of the ordering process, with clear communications from Koala.

Should I buy the Koala SE mattress?

For those in the market for an affordable mattress, the Koala SE is definitely worth adding to the short list. The price is very budget conscious without sacrificing comfort, and the 120-night trial period makes it easy to try out risk-free. 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 SE does have a few minor niggles. It has no side handles, the cover can’t be removed for washing and it may trap a bit too much heat for warmer sleepers. Still, overall the Koala SE mattress is a very affordable yet comfy option that will suit buyers on a budget.