Motion Transfer Explained: Why Innerspring and Latex Perform Differently

When shopping for a new mattress, comfort and support are typically top priorities. However, one crucial factor that often gets overlooked is motion transfer. If you share a bed with a partner, pet or child, motion transfer can significantly impact your sleep quality.

What Is Motion Transfer?

Motion transfer refers to how movement on one part of the mattress affects the rest of the bed. If you’ve ever been woken up by your partner turning over or getting out of bed, you’ve experienced motion transfer firsthand. A mattress with high motion transfer will allow movements to ripple across its surface, while a mattress with low motion transfer will absorb and isolate motion, providing more undisturbed sleep.

How Innerspring Mattresses Handle Motion Transfer

Innerspring mattresses have been a popular choice for decades due to their affordability, breathability and support. Many people sleep better on innersprings than they do on foam due to sleep position, weight or sleep surface preferences. One of the only downsides of innerspring for these sleepers is the inability to entirely eliminate motion transfer from these mattresses.

Coil Structure and Connectivity

Traditional innerspring mattresses use interconnected coils, meaning that when one coil moves, the surrounding coils respond. This creates a ripple effect that can be felt across the bed. If your partner shifts positions or gets up in the middle of the night, or your kids or pets climb onto your bed, you’re more likely to feel it on an innerspring mattress.

Pocketed Coils Reduce Motion Transfer

Some modern innerspring mattresses feature individually wrapped or “pocketed” coils, which can help reduce motion transfer. Since these coils move independently, they don’t create the same chain reaction as traditional interconnected coils.

While pocketed coils improve motion isolation, they still don’t absorb movement as effectively as foam mattress materials.

Lack of Cushioning Materials

Most traditional innerspring mattresses rely on a thin comfort layer on top of the coil system, which does little to absorb movement. Some hybrid models include memory foam or latex comfort layers to help counteract motion transfer, but standard innerspring mattresses still fall short in this area compared to other mattress types.

How Latex Mattresses Handle Motion Transfer

Latex mattresses are known for their durability, responsiveness and pressure-relieving properties. They also tend to have lower motion transfer than innerspring mattresses.

Natural Resilience and Contouring

Latex is naturally responsive and contours to the body without creating the sinking feeling that memory foam is known for. This contouring helps to isolate movement rather than spreading it across the mattress.

Density and Elasticity

Latex is denser and more elastic than innerspring coils, which helps it absorb movement. When pressure is applied to a latex mattress, the material compresses in the immediate area but doesn’t cause a ripple effect, keeping movement contained to one side of the bed.

Zoned Support Reduces Motion Transfer

Many latex mattresses are designed with zoned support, meaning different areas of the mattress offer varying levels of firmness to accommodate different body parts. This design not only enhances comfort but also minimizes motion transfer by reducing excessive bounce and movement.

Which Mattress Is Right for You?

If motion transfer is a major concern, especially if you share a bed with a restless sleeper, latex mattresses can be a good choice. They effectively isolate motion and make it less likely that you will be disturbed by your partner’s movements.

However, if you prefer the feel of an innerspring mattress, consider opting for a hybrid model with pocketed coils and a latex or memory foam comfort layer to help reduce motion transfer.

Get a Better Night’s Sleep With the Right Mattress in Spokane, WA

Motion transfer can make or break your sleep experience, especially if you share your bed with someone else. If you’re looking for a high-quality mattress that minimizes motion transfer while maximizing comfort, Twilight Bedding has you covered.

Our selection includes latex and hybrid mattresses designed to provide superior support, pressure relief and motion isolation.

Contact us at Twilight Bedding today by calling (509) 413-2431 for our North Spokane Showroom or (509) 926-2333 for our Spokane Valley Showroom to find the perfect mattress for your needs and wake up feeling refreshed every morning!