The B&B Owner's Guide to Mattresses: Choosing the Right Bed for Guest Comfort

As a B&B owner, providing a restful night's sleep is paramount to ensuring guest satisfaction and encouraging repeat visits. The choice of mattress plays a crucial role in this experience, directly impacting comfort, support, and overall guest impressions.​

Selecting the ideal mattress for your bed and breakfast involves balancing comfort, durability, and compliance with industry standards. Unlike domestic mattresses, those used in hospitality settings must withstand frequent use and meet specific fire safety regulations.​

In this comprehensive guide, we'll explore the various types of mattresses suitable for B&Bs, delve into essential terminology, and discuss regulatory requirements to help you make informed decisions. Whether you're furnishing a new establishment or upgrading existing beds, understanding these factors will ensure your guests enjoy a comfortable and safe stay.

What Makes a Good Mattress for B&Bs?

When running a bed and breakfast, your guests' sleep experience can directly influence reviews, ratings, and return bookings. That’s why it’s essential to invest in mattresses that meet the specific needs of the hospitality industry—not just what you might use at home.

Key Features to Look For:

• Durability: B&B mattresses need to handle far more use than domestic ones. Look for robust construction, reinforced edges, and high-quality materials like pocket springs or high-density foam that can maintain shape and comfort over time.
• Comfort: A medium to medium-firm feel tends to suit the widest range of guests. Pocket sprung mattresses are a popular choice because they offer excellent support while adapting to each sleeper’s body.
• Easy Maintenance: Look for mattresses with breathable covers or anti-bacterial properties to promote hygiene. Removable, wipeable covers or mattress protectors can also be a big plus for turnaround efficiency.
• Fire Safety Compliance: All mattresses used in hospitality settings must meet UK fire safety regulations—specifically Crib 5 (Source 5) standards. This ensures the mattress is flame-retardant and legally safe for use in guest accommodation.

Types of Mattresses Suitable for B&Bs

Choosing the right mattress type is key to offering comfort, flexibility, and long-term value. Here are the most common options available for B&B owners:

Zip and Link Mattresses

Zip and link mattresses are a popular choice for B&Bs due to their versatility. They consist of two separate mattresses that can be zipped together to form one larger bed—typically a king or super king size—or separated to create two singles. This allows you to adapt rooms easily depending on whether you're hosting couples, families, or solo travellers.

Zip and link beds don’t compromise on comfort. High-quality models provide a seamless sleeping surface when joined and offer excellent motion isolation when separated. They’re ideal for maximising occupancy without sacrificing the guest experience.

Pocket Sprung Mattresses

Pocket sprung mattresses contain individually wrapped springs that move independently, offering targeted support and reducing motion transfer. This type of mattress is excellent for guest comfort as it contours to the body, promoting better spinal alignment.

They're durable, breathable, and often used in high-end hotels and B&Bs. A pocket sprung mattress with a medium to medium-firm tension is often the best all-round option for a variety of guest preferences.

Open Coil Mattresses

Open coil (also known as traditional sprung) mattresses are made from a single looped spring system. They're typically more affordable and lightweight, which can be beneficial for smaller B&Bs working with tighter budgets or where beds are moved frequently.

While not as luxurious as pocket sprung alternatives, modern open coil mattresses have come a long way in comfort and can still offer a good sleep experience when chosen from a reputable supplier.

Memory Foam Mattresses

Memory foam mattresses mould to the sleeper’s body, offering high levels of pressure relief and comfort. They’re particularly useful in guest rooms where support needs to be consistent, even if the mattress gets frequent use.

However, they can retain heat, so look for models with cooling gel layers or breathable covers—especially important in warmer months or for guests sensitive to temperature.

Mattress Regulations and Fire Safety Standards for B&Bs

When running a B&B or guest accommodation, it’s not just comfort that matters—safety and legal compliance are equally critical. All mattresses used in UK hospitality settings must meet strict fire safety regulations to ensure guest wellbeing and to protect your business from liability.

What Is Crib 5?

Crib 5 (also known as Source 5) is the fire safety standard required for mattresses used in commercial and hospitality environments. It involves a flammability test to ensure the mattress can withstand ignition from a small flame and smouldering materials, such as a cigarette or match.

If you’re operating a B&B, you are legally required to use Crib 5-compliant mattresses. Domestic mattresses (such as those sold on our sister website; MyBedFrames.co.uk), even high-quality ones, usually don’t meet this standard—so it’s essential to choose products specifically labelled as “contract mattresses” or “Crib 5 approved.”

Why It Matters

• Legal Compliance: Using non-compliant mattresses can invalidate your insurance and put you at risk of fines or legal action in the event of a fire.
• Guest Safety: Crib 5 mattresses are designed to resist ignition and reduce the spread of flames, giving guests more time to evacuate in an emergency.
• Professional Standards: Crib 5 certification is a mark of quality and professionalism in the hospitality industry, showing guests that you take safety seriously.

All mattresses supplied by HotelContractBeds are Crib 5 certified and fully compliant with UK fire safety laws, giving you peace of mind and protecting your reputation.

Choosing the Right Mattress Size for Your Rooms

Selecting the right mattress size is just as important as the type. In a B&B setting, you’re often working with rooms of varying shapes and sizes—so getting this right helps balance comfort, space efficiency, and flexibility.

Consider Your Guest Types

Think about who typically stays in each room. Are you mainly hosting couples, families, solo travellers, or a mix?

• Zip and link super king beds are ideal for maximum flexibility, easily converting between a large bed for couples and two singles for individual guests.
• Standard double mattresses (135cm x 190cm) work well in smaller rooms but may feel cramped for two adults.
• King size mattresses (150cm x 200cm) offer more space and a touch of luxury, which can positively influence guest reviews.
• Small singles or singles (75cm–90cm wide) are useful for children's rooms or compact twin setups.

Don’t Forget Room Flow

Make sure guests have enough room to walk around the bed comfortably and access other furniture like wardrobes and desks. In tight spaces, an ottoman bed with built-in storage or a smaller divan base can help maintain functionality without sacrificing comfort.

Mattress Depth

A deeper mattress can look more luxurious and feel more supportive, but make sure it works with your bed frame and leaves enough height for guests to get in and out comfortably. A good depth is usually between 25cm and 30cm for B&B use.

Trusted by B&B Owners Across the UK

At HotelContractBeds, we specialise in supplying high-quality, contract-grade mattresses to B&Bs, guesthouses, and hotels throughout the UK. Every mattress we produce is Crib 5 certified, built to last, and designed with guest comfort in mind.

Whether you're furnishing a new property or upgrading worn-out beds, we offer a wide range of options to suit different needs, including zip and link mattresses, pocket sprung designs, memory foam models, and complete divan sets. We also provide fast, free delivery across mainland UK and manufacture everything here in Britain to ensure quality control at every step.

If you're unsure which mattress is right for your B&B, our expert team is always happy to help. Just give us a call on 01234 834693, and we’ll guide you toward the best choice for your property and your guests.

Final Thoughts

Providing a great night's sleep is one of the most important things you can offer your guests—and it starts with the right mattress. By choosing a bed that balances comfort, durability, safety, and practicality, you’ll help ensure glowing reviews and return bookings.

From flexible zip and link setups to fire-safe, contract-grade designs, investing in the right sleep solutions pays off in the long run. At HotelContractBeds, we make it easy to bring hotel-level quality to your B&B, backed by expert advice and dependable service.

Explore our full range online or contact our team today—we’re here to help you create a better guest experience, one mattress at a time.