Quick Answer: Quick answer: Pocket coils are the superior coil technology for most sleepers, offering independent motion isolation, targeted pressure response, and excellent airflow. Coil gauge (wire thickness) determines firmness, while coil count affects how finely the mattress responds to your body. For fire safety, Canadian law (SOR/2016-183) requires all mattresses to pass ignition testing, but compliance can be achieved without chemical flame retardants using natural wool barriers or inherently flame-resistant materials.
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Four Coil Types Compared
Bonnell Coils
The oldest and most common spring design. Bonnell coils have an hourglass shape, wider at top and bottom, thinner in the middle. The thin centre section flexes under light pressure while the wider sections handle heavier loads. Individual coils are knotted at each end and connected to neighbours via helical wire.
- Pros: Affordable, durable, good for budget mattresses
- Cons: Connected design transfers motion across the entire mattress. When one area compresses, adjacent areas shift. Poor motion isolation for couples
- Best for: Budget single-sleeper mattresses, guest beds
Offset Coils
An evolution of the Bonnell design. The top and bottom of each hourglass coil are flattened, creating a hinging action when pressure is applied. This allows the coil to conform more closely to body contours while maintaining structural durability.
- Pros: Better conformance than Bonnell, more durable, better at following body curves
- Cons: Still connected (motion transfer), more expensive than Bonnell, less common in modern mattresses
- Best for: Mid-range mattresses where budget prevents pocket coils
Continuous Wire Coils
A single wire is formed into rows of S-shaped coils, connected by helical wires. This creates a highly durable, interconnected support system. The single-wire construction means there are no individual coil connection points to fail.
- Pros: Extremely durable, high coil counts (1,000+ in queen), cost-effective manufacturing
- Cons: Maximum motion transfer (the entire surface moves as one unit), least conforming coil type, can feel rigid
- Best for: Institutional use (hotels, dormitories) where durability outweighs comfort
Pocket Coils (Individually Wrapped)
Each coil is individually wrapped in its own fabric pocket. Coils compress independently, responding to pressure point by point rather than as a connected surface. This is the dominant technology in modern hybrid mattresses.
- Pros: Excellent motion isolation (each coil moves independently), precise body conformance, superior airflow between individual pockets, compatible with all comfort layer types
- Cons: Most expensive coil system, requires more manufacturing precision, heavier than other coil types
- Best for: Couples, side sleepers, anyone who wants targeted support and motion isolation
| Feature | Bonnell | Offset | Continuous | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Motion isolation | Poor | Fair | Poor | Excellent |
| Conformance | Low | Moderate | Low | High |
| Airflow | Good | Good | Good | Excellent |
| Durability | Good | Very good | Excellent | Very good |
| Edge support | Moderate | Good | Good | Good (with reinforcement) |
| Cost | $ | $$ | $ | $$$ |
| Common in 2026 | Budget only | Rare | Hotels/institutional | Dominant standard |
"Every mattress we sell uses pocket coils. The technology is so superior for sleep quality that there is no reason to compromise with connected coil systems anymore. The price gap has narrowed enough that pocket coils are accessible at every budget level."
, Brad, Owner, Mattress Miracle (since 1997)
Understanding Coil Gauge
Coil gauge measures the thickness of the wire used to form each coil. Confusingly, lower gauge numbers mean thicker, firmer wire. This is the opposite of what most people expect.
| Gauge | Wire Thickness | Feel | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12-13 | Thickest | Very firm, heavy-duty | Heavier sleepers (250+ lbs), bariatric |
| 13-14 | Thick | Firm to medium-firm | Back sleepers, stomach sleepers, most adults |
| 14-15 | Medium | Medium | General use, combination sleepers |
| 15-16 | Thinner | Medium-soft to soft | Side sleepers, lightweight sleepers |
| 16-17 | Thin | Soft, highly responsive | Micro-coils in comfort layers |
Zoned Coil Systems
Modern pocket coil mattresses often use different gauge coils in different zones. A typical zoned arrangement uses softer (higher gauge) coils in the shoulder zone for pressure relief and firmer (lower gauge) coils in the lumbar zone for spinal support. This provides targeted support without requiring the entire mattress to be one firmness level.
What Coil Count Actually Means
Coil count is heavily marketed but frequently misunderstood. A higher number does not automatically mean a better mattress.
Beyond approximately 800 pocket coils in a queen-size mattress, additional coils provide diminishing returns. The difference between 800 and 1,200 coils is noticeable (finer-grained response). The difference between 1,200 and 2,000 coils is minimal for most sleepers. Some manufacturers achieve extremely high coil counts by using multiple layers of micro-coils, which serves a different purpose (comfort layer responsiveness) than the support core coil count.
| Coil Count | Response Quality | Who Benefits | Typical Price Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| 400-600 | Basic (adequate for most) | Budget-conscious, average builds | Baseline |
| 600-800 | Good (noticeable improvement) | Most adults, couples | +$100-200 |
| 800-1,200 | Very good (fine-grained support) | Side sleepers, varied body zones | +$200-400 |
| 1,200+ | Excellent (premium response) | Maximum conformance priority | +$400+ |
Canadian Fire Safety Regulations
Every mattress sold in Canada must comply with SOR/2016-183, the federal Mattresses Regulations under the Canada Consumer Product Safety Act. This regulation is not optional and applies to all manufacturers, importers, and retailers.
The Test Standard
Mattresses must pass the cigarette ignition test described in CAN/CGSB-4.2 No. 27.7. The test requires that:
- Charring must not extend more than 50 mm from the cigarette placement point
- Combustion must cease within 10 minutes of the cigarette being placed
- The mattress must not produce sustained smouldering or open flame
Health Canada's Position on Chemical Flame Retardants
Importantly, Health Canada has stated that compliance with fire safety standards can be achieved without chemical flame retardants. The agency actively encourages manufacturers to use safe, non-chemical alternatives such as inherently flame-resistant materials (wool, treated polyester) or physical fire barriers.
Fire Barrier Materials Compared
| Barrier Material | Method | Health Concerns | Sleep Impact | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Natural wool | Inherent fire resistance | None (natural fibre) | Positive (thermoregulation, moisture wicking) | Higher |
| Treated rayon/cellulose | Chemical treatment of plant fibre | Minimal (silica-based treatment) | Neutral | Moderate |
| Inherently FR polyester | Flame-resistant polymer | Low (no added chemicals) | Neutral | Moderate |
| Fiberglass sock | Physical barrier woven from glass fibres | Risk of fibre release if cover removed or damaged | Neutral when contained | Low |
| Chemical FR spray | Chemical treatment applied to foam or fabric | Higher (off-gassing concerns, endocrine disruptors) | Potentially negative | Low |
Some budget mattresses use a fiberglass fire barrier sock woven directly around the foam core. If the mattress cover is removed or damaged, microscopic glass fibres can escape and spread throughout the bedroom. These fibres irritate skin, eyes, and lungs. Always check the care label: if it says "Do not remove cover," it may indicate a fiberglass barrier. This is primarily a concern with online-only, budget mattress brands rather than quality in-store brands.
"We only carry mattresses that use non-fiberglass fire barriers. Our Restonic mattresses use safe barrier systems that meet all Canadian fire safety standards without fiberglass or chemical flame retardants. That is a line we will not cross."
, Brad, Owner, Mattress Miracle (since 1997)
Restonic Coil Specifications
| Model | Coil Type | Coil Count (Queen) | Zoned | Fire Barrier | Price (Queen) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ComfortCare | Pocket coil | 1,222 | Yes | Non-fiberglass | $1,619 |
| Revive Reflections ET | Pocket coil | 1,200 | Yes | Non-fiberglass | $2,395 |
| Luxury Silk and Wool | Pocket coil | 884 | Yes (zoned) | Natural wool | $2,395 |
| Revive Tiffany Rose | Pocket coil | 1,188 | Yes | Non-fiberglass | $2,995 |
| Revive St Charles | Pocket coil | 1,188 | Yes | Non-fiberglass | $3,150 |
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