Memory Foam vs. Latex: An Honest Comparison

Memory foam vs latex: The real differences

When people walk into my factory, they often ask about the difference between these two mattress types. While they are both technically foam mattresses, they behave nothing alike. Memory foam is a synthetic material made from polyurethane foam with added chemicals to give it a "viscoelastic" property. This viscoelastic foam is designed to soften when it meets body heat, allowing it to contour closely to your shape.

In contrast, latex foam—specifically natural latex—is harvested from the sap of rubber trees. It is a natural material that is resilient and bouncy. While memory foam relies on your body heat to mould to your shape, latex relies on its inherent elasticity to support you.

Why I prefer natural latex foam

In my experience, natural latex is the superior material for quality mattresses. It has an open-cell structure and is usually manufactured with "pincore" holes. These holes allow for natural breathability, which is a massive advantage over the closed-cell structure of traditional memory foam. When I open up a 15-year-old latex mattress, the latex foam often looks exactly like the day it was poured. The same cannot be said for polyurethane foam, which tends to oxidise and crumble over time.

Understanding the memory foam mattress

A memory foam mattress is popular because of its unique feel. It offers excellent pressure relief because it distributes your body weight evenly across the surface. This can be great for side sleepers who need to cushion their shoulders and hips. However, because memory foam is a synthetic latex alternative that reacts to temperature, it has a tendency to trap body heat.

Memory foam: The "sink-in" sensation

The defining characteristic of memory foam is how the foam slowly returns to its original shape after you move. This is known as slow recovery. This provides a "hugged" sensation that many find comforting. Because it absorbs energy so well, memory foam is excellent for motion isolation. If your partner tosses and turns, you are less likely to feel it on a memory foam bed.

However, this "hug" comes with a cost. Because the memory foam mattress wraps around you, it creates more surface area contact with your skin. This leads to increased heat retention. If you are one of the many hot sleepers in Australia, an average memory foam mattress can feel like sleeping on a heat battery.

The chemistry of memory foam

As a manufacturer, I have to be honest about what goes into these beds. Memory foam is made from polyurethane foam. During the manufacturing process, various synthetic materials are added to achieve that slow-sink feel. This can lead to off-gassing, which is the release of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). While most of this dissipates within a few days, some people with chemical sensitivities or allergy sufferers may find the initial smell bothersome.

Latex mattress: The responsive alternative

If you dislike the feeling of being "stuck" in your bed, a latex mattress is usually the better option. Latex is a high-density material—usually 70kg/m³ or higher—which gives it a very different feel to the 50–60kg/m³ density of most memory foam.

Natural latex vs synthetic latex

Not all latex foam is created equal. You will often see three types on the market:

1. Natural latex: Made from 100% rubber tree sap. It is the most durable and naturally hypoallergenic.

2. Synthetic latex: Made from styrene butadiene rubber (SBR). It is cheaper to produce but doesn't have the same lifespan as the natural version.

3. Blended latex: A mix of both.

I exclusively use natural latex in my factory because it provides the best deep compression support and is naturally resistant to dust mites and mould.

Dunlop latex vs Talalay latex

There are two main ways to turn liquid latex into a solid mattress:

• Dunlop latex: The liquid latex is poured into a mould and baked. This results in a firmer support layer that is slightly denser at the bottom. It is a fantastic choice for stomach sleepers who need their spine aligned.

• Talalay latex: This involves a vacuum and flash-freezing step. It results in a more consistent, lighter feel, often used in quality mattresses for a softer comfort layer.

Latex vs memory foam: Heat and temperature regulation

One of the biggest complaints I hear about foam mattresses is that they sleep hot. Let’s look at the physics of why you might retain body heat on one and not the other.   After years of customer feedback and testing, here's how heat retention breaks down:

• 60% — Amount of foam (the dominant factor)

• 20% — Density of foam (higher density holds more heat)

• 15% — Type of foam (memory foam worst, latex best)

• 5% — Fabric and covers

A thin layer of dense foam sleeps cooler than a thick layer of light foam. Thickness matters more than anything else.

Why memory foam retains heat

Memory foam has a closed-cell structure. Think of it like a sponge with very tiny holes that don't let air through easily. Memory foam needs to absorb and retain body heat to soften. As the foam mattresses soften, you sink deeper, which creates more contact with the foam, which then traps even more body heat. Memory foam stores approximately 70 times more heat than air by volume. When a mattress is 25–30cm of solid memory foam with no springs, you're sleeping on a heat battery. This isn't a defect. It's physics. This is why gel memory foam was invented to try and mask this heat retention.

Temperature regulation: Latex

Natural latex has a natural breathability that synthetic materials struggle to match. Because it is an open-cell structure with pincore holes, it acts as a heat sink. Instead of the material becoming a "battery" for your warmth, the temperature regulation of latex allows heat to conduct away from your body. Latex doesn't "sleep cool" exactly. It redistributes heat differently than closed-cell foams like memory foam. The result is that you don't wake up in a pool of sweat at 3am.

Latex or memory foam: Support and spinal alignment

Whether you choose latex or memory foam, the goal is proper spinal alignment. Your new mattress should keep your spine aligned regardless of your sleeping position.

• For back sleepers: You need a balance of pressure relief and support. Both memory foam and latex can work here, provided the density is high enough to prevent your hips from sinking too low.

• For side sleepers: Memory foam often wins on providing pressure relief for the shoulders. BUT, if you are a heavier sleeper, you might find that you bottom out on lower-quality foams.

• For stomach sleepers: I almost always recommend latex. Stomach sleepers need firmer support to prevent their lower back from arching, and latex provides that "push back" that memory foam lacks.

Gel memory foam: Does it actually work?

Many companies market gel memory foam as the solution to sleep hot issues. They infuse the polyurethane foam with gel beads or layers of "cooling" material. In my 15 years of experience, this is mostly marketing fluff.

While gel memory foam might feel cool to the touch for the first ten minutes, it cannot overcome the laws of physics. Once the gel has absorbed as much heat as it can, the heat retention of the underlying foam mattresses takes over. If you want a mattress that stays cool all night, you are better off reducing the amount of foam altogether or choosing natural latex.

Latex and memory foam: Comparing durability

This is where the latex vs memory foam debate usually ends for my customers. A natural latex mattress is highly durable. It is common for a natural latex bed to last 15–20+ years without developing significant pressure points or body dips.

An average memory foam mattress has an expected lifespan of about 5–7 years. Over time, the heat cycling—where your body warms the foam every night, and it cools every day—causes the polyurethane foam to break down. Eventually, it loses its ability to return to its original shape, leaving you with a permanent dip in the middle of the bed.

Body weight and mattress choice

Your body weight plays a massive role in which mattress types will work for you.

• Light sleepers (under 70kg): You don't put as much stress on the material. You can often get away with a memory foam mattress for a bit longer because you don't compress the cells as deeply.

• Heavier sleepers (90kg+): I strongly advise against an all-foam memory foam mattress. The body weight causes deep compression, which generates more heat and accelerates the breakdown of the foam. Latex or a hybrid with heavy-duty springs is a much better investment for long-term sleep health.

The issue of off-gassing and harmful chemicals

Because memory foam is a petroleum-based product, it can release a "new car" smell when first unboxed. This is off-gassing. While reputable brands ensure their foams are certified to be free of harmful chemicals, it is still a synthetic material.

Natural latex mattresses are generally considered the "greener" choice. Since they are made from botanical sources, they have very low off-gassing and are naturally resistant to dust mites and other allergens. For allergy sufferers, this makes latex the right mattress choice.

Final Thoughts from the Factory Floor

Memory foam and latex serve different needs.

Choose memory foam if:

• You want deep body-contouring and the "hug" sensation

• You sleep in one position and don't move much

• You're on a tighter budget upfront

• You don't run hot

• You're a lighter sleeper (under 70kg)

Choose latex if:

• You move around during sleep

• You sleep hot or live in a warm climate

• You want a mattress that lasts 15–20 years

• You're a heavier sleeper (90kg+)

• You prefer responsive support over slow-sinking foam

The debate often frames this as memory foam versus latex. But the real question is how much foam you want between you and your springs — and what type of foam it should be.

Less foam means less heat. Quality foam means longer life. And springs mean you're not relying on foam alone for structural support. Choosing between memory foam vs latex shouldn't be about marketing slogans. It's about how the materials handle body heat, how they support your body weight, and how long they will last before ending up in the bin.

I’ve seen that the best results often come from combining technologies. Using a natural latex layer over high-quality pocket springs gives you the pressure relief and motion isolation of a foam bed, but with the temperature regulation and durability that only springs and natural materials can provide.

Before you buy a new mattress, think about the long-term cost. Spending a bit more on latex now can save you thousands of dollars and several trips to the mattress store over the next two decades.