Koala Mattress Review
The Koala Mattress is one of Australia’s most recognisable mattress-in-a-box products and has remained a major player in the online mattress market since its original release in 2015.
Now in its updated 2024 version, the Koala Mattress combines a dense all-foam construction with a simple customisable firmness system that allows users to choose between a medium-firm and firm feel.
The current Koala Mattress forms part of Koala’s mattress range that also includes the entry-level SE Mattress and the flagship Koala Luxe Mattress.
In this Koala Mattress review, we take a close look at its comfort, support, firmness options, build quality, motion isolation, and overall value for money. We also compare its different firmness configurations to help you decide whether this mattress is right for you.
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✏️ Product summary
- Customisable foam mattress
- Choice of firm or medium-firm
- Mattress in a box
- 120 night trial period
- 10 year warranty
- Current best price is $935 (queen)
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Purchase and delivery
How do I buy the Koala Mattress?
The Koala Mattress can be conveniently ordered online through the Koala website and delivered to almost anywhere in Australia.
As with most mattress-in-a-box products, the mattress arrives compressed and boxed for easier transport. Due to its customisable design though, larger sizes are delivered in two separate boxes – one containing the main support layer and the other containing the comfort layer.
Koala offers free standard delivery on mattress orders across major metropolitan areas, with same day delivery available in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, and Adelaide for many in-stock products ordered before 3pm on weekdays.
Our mattress arrived in good condition and the recyclable packaging was a nice touch. Koala also includes a small koala toy inside the packaging, which adds a bit of personality to the unboxing experience.
Due to the two-box delivery system, setup takes slightly longer than some competing mattress-in-a-box products. We recommend having two people available for unpacking and assembly.
You can see how to set up the Koala Mattress in the video below:
Koala also offers premium delivery services in selected metro areas, including optional assembly and rubbish removal for certain products.
As per our standard testing process, we allowed the mattress 24 hours to fully decompress before testing.
Aesthetics and presentation
What does it look like in real life?
The Koala Mattress has a clean and modern appearance with a softer, more minimalist aesthetic than many competing mattress-in-a-box products. Its white sleep surface and muted green side panels give it a fresh and contemporary look that should suit a wide range of bedroom styles.
At 25cm high, the mattress has a relatively low-profile design, although it still feels substantial enough for everyday use. The quilted side fabric, subtle piping, and neatly integrated branding all contribute to a polished overall presentation.
Koala has also clearly placed attention on sustainability-focused presentation, with the natural colour palette and eco-friendly branding aligning closely with the company’s broader identity.
Mattress construction
What’s inside the Koala Mattress?
The Koala Mattress is an all-foam mattress that combines pressure-relieving comfort layers with a dense support core. Its overall construction focuses heavily on simplicity, motion isolation, and ease of customisation.
1. Breathable Tencel™ Lyocell Cover
The cover of the Koala Mattress is made from a blend of recycled polyester and carbon-zero TENCEL™ Lyocell fibres. This cover is designed to assist with airflow and moisture regulation during sleep.
The cover also integrates neatly into the overall mattress design and can be unzipped to access the internal comfort layer for firmness adjustments.
2. Kloudcell™ Comfort Layer
Beneath the cover sits Koala’s Kloudcell® comfort layer – a responsive polyurethane foam designed to deliver pressure relief without the excessive sinking sensation often associated with traditional memory foam.
This comfort layer is 7cm thick and can be flipped to choose between a medium-firm or firm feel. Compared to Koala’s entry-level SE Mattress, this model includes additional Kloudcell® foam for improved pressure relief and comfort.
3. 3-Zone Support Layer
At the base of the mattress sits a dense 3-zone foam support core designed to provide targeted support to key areas of the body, particularly around the shoulders, hips, and lower back.
The mattress also incorporates Koala’s Zero Disturbance® design philosophy, with the dense foam construction helping to minimise motion transfer between sleeping partners. An anti-slip base layer is also included to help prevent movement of the mattress on the bed base.
Firmness adjustment
How does the customisation work?
One of the standout features of the Koala Mattress is its flippable firmness design, which allows users to choose between a medium-firm or firm feel.
Unlike some customisable mattresses that use separate inserts or interchangeable foam pieces, the Koala Mattress uses a single flippable comfort layer. By unzipping the top cover and rotating this layer, users can switch between the two firmness configurations relatively easily.
The comfort layer includes clearly labelled tags that indicate which side is medium-firm and which side is firm. During our testing, the adjustment process was straightforward, although larger sizes are generally easier to manage with two people.
This simple customisation system should still appeal to users who are unsure about firmness preferences and want some flexibility after purchase.
Comfort and support
What’s it like to sleep on the Koala Mattress?
The medium-firm version of the Koala Mattress feels dense, stable, and moderately cushioned. It delivers a balanced foam feel with a reasonable amount of pressure relief, while still maintaining a supportive overall sleep surface.
Unlike softer memory foam mattresses that allow deeper sinkage, the Koala Mattress has a slightly firmer and more responsive character. It absorbs body weight well, although changing sleeping positions requires slightly more effort than on many innerspring mattresses.
This medium-firm configuration should suit a broad range of sleepers, including side sleepers, back sleepers, and some stomach sleepers, although comfort preferences and suitability will naturally vary between individuals.
All of our expert reviewers agreed that the medium-firm version has a true medium-firm feel. By majority vote, we rated it as 7.5 / 10 on the firmness scale, with 10 being the firmest.
Medium-Firm Version
Please note that our firmness ratings are just a guide and they do not necessarily relate to comfort.
Furthermore, our firmness ratings are assigned based on Bedbuyer’s testing process and these may differ from firmness ratings given by individual companies. Mattress firmness will also vary depending on the type of bed base used.
We tested the Koala Mattress on the Porto Bed Base which is a good quality bed base with rigid slats.
As you would expect, the firm version feels denser and more supportive than the medium-firm configuration. It delivers a noticeably firmer sleep surface with less contouring and reduced sinkage overall.
Despite the increased firmness, we still wouldn’t describe this configuration as uncomfortably hard. There is still a modest level of cushioning from the Kloudcell® comfort layer, although pressure relief is naturally reduced compared to the medium-firm option.
As with many customisable mattresses, the difference between the two firmness settings is noticeable, but not dramatic. Both configurations retain the dense and stable foam feel that is characteristic of the Koala Mattress.
This firmer configuration should generally suit many back sleepers and some stomach sleepers, although some side sleepers may still find it comfortable depending on body type and personal preference.
All of our expert reviewers agreed that the firm version has a firm feel. By majority vote, we rated it as 8.5 / 10 on the firmness scale, with 10 being the firmest.
Firm Version
Both firmness configurations feel stable and supportive, and for most people the Koala Mattress should provide good overall back support. The dense foam construction maintains body position well and creates a solid, balanced sleep surface.
With that said, heavier individuals may benefit from a more robust innerspring mattress with stronger deep support and increased responsiveness. In particular, we would recommend considering an innerspring mattress such as the Yinahla Posture Cloud Gel if you or your partner weigh over 100kg.
As expected from a dense all-foam mattress, the Koala Mattress does not have the natural bounce and responsiveness of many innerspring mattresses.
During testing, changing sleeping positions required slightly more effort compared to more responsive spring-based designs. Likewise, intimate activities may feel easier on mattresses with greater bounce and responsiveness.
Responsiveness
Please note that our responsiveness scales are just a guide and preferred responsiveness levels will vary between individuals. It’s worth noting also that innerspring mattresses are generally more responsive than foam mattresses.
The finer details
What else should I know?
The overall build quality of the Koala Mattress is respectable, and the mattress feels noticeably more refined than the original version released in 2015. The fabrics, stitching, and finishings are all well presented, and the mattress maintains a clean and modern appearance throughout.
The removable zip cover feels durable and integrates neatly into the mattress design, while the flippable comfort layer is relatively straightforward to adjust when changing firmness configurations.
The anti-slip base appears effective and should help minimise movement of the mattress on the bed base. This is a useful inclusion given the lighter weight of the mattress compared to many competing innerspring models.
As mentioned earlier, the Koala Mattress sits approximately 25cm high, so standard fitted sheets should fit comfortably without issue.
Motion isolation is also very good, which is typical of dense foam mattresses. During testing, partner disturbance remained low overall, with the foam construction absorbing movement effectively across the sleep surface.
If we are to be critical, the lack of side handles is disappointing. Side handles generally make rotating and manoeuvring a mattress much easier.
The Koala Mattress combines respectable comfort and support within a clean and modern all-foam design.
Edge support is acceptable for an all-foam mattress, although it is not as strong or stable as many innerspring competitors. Most users should still be able to comfortably use the full sleep surface without feeling as though they may roll off the edge.
According to Koala, the foams used in this mattress are CertiPUR-US® certified. This certification helps provide reassurance that the foams have been tested for certain harmful substances and low VOC emissions.
Other details
Product weight of each mattress size (estimated):
- King Mattress: 40.34kg
- Queen Mattress: 33.35kg
- Double Mattress: 27.86kg
- King Single Mattress: 23.32kg
- Single Mattress: 18.57kg
Additional information
- Mattress height: 25cm
Country of Origin
Designed by Koala in Sydney, manufactured in China.
Bed base compatibility
What type of bed base should I use?
As with most mattresses, we recommend the Koala Mattress to be used on a bed base with flat panel slats such as the Koala Paddington Bed Base.
A bed base with solid slats such as the Porto Bed Base, would also be very suitable.
We would advise against using a bed base with flexible (posture) slats as this type of base may not provide adequate support. Ultimately, the use of an unsupportive mattress foundation will void the mattress warranty.
We don’t recommend the Koala Mattress be used with an adjustable (electric) bed base as this may cause damage to the mattress components. Here is our full list of mattresses that are compatible with an adjustable bed base.
It’s worth noting here that mattress firmness, performance, and durability will vary with different bed bases.
Trial period and warranty
What happens if I don’t like it?
The Koala Mattress comes with a 120 night trial period, which is slightly longer than the standard trial period offered by many competing online mattress brands in Australia.
This trial allows customers to test the mattress at home and return it for a full refund if it is not suitable. For customers located in major metropolitan areas including Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Canberra, and Perth, Koala will arrange free pickup of larger returned items such as mattresses and bed bases.
Customers located in regional or rural areas are still covered by the 120 night trial period, although return transport is not included. In these cases, returned products must be dropped off at a Koala fulfilment centre.
According to Koala, returned mattresses are either cleaned and resold, donated through charity partners, or recycled where possible.
The Koala Mattress is also backed by a 10 year warranty covering manufacturing and material defects.
Available sizes
What size options are available?
The Koala Mattress is available in 5 sizes (king, queen, double, king single, and single size) so it should accommodate most sleeping arrangements.
The graphic below includes all of Australia’s standard bed (mattress) sizes in 2026. Again please note that the Koala Mattress is available in 5 of these sizes.
Prices
How much does the Koala Mattress cost?
Here are the current retail prices and Bedbuyer prices of the Koala Mattress:
Retail Prices
- King Mattress: $1,490
- Queen Mattress: $1,249
- Double Mattress: $1,150
- King Single Mattress: $990
- Single Mattress: $890
Bedbuyer Prices
- King Mattress: $1,116
- Queen Mattress: $935
- Double Mattress: $861
- King Single Mattress: $741
- Single Mattress: $666
* Click SHOP NOW to unlock Bedbuyer price.
Did you know?
A Koala video that went viral
Koala released a famous advertising video in 2015 that quickly went viral and helped establish the brand as a major player in the Australian mattress market.
The video demonstrated the motion isolation capabilities of the original Koala Mattress by showing someone jumping onto the mattress beside a full wine glass without spilling it. The campaign became one of the most recognisable mattress advertisements in Australia at the time. See the video here.
Final verdict
Is this the right mattress for you?
The Koala Mattress combines respectable comfort and support within a clean and modern all-foam design.
Its dense foam construction delivers good motion isolation and stable overall support, while the flippable comfort layer allows users to choose between a medium-firm and firm feel after purchase.
While it lacks the natural responsiveness and stronger edge support of some premium innerspring mattresses, the Koala Mattress should still suit a broad range of sleepers – particularly those who prefer the dense and absorbent feel of foam mattresses.
Bedbuyer’s rating: 4 / 5
Here are our ratings for each category:
Comfort
Spinal Support
Build Quality
Partner Disturbance
Value for Money
For a full roundup, see our guide to the best mattresses in Australia.
If you have any questions about the Koala Mattress, please comment below.