IKEA Valevag Mattress Review

In This Review
Performance Tests | Firmness | Support & Sleeping Positions | Design | Materials | Comparisons | FAQs

At NapLab, we put each mattress to the test.

We test 10 different factors that impact the performance, comfort, and value of the mattress. We then take the results of that test and compare to every mattress we’ve tested to date.

Check out the full performance table below to see how this mattress ranks:

Factor	IKEA Valevag	Average
Overall Score	7.21	8.59
Price (Queen)	$299	$1,327 (Hybrid only)
Cooling – Score	7.0	8.7
Sinkage – Depth	1.70″	2.13″
Sinkage – Feel	Minimal	Moderate
Motion Transfer – Score	7.6	8.2
Motion Transfer – Acceleration	10.32 m/s²	8.71 m/s²
Response Time – Score	9.6	9.0
Response Time – Mostly Recovered	0.2 sec.	0.4 sec.
Response Time – Fully Recovered	0.7 sec.	0.9 sec.
Bounce – Height	10.32″	9.68″
Bounce – Feel	High	Moderate
Edge Support – Score	7.4	8.6
Edge Support – Sitting	4.75″	4.04″
Edge Support – Lying	Fair	Good
Sex – Score	8.3	8.5
Pressure Relief – Score	5.0	8.7
Comfort Layer Thickness	2.0″	4.1″
Mattress Thickness	9″	12.0″
Off-Gassing – Score	9.2	8.2
Off-Gassing – Smell	Strong	Strong
Off-Gassing – Days	3 days	7 days
Company – Score	6.8	8.6
Trial	180 nights	173 nights
Warranty	10 years	24% have lifetime warranties, average of other 76% of mattresses is 13 years

How is IKEA Valevag Different?

The IKEA Valevag mattress has an overall performance that is below average, but also a price tag that is far below average as well—77% less than the average hybrid mattress (for a savings of over $1000 on a queen mattress).

Advantages

The obvious advantage of the IKEA Valevag mattress is the extremely low price. It has a fast material response time and off-gasses faster than average, but aside from these two small factors, there are no other real performance advantages. And its low cost comes with a host of other issues.

Neutral Factors

This mattress has minimal sinkage and high levels of bounce. Both of these factors are a bit preferential and different sleepers may experience them as advantages ort disadvantages, depending on what you’re looking for.

Disadvantages

Disadvantages of the Valevag include poorer cooling performance, higher levels of motion transfer, lacking edge support, and a worse sex score as well. The comfort layer is only 2″, which is 2.1″ thinner than the average comfort layer (4.1″). This lack of comfort material creates real problems for pressure relief for basically sleepers of any weight, but it will be especially noticeable for sleepers over 150 lbs.

The IKEA Valevag has a fair level of cooling performance. During our tests, I felt a moderate level of heat retention around my body.

The Valevag is a fairly simple mattress in terms of material construction. We have 2.0” of foam on top of a 7.0” spring unit. Normally, coil mattresses do a pretty good job with respect to cooling.

However, the cover design and foam layers appear to be greatly restricting airflow and retaining heat.

• Baseline Temperature – the temperature of the mattress before anyone lies on it
• Maximum Temperature (0 minute) – the temperature of the mattress after lying on it for 15 minutes
• Ending Temperature (5 minute) – the temperature of the mattress after being lied upon and having no one on it for 5 minutes

In our objective temperature testing, we measured a max surface level temperature of 90.9° F, which is 1.2° warmer than the average of 89.7°. The quality of the foam layers used here just doesn’t look or feel especially high quality.

Lower quality foams often struggle more with heat retention and that’s exactly what we experienced subjectively and measured objectively.

Based on the combination of objective data, subjective experience, and an analysis of the materials, I’m confident in my view that the IKEA Valevag has only a fair level of cooling performance.

Heat Dissipation Over Time

The IKEA Valevag has a minimal level of sinkage. In our sinkage tests, we measured a pressure point sinkage depth of 1.70”. This is 0.43” less sinkage than the average of 2.13”.

The level of sinkage is documented in the image below.

The mattress creates a floating feeling, where your body lies more “on” the mattress as opposed to sinking down “in” the mattress. There is virtually zero body contouring hug to speak of.

The Valevag creates a more traditional coil mattress feel without a significant degree of body hug. The combination of minimal sinkage, no body contour, and a floating feel is a more polarizing comfort dynamic.

Some sleepers will certainly like this feel, however, I do believe it is a minority of sleepers.

The IKEA Valevag has a moderate level of motion transfer. During our tests, we measured a total acceleration range of 10.32 m/s². This is 18% more motion transfer than the average of 8.71 m/s².

Typically, coil mattresses have relatively more motion transfer than many other types. While the Valevag is more than average it still kept motion peaks to a reasonable level.

The level of motion transfer is also documented in the video below.

In our motion transfer chart, which visualizes our accelerometer data, we can see the highest motion peaks from 0 to 0.15 seconds. We have recorded a secondary motion spike from 0.51 to 0.65 seconds.

And finally, by 1.02 seconds, we’ve returned to near-zero levels of energy. While I was pleased with the relatively low motion peaks I don’t love the 1.02 second motion duration.

This is notably longer than average and certainly a product of the limited foam thickness, relatively low-quality foam, and 7.0” coil unit.

The IKEA Valevag has a very fast level of material responsiveness. During our mostly recovered test, we measured a recovery speed of 0.2 seconds. This is 0.21 seconds faster than the average of 0.41 seconds.

During our fully recovered test, we measured a recovery speed of 0.7 seconds. This is 0.19 seconds faster than the average of 0.89 seconds.

The level of responsiveness is documented in the video below.

While there are numerous mattresses on the market with a faster material response, the IKEA Valevag isn’t a “slow to recover” mattress by any stretch. The coils spring back to shape effectively instantly.

In addition, only using 2.0” of comfort foam is beneficial with respect to response, as it’s less material that needs to rebound and recover back to shape. These responsiveness speeds help prevent any type of a stuck feel and keep the mattress easy to move around on.

The IKEA Valevag has a high level of bounce. During our tests, we measured a total bounce height of 10.32”. This is 0.64” more bounce than the average of 9.68”.

This IKEA mattress has all of the right material conditions for high bounce, including limited foam material, a slightly firm feel, and a tall 7.0” coil unit. These materials and this layered design create high bounce.

The level of bounce is also documented in the video below.

The higher bounce is beneficial for ease of movement and sex, but it’s also a significant reason for the increased motion transfer.

Even so, bounce at these levels does more to improve the overall experience on the mattress than it does to hinder motion transfer. Overall, I expect most sleepers will find the bounce to be satisfactory.

The IKEA Valevag has a fair level of edge support. During our sitting edge support tests, we measured a sitting sinkage compression of 4.75”. This is 0.72” more bounce than the average of 4.03”.

While sitting directly on the edge of the mattress there is a collapse of materials. There simply isn’t enough robust material to sit on the edge and also receive full support.

The level of edge support while seated is documented in the images below.

Lying edge support is equally disappointing.

While lying directly on the edge of the mattress I felt that the support was fair at best. According to IKEA, the mattress uses reinforced coils that run along the perimeter of the mattress.

While this may be true, it seemed to have very little functional impact on edge support performance during our tests.

The level of edge support while lying is documented in the images below.

When I consider the material quality, notably worse than average sitting edge support test, and my subjective experience lying on the edges, I find the edge support just leaves much to be desired.

The IKEA Valevag has a good level of sex performance, but one that is also a mixed bag when it comes to individual performance factors.

Our sex score assesses 5 weighted factors to determine the overall sex score.

On the positive side, we had a high level of bounce at 10.32”. This bounce greatly carries the sex score for Valevag.

Sex Factor	Factor Weight	Score	Rating
Bounce	65%	8.9	High
Edge Support	20%	7.8	Fair
Noise	5%	8.0	Moderate
Pressure Relief	5%	5.0	Poor
Cooling	5%	7.0	Fair

We have a middling score for noise, which was moderate due to the limited foams and relatively lower quality coil unit.

Lastly, we have 3 worse than average scores from edge support, pressure relief, and cooling. Even so, because bounce is so absolutely critical to great amorous activity the IKEA Valevag still earned a good overall score.

While I do wish we saw a more well-rounded performance, there can be no denying that the high level of bounce will still make your sex experience satisfactory. 

The IKEA Valevag has a poor level of pressure relief performance. During our tests, I felt moderate to significant levels of pressure points on my body.

This mattress is equipped with just 2.0” of comfort materials, split into a 0.75” quilted cover and 1.25” poly foam layer. This comfort layer is significantly thinner than the average 4.1” comfort layer, based on all of our tests to date.

Furthermore, the quality of the foam materials is simply not great. So we have lower-quality foams and fewer of them sitting atop a relatively low-quality coil unit.

In my view, this combination is creating more pressure points on the body.

In our objective pressure maps, we can see high levels of pressure while lying on my side. Bear in mind, I only weigh 140 pounds.

To see this level of PSI measured in the pressure maps at my body weight simply isn’t great. Sleepers who weigh more are likely to experience even greater levels of pressure point build-up. Overall, I am unimpressed by the pressure relief dynamic on the Valevag.

Pressure Map – Side Sleepers

Pressure Relief (PSI)	Average	Maximum
Side Sleepers	0.02	2.03

Pressure Map – Back Sleepers

Pressure Relief (PSI)	Average	Maximum
Back Sleepers	0.12	1.18

Pressure Map – Stomach Sleepers

Pressure Relief (PSI)	Average	Maximum
Stomach Sleepers	0.13	1.12

Off-gassing on the IKEA Valevag mattress is strong right out of the box and the odor lasted for 3 days before fully dissipating.

Compared to the average, this mattress off-gasses 3 days faster, which may be an advantage to sleepers who are sensitive to strong smells.

IKEA mattresses have a 180-night trial period and a 10-year warranty. Shipping costs $19 for this mattress and returns are free.

That said, returns are issued as a store credit and not an actual refund back in your bank account.

In my view, this is a terrible refund policy. If I make a purchase I’m unhappy with I should be able to return the mattress for a full cash refund.

A large percentage of mattress brands allow you to do exactly that with a much smaller percentage charging fees, only allowing store credit returns, or not allowing returns at all.

Being stuck with store credit just doesn’t feel great, especially on a product that is hundreds of dollars.

Company Factor	Factor Weight	Score	Data
Trial Period	15%	10	180 nights
Warranty	10%	8.0	10 years
Shipping	5%	9.0	$19
Returns	20%	0.0	Store credit returns only
Trust	50%	8.0	Good
Country of Origin	0%		USA

The IKEA Valevag mattress is available in two firmness levels, what they call medium-firm and firm.

In our tests of the “medium-firm” version, I found the firmness to be firmer than anticipated—a 7 out of 10 with a slightly firm feel.

Although we didn’t test the firm version, I would expect the firmness to be closer to an 8 out of 10.

This assessment is based on my experiences with testing several different IKEA mattresses.

The IKEA Valevag has a poor level of support. During our tests, I did not feel well-supported while lying on the mattress.

For a mattress to be supportive it needs to keep the spine in a neutral alignment while also remaining comfortable and avoiding pressure points.

Based on my experiences, the mattress simply fails in these areas.

The Valevag creates a slightly firm, floated, and limited contouring hug feel that’s coupled with an insufficient level of comfort material in addition to foam quality that leaves much to be desired.

Much of the mattress support issues are due to compounding pressure relief and comfort issues that simply make the mattress uncomfortable to lie on for extended periods of time.

The Valevag is equipped with a 7.0” coil unit, which is 0.9” thinner than the average support layer of 7.9”.

In addition, the coil unit, like most other material components on the mattress, just leaves me incredibly disappointed in the quality. At just 140 pounds I did not feel well supported on the mattress.

In my view, as sleeper weights increase further so will support issues.

Check out the table below to see the sleeper weights and sleeping positions that would be best suited for this mattress.

Sleeper Weight	Stomach Sleepers	Side Sleepers	Back Sleepers
Under 150 lbs.	Maybe	No	Maybe
150-250 lbs.	No	No	No
250-300 lbs.	No	No	No

Design

The IKEA Valevag mattress is a thin, 9″ hybrid mattress that is available in two firmness levels—slightly firm and firm.

The thinner profile and lower-quality materials give it an ultra-low price point but also limit the level of support it can provide, especially to heavier sleepers.

Materials

In total, there are three distinct layers that make up the IKEA Valevag hybrid. From top to bottom, these layers include:

• 0.75” quilted cover
• 1.25” poly foam
• 7.0” pocketed coils

The Cover

The cover of the Valevag hybrid is a 0.75 quilted cover, which gives the mattress softness, but doesn’t really do any favors for breathability.

It has a higher degree of loft to it, but still maintains minimal sinkage when siting or lying on the mattress thanks to the firmness of the foam and coils below.

Lastly, this mattress also has carrying handles on the side of the mattress, which makes it easier to rotate or move the mattress.

The Comfort Layer

The comfort layer is a 1.25″ layer of poly foam. This is extremely thin for a comfort layer and really is the root cause of the pressure relief issues we experienced.

There are no transitional foam layers, which are often times used to support sleepers as their body weight engages with the support layer below.

Transitional layers can help avoid pressure points when sitting or lying, but that’s not a luxury we see on the Valevag mattress.

The Support Layer

The support layer includes a 7.0″ pocketed coil base with a 5-zone design, using reinforced coils along the edge of the mattress.

Each of the coils are individually encased in a thin fabric, which is usually intended to help limit motion transfer and improve pressure relief (a benefit we don’t really get with the Valevag mattress).

There is no support foam below the coils, which is sometimes used in other mattresses to help provide additional foundational support.

Product Evolution

While the exact date of the IKEA Valevag launch is unclear, consumer reviews date back to 2022.

There are no known revisions or changes that have been made to the mattress since its release.

Other Mattresses to Consider

Not sure if the IKEA Valevag is the right pick for you? Check out these three other top-rated hybrid mattresses under $800 for higher-performing alternatives you may want to consider.

Frequently Asked Questions

Still have questions? Check out some of the top FAQs on the IKEA Valevag mattress below and get the answers you’re looking for.