Koala vs Sleeping Duck Mattress
Two of Australia’s most popular bed-in-a-box brands compared. One keeps it simple, the other lets you customise everything. We break down feel, support, trial, and value to help you choose.
Both are excellent Australian mattresses, but they suit different buyers. Koala is the better all-rounder and better value — simpler, lighter, cheaper, with a longer 120-night trial and fast same-day metro delivery. Sleeping Duck wins on customisation — its hybrid spring build lets you pick medium, firm, or half-half, and swap foam layers free during the trial, making it ideal for couples with different preferences or anyone unsure of their perfect firmness. Choose Koala for simplicity and value, Sleeping Duck for tailored support.
| Feature | Koala | Sleeping Duck |
|---|---|---|
| Queen Price | $1,249 | ~$1,649 |
| Type | All-Foam (Kloudcell) | Hybrid (foam + springs) |
| Firmness | Flippable: Medium / Firm | ✓ Medium / Firm / Half-Half |
| Adjust After Buying | ✕ Flip only | ✓ Free layer swaps in trial |
| Trial Period | ✓ 120 nights | 100 nights |
| Warranty | 10 years | 10 years |
| Edge Support | Good | ✓ Very firm |
| Washable Cover | ✕ Fixed | ✓ Removable bamboo |
| Weight (Queen) | ✓ ~32 kg | ~53 kg (heavy) |
| Delivery | ✓ 4hr same-day metro | Free next-day metro |
| Origin | AU design, made in China | AU foam, assembled in China |
- $400 cheaper at Queen size
- Longer 120-night trial
- Much lighter — easy to move (~32kg)
- 4-hour same-day metro delivery
- Australia’s most popular, B-Corp certified
- Only flip adjustment, no layer swaps
- Cover not removable / washable
- All-foam — less targeted support than springs
- Fewer options for couples with different needs
- Unmatched customisation (medium/firm/half-half)
- Free foam layer swaps during 100-night trial
- Hybrid springs — strong, targeted support
- Very firm edge support + washable bamboo cover
- Ideal for couples with different preferences
- ~$400 more expensive
- Very heavy (~53kg) — hard to move alone
- Shorter 100-night trial
- Average value for money at full price
Choose Koala if you…
- Want the best value of the two
- Prefer a simple, proven all-rounder
- Want a longer trial and easy returns
- Need a lighter mattress you can move yourself
- Want fast same-day metro delivery
Choose Sleeping Duck if you…
- Want to fine-tune firmness to your exact needs
- Share a bed and want a different feel each side
- Aren’t sure what firmness suits you yet
- Prefer a hybrid spring feel with firm edges
- Want a washable cover and don’t mind the weight
The middle ground these two skip
Sleep Republic is that. 1,850 pocket springs give you the airflow and edge support Koala’s foam cannot, without paying for the per-side adjustment Sleeping Duck charges for — and it carries the Spinal Research Foundation endorsement neither of these has.
Stay with one of these if: you and your partner genuinely disagree about firmness, which only Sleeping Duck solves — or you want a mattress delivered today, which only Koala does.