Walk into any bed showroom and you’ll see beautifully finished mattresses — quilted tops, piped edges, premium fabric covers. What you won’t see is the layer of stockinette that protects the spring unit and padding beneath.

What does mattress stockinette actually do?

Stockinette is used in mattress construction primarily as a spring cover — a knitted tube that fits over the spring unit to prevent the metal from working through the layers of padding and fabric above. Without it, even the most premium filling materials would degrade more quickly, and the mattress would lose its shape.

It also acts as a stabilising layer during manufacturing, making it easier for factory workers to handle and position components during assembly.

Consistency is everything in high-volume production

Furniture and mattress manufacturers often run continuous production lines where any inconsistency in materials can cause delays or defects. Stockinette that varies in width or stretch creates fitting problems and slows the line down. That’s why manufacturers supplying major retailers like IKEA and Next demand stockinette that performs the same way roll after roll.

Appletex supplies mattress stockinette on large rolls optimised for high-volume production, with consistent dimensions and knit quality that won’t let your line down.

Sustainability in mattress materials

With growing pressure on furniture manufacturers to meet sustainability targets, the choice of natural fibre stockinette is becoming increasingly important. Cotton-based stockinette is biodegradable and compatible with mattress recycling programmes — an increasingly relevant consideration as UK legislation around mattress disposal tightens.