Short answer: if you sit up in bed to read or watch TV, sleep with your legs raised, or share with someone who likes a different position, adjustable beds earn their money. If you lie flat and sleep through, a good standard divan with the right mattress does the same job for a fraction of the price. Here is how the two compare, with the prices we actually sell them at in Clydebank.
What you are actually comparing
A standard divan is a mattress on a fixed base, with or without drawers or an ottoman lift, and a headboard if you want one. Our divan bases start at £149 for a plain base, and the Albert bed deal gives you the mattress, base and a matching headboard from £449 in a single and £499 in a double.
An adjustable bed has a motorised base that raises the head end, the foot end, or both, from a handset. We stock Adjust-A-Bed, handmade in the UK with a five-year guarantee, and keep three models set up in the showroom so you can lie on them. The two you can order online are the Gel-Flex 1000 and the Pure 1500.
Adjustable beds vs a standard divan: side by side
| Adjustable bed (Adjust-A-Bed) | Standard divan (Signature Beds) | |
|---|---|---|
| Complete double bed from | £2,049 for the Gel-Flex 1000 on a Standard base (£1,707.50 if you qualify for VAT relief) | £499 for the Albert deal: mattress, base and 24-inch headboard |
| Mattress | Made for the bed: Gel-Flex 1000 (gel foam over 1,000 pocket springs, medium) or Pure 1500 (two-sided, 1,500 pocket springs, wool and cotton fillings, medium-firm). Both 25 cm deep, rated to 25 stone | Any mattress from the range, from the Albert at £299 up to the Monaco 6000, so you choose the feel |
| Positions | Head and foot raise on a twin motor. Lifestyle and i-Motion bases add memory positions, wireless remote, phone app and massage | Flat |
| Couples | 5 ft and 6 ft sizes are two linked beds with independent mechanisms, so each side moves on its own | One mattress, one feel for both of you |
| Storage and headboard | Drawer options on the base; Adjust-A-Bed headboards from £129 in your choice of fabric | Two-drawer base from £249, four-drawer from £399, ottoman from £349; headboard included in the Albert deal |
| VAT relief | Yes, if the bed is for someone with a long-term illness or disability, for their own use. The VAT comes off the price shown with a simple written declaration | No |
All prices are as shown on the site at the time of writing and can change. Adjust-A-Beds are 6 ft 6 in (200 cm) long in every size, a touch longer than a standard double or small double at 6 ft 3 in, which matters in a tight bedroom.
Are adjustable beds worth it?
It depends on how you use the bed. If you prop yourself up on three pillows every night, or spend time in bed during the day, raising the head end does what the pillows were trying to do without the neck crick. Raising the foot end is popular with people whose legs ache after a day on their feet, and the zero-gravity position, with both ends slightly raised, is the one that surprises people most when they try it.
If none of that sounds like you, a standard divan is the better buy. Put the difference into a better mattress, which is where comfort comes from in the first place, and keep the change.
Are adjustable beds good for back pain?
Plenty of our customers with sore backs tell us that being able to change position helps them get comfortable, the raised foot end in particular. We are not doctors, so we will not promise a bed fixes a back; if you have a diagnosed condition, ask your GP or physio what position they would recommend before you buy. What we can do is let you lie on all three models, raise and lower them, and see what your back thinks.
Worth knowing: if the bed is for someone with a long-term illness or disability, adjustable beds can be supplied with the VAT taken off, which brings a double Gel-Flex 1000 down from £2,049 to £1,707.50. We handle the declaration in the showroom or at checkout. It works the same way as it does for lift and rise chairs.
Which should you pick?
Pick an adjustable bed if you sit up in bed most nights, you sleep with your legs raised, getting in and out of a flat bed has become a struggle, or you share with someone who wants a different position to you. The 5 ft and 6 ft beds are two separate mechanisms, so one of you can read sitting up while the other lies flat.
Pick a standard divan if you lie flat and sleep well, if storage is the priority, or if the budget is under £1,000. A decent mattress on a drawer or ottoman divan is the best value bed we sell, and it is made to order in two to four weeks in the fabric and colour you want.
If you are on the fence, come in and try both. Lie on the Gel-Flex, raise it, lower it, then lie on the Albert next to it. Most people know within ten minutes.
Frequently asked questions
Do you need a special mattress for an adjustable bed? Yes. The mattress has to bend with the base, which is why the Adjust-A-Bed models come with their own Gel-Flex 1000 or Pure 1500 mattress. An ordinary mattress is not built to flex, so it will not follow the base properly.
Can two people have different positions? On the 5 ft and 6 ft adjustable beds, yes. They are built as two linked beds with independent mechanisms. The 4 ft and 4 ft 6 in sizes are a single mechanism, so both sides move together.
How is the bed delivered? Both come on a two-man delivery. Adjustable beds are assembled and set up in the room with the packaging taken away. We agree a date with you once the bed is ready.
See the full Adjust-A-Bed range, shop the two adjustable beds online, or look at the divan bases and the Albert bed deal. Better still, come in and lie on all of them. Bring your room measurements and we will tell you honestly which one you need.
Paul James Home, inside the Co-op Department Store, Clydebank. Monday to Saturday 9 to 5. 0141 266 0400.
