Choosing the right mattress is key to a good night’s sleep. Mattresses with the right firmness are key to restful nights. They keep the spine in a neutral alignment and provide proper cushioning to areas in the body that require it.
Firmness is one of the most misunderstood aspects of mattress shopping. When shopping for a new bed, you must consider firmness to find the right firmness level. Your sleeping position and body weight determine the right firmness. So, let’s go to understand this most important factor.
In this article, I’ll provide you each everything you need to know about mattress firmness and I hope this guide will help you to find the right firmness. Good luck!
Why Does Mattress Firmness Matter?
The firmness of a mattress plays a crucial role in determining comfort and support levels. It directly affects how well the mattress can relieve pressure points. If a mattress is too firm, it may not contour enough to alleviate sensitive pressure points, leading to discomfort and potential joint pain upon waking up. Thus, finding the right firmness level is essential for a good night’s sleep and overall well-being.
How is Mattress Firmness Rated?
Mattress firmness is usually measured on a scale from 1 to 10, simplifying the selection process for customers. A rating of 1 represents the softest possible mattress, while 10 denotes the firmest. Extreme ratings like these are rare, as they tend to be impractically uncomfortable.
Common Firmness ratings
Soft 3-5/10
These mattresses feature materials like memory foam, plush pillow tops, and cushioning layers. They allow for significant sinkage, molding to your body and providing excellent pressure relief.
Medium 6-7/10
Striking a balance between softness and support, medium-firm mattresses often combine foam layers with a sturdy core of high-density foam or springs. This design offers a moderate contour while still providing substantial support.
Firm 8-10/10
These mattresses are designed without additional plush layers, focusing instead on a solid, supportive surface. They typically have a minimal layer of comfort foam over a core of high-density foam or springs, delivering a strong push-back and a firm feel.
Which firmness is best for me
Choosing the right firmness depends on individual preferences like sleeping position and body type weight etc. A mattress with wrong firmness may produce many problems such as neck, shoulders pains and keep spine out of allignment that affect overall health. Firmness is one of the most misunderstood aspects of mattress shopping, when shopping for a new bed you must consider the factors to find the right firmness. Your sleeping position and body weight determine the right firmness. So, let’s go to understand these most important factors.
Back sleeper
Back sleepers put high pressure on their midsection. A firmer and softest mattress can put pressure on their lower back. As a result, a mattress for back sleepers should slightly firmer that resist sagging in the midsection of their body.
Side sleeper
Side sleepers experience too much pressure on the shoulder and hip. If a side sleeper uses a mattress that is too soft, their shoulder and hip will sink out of alignment with the spine. Conversely, if they use a mattress that is too firm, their shoulder and hip are prone to misalignment. As a result, a mattress for side sleepers should a medium-soft to medium-firm that keeps their body in a natural position
Stomach sleeper
Stomach sleepers put high pressure on the lumbar spine. Stomach sleepers should seek a firm mattress that keeps their spine aligned. We recently wrote a comprehensive guide for stomach sleepers titled ‘What Kind of Mattress Is Best for Stomach Sleepers.’ Read this article to learn more about mattress options for stomach sleepers.
Combination sleeper
Combination sleepers change their sleeping position throughout the night. A combination sleeper should choose a mattress based on the position in which they spend more time. However, a medium-firm mattress is a suitable choice for combination sleeper.
mattresses firmness by Body types and weight
Body weight also plays a crucial role in choosing the best mattress to provide support and spine alignment. Instead of writing a lengthy guideline, we created an easy-to-understand chart for brevity and convenience. Here is a chart that divides body weight into different categories and provides proper guidelines for selecting the best mattress based on body weight.
Test Mattress Firmness
Before making a purchase, it’s essential to test mattress firmness in-store if possible. Lie down in your usual sleep position and check how the mattress feels. Pay attention to whether it provides adequate support and comfort. Many stores offer a trial period, allowing you to test the mattress at home to ensure it meets your needs.
How do I know if my bed is too soft or too firm?
A mattress that is too soft may sink and feel unsupported and not provide proper cushioning. A mattress that is too soft can cause of your spine misalignment. As a result, you’ll wake up with pain in your shoulder and in your lower back. Similarly, a mattress that is too firm can cause pain in the shoulder and neck. A firm mattress does keep your spine in proper alignment but they push the spine out of neutral alignment.
