What Mattress Firmness Is Best For Me

Choosing a mattress with the best firmness for your needs and comfort level can be a tough decision. Mattress firmness effects spinal health, overall comfort, and sleep quality, but we find that it is often a misunderstood aspect of shopping for a new mattress.

In this article, we will explain how mattress firmness work, what mattress firmness is best for your sleep needs, and how to feel confident in your choice, whether you are shopping online or in-store.

What Mattress Firmness Actually Means

Mattress firmness indicates how hard or soft a mattress feels and the level of resistance that the materials have. Many people associate a soft mattress with comfort and a firm mattress if you have back issues, but there are a lot of other factors to consider when deciding what mattress firmness you find personally comfortable. Your body weight, pressure sensitivity and sleep position all matter.

It is important to note that firmness is NOT the same as support. Firmness is how the surface feels when you lie down (hard or plush). Mattress supprot refers to how well the mattress keeps your spine aligned, and that is where body weight and sleep position can also make a difference.

Mattress Industry Firmness Scale

Most manufactures use a scale to label a mattress firmness so consumers have a consistent guidance.

Expert Tip: Sleep specialists most frequently recommend medium firm (ranked 6-7) as the best firmness.

Read More: Rotate Your Mattress | Sleep Statistics | Mattress Materials Guide | Fix a Sagging Mattress

Why Firmness Matters For Sleep Health

Your mattress supports your spine and relieves pressure points while you sleep. Choosing the wrong firmness can contribute to a variety of sleep problems like lower back pain, should and hip pain, numbness and overall poor sleep quality if you are constantly tossing and turning.

A sleep study published by The Lancet found that medium-firm mattresses significantly improve sleep quality. and alleviate pain for individuals with chronic pain disorders. Participants who used medium-firm mattresses for 90 days reported reduced pain and better comfort.

The Best Firmness By Sleep Position

This guide will help you understand the best firmness for your sleep position and the science behind the recommendation.

How Body Weight Affects Mattress Firmness

Mattress materials respond to how much weight is placed on them. Here is a general guideline for the ideal mattress firmness by body weight. If you sleep with a partner, consider your combined weight.

Under 130 Pounds

• Best range: 3 – 4
• Softer bed may feel the best with medium firmness feeling too hard

130 – 230 Pounds 

• Best Range: 5 – 7
• Majority of mattresses fall in this range and are the most type purchased

Over 230 Pounds

• Best Range: 6 – 8
• A firmer, stronger surface is needed to support this weight

The heavier a person or couple is, the more deeply they compress the mattress layers. so a firmer mattress will give better support for spinal alignment.

Finding the Balance Between Pressure Relief & Support

It’s important to select a mattress that keeps your spine aligned and reduces pressure points for your whole body. Pressure points are in your shoulders, hips and knees.

If you wake up with numbness in your arms or lower back pain in the morning. then your mattress firmness may be to blame. You might need softer if you have numbness or firmer if you have lower back pain.

How Mattress Materials Affect Firmness Feel

Although the mattress industry has tried to standardize firmness rankings and levels, the feel can be very different for two mattresses that are  both medium-firm if they are made from different materials. Hybrid mattress are a safe choice for aligning with industry standards since they are made up of both coils and layers of foam.

Check out the below table to gain an understand of how a mattress will feel based on the material.

Signs Your Mattress Is Too Soft

As you try to diagnosis your sleep symptoms and choose the best mattress, the most common signs that your mattress is too soft include:

• Lower back pain
• Feeling like you are sinking or stuck
• Visible sagging
• Struggling to change sleep positions

Signs Your Mattress Is Too Firm

Conversely, signs that your mattress is too firm include:

• Pain at pressure points like shoulders and hips
• Numbness in arms
• Tossing and turning without getting comfortable

How To Test Mattress Firmness In-Store

If you want to test out mattresses in-store to get a good sense of what you like, follow these steps and tips to choose the best mattress firmness for you:

• Lie down on the mattress in your typical sleep position for at least 10 minutes
• Check your spinal alignment
• Take note of sagging
• Take note of too much pressure in points

How To Test Mattress When Buying Online

Many great mattress manufacturers don’t have brick and mortar stores and can offer you better prices and more variety since they ship from a warehouse. You might be cautious of buying a mattress online without testing it out for yourself, but don’t let that stop you. Here are some tips for how to approach buying a mattress online:

• Choose a brand with a trial period of at least 30 days (ideally 90 to allow for breaking in)
• Confirm that making a return (if necessary) will be easy and free
• Look for high quality, durable foam or coils
• Do your research and read trusted reviews

Common Firmness Myths

1. Firm mattresses are best for back pain – False. It depends on the cause of your pain and location. Medium-firm is most recommended for spinal support and reducing back pain.
2. Soft mattresses cause bad posture – False. A soft mattress that is well-made can still support spinal alignment.
3. Hotel Beds are firm – False. Many luxury hotels use medium mattress and plush pillow toppers. Budget hotels may not replace mattresses often enough and can have sagging.

Quick Firmness Recommendation Chart

Based on our research from the Pain & Spine Specialist, Harvard Health and the Mayo Clinic, here are the recommendations for what mattress firmness to choose:

When to Choose Medium-Firm

If you are still uncertain of what mattress firmness to choose, medium-firm is the safest option and the most highly recommended by physical therapists and sleep experts. Medium-firmness most reliably supports spinal alignment while reducing pressure points.

It works well for side sleepers and back sleeps and is a great overall choice if you rotate your sleep position throughout the night. It is also the most adaptable firmness to various body types and weights.  If you want the an even balance of comfort and support, medium-firm is the best choice.

How to Chose Mattress Firmness for Kids

While it might be tough enough to choose the right mattress firmness for you, it can be equally confusing to chose the right firmness for children. Since kids are constantly growing, it is super important for their spinal health, sleep quality and overall growth to have a good mattress.

Since they are lower in body weight, a softer mattress might be the most comfortable. Most kids will feel good on a medium firmness that has support for their growing bones while still felling comfortable.

Hybrid mattresses or ones that you high-density foam are good choices. Make sure to consider if you child has allergies or any other sensitive or sleep issues. Then a hypoallergenic mattress and one that is certified to be eco-friendly is a a good choice.

FAQs on What Mattress Firmness is Best

What firmness do sleep experts recommend?

Medium-firmness mattresses are most often recommended by physical therapists and sleep experts and are know for improving sleep quality. Research supports that medium-firmness mattress are best for reducing back pain while still keeping you comfortable for better quality sleep. However, personal preferences, body weight and sleep position can all affect how a mattress feels and it is a matter of personal preference.

Is a firm mattress better for back pain?

No, medium-firm mattresses have proven to be the best for people with chronic back pain. It is important to choose a mattress that is not too soft or sinks too deep if you are prone to back pain or are a stomach sleeper.

If a mattress is too firm, the pain can be exacerbated by increased pressure in your muscles and joints and forcing the spine out of alignment. It is important to find the right balance between support that helps maintain neutral spine while also reducing pressure points.

How do I know if my mattress firmness is wrong?

There are a number of key signs to pay attention to that indicate your mattress firmness is too soft or too hard. If you wake up with back pain, numbness in your arms, or feeling tired, then your mattress is probably too firm.

Lower back pain and overall stiffness is your muscles working overtime to support you, so you mattress is too soft. If you keep tossing and turning at night, then you might need another level of firmness.

Can a mattress topper change firmness?

Yes, mattress toppers are often used to provide a more plush, soft feel. They can improve pressure relief and make you feel more comfortable, but don’t mistake comfort for support. If your mattress is sagging and the internal core is failing, a mattress topper won’t help and you should look to replace your mattress with a new one.

Do couples need different firmness?

Yes, partners can have different sleep preferences for feel, sleep positions, health needs and body weights. Right after we first got married, choosing a new mattress together was a big struggle to find one that met both our needs.

A split firmness mattress of a hybrid medium firm mattress are good choices for a safe solution. If you are willing to spend more, adjustable beds and dual comfort zones can let each person choose their ideal firmness.

Final Thoughts

Hopefully you now have a better understand of how your body and sleep position interact with sleep surfaces, which will help guide you to choose the correct mattress firmness and eliminate a lengthy trial and error process. Finding the perfect mattress is not easy, but if you are armed with information and the science behind good sleep, then you can make an informed decision.

You want to find the firmness that balances comfort and support so that your spine is supported, you pressure points are cushioned, and you feel comfortable in your favorite sleep position. Selecting a medium-firm mattress is a great choice to balance all of this, but you may prefer something more plush or more firm.

Luckily, most mattress brands offer sleep trials and they want customers to be satisfied. Before making a purchase, make sure to review the trial period, return policy, possible return fees, and warranty information.

Remember, a well-chosen mattress is an important investment. Batter firmness is directly linked to better sleep and better physical and emotional health.