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When buying a mattress, doing your research is more important than you think—especially if quality sleep is non-negotiable. If you’ve glanced at the options, you’ve probably seen the term “firmness” thrown around. But what does that mean when it comes to picking the perfect mattress for your individual needs?
Firmness is all about how your mattress feels when you first lie down. Do you want to sink into a soft cloud, or lie on something more supportive for solid spinal alignment? Your mattress needs to match your sleeping position, body type, and how much support you need—but at the end of the day, your mattress preferences are highly personal.
While factors like material and durability are a little more standardized across the best mattress brands, optimal firmness will vary from person to person. That’s where our 2024 Mattress Firmness Guide comes in—to help you find the best bed firmness you need to sleep well and wake up ready to conquer the day.
Mattress Firmness Levels
Mattress firmness levels measure how soft or firm a mattress feels when you lie down on it. They’re rated on a scale from 1 (soft) to 10 (firm). How much firmness you need hinges on your size, sleep, and personal preferences. This explainer can help you better understand what type of mattress to buy—especially if you’re thinking about purchasing a mattress in a box without trying it out first.
Soft (1 to 5)
Soft mattresses reign supreme if you want an indulgent, plush place to rest your bones after a long day. They fall at the lower end of the bed firmness scale (between 1 and 5) and deliver that sink-in sensation, embracing you in cloud-like comfort. However, mattress firmness charts show that most soft mattresses don’t rank below a 3 or 4 because that would be too much softness and not enough support (think: the equivalent of sleeping on a bean bag).
Some of our favorite soft mattresses include:
Medium-firm (6 to 7)
Medium firmness is like the Goldilocks of mattresses—neither too soft nor too firm, falling right in the middle of the mattress firmness scale. It’s a popular choice for many (including people with back pain), and the one you’ll often find in hotels. It’s also a common firmness level for mattresses in a box, showcasing contouring comfort and solid support that’s ideal for many different types of sleepers.
A medium-firm mattress is best if you want your bed to feel like your bed is cradling your body while also keeping your spine aligned. This type of mattress can also be ideal for back sleepers who need plenty of support with a touch of plushness to prevent pressure on the lower back. And side sleepers? They’ll appreciate how a medium-firm mattress cushions shoulders and hips without throwing their spine out of whack. TL;DR: Medium-firm mattresses are a crowd-pleaser, giving you that just-right feel for a perfect night’s sleep.
Our go-to recommendations for medium-firm mattresses are:
Firm (7 to 10)
This is your no-nonsense, solid mattress that usually ranks between 7 and 10 on the mattress firmness scale. It’s best for back and stomach sleepers who want serious support without sinking into the bed. A firm mattress can be your spine’s best friend, keeping you aligned and your pressure points cushioned with less give and much more structure than soft or medium-firm mattresses.
If a firm mattress sounds right up your alley, these are our top picks:
Firmness vs Support
Firmness and support are two mattress buzzwords that might seem like they have similar meanings, but are actually quite different. Firmness is all about the feel—it’s what you notice when you first lie down. Do you sink into a comfy cloud or rest on a firm surface? Support, on the other hand, is all about what’s happening under the surface. It’s the real MVP, making sure your body stays aligned and your pressure points (like your lower back and shoulders) aren’t screaming for help by morning. A mattress can be soft yet incredibly supportive or firm, but if it doesn’t have the right structure, it can still leave you feeling like you’ve been sleeping on plywood.
How to Choose the Right Firmness Level for You
Choosing the right firmness level is about how you sleep and what feels good. For most people, a medium-firm mattress, typically rated around 6 to 7 on the firmness scale, is the way to go. This mattress type delivers sufficient support to keep your spine aligned to help prevent long-term back pain while still giving you enough comfort for pressure relief. For these reasons, medium-firm mattresses are often considered the best option for a wide range of sleepers.
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