Mattress Firmness Guide: All you need to know

Looking for a new mattress is not a one-day job. You are required to consider various factors like budget, size, type, and material. But what people tend to forget is mattress firmness.

It is a key indicator of the degree of comfort you would get when you lie down on a mattress. People tend to confuse firmness with minimal support or go for soft mattresses that do not align with their sleeping position.

We spend a huge amount of time in the comfort of our beds, imagine spending this considerable period on an uncomfortable mattress. Mattresses are a long-term investment and have a deep connection with our sleeping cycles. So to end a tiring day with comfortable sleep, appropriate mattress firmness is required.

A good mattress should hug your body and provide relief for pressure points. But how do we determine its firmness? Is it based on personal preferences? Body weight? or material? 

In this mattress firmness guide, you will understand firmness, its types, other factors responsible for determining firmness, and a few tips to help you decide on one.

What is firmness in a mattress?

Mattress firmness is a critical element in judging the comfort level of a mattress. It refers to the level of stiffness or softness you feel when you lay down on it. 

It generally depends on the materials used in manufacturing the mattress and its overall design.

To better understand the firmness level, a firmness scale is used. It ranges from 1 to 10, with 1 being extremely soft and 10 being very firm.

This scale also includes descriptors like extra soft, medium, medium-firm, etc., which help you narrow down your choices and make an objective decision. 

So before going on a mattress spree, make sure that you have checked out the firmness scale, as it will allow you to make an informed decision that aligns with your desired comfort level and ensure a blissful sleep experience.

Types of Mattress Firmness:

After understanding the firmness levels, let us explore the types of firm mattresses available:

Soft firm: As the name suggests, these mattresses have a deep body-conforming feel. You would experience optimal sinkage, which would help ease your pressure points.

These mattresses use comfort layers made up of cushioning materials like thick sections of memory foam and quilted pillow tops in their top layers. 

Such firm mattresses generally range from 3 to 5 on the scale and are recommended for people who like to sleep on their sides or like a little more comfort.

Please note that you would rarely find mattresses that range between 1 and 2, as their structure does not support body pressure and it would feel like you are deep sinking into it.

Medium firm: These mattresses fall under the 6-7/10 category. They are a combination of cushioned top layers and high-density foam material. A medium firm mattress allows high ventilation , body conformation , optimal air flow and supports proper body alignment.

This firmness strikes the right balance between support and pressure relief, which is commonly preferred by the majority of people.

Medium-firm mattresses are used by back sleepers as they effectively distribute pressure and allow mobility while sleeping.

Firm Mattress: The last category in the scale ranging from 8 to 10 in terms of firmness, these beds hardly use soft plush materials in their comfort layers. 

They only provide a thin layer of cushioned top layer along with . This ensures greater support than all the others.

If you lay down on this mattress, your body will lift evenly on top of the bed. There will be no sinkage as well. It is ideal for stomach sleepers and heavy people because of the toughness and durability of the mattress.

It is important to understand that mattresses do not work on the one size fits all principle.

Different people have varying requirements and preferences for mattresses because it can heavily affect their sleeping style.

Firmness of a mattress is subjective, as it can change based on weight, body type, and the        personal preferences of an individual. That’s why it's suggested to try out different firmness levels before buying the one that best suits your comfort for a good night's sleep.

Which Mattress Firmness Best Suits You?

Apart from levels of firmness, there are other indicators responsible for your ideal sleep mattress. Each person has a unique sleeping style, so mattresses should also have the same kind of customization.

Sleeping Positions: While sleeping, we are habitually in a particular position. It ultimately decides what kind of firmness suits our body.

Your sleeping position determines the amount of pressure exerted on the mattress and how it reciprocates back to provide comfort to your body.

For instance, it is commonly observed that side sleepers tend to go for a soft mattress firmness as the soft surface molds to pressure points in the shoulders, arms, and hips. It prevents numbness and tingling sensations.

Stomach sleepers prefer a firmer mattress as it prevents the hips and pelvis from sinking lower than the shoulders and creating an uncomfortable posture. Similarly, back sleepers are recommended to use a medium-mattress firmness as it equally disturbs the pressure while sleeping.

Body Weight: Your weight is an important indicator of the firmness level required for your body. Heavier individuals tend to exert more pressure on a mattress, if the mattress is too soft, it may not be able to provide sufficient support, sink, or cause discomfort.

Apart from support, body weight is also dependent on the comfort level of a mattress. If you are on the lighter side, then a firmer mattress may not be the correct option for you. It will be too rigid because there will not be enough pressure exerted to feel the soft layers of the mattress.

The durability of a mattress is also affected by the pressure you exert on it. Therefore, it is crucial to choose mattress firmness that can withstand the weight of your body.

Personal Experience: We have all experienced nights when the mattress felt just right. Think about those experiences when looking for a new one.

Consider whether you like a sinking mattress or a more solid one based on your previous experience.

Consult experts: Buying a mattress requires a lot of trials and errors as it is concerned with your sleeping lifestyle. If you are unsure about the firmness level of your mattress, you should try consulting professionals.

They provide guidance based on your needs, sleeping style, weight, and body type. You would have an expert opinion to back up your decision.

What are the things you should be mindful about while checking out mattress firmness?

We often confuse firmness with support. Both of these are independent factors that add to the value of your mattress. 

Firmness refers to the immediate feeling of lying down on a mattress. It is simply how a mattress feels. 

Support, on the other hand, is attributed to your spinal position. It’s about whether the mattress puts your spine in a neutral position. If there is any unnatural curve to it, then it will be considered unsupportive.

Keep in mind that all mattresses are designed to give you support, but their degrees vary based on the level of firmness.

Softness does not guarantee plushness or coziness. It has much more sinkage value than medium-firm or firm mattresses, which makes sleepers uncomfortable. If you are suffering from orthopedic problems, consult with a doctor before buying any mattress. Go for a medium firm to firm mattress, as it will provide you with optimum push-back for pain-free and refreshed sleep.If you sleep with your partner or family member and require different firmnesses, medium-firm mattresses are a great option to explore. As it has a combination of both comfort layers and high-density poly foam.

Conclusion

Understanding mattress firmness is easy. You have to put your comfort first and try out different options. It is important to remember that the level of firmness required depends on your needs, past experiences, sleeping positions, and body weight.

It will take a little time to match the best mattress with your sleeping style, but it will guarantee you a perfect sleeping experience.

If you want to try out different mattress firmness without worrying about returns or warranties, then check out Emma Sleep India‘s wide range of quality mattresses. They also provide a 100-day risk-free trial and a 12-year warranty.