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Mattress Firmness Levels

Introduction

With comfort being subjective and based on a variety of factors including personal preferences, physical needs, mattress materials, and mattress type, it can be difficult to decide which mattress firmness is right for you. In this guide, we will help you understand the concept of firmness, the pros and cons of different mattress firmnesses, and who they might be best suited for.

What contributes to mattress firmness?

The firmness of a mattress will depend on a variety of factors including the person sleeping on it, the materials used, and the type of mattress that it is. Check out MATRESS MATERIALS page to learn more about mattress materials and MATTRESS TYPES page to learn more about mattress types.

  • Personal preference → arguably the most important factor that determines firmness as it is directly related to comfort which is very subjective. Regardless of what is advertised, one person might find a mattress firm while someone else finds the same mattress soft.
  • Body type → someone who is heavier will naturally put more pressure on a mattress causing it to feel softer than someone who is lighter.
  • Mattress materials → some mattress materials such as foam will naturally be softer than other materials like coils. Depending on the density and type of foam being used, there will also be differences in firmness between various types of foam, for example, latex is much more firm than memory foam. Some mattresses will have a combination of these materials which all contribute differently to the overall firmness of the mattress.
  • Mattress type → some mattresses use only foam which is typically softer than other mattresses which contain coils, hybrid mattresses will contain a combination of these materials which all play into the overall firmness of the mattress.

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What does “Plush” mean in a mattress?

“Plushness” is used interchangeably with firmness and describes how much you sink into the mattress. In other words, “plush” will also mean “soft”. A mattress that is considered “plush” will be soft all the way through, however, you may also see “plush” used to describe specific parts of the mattress including the pillow top which means the top layer of the mattress is soft while there may be firmer materials below.

What is the difference between “Firmness” and “Support”?

Although firmness and support are related, they are not the same thing. Support describes how well a mattress supports your spine while firmness describes how much you sink into a mattress. Support will differ depending on the materials and features of your mattress. For example, you can have a hybrid mattress that features pocket coils for high support with a soft pillow top for comfort. Similarly, you can have a foam mattress that features a high-density foam base for support with softer memory foam on top for comfort.

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Firmness Level

Extra Soft

Extra Soft (1-2/10) → uncommon firmness, very plush mattress that cushions and cradles allowing you to “sink in” while laying down, offers the highest amount of cushion with very minimal support

Best For: lighter people, joint pain, arthritis, elderly people, side sleepers.

Soft

Soft (3-4/10) → plush mattress that cushions and cradles allowing you to “sink in” while laying down, offers a high amount of cushion with minimal support

Best For: lighter people, joint pain, arthritis, elderly people, side sleepers

Medium

Medium Firm (5-6/10) → most popular firmness, equally soft and supportive, offers a good amount of support with a good amount of cushion

Best For: people unsure of their preferences, people with no preference either way, guest rooms, couples who don’t agree on firmness, side/stomach/back sleepers

Firm

Firm (7-8/10) → hard mattress that supports your body while laying down, offers a higher amount of support with a small amount of cushion

Best For: heavier people, back pain, herniated discs, stomach/back sleepers

Extra Firm

Extra Firm (9-10/10) → uncommon firmness, very hard mattress that feels similar to laying on a carpet floor, offers the highest amount of support with almost no cushion

Best For: heavier people, back pain, herniated discs, stomach/back sleepers

How do I find my firmness?

Firmness is directly related to comfort and because comfort is subjective, firmness is also highly variable. However, everyone has a threshold for comfort; anything within that threshold is considered comfortable whereas anything outside that threshold, whether too soft or too firm, will be considered uncomfortable. Because a mattress does nothing but get softer with time, we recommend purchasing your mattress at the top of your threshold (more firm than your ideal) so that at 5 years the mattress is still within that comfort threshold rather than purchasing a mattress that is perfect right from the first night as by year 5 this mattress will no longer be within that threshold and will end up causing you discomfort.

TIP: Check out MATTRESS FIRMNESS VIDEO (DOZY) or the visual graphic below for more insight on the comfort threshold. Moreover, in order to discover your comfort threshold, we always recommend trying a mattress in person.

NOTE: At Dozy, we show all our mattresses in-store for our customers to try for themselves.

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FAQs

  • The softest mattress firmness is extra soft. This firmness is quite uncommon as it provides very minimal support and often leaves people feeling “trapped” inside their mattress. Foam mattresses are generally softer than innerspring or hybrid mattresses and provide more pressure-relief than they do support. There are exceptions to this and some mattresses will include specific materials and features that provide more support.
  • The firmest mattress firmness is extra firm. This firmness is quite uncommon as it feels similar to sleeping on a carpet floor and while it provides a very high amount of support it does not provide much comfort. Innerspring and hybrid mattresses are generally more firm than foam mattresses and provide more support than they do pressure relief. There are exceptions to this and some mattresses will include specific materials and features that provide more pressure relief.
  • Overtime, a mattress will do nothing but soften. Ideally, this softening will occur gradually over a number of years. That being said, a softer mattress most likely will not last as long as a firmer mattress since it is already considered soft and most complaints arise out of a mattress being too soft and not supportive enough, a soft mattress will generally get to this point sooner.
  • Overtime, a mattress will do nothing but soften. Ideally, this softening will occur gradually over a number of years. That being said, a firmer mattress most likely will last longer than a softer mattress since it is considered firm and most complaints arise out of a mattress being too soft and not supportive enough, a firm mattress will generally take longer to get to this point.
  • When sleeping on your side, your pressure points, including your shoulders and hips, are in closer contact with the middle of the mattress which can be uncomfortable if there are coils or firmer materials in this area. Side sleepers will often benefit from a mattress that is more plush and provides more pressure relief.
  • When sleeping on your stomach, there is an increased amount of pressure placed on your neck and spine which requires additional support around your midsection to prevent “sinking”. Stomach sleepers will often benefit from a mattress that is medium-firm to firm and provides more support around the midsection.
  • When sleeping on your back, there is an increased amount of pressure placed on the shoulders and hips which requires additional support to maintain proper alignment of the spine. Back sleepers will often benefit from a mattress that is medium-firm to firm and provides more support for their shoulders and hips.
  • Because there are 2 people’s preferences to consider when choosing a mattress as a couple, it is often best to go with something that allows both people to meet halfway and compromise. Couples will often benefit from a medium-firm hybrid mattress that offers the best of both worlds in terms of comfort and support. The addition of pocket coils will also decrease motion transfer between 2 people getting in and out of bed or moving around throughout the night.
  • Sleepers of different body types tend to have different requirements. Heavier people will often appreciate a mattress that is more firm as they tend to sink into the surface more than someone who is lighter.
  • Sleepers of different body types tend to have different requirements. Lighter people will often appreciate a mattress that is softer as they tend to sit on top of the surface rather than sink into it.
  • A great way to make a firm mattress slightly softer is to add a mattress topper. A mattress topper will sit on top of your mattress and under your mattress protector or sheets. Mattress toppers come in a variety of materials, thicknesses, and firmnesses which make them highly customizable.
  • The best way to ensure your mattress is worn out evenly is to rotate your mattress 180 degrees every 3-6 months which allows both sides of the mattress to be broken in evenly and helps prevent lopsidedness and sagging in particular areas.