Finding a mattress firmness suitable to you is one of the key aspects to keep in mind when buying a new bed. Firmness levels can help promote a healthy sleeping posture while relieving pressure points.
To select the ideal mattress firmness, take into account your body weight and sleeping position. By gathering this data, it should help you and your partner identify the mattress firmness that meets both of their needs.
Lightweight Sleepers
Finding a mattress firmness suitable to you requires taking into account factors like body weight, sleeping position and personal preference – each play a part in finding a great mattress firmness match.
Lightweight sleepers generally benefit from using softer mattresses that provide adequate support and pressure relief for their lower bodies. Since lightweights tend not to compress the mattress as heavily as heavier sleepers do, softer mattresses allow them to sink deeply without forcing their spines out of alignment or curving uncomfortably.
Soft mattresses fall between 2-3 on the firmness scale, offering a body-hugging sensation when sleeping on them. This type of mattress is best suited to lightweight side sleepers as well as moderately weighted stomach or back sleepers.
Medium-firm mattresses provide a broad appeal, making them suitable for lightweight sleepers in all positions, as well as moderately weighted side, back, and stomach sleepers with moderate bodyweights. Their conforming yet firm surface provides ideal conformance while minimising sinkage.
Medium-firm mattresses typically score 4-5 on the firmness scale and provide an appropriate balance of conforming firmness, conforming softness, and limited sinkage. This type of mattress works well for most side, back, and stomach sleepers up to 130 pounds.
Moderately Weighted Sleepers
Firmness is a critical element of mattress comfort and support. Finding the ideal firmness level depends on a sleeper’s weight and sleeping position – with some preferring softer mattresses while others needing additional support or cushioning. Mattress firmness settings may change over time as well.
Firmness of mattresses is an integral feature, as it determines their initial feel and how well pressure relief occurs in various areas. However, firmness doesn’t necessarily equate to support; too soft or too hard mattresses might not have enough support capabilities to keep the spine aligned properly.
Lightweight adults (130lb and under) typically benefit from choosing mattresses that provide enough plush softness to sink in and let their comfort layers conform to the body, in order to ease pressure points and ease back and stomach ache.
Average-weight individuals (130-230lb) usually prefer a medium soft to medium firm setting as this offers the optimal combination of softness, contouring and minimal sinkage while offering a slightly firmer feel. Heavier individuals who sleep on their stomach or back typically require firmer mattresses in order to prevent their mattress from sagging under them and keep proper spinal alignment for pain-free sleeping.
Heavyweight Sleepers
Firmness levels of mattresses play a big role in how comfortable their sleep surface feels when lying down, with firmness measurements typically falling on a scale from 1-10 with 1 being extra soft and 10 being extremely firm. Most sleep surfaces range between 4-7 on this scale with medium models providing even distribution of support and cushioning while firm ones tend to offer minimal give for more body support.
Your body weight and sleeping position play an integral part in choosing a firmness level mattress. Lightweight sleepers tend to opt for softer mattresses, while heavier individuals often prefer medium-firm or firm options. If you are heavyweight sleeper, choosing a firmer mattress could reduce sinkage as well as prevent spine misalignments at night.
Finding the ideal firmness level also depends on if you and your partner share a bed. If one prefers soft mattresses while you prefer firm ones, consider investing in separate mattresses so both of you get restful sleep. Otherwise, many mattress-in-a-box companies provide generous risk-free trials wherein you can exchange it if it proves unsuitable for you – though remembering that firmness levels can often be adjusted by adding or subtracting layers of cushioning material such as memory foam or latex to increase or decrease firmness levels to achieve optimal sleep.
Personal Preference
If you are an average-weight sleeper, chances are good that a medium or medium-firm mattress will offer the greatest level of support and comfort – providing optimal spine alignment to ensure a restful night’s rest.
However, personal preferences will also play a factor in your mattress firmness decision. Perhaps a medium or medium-firm mattress feels too soft for you; perhaps you prefer hard mattresses instead. To determine whether one mattress suits you perfectly or not is through testing it either in-store or online with a sleep trial offer.
Many people make the mistake of conflating firmness and support ratings, when these are two separate elements. Firmness refers to how the mattress feels when you lay down while support looks at how well it keeps your spine aligned in healthy neutral alignment. Firmness will ultimately depend on factors like your size, body weight, sleep position and personal preferences – however some guidelines can help streamline this process and help find you your ideal mattress more quickly and easily.
