Experts believe that obtaining enough sleep is one of the most important things we can do to keep and enhance our health. The importance of a mattress in our ability to sleep properly is often overlooked, and many individuals continue to use a mattress that does not give adequate support and comfort.
A new mattress is a significant expense, but it is a move that can help you sleep better. As with any large purchase, you want to be sure you make the best decision possible.
We lay down the crucial facts piece by piece to assist you understand how to buy a mattress. With the information in this guide, you’ll be able to pick the ideal mattress for your needs, with the proper firmness and features, and get a good night’s sleep every night.
1. What is your sleeping position?
Now that we’ve figured out your age, it’s time to consider you, the sleeper. While we’ll be looking at a variety of aspects relating to you and your particular sleeping habit, the first thing we’ll need to find out is what position you sleep in.
Though most individuals toss and turn in numerous positions during the night, most people prefer some positions over others. Perhaps you like to start on your back and then turn over to your side.
Alternatively, you may sleep on your side for the majority of the night and then complete the night on your stomach while hitting the snooze button in the morning.
If you’ve never given any thought to your favored sleeping positions, I recommend paying special attention to how you sleep over the next week.
You’ll probably discover that you’re a back, side, or stomach sleeper, or a combination of the three.
This is crucial knowledge because all mattresses appeal to various types of sleepers. I’ll go through the different sorts of beds that are suitable for each position category below.
1.1 Back sleepers
Back sleepers, more than any other sleeping type, are in desperate need of a Goldilocks mattress. If the firmness is too high, these people may endure excessive stress in their shoulders and lower back.
If their hips are too soft, their shoulders may drift out of line, resulting in a bent back and shooting pains up the spine. As a result, these dreamers want a medium solid feel that is somewhere in between these two extremes.
Back sleepers, in my experience, should choose a mattress that is in the 5.5-7/10 firmness range on the hardness scale, with 1 being the softest mattress in the world and 10 being the firmest mattress in the world. As a point of comparison, the industry standard for medium firmness is usually 6.5.
What makes this a good vibe for back sleepers? It helps to elevate the spine and align it in a neutral position. When I speak of neutral spine alignment, I’m just talking to the concept of creating a straight line from the shoulders to the hips. This relieves stress in the back and helps to avoid fibromyalgia and arthritis-related aches and pains.
Though back sleepers are fortunate in that they can generally find comfort in a wide range of mattress types and materials, I urge that they look into hybrid mattresses, which blend foam and coil layers (more on that later!) Check out my Best Mattress for Back Sleepers page for specific mattress suggestions.
1.2 Side sleepers
Side sleepers require profound pressure relief at the shoulders and hips, whereas back sleepers require balance. This implies they’ll probably want to go with a softer mattress that molds to their body’s curves to avoid painful nighttime jams.
While softness is a subjective concept, I describe it as anything that falls within the firmness scales of 4-6/10. We’re comparing these figures to the industry standard for medium firmness, which is 6.5.
Because side sleepers put so much strain on their joints when sleeping, it’s critical that they sleep on a comfortable bed created with pressure reduction in mind.
Many mattresses promise to cure shoulder and hip discomfort, but it’s crucial to look into the design specifications to see how effectively a bed will relieve pressure in these areas.
Memory foam mattresses, which are recognized for their deep body contouring, sinkage, and pressure reduction, are recommended for side sleepers.
1.3 Stomach sleepers
Stomach sleepers require an ultra-firm mattress that elevates the hips in line with the shoulders, which is the polar opposite of side sleepers.
The most serious problem these people will confront is a soft mattress that causes their hips to sag out of line with the rest of their spine, so they should look for models that are quite supportive.
When it comes to stiffness, I try to keep things between 7-9/10 on the firmness scale for stomach sleepers. When comparing these figures to the industry norm of 6.5 for medium firmness, it’s clear that stomach sleepers will prefer to stay at the top of this range.
However, you don’t want to wind up with a mattress that is as hard as a rock. Finding a bed that blends very strong foundations with thin comfort layers to add just a hint of softness to the overall hardness is the key here.
As a result, stomach sleepers will benefit from an innerspring or hybrid mattress with tall coil sections combined with either pillow tops or a quilted cover layer.
1.4 Combo sleepers
Finally, there are combination sleepers, who blend all three positions into a cozy smorgasbord of comfort. This is a common sleeping method, but it need a flexible mattress that can give comfort on the back, side, and stomach.
In general, I recommend a medium-firm mattress for combination sleepers, i.e. one that is right around the industry norm of 6.5 for medium firmness.
Combination sleepers will benefit from a medium-firm mattress since it provides a good blend of pressure relief and support. They’re soft enough to relieve pressure on the shoulders while sleeping on your side, yet firm enough to support your hips while resting on your back.
Above all, I believe that combination sleepers should think about the bounce and mobility of their mattress. These sleepers will want to focus on either buoyant latex or hybrid mattresses since they need to be able to move about and alter positions easily.
2. Types of mattress
If you’re just starting your search for a new mattress, you’ve certainly realized that there are a lot of possibilities. Start by thinking about mattress kinds as a method to establish your bearings.
Almost every mattress falls into one of five categories: foam, innerspring, hybrid, latex, or airbed. Innersprings are the most well-known and were formerly the standard in houses across the country. Other mattress kinds, on the other hand, have become increasingly popular in recent years.
These additional mattress kinds have grown in popularity due to their ability to provide a more dynamic performance. With the expansion of the internet mattress market, they’ve also gotten more inexpensive and accessible.
Knowing the fundamentals of each of these mattress kinds will help you continue your quest for the finest mattress.
2.1 Foam mattress
These mattresses have no coils and are entirely constructed of foam. They provide above-average body contouring, pressure relief, and motion isolation, making them ideal for couples and side sleepers. Memory foam is the most well-known of the foams utilized in these mattresses.
2.2 Innerspring mattress
A coil-based support system and a few more layers make up an innerspring mattress. While the coils provide some support, pressure relief is generally lacking in innersprings. Their sleeping surface is bouncy, and motion isolation is limited. These are more popular among budget customers due to their reduced price point.
2.3 Hybrid mattress
Hybrid mattresses include two main components: an innerspring support core and a large foam comfort system. Foam, latex, and occasionally even a shorter layer of coils can be found in the comfort layers (called micro-coils). These mattresses offer a combination of bounce and contouring with minimal heat retention, and depending on how they are constructed, they may be a suitable match for sleepers in any posture.
2.4 Latex
Some people refer to a mattress as all-latex or true-latex if it has latex rubber in all of its layers. We’ll just call it a latex mattress for the sake of simplicity. These have excellent bounce and durability, as well as modest contouring. They are a popular choice among eco-conscious buyers when created from natural and organic latex.
2.5 Airbed
An air chamber serves as the support core of an airbed. A pump is incorporated into the mattress and can be operated by a smartphone or remote to add or withdraw air at the touch of a button, providing sleepers the greatest firmness flexibility possible. Airbeds are popular among couples since each side may be adjusted to a different hardness level.
3. Things need to be considered when buying a mattress
3.1 What level of firmness do you require?
Since we’ve already begun talking about firmness, I figured we should devote a full section to it. Simply said, firmness describes how firm or soft a mattress is.
While it may appear to be an easy issue, evaluating the firmness of a bed (and the firmness that you, the sleeper, require) may be difficult. That’s because a mattress’s feel and hardness are determined by your own definitions of soft, medium, and firm, as well as your body type, weight, and size.
The fact that many customers conflate support with toughness might further complicate the dialogue. A supportive mattress aligns the spine in a straight line without causing pressure spots, and can be found in soft, medium-firm, or hard varieties.
The term “firmness” solely relates to the bed’s physical “feel.” To cut a long tale short, you can find a supportive mattress at any firmness level.
With this in mind, the average sleeper’s recommended firmness level is between 4 and 7 out of ten. As previously said, based on their favorite sleeping positions, some sleepers will wish to go to the lower end or the upper end of that spectrum.
3.2 What is your weight?
When shopping for a new mattress, keep in mind that your weight has a significant impact on the sinkage, hug, feel, cooling, and support of the bed.
In fact, depending on your weight and overall body shape, you may require a certain mattress to meet your rest requirements. So, I’m going to walk you through a few different weight categories to show you which mattresses would be best for each one.
We’ve divided it into three categories: light sleepers (those weighing less than 150 pounds), average sleepers (those weighing between 150 and 200 pounds), and heavy sleepers (those weighing more than 200 pounds) (those who weigh 200 lbs. or more).
- Light sleepers
Light sleepers may have a similar weight range (usually at or below 150 pounds), but it doesn’t imply they all sleep the same way. As a result, I’ll provide mattress suggestions depending on the many sensations these sleepers may desire.
Soft feel (4-6/10 on the firmness scale): You shouldn’t have any problem finding a soft mattress if you’re a light sleeper. You’re not as prone to sink through the materials as some other sleepers, so any all-foam bed, particularly one with a memory foam comfort layer, should suffice.
Medium feel (5.5-7/10 on the firmness scale): Because lighter sleepers don’t sink as deeply into their mattresses, beds with exceptionally dense or thick top layers of foam might be uncomfortable for them. As a result, if you’re a lighter person, I recommend choosing a mattress that’s.5-1 firmness degree lower than the sensation you require. This is because most medium-firm mattresses are rated for a sleeper of average weight (typically around 180 lbs.)
Firm feel (7-9/10 on the firmness scale): Mattresses with thin comfort layers are preferred by lighter sleepers who like a firm sensation. In fact, a simple pillow top or quilted cover comfort layer could be preferable. Why? These people aren’t going to sink through upper levels of foam as easily, therefore they don’t need to be buffeted by super-supportive fundamental layers.
- Average sleepers
We’ll split down this weight group (from 150 lbs. to roughly 200 lbs.) into distinct firmness demands once more.
Soft feel (4-6/10 on the firmness scale): In this area, your requirements are quite comparable to those of lighter sleepers. If you weigh more than 150 pounds, you can use the same guidelines as the lightweight sleepers. If you weigh more than 200 pounds, though, you’ll want a mattress with large top layers of foam to give lots of comfort when you press into the framework.
Medium feel (5.5-7/10 on the firmness scale): For average-sized sleepers, this will most likely be the simplest feeling to achieve. You should have no trouble choosing a mattress that meets your needs because most mattresses are constructed with average-weight sleepers and medium firmness in mind. In general, medium firmness is attained when the comfort and support layers are balanced.
Firm feel (7-9/10 on the firmness scale): Reduce the thickness of your comfort layers while increasing the thickness of your support layers if you’re looking for something stronger. Average-sized sleepers will press into the structure more than light sleepers, necessitating additional base support for a “firm” sensation.
- Heavy sleepers
Unfortunately, finding a comfortable mattress for bigger people (those who weigh more over 200 pounds) might be challenging. That’s not to suggest there aren’t any comfortable alternatives out there, but many companies design beds with only one sort of sleeper in mind. As aggravating as this may be, there are certain strategies you may employ to obtain a mattress that meets all of your firmness and support requirements.
Soft feel (4-6/10 on the firmness scale): We recommend a tall bed with thick top layers of foam over a robust coil portion if you want a softer experience. Because heavy sleepers are more inclined to sink deeply into their mattresses, having at least 4-5 inches of foam up top to sink through will assist to provide a softer sensation.
Medium feel (5-7/10 on the firmness scale): We’d keep the top layers of foam thick, but cut them by an inch or two for a medium-firm feel. Though the industry norm for medium firmness is 6.5/10, I’d recommend anything in the 7-8/10 range for heavier people. What other sleepers consider firm should be just suitable for individuals who want a medium-firm sensation!
Firm feel (7-9/10 on the firmness scale): Finally, if you’re a heavy sleeper who like a firm sensation, a robust innerspring mattress with a cushion top layer is a good choice. There are lots of firm versions on the market nowadays, but I’d stick with beds that fall anywhere between 8 and 10 on the hardness scale.
4. How to know when it’s time to have a new mattress?
If any of the following apply to your mattress, it may be time to replace it:
- There are signs of wear and tear: Sagging, lumps, and coils that can be felt through the cloth are all signs of wear.
- Springs that make a lot of noise: Squeaky springs indicate that the coils have worn out and are no longer delivering the support they should.
- Stiffness of the muscles: You may wake up uncomfortable and stiff if your mattress isn’t comfy and no longer supports your body the way it once did. New mattresses were proven to alleviate back discomfort and enhance sleep in a 2009 study by Trusted Source. Take a look at these pointers for picking a pain-free mattress.
- Your allergies or asthma have become more severe: The majority of dust mites and allergies in your house dwell in your mattress. Allergies and asthma might be worse as a result of this. Vacuuming and cleaning your mattress on a regular basis will help, but if your symptoms don’t improve, it’s time to switch.
- You’re aware of your partner’s movements: When one person rolls over or gets in and out of bed, an older mattress loses its capacity to prevent motion transfer, causing companions to sense greater movement in the mattress.
- You’re increasing the pressure on your mattress: Adding a sleeping companion or gaining weight might damage an older mattress and alter how comfortably you sleep. You may notice changes in your mattress that make it less comfortable when it has to support more weight than it previously did. (Are you debating whether or not you should let your dog to sleep with you at night?)
