When shopping for a mattress, doing your research is more important than you think, especially if quality sleep can’t be compromised. If you browsed through the options, you might have seen the word “firm.” But what does this mean when it comes to choosing the perfect mattress to suit your personal needs?
Firmness refers to how the mattress feels when you first lie down on it. Would you rather sink into a soft cloud or lie on something more supportive to keep your spine aligned? Your mattress needs to match your sleeping position, body shape, and the amount of support you need, but ultimately, your mattress preference is very personal.
While factors like materials and durability are more standardized among the best mattress brands, the optimal firmness will vary from person to person. That’s where our 2024 mattress firmness guide comes in, helping you find the optimal bed firmness you need so you can sleep soundly and wake up ready to take on the day.
Mattress Firmness Rating
Mattress firmness level measures how soft or firm a mattress feels when you lie on it. They are rated on a scale of 1 (soft) to 10 (hard). How much firmness you need depends on your body shape, sleep, and personal preference. This explainer can help you get a better idea of what type of mattress to buy, especially if you’re considering buying a mattress in a box without trying it out first.
Soft (1 to 5)
If you want a comfortable, luxurious place to rest your bones after a long day, a soft mattress reigns supreme. They fall on the lower end of the bed firmness scale (between 1 and 5) and provide a sinking feel, giving you cloud-like comfort. However, the mattress firmness chart shows that most soft mattresses won’t rank lower than a 3 or 4 because that would be too soft and not supportive (think: equivalent to sleeping on a bean bag).
Some of our favorite soft mattresses include:
Medium hardness (6 to 7)
Medium firmness is like the Goldilocks of mattresses—neither too soft nor too firm, and right in the middle of the mattress firmness spectrum. This is a popular choice for many people, including those with back pain, and you’ll often find it in restaurants. This is also a common firmness level for mattresses in a box, exhibiting a comfortable contour and firm support that’s perfect for many different types of sleepers.
If you want your bed to feel like it’s supporting your body while keeping your spine aligned, a medium-firm mattress is your best option. This type of mattress is also ideal for back sleepers, who require adequate support and a soft touch to prevent pressure on the lower back. And side sleepers? They’ll appreciate how a medium-firm mattress cushions their shoulders and hips without throwing their spine off balance. TL;DR: Medium-firm mattresses are popular and give you just the right feel for a perfect night’s sleep.
Our top recommendations for medium-firm mattresses are:
Firm (7 to 10)
This is a practical solid mattress that typically ranks between 7 and 10 on the mattress firmness scale. It’s best for back and stomach sleepers who need strong support but don’t want to sink into the bed. A firm mattress can be your spine’s best friend, keeping you aligned and cushioning your pressure points with less bounce and more structure than a soft or medium-firm mattress.
If a firm mattress sounds right up your alley, these are our top picks:
firm and supportive
Firmness and support are two mattress buzzwords that may seem to have similar meanings, but are actually quite different. Firmness is about feel – it’s the feeling you notice when you first lie down on it. Do you sink into a cloud of comfort or rest on a hard surface? Support, on the other hand, is about what’s going on beneath the surface. This is a real MVP, making sure your body stays aligned and your pressure points (like your lower back and shoulders) aren’t screaming for help in the morning. A mattress can be soft yet incredibly supportive or firm, but if it doesn’t have the right structure, it can still feel like you’re sleeping on plywood.
How to choose the right hardness level for you
Choosing the right firmness level has everything to do with how you sleep and feel good. For most people, a medium-firm mattress (usually around 6 to 7 on the firmness scale) is the best choice. This mattress type provides enough support to keep your spine aligned, helping to prevent long-term back pain while still providing you with enough comfort to relieve pressure. For these reasons, medium-firm mattresses are often considered the best choice for a variety of sleepers.
