How Mattress Firmness Makes a Big Difference

A new mattress can be a hit or miss unless you learn the right firmness for you. More often than you think, people mistake mattress firmness for support, comfort, or the mattress height, and choose the wrong mattress. This leads to sore backs, neck pains, and eyebags that were totally uncalled for. To dive into dreamland without these pains, read our firmness guide and get to know mattresses better. 

What Is Mattress Firmness? 

Mattress firmness is the feeling you get when you first lie on it. Is there any sinking? Does the mattress feel like a “hug”? Does it feel too stiff? All these questions apply to mattress firmness. In the mattress world, there are 3 types of firmnesses we usually encounter; soft, medium-firm, and firm. That said, you must have heard of “Plush” mattresses, and we will get to that soon.

To make things easier for our readers to understand, let’s talk about the mattress firmness scale. The mattress industry develops this scale to guide consumers to their ideal level of firmness, and most of the mattresses reviewed by us fall into 3 levels under this scale. 

Mattress Firmness Scale

Soft Mattresses (0 to 3 on the Scale) 

It is almost impossible to have a mattress that is less firm than 3 out of 10 on the scale, as this means you will receive no support, no pressure relief, and will not be able to get out of bed easily. A mattress with that level of softness will not be of any benefit to you. 

Medium-Soft Mattresses (3 to 4 on the Scale)

When you consider mattresses on the 3 to 6 out of 10 scale, these are usually the medium-soft mattresses that can be quite cushy and huggable, and suit side sleepers and lighter people the most. Due to more sinking and body contouring, and less pressure relief, these mattresses do not appeal as much to other sleepers such as back, stomach, and heavy-weight sleepers. While we tested our mattresses, Douglas, Logan and Cove, Puffy, Emma, and Juno mattresses fell inside this category, which we only recommend for strict side sleepers and extremely light-weight people. 

Plush and Medium-Plush Mattresses (4 to 6 on the Scale)

Now, for those who were curious to understand what plush mattresses are, we’ve broken it down for you in a simple way. Plush mattresses do not have a dramatic sinkage like soft mattresses do, but rather provide a more cushiony, cloud-like feel while maintaining the support and pressure relief of a firmer mattress. These mattresses are ideal for those who prefer more support than a soft mattress but dislike the firmer, sturdier feel of medium-firm to firm mattresses. A plush mattress can be a great choice for stomach sleepers, back sleepers, and combination sleepers, although we do not recommend them for heavier people. Silk & Snow Hybrid Plush and Organic Plush, Endy Plush and Endy Hybrid Plush are some of the plush and medium-plush mattresses we have tested and liked.  

Medium-Firm Mattresses (6 to 7 on the Scale)

A medium-firm mattress is like a golden equilibrium in the mattress world, and offers you the perfect balance of pressure relief and support. As sleep experts, we recognize that 6.5 on the firmness scale is the perfect sweet spot you can ask for. These mattresses do not sink like the soft ones, but only contour your body in key areas to address pain and pressure. Meanwhile, they offer great spinal alignment, ensuring you can get to peak rest mode and wake up feeling refreshed. From our tests, we recognize Silk & Snow medium-firm mattresses, all Casper and Endy medium-firm, and Hush Graph-Iced mattresses fall into this category, making them a great choice for a wide range of sleepers. 

Firm Mattresses (7 to 10 on the Scale)

Although medium-firm mattresses cater to many sleepers, some still prefer more firmness from their mattress. For example, heavier people seek mattresses with as little sinkage as possible and appreciate the sturdy structure of firm mattresses. Strict stomach sleepers also prefer firmer mattresses as they desire less contouring. These mattresses still offer great pressure relief and spinal alignment and often have incredible durability. From our vault, we recognize Silk & Snow S&S Firm, The Endy Firm, and Casper Dawn Extra Firm as firm mattresses that serve this crowd. 

What Level of Firmness Should My Mattress Be?

This is such a challenging question as nobody knows the ideal firmness that suits your body, more than you do. Firmness is such a personal attribute of a mattress, and you will only be able to discover the right firmness for you by testing out a mattress. However, our guides for best mattress for side sleepers, best mattress for back pain, and best mattress for heavy people will give you a fairly good idea. To make things less complicated, we suggest you choose a plush or medium-plush mattress if you’re a side sleeper or you’re light-weight,  and a medium-firm if you’re not. If you’re a heavier person, more firmness can suit you better, so you can opt for a firm mattress. 

How Can the Right Firmness Benefit You? 

Choosing the right firmness on your mattress can be a game-changer, and we cannot stress this enough. You will not only receive the ideal sleeping surface but also get significantly more pressure relief and support for your body. If you’re suffering from back, neck, shoulder, or hip pain, you will notice a major difference in how you feel once you switch to a mattress with the ideal firmness for you. While your body heals from the pains, you will start getting more undisturbed, restful nights of sleep, leading to a healthier, rejuvenated lifestyle. 

Tired of sleeping on a bed that doesn’t feel right for your body? Go to our best mattress recommendations to find one that changes your lifestyle.