For a good night’s sleep, material and brand are not the only factors to consider. One often-overlooked factor is the firmness or softness of your mattress. This article will help you understand whether you should choose a firm or soft mattress, as well as how to select the right mattress based on the needs of each member of your family.
1. What Are Firm and Soft Mattresses?
A firm mattress is most commonly found in innerspring and compressed cotton mattresses. These mattresses are characterized by strong support and a relatively flat surface, helping keep the body and spine stable without allowing them to sink too deeply.
A soft mattress offers a certain level of cushioning and elasticity and is commonly made from natural latex or foam mattresses.
1.1. Key Characteristics
Each type of mattress has a different construction, which affects its firmness or softness. Here is how they can be classified and evaluated:
Firm Mattresses
- Construction: Made from firm, stable materials that provide strong support for the body.
- Thickness: They are generally thinner than soft mattresses, with a standard thickness of around 9–15 cm.
- Who they are suitable for: Suitable for people in the developmental stage (under 40), when the body generally benefits from adequate support. People aged 40 and above, or those with joint and bone issues, may benefit from a gentler combination of cushioning and support and may therefore be less suited to an overly firm mattress.
- Limitations: Firm mattresses are often heavier than other types, making them more difficult to clean or move. Today, some innerspring mattresses have been redesigned to be lighter and easier to flip and clean, while also offering better breathability and spinal support. Ru9 currently offers mattress lines designed to meet these needs.
Soft Mattresses
- Construction: Usually made from natural latex or foam, offering a comfortable and responsive feel while providing gentle support for the body.
- Thickness: The thicker the mattress, the greater its potential for cushioning and responsiveness. Soft mattresses are available in a range of thicknesses, such as 10 cm, 15 cm, 17 cm, and 20 cm.
- Who they are suitable for: Suitable for most people across different age groups, except those who primarily sleep on their back or stomach or are overweight. These groups should generally prioritize a firmer mattress to prevent excessive sinking and potential spinal misalignment.
- Advantages: Foam materials offer good breathability, help regulate temperature, contour to the body, and provide optimal spinal support.
In summary, soft mattresses are suitable for most sleepers. However, people who are overweight or primarily sleep on their back or stomach should choose a firmer mattress to provide adequate spinal support and help prevent back pain that may result from sleeping for extended periods on a mattress that is too soft or too thin.
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1.2. Firmness Levels
Mattress firmness is commonly rated on a scale of 1 to 10:
- Extra Soft (1–2): Designed with multiple layers, including soft foam layers on top.
- Soft (3–4): Suitable for lightweight sleepers with healthy spines. If you have spinal issues, side sleeping may be preferable to help reduce pressure on the spine when using a mattress in this firmness range.
- Medium (4–5): Offers a balanced level of firmness and is preferred by many people, making it suitable for most sleeping positions.
- Medium-Firm (6–7): Firm and supportive, suitable for a wide range of sleeping positions and body weights.
- Firm (7–8): Provides strong body support and is suitable for heavier sleepers.
- Extra Firm (9–10): Intended for people with musculoskeletal issues combined with higher body weight who require maximum support.
When choosing a mattress, prioritize a firmness level that suits your health condition and sleeping needs. Avoid mattresses that are excessively firm or soft, as either can negatively affect sleep quality.
1.3. How to Test Mattress Firmness
Before purchasing a mattress, determine your preferred firmness level and then evaluate it using the following methods:
- Press the mattress: Use your hand to press down on the mattress surface and assess how deeply it compresses to determine its firmness or softness.
- Punch the mattress: Gently press or tap the surface with a closed fist to assess its responsiveness and bounce.
- Lie down and test it: Try lying on the mattress in different sleeping positions to assess how well it suits you before making a purchase.
1.4. Firmness Levels of Different Mattress Types
- Compressed cotton mattresses: Made from polyester fibers compressed into a solid structure, these mattresses generally have a very flat surface and high firmness.
- Innerspring mattresses: Firmness can vary depending on the spring design, including spring thickness and shape, used by the manufacturer.
- Latex mattresses: Highly responsive and resistant to deep sinking, they generally fall within the medium-firm to firm range (around 6–8 on the firmness scale).
- Foam mattresses: Made from materials that provide cushioning and responsiveness, offering a distinctly softer feel while helping relieve aches and discomfort after a long night’s sleep.
2. How to Choose the Right Mattress Firmness
Choosing the right firmness level generally depends on the sleeper’s body weight and the type of mattress material. In general, innerspring and latex mattresses tend to be firmer than foam mattresses. To make sure a mattress is right for you, it is recommended to test it in different sleeping positions before making a decision.
Sleep Foundation classifies sleepers into the following weight groups:
2.1. Choosing Mattress Firmness Based on Body Weight
For Lightweight Sleepers (Under 60 kg)
Choose a soft to medium mattress (firmness level 3–5) that can contour to the body while remaining breathable.
For this group, choose a mattress with a softer comfort layer while maintaining sufficient surface support to prevent excessive sinking and pressure buildup during prolonged use. Suitable options include foam, latex, hybrid, air, or innerspring mattresses with moderate firmness and adequate edge support.
For Average-Weight Sleepers (60–90 kg)
As body weight increases, the mattress firmness should generally increase accordingly. People with an average body weight may prefer a standard firmness level of 5–7.
People in this weight range can choose a slightly firmer or softer mattress within this scale.
At this level, the mattress provides a balance of support and comfort. Sleepers can lean toward a firmer or softer option depending on their personal preferences within the 5–7 firmness range.
For Heavier Sleepers (Over 90 kg)
Prioritize a firmer mattress to provide maximum support and prevent the spine from sinking too deeply during prolonged use. A firmness level of 6–8 (medium-firm to firm) is generally suitable, combined with a comfort layer that is thick enough to prevent the sleeper from feeling the mattress core.
Another important factor is the mattress core construction. For this group, innerspring mattresses—particularly models with zoned support designed for different areas of the body—often provide effective support.
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2.2. How Different Mattress Types Handle Body Weight
Foam Mattresses: Memory Foam, Poly Foam, and Gel Foam
- Memory foam: Made from enhanced polyurethane foam with increased density, memory foam responds to pressure and body heat. Its firmness ranges from soft to medium-firm, making it suitable for average-weight sleepers.
- Poly foam: Suitable for lightweight sleepers, with a firmness level of approximately 2–4. It is made from synthetic polymer materials, unlike natural latex.
- Gel foam: Can help absorb heat but requires a sufficiently thick foam layer to provide adequate support. If the layer is too thick, it may retain heat and feel stuffy. Manufacturers therefore often incorporate gel-infused urethane to help regulate temperature and keep the mattress cooler. Due to its multi-layer construction, gel foam mattresses are typically thicker and fall within the 5–7 firmness range.
Latex Mattresses
Latex mattresses offer good responsiveness and effective body support. If greater support is needed, a multi-layer design may be preferable to a solid latex slab. Due to the natural characteristics of the material, latex mattresses generally fall on the firmer side, typically ranging from 6–8 on the firmness scale.
Innerspring Mattresses
Firmness can vary significantly depending on the shape, size, number, and configuration of the springs. For example, shorter springs with a higher spring count may provide a softer feel, while hourglass-shaped springs are generally firmer than zigzag-shaped springs.
Hybrid Mattresses
Similar to innerspring mattresses, hybrid mattresses come in a wide range of firmness levels. Foam layers combined with an innerspring core provide comfort, surface responsiveness, and pressure-relieving contouring for the sleeper.
Air Mattresses
Air mattresses contain an air chamber that allows the firmness to be adjusted easily. They can be suitable for people with spinal issues who need to customize the level of support and pressure for different areas of the body.
Water Mattresses
Similar to air mattresses, water mattresses allow firmness to be adjusted by changing the amount of water inside. However, the adjustment is generally less precise than with an air mattress.
3. Conclusion
Choosing between a firm and soft mattress should be based on the sleeper’s body weight, age, sleeping position, and health condition. There is no single “standard” firmness level that works for everyone. The best way to determine whether a mattress is right for you is to test it in person in different sleeping positions before making a decision.
If you are still unsure where to buy a quality mattress, Ru9 is always ready to provide personalized guidance and help you find a comfortable sleeping experience.
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