Mattress Firmness Decoded: What’s Right For Your Sleep Style?

When you get in bed, how does it feel? Is it bouncy or still? Does it cradle your body or maintain its shape? Does it feel like lying on a marshmallow or a bed of moss? In the mattress world, this is called firmness, and while there’s a wide range of choices on the firmness spectrum, there’s a sweet spot for every sleeper. Let’s find yours.

Choosing the right mattress can already feel overwhelming. It’s something we use every night, so we want to make sure it’s the perfect size, material, and feel. But mattress firmness shouldn’t be left out of the equation—it should actually be prioritized. You might be asking:

Why Does Mattress Firmness Matter?

Generally, a firm mattress offers several benefits for people with back problems, joint pain, and other ailments. But that doesn’t mean a super firm mattress is right for everyone. The right firmness level will:

Be kind to your spine. A mattress that’s too soft can cause spinal arching that leads to more back pain, but one that’s too firm can lead to pressure buildup. Much like Goldilocks, we want to find the mattress that’s “just right” for our back––and this means doing our research (either online or in person). Look for mattresses that are designed for specific sleep issues, read reviews, and test a few options out.
Improve your sleep hygiene. How comfortable we are in bed will make or break our quality of sleep, but comfort is subjective. Some of us find ourselves tossing and turning on a mattress that’s too soft and bouncy. Others may find themselves shifting around uncomfortably on a hard, firm mattress. The right mattress firmness might be the kind you don’t notice at all, because you’re too busy getting the best sleep ever.
Work with your sleep style. Are you a heavy or light sleeper? Do you sleep on your side, stomach, or back—or all three? There’s a right (and wrong) level of mattress firmness for every kind of sleeper. We’ll break down those details below.

Eco organic mattress with city collection

Photo courtesy of Avocado.

Read More: Why Are Firm Mattresses Better?

Firmness vs Support: They’re Not The Same

Before we dive into our perfect mattress, let’s chat about the difference between mattress firmness and support—two words we often hear used interchangeably. We debunk this in our article, “How to Buy the Best Mattress for Back Pain.” In reality, a soft mattress and a firm mattress can both be equally supportive, and the level of firmness is usually a matter of preference. We recommend testing different firmness levels and being aware of how you feel when you wake up in the morning. Did you sleep through the night and get your normal amount of rest? You might have found the right firmness level.

We also provide a few general points to guide you towards your dream mattress:

People with back pain can benefit from a medium to firm level mattress.
Lighter sleepers often find soft to medium level mattresses more comfortable, and if you’re a heavy sleeper, try something on the firmer side.
People who sleep on their side or suffer from hip pain can benefit from a happy medium. A firmer mattress could cause too much pressure, but a soft mattress allows too much sinkage and not enough support. The key is finding a mattress that cradles the body just enough.

Understanding The Mattress Firmness Scale

To reduce confusion and streamline the decision process, a mattress firmness scale from 1-10 was developed (1 being the softest and 10 being the firmest). Here’s the details:

1-3: Soft – For plenty of give, like sleeping on a marshmallow cloud

4-6: Medium – For a sweet spot of supported comfort and pressure relief

7-9: Firm – For minimal sinking, especially for heavy sleepers

10: Extra firm – For very little give

It’s important to know that even though this scale exists, it’s not an industry-wide standard, and a majority of sleepers choose a happy medium somewhere between three and eight. Mattress companies differ in the way they describe and rank their mattresses, which means that every “medium-firm” mattress isn’t going to feel exactly the same. At Avocado, we use the word “plush” and “ultra plush” to describe our mattresses that fall on the softer side of the firmness scale.

The scale is a good starting point, but knowing how different firmness levels actually feel to our bodies is equally important.

What’s Right For Your Sleep Style?

Sleeping position is a key factor in finding our ideal match(ress). Here’s the breakdown:

For Side Sleepers

Whether you prefer sleeping on the right side, left side, or both, side sleepers can benefit from the perfect mattress firmness more than most people, for one key reason. Claire Davies explains why in the article “How Firm Should a Mattress Be?” on Tom’s Guide. Says Davies, “Some side sleepers struggle with beds that are harder than a medium firm rating. That’s because when you sleep on your side, you introduce a lot of pressure on your shoulders, knees and hips. So softer mattresses with contouring abilities are more comfortable for side sleeping.”

Photo courtesy of Avocado.

For Back Sleepers

It’s important for back sleepers to have a mattress that supports the natural curve of their spine: A resting place that supports the lower back, while contouring to the body’s natural curves. A medium to medium-firm mattress should do the trick. Anything too extreme on the softness or firmness scale could contribute to back pain and stiffness.

For Stomach Sleepers

When we sleep on our stomachs, our neck and lower back can often be strained. In order to correct this, a firm mattress keeps the spine in a neutral position. Do you struggle with sensitive shoulders or pressure point pain? Consider a mattress with a softer mattress topper, but a firm core. You’ll get the best of both worlds with soft comfort and necessary support.

For Combination Sleepers

If you guessed that combination sleepers could benefit from the versatility of a medium-firm mattress, you guessed right. Medium firmness can accommodate your shifting positions––but it’s also important to consider the responsiveness of the material. For example, foam mattresses are great for pressure relief but can form to a single position and make repositioning less comfortable. Shifty sleepers should choose a hybrid model that responds and supports the contours of every sleeping position.

Sleep Comfort Is Subjective—And Firmness Can Be Too

That’s why it’s important to sleep on your decision before you sleep on the wrong mattress. Research, read reviews, and even test out different mattresses if you can. Get to know your sleep style and personal needs. The right mattress firmness is out there, and at Avocado, we’re here to help you find it.

Photo courtesy of Avocado.

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Kelly is a freelance writer from New York’s Hudson Valley. She gravitates toward stories about art, culture, food, and thoughtful living, and always aims to bring a fresh perspective to the page.