What Is a Medium Mattress? Firmness Levels, Mattress Types, and Potential Benefits

As a mattress ages, it can lose its firmness over time due to the natural softening of its components. If you prefer a firmer mattress, there are ways to achieve that. Tips for making your mattress firmer include using a mattress topper, adjusting room temperature, trying floor placement, replacing damaged layers, investing in a new bed frame or box spring, flipping the mattress (if applicable), and adding plywood supports. Different sleep positions require varying firmness levels for optimal comfort and support. If your mattress is considerably old and these adjustments don't suffice, it might be time to consider a new mattress.

So you’re looking for a new mattress and you’re trying to determine what firmness level is right for you. You can find mattresses on the market ranging from extra soft to extra firm.

Most people tend to prefer medium or medium-firm mattresses, as they’re not too soft, not too firm and suit a wide variety of sleepers.

But how can you determine if a medium mattress is the right fit for you?

Let’s take a look at a few different firmness levels, mattress types, and potential benefits of medium mattresses.

Medium mattress firmness levels

While there’s no universal measure of mattress firmness, most mattress companies use a scale of 1 to 10, with one being the softest and 10 being the firmest. A medium mattress is typically in the 4-7 range on the firmness scale.

Medium mattresses come in three distinct firmness levels: medium-soft, medium, and medium-firm.

Medium-soft mattresses

A medium-soft mattress will be a little softer than a medium mattress and usually measures around a 4 on the firmness scale. These mattresses are a little plusher and softer than medium or medium-firm mattresses, while still offering some support to your back and neck throughout the night.

Medium-soft mattresses are usually foam mattresses like memory foam, gel memory foam, and latex foam.

Medium mattresses

Medium mattresses traditionally fall on the center of the firmness scale, measuring in at about a 5. These are the true middle-of-the-road mattresses and offer plenty of support while still being soft and plush.

A medium firmness level can be found in almost any type of mattress, including innerspring, hybrid, memory foam, and latex foam.

Medium-firm mattresses

Medium-firm mattresses will typically fall into the 6-7 range on the firmness scale. These beds are still relatively plush but have an extra level of firmness and added support.

Medium-firm mattresses can come in multiple different types but will most commonly be either innerspring mattresses or hybrid mattresses.

Medium-firm mattress types

When shopping for a mattress, you should consider the type of mattress you’re buying in combination with the firmness level. Each type of mattress will have individual benefits and can make or break your sleep experience.

Let’s take a look at the key factors that affect your decision on mattress type.

Mattress TypeMotion IsolationEdge Support

Temperature Regulation

Mattress Feel

Innerspring Mattresses

Low – coils make it hard to move unnoticed

High – coils add additional edge support to prevent sagging

High – innersprings have great airflow and are incredibly breathable

– Bouncy and springy
– Most come in medium-firm
Memory Foam Mattresses

High – thick layers of foam make it hard to notice movement

Low – foam tends to sag easier on the edges

Low – little airflow through the thick foam layers

Plush and soft
– Can come in either medium or medium-firm
Gel Memory Foam Mattresses

High – foam layers make it hard to notice movement

Low – foam tends to sag easier on the edges

High – cooling technology in the top layer of gel foam makes this mattress cooler to sleep on

Plush and soft
– Can come in either medium or medium-firm
Hybrid Mattresses

Medium – the coils are padded, so you tend to feel less movement

High – coils add additional edge support

High – hybrid coils use a cooling technology for improved airflow

– Bouncy but usually have a soft pillow top
– Mostly come in medium-firm
Latex Foam Mattresses

High – foam layers make it hard to notice movement

Low – tends to sag easier towards the edges

Medium – better airflow than memory foam but not quite as good as innerspring or hybrid

– Plush and soft
– Can come in either medium or medium-firm

Benefits of medium mattresses

There are many situations in which a medium-firm mattress can be the right choice for you. Here are the top three medium-firm mattress benefits:

Can help relieve back pain

If you suffer from back pain, your mattress can literally make or break your sleep. When it comes to mattress firmness specifically, a survey of 268 people from Harvard Health Publishing suggests people with lower back pain sleep best on a medium-firm mattress.

Medium-firm mattresses are great for people with back pain. They contour to your body, giving cushion while still supporting pressure points along your back and neck throughout the night.

Provides ideal support for smaller body types

People who are light or average weight generally need slightly softer sleeping surfaces to keep their bodies properly supported. If you weigh between 120 and 230 pounds, a medium-firm mattress is best.

If you weigh over 230 pounds, on the other hand, you’ll do best on a firm mattress since it’ll help keep your spine aligned without sagging. Check out our blog post on the best sleeping positions for heavier body weights.

Good middle ground for couples

If you sleep with a partner who has a different firmness preference than you, a medium or medium-firm mattress can be a game-changer.

If one of you wants to go firmer and the other softer, a medium mattress provides a good middle ground to keep you both happy, comfortable, and sleeping well throughout the night.

Who are medium mattresses best for?

Keeping your sleeping position in mind is crucial when deciding on a mattress.

While your comfort level is dependent on personal preference, medium and medium-firm mattresses are better for some sleeping styles than others.

Let’s take a look at the best types of sleepers for medium and medium-firm mattresses.

Back sleepers

If you sleep on your back, you want your mattress to have enough give to be comfortable for your lower back and to promote proper spinal alignment. A mattress that’s too soft will cause your back to sink into your bed too much—but a mattress that’s too firm won’t provide enough support in the lumbar area. That’s why back sleepers will do best with a slightly firmer mattress.

Side sleepers

As a side sleeper, you want softness to cushion your hips and shoulders—but a too-soft bed isn’t a good option either. That’s because this could cause you to sink too far into the surface of the mattress, throwing your spine out of its natural alignment. This can lead to back and neck pain. A medium-firm mattress offers the sweet spot you need as a side sleeper.

Stomach sleepers

Sleeping on your stomach is widely considered the worst position for sleep. It’s hard, even with a softer mattress, to get your spine into a neutral position, causing back and neck pain from the extra pressure.

A medium-firm mattress can give stomach sleepers the extra support they need along the spine while still feeling comfortable.

Combination sleepers

If you’re a combination sleeper—meaning you tend to switch between your side and back at night—a medium-firm mattress is a great option for you. It provides enough cushion to cradle your hips and shoulders while you’re on your side and will help keep your spine in alignment while you’re on your back.

Find the perfect medium-firm mattress for you at Saatva

Saatva Classic Innerspring Mattress

Our flagship luxury mattress is expertly engineered with coil-on-coil construction for durability, a layer of memory foam for enhanced back support, and a cushiony Euro pillow top for extra comfort.

Loom and Leaf Memory Foam Mattress

Premium memory foam, handcrafted in the U.S. with eco-friendly materials. Breathable organic cotton, cooling spinal gel, and layers of high-density support foam assure a cool, comfortable night's sleep.

Zenhaven Latex Mattress

Natural latex responds to every curve for pressure-free support and responsive comfort. Natural latex is supple, resilient, and durable, for the ultimate in elevated sleep. (It's naturally hypoallergenic too.)

FAQs

What is a medium-firm mattress good for?

A medium-firm mattress is good for relieving back pain, providing ideal support for smaller body types, and satisfying different sleep needs that you and your partner may have.

Is a medium-firm mattress good for back pain?

A medium-firm mattress is great for back pain as it can contour to your body, giving a cushion while still supporting pressure points along your back and neck throughout the night.

Check out Saatva’s collection of high-quality medium mattresses

If you’re in the market for a new bed, Saatva has some of the best medium-firm mattresses out there. From our

Saatva Classic Innerspring Mattress
saatva classic innerspring mattress
Saatva Classic

America’s best-selling online luxury innerspring

to our

Loom & Leaf Memory Foam Mattress
loom and leaf memory foam mattress
Loom and Leaf

Our ultra-premium 5-lb memory foam mattress for a body-hugging feel

to our

Zenhaven Latex Mattress
zenhaven latex mattress
Zenhaven

Our dual-sided organic natural latex mattress for buoyant, pressure-relieving comfort

, we’ve got options for everyone—no matter what your sleep preferences are.

If you’re still unsure which of our products is the best mattress for you, take our online mattress quiz to discover which Saatva bed is the perfect match for you.

Take advantage of our standard 365-night sleep trial and industry-leading warranty so you can make sure you’re getting a good night’s sleep before committing to a mattress.

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