{"id":25879,"date":"2020-07-29T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2020-07-29T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.saatva.com\/mattress-firmness-scale\/"},"modified":"2025-01-10T19:12:47","modified_gmt":"2025-01-10T19:12:47","slug":"mattress-firmness-scale","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.saatva.com\/blog\/mattress-firmness-scale\/","title":{"rendered":"Mattress Firmness Guide"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

There are a lot of things to consider when buying a new mattress. You have to figure out which mattress type<\/a> to choose, whether that’s innerspring, memory foam, or latex. You also have to determine which mattress size<\/a> will give you enough space to sleep comfortably without cramping your bedroom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another factor, and perhaps the most important, is mattress firmness, as it’s the key to a comfortable night’s sleep.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mattress firmness guide<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Most mattresses come in a range of firmness options, from soft (also called plush) to medium firm to firm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Read on to learn everything you need to know in order to select the right firmness level for you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is mattress firmness?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Mattress firmness is a function of the amount and type of material in the top, or comfort, layer of the mattress, which determines how the mattress feels when you lie down on it. Some brands, particularly boxed beds, sell mattresses with “universal” firmness, which is typically a medium firmness intended to appeal to the widest range of sleepers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Keep in mind that mattress firmness and mattress support are not the same things. To be supportive, a mattress does not need to be firm. A soft mattress can still be supportive enough if its bottom layers provide enough support for the person’s specific body type.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A good mattress has to provide support for your body, meaning it should promote correct spinal alignment. Support comes from the core of the mattress, rather than from how soft or firm its surface feels. In foam mattresses, support comes from the denser bottom layers of foam, while in innerspring mattresses it comes from the spring system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How is firmness measured?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

While there is no universal measure of mattress firmness, most companies use a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 being the softest and 10 being the firmest. Every manufacturer will have its own scale, and what is considered firm by one will not necessarily feel the same as a firm mattress from another.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here’s the mattress firmness scale Saatva uses:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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What firmness is best for your sleep position?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

When choosing the right firmness level for you, take your preferred sleep position into account.<\/p>\n\n\n\n