Buying a new mattress is a significant investment in your sleep and overall well-being. With so many options available, from innerspring to memory foam and hybrids, navigating the mattress market can feel overwhelming. This comprehensive Mattress Buying Guide will walk you through the essential factors to consider, ensuring you choose the perfect bed for your needs and preferences. Whether you’re shopping online or visiting a store, understanding what makes a mattress comfortable and supportive is crucial for making an informed decision and achieving restful nights for years to come.
Finding Your Ideal Firmness and Softness
When exploring mattresses, whether in a physical store or online, it’s crucial to personally assess the comfort level. Just as you would at home, sit and lie down on the mattress to get a true feel. Consider this: is the mattress as firm or as soft as you desire?
Even if you have a preconceived notion about your preferred firmness, it’s wise to try out a variety of options. The terms “firm,” “medium,” or “soft” are not standardized across mattress brands. Personal experience is the best guide. During mattress testing, some individuals who initially believed they preferred firm mattresses discovered they actually favored medium firmness. When reading online mattress reviews, remember that firmness is subjective. For example, the Casper Original mattress is described as too soft by some reviewers, while others find it “too firm” or “just right.” If you’re shopping for a specific brand in-store, start with the firmest option and gradually move to softer models until you find your perfect match.
Cushioning and Contouring: How Does the Mattress Feel?
Consider how you want the mattress to interact with your body. Does it cradle and conform to your shape, or do you prefer to feel more supported on top? This preference will guide you towards different mattress types.
If you enjoy the feeling of a mattress contouring closely to your body, a memory foam mattress or a foam-forward hybrid mattress might be ideal. These mattresses excel at distributing weight and relieving pressure points.
On the other hand, if you prefer a sensation of being held up by the mattress rather than enveloped, an innerspring mattress is a better choice. Innerspring mattresses, particularly those with pillow tops or Euro tops, can offer plush comfort while still allowing for easier movement. Many innerspring options incorporate just enough foam in their upper layers to provide cushioning without minimizing the responsiveness of the coils.
Latex mattresses, made from a springier type of foam derived from rubber tree sap, offer a middle ground. They provide a feel that blends the contouring of memory foam with the supportive bounce of innerspring mattresses. When choosing, consider whether you prefer the deep sink of memory foam, the buoyant support of latex, or the traditional bounce of innerspring.
Bounce Factor: Do You Want Springiness in Your Mattress?
Many people are accustomed to the bounce of innerspring mattresses and either appreciate it or desire more of it. If you enjoy a bouncy bed, focus on innerspring mattresses and innerspring-forward hybrids.
Innerspring mattresses naturally offer more bounce due to their coil systems. However, modern mattress technology also provides alternatives. Memory foam mattresses with latex layers, or all-latex mattresses, can counteract the typical “sunk-in” feeling of memory foam with an elastic springiness. Some sleepers find this latex bounce more appealing than traditional innerspring bounce.
Both coils and latex can enhance comfort for those who change sleeping positions frequently throughout the night or move around in bed, whether alone or with a partner. Consider your movement preferences when evaluating the type and amount of bounce you desire in your mattress.
Temperature Regulation: Staying Cool or Warm Enough
Temperature regulation is a critical factor for sleep comfort. Are you a hot sleeper? This will significantly influence your mattress material choice.
If you tend to overheat at night, it’s generally best to avoid all-foam mattresses, especially traditional memory foam, which is known for trapping heat. Innerspring mattresses are typically more breathable. Their open coil structure allows body heat to dissipate through the spaces within the coils and out into the room.
For hot sleepers who prefer the feel of foam, consider foam hybrid mattresses or innerspring mattresses with a foam topper. These designs attempt to combine the benefits of foam with better airflow. Many foam mattress brands promote materials designed for improved heat transfer, such as foams with air channels or infusions of gel, copper, or graphite. However, these features often increase the mattress price and may not be effective for everyone. Latex mattresses are naturally cooler and springier than memory foam, making them a good option for temperature-sensitive sleepers.
A person demonstrating mattress edge support by sitting on the side of a foam mattress, indicating stability.
Edge Support: Is the Mattress Edge Sturdy?
Edge support is important if you frequently sit on the side of your bed or utilize the full mattress surface for sleeping. Good edge support provides a stable perimeter, preventing roll-off and maximizing usable sleeping space.
Innerspring mattresses often feature enhanced edge support through high-density foam encasements or firmer coils around the mattress perimeter. While foam encasements can be comfortable, they may soften over time. For maximum durability, especially if you regularly sit on the edge of your bed, a mattress with firmer coils at the edge might be preferable.
Edge support in foam-forward hybrid mattresses and all-foam mattresses largely depends on the density of the foam in their support layers. Therefore, it’s essential to test edge support personally rather than assuming it will be adequate. Mattresses with high-density foams, typically 4 pounds per cubic foot or greater, are more likely to offer robust edge support. Consider testing the edge support by sitting firmly on the edge of the mattress to assess its stability.
Accommodation for Partners: Sleep Compatibility for Two
If you share your bed with a partner, especially one with different mattress preferences, compromise is key. Prioritize the comfort of the partner with musculoskeletal issues like lower back pain, as advised by experts like Dr. Santhosh Thomas of the Cleveland Clinic.
If neither partner has specific medical needs, consider choosing a firmer mattress. For king-size beds, you can customize one side to be softer using a twin-size mattress topper, accommodating different firmness preferences.
If finding a mutually agreeable mattress proves difficult, adjustable air beds, such as those from Sleep Number, offer a solution. These beds allow each partner to independently adjust their side of the mattress to their desired firmness level. Some bedding retailers also offer this customization for foam and innerspring mattresses.
Motion isolation is another crucial factor for couples. If you are easily awakened by your partner’s movements, look for mattresses that minimize motion transfer. Foam mattresses generally excel at motion isolation across various price points. However, some higher-end hybrid and innerspring mattresses also offer good motion isolation, particularly those with pocket coils. Pocket coils, individually wrapped in fabric rather than wired together, provide superior motion isolation and also enhance contouring and pressure relief compared to traditional coil systems.
Construction Quality: Assessing Materials and Craftsmanship
While mattresses may initially appear similar, closer inspection reveals differences in construction quality that impact longevity. Assess the mattress’s materials and craftsmanship to ensure durability.
Lift and shift the mattress to gauge its weight and sturdiness. Avoid mattresses that feel excessively light or flimsy. Examine the mattress cover, ensuring it is well-stitched and feels durable. For foam or hybrid mattresses, inquire about foam density, especially for the top comfort layers.
For adults weighing under 200 pounds, aim for a memory foam mattress with at least 3 pounds per cubic foot density. Those over 200 pounds should seek at least 4 pounds per cubic foot for better support and durability.
Demonstration of mattress firmness using hand pressure on a Leesa Hybrid mattress, highlighting material responsiveness.
For non-memory foam polyfoams, sleepers under 200 pounds should look for a density of at least 1.8 pounds per cubic foot. Heavier individuals should consider denser options around 2 pounds per cubic foot or higher. If foam density specifications are not readily available, contact customer service or consult knowledgeable store staff. Transparency about materials is a good indicator of brand quality and durability.
If the mattress contains springs, inquire about the type and gauge. Pocket coils are optimal for motion isolation and conforming comfort. Support coils (in the lower layers) are typically more durable in the 12 to 15 gauge range. Lower gauge numbers indicate thicker, firmer coils, although softer mattresses may use slightly higher gauges. A higher count of quality support coils generally indicates greater durability. Less expensive innerspring mattresses might achieve firmness through methods like closer coil placement rather than thicker coils.
Body Impressions: Understanding Potential Indentations
Body impressions, or indentations in frequently slept areas, are a common occurrence in all mattress types. The risk of body impressions is influenced by mattress materials, construction, and sleeper weight.
In foam and hybrid mattresses, lower density and cheaper foams, combined with higher body weight, increase the likelihood of indentations over time. For innerspring mattresses, thicker pillow tops or Euro tops are more susceptible to imprints.
While plush mattresses are more prone to body impressions, you can minimize this effect by rotating the mattress at least every six months and varying your sleeping position. Quilting on the mattress top can help mask indentations, and steel coils in innerspring mattresses provide underlying support to resist sagging. Dense polyfoams are less likely to be quilted effectively.
Compared to memory foam, all-latex mattresses and innerspring mattresses topped with latex are more resistant to sagging and body impressions, regardless of weight. High-quality components reduce the risk of disappointment, but mattress construction and assembly are also critical factors in longevity.
Return Policies and Trial Periods: What to Expect
Understanding the return policy is crucial, especially for online mattress purchases. Most online mattress companies offer free trial periods, typically around 100 days, when purchased directly from the manufacturer. However, a mandatory trial period of around 30 days before initiating a return might be required.
Third-party retailers, such as Amazon, department stores, and mattress stores, may have different return policies, regardless of whether the purchase is made online or in-store. Always clarify the return policy before purchasing, paying attention to trial periods, return shipping costs, and conditions for returns.
Pricing and Deals: Is It Truly a Good Value?
Be a discerning shopper, especially when purchasing mattresses from third-party retailers. Manufacturers often provide a suggested retail price (SRP), but the final selling price is set by the retailer.
Some retailers inflate the price above the SRP only to then offer a “discount,” creating a false sense of value. Before making a purchase, check the manufacturer’s or brand’s website for the mattress SRP. Use this SRP as a benchmark to evaluate whether a retailer’s “deal” is genuinely advantageous. Comparing prices across different retailers and understanding the SRP will help you determine if you are getting true value for your investment in a new mattress.
