Have you ever wondered what exact factors make a mattress so comfortable to sleep on throughout the night? Does it depend on the thickness, the firmness, or the material that it is made out of?
Truth be told, each one of these factors plays a part in creating a mattress that has the potential to leave either a positive or negative impression. There is, however, one element that contributes the most to satisfaction levels - the mattress firmness.
Before making the final decision on which mattress to purchase for your own use; keep in mind the following points, tips, and things to look out for regarding how to choose mattress firmness.
What is mattress firmness?
Mattress firmness is essentially the degree to how soft or firm a mattress feels when one first lies upon it.
And guess what? No two sleepers feel mattress firmness levels the same way! This can be demonstrated with the help of a friend, partner, or family member. Have your companion follow along to test out various types of mattresses with you in a showroom; sooner rather than later, the two of you may have distinct views as to which mattress constitutes the best in terms of comfort + support.
These contrasting preferences are all thanks to our individual combinations of height, weight, and sleeping position; which affects how good a mattress feels to our own bodies - the “perfect” mattress truly is subjective.
How do I choose a mattress?
Body Weight
As a rule of thumb and referencing the mattress firmness scale, a sleeper under 55 kg should prioritise testing a “soft” firmness level first, a sleeper between 55 kg to 85 kg should prioritise trying out a “medium” firmness level, and a sleeper above 85 kg would have the most luck with a “firm” firmness level. View our in-depth analysis of calculating the density, hardness, resilience, and weight of a latex mattress, and how it correlates with our body weight here.
| Size | Inches | Metric |
| Less than 55 KG | Soft | Soft density sinks and conforms considerably in order to cradle and provide comfort for petite-weighted sleepers |
| 55 KG to 85 KG | Medium | Medium mattresses sink less to provide an enjoyable balance of comfort + support for average-weighted sleepers |
| More than 85 KG | Hard | Firm mattresses have virtually no sinkage and minimal conforming which translates to exceptional support for heavier-weighted sleepers |
Sleeping position
Various sleeping positions determine which mattress firmness is more suited to a particular sleeper, too. This is due to the way our body weight is distributed across the mattress as we sleep, and thus whether or not pressure points form.
If one is a back or stomach sleeper, their weight should be evenly distributed when lying down, and thus the option to choose a firmer mattress to their liking is open.
On the contrary, if one is a side sleeper - they would be best suited towards a less firmer density; this would allow their body to contour and cradle more naturally into the mattress while they’re sleeping on their side. Sleeping on a mattress that is too firm would cause your spine to fall out of alignment, leading to lower back pain!
| Size | Inches | Metric |
| Back | Medium/Firm | Prevents the mid-region of the body from sinking too deep into the mattress, limiting back pain and providing comfortable cushioning to the shoulders and hips |
| Side | Medium/Soft | Softer mattresses that utilise 7-zone support and allow for deeper pressure relief are often recommended for side sleepers - as too firm of a density may push the spine out of alignment |
| Stomach | Firm | Ensures stomach sleepers receive the cushioning they need without their stomach sinking in too much as with other densities - achieving proper spinal alignment |
