Mattress Firmness Guide
Discovering the right mattress firmness is an essential element when it comes to creating a relaxing and restful bedroom retreat. Explore our expert guidance on the mattress firmness scale to ensure you invest in the best mattress to suit your individual needs and experience the wonder of a supportive and comfortable sleep, every single night.
Mattress firmness – or in other words how hard or soft your mattress feels – is a very personal choice and one which can have a profound effect on your overall wellbeing. A comfortable mattress is integral to vital rest and rejuvenation, and selecting the right firmness for your unique needs and preferences is essential for keeping your body supported and your spine aligned while you sleep.
There are various factors to consider, from sleep position to health conditions, so allow our expert advice to guide you on how to pick mattress firmness for you and your family. Discover the mattress firmness scale and explore our extensive collection of high-quality mattresses to find the perfect level of firmness for consistently peaceful and revitalising slumber.
Why does mattress firmness matter?
By selecting a mattress firmness that aligns with your personal preferences and the unique needs of your body, you're investing in your long-term health and well-being. The firmness of your mattress should alleviate pressure points in your preferred sleep position, cushion any sensitive areas of the body and keep your spine in perfect alignment, so you avoid waking in discomfort. The wrong level of firmness can lead to strain on the body and worsening of aches and pains over time.
If your mattress is too soft, your spine might not get the support it needs, leading to stiffness and aches in the morning. On the other hand, a mattress that’s too firm can create pressure points on your shoulders, hips, lower back and knees.
Finding the perfect balance in mattress firmness ensures your body is cradled in comfort, with your spine perfectly aligned, setting the stage for comfortable and rejuvenating sleep.
While this advice may feel a little overwhelming, particularly when combined with the sheer number of mattresses available on the market, our expert guidance will enable you to choose the right mattress firmness for your needs.
We’ll explore the best mattresses for front, side and back sleepers, as well as for those who suffer with shoulder, back or hip pain, and for couples who share a bed but may have vastly different body weights, health needs and sleep preferences.
Is firmness the same as support?
The firmness of a mattress and the level of support it offers are closely related, but they are two different factors and must be considered as such when deciding which mattress is best for you. Firmness relates to comfort and is an indication of how hard or soft a mattress feels, or how much it gives, when you lie down. This can vary from person to person depending on body weight, so for example, a heavier individual may find a particular mattress softer than a lighter person.
Support refers to a mattress’s ability to stabilise your body and evenly distribute your weight so that your spine remains in perfect alignment throughout the night.
While firmness is dictated by the outer layers of material and can alleviate pressure in problem areas like the back and hips, support is related to the core structure that reinforces the mattress. This prevents your body from sinking too far down and supports your skeleton while your body muscles are in a relaxed state of sleep.
It's often assumed that a firm mattress will offer good support and a soft mattress will offer lighter support, however this is not strictly true. A premium quality mattress should always offer an excellent core support structure, regardless of the level of firmness.
The firmness depends on the materials and design and can be further explained using the mattress firmness scale, which will guide you in finding the perfect mattress to relieve any targeted sleeping issues.
Soft mattresses
Soft mattresses provide the irresistible sensation of sinking deep into the bed and are usually crafted from plush materials that closely cradle the body and offer cocoon-like comfort. This is an excellent choice for those that suffer with joint or hip pain, as the mattress will contour the body and relieve pressure on sensitive areas. Soft mattresses can be well-suited to lighter individuals and side sleepers who prefer their mattress to gently hug them as they drift into peaceful slumber.
Layers of luxurious materials allow a soft mattress to envelope the body, limiting airflow and trapping heat, which is perfect for those who like to feel warm and cosy when snuggled up in bed. Our Cawthorne Pillow Top Mattress is handcrafted with a blend of the finest 100% natural fibres, including cashmere, mohair and wool, for an irresistibly indulgent cloud-like softness. Responsive pocket springs relieve pressure and contour the body for supreme support all night long.
Medium mattresses
Mattresses with a medium level of firmness strike the perfect balance for most body types, offering a wonderful amount of sinkage that gently cocoons the body while still providing an excellent level of support for sleepers of all shapes and sizes. Those who tend to switch sleeping positions throughout the night are well-suited to a medium mattress, which relieves pressure points as you move, allowing for total relaxation during sleep without causing muscle aches upon waking.
A mattress of medium firmness is better suited to those who prefer to stay cooler in bed, as it allows more airflow around the body and retains less heat overnight. Our handcrafted Chaucer Mattress features six luxurious layers of 100% natural fibres that help regulate body temperature, keeping you comfortable in any season. The sumptuously soft surface is underpinned by pioneering pocket spring technology, offering a deeply opulent and exceedingly supportive night’s sleep.
Firm mattresses
Firm mattresses offer a sturdier sensation beneath your body and are ideal for those who prefer the feeling of lying on top of the mattress, rather than sinking deeply into the bed. While firm mattresses often feature cushioned outer layers to alleviate pressure, they do not envelope the body in the same way as soft and medium choices, so air flows more freely and keeps you cooler. A firm option is the best mattress for people with a larger build who require extra support.
Those seeking a firm mattress that still contours the body may favour a memory foam structure, which cleverly responds to pressure, moulding to your shape and aiding alignment as you move around during the night. Our Bamboo Hybrid 4000 Mattress combines the breathable properties of natural bamboo with graphite-infused memory foam and highly responsive pocket springs for extra cushioning and enhanced alignment, offering an abundance of comfort and support.
Extra firm mattresses
Extra firm mattresses lie at the extreme end of the mattress firmness scale and are designed to offer an exceptionally sturdy sleep surface. This type of mattress is often described as ‘ortho’ or orthopaedic and can be beneficial for those who suffer with back problems, supporting the bones, muscles and joints during sleep. An extra firm mattress usually has very little give, providing less of a body-hugging sensation than softer mattresses.
Our Conrad Mattress is available in an orthopaedic very firm tension, handcrafted with generous layers of 100% natural British fibres that offer sublime comfort on the mattress surface. This superior cosiness is reinforced by five dynamic layers of hand-inserted pocket springs, including advanced micro springs, for highly individualised support. It provides maximum adaptability to your movement and enhanced lumbar alignment for the ultimate night’s rest.
Spilt tension mattresses
You may be wondering how to select the optimum mattress firmness if you and your partner have varying sleep preferences, disparate body weights or different health needs. In this case, you can opt for a split tension mattress, which allows you to customise the firmness on each side of the bed to suit your individual requirements. If one person prefers to sink into sumptuously soft luxury, while the other needs a firm mattress for back pain, for example, a split tension design is the perfect solution that gives each sleeper exactly what they need.
Our extensive collection of high-quality mattresses includes various split tension models that can be tailored to the needs of you and your partner. The opulently quilted Bronte Mattress is deeply filled with eight layers of plush fibres, including 100% British wool and hemp. Its embedded pocket springs are highly flexible, adapting to the body’s contours to relieve pressure while you sleep and responding to individual movement to ensure couples don’t disturb each other during the night.
What is the best firmness for a mattress?
We understand that choosing the right mattress firmness is a significant decision with long-term implications for your health and well-being. Feather and Black’s buying team, offers the following expert advice:
“The firmness of your mattress is a deeply personal choice, so there is no right or wrong answer to the question of what mattress firmness is best. Take a moment to consider your preferences and needs, including your favourite sleeping position, so are you a side sleeper or do you prefer to lie on your back or stomach? Allow for your body weight and any targeted health problems, such as back, shoulder or hip pain.
“Envisage how you like to feel when you settle into bed – do you prefer to snuggle up in a warm and cosy cocoon or stay cool with more freedom of movement? If you sleep with a partner, you may also need to consider any differences in your individual requirements and take those into account when choosing the right mattress firmness. Further explore our helpful guidance on the best mattresses to suit different and varied requirements to guide you on your way.”
Back sleepers
For people who favour sleeping on their back, we advise a mattress from the medium to firm section of the scale. If your mattress is too soft, the middle of your back will bow down as you lie on the bed, placing excess pressure on the hips and lower back, which can cause aches and pains in the morning. Conversely, a mattress that is too firm can curve your spine upwards and place too much weight on the shoulders, hips, lower back and knees.
A mattress in the medium to firm range, such as our Chaucer Mattress or Bamboo Hybrid 4000 Mattress, will offer just the right amount of support for back sleepers. This is particularly important for heavier people, where additional weight can place further pressure on the back. The aim is to gently cradle the body and allow the spine to remain in a neutral position throughout the night, so you wake feeling refreshed and free from pain or discomfort.
Is a firm mattress better for your back?
If you suffer with back problems, a medium to firm mattress can help to alleviate pressure and relieve pain as you sleep. When you lie down on your bed, the areas of your body in contact with the mattress form pressure points that take the weight of your physique as your muscles relax into a state of deep sleep. For back sleepers, this includes the shoulders, heels, buttocks and back. A medium to firm mattress that offers sufficient support in these areas is considered the best choice to ease back pain.
Side sleepers
The best type of mattress for side sleepers is one from the soft or medium section of the firmness scale. When you’re lying on your side, your body weight is concentrated to a smaller surface, so the pressure points at the hips and shoulders are more vulnerable to aching and soreness. A mattress that’s too firm will heighten the stress placed on these areas, while a mattress that’s extra soft can result in the body sagging too deeply into the bed, causing bad posture over time.
Lighter weight side sleepers usually benefit from the cocooning sensation of a softer mattress, such as our Cawthorne Pillow Top Mattress, which acts as a cloud-like cushion on the more sensitive parts of the body. For heavier people who prefer to sleep on their side, a mattress of medium firmness is the best option, preventing the body from sinking too far into the outer layers and reducing the risk of long-term effects on back posture.
Stomach sleepers
Sleeping on your front can place excess pressure on your lower back and neck, particularly if the mattress is too soft and your midsection is dipping in to the outer layers of the mattress. For this reason, stomach sleepers are particularly vulnerable to back pain and are advised to consider a mattress at the firmer end of the scale. A firm mattress will provide additional support around your hips and torso and prevent your spine from overarching uncomfortably as you sleep.
Stomach sleepers with a lighter body weight may be able to tolerate a medium firmness in their mattress, however larger individuals are recommended to opt for something firmer, such as our Bamboo Hybrid 4000 Mattress. This will ensure the spine is kept in neutral alignment by raising the hips in line with the shoulders and preventing any sagging of the stomach area, while simultaneously offering indulgently comfortable and wonderfully relaxing rest.
How to maintain mattress firmness
The best way to maintain the firmness of your mattress and prolong its lifespan is to turn and rotate it regularly. This will help to resettle the fillings and even out pressure on the mattress, as well as preventing sagging from continually sleeping in the same spot. We recommend turning your mattress over with the change of every season, or alternatively you can opt for a non-turn model, such as our Chaucer Mattress. Your mattress should then be rotated by 180 degrees two or three times a year. For more detailed guidance on how to maintain and care for your mattress, explore our Mattress Care Guide.
Feather & Black’s mattress collection
With our expert guidance in mind, you can refer to the mattress firmness scale as you select the best mattress for you and your family’s needs. Whether you prefer a soft, plush feel or a firm, supportive surface, understanding the different levels of firmness will help you make a more informed decision. Explore our expertly curated collection of mattresses and best-selling models, each one designed to offer exquisite comfort and superior support for a sound night’s sleep.