How to Choose Mattress Firmness for Your Individual Needs

July 1, 2023

An uncomfortable pillow, bed, or blanket is a recipe for sleepless nights. Constant discomfort leaves a person stressed, anxious, and unable to rest properly. If your bed feels as hard as stone, the culprit is usually the wrong mattress firmness. The best approach is to talk to a specialist, describe the problem, and have a suitable option selected for you personally. At a mattress store you will typically be asked about your body type and what is bothering you, and the ideal model is then matched to your specific weight, height, and preferences.

What should you know about mattress firmness?

Firmness is the single most important parameter when choosing a mattress. It determines whether your body stays in the correct position during sleep — and how comfortable you feel. Choosing a mattress with the right level of support is essential for sound sleep and for preventing spinal problems.

Specialists recommend choosing mattress firmness with age in mind. The musculoskeletal system changes as we get older, so you cannot sleep on the same mattress for decades. It is important to adjust the level of body support and pick a model suited to your age group.

Mattresses are commonly classified by age as follows:

0 to 3 years;
3 to 14 years;
14 to 25 years;
25 to 50 years;
50 and older.

Each age bracket calls for its own firmness level. Manufacturers state the recommended age on the packaging or in the specifications on their websites, so it is easy to buy mattresses guided by these recommendations.

What else should you consider?

Age is not the main factor, though. When deciding what firmness of mattress to buy, look at body weight first: the heavier the sleeper, the greater the load. Firmness should be proportional to weight. Soft mattresses suit people weighing up to 55 kg. For those up to 90 kg, a medium-firm sprung or springless model is the way to go. From 91 kg upward, only multi-layer orthopedic mattresses will do.

Height matters too: it affects how the load is distributed, which in turn influences the right firmness. If you have posture problems or lower-back pain, only medium-firm mattresses are suitable. For chronic discomfort in the neck or upper back, softer materials are the better choice.

Before settling on a firmness level, take a look at the filling as well. It may be latex, coconut coir, springs, or polyurethane foam — each carries weight differently. Some materials are synthetic, others natural. If you are prone to allergies, make sure the filling will not trigger a flare-up.