What Type of Mattress is Most Firm?

What Type of Mattress is Most Firm?

With numerous mattress types and options available, understanding the mattress industry's firmness scale, also known as comfort level or rating, is a wise step if you're researching and shopping for a new mattress. After all, with any investment in a new mattress for yourself or a loved one, you want to ensure it provides restful and deep sleep each night.

There are minimal options to make your mattress feel firmer if your body craves sleeping 'on top of the mattress' rather than 'sinking in the mattress.' Still, the savvy way to buy one is to understand your options and choose a mattress that is as close to the right firmness as possible in the first place.

If you don't initially choose the right one, most mattress retailers offer a sleep trial, also known as a comfort guarantee. Your Comfort Guarantee lets you try out your new sleeping surface for up to several months before deciding if it's comfortable and whether to keep it.

Even if you believe you need a firm mattress, the comfort guarantee is good news for many mattress shoppers who don't quite know what they're looking for or what will be best for them. For those seeking a firmer mattress, sleep experts advise considering that the majority of shoppers tend to err on the side of 'too firm' rather than 'too soft' when selecting a comfortable mattress for sleep.

Main Points to Consider

  • The mattress industry uses a firmness scale to rate mattress firmness, also known as comfort level, ranging from 1 to 10. Level 1 is the softest, and Level 10 is the firmest.
  • Your sleep position, body type, and weight will largely influence which mattress comfort level is right for you.  
  • Mattress industry experts recommend visiting a local mattress store to try out mattresses before making a purchase. Testing them in person can help you find an ideal fit and improve sleep quality.

The Importance of Mattress Firmness for a Good Night's Sleep

There isn't one universally comfortable and supportive mattress that fits every body type, weight, and shape. That's why there isn't necessarily an answer to the common question of 'what's the best mattress?'

Each sleeper prefers their own position, such as side or back sleeping, and all sleepers have unique preferences and needs to achieve optimal comfort. Not to mention, most sleepers change positions several times per night while they sleep, so the mattress needs to be comfortable in all positions.

Ultimately, there's no 'one size fits all' when it comes to mattresses.

Similarly, when each person tries a mattress, they may experience different sensations depending on their body weight, shape, or potential pain or health issues. For instance, a firmer mattress is likely to help heavier-bodied, muscular, or taller individuals maintain their hips in alignment with their neck and shoulders, thereby providing better spinal support. That exact mattress surface will often feel much more rigid and uncomfortable for a sleeper with a petite body type. Of course, there will be recurring exceptions to this general rule of thumb.

Still, sleeping on a bed with a 'too firm' or 'too soft' mattress can cause aches, pains, and stiffness—making you feel tired and sore in the morning.

To avoid unnecessary sleep deprivation, muscle tension, and soreness or pain, it is wise to research different mattress comfort levels and styles—and try them—before making a choice. 

Mattress firmness isn’t the only element worth considering if you're aiming to get better sleep. But choosing the right mattress style and firmness—the first time—can save you time and money and help you avoid accumulating a lack of sleep, leading to 'sleep debt.'

A 'new mattress refresh' is a perfect way to rejuvenate your nights and give you that 'total relaxation' you've been looking for as you wind down your day. The right mattress that fits your body can help you manage certain sleep troubles you have—such as getting too hot or cold or tossing and turning due to pressure points.

Mattress Types Within Each Firmness Rating

Keep in mind that the mattress industry's firmness scale rates mattresses based on how hard or soft they feel on average. This rating begins at 1—the softest mattress. Graduating to 10—the firmest mattress.

  • Rating 1-2: Ultra Plush, Plush Pillowtop, Luxetop Soft
  • Rating 3-4: Plush, Firm Pillowtop, Luxetop Firm, Medium Pillowtop 
  • Rating 5-6: Luxury Firm, Medium Firm, Medium
  • Rating 7: Firm
  • Rating 8-10: Ultra Firm, Extra Firm

A Deeper Dive Into the Mattress Firmness Scale

Now, you're better equipped to identify the types of mattresses to look for within each firmness rating. Next, we'll explore the mattress firmness scale in more detail, including current mattresses in each category and how each comfort level is typically perceived.

Benefits of a Supportive Mattress

Most individuals shopping for a mattress have been recommended 'a firm one' at one point or another. Often, people desire a firm mattress because they are seeking improved support to help them sleep better. However, the difficulty lies in the fact that many people don't realize that a firm mattress— one that feels hard on the surface— can cause pressure points, discomfort, and inadequate circulation. Luckily, a mattress Comfort Guarantee in the form of a sleep trial exists to give you peace of mind through the process of 'trial and error' to decide on a new mattress.

Likewise, mattresses can ideally disperse your body weight evenly to provide firm support while still feeling somewhat squishy or even soft on top. For most people, a slightly more cushioned—yet still firmly supportive—mattress will often surprise them because they feel the most comfortable lying and sleeping on it for long periods.

The Top 3 Benefits of Supportive Mattresses

  • Encourages neutral spine alignment
  • Promotes proper sleep posture
  • Provides balanced hip positioning
  • Supplies body weight and spinal curvature support

As previously mentioned, sleep professionals and mattress experts recognize that everyone has their own unique preferences for comfort while they sleep. Mattress comfort is entirely subjective to the individual; therefore, there will be some exceptions to the general guidelines about mattress firmness.

Can You Make a Mattress Firmer?

It's typically much easier to soften a firm mattress—by adding a mattress topper. Rather than simply making a soft mattress firmer, minimal remedies exist that can actually create a noticeable difference in making a mattress firmer.

One of the most effective ways to make a mattress feel firmer is to increase the stability and rigidity beneath it. Try upgrading to an adjustable bed to boost sturdy stability within your bed frame. Alternatively, use a bunkie board—a 1 to 2-inch-thick piece of wood wrapped in fabric, ideally made from plywood. A bunkie board will provide additional support compared to having your mattress on a box spring or slats. Nevertheless, the bunkie board may only offer a temporary noticeable difference in helping your mattress feel firmer.

Discover The Best in Firm Support at Mattress World Northwest!

To feel sufficiently supported while you sleep, it’s essential to replace any mattress that's sagging, overly soft, or uncomfortable, as it lets you sink too far down into the mattress. Likewise, it's a savvy choice to replace your mattress if you consistently toss and turn or wake up with numbness in your limbs or shoulders.

The Better Sleep Council recognizes that many of us wait about three years too long to replace a mattress. It's suggested that most mattresses today last about 7 years, and many people still wait until 10 years or longer to replace them, despite not sleeping well and experiencing discomfort.

Do you recall when you bought the mattress you sleep on today? Time flies, and you’ve likely been sleeping on the same mattress longer than you realize.

So don't hesitate to visit one of the best mattress stores— Mattress World Northwest. The sleep specialists at this shop are equipped with extensive knowledge of sleep and mattresses, as well as personal experience in professionally guiding individuals to their ideal mattress.

The following mattresses have received high ratings and positive recognition, demonstrating a high level of customer satisfaction among those who have had real-life sleep experiences on them. These mattresses strike an ideal balance between firm support and cushioning necessary for pressure relief:

For firmness you can change any day of the week, don't miss these advanced mattresses, called SmartBeds with adjustable firmness:

Your family-owned and locally operated mattress shop, Mattress World Northwest, is your one-stop shop for all things adjustable beds, sleep, and mattress-related. Mattress World Northwest showcases a diverse selection of handmade mattresses and top mattress brands like Avocado, Purple, Tempur-Pedic, Beautyrest, Serta, and Posturepedic. Locally owned and community-oriented sleep shop locations, like Mattress World Northwest, have become one of your best bets for fulfilling a healthy sleep with the ideal mattress firmness for you!

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