Firmness Guide

Mattress Firmness Guide

Firmness is the first thing you feel and the last thing you should guess. Here is how our 1-10 scale maps to soft, medium and firm - and how to pick yours.

Take Firmness Quiz See 1–10 scale
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What firmness actually measures

Firmness describes how much a mattress pushes back when you lie down - not how supportive it is. Support comes from the core (springs or dense foam); firmness comes from the comfort layers on top. Two mattresses can feel very different yet support your spine equally well.

The 1-10 scale

We group every mattress in the marketplace into three bands so you can filter and compare without decoding brand-specific names.

Firmness scale from 1 (softest) to 10 (firmest)
  1. Firmness 1 of 10 - Soft
  2. Firmness 2 of 10 - Soft
  3. Firmness 3 of 10 - Soft
  4. Firmness 4 of 10 - Medium
  5. Firmness 5 of 10 - Medium
  6. Firmness 6 of 10 - Medium
  7. Firmness 7 of 10 - Medium Firm
  8. Firmness 8 of 10 - Firm
  9. Firmness 9 of 10 - Firm
  10. Firmness 10 of 10 - Firm

Best Firmness by Sleep Position

  • Side sleeper

    3-6

    Pressure relief around shoulders and hips matter the most.

  • Back sleeper

    5-7

    A balanced feel helps support the lower back.

  • Stomach sleeper

    6-8

    A firmer feel helps hips for sinking too far.

  • Combo sleeper

    4-7

    Choose a responsive feel that is easy to move on.

Best Firmness By Body Weight

Your body weight affects how a mattress feels and performs. Use the guide below to find the firmness range that fits you.

  • Lightweight

    Under 60 kg / 130 lb

    Usually mattress feel as firmer, so softer to medium often work best.

    Recommended Firmness: 3-5

  • Average Weight

    60 – 100 kg / 130 – 230 lb

    Usually mattress feel as firmer, so softer to medium often work best.

    Recommended Firmness: 4-7

  • Heavier Weight

    Over 100 kg / 230 lb

    Usually benefit from stronger support and deeper resistance.

    Recommended Firmness: 6-8

Firmness, Comfort, Support - what’s the difference?

  • Firmness

    How soft or firm the mattress feels when you first lie down.

  • Comfort

    How pleasant and pressure relieving the surface feels for your body.

  • Support

    How the mattress keeps your spine aligned and your body properly supported.

How to choose

Start from your main sleep position: side sleepers usually need softer comfort layers to relieve shoulders and hips; back sleepers do best in the medium band; stomach sleepers need firm support to keep the hips from sinking. Then adjust for body weight - heavier bodies sink deeper, so go one step firmer. Finally, trust the trial nights: every mattress here comes with at least 30.

How to choose

Not sure? Let’s narrow it down

4-Question Quiz

Find your firmness in 30 seconds

01. What position do you sleep in most?
02. How would you describe your body type?
03. How would you like a mattress to feel?
04. Any back or joint issues?

Answer all four questions to reveal your recommended firmness.

Your Ideal Firmness

Compare Firmness Levels

Sleep type Feel Best For Pressure relief
Soft (1-3) Plush /sink in Side sleepers, lighter bodies High
Medium (4-5) Gentle contour Combo sleepers, couples Medium- high
Medium-Firm (6-7) Balanced support Back sleepers, most sleepers Medium
Firm (8-10) Stable/ lifted Stomach sleepers, heavier bodies Low

Frequently Asked Questions

No. Support is about spinal alignment; a medium mattress with a strong core often supports a back better than a hard, thin one.

Most foams soften slightly (5-10%) in the first weeks - that is the break-in period, not a defect.

Look at medium hybrids with zoned support, or use Compare to weigh two options side by side.

Still unsure? Let Bed Match decide.

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