In This Guide
Firmness is about support, not just comfort
Mattress firmness is often discussed in terms of comfort alone, but its main function is spinal alignment. A mattress that's too soft can let hips sink out of line with shoulders; one that's too firm can create pressure points at the shoulders and hips.
General starting points by sleep position
These are general starting points, not fixed rules — personal preference and body weight both matter.
- Side sleepers often do better with medium to medium-soft mattresses that cushion shoulders and hips
- Back sleepers often prefer medium-firm support that keeps the spine neutral
- Stomach sleepers often benefit from firmer mattresses to prevent the midsection from sinking
Why trial periods matter
Firmness preference is genuinely individual, and how a mattress feels in a showroom for ten minutes is a poor predictor of how it feels after weeks of regular sleep. Most reputable mattress brands offer trial periods for exactly this reason.
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