Mattress Buying Guide

You will spend up to one-third your life in bed, so choosing the right mattress is critical. Your mattress is a key part of getting a good night's sleep, and sleep is essential for your health and well being.

This comprehensive guide simplifies the process of finding the perfect mattress. It will help you to sift through the overwhelming array of choices, narrow down your options and zero in on the mattress you need.

A good mattress promotes proper spine alignment by distributing your body weight and providing balanced support. But selecting the right mattress is about finding one that accommodates your unique body type and sleeping position as well as your pressure and pain points. The right mattress can prevent and alleviate a range of problems from restlessness and body aches to poor daytime concentration.

This easy to use guide will give you a comparative overview of your choices and help you to understand and assess different mattress and base types as well as comfort levels. It breaks the process up into 5 main steps, taking all the guesswork out of finding a mattress tailor made for your needs.

Step 1: Decide on a type of mattress

Mattresses can be grouped into 3 main types: Memory foam, innerspring, and hybrid.

Memory foam mattress

Memory foam softens with body heat and molds to your contours evenly cushioning and distributing your body weight.  Memory- foam is also very good at isolating motion transfer (movement on one part of the mattress traveling to other parts of the mattress) which is particularly important for those that share a bed. 

Memory foam consists mainly of a plastic polymer known as polyurethane and a compound called polyether polyol. This combination is commonly referred to as "viscoelastic" polyurethane foam.  The synthetic chemicals used in these mattresses have a tendency to off-gas VOCs (volatile organic compounds) which are known to cause headaches and watery eyes. To avoid off- gassing look for a mattress that been certified to meet indoor air quality standards like those labeled "Clean Air Certified" or "VOC free".

Memory foam mattresses can lack support, particularly around the edges of the mattress. These mattresses can also sag in the middle over time and for this reason they have the shortest lifespan of all the mattress types.

Memory foam does not do a good job of regulating heat, so if you have concerns about overheating in bed you may want to avoid the all-foam variety of mattresses. However, some foam mattresses have a gel or charcoal-infused layer on the top that helps to regulate body heat.

Innerspring mattress

Innerspring mattresses are the most commonly used mattress designs because they provide both good support and ventilation. Innerspring mattresses offer firm edge-to-edge support, and they are less likely to cave inwards at the midsection compared to foam mattresses. Because they allow air to circulate, coil spring mattresses are also very good at regulating heat.

Innerspring mattresses have a core comprised of steel coils often between layers of cushioning. These mattresses do not off-gas VOCs and they are commonly flippable (two-sided/reversible) and therefore they are more durable than foam mattresses. However, innerspring mattresses lack body contouring cushioning, and they can be squeaky. With the exception of pocket springs, most innerspring mattresses are not very good at isolating motion transfer.

There are four major types of spring coils: continuous, Bonnell (open), offset, and pocket (encased). Continuous coils are comprised of hardened steel wires that run across the length or width of a mattress in rows. These types of coils offer low-grade support and poor motion-isolating ability. Bonnell coils are interconnected steel springs in an hourglass configuration. This coil design provides moderate support and better motion-isolating ability than continuous coils. Offset coils are hinged coils that are better at body contouring and motion-isolation than either continuous or Bonnell coils. Pocket springs are individually encased coils each of which acts independently to provide superior motion-isolating properties. These mattresses are often characterized as the most comfortable.

Hybrid mattress

Hybrid mattresses combine the benefits of both innerspring and memory foam. They have a coil support system like innerspring mattresses, and they also have a layer of memory foam for added comfort. Hybrid mattresses use different materials so, for example, the top layer could be comprised of memory foam, polyfoam, or quilted polyester fill while the support base could be constructed of pocket springs or Bonnell coils.

The combination of springs and cushioning provide a balance of both bounce and body contouring with less sinkage than most mattresses made entirely of foam. Hybrid mattresses are not as good as foam mattresses when it comes to motion transfer, but this can be minimized with hybrids that incorporate pocket springs.

Step 2: Find the right type of mattress for your bed or platform

If your mattress requires a base, you should choose one that works with your mattress to provide both support and comfort. There are 3 major types of mattress bases: Box spring, slat base and bunks/lofts/daybeds.

Box spring

A box spring is a type of mattress foundation typically consisting of a wood or metal frame covered in cloth and containing springs. A box spring can provide additional bounce and support, its major advantage is that it helps to absorb shock. A box spring is recommended for traditional innerspring mattresses.

Slat base

A slat bed base has a series of connected bars that lie across the width of the frame. These slats work together to support your mattress. The advantage of a slat base is that it provides support while promoting air flow. Slats should be close enough together to provide support for the mattress, but far enough apart to allow air to circulate freely (a standard slat spacing is 2-3 inches). The width of the slats can also impact mattress support. Wider slats provide more surface area for the mattress to rest on, while narrower slats offer less support. Memory foam mattresses should be placed on a slatted base to ensure proper air flow.

Bunk Beds and Loft Beds

There is often a maximum recommended thickness (height) for mattresses used on bunk beds and loft beds since the top of your mattress must be at least 5 inches shorter than the top of the safety rails on your top bunk or loft bed. A 6 inch mattress or less is often a safe choice for these types of beds.

Step 3: Choose the right mattress size

Room size

Your space dictates the size of your mattress. Unless you are adding a mattress to an existing bed frame, determining the maximum possible size of your mattress starts with measuring the room in which you will be adding a bed. So, for example, you can’t put a 42 square foot king bed into a 7 x 9 foot room, when it requires a room that is at least 12 x 12 feet.

Your mattress must not only fit within a given space, it must also fit alongside the other furnishings and decor in your room. Be careful not to overwhelm the space or restrict walking access. Make sure to allow a minimum of 2 feet around the perimeter of the bed. Here is a table that summarizes the minimum room requirements and room suggestions for different standard mattress sizes.

• Twin size mattresses (2,925 square inches/20.3 square feet) are the smallest standard size of mattresses, and they require a minimum room size of 7 x 9 feet (63 sq. ft.). Twin mattresses are great for the bedrooms of kids or single adults, they are also work in guest rooms.

• Twin XL mattresses (3,120 square inches/21.7 square feet) are slightly larger than a twin, but they still fit very well into smaller rooms. The minimum room size is 8 x 10 feet (80 sq. ft.) making them ideal for a college dorm, or a studio apartment, however the assortment of these bed frames is very limited.

• Full-sized mattresses (4,050 square inches/28.1 square feet) fit into medium-sized rooms that are at least 10 x 10 feet (100 sq. ft.) Full sized mattresses are a good choice for an apartment or a condo.

• Queen-sized mattresses (4,800 square inches/33.3 square feet) are the most popular mattress on the market, and they are a staple of master bedrooms across the country. They fit into medium-sized rooms that are at least 10 x 11 feet (110 sq. ft.). Queen mattresses may not be suitable for a smaller-sized apartment or condo setting.

• King sized mattresses (6,080 square inches/42.2 square feet) is the largest standard mattress and it belongs in a spacious master bedroom that is at least 12 x 12 feet (144 sq. ft.) King beds are not suitable for an average-sized apartment or condo.

• California King mattresses (6,048 square inches/42 square feet) are also designed for spacious master bedrooms that are at least 12 x 12 feet (144 sq. ft.). These mattresses are not suitable for an average-sized apartment or condo, and the assortment of California king bed frames is very limited.

Number of sleepers

When determining which size of mattress you need, you will want to consider who will be sleeping on it. Twin size mattresses are good for children and single adults while full-sized mattresses are suitable for single adults or couples who don't mind sleeping in close quarters.

A queen-size mattress is a good fit for couples as they provide enough space to comfortably move around in bed. A king mattress or a California king is ideal for couples who share the bed with their children or large pets or those that desire a generous amount of space.

Height

Children, adults and tall sleepers have different size requirements so make sure your mattress accommodates your height. Twin and full size mattresses will comfortably fit kids, teens or adults under 6 feet, while twin XL, queen and king size mattresses are a better fit for taller individuals. A California king is perfect for anyone who measures over 6 foot 2 inches tall.

Build

Your mattress should accommodate your weight and your body type. If you are petite, you can comfortably fit onto a twin sized mattress with room to spare, but if you have a larger build and want ample breathing space to move around from side to side, you will want to consider a full, queen, or king-size mattress.

Here is a review of the standard mattress dimensions and the maximum heights of sleepers they can accommodate:

• Twin: A Twin mattress is 39 inches wide and 75 inches long, making it a good choice for sleepers less than 6 feet 2 inches tall.

• Twin XL. A twin XL mattress is 39 inches wide by 80 inches long, making it a good choice for taller sleepers up to 6 foot 7 inches.

• Full: A full mattress is 54 inches wide and 75 inches long which is a good fit for sleepers up to 6 foot 2 inches.

• Queen: A Queen mattress is 60 inches wide and 80 inches long, making it a popular choice for taller individuals up to 6 foot 7 inches.

• King: A King mattress is 76 inches wide and 80 inches long. This mattress is great for taller sleepers up to 6 foot 7 inches.

• A California King-sized mattress is 72 inches wide by 84 inches long. This is the longest commercially available mattress, and it can accommodate the tallest sleepers (up to 7 feet).

Step 4: Select mattress comfort (firmness)

Comfort is all about the firmness of your mattress. Choosing the mattress with the right comfort level for you is the trickiest part of the process. But as we will explain in this guide, your answers to a few simple questions will enable you to identify your needs and easily find the right comfort level.

The firmness of a mattress does not necessarily equal support, even though the two terms are sometimes used interchangeably. Firmness simply refers to how your mattress feels when you’re lying down on it, while support indicates how well your mattress keeps your spine in neutral alignment.

Soft mattresses (plush or ultra-plush) have a cushioned feel. They incorporate a pillow top layer that can be composed of foam comfort padding or full foam construction. Soft mattresses provide a good amount of pressure relief, and they allow the sleeper to sink in with limited pushback.

As the name implies, medium mattresses are neither too soft nor too firm. Very often medium mattresses have a cushioned top for comfort. Firm mattresses offer a lot of solid support and are great for spine alignment but the fact that they have very little soft comfort padding means that they provide minimal pressure relief. Here is a ranking of firmness on a ten-level scale from ultra soft to ultra firm.