How Does the Mattress Firmness Scale Work?

If you’ve been doing research into beds – and we’ll take a wild guess that that’s why you’re here -you’ll probably have heard of the mattress firmness scale by now. It’s purposely there to help make buying the right mattress for you easier, however, as mattress experts will know it can sometimes serve to make the whole buying process all the more challenging. Am I a solid six or can I swing to a seven? What if I’m looking for a three but my other half can only get comfy on an eight? How can I be sure that I’m a steadfast five if I switch positions overnight? Who decides what makes a four? As if deciding between springs and foam and learning the differences between pillow tops and plush tops isn’t enough.

We’ve been there. We’ve had to learn all about the mattress firmness scale, from one through ten. And then, as if that wasn’t enough, we’ve had to question everything we thought we knew about mattresses every time the bed-buying landscape has changed. So take our experienced hand and let us guide you through the confusion with our ultimate guide to mattress comfort, the mattress firmness scale and choosing the best mattress to meet your own unique set of needs.

What is the mattress firmness scale?

Let’s start right at the beginning. What is the mattress firmness scale? How does it work? Do we really need this many levels of mattress comfort?!

How many levels are there in the mattress firmness scale?

We hate to break it to you but there’s ten – TEN! – levels to the mattress firmness scale. And as if that wasn’t enough, there are mattresses that roll in with a .5 too. Which gives you a total of 19 possible mattress firmness levels. It’s enough to drive even us mattress obsessives a little nuts.

Keeping it as simple as possible, the mattress firmness scale takes you from super sinky soft at level one to a so firm ten. On the plus side this gives most of us a good range of mattress firmnesses to try out in-store.

What happened to soft, firm and medium firm mattress ratings?

Don’t worry, they haven’t gone away. The number ratings of the mattress firmness scale simply help manufacturers, stores and buyers to hone in on the sweet spot for every body type and preference. Think about it; one person’s medium-firm is another person's rock hard and yet another person’s waaaay too soft. The scale helps us all to find our level because it can be difficult to agree on what ‘soft’ ‘firm’ and ‘medium firm’ really mean. On top of that there are levels within the levels – of course there are! – with a range of medium firm mattresses, for example, running the gamut from just north of soft to pretty darn tough to the touch.

Why does the mattress firmness scale matter?

Whether or not the mattress firmness scale is actually important is a bit of a matter of opinion. It can certainly help you to narrow down your options when mattress shopping but it can also be an albatross around your neck as you shop, keeping you from opening your mind to the many different options out there.

While yes, choosing the right mattress firmness for your comfort and your body’s needs is important, it can be tricky to truly put a number to.

Breaking Down the Mattress Firmness Scale

Now we know what the mattress firmness scale is we can break it down, level by level:

• 1: a rare bird, a mattress coming in at a true firmness scale of one is so soft many people wouldn’t be able to sleep on it, which is why you won’t often come across them on shop shelves
• 2 and 3: these super soft mattresses will prove challenging to most sleepers, offering almost no support and making it hard to get out of bed in the morning. If you want to be truly hugged into your bed and you can cope with the bedtime bouncies, this could be the mattress for you
• 4 and 5: if you love a very soft mattress, chances are that this is the bad boy you’ve been dreaming about. A mattress with a firmness rating of four or five will provide a little support while still giving that sinking feeling many of us love
• 6: this far up the scale already and we’re still keeping things pretty soft. Many ‘soft’ mattresses you’ll find on the market come in at around about a six and this is the average number recommended for side sleepers who’ll appreciate the pressure relief of mattresses at this point on the scale
• 6.5: the everyday mattress, a 6.5 is generally considered to be medium firm and proves a popular choice with sleepers of all types. Many hybrid beds offer this level of comfort and you’ll find that they balance support with pressure relief and cosiness particularly well
• 7: you might expect a seven, coming so soon after the perfection of a 6.5, to be a similarly balanced little number. But a seven asks a lot of a sleeper, keeping them well held on top of the mattress with minimal sinkage. Back and stomach sleepers often opt for the added support on offer here
• 8: often touted as the best mattress for heavy people, a nice firm eight holds you in place without argument. There’s almost no sinkage to be had here and you won’t find it hard to roll over or get up out of an eight
• 9 and 10: think you like a good firm bed? Think again. Very few people want a bed this firm, and why would they? We’re talking little to no pressure relief, we’re talking zero give, we’re talking sleeping on a block. You might as well take a nap on the pavement out front. But seriously, there’s a reason you’ll rarely see genuine nines and tens available to buy

Soft mattress or firm mattress? Why does mattress firmness matter?

Ones and fours and sixes and twos… it’s starting to make some sense but how much does it really matter to us as bed sellers and to you as a sleeper and a shopper?

Throwing out the mattress firmness scale

In our opinion, the mattress firmness scale can be a little too prescriptive and cause shoppers to ignore a whole slew of beds that could be potentially perfect for them. In addition, the scale can be pretty tough to get your head around, as we’ve seen. With so many numbers to wrangle, the firmness scale can lead buyers to think that they’re seeking something that, in reality, won’t suit them. Take, for example, those who know they love a really soft mattress. They might naturally be drawn to seek out a one or two on the firmness scale when, in reality, mattresses that soft won’t suit even the slumpiest of sleepers and a four or even higher might be more appropriate.

So, we’ve simplified the whole thing to make buying a new mattress a much easier task. By simplifying our mattress comfort ratings into firmness levels which are much less confusing,we've made the whole thing easier to understand for our customers.

We have categorised our mattresses into just 4 different firmnesses (or comfort ratings) as seen below:

1. Soft Mattresses: A soft mattress is an ideal choice for side sleepers who appreciate their comfort at bedtime. But again, body weight comes into play and a side sleeper of average weight might find a soft mattress a little too soft. Luckily, our SleepPro technology is on hand to analyse your needs so that you can identify whether a soft mattress really is the right choice for you before you buy. Our range of soft mattresses span traditional mattress ratings of 1-3.
2. Medium Mattresses: A medium mattress is usually a firm favourite with side sleepers. A medium mattress firmness provides ample support to keep your spine aligned correctly as you sleep but is also soft enough to cushion those key pressure points at the same time. Again, if in doubt pop to your local Bensons store and try out our SleepPro system.
3. Firm mattresses: A firm mattress tends to fit well with the needs of back sleepers. Stomach sleepers that prefer a little more comfort may also wish to consider one of our firm mattresses. And, it’s worth mentioning that heavy sleepers sleeping on their side may also find the superior support of a firm mattress beneficial.
4. Extra firm mattresses: An extra firm mattress is the firmest of all the mattresses. Our extra firm mattresses tend to be most popular with those in need of additional support while they sleep (ergo, stomach and back sleepers) as well as those who prefer a really firm sleep surface.

If you’d like to learn a little more about how to choose a mattress based on your preferred sleep position, check out our dedicated blog post. Alternatively, have one of our in-store experts analyse your sleep preferences with our intuitive SleepPro system for a personalised mattress firmness recommendation.

The best mattress for stomach sleepers, the best mattress for back pain and more: why comfort level matters

In addition to letting you know where to start your search, the mattress firmness scale can help you to understand whether you’re sleeping on the right bed for your body and for the way you sleep. For example, that snoring that’s causing issues for your partner may be helped by choosing the best mattress for back sleepers – something firmer with less sinkage. On the other hand, if you’re a side sleeper, the best memory foam mattress for you could be something softer than you think you need.

How Do You Choose the Best Mattress for You?

So if we can’t rely on the mattress firmness scale to help us find the bed that’s right for us where on earth do we start? Worry not, we’re experts and we know just what to look for when choosing the best mattress for you:

Choose the best mattress for your sleep position

One of the key factors in choosing the right mattress comfort level for you is the position in which you sleep. The best mattress for side sleepers is something at the softer end of the scale. This will provide stress relief for shoulders, hips and knees, all of which can take the strain of side sleeping leaving you with ongoing discomfort. Meanwhile, back sleepers need the support of a medium-firm to firm mattress, keeping them from sinking into their beds and losing the support that’s required for good spinal alignment. An even firmer option should be chosen by those maverick front sleepers who can do damage to their back and neck by sleeping on anything that allows for sinkage.

Know what matters to you beyond the mattress firmness scale

It’s not just how you sleep that’s going to inform your mattress choices but a whole host of other factors too:

• Aches and pains: if you suffer with a chronic stiff neck or ongoing back pain, you may wish to consider an orthopaedic mattress, an extra-supportive choice found at the top end of the firmness scale
• Sleeping together: what’s the best mattress for side and stomach sleepers? Finding the right bed when you each have very different needs can be a challenge. Often the best compromise is something slap bang in the middle – the ever-popular 6.5 – but zip and link mattresses are a good option too
• Your body weight: while heavyset people will require a mattress that offers firmer support, a lighter person is usually able to comfortably sleep on a softer mattress

Consult the experts

Buying a new mattress is a big commitment. After all, we’re talking about an expensive item that’s going to be with you for up to ten years, maybe longer. So it makes sense to talk to the experts before you make a purchase. At Bensons for Beds our teams are highly knowledgeable and use cutting edge technology to help you to find the best mattress for your needs. We’ve simplified the mattress firmness scale and can help you to decide whether soft, medium, firm and extra firm is right for you and we take it from there. In-store you’ll have the opportunity to try out a wide range of mattresses to help you narrow down your preferences. And we can also talk you through different mattress types because we know it can be tough to choose between memory foam, latex and springs.

The Mattress Firmness Scale and Bensons for Beds

Here at Bensons for Beds we like to keep things as simple as possible for our customers while ensuring that they get all the information they need to choose the best mattress for them. That’s why we work with a slimmed down comfort scale for ease and why we use great technology in the shape of sleeppro®, along with our own in-depth knowledge, to help you make the right decision. We also offer a 40 Night Comfort Guarantee, because we know that despite all of our hard work to make the right decision sometimes things just don’t work out.

Whether you’re looking for the best mattress for side sleepers with lower back pain, the best firm mattress for a heavy person or seeking the best king size mattress for you and your partner we make buying a bed easy. Pay a visit to  your nearest store or give us a call on 0808 144 6160 to find out more.

Emma Carlton

Buying and Merchandising Manager

Emma has worked at Bensons for Beds for 10 years and is a fundamental part of the Bensons’ team, her wealth of breadth and knowledge is invaluable. Emma’s drive, determination, and tenacity ensures we provide our customers with the market leading products to suit our customer individual needs, at great value prices.
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