How To Choose A Mattress – Complete Buying Guide

Did you tire of counting sheep and numbers backward while lying on your bed every night? Are you looking for the comfiest cloud for your body that's screaming for some rest? Then, it's high time you buy the best mattress for your home today. But are you wondering which mattress to choose, considering the vast array of options? Fear not! We have an extensive guide that can reveal the secret to getting a cozy mattress that suits your sleeping position.

So, keep reading this article to make a choice that will have you sleeping like a baby and waking up with a body and mind fully charged.

How To Choose The Right Mattress?

Step 1: Choose The Type Of Mattress

The first and foremost decision when choosing a mattress is to choose the right type of mattress that will bring sweet dreams to your nights. Because each type has its own personality and perks and can impact your sleep quality and overall well-being. There are different types of mattresses, including:

• Memory Foam
• Gel Memory Foam
• Memory Latex Foam
• Hybrid
• Innerspring
• Air Mattress

Memory Foam

Memory foam mattresses have gained popularity for their exceptional comfort and ability to contour to the body. The foam responds to heat and pressure, adapting to your body's shape and evenly distributing weight. This feature provides excellent support, alleviates pressure points, and reduces motion transfer, making it an ideal choice for couples or individuals with specific comfort needs.

Gel Memory Foam

Gel memory foam mattresses combine the benefits of memory foam with gel infusion. The gel particles help regulate temperature and dissipate heat, addressing the heat retention concern commonly associated with traditional memory foam. Gel memory foam mattresses offer the same contouring support and pressure relief as memory foam but with added temperature control.

Memory Latex Foam

Memory latex foam mattresses combine the contouring properties of memory foam with the natural responsiveness of latex. This hybrid construction provides a balance of comfort, support, and bounce. Memory latex foam mattresses conform to the body while offering a more resilient surface. They are known for their durability and breathability, promoting a cooler sleep environment.

Hybrid Mattresses

Hybrid mattresses blend different materials, usually combining innerspring coils with foam layers. These mattresses aim to offer the advantages of both technologies, providing support, responsiveness, and pressure relief. Hybrid mattresses cater to a wide range of sleep preferences and are suitable for those seeking a balance between traditional and foam mattresses.

Innerspring Mattresses

Innerspring mattresses are the traditional mattress type consisting of a steel coil support system topped with padding layers. They offer a responsive and supportive sleep surface with good airflow. Innerspring mattresses are known for their durability and excellent edge support. They are ideal for individuals who prefer a more traditional and bouncy feel.

Air Mattresses

Air mattresses utilize air chambers as the primary support system. They allow you to adjust the firmness level by inflating or deflating the mattress. Air mattresses offer customizable firmness settings for individual comfort preferences. They are versatile and convenient, suitable for guests or camping trips.

If you want a detailed guide on different types of mattresses and their perks and demerits, check out our latest blog here.

Step 2: Check Your Firmness Level

Imagine a mattress that is too soft, and you sink in like quicksand. On the other hand, you've got a mattress that's too firm, like a bed of rocks. This is why you must check the firmness level of a mattress. Though comfort is subjective, choosing the mattress that feels right to you is important.

Firmness Scale	Firmness Level	Best For
2	Extra soft	Side sleepers under 130 pounds
3	Soft	Side sleepers under 130 pounds
4	Medium Soft	Sleepers under 130 pounds; Ideal for back and stomach sleepers and side sleepers, side sleepers under 230 pounds
5	Medium	Back, side, and stomach sleepers between 130 and 230 pounds
6	Medium firm	Sleepers between 130 and 230 pounds; side sleepers over 230 pounds
7	Firm	Side sleepers over 230 pounds; back and stomach sleepers over 130 pounds
8-9	Extra firm	Back and stomach sleepers over 230 pounds

 

• Soft To Extra Soft : Extra-soft mattresses come with comfort layers with extra sinkage. Thus giving sleepers the feeling of sleeping “in” the mattress rather than “on” its surface. This type is quite rare and not highly preferred by people, as they provide little body support and can be very uncomfortable for most sleepers.
• Medium: Mattresses with medium firmness strike a perfect balance between support and squishiness.
• Medium-Firm: Medium-firm mattresses with a firmness scale of 6 are popular with a variety of sleepers because they balance comfort and support for your spine.
• Firm: Firm mattresses with a firmness scale of 7 to 8 offer a sturdier surface that offers less contouring than softer mattresses. This type is ideal if you prefer sleeping positions requiring minimal sinkage, such as back sleeping.

Still, struggling to find the right firmness level for you?

Here are some quick ways to find it:

What is your weight and sleeping position? Consider these two points and narrow down the range.

Give it a thought: what type of firmness gave you a good night's sleep, or is there any place you slept recently and got a relaxing sleep? Be it a friend's guest house or a hotel? Reflect on whether you love a soft, firm, or firmer mattress. Visit a physical store and inquire about the mattress. Stay on the mattress for some minutes to evaluate if it's comfortable for you.

Step 3. Consider Your Sleep Position

Side Sleepers

As the name indicates, side sleepers sleep either on the left or right side of their body. This sleeping position comes with health benefits such as reduced acid reflux and snoring. However, this sleeping position puts extra pressure on the hips and shoulders.

If you are a side sleeper, the mattress you choose must keep your head, shoulders, and back aligned in a smooth line. So, look for one that's as soft as a cloud but with medium firmness to rest in a comfortable position.

Back Sleepers

Back sleepers are people who slumber like statues, or can we compare them to someone sleeping like a log? This type of sleeping position maintains a natural alignment of the spine and is hence regarded as a good sleep position. So, a medium-firm to firm mattress will be ideal to provide support and a good night's sleep.

Stomach Sleepers

If you are a stomach sleeper, you need a mattress that stays as flat as a pancake. But the problem is that it causes poor spine alignment and back arching. So, you must look for a firm mattress that supports your body, gives gentle pressure relief, and doesn't let you sink in.

Combination Sleepers

If you are someone who keeps changing from fetal position to starfish pose on and off during your sleep, you need a responsive mattress with medium firmness and extra space to keep your spine in proper alignment.

Step 4: Do You Have Any Sleep Concerns?

Besides considering your sleep position and the mattress's firmness, check if the mattress will address other concerns, such as sleeping temperature and localized pain. Based on this, there are different types of sleepers.

Hot Sleepers

People who sweat profusely or feel warm at night during sleep, experience discomfort getting to sleep, and prefer cooler mattresses are called hot sleepers. So, use breathable bedding materials such as mattresses made of sweat-wicking materials that have good airflow.

Cold Sleepers

People who feel chilly even during warm evenings are called cold sleepers. They need mattresses that can absorb and retain body heat. So traditional memory foam is ideal for cold sleepers as they regulate temperature.

Back Pain

People suffering from back pain due to poor posture or medical conditions need mattresses that contour around the body's natural shape. The memory foam or latex foam mattresses are ideal for those who suffer from back pain.

These mattresses evenly distributing the body weight and help in proper spinal alignment and blood circulation and help relieve pressure on specific points, aiding in pain relief.

Motion Transfer

If you are a couple or you share your bed with a partner, motion transfer can significantly affect your sleep quality.

A mattress with excellent motion isolation absorbs movement, minimizing disturbances when your partner moves or gets out of bed. Memory foam and latex mattresses are known for their superior motion isolation capabilities.

Step 5: What Is The Body Type?

Your weight also influences comfort.

• If you weigh under 130 pounds, you don't sink into a mattress. To get sufficient contouring, you must opt for a softer mattress, especially if you sleep on your sides. Here, foam and hybrid mattresses are ideal options.
• If you weigh between 130 and 230 pounds, foam, hybrid, and latex mattresses with medium firmness are best.
• If you weigh over 230 pounds, you will sink into a mattress and often risk spinal alignment. So, you need a firmer mattress to reduce the chance of feeling stuck in bed.

Step 6: Select A Mattress Size

Twin-Size

Mattresses measuring 38 inches in width and 75 inches in length are twin-sized. A twin-sized mattress is commonly used for children's beds, bunk beds, daybeds, and smaller bedrooms or guest rooms with limited space.

Twin XL Size

Measuring 38 inches wide by 80 inches long. This size is slightly longer than the standard twin size. And it ideally suits tall single sleepers and is commonly found in college dormitories and guest rooms.

Full-Size

A Full-size mattress is also called a double bed. It measures 54 inches in width and 75 inches in length. Ideally designed for single sleepers, this mattress doesn't take up a lot of floor space.

Queen-Size

Queen-sized mattress dimensions measure a generous 60 inches in width and have a length of 80 inches. It's a go-to choice for couples and single sleepers who favor extra room.

King-Size

The majestic king-size mattress, often called a traditional king-size mattress, measures 76 inches in width with a length of 80 inches. Are you looking for a mattress where you can co-sleep with your kid and partner? A king-sized bed offers plenty of room to turn around while sleeping without bumping into each other.

California King

We can confidently label this as the tall person's paradise, measuring 72 inches in width and 84 inches in length. This majestic bed is tailor-made for tall folks so they don't dangle their feet off the mattress. So, get the California king-size and sleep like a giant in your sleep haven.

Step 7: What Is Your Mattress Budget?

There is a one-size-fits-all price for the mattress. As you know, the price of a mattress can differ with respect to size, type, materials used, and quality of construction. So, before choosing a mattress, fix a budget and search for the desired mattress with the right firmness level and type.

However, let's give you a picture of the average price.

• Foam mattresses cost between $900 and $1300, and Innerspring mattresses cost between $600 and $1100.
• Whereas a hybrid mattress holds a price tag of $1500 to $2000, latex can cost up to $2,000, and an airbed comes in at around $2000 to $2400.

At Mattress Hunters, you can grab high-quality mattresses from top brands without breaking the bank.

Wrapping Up

When selecting the perfect mattress size, consider the following factors:

• Your height: ensure the mattress isn't too long or too short.
• Check the size of the cot.
• What's your sleep position, and do you have any health concerns?
• Preferred mattress firmness
• What's your budget?
• Whether you will be sharing the bed with a partner, child, or pet

Did you expect that the mattress's firmness and your sleeping position on the mattress would play a big role in providing comfort?

Likewise, there are some nuances to keep in mind. Because choosing a mattress is a personal journey of finding the right match between your preferences and sleep needs.

May your path to finding the perfect mattress be filled with joy, and may you have sweet dreams while slumbering.