Firm or soft? How to choose the right mattress firmness

Firmness is personal. A mattress that feels perfect to one person can feel too hard or too soft to another, so it helps to know what you are looking for.

What firmness actually changes

A firmer mattress pushes back and keeps your body on top of the surface. A softer mattress lets your body sink in and wraps around your curves. The right balance keeps your spine in a comfortable, neutral line while you rest.

A simple test

1. Lie on your back. Your lower back should feel supported without a gap underneath, and your hips should not sink far below your shoulders.
2. Lie on your side. Your shoulder and hip should settle in a little, and your spine should look roughly straight from behind.
3. Stay for a few minutes. The best mattress is the one you can relax on.

General guidance

• Side sleepers often prefer a medium to softer feel.
• Back sleepers often prefer medium to firm.
• Stomach sleepers often prefer firmer support.
• Heavier sleepers may find firmer mattresses more supportive, and lighter sleepers may find them harder than they expected.

How we rate firmness

Every mattress on our Our mattresses page shows a 5-dot firmness scale, where 1 is soft and 5 is firm. Use it to narrow down the range, then confirm by lying on the mattress. For the firmest support, look at our ErgoCare collection. For a plusher feel, look at Atelier.

If you have ongoing back or joint pain, speak to a doctor or physiotherapist as well. A mattress can make sleep more comfortable, but it is not a treatment.