Written by Jill Zwarensteyn, Senior Editor
Sleeping on a soft or firm bed can make a significant difference depending on the type of support you need. What’s comfortable to one person might be unbearable to another, and sleeping positions and body types often indicate which kind of bed you’ll appreciate.
If you struggle with aches and pains and sleep on your side, stay tuned, we’ll discuss the reasons you might enjoy a soft, plush bed. Additionally, if you have back issues, we’ll help you understand why a firmer bed might be best. This is just the tip of this topic’s proverbial iceberg, so, below, we’ll explain further how to decide between a soft or firm mattress.
How Mattress Firmness Is Measured
Firmness levels are typically rated on a scale of 1-10, with the vast majority of beds falling between a 4 and a 7 since this is what tends to be comfortable for most people.
We never recommend beds below a 4 since we consider this too soft to be supportive. Conversely, we rarely encounter mattresses that we feel are above an 8 for firmness.
When you’re reading reviews, bear in mind that firmness is subjective. What we mean by this is that heavier sleepers will typically feel a bed as softer than a lighter sleeper will, and vice-versa.
| Firmness Description | Rating |
|---|---|
| Soft | 4-4.5 |
| Medium-Firm | 5-6.5 |
| Firm | 7-8 |
Interested in learning more? Check out our mattress firmness guide here.
What Is a Firm Mattress?
Our firmness scale considers a firm mattress to be anything rated a 7 and above. However, depending on their body weight, some people may experience a 7 rating as more medium-firm.
Medium-firm is another popular choice and is also the most common range manufacturers use since it’s the most versatile. Medium-firm beds will fall between a 5 and 7 rating. These models typically have sturdy support while keeping vital pressure relief.
Firm Mattress Benefits
Firm beds are excellent for keeping your spine aligned, especially if you struggle with back problems. If you’ve ever gone to the chiropractor, find your lower back aching, or experience pain down your sciatic nerve, a firmer product may be an excellent match for you.
When we think of a bed, most of us dream of hopping into a cloud-like cushion. However, many stomach and back sleepers prefer a firmer surface because it keeps their backs in better alignment. A too-soft mattress can allow the hips to go lower than the upper body, leading to back pain. More robust surfaces can still boast soft top layers, offering a plush yet supportive structure.
View Our Guide: Best Firm Mattress
Who Should Choose a Hard Mattress?
Stomach Sleepers
Stomach sleepers often choose harder beds because they need more substantial support. If you’re sleeping on a soft surface, your back can dip, and this could hyperextend your spine, putting uncomfortable stress on your lower back.
Back Sleepers
Back sleepers typically need superior support and benefit from a firmer design. The robust support keeps the hips elevated, making firmer beds great for these sleepers. Most back sleepers match well with medium-firm options, but those who want a harder bed can choose firm if needed.
Hot Sleepers
Firmer beds usually allow the sleeper to feel more ‘on top’ of the bed as opposed to ‘in’ the layers. This is a benefit for hot sleepers because lying more on top of the mattress should give you more airflow.
Read More:
Who Should Avoid a Firm Mattress?
Side Sleepers
Most side sleepers want to avoid firm mattresses because the majority of their weight is concentrated on their shoulders and hips, and firm mattresses will provide less cushioning to support their joints. By choosing a softer mattress, side sleepers can help prevent pressure buildup by having more cushioning and contouring around their body. That said, a too-soft mattress can let the joints sink too much, so just make sure you’re still supported enough.
If you’re a side sleeper, we invite you to explore the best mattresses for side sleepers.
Lightweight Sleepers
Firm mattresses will likely provide little to no cushioning for lightweight sleepers under 130 pounds. This is because they will sleep more on top of the mattress rather than sinking into it.
What Is a Plush Mattress?
We consider a plush mattress to be anything rated below a 5 on our firmness scale. As mentioned, we usually don’t test or recommend mattresses below a 4 since these have minimal to no support for healthy sleep, so most plush mattresses we feature are within the 4-5 range. Plush beds often have superior pressure relief through softer layers that provide more cradling. However, depending on the sleeper, they may not provide as much support.
Soft Mattress Benefits
Softer designs can offer considerable benefits to side sleepers and those who need plush pressure relief. People who rest on the side typically endure more stress in their shoulder and hip regions, as they’re often the widest parts of our bodies.
Having a softer mattress can help mitigate these aches and pains, offering soothing relief and gentle support. Further, a plush bed should suit your body’s curves, filling the spaces where you need help and gently accommodating the hips and shoulders.
Check Out Our Guide: Highest-Rated Soft Mattresses
Who Should Choose a Plush Mattress?
Side Sleepers
Most side sleepers appreciate a plush model. Softer beds allow side sleepers to rest the majority of their weight on a smaller surface area (the hip and shoulder) and still receive good pressure relief.
Couples
Many memory foam beds can offer a more plush feel. Memory foam is also a great material for eliminating motion transfer. This is important for couples because preventing motion transfer means both partners shouldn’t be disturbed if the other person moves during the night. However, we would still advise couples to stick closer to a medium feel between a 5 and 6.5 since these still feel plush but have a more middle-ground feel that should accommodate both partners.
Discover the best mattress for couples.
People Who Have Pain Issues
If you struggle with aches and pains, a fluffy mattress might be a key ingredient to soothing relief. Many people experience stress in their joints, nerves, and other trouble areas, and having a plush product may help address these tender areas. However, keep in mind that a supportive mattress is also important for protecting joints, so look for a mattress with layers to provide support and a plush, comfortable feel.
Who Should Avoid a Soft Mattress?
Heavier Sleepers
People weighing over 230 pounds need a mattress that offers solid support and can evenly distribute their body weight. Heavyweight sleepers will likely push through the upper layers of soft beds, which can result in pressure buildup, sagging hips, and awkward spine alignment.
Explore our picks for the best mattresses for heavier people.
Stomach Sleepers
Stomach sleepers need ample support around their midsections to keep their hips from sagging too far down in the mattresses. Soft mattresses will likely not provide this. This lack of support can cause the spine to hyperextend, potentially leading to aches and pains in the lower back.
Comfort Layers vs. Support Layers
Beds are full of strategically designed layers to provide sleepers with the right amount of support and pressure relief. These layers work together to offer different experiences based on the sensation the manufacturer is trying to achieve.
Generally, softer layers provide cushioning and pressure relief to accommodate aches and pains. Support layers are typically more firm and provide a stable and secure surface to align your spine. These support layers are critical so that you don’t wake up feeling creaky, stiff, or in pain.
In most designs, you’ll find softer layers on top, followed by support layers toward the bottom.
What’s the Difference Between a Soft Mattress and a Firm Mattress?
The difference between a soft mattress and a firm mattress is how they feel, and the type of sleepers they work best for.
A soft mattress compresses more easily under pressure, usually providing a deeper hug and allowing sleepers to nestle down in their bed. This contouring can give lightweight and side sleepers the advanced pressure relief needed to avoid aches and pains.
On the other hand, a firm mattress feels more rigid and does not compress as much, focusing more on robust support and leaving the sleeper ‘on top’ of the bed. The solid support of firm mattresses can be an excellent choice for heavier folks and back sleepers. A firm mattress can keep these sleepers from pushing too far down in the bed, which can lead to pressure buildup and poor spine alignment.
Firmness is subjective, but usually, soft beds are in the 4-5 range, while firm beds are at a 7 and above. Medium-firm is a popular middle-ground choice that’s rated between 5 and 7.
How to Determine If You Need a Firm or Plush Mattress
Many folks struggle with discomfort, particularly athletes, seniors, and those with hip and shoulder pain. If you relate to this, you may need a softer mattress with excellent pressure relief.
On the other hand, if you find yourself often waking with a sore lower back, you may need a firmer product to keep your spine aligned. If you’re resting on a surface that’s too soft, your spinal alignment could become crooked or hyperextended, which might lead to back problems.
What to Consider When Choosing Between Firm vs. Soft Mattress
Not all mattresses are created equal, and one mattress isn’t going to work for everyone since we all have unique needs and preferences. Here are a few features to keep in mind to help you decide which bed is best for you.
Personal Preferences
How do you like to feel when you go to bed? If you find yourself often falling asleep on your plush couch rather than your firm bed, you might want a softer mattress. However, if you don’t like the feeling of sinking into a bed, you’ll likely enjoy a firmer model.
Your Weight
Those who weigh less than 130 pounds often need a softer mattress since their lower weight can’t always activate the various layers in a firmer model. On the other hand, a person weighing above 230 pounds will likely need a more robust model, as a plush bed may not provide adequate support.
Like their weight, which falls between lightweight and heavyweight sleepers, average-weight folks are typically best suited for mattresses in the middle of the firmness scale. Medium-firm mattresses provide average-weight sleepers with contouring and support.
Get More Info: Best Mattresses for Heavy People
Sleeping Position
Side sleepers typically need a softer or medium-firm surface for support and pressure relief on their shoulders and hips. s. Back sleepers often enjoy medium-firm beds to keep the spine in alignment, though some may skew more firm if they need extra lower back support. Stomach sleepers often appreciate a firmer design to keep the hips elevated.
Pain Relief and Firmness
- Back pain – Sleepers who experience back pain should seek out medium-firm to firm mattresses that provide overall support. The right firmness level for those with back pain will depend on their body weight and where their back pain is located. For example, a 2021 study found that medium-firm beds were the best choice for those with lower back pain.1
- Shoulder pain – If you have shoulder pain, you may want a softer mattress. Plush beds should cushion and contour your shoulder joints to help prevent pressure buildup.
- Hip pain – Medium-firm mattresses may be helpful for those with hip pain because they strike a balance between support and cushioning. Folks with hip pain will want their midsection to stay elevated to keep their spine aligned while still getting some cushioning for pressure relief. That said, some petite sleepers with hip pain may prefer something softer.
Couple Preferences
Sharing the bed with a partner could be tricky; after all, you have to account for the needs of two people rather than just one.
Medium-firm beds are often appealing to couples. The versatility of these mattresses can accommodate couples with different body types and preferred sleep positions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will a firm mattress get softer over time?
Yes, a firm mattress will soften over time, but it probably won’t be a drastic change. If you’re looking to soften your mattress quicker, you could add a soft mattress topper to it.
Another tip is to consider the environment around your bed, particularly if you have a memory foam mattress. A cooler environment will tighten up and firm the bed, whereas warmer rooms will allow the memory foam to soften.
Get More Info: How To Make Your Bed Softer
Is a soft or firm mattress better for back pain?
People with back pain may benefit most from medium-firm mattresses.1 While a soft bed can cushion achy joints and muscles well, the lack of support could impact spinal alignment, possibly worsening back pain. Conversely, a firm mattress may excel at support but not have enough contouring to help with pressure points, which can still feel uncomfortable.
What mattress is best, firm or soft?
Whether a soft or firm mattress is best depends entirely on the individual sleeper or couple. The majority of mattresses available have a medium or medium-firm feel because it’s the most versatile for support and pressure relief. That being said, extremely lightweight people and side sleepers may enjoy soft beds more, and heavier sleepers and those who lie on their stomachs may feel that firm beds are the superior choice.
Learn More: Best Medium-Firm Mattress
How do you know if your mattress is too firm?
Your mattress is probably too firm if you wake up with achy knees, shoulders, and hips. If this is the case, you can invest in a soft mattress topper to help provide more pressure relief. Most online mattress companies also give customers lengthy trial periods, so if you test out the best at home and notice achiness in the morning, you can return it and look for something softer.
Final Word of Advice
Falling into a comfortable bed at the end of a long day is often what we need to relax and recharge. Considering the impact that quality rest has on aspects such as our work and family lives, we should select a mattress with a firmness level that supports our body type and preferred sleep position.
Still shopping? Check out our tested best mattresses of 2024.
The Advisor Says
When in doubt, medium-firm is a versatile and universally appealing choice, and this versatility also typically makes them good beds for couples. couples.
Jill Zwarensteyn
Senior Editor
About Author
Jill Zwarensteyn is the senior editor for Sleep Advisor and a certified sleep science coach. She is enthusiastic about providing helpful and engaging information on all things sleep and wellness.
Combination Sleeper
Education & Credentials
- Certified Sleep Science Coach
References:
- Caggiari, Gianfilippo., et al. “What type of mattress should be chosen to avoid back pain and improve sleep quality? Review of the literature.” National Library of Medicine. 2021.