A Mattress Buying Guide

If you’ve been having trouble sleeping lately or often wake with a sore back or joints, the problem may just be your mattress.

The quality of it can impact everything from how rested you feel in the morning to your mood throughout the day. Whether your current one is on its last legs or simply doesn’t suit you, this guide can help you find a replacement that will provide the support and comfort you need.

Sleep and your health

Everyone knows that how much and how well you sleep can significantly affect your mental alertness and well-being in your day-to-day, and the quality of your mattress plays a large role in that. If it doesn’t provide proper support, you could struggle to get comfortable enough to fall and stay asleep, leading to irritability and trouble concentrating the next day. You may also develop persistent stiffness or pain in your back, muscles, and joints, another factor that can contribute to poor sleep. Regularly experience such restless nights, and you may increase your risk for all sorts of major physical and mental health issues, including heart disease, diabetes, and dementia.

So if your mattress is seven to ten years old or is looking and feeling worse for wear, it may be time to go shopping. Here are some key elements to keep in mind as you peruse your options.

Size

The first consideration is size, which will depend on how much room you need to sleep comfortably. Solo sleepers may prefer a twin or full mattress, while most couples get a queen. If you like extra space or co-sleep with children or pets, a king may be the way to go. And for those on the tall side, a California king offers four more inches of foot space than a standard one—but note that you will lose those inches in width.

Also important to assess is the size of the room you’re sleeping in; it’s best to have at least two to three feet of clearance surrounding your bed so you can move around it easily. Further, consider the thickness, or depth, of the mattress. You can generally choose from low profile, standard, and extra thick, with a few other choices in between. For instance, low-profile mattresses (eight inches or less) tend to be suitable for children or bunk beds, and extra-thick ones (fourteen inches or more) may appeal to those looking for greater support.

Feel

How soft or firm you prefer your mattress largely comes down to personal preference. You’ll want to factor in both general comfort and your sleep position.

Firm

• Can support your spine and ease pressure points and joint pain
• Ideal for stomach sleepers and heavier individuals

Medium-firm

• Offers a bit more give while still providing support
• Ideal for back sleepers to minimize lumbar pain

Soft 

• Is more able to contour to your body
• May also have a quilted pillow top or bonus foam layer for extra coziness
• Ideal for slide sleepers to cushion the shoulders, lower back, and hips

Type

While innerspring mattresses were once the main option, today’s market offers a diverse range of choices made from a variety of materials. Prices typically range from a few hundred dollars to over $3,000; innerspring and memory foam models are generally more affordable than latex and hybrid ones. Additionally, most all can be paired with an adjustable base so you can raise your feet or head to help reduce pressure on your joints, combat acid reflux, or minimize snoring. (Just ensure that the mattress you choose, especially if it’s an innerspring, has enough flexibility to do so.)

Innerspring
Featuring coils ensconced within layers of padding, these mattresses have a bouncy feel and can help promote proper spinal alignment and evenly distribute body weight. Because its structure promotes airflow, this option can also feel cooler than others. It’s generally budget friendly, but you may need a box spring to support it (at an extra cost). Further, it might not last as long as other types because the coils can lose elasticity over time.

Memory foam
Manufactured from polyurethane, this mattress type can contour to your body to cradle you, support your spine, and ease pressure points, soothing back or joint pain. It can also minimize motion transfer so you don’t feel your partner’s movement as much when they toss and turn. It can retain body heat, though, and take more time to bounce back to shape after you change positions. Another note: while memory foam is generally considered to be safe, it contains petroleum-based chemicals that can release harmful VOCs.

Latex foam
All-natural latex mattresses are crafted from the sap of rubber trees and tend to be firmer and bouncier than mattress foam, meaning they’re supportive and maintain their shape well. There are two types of natural latex: Talalay and Dunlop. The former is lighter, softer, and fluffier but can be less durable, while the latter is heavier but can produce mattresses that last up to thirty years. There are also synthetic latex options, though they can be less eco-friendly and have a shorter lifespan.

Hybrid
This type of mattress combines the structure of an inner coil system with a top layer made of plush foam, latex, or gel. As a result, they can offer the back support of an innerspring mattress and the coziness of a memory or latex foam one to cushion your body and minimize aches and pains. Some even contain cooling elements that can offset the heat retention of foam and help you sleep better. However, hybrid mattresses are also one of the heaviest and most expensive options.

Hitting the stores

Once you’ve chosen a mattress type, it’s time to shop! Browsing at a brick-and-mortar store may be your best strategy since it will allow you to lay on several different mattresses to determine which type or brand suits you best. That said, online shopping can be faster and easier and may offer better deals. And because you can’t try out a mattress beforehand, most of these retailers offer a no-risk sleep-trial period so you can see how it feels at home and return it if it ultimately isn’t right.