What is the Best Mattress Firmness?

Mattresses come in a wide variety of textures, from very soft to very firm. Firmness is a matter of personal preference, but you should keep your sleeping position, weight, and any special circumstances in mind when you're making your choice.

Try not to confuse support with firmness - whether your mattress is very soft or very firm, your head, neck, and spine should be in alignment when you lay down and you shouldn't feel any pressure in sensitive spots like your hips, shoulders, or lower back. A firmer mattress doesn't necessarily mean a more supportive one!

A mattress needs to have that "just right" feel if you want to have a good night's sleep! A mattress that is too firm or too soft can lead to back pain, pressure points, insomnia, and disturbed sleep, so it’s important to find the right fit for your sleep health. Luckily, we’ve created an easy-to-understand guide that should help you make the right choice!

How Firm Should My Mattress Be?

The biggest thing that affects what firmness of mattress you need is your sleeping position. For optimal sleep health, choose a mattress that isn't too soft or too firm to keep your back supported. You shouldn't feel any pressure points when you lay on your mattress and your whole body should be supported equally. It’s important to choose a mattress that keeps your head, neck, and spine in alignment throughout the night to avoid muscle pain.

Above all else, you need to choose a mattress that feels comfortable to you! Here are a few guidelines to help you make your decision:

• Side sleepers should consider a mattress that has a soft to medium firmness. If firmness is measured on a scale of 1-10, where 10 is the most firm, most side sleepers will prefer a mattress in the 3-6 range. That's because you need a mattress that will conform to your body when you're sleeping on your side to keep your spine in the proper alignment without creating pressure points. A mattress that is too firm or too soft will create issues like soreness or back pain.
• Back sleepers can consider a firmer mattress. Back sleepers tend to move around less during the night, so it's essential that your mattress provides enough support to keep your back in alignment all night long without too much sinking in. When back-sleepers sink into their mattress, it can cause soreness in the neck and shoulders. Most back sleepers will prefer a mattress in the 4-7 range of firmness.
• Stomach sleepers need a firmer mattress. Stomach sleeping is the worst position for sleep health. If you can't break the habit, you need a mattress that will keep you supported equally across your entire body. With most of the pressure on your torso at night, it's even more essential to keep your spine in alignment. Stomach sleepers should look for a mattress that is between a 5 and 8 in firmness.
• If you share a mattress with another person or pets, consider whether movement on the bed will disturb your sleep. Firmer mattresses tend to transfer motion more than softer mattresses do. When in doubt, choose a mattress that is slightly softer.
• Your mattress should keep your spine in alignment without creating pressure points. Otherwise, you will wake up feeling tired or sore - and that means more trouble sleeping in the future and more stress during the day!

When you're trying out a mattress for the first time, lay on it and relax for at least 20 minutes before making a decision about whether you like the firmness or not. Some materials, like memory foam, take time to conform to your body.

The Lunazen mattress is designed with the perfect medium-soft firmness (about a 5 on the firmness scale), making it the ideal choice for most sleepers. We know that purchasing a mattress online without the chance to try it in-store can be intimidating. That's why we offer a 100-night trial period with every purchase! If you haven’t fallen in love by then, we will take it back and donate it to someone in need.