UPDATED: August 2021
The Ultimate
Mattress Buying Guide
How To Pick a Great Mattress
What should I look for when buying a new mattress?
On average, everyone should replace their mattress every seven to ten years. Considering the long-term and intimate nature of the commitment we all make to our mattresses, we are all definitely hoping to make the absolute best choice possible when purchasing one.
To begin, try thinking about your mattress as your best friend. What are some qualities we all look for in a best friend? Definitely reliability, obviously consistency, undoubtedly someone you’re able to feel comfortable around all the time, and possibly even someone that is always happy to see you and makes feel warm and fuzzy inside? Exactly what we want in our mattress!
Making this commitment, just like picking your best friend, can be an extremely difficult decision, but fear not, because we are here to help with our easy to follow guide so you can reach a land of friendly fluffy snuggles!
Mattress Features to Consider
- Size
- Comfort
- Coolness
- Durability
- Firmness
- Sleeping Position
- Sleep Trial Period
- Warranty
Mattress Size
Once again we encounter the age old question...
Does size really matter?
The size of the mattress you want is likely dependent on the amount of space you have available, as well as your budget. One thing to definitely keep in mind is that the idea of a Cal King may seem appealing, but when you’re waking up and trying to put your feet down to stand up in the morning but instead stubbing your toe on the wall, you’ve got a bit of an issue.
An important thing to consider when picking the size of your new mattress is whether you’re the type of sleeper that is like a little butterfly in a cozy cocoon that never moves, or whether you dance, jiggle, and wiggle all night.
Another important consideration is whether you’re sharing your mattress. We all need balance. If your partner is a dancing wiggler and you’re the butterfly cocoon type, maybe consider the Cal King so you can continue to stay the butterfly cocoon type. Are you slightly taller? Consider a full instead of a twin. Maybe you’re slightly wider? Consider a queen instead of a full. Maybe you’re slender and petite? The twin might be the mattress size for you. Whatever size it is you’re looking for; there is definitely something for you!
Budget
Everyone wants the best quality, most durable, and most comfortable mattress for the cheapest possible price, which we all know is not really possible… OR is it? What we are all looking for is a mattress with the best value. In our expert opinion, a mattress is one of the only items of furniture that one should not be hesitant to spend on. Physical wellness, alertness, vitality, back pain, neck pain, restlessness, unproductivity, and obviously sleep are among a few of the many, many things that may be affected by a mattress. With all this in mind, budgeting has been made much easier by these new online mattress store platforms because of the costs they save from not having a brick and mortar, which they invest into making a premium-quality mattress at the fraction of the price of those luxury department store mattresses.
Budget Considerations
- Quality
- Durability
- Sleep Trial Period
- Warrantee
- Free Delivery
- Construction
Sleeping Position Preferences and Comfort
Comfort is key to everyone when buying a mattress, and is heavily dependent on the type of sleeper you are. Some of you may be thinking, I am not really sure what type of sleeper I am, and for that, we are here to help. A little tip from us to help you pick the perfect mattress for your sleeping position is to keep track of what position you consistently tend to wake up in every morning. The position you wake up in is likely to be your consistent sleeping position rather than the position you fall asleep in.
How do you sleep?
- Side Sleepers
- Back Sleepers
- Stomach Sleepers
- Back-Pain
- Mattress Firmness
Side Sleepers
Side sleepers generally have preferences for more soft and airy foam mattresses. Memory foam is perfect for side sleepers because it naturally aligns with your spine to relieve pressure off your neck, hips, and back to allow for a feeling of floating as it conforms to your body. Side sleepers typically prefer mattresses ranging between 6 to 8 on a firmness scale, which coincides with many foam mattresses, making them a great fit.
Back Sleepers
Back sleepers are the folks that are typically able to sleep on virtually any mattress. Most important aspect of comfort in a mattress for a back sleeper is simply preference. If you prefer soft and fluffy like a cloud, then consider memory foam. If you prefer firm and sturdy, consider a spring/coil base mattress or a hybrid.
Stomach Sleepers
Stomach sleepers generally tend to prefer mattresses that are on the firmer side of the scale. For a stomach sleeper, firmness is extremely important because they need their back to be stable and reinforced. Sleeping on a soft mattress for a stomach sleeper leads to their hips and lumbar sinking into the mattress and uncomfortably bowing and stretching their spine, which can lead to severe long-term pain and aches.
Mattress Firmness
Firmness is a very important aspect of a mattress to put some consideration into in order to reach optimal level of comfort. Firmness is generally categorized on a scale ranging from soft, medium, medium-firm, and finally firm. Firmness as previously mentioned, is extremely important to be in line with your sleeping position.
Soft
Soft mattresses are what you think of when you think about sleeping on airy clouds of cotton fluff, which are typically most common in memory foam mattresses, and are generally preferred by most side-sleepers as well as some back-sleepers. Soft mattresses are typically around a 3 or 4 on the firmness scale.
Medium
Medium mattresses generally have a sturdier and rigid base to keep the mattresses structural integrity, yet are covered with a cushiony plush layer that allows some cozy sinking into the mattresses as well as body contouring and spinal alignment. Medium mattresses are typically around a 5 on the firmness scale.
Medium-firm
Medium-firm mattresses are the most common type of mattress and the one that is preferred by most types of sleepers. Medium-firm mattresses are generally able to satisfy sleepers of all sleeping positions, and are common to mattresses constructed of all different materials including innerspring mattresses, hybrid mattresses, as well as some foam mattresses. Medium-firm mattresses are typically around a 6 to 8 on the firmness scale.
Firm
Firm mattresses are for those who like to feel very stable and reinforced by their mattress, and are definitely looking to avoid sinking. Often preferred by those with back pain, firm mattresses give the sleeper the best support and are typically preferred by stomach sleepers to avoid the painful inward bowing of the spine. Firm mattresses are generally known to be around an 8 or 9 on the firmness scale.
Types of Mattresses
Now that we’ve discussed some important considerations such as budgeting, price, and comfort, let’s discuss the options available among the most desired types of mattresses available online in 2021. The market has a seemingly endless variety of mattresses and brands that may seem overwhelming at times, but the mattresses worthy of mention all fall into three simple categories. Coil/Innerspring mattresses, memory foam mattresses, and hybrid mattresses which are basically a combination of both springs and foam.
Memory Foam
When you imagine your mattress hugging you like a big fluffy cloud that gives you that feeling of floating, you’re likely thinking about a foam mattress. Foam mattresses are by far the most popular type of mattress on the market today. Foam mattress are constructed with different layers of foam consisting of different firmness levels with the core being dense to provide structural support, and the outer layers being soft and plush to allow for body contouring and a bit of sinking.
Innerspring
Innerspring mattresses are the types of mattresses that most people have had at some point in their lives. These mattresses come with a dense coil system of springs which provide the mattress with a sturdy foundation from the core. These mattresses provide stable support and are very responsive to motion, giving them that bouncy feel.
Hybrid
Hybrid mattresses are a newer addition to the mattress game, and are a combination of innerspring and foam, giving the sleeper a bit of both worlds. Hybrid mattresses have the inner core spring coil system that is surrounded with foam layers as you extend to the surface of the mattress to allow for a feel that has the sinking airy feel of an all foam mattress, yet has a bit of responsiveness and bounce from the core spring system.
Types of Foam
Memory Foam
Memory foam is the type of foam that provides that squishy sinking feeling that wraps and conforms to the shape of the sleeper’s body. Memory foam has a slow response time and bends to stress or force and eventually expands back to the original size and shape after a few moments. Memory foam is great for evenly distributing body weight which allows for that floating feeling by removing pressure off joints and the spine, but does have the potential to trap some body heat.
Latex Foam
Latex foam is the most durable of the known foam layers, and is generally found to be more expensive because of that fact. Latex foam is the most springy and responsive type of foam available and is designed to dissipate heat very well and allow for a consistent cool comfort feel.
Poly Foam
Poly foam consists of a wide variety and category of foam, each of which with a different feel and consistency. Poly foam tends to be on the less durable side compared to the other two, and for that reason is typically more affordable which could potentially be an option for that desire a foam mattress but are on a budget.
Other Things to Consider when Comparing Mattress Vendors
Warranty
Does the company offer a lifetime warranty? Is it perhaps a limited warranty? If it is a lifetime warranty, does that cover all damages and wear and tear?
Money Back Guarantee
Does the company offer a full money back guarantee? If so, how long does the full money back offer last?
Price Range
How does the price of their mattress compare with competitor mattresses? Do they offer promotional discounts or special offers?
No Risk Sleep Trial
Many online mattress brands now offer a sleep trial where you can sleep on the mattress for a certain number of nights (in some cases up to a full year) and return the mattress at no risk if it is not to your liking.
Customer Testimonials
Are customers satisfied with their mattress? Do their ratings and reviews match their descriptions?
Price Range
How does the price of their mattress compare with competitor mattresses? Do they offer promotional discounts or special offers?
Conclusion
Picking the right mattress can be time consuming, overwhelming, and a big financial investment for many. It is important to have as much information as you possibly can, in order to make the most informed decision. We hope our guide has given you a detailed look into picking the right mattress for you, and getting that perfect night’s sleep that you deserve. Look no further, check out our #1 Pick for the best mattress for 2021.