How to Select the Best Mattress for You

Decide what size mattress you need. The average sizes are twin, full or double, queen, king and California king. Since almost everyone will move at least some during the night, it is important that you get a mattress with enough room for you and your partner to move.

Choose a type of mattress. There are innerspring, memory foam and latex mattresses available today. Each has its own set of pros and cons.

The innerspring mattresses are generally less expensive and have a price range nearly everyone can afford, but if there are not enough coils to provide support, you could wake up each morning with a backache.

Memory foam will reduce pressure on certain points of the body that a traditional innerspring mattress could aggravate, but these types of mattresses hold a lot of heat and can make you hot during the night.

A latex mattress offers the softness and comfort of memory foam, with the support of an innerspring mattress. However, if you do not like a firm mattress, latex is not for you.

Test each mattress type by laying on it in your normal sleeping position for 10 to 15 minutes. Bring your pillow so you can simulate your sleeping habits as much as possible. If a particular type of mattress gives you any pressure points or low back pain, it is not the right type for you.

Eliminate types of mattresses until you have just one type left. This will be your ideal mattress type and you can then look at models of this type to find your ideal mattress.

Lay on different models, or mattresses with different tops, to find your perfect bed. Innerspring mattresses often have pillow tops, layers of memory foam or regular models to choose from. Lay on each for up to 15 minutes to eliminate the features that do not work for you.