How to Select a Firmness for a Memory Foam Queen Sized Mattress

Research ILD, or Indent Load Deflection, as it relates to memory foam mattresses, and decide if it is a factor you would like to consider. ILD is a measurement that indicates how spongy or firm foam is. However, because the purpose of memory foam is to sink and conform, some retailers, such as a1mattress.com, believe that IDL is not a useful measurement for memory foam firmness. Other retailers disagree, and many list IDL on mattress labels or can tell you the IDL of a mattress if you ask. If you decide to consider IDL, look for a mattress with an ILD between 10 and 14; memory foam with a too-high ILD may be so springy that it loses its conforming effect.

Test memory foam mattresses in the store to find one with a density that offers the right combination of softness and durability. In memory foam, high-density means high durability. However, high-density foam is also firmer than low-density memory foam, so if you are looking for a softer mattress, you may want to avoid very high-density foams. Three and four lb. foams are in the middle range and offer softness, affordability and durability. Avoid 5-lb. foams or higher, unless you are looking for a firm mattress, and always stay away from memory foam with a density under 3 pounds.

Weigh your need for back support against your desire for softness to determine how thick you need the layer of memory foam in your mattress to be . Memory foam is great at reducing pressure points and offering the comfort of a cloud, but it’s not as good at providing firm support. Because of this, most memory foam mattresses contain a layer of memory foam over a firmer mattress, so your body can experience both support and comfort. A thick layer of memory foam will be more comfortable than a thin layer, but it will achieve this by reducing the amount of support that reaches you from the core underneath. Two and three inch foams offer a good combination of comfort and firmness, though 3-inch memory foam is, of course, the slightly more luxurious choice.