How to Choose Firm Mattresses

Choosing a Firm Mattress

• 1

  Do your research. Before you head to the mattress store to start trying out beds, make sure you know what is inside the wide variety of mattresses. There are four types of mattresses: innerspring, memory foam, latex foam and air. Each of them has there various strengths and weaknesses. The firmer mattresses, according to ConsumerSearch.com, are either sturdy innerspring mattresses or dense foam mattresses.

  For innerspring mattresses, the firmness all depends on the coils. Firmer mattresses are generally ones with a high coil count, a heavier gauge of coil and have more "working turns" to each coil.

  For memory foam or latex foam mattresses, the firmness all depends on the density and thickness of the foam. High-quality manufacturers create firmer mattresses by using memory foam with a density of 4 pounds or greater, according to BestBedGuide.com. Conversely, the thicker the layer of memory foam, the lesser the firmness. The layer can be anywhere from 2 to 6 inches in thickness.

• 2

  Spend a good amount of time trying out each mattress. You will most likely use a mattress for a number of years before replacing it, so it is important you make a wise choice when purchasing it. If you are going to be sharing it with a partner, make sure to bring her with you to test each model's firmness herself. The Better Sleep Council recommends you spend at least several minutes trying out each mattress.

  Firmness in a mattress is measured subjectively by each person according to how much or how little the mattress pushes back from the weight of your body. No matter how you lay on it, it should keep your spine relatively straight. Try going from mattress to mattress and pressing down on each one with your knee to gauge the firmness of each one.

• 3

  Consider the durability and quality of each mattress. A cheap mattress might feel just as firm as the more expensive one in the store, but a year later, it might be sagging badly. Check real user feedback from different mattress owners on sites such as Epinions.com, WhatsTheBest-Mattress.com, Buzzillions.com, Amazon.com and Viewpoints.com.

  An expensive mattress won't necessarily keep its firmness better over time than a moderately priced one, but there's also a reason why a cheap mattress is cheap. ConsumerReports.org recommends spending at least $450 for a twin-size, $600 for a full, $800 for a queen and $1,000 for a king.

• 4

  Ask about warranties and trial periods. It's very difficult to make a final judgment in the store how a mattress really is going to feel when you sleep on it night after night. Check with the store about its return policy and consider mattresses that offer a 90-day trial period.