Firm Versus Soft Mattresses

Mattress construction

• Innerspring mattresses are constructed of coils. The more coils, the firmer the mattress. Coil counts range from 312 for a basic mattress to 1000 coils for a more deluxe mattress. The wire gauge, or thickness, of the coils plays a role in firmness, too.

Firm mattresses

• Firm mattresses contain 500 to 700 coils. The wire gauge of the coils in a firm mattress ranges from 12 to 16, which is lower (thicker) than the wire gauge in a soft mattress.

Soft mattresses

• A soft mattress contains 312 to 450 coils. The wire gauge of the coils in a soft mattress ranges from 16 to 18.

Benefits

• Firm mattresses offer more support to the body and have a longer life. A softer mattress decreases the discomfort level of pressure points on the hips, shoulders and neck.

Drawbacks

• The coils in a soft mattress will lose resiliency faster than those in a firm mattress. Therefore, the soft mattress will show signs of wear sooner. A firm mattress may hinder circulation at various pressure points, causing discomfort and numbness.