With the whole day of work and stress, it is obvious that you must need a sound and relaxing sleep of at least 8 hours at night. By far, not only a bed but also a mattress is one of the most important things in your bedroom to get the restful sleep at night. And that’s why it is a great decision to choose the right mattress for you. Though with a lot of brands, types, and considerations are important in buying the right mattress, we came with this ultimate guide to help you in choosing the right mattress for you.
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Now before starting to choose the right mattress, first analyze Is it The Right Time To Replace Your Mattress?
Signs That Your Mattress Needs Replacement
- Is your mattress 8-10 years old?
- Does it have the signs of wear and tear like lumps, bumps, squeaky coils, saggy edges, etc.?
- Are you waking up with pain and stiffness in your body every morning?
- Whether your allergies are getting out of hand?
If Yes, then you definitely need a mattress replacement.
Once you have analyzed that you need a mattress replacement, the process of choosing the right mattress begins.
So, let’s start from different types of the mattress along with their pros and cons.
Different Types of Mattress
There comes the different type of mattress in India that you can better understand with the description we have given below for each type of mattress.
Foam Mattress
Offering you the soft and comfortable feel, the foam mattress is the most popular choice in India that is cushioned with foam inside the mattress. It is the best mattress for back and hip pain. Plus, they have the ability to maintain the body heat and therefore, they provide great comfort in both summer and winters.
- Offers you the full body support
- Very comfortable to sleep in
- Restrain the development of bed bugs and dust mites
- Anti-bacterial and hypoallergenic
- Do not provide firm support to your body as your body sinks into the mattress
- These are heat sensitive, so causes sweating a lot
Memory Foam Mattress
Memory foam mattress has gained its popularity to its extreme. These are the best mattresses that most of the people prefer nowadays. The reason behind this is that it is extremely soft and comfortable. The memory foam mattress is made up of several layers of foam that prevent the mattress from becoming sag or firm in the middle. Even it is the ideal choice for both side sleepers and stomach sleepers.
What is extremely best about the memory foam mattress is its state-of-the-art pressure relieving technology that eradicates the pressure building up on your body. It also has the ability to mold it according to your body pressure and thus spread the weight equally over its surface. Plus, the polyurethane material present in the mattress protects it from dirt and dust to restrain allergies. And moreover, the mattress helps in maintaining the perfect body temperature while you sleep.
Check out the Best Memory Foam Mattresses
- Best for spine alignment and back support
- Great in terms of durability
- Require less maintenance
- Good for pressure points as well
- Anti-allergic
- Prevents dirt and debris
- It keeps a near perfect body temperature and thus keeps you warm in winters and cool during summers
- Less sagging
- These are flexible and contour according to your body pressure, so lacks in providing firm support to your body
- It comes with the dense foam making it heavy, so it is quite difficult to move from one place to another
- Complaints of initial odor when using the mattress for the first time
- Expensive
Coir Mattress
With a lot of health benefits, coir mattress is an ideal and economical choice. It is made up of natural fibers, that is comparatively harder, and somehow they tend to be uncomfortable as compared to the foam mattresses. As they are the most Eco-friendly mattresses, on the downside they come with the short life span.
One of the great advantages of coir mattress is that it can maintain the ideal temperature for sleeping as it circulates air across the various layers, present inside the mattress.
Want to buy Coir Mattress ? Check our post on Best Coir Mattress
- Offers you a comfortable, restful, and refreshing sleep
- These mattresses are well ventilated ensuring maximum flow of air that makes you feel cool and comfortable while sleeping
- It maintains the firmness and thereby gives accurate support to your body
- Great for people who are allergic to dirt and dust
- Eco-friendly
- It offers the perfect temperature to sleep in
- Requires no maintenance
- Affordable as compared to other mattress types
- These mattresses are too firm, so sometimes they become uncomfortable
- They are not durable
- It increases the pressure points rather than reducing them, and that’s why resulting in body pain especially on back and shoulders
Spring Mattress
If you prefer back sleeping or tummy sleeping, an innerspring mattress is an ideal buy. These mattresses contain spring in their frame that makes it bouncy. Plus, they offer the right amount of support and provide medium comfort for back pain. On the downside, the innerspring mattresses exhibit motion transfer, that disturbs your sleep, if your partner has the habit of moving around.
- Low cost
- Offers springy and reactive feel
- Not so comfortable
- Gathers a lot of dust
- Negatively affect the spine
- Wear out very quickly
Latex Mattress
The latex mattress is made up of latex material instead of foam that is produced by collecting the sap from the rubber tree and then processed. Plus, they also include poly-foam and other materials. And with the upside, they offer exceptional cooling, amazing comfort, and enhanced durability. They have good bouncy effects and are eco-friendly too. But, they are typically expensive.
- Extremely comfortable
- Great for those who have back pain and joint pain
- It promotes proper spine alignment
- 100% natural, no toxic chemicals are present in the mattress
- Resistant to molds and dust mites
- Excellent air circulation
- Allergen-free
- Durable
- Heavy in weight as compared to other mattress types
- Expensive
Gel Mattress
The Gel mattresses are made up of gel instead of foam to provide comfort and support to heavy sleepers. They offer fantastic cooling experience while sleeping because of their enhanced air circulation. And this allows your body heat to escape out rather than trapping it inside the mattress. The best part with the gel mattresses is that they retain their original shape very quickly, once the pressure is removed. And that is what makes it more comfortable.
- It provides cool restful sleep to those with high body temperature and who sweat a lot
- Very comfortable
- With better open cell structure, it is more breathable and airy
- Maintains the proper alignment as it doesn’t sink too far
- Offers soft comfort and adequate support
- Expensive
- Not ideal for side sleepers and to those who are light in weight
Water Mattress or Water bed
These are the new innovative mattresses that use water rather than foam or coils to give the mattress a shape and thus providing you utmost comfort and relief from pain. These mattresses distribute your weight evenly and relieve the pressure points to provide you relief and comfort from arthritis and back pain. And the best part is that you can easily adjust the firmness by adding or removing water according to your preferred comfort level.
- Provides excellent sleeping comfort as it conforms itself around your body
- Offers full contour support to your back and spine and therefore reduces the pressure on your muscles and joints
- Comes with an in-built heater to heat out the water during cold
- Very easy to clean
- Because of vinyl material composition, they don’t absorb dirt and dust
- Some modern water mattresses come with two different sections allowing you and your partner to adjust the temperature and firmness on each side independently depending on their comfort
- Water beds are too heavy to move around
- Requires a lot of care and maintenance
- In case of an accidental puncture, the water bed starts leaking
Pillow Top Mattress
For ultimate full-body support, pillow top mattresses are the most trendy choices nowadays. Not only it offers ultimate support to your body, but also provides maximum comfort. The construction includes an innerspring foundation with an additional top layer of padding for unmatched support and comfort. This additional layer of padding makes these mattresses different from others. Even this top layer comprises several materials like cotton, latex, memory foam, polyurethane—foam, or other fibers that you can choose accordingly.
- An extra portion of padding offers ultimate comfort
- It evenly distributes your weight to eliminate any discomfort
- These mattresses do not retain heat, therefore keeps you cool and comfortable while sleeping
- The pillow top mattresses with memory foam construction are especially good for back pain
- Less durable than other types of mattresses
- It sags easily
- Not ideal for heavier people
Euro Top Mattress
Most similar to the pillow top mattresses, the Euro Top mattress offers you a luxury hotel mattress experience. Even these are softer than pillow top mattresses with the stitching done to the top layer, making them flush around the edges. The Euro top mattresses include foam or fiberfill construction for more improved quality over the pillow top mattresses. Plus, they are also dense and thick. These are an excellent choice for people suffering from back pain or neck pain.
- Foam or fiberfill composition for more comfort
- Very soft in the center and firm around the edges
- More durable over the pillow top mattress
- Improved edge support because it comes flush with the side of the mattress
- These are more likely to contour to the body and relieve pressure points
- Reduces motion transfer
- Sags at the edges soon
Different Size of the Mattress
Now coming to the next, considering the mattress size is also very much important. In India, the modern mattresses come in variable sizes that are described here as under:
| Mattress | Size (inches) | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Twin or Single size | 39" x 75" | Best for single bed |
| Twin XL | 39" x 80" | Single bed but for taller people |
| Full Size | 54" x 75" | Best for 2 people, sleeping close to each other |
| Full Size XL | 54" x 80" | For 2 people with 5 inch more space in height |
| Queen Size | 60" x 80" | Popular among couples with space for small kid or pets |
| King Size | 76" x 80" | Big enough for 3 people. Even 4 small persons. |
| California King Size | 72" x 84" | Largest available size mattress in market |
Single Size Mattress or Twin Mattress
These generally come with the dimension of 39” X 75” (Inches) and ideally best fit for the single cots. The twin mattresses are slim in size but provide adequate sleeping space for single sleepers from toddlers to teenagers. But if you are a tall and heavy adult, the twin mattress is not for you.
Twin XL Mattress
The Twin XL mattress has the dimension of 39” X 80” (Inches) that is same in width like the regular twin mattress but with more 5 inches in length. And thus it is a good option for the taller people. Plus, they are the great space savers for those living in tight spaces. And as a bonus, these are easy to move around.
Full-Size Mattress
With the dimension of 54” X 75” (Inches), the full-size mattress offers more wider space while sleeping than the previous ones. Also known as a double mattress, the full-size mattress is the ideal choice for an individual adult or kid who loves to sleep alone or with a pet. But if we talk about couples where one or both want to have their little personal space to stretch out their legs, or for the taller adults, the mattress is not for them.
Full XL Mattress
The Full XL size mattress comes with the dimension of 54” X 80” (Inches), the same in width like a full size mattress but with more 5 inches in length. And this additional length makes it an ideal fit for the taller adults, as well as the couples who want their own personal space to stretch out their legs.
Queen Size Mattress
The queen size mattress is the ideal choice for growing adults or couple who likes to sleep closer to each other. It comes in the dimension of 60” X 80” (Inches) that is 7 inches wider and 5 inches longer than a full-size mattress. And so, the comfortable dimension of this mattress makes it very much popular and the preferable choice for most of us.
King Size Mattress
Coming to the next, the King Size mattress has the dimension of 76” X 80” (Inches) that is considered to be the best size for couples. It offers both the person their own space while sleeping. Plus, the one who own pets or prefer sleeping with their pets, this size is absolutely a great choice for the mattress. Buy the Best King Size Mattress
California King
The California King mattress is the longest and widest mattress out there than the other available sizes. This one size in a mattress provides maximum sleeping space whether you sleep single or sleeping with your partner. It has the dimension of 72” X 84” (Inches) that offers extra inches for the taller people. But keep in mind that you need a larger master bedroom as it takes much space that doesn’t fit to the smaller master bedroom.
The Right Firmness In Your Mattress
Checking the firmness level of your mattress is very much important. Now if you think, what is the firmness in a mattress, we can define it by the level of softness or hardness you want in your mattress. We already know the terms like extra-firm, medium-firm, plush, etc. that describes different mattress models, but to get it understand in a better way, you must go through the firmness scale of the mattress. This scale rates the mattress firmness from 1-10 that we have described here so that you can choose the desired level of firmness you want.
| Rating | Firmness Level | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1-2 | Soft | These are quite soft and plush with definite sink |
| 3-4 | Medium-Soft | It offers middle-ground with some plushness but with more limited sink |
| 5-7 | Medium-Firm | Offers hard feel with only a limited level of softness and sink |
| 8-10 | Firm | No softness, plushness, and even no sink at all |
Apart from that, there comes one more category in the mattress called Universal Comfort, offering you a balanced level of support and comfort for the majority of sleepers. Though these mattresses have only one firmness level, the design and structure of their foams offer the ultimate comfort for a variety of sleepers including tall, short, heavy, light, side, back, and stomach, etc.
Choosing the right mattress depending on your sleeping positions
Well, the different sleeping position requires different types of mattress to provide you comfortable and better sleep. So have a look at the different sleeping styles of yours to influence your buying decision in choosing the right mattress.
Side Sleepers
Side sleeping is one of the common sleeping pose for most of us. Sleeping on your side comes with many pros that include the elongation of your spine to reduce the risk of back pain, or it can help you with the heartburn and acid reflux or other gastrointestinal issues, and much more.
So, if you are a side sleeper, you need a mattress with soft to medium level of firmness that can contour to the shape of your body to make it most comfortable while sleeping. Plus a soft mattress comes with a lot of support that will relieve pressure point on your neck and back to let you away from the issues of back pain, neck pain, and shoulder pain.
Back Sleepers
If you are a back sleeper, then congratulations! as it is considered to be the best as well as the healthiest and most comfortable sleeping pose. In this sleeping position, your neck and spine remain straight throughout the night. And since your back is also aligned, it doesn’t strain your muscles and makes it comfortable. So, depending upon this sleeping position, you are supposed to choose the mattress ranging from medium-firm to firm that aids in providing amazing support without compromising your comfort zone.
Stomach Sleepers
Although this sleeping position is not best at all, but still if you prefer stomach sleeping position, choosing the right mattress can make a big difference surely. This sleeping position puts a lot of pressure on your hips and pelvic area. And in this case, if your bedding doesn’t offer you the proper support, it may lead to chronic back pains. That’s why we would suggest you to choose the mattress that is firm. The firm mattress offers your body weight to get equally distributed, that avoids the potential sinking, and this way, you will get stay flat while sleeping to avoid the back, shoulder, and hips pain.
Choosing The Right Mattress Depending On Your Body Weight
Deciding upon the best bedding, depending on your body weight is also an important consideration. Here we have detailed for you the best type of bedding you need according to your body weight.
Light Sleepers
The people less than 130 lbs comes into the category of light sleepers. The best part with the light sleepers is that they tend to stay on the upper layer. As they are light in weight, they don’t sink down into the layers of the mattress. And, such type of sleeper should choose the soft mattress in the 1-2 range of the firmness scale.
Average-Sized Sleepers
The people with the weight range from 130-200 lbs falls into the category of average-sized sleepers. And they should go for the mattress with the firmness level of medium-soft or medium-firm. This firmness level will provide the enough cushioning to create a comfortable and supportive sleeping surface to them.
Heavy Sleepers
Sleepers who weigh more than 200 lbs are the heavy sleepers. In this case, the sleepers sink too deeply into the mattress that makes them feel very unsupportive and uncomfortable while sleeping. And so a firm mattress is an ideal choice for these type of sleepers that offers a strong support core to them. As far as, the firm mattress also features the comfort layers that are more dense and allow the sleepers to rest on the upper layers of the mattress rather than deep sinking into it.
Mattress for Particular Needs
During Pregnancy
In your pregnancy tenure, you face so many issues like increase in abdomen size, heartburn, backache, insomnia, etc. that creates a lot of problems while sleeping. But good bedding ensures quiet night sleep even if you have all these issues. Doctors recommend that the best sleeping position is side sleeping during your pregnancy. And if you are in search of right mattress, go for the one that is medium firm. It will offer you the right firmness level for providing you both support and comfort you need during pregnancy.
Plus, when it comes to material, I would recommend the memory foam mattress or the combination of memory foam and latex is the most ideal choice. Most of the time during pregnancy, you feel sticky or soaked in sweat, which means you are a hot sleeper. And in this case, you need a mattress that keeps you cool. Gel foam mattresses are considered to be the best choice for hot sleepers that keeps you cool and comfortable while sleeping.
Mattress For Couples
Well, if you are sharing the bed with your partner, a good mattress is very much important for a comfortable sleep as well as without any disturbance. Motion transfer is one of the most common issues among most of the couples. If one partner changes the position all over the night or has the habit of going washroom frequently at night, it is obvious that your partner’s sleep will get affected. Well, in this case, you need a mattress that eliminates the motion transfer. Therefore, go for the one that is not too hard or not too soft. A medium-firm mattress is considered to be the best choice for most of the couples.
Also, if your partner is too heavy, ensure that the mattress has the feature to provide maximum support so that both of you can sleep well.
Mattress for Kids
A good quality sleep of your kids is the key to their growth and development, and also it improves their immunity as well. So, a quality mattress matters a lot. Before investing in a mattress for kids, check for the mattress size, comfort, support, durability, proper air circulation, etc.
If you want the mattress for your newborn baby, the ideal dimension will be 28” X 52”. Plus a slightly firmer surface makes your baby very comfortable while sleeping. The foam and coil mattresses are the ideal options. Also, choose the one that is organically certified. All these features will definitely make your baby sleep well.
But if you are searching for the mattress for toddlers and kids, size consideration is the primary step. The twin size would be a great choice but might need an upgrade after a few years, as your child grows year by year. Twin XL is an excellent choice for taller kids. But if you don’t want to upgrade the mattress until their teenage years; you must go with the full-size mattress.
Choosing The Right Mattress For Specific Medical Conditions
Neck pain
The poor posture results in the strain of neck muscles that causes neck pain. Sometimes injury, stiff and weak muscles, wrong sleeping position, pregnancy and even using wrong pillows are the cause, but old and saggy mattresses can also create neck pain. Spinal misalignment is one of the primary causes of neck pain. So, the most important thing to consider is your sleeping surface that can support your spine and neck. Super soft mattress makes your body sink into the cushion too far that creates a long curve from your hips to head. The same way, super firm mattress also creates a long curve from your hips to head as they don’t let your hips and shoulders to sink in deep. Therefore it is very much important to choose the mattress that keeps your whole spine in alignment, so that you can get relief from neck pain for a better night sleep.
If you have neck pain, you must choose a supportive sleep position for your spine and also choose the right pillow for your neck pain. But when it comes to the mattress by its type, memory foam, latex, hybrid, and innerspring are proving to be the best choice for getting relief from neck pain.
Back Pain
Back pain occurs because of strain in your back muscles whether it is due to lifting too heavy objects, or wrong sleeping positions, or due to sudden twists or movements, or using the wrong mattress at all. So, it is recommended to choose the mattress that offers good support, has the good conforming ability, and the right level of firmness. We have already discussed about these points in the above section that will let you choose the best one. Choosing best mattress for back pain is recommended because it adjust according to shape of body which helps sleeping comfortably in night
Proper spine alignment is very must to avoid back pain, and thus, you need a mattress that is comfortable enough to make the pressure points rest at night comfortably. A medium firm mattress or a mattress with a soft pillow top can give your spine the right level of support and cushioning. When it comes to material, I would recommend using memory foam or latex mattresses. And talking about the sleeping position, side sleeping with a pillow under your waist lets you alleviate the pain in your back. Also, sleeping on your stomach is a good option too.
Shoulder Pain
Shoulder pain is another common issue in most of the people that comes from putting too much pressure on your shoulders while sleeping. One of the main reasons of shoulder pain amongst most of the people is their preference of side sleeping position that exerts more pressure on their shoulders. And it creates some very painful pressure points which in results cause more severe shoulder pain.
Incorrect sleeping position or poor posture, or injury are some of the reasons, but using a wrong mattress can also result in shoulder pain. So choose the mattress that relieves these painful pressure points and keeps your spine aligned and makes your muscles to relax. Investing in a mattress that allow your shoulders to sink in enough without even curving your spine or crunching your neck, so that you can get relief from pressure, is really a good deal. And in that case, my opinion is to choose from memory foam and latex mattress.
Hip pain
Hip pain is also now becoming very common in most of the adults as well as old age people because of spinal arthritis, or injury, or wrong sleeping position as well as using the firmer bed without a proper hug. So, there are too many considerations for choosing the right mattress if you have hip pain. If you are a heavy sleeper, the firm and thinner mattress are the best choice as too soft and thick beds may lead to excessive sagging in your hip area where more weight is concentrated. On the other hand, light sleepers will choose typically softer mattresses that conform closely to their body to get rid from the hip pain.
And when it comes to sleeping position, side sleepers need much support around their hips in comparison to back and stomach sleepers. Though these points are important to consider, but also in the case of hip pain, traditional coil beds are considered to be the best choice, but you can also go for memory foam and hybrid mattress.
Arthritis
Arthritis is a disease that causes swelling, pain, and stiffness in your joints. There are various forms of arthritis ranging from bone cartilage deterioration to inflammation and stiffness in knees, ankle, wrist, and feet, etc. And if you have spinal arthritis, it can create discomfort and swelling in the back and spine. Therefore, the right mattress is very much essential for those who are suffering from this issue.
So, the people with arthritis must look for the mattress that provides good support to your entire body including neck, spine, waist, and legs and also to all the joint areas like shoulders, hips, and knees. In fact, the mattress which offers a flat and even surface as well as close conforming to diminishes pain and pressure in the sensitive areas is considered to be the best choice. Though medium firmness level is the best to get relax, but if you are a back sleeper, coil and high-end foam mattress are the perfect choices with a medium-firm feel. On the other hand, if you are a side sleeper, go for the one with plush and soft mattress.
Sciatica
The pain that travels from the lower back down and through the back on the legs is referred to as sciatica. And this issue can create great discomfort in moving out your legs and feet, as well as feels burning and tingling, weakness and numbness there. Though a quality mattress won’t cure the issue but can help in reducing the symptoms and makes you sleep better at night.
Memory foam and latex mattress are the preferred choices for sciatica sufferers. And when it comes to firmness, a medium-firm mattress is the ideal one for those who sleep on their back. For side sleepers, a slightly softer mattress is very comfortable. But if you prefer sleeping on your front, it is not an ideal sleeping position if you are suffering from sciatica. But, if you don’t feel comfortable in any other sleeping position, you must go with the firm mattress that will keep your body aligned and makes you feel comfortable while sleeping.
Allergies and Asthma
The mattresses when comes in exposure with dust mites, molds, dirt, and chemicals can cause allergic reactions to you and sometimes asthma attack too. Thanks to the modern mattresses that come with special features to reduce the exposure from these problems. So, it is always god to check the comparable standards of the mattress before buying them. Also, check whether the mattress has standard certifications or not. In case of asthma or allergies, it is better to invest in an eco-friendly mattress and thus pocketed coils, as well as natural latex mattress, are the best choice.
Some Other Important Considerations While Choosing The Right Mattress
Sleep Trials
Most of the reputed mattress companies now offer sleep trials for their mattresses to let you check whether it is comfortable for you or not. Some companies offer a 30-day trial and some also for up to 100 days to check on the comfortability of the mattress. In case you don’t like the mattress, the company offers a money back guarantee as well as mattress replacement too.
Exchange Offers
If you have your old mattress in good condition and still you want to purchase the new one, some companies have exchange offers, so that you can sell the old one and in exchange buy a new one.
Warranty
A mattress is such an expensive investment. So check for the warranty before purchasing a new mattress.
Quality
Always opt for the branded one, as low-quality mattresses result in severe issues like pain in various areas of your body as well as not proving to be comfortable.
Customer Reviews
While purchasing any of the product online, it is very much important to read the customer reviews for that specific product. It will help you in choosing the right product every time. The more positive reviews for the product, the more good product it will be.
Tips for Cleaning and Maintenance of the Mattress
Cleaning your mattress on a regular basis makes it long lasting and provides you healthy and restful sleep. Here are some tips for cleaning and maintaining the mattress.
- Make sure to let your mattress to air out every week
- Also, flip your mattress once in a week
- Change the bed sheets on a weekly basis
- Vacuum cleaning is the best way to remove dust and dirt from your mattress
- Deodorize your mattress with the disinfectants to remove unpleasant odor from your mattress
- Use a washable mattress cover to protect your mattress from urine stains, blood stains, as well as vomit stains, etc.
- Mattress protectors keep your mattress clean and help in prolonging its life
- Using the mattress toppers is also important that protects your mattress from stain and dirt
- Replace your mattress every 8-10 years
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Final Words
So, finally wrapping it up, I would say that no specific mattress is ideal for you in each and every situation. Here we have considered all the possible factors including size, type of the mattress, your sleeping positions, weight, and others so you can choose the particular type for you. I am sure this Complete buying guide will help you in choosing the right mattress for you.
But if you feel anything is missing or for any of your suggestions, please do write in the comment section below.