Choosing a mattress is a personal decision, but the most crucial factor is finding the right comfort level—or firmness—that supports your body and spinal alignment. A mattress that's too soft can cause back pain, and one that's too firm can create painful pressure points.

At Mattress Pensacola, we help you find your "sweet spot" by analyzing your unique sleep style.

The Mattress Firmness Scale

Mattress firmness is generally rated on a 1-10 scale, with 6.5 being the industry standard for Medium-Firm. We typically categorize comfort into three main levels to simplify your shopping experience:

1. Match Comfort to Your Sleep Position

Your preferred way of sleeping is the most important factor in determining the correct firmness level.

Side Sleepers: Need Pressure Relief (Soft to Medium)

• The Challenge: Side sleeping concentrates your body weight onto the shoulders and hips, creating painful pressure points.

• The Solution: You need a Soft or Plush mattress that allows your shoulders and hips to sink in enough to keep your spine straight and neutral. Memory Foam or Pillow Top hybrids are often the best mattress types here.

Back Sleepers: Need Balanced Support (Medium to Medium-Firm)

• The Challenge: Back sleepers require support to maintain the natural curvature of the spine, especially the lumbar (lower back) area.

• The Solution: A Medium-Firm mattress provides the ideal balance—it's firm enough to keep your hips elevated but has enough "give" to support the natural arch of your lower back. Hybrid or Latex mattresses are excellent choices.

Stomach Sleepers: Need Maximum Firmness (Firm to Extra Firm)

• The Challenge: Stomach sleeping causes the most strain, as the midsection tends to sink too deeply, resulting in an unnatural arch in the lower back.

• The Solution: A Firm mattress is essential. It prevents your hips from sinking below your shoulders, keeping your spine flat and reducing strain. Avoid plush tops, as they can compromise alignment.

2. Factor in Your Body Weight

Body weight significantly influences how a mattress feels and performs.

• Lighter Sleepers (<130 lbs): You don't sink as deeply, so you may need a Softer mattress to feel the contouring comfort layers and achieve proper pressure relief.

• Average Sleepers (130–220 lbs): The Medium range is often ideal, as it offers the perfect mix of support and comfort.

• Heavier Sleepers (>220 lbs): You sink deeper and need more structural support to prevent bottoming out. You should generally choose a mattress rated as Firm or Extra Firm to ensure durability and maintain spinal alignment.

Test Your Ideal Comfort Level in Pensacola

Finding your perfect comfort level is the only way to guarantee a healthy, restful night's sleep. Don't rely on guesswork!

Visit our Mattress Pensacola showroom today and spend dedicated time testing soft, medium, and firm mattresses. We'll help you find the one that perfectly balances support and pressure relief for your unique sleep profile.