Mattresses by Sleep Need

Sleep position and body weight are the two biggest factors in choosing firmness.

• Side sleepers usually need a softer to medium surface that lets shoulders and hips sink in.
• Back sleepers often prefer medium to medium-firm support that keeps the lower back from sagging.
• Stomach sleepers generally need a firmer surface so the hips do not sink.
• Heavier bodies benefit from thicker, firmer, more supportive builds, often hybrids with sturdy coils.
• Hot sleepers often do better with hybrids, latex or breathable covers than dense all-foam beds.
• Couples should weigh motion isolation, edge support and split-firmness options.

For back, hip or sciatica pain, research on medium-firm mattresses is encouraging, but pain has many causes. A mattress is not a medical treatment, so see a doctor for persistent pain. If you want organic or natural materials, look for GOTS and GOLS certifications. Browse memory foam and hybrid options by type.