3 Step Mattress Buying Guide

Is it time for a new mattress? If your mattress is not longer comfortable and supportive. Or you are waking up with a sore back and shoulders. It might be time. And if your mattress is developing the dreaded sag then it is a sure indicator you’re ready for a new bed. That is where our mattress buying guide can come in handy. 

While there are plenty of numbers thrown around to determine when you should replace your mattress. We believe that there is NO magic number that applies when it is time to get a new mattress. The only determining factor is YOU and YOUR COMFORT. And that is why our mattress guide is here to help you.

How To Choose A NEW Mattress:

Today, more than ever, there are a plethora of mattress options out there for you. Not even that, but between online mattresses adn going to a mattress store you have even more choices.

While some people still like to test out there mattress first. Others are comfortable with clicking a button and having one shipped to their door. You no longer even need to go to a mattress store. However you go about choosing one though, Our Sleep Guide can help you. Especially if you don’t know what you need to look for on your journey to a great night’s sleep.

Below is Our Mattress Buying Guide that goes through 3 easy steps. They will help you narrow down your options to quickly find mattress is best for you. Start now… it’s as easy as 1 – 2 – 3!

Mattress Buying Guide Step 1: BUDGET & SIZE

The first step is figuring out your budget. This will help you narrow down the options you are looking at right away. And can be down with little to no research right away. Another key factor to determine is the size of mattress you are buying. If you are replacing a current mattress than you will know exactly what you need. But, if you are upgrading or changing the size, make sure you take that into consideration with your budget.

While determining your budget may be easy, we do like to hit on the aspect of value. Value is key because you want to make sure that what you are spending your money on is the best quality, durability and feel for you in your price range. 

You will with out a doubt find several mattresses that are in your price range. But, knowing among those what is going to get you the best bang for your buck is another story. And that is why there are a few more steps in our mattress buying guide to help you figure out the specific details of what mattress will be best for you.

How much should I spend on a new mattress?

The range for a quality mattress will vary. However, if you are looking for a mid-level, good quality mattress it should fall roughly into the breakdown below.

• Twin Size – $399 – $799
• Twin XL Size – $499 – $999
• Full Size – $599 – $1,399
• Queen Size – $799 – $1,699
• King Size – $999 – $1,899

If you are looking for a more premium, luxury mattress than your budget will likely range from:

• Twin Size – $899 – $1,999
• Twin XL Size – $1,099 – $2,899
• Full Size – $1,499 – $2,999
• Queen Size – $1,799 – $3,599
• King Size – $1,999 – $3,999

*Step 1 in a nutshell: Figure out what your budget is . Then focus on finding the best valued mattress in your price range. Also, make sure you have figured out what size you will be purchasing. Than you can work that into your budget equation too.

On a tight budget but still want the best bed? Check out our Best Mattresses on a Budget.

Mattress Buying Guide Step 2: COMFORT

The next step in choosing a new mattress is determining the ideal comfort, or firmness level, you need. This also applies to your partner if you share your bed. To help determine this you want to look at a two few key factors that will play a part in finding what works best. These 2 factors are the dominant position(s) you sleep in as well as your comfort preference. 

What Firmness Level Do I Need?

• Stomach Sleepers – Medium-Firm to Firm Mattresses
• Side Sleepers – Soft to Medium Mattresses
• Back Sleepers – Medium-Firm Mattresses
• Combination Sleepers – Medium to Medium-Firm Mattresses
• Couples with Different Needs – Split King Mattresses

Depending on what position you find yourself sleeping in most often can help you determine the proper support and firmness your mattress should be. Below we outline each sleeping position as well as which firmness level will work best to accommodate that sleeping position. 

• Sleeping on your Stomach

Stomach sleepers will benefit from a medium-firm to firm mattress. When sleeping on your stomach you need to make sure you have a more solid surface to prevent your back from bowing. If a mattress is too soft and you sleep on your stomach you may have lower back pain and just be less comfortable for an extended period of time.

Find the perfect mattress for sleeping on your stomach on our Best Mattresses for Stomach Sleepers page.

• Sleeping on your Side

Side sleepers will typically prefer a mattress that is more on the soft to medium side. You will still want a solid support system to keep your spine aligned and supported. However, having a softer top will allow for your hip and shoulder to sink in to be more comfortable.

If you’re a side sleeper find the best options for you on our Best Mattresses for Side Sleepers page.

• Sleeping on you Back

Back sleepers tend to be able to have more range for what’s comfortable to them. While a more solid medium-firm feeling mattress is ideal, you can vary a bit depending on preference. If you like a little more softness than medium will work. Andy if you prefer a firmer feel, that is fine too. Solid support and lumbar support is always ideal for back sleepers. 

• Combination Sleepers

If you change between sleeping on your back, stomach and side you will probably do best with a medium to medium-firm mattress. Regardless of what position you are in you want to make sure that your mattress has proper support and enough cushion on the top to contour to your body, but not so much that you aren’t able to easy move. 

Find all of our top rated and favorite mattresses on our Best Mattresses page.

• Couples with Different Sleep Styles 

Couples who share a bed and sleep differently either need to compromise on firmness, finding something in the middle that works for both. Or if you are in a King size mattress we suggest getting split kings, also known as 2 Twin XL mattresses next to each other. To give you both exactly what you need. This allows for each sleeper to have their ideal sleep surface while still sharing a bed.

Find which mattresses we recommend on our Best Mattresses for Couples page. 

Your Comfort Preference:

Even though sleeping positions can play a part in determining the firmness or softness of your mattress your personal preference also needs to be accounted for. Just because there is a typical rule of thumb when choosing firmness that doesn’t necessarily mean you have to follow it. Taking into account what type of feel you prefer, as well as the guaranteed fact that a mattress will only get softer over time, may make a difference when figuring the ideal level of firmness you will like.

• Soft

A softer mattress will be more pliable, creating the feeling of being “in” the bed. Softer mattresses will use plusher top layers but should still have a solid core and base from proper spine alignment and support.

Soft beds will allow you to sink into the mattress further and will be more ideal for dominate side sleepers that like to feel more cocooned. A soft mattress would not be recommended for stomach sleepers, because it will not provide the proper support for your back. On a scale of 1 to 10, a soft mattress should fall around a 2-3.

• Medium-Soft

A medium-softer mattress will be soft, but not too soft, creating a bit of sinking into the bed. Medium-plush mattresses also use softer layers on top but should feel a bit more supportive for side and back sleepers who like a little sink but still plenty of support. A medium-soft feeling mattress will be around a 4 on the firmness scale.

• Medium

A medium mattress sounds like the “baby bear preference” of mattresses, not too soft and not too firm. It should be something that will allow you to be “in” the bed enough to feel a bit of sink and hug, but not so much that you feel engulfed. Medium mattresses should again have a solid foundation but be just plush enough to minimally mold to around your body. 

A medium mattress would be good for side and back sleepers as well as sleepers who are on their stomach once in a while. On a scale of 1 to 10, a medium mattress will fall around a 5-6.

• Medium-Firm

A medium-firm mattress is probably the most popular feel of mattresses out there. A medium-firm feel is going to be a little firmer than medium, but not too firm. This feel is going to be preferred over others mostly because it should be comfortable for all sleeping positions and multiple sized people.

Medium-firm mattresses will still have plush top layers that will provide you with plenty of support and a minor amount of give. It should be just soft enough to feel enjoyable in all sleeping positions and allow you to move easily. On a scale of 1 to 10, a medium-firm mattress will fall around a 6.5-7.

• Firm

A firm mattress is going to be for someone who doesn’t want to sink into the mattress too much. It’s ideal for someone who likes to feel “on” the mattress. A firmer mattress will have a surface with minimal sink and will slightly contour to you body.

This mattress feel is great for predominant stomach sleepers because of it’s ample support. However, it may be less ideal for side sleepers since it doesn’t let your shoulders or hip sink in. On a scale of 1 to 10, a firm mattress will fall around an 8.

• Extra-Firm

An extra-firm mattress is going to be a very solid feeling mattress. And ideal for anyone who likes no give in the top layers. This mattress is definitely most ideal for specific sleepers who want a “hard” sleeping surface. An extra-firm mattress will range between a 9-10 on the firmness scale. 

*Step 2 in a nutshell: Figure out what your dominant sleeping position(s) are as well as and your ideal preference of feel/firmness. 

Mattress Buying Guide Step 3: MATERIALS & DESIGN

Step 3 of the mattress buying guide may be the trickiest. The materials can be a little overwhelming and there are a lot of things to understand. However, the basic design of a mattress is the same regardless of specific materials.

You have a firmer support system as the base of the bed. This is usually made of solid base foam, coil systems or a combination of both. While the top layers provide the comfort and unique feel. And the top and sides are covered in a textile to wrap it all together. 

What Are The Best Mattress Materials?

• Hybrid Design – A combination of coils in the base with comfort foams over top.
• Latex Hybrid Design – A combination of coils in the base with natural latex comfort layers over.
• Memory Foam Design – A base layer of dense foam with layers of comfort memory foam on top.

Below we will go through a few more specifics on each style. Along with several recommendations of each style too.

Hybrid Mattresses:

By far, hybrid mattresses are the most popular style of mattress sold. The combination of supportive and zoned coils paired with pressure relieving foams create an ideal sleep surface for many sleepers. Most also offer ranges of firmness allowing for ample options for a variety of sleepers.

Top Rated Hybrid Mattresses:

1. Helix Luxe Mattress – BUY HERE
2. WinkBed Mattress – BUY HERE
3. Durable Mattress – BUY HERE

Hybrid Mattresses are awesome! Find all of our favorites in the Best Hybrid Mattresses page. 

Latex Hybrid Mattresses:

Similar to hybrid mattresses these mattresses are very popular. However, the biggest difference is the very specific comfort material, latex. This is usually found in natural mattresses that use cleaner and more sustainable materials.

Top Rated Latex Hybrid Mattresses:

1. Avocado Green Mattress – BUY HERE
2. Birch Natural Mattress – BUY HERE
3. Avocado Organic Luxury Mattress – BUY HERE

Natural Latex Hybrid mattresses are amazing. Find our top rated in the Best Natural Mattresses page. 

Memory Foam Mattresses:

These all foam options use multiple layers of different densities of foam to create a solid base layer covered with softer foam layers. Creating a dense and typically firmer feeling mattress that cradles your body more. Typically all foam mattress offer amazing motion regulation because of their design. However, they do have a tendency to hold more heat than beds with coils that allow more breathability.

Top Rated All Foam Mattresses:

1. Loom & Leaf by Saatva – BUY HERE
2. GravityLux by WinkBeds – BUY HERE
3. Bear Original Mattress – BUY HERE

Interested in seeing which all foam mattress made the cut? Check out the Top Rated Memory Foam Mattresses page. 

*Step 3 in a nutshell: Narrow down the style and materials you would prefer to have in your new mattress.

How To Choose A Mattress – 3 Steps Overview:

1. Budget – Determine Your Budget & Size of Mattress
2. Comfort – Figure Out Which Firmness Is Best
3. Materials & Design – Decide The Style Of Bed That Is Best

Once you figure out your mattress size and budget, the comfort level and the style of mattress that will work best you’re ready to find your new bed. These 3 easy steps will set you up for finding the ideal bed for your needs.

Pro Tips:

Test in Store

If possible, we always recommend testing out the mattresses you’d like before you buy. If you live in the Houston, TX or Austin, TX you can even come into one of the Our Sleep Guide Online Mattress Stores.

Otherwise, we can also guide you via phone if you call in too. While testing out is ideal, having someone walk you through the process on the phone is super helpful too.

Houston Showroom: 832-653-6587

Consider Your Size & Weight

Another thing to considering when buying a new mattress is your size. Many times smaller framed, lighter individuals will need slightly softer mattresses to allow for adequate pressure relief. While larger individuals may want a slightly firmer or more durable mattress to ensure they have proper support and long lasting comfort. 

If you are a larger sleeper, check out our Best Mattresses for Heavy People page. 

Use A Mattress Protector

This is always a must when buying a new mattress. Not only does it keep your bed clean but most trial periods are contingent based on whether or not your mattress is 100% clean and covered by a protector. It’s a small investment but a big payoff.

Our Mattress Buying Guide – Frequently Asked Questions?

When should I replace my mattress?

While there is no magic number, most people tend to replace their mattresses between 7-10 years.

Does mattress thickness mattress?

Not typically. However, if you have certain limitations like a bunk bed or trundle bed you will need a thinner mattress. And you also need to ensure that the height of your frame doesn’t make a thick mattress too high off the ground.

Otherwise, the thickness of mattress is less the determining factor and more about the quality of materials.

What should I look for in a warranty and trial?

Most standard trial periods range from 30-100 days. While some brands also offer 365 days too. However, you should determine if the mattress will work for you or not within the first 30 nights.