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Sleep Health

Published August 1, 2022

10 min

Firm vs Medium Mattress: What’s Best for You?

Mattress shopping no longer remains an effortless thing. Instead, there are countless varieties available today for you to choose from.
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Table of contents
Difference Between Firm and Medium Firm Mattress What is a Firm Mattress? Who Are They Best For? What is a Medium Mattress?Who Are They Best For? Firm vs Medium Mattresses for Back Pain Try DreamCloud Medium-Firm Hybrid Mattress Conclusion Frequently Asked Questions
Mattress shopping no longer remains an effortless thing. Instead, there are countless varieties available today for you to choose from. While shopping, you need to keep several factors in mind. It should be comfortable to sleep on, evenly distribute your weight to relieve undue pressure and provide adequate support to keep your spine in a neutral position. For it, not only the materials used but also the firmness of the mattress plays a crucial role. While it is not one-size-fits-all, the best option for most remains a firm and medium-firm mattress. Given that, the dilemma narrows down to firm vs medium mattress. For better clarity and to help you make an educated choice, we overview the difference between firm and medium mattress. Stay hooked!

Difference Between Firm and Medium Firm Mattress

ParametersFirm Mattress Medium Firm Mattress
FirmnessHard and firm surfaceNeither too hard nor too soft
Firmness scale7 - 86 - 7
Pressure reliefDoes not offer much pressure relief Offers adequate pressure relief
Ideal forStomach and heavyweight sleepersSide, back, and average-weight sleepers
DurabilityIt is the most durable among all mattress types It is durable but less than firm a mattress

What is a Firm Mattress?

A firm mattress is rated 7 - 8 on the firmness scale. It is that which gives plenty of stability with minimal sink. You would be lying on top of it instead of sinking into it. It maintains its shape with little give. These offer support and remain comfortable with their ability to compress slightly. Those rated above 8 are called extra-firm and are not a choice of many as it feels like a wooden plank.

Benefits of a Firm Mattress

Firm mattresses provide several essential benefits like
  • Cooling Relief
Firm mattresses do not hug your body too much or offer appreciable sinkage. Consequently, it naturally facilitates maximum airflow that helps wick away body heat and moisture. Its low insulating properties are a boon for hot sleepers. Softer mattresses offer more contouring to the body that can potentially cause overheating if suitable cooling materials are not used in that mattress. Firm mattresses shine in this department.
  • Maintains Proper Alignment of The Spine
A firm mattress facilitates proper spine alignment to help with your posture and decrease many types of body pain.
  • Reduces Pressure on The Circulatory System
Firm mattresses help improve the blood flow within the body by reducing the pressure on your circulatory system and improving the oxygen intake while sleeping.
  • Helps Reduce Stress Levels
Studies indicate that modern firm beds help decrease stress levels and various body and joint pains.
  • Less Motion Transfer
Because of their firmness, hard mattresses naturally curtail motion transfer and prove ideal for couples.
  • Accommodates Multiple Sleep Styles
A firm mattress is more versatile than any other mattress and caters to multiple sleep styles like the back sleeper, stomach sleeper, etc.
  • Durable
Do firm mattresses last longer? Yes, they do because they are less prone to general wear and tear, thanks to their innate hardness. In fact, they count on the best long-lasting mattresses.

Disadvantages of a Firm Mattress

The following disadvantages of a firm mattress might not make them a good choice for you:
  • Difficult to Adjust Initially
A sleeper needs more time to adjust to a firm mattress. You might find it highly uncomfortable to sleep on it for the first few days.
  • Not Suitable for People with Joint & Muscle Pain
Due to its lack of adequate body contouring and cushioning, people suffering from joint and muscle pain would find their pain increasing while sleeping. It would make them highly uncomfortable and cause disturbed sleep.
  • Can Increase Lower Back Pain
A firm bed can barely offer any gentle support. It might increase the lower back pain of sleepers, and they would get all achy.
  • Not Suitable for Light Weight & Side Sleepers
A firm mattress is highly uncomfortable for lightweight and side sleepers . Because of no give, lightweight people barely find any cushioning. Likewise, side sleepers find pressure points created, especially in your joint areas like the hip and shoulders.

Who Are They Best For?

A firm mattress is not for everyone. It works best for
  • Stomach Sleepers
Stomach sleepers are more prone to lower back pain. In this position, your back gets arched as the pelvis sinks into the mattress. Consequently, a strain develops in the lumbar region. A firm mattress with its little give is ideal as it helps maintain a neutral alignment.
  • Plus-Size Sleepers
Both sleep position and body weight are crucial in deciding the firmness of your mattress. For people weighing over 230 pounds, a soft mattress would sink too much due to over-compression.A firm or medium-firm mattress works best as it sinks less and offers the right amount of cushioning required.

What is a Medium Mattress?

A medium mattress is considered ideal as it offers you support as well as a cushion. It is rated 6 - 7 on the firmness scale. Its compression and give are much more than a firm mattress, while its resistance is less. When you lie on a medium mattress, it takes your pressure well and cradles your body with enough support. Its responsiveness is better than a soft mattress and does not sag much.

Benefits Of a Medium Firm Mattress

A medium-firm mattress is considered advantageous for several reasons.
  • Helps Maintain Spinal Alignment
A medium-firm mattress contours to the body’s shape to offer a cushion without sinking. Excess sinking causes spinal misalignment and triggers lower back pain. It offers a perfect balance of cushion and support.
  • Relieves Back Pain
Its proper balance of cushion and support relieves all pressure points of the body and cradles your back to eliminate all back pain issues.
  • Equal Distribution of Weight for Enhanced Comfort
The medium-firm mattress is soft enough to contour every body part but is supportive enough to avoid any sink. It helps in the even distribution of your body weight. This allows better spinal alignment, improves posture and increases your comfort for better sleep.
  • Offers Better Edge Support
Unlike a soft or hard mattress, a medium-firm mattress offers better edge support, making it easy to mount and dismount. A better edge support also makes it more comfortable to sleep. It further enhances your safety.
  • Suitable For All Sizes
Soft mattresses are highly unsuitable for heavier people. Contrary to belief, even firm mattresses are not too comfortable for heavy people. A medium-firm mattress works best for them. Likewise, it works best for almost every weight and every type of sleeper. It even works as a compromise mattress for couples with different firmness preferences.
  • Helps in Temperature Regulation
Like a firm mattress, the medium firm and medium soft mattresses offer minimal sink. It promotes better airflow and helps dissipate the body heat well. Hence, you feel cool and comfortable while sleeping.

Disadvantages Of a Medium Firm Mattress

The medium-firm mattress might have a few disadvantages for some.
  • Not Ideal for Too Light or Too Heavyweight Sleepers
The medium-firm mattress might feel too hard for those who weigh too less. Likewise, for individuals who are extremely heavyweight, it might lack proper support. Hence, they will be uncomfortable while sleeping.
  • Less Durability
Most mattresses last between 7 and 10 years. The medium-firm mattress has better durability than a soft mattress but less life than a firm one.

Who Are They Best For?

A medium-firm mattress is an ideal choice for many like
  • Side Sleepers
Side sleepers need plenty of support and cushioning in the pressure points like the hip and shoulder joints. A medium-firm mattress works best and offers the right kind of support and cushion for sublime comfort.
  • Light and Petite Sleepers
A light and petite person lacks sufficient weight to compress a firm mattress. Likewise, they might not have proper spine alignment in too soft mattresses. A medium-firm mattress offers them the right cushioning and support to sleep comfortably.
  • Medium Heavy Weight Sleepers
People who are heavy but not too much (weight is less than 230 pounds) would benefit from a medium-firm mattress due to its balanced cushioning and support.

Firm vs Medium Mattresses for Back Pain

Contrary to the popular myth that a firm mattress is the best for back pain, we suggest choosing a medium-firm mattress to relieve back pain. While it promotes proper spine alignment, it also contours the body well with adequate cushioning to provide restful sleep. It has adequate give and responsiveness to help in relieving back pain. A firm mattress with little give can provide support but little cushioning. The lack of cushion makes it uncomfortable and facilitates an improper spinal alignment and sleep posture. Hence, a medium mattress is more suitable than a firm mattress for back pain

Try DreamCloud Medium-Firm Hybrid Mattress

By now, we understand that we simply cannot compromise on our mattress choice for health and comfort. Given that, we strongly recommend DreamCloud mattresses. It is an affordable yet luxurious brand that offers high-end mattresses. A few of the hallmark features of the brand are:
  • It specializes in luxury hybrid medium-firm mattresses with an eclectic combination of solid support, soft comfort, and sufficient bounce. Its firmness rating is 7.5/10.
  • Its mattresses are crafted from premium materials like gel-infused memory foam, individually wrapped coils, cashmere blend, etc.
  • Its mattresses are ideal for back sleepers and hot sleepers.
  • The brand offers you three mattress choices based on your budget and preferences- the Original DreamCloud, the DreamCloud Premier, and the DreamCloud Premier Rest.
  • The mattress gives you the feel of a responsive, traditional innerspring for support. Its soft foam inside the mattress and that quilted into its cover offer the right mix of comfort and softness.
All-in-all, it’s a mattress that would easily cater to all types of sleepers. If the mattress feels softer to you, you need not wonder how to make mattress firmer . You can use a mattress topper and adjust it to your personal preference.

Conclusion

Finding the right mattress for optimal sleep is a no-compromise deal. Choosing between a firm and a medium mattress can be the deciding factor between a rejuvenating sleep or tossing and turning through the night. We hope this guide helped you make your choice.Disclaimer: This website does not offer medical advice nor professional medical services; rather, it is provided solely for educational, informational, and/or entertainment purposes. Individuals seeking medical advice should consult a licensed physician. The information provided should not be used for diagnosis or treatment of any condition, disease, or injury. When you have a medical condition, you should always talk to licensed doctor or other certified medical professional. You should never delay seeking professional medical advice or treatment based on the contents of this website. Call 911 or immediately go to the nearest emergency room if you think you may have a medical emergency. The contents of this website are provided "as-is", Dreamcloud Sleep and its parent, subsidiaries, affiliates, employees, contributors disclaim any warranty of the information contained herein. Please contact support@dreamcloud.com to report any errors, omissions, misinformation, or abuse.

Frequently Asked Questions

What firmness do I need if I am a back sleeper? A medium-firm mattress is the best choice for most back sleepers as it cushions all pressure point areas like the lower back, shoulders, and hips. It also provides adequate support and cushion to your spine to create a perfect balance of support and cushion. Do all mattress materials come in all firmness levels? No, all mattress materials do not come in all firmness levels. Each material has its properties and contributes to the overall feel and support of the mattress. For instance, memory foam is known for its cushioning feature, while natural latex is more popular as a hypoallergenic material. How can I make my existing mattress softer or firmer? Investing in a proper mattress topper is the most effortless way to make your existing mattress softer or firmer. Which mattress sleeps cooler, medium, or firm? Mattresses with a softer surface tend to contour more to the body and can trap heat. Hence firm mattresses provide better cooling relief than medium mattresses.
Related ArticlesFirm vs Soft Mattress – Which Do I Need?Plush Vs Medium Mattress: What Is the Difference?The Best Mattress for New ParentsBest Times Of Year To Buy A Mattress in 2022What Is a Plush Mattress?

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