How to Choose a Mattress: 6 Easy Steps for Better Sleep

To choose a mattress, start with the size that fits your room and the number of people in the bed. Then pick a firmness that keeps your spine in a straight line (good spine alignment) in the way you usually sleep. Last, lie on it in the store for at least ten minutes before you pay.

Get those three right and the brand name matters much less. Here is how to choose a mattress step by step. You will also see what the law label tells you and what to do if you share the bed.

Step 1: Pick the right size

Size is the easiest place to start, and the easiest place to go wrong. The Better Sleep Council is an education group sponsored by the International Sleep Products Association. It says buying a mattress that is too small is one of the biggest mistakes new buyers make ^[1].

Sizes are from the Better Sleep Council ^[1].

Two things in that table surprise people. A full is only 53 inches wide, so two adults get about 27 inches each. That is roughly the width of a baby’s crib ^[1]. A queen gives each person 30 inches, and a king gives 38 inches each, the same as sleeping alone on a twin ^[1].

Before you choose a mattress size, measure your room. Leave space to walk around the bed and open drawers. Then measure the doors, halls and stairs it has to pass through on the way in. A king that cannot get up the stairs is no bargain.

Step 2: Find the firmness that keeps your spine straight

Firmness is how hard or soft the mattress feels. It takes the most care when you choose a mattress. Labels use words like plush, medium and firm, but one brand’s “firm” may feel different from another’s. That is why lying on it beats reading about it.

What you are looking for is simple: your spine should stay in a fairly straight line. A review of 39 studies found that a medium-firm mattress came out ahead for comfort, sleep quality and spine alignment ^[3]. One study in that review looked at the spine’s natural curve. The mattress that kept it closest to how it looks when you stand came out on top ^[3].

That does not mean medium-firm is right for every body. It is a good place to start. Use these quick tests in the store:

• Side sleepers: Lie on your side. Your shoulder and hip should sink in a little, so your spine looks level from head to hips. A jammed shoulder or a numb arm means it is too firm for you.
• Back sleepers: Lie flat and slide your hand under the small of your back. It should fit with a little pressure. A big gap means it is too firm. No room at all means it is too soft.
• Stomach sleepers: Your hips should not sink below your shoulders. A lower back that starts to arch means you need something firmer.
• Restless sleepers: Roll over a few times. It should be easy to move, not like climbing out of a hole.

Body weight changes the feel too. A heavier person may sink further into the same mattress, so it can feel softer to them than to a lighter person. If two people share the bed, both should do these tests.

Back pain or a health condition? Talk to your doctor about what to look for. A mattress can help you feel more comfortable, but it is not a medical treatment.

Step 3: Know the main mattress types

When you choose a mattress, you will see a few main types. Each one feels different:

No type is right for everyone. Try at least two kinds side by side so you can feel the difference.

Step 4: Read the law label

Every mattress sold in the U.S. has to pass two federal fire tests. One checks how it holds up against a lit cigarette. The other checks how big a fire it makes when it meets an open flame ^[2]. The CPSC, the federal agency for product safety, says the goal is to cut deaths and injuries from mattress fires ^[2].

Each mattress must also have a label that stays on for good. It shows the month and year the mattress was made, and where ^[2]. That label is useful when you shop, because it shows when the mattress was made. Take a look at it before you choose a mattress, especially at an outlet where stock comes from many places.

You may also see the words “mattress set”. Under federal rules, a set can mean a mattress and its foundation (the base under it) sold together. It can also mean a mattress that the maker says is sold on its own, with no base ^[2]. Ask the store what is included in the set you are looking at.

Step 5: Test it in the store

Some mattress sellers let you try a bed at home and send it back. Many outlet stores do not. At Nedsdag’s, the store terms say: “All purchases are final unless otherwise stated in writing at the time of sale” (read the store terms). So do your testing in the store, because you cannot try it at home first.

Here is a simple ten-minute test:

1. Wear comfortable clothes and shoes you can slip off.
2. Lie down in the position you sleep in most. Stay there for at least five minutes.
3. Do the spine check for your position from Step 2.
4. Roll over and sit on the edge. The edge should hold you up, not sag much.
5. Sharing the bed? Lie down together. Have one person roll over and see if the other feels it.
6. Check the law label for the date it was made.

Step 6: Plan how you will pay and get it home

Set a budget before you choose a mattress. Then list what you need beyond the mattress: a base or box spring, a frame, a protector and sheets in the right size. A California king, for example, needs its own sheets. Regular king sheets will not fit ^[1].

Then plan the trip home. A queen or king is big, so bring a truck or van and a helper. At Nedsdag’s, delivery fees are quoted separately and paid before delivery is booked. Taking it yourself? The store terms say you are responsible for loading and moving it.

Need a frame or other furniture too? Our guide on how to check used furniture before buying covers what to look at.

Common mistakes to avoid

Watch for these slips, especially if you are in a hurry.

• Buying too small. One of the biggest, according to the Better Sleep Council ^[1]. Couples on a full often have less room than they think.
• Testing for one minute. Lie down long enough to settle in.
• Choosing by the name on the tag. A fancy name tells you little about how it feels. Your own test is what counts.
• Forgetting the base. Ask what the mattress needs underneath and whether it is part of the set.
• Skipping the label. It shows the month and year the mattress was made ^[2].

How Nedsdag’s can help

Nedsdag’s Bargain Outlet sells affordable new mattress sets, along with furniture and appliances, in the Edgewood area of Jacksonville. The store invites you to touch, test and look over every item in person before you buy. It is the way a mattress should be bought.

Plan a visit to the store at 3118 Edgewood Ave W, Unit 201, and give yourself time to try a few. Financing is available on most products in the store through outside partners. You can read about the financing options before you go.

Frequently asked questions

What firmness should I choose if I am not sure?

Medium-firm is a sensible place to start when you choose a mattress and feel unsure. A review of 39 studies found it came out ahead for comfort, sleep quality and spine alignment ^[3]. Then adjust after you test it lying in your usual sleep position.

What size mattress works for a couple?

A queen is the most popular size, and each person gets 30 inches of width ^[1]. Each person still has 8 inches less than when sleeping alone on a twin ^[1]. A king gives each person 38 inches, the same as a twin ^[1].

How long should I lie on a mattress in the store?

To choose a mattress with confidence, give it at least five minutes in the position you sleep in most. Then spend a few minutes rolling around and sitting on the edge. Ten minutes in total is a good rule.

Sources

1. Mattress Sizes, Better Sleep Council: mattress sizes, space per person, the too-small mistake, California king sheets
2. Mattresses, Mattress Pads, & Mattress Sets FAQ, US Consumer Product Safety Commission: the two federal fire standards, the date label, what a mattress set is
3. What type of mattress should be chosen to avoid back pain and improve sleep quality? Review of the literature (2021), PMC: medium-firm mattresses and comfort, sleep quality and spine alignment