I think you will agree with me when I say that choosing the right mattress is no easy task? First, you have to dispose of your old one and then go through a tedious process of selecting a new bed that will serve you well for years to come. And having a couple dozen options, manufacturers and handful types and materials doesn’t help, does it? Luckily for you, you can find out exactly how to pick a new mattress and learn important things to consider.

Do you need a new Mattress?
Budget
Type and Material
Your Sleeping Position
Sleeper's Weight

Step 1: Need A New Mattress?

Many people change their beds after just a few years, and that’s perfectly fine if you can afford it. The fact is, it’s not a small investment, so take a moment to determine if you really need a new bed. Generally, after about seven years you will most likely need a new mattress. Of course, it depends on the quality and material (we will cover the types and materials later in this article). And if you feel back or neck pain it might, your bedding is a good place to start. Here is the average mattress lifespan in years based on material and type:

Step 2: Budget

A bit of personal backstory here (from Greg Jaron)…I have spent many years touring bedding factories. I have sold almost every major brand of bedding in the 26 years I have been in business. Here is the industry secret no one wants you to know….most of the cost of a mattress is in the brand name or marketing to build a brand name, think Serta, Simmons or Casper. Manufacturing a bed is a relatively simple thing to do, but creating a desire to purchase a brand name bed is costly and difficult. Jarons has stripped all of these costs out of our mattresses and we build our beds. I can’t offer you a fancy brand but I can jarontee you a great night sleep on a bed built with the same ingredients, built in the same factories without the expensive brand name label.

Here are some guidelines for you:

Don't always go with the cheapest option you find — This is a rule of thumb for most products you buy. Think of it this way if you spend 8 years sleeping on a $1000 mattress it only costs .34 cents per day. Way less than your daily Wawa or Starbucks coffee. After all you spend about 8 hours every day sleeping (or at least you wish you did)
Higher Price means Higher Quality — I bet you know this one, but it’s worth mentioning. As the price goes up, there are more and better quality ingredients added to the mattress, it's that simple.
How much should I spend? — Be honest with yourself, remember its an investment over time. You don’t need to spend a fortune on a bed, but remember you get what you pay for and you will be using this for years. Here is what I tell my friends….I wouldn’t spend less than $799 on a queen bed that I was going to sleep on every night..thats only $100 per year.
Now that you have your new budget set, I’m guessing you are asking yourself “what type of mattress is best for me?” Let’s dig in.

Step 3: Choose Your Ideal Type and Material

Ok, don’t get too hung up, its mostly personal preference rather than anything else. Here are the most common options you will find these days.

Innerspring (Coils)

This is the most traditional form of the mattress and still best selling. It is important to understand the potential benefits you could receive from going the traditional route. An obvious pro to purchasing a bed with springs is that it is one of the most affordable options on the market. Another consideration is that these mattresses are known to last. Spring beds are exceedingly durable. Being that the springs are typically made from different types of metals, they tend to keep their shape for many years. Additionally, being that they are the most traditional style, they are also the most familiar. People recognize and understand what they are getting when they purchase a bed with springs. There is no guess work with this option like there may be with memory foam or other newer options. The last notable advantage to this style of bed is that, because of the amount of space located between the springs, this option allows for the most circulation of air. This flow helps to keep the temperature down, allowing for a cooler night’s sleep.

Example of the coil mattresses structure:

Ideal for: People who want strong support, durability, cooling and great bounce. It also has excellent edge support.

Memory Foam

Memory foam was first developed in the 1970s by NASA as a safety material for seat cushions to protect pilots and passengers during plane crashes. Since then, the material has blossomed into the burgeoning product employed by virtually every mattress maker.

Example of the memory foam bed structure:

Why has it become so popular? The answer is that it is said to provide superior comfort and support for the entire body. Anyone who’s pressed their hand into this material immediately understands its appeal. Memory foam uniquely conforms to every inch of the body that is pressed into it. When you lift your body from the material, it slowly regains its original form, essentially making it perfect for every body type and every sleeper. Another unique property of memory foam is its motion isolation capabilities. You may have seen those commercials with a lady jumping on a mattress with a glass of wine at the other end. Miraculously, the wine doesn’t spill. This translates to less disturbance from a partner, because the tossing and turning of one does not affect the other. One of the most common issues that people experience is that the material retains heat. Some beds today have cool gel memory foam, but generally all memory foams respond to body heat.

Ideal For: People who want body shaping, contour, pressure relief and good support.

Hybrid

The hybrid mattress is an unusual combination of both traditional spring and memory foam. Providing the best of both worlds, this option offers the contouring and lack of motion transfer of foam coupled with the support of springs.

Structure of the hybrid bed — example:

The term “hybrid” is very loosely used to describe the combination we just mentioned. However, the amount of foam for these beds varies widely depending on the level of firmness desired.

Good For: People who want best all around product with good support, bounce, cooling and pressure relief.

And now the three less common but still important types:

Adjustable

These beds offer a unique ability to change the sleeping position based on your preference. You can elevate the head or feet giving you more options than traditional products. These beds provide extra comfort for people suffering from chronic lumbar pain or just want to be slightly elevated to prevent snoring.

Perfect for: People with certain medical conditions like snoring and circulation issues, tv watches, older sleepers and people with lower back pain.

Pillow-Top

These are usually coil, latex or memory foam beds but have a layer of soft material sewn into the cover to make it more comfortable. These are also considered more luxurious and can cost a bit more than standard options. These beds tend to hold a bit of body impression, due to the softer materials being placed nearest to the sleep surface.

Good for: People who prefer more padding and softer feel.

Step 4. Determine your Ideal Sleeping Position and Firmness

Most of us have a unique way of sleeping every night. No matter if you sleep on your side, stomach or back, or even if you switch throughout the night you will have to consider and choose the ideal type of bed based on your preference. So, take a moment and think, what position do you sleep in? This will help determine the ideal firmness of your new bed.

Back

The most important factor for back sleepers is firmness and support. If your mattress is too soft, your body will sink and cause back pain. You will need one that’s soft enough to provide pressure relief but still provides enough support. On a scale of 1-10, the perfect range would be 5-7.

According to The Better Sleep Council, only roughly 15% of people are back sleepers. Being that you are unique, it’ll take a special mattress to offer you the night’s rest you are seeking.

It’s the consensus that memory foam mattresses provide the highest level of comfort for people who sleep on their backs. This is because it provides adequate contouring to the spine while maintaining a longevity of proper support and structure.

Side

Many people who often sleep on their sides, endure discomfort and pain in their hip joints and shoulders.It’s usually due to unsuitable bedding. It’s advised that you go with a bit softer option than for a back sleeper as these provide for an equal distribution of pressure while you’re sleeping on your side. Ideally, you want to choose a mattress with a firmness level of 3-6 (out of 10) which falls under medium soft.

Stomach

This is considered the worst sleeping position. The most important thing for stomach sleepers is to provide equal distribution of weight across your entire body as your torso will apply most pressure. If the mattress is too soft (not enough support) your spine will curve causing back pain. You will want to look for something in 5-7 range, which falls under medium to medium-firm. The good thing is that most options are in this range.

Step 5. Consider your Weight as a Factor

On first glance, you might be asking yourself, what does weight have to do with choosing a mattress? The truth is, support, hug, feel, sinkage and even cooling will depend on your body type and weight. Another harsh truth is that there is no “best” mattress for every one of us.

Let’s take a look at the following guidelines how to choose an ideal firmness level based on your weight:

Light (Less than 150 pounds) — You will want a medium firm bed around 5-6 firmness that doesn’t sink too much. If you are lighter than 150 lbs, you can even go with four since most beds are rated for average sleeper of 180lbs. If you want a softer feel or if you are a side sleeper you can opt for 3-4 firmness range. These are soft or plush options.
Average (150-200 pounds) — Like with the previous category you can choose industry standard of 5-7, providing perfect support and comfort. Some sleepers will want to opt for more softer beds, and that’s perfectly fine, just go with 3-5 range if you sleep on your side and you are all set.
Heavier Person (200+ pounds) — Heavier people can cause more pressure points on their back, and ideally you want to choose a firmer option to adjust for sinkage. If you are having problems with cooling, you ought to consider coil mattresses. Ideally, choose a thick (12”) or thicker bed. This will provide good support and soft feel.

How to Select the Right Mattress for You — Summary

Hopefully, you have finished reading the above but even if you haven’t these five steps will ease your task of choosing a mattress for you or your family.

Do you need a new mattress? — If your current bed is over eight years old, I’d consider replacing it no matter what. If you are having trouble sleeping or experiencing back or neck pain I would start searching.
What is your current budget? — Don’t go with the cheapest option you find. Aim for $700-1200 range for a standard queen size bed. Of course, if you are buying smaller ones for your kid or teenager, the price will be considerably lower. Don’t spend less than $400 though. The quality drop-off is huge.
What are your ideal type and material? — This is hands down the biggest challenge. Memory foam offers good contour and hugs. Traditional coil ones provide good bounce and cooling and are generally more durable. Foam or hybrid are good for most people except for heavier sleepers who should opt for innerspring.
What’s your preferred sleeping position? — This determines your ideal firmness level. On a scale of 1-10 (one being soft and ten being very firm), back sleepers will want to opt for a medium firm (4-7), side sleepers for more softer option (3-5) and stomach sleepers will need more support to avoid sinking (6-7 range).
What’s your body type and weight? — Lighter sleepers (150lbs or less) will want a 1-2 points softer mattress to get the same feel like an average (180lbs) person. On the other hand, if you are a heavier person you will need more support and thicker mattress to support the weight.

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How To Choose a Mattress in 5 Easy Steps – The Definitive Guide