How to Choose a Mattress for How You Sleep

The right mattress depends less on price or brand and more on how you sleep. Your favourite sleeping position, your body weight and whether you share the bed all change what feels comfortable and supportive. This guide walks you through each one so you can narrow down your choice with confidence.

Start with your sleeping position

Most of us have a position we fall asleep in. A good mattress keeps your spine in a natural line in that position, with enough cushioning where your body presses into it.

Side sleepers

Your shoulders and hips take most of your weight, so you need a mattress that lets them sink in slightly. A soft to medium feel usually works best. Look for comfort layers such as memory foam or a pillow top, which cushion pressure points while the springs underneath keep you supported.

Back sleepers

You need support in the lower back so it doesn't sag, with a little give for your shoulders. A medium to medium-firm mattress is the most popular choice. Pocket sprung mattresses are a good fit, because each spring responds to the weight above it.

Front sleepers

Sleeping on your front can let your hips sink too far, which arches the lower back. A medium-firm to firm mattress keeps your body flatter and better aligned. Avoid very deep, soft comfort layers.

Combination sleepers

If you change position through the night, choose a medium, responsive mattress that makes it easy to turn over. Pocket springs, or pocket springs topped with a thin layer of foam, adjust quickly as you move.

Think about your body weight

Firmness feels different depending on your weight. A mattress described as medium will feel firmer to a lighter person and softer to a heavier person. As a general guide, lighter sleepers often prefer a softer feel, while heavier sleepers usually get better support from a firmer mattress with a higher pocket spring count.

Sharing the bed?

• Choose pocket springs to reduce partner disturbance. Each spring moves on its own, so you feel less movement when your partner turns over or gets up.
• Want flexibility? A zip and link bed is two halves joined as one bed, so it can become two single beds later.
• Size up if you can. More width means less disturbance. See our UK bed and mattress sizes guide.

Know the main mattress types

• Pocket sprung: individually wrapped springs that support each part of the body separately. Our guide to pocket spring counts explains what the numbers mean.
• Memory foam: moulds to your shape and relieves pressure, popular with side sleepers. Read why memory foam is worth considering.
• Pocket and memory foam combined: the support of springs with the comfort of foam on top, a good all-round choice.
• Natural fillings: materials such as wool and cotton are breathable and help regulate temperature. Find out more about handmade natural mattresses.

Get the size right

Measure your bedroom before you choose. Leave room to walk around the bed and to open doors, wardrobes, drawers or an ottoman base. If you have the space, going up a size gives you more room to sleep, but a bed that's too big for the room soon feels cramped. Our UK bed and mattress sizes guide lists every size in feet and centimetres.

Choose a bed to go with it

• Divan beds are a popular all-round choice, with a sturdy base and optional storage drawers.
• Ottoman beds lift up to reveal a large storage space underneath for bedding, clothes and anything else you want out of sight.
• Wooden beds, metal beds and fabric beds let you match the bed to the style of your room.

Quality is worth it

You'll use your mattress every night for years, so better fillings and construction are usually money well spent. The cheapest mattress can lose its comfort sooner and need replacing earlier.

Check the comfort rating

Firmness isn't the same across every brand, so use more than one guide. Each mattress on our website shows its firmness on a comfort scale, along with the sleeping positions it suits best.

Once your new mattress arrives

• Give it a few weeks. Your body needs time to adjust, especially if the new mattress is firmer or softer than your old one.
• Use a mattress protector. It keeps sweat, dust and spills out, so the mattress stays fresh and hygienic.
• Keep it fresh. Air it when you change the sheets and rotate it with the seasons. Our guide to caring for your mattress has the full routine.

Try before you buy

Nothing beats lying on a mattress in your usual sleeping position for a few minutes. Visit one of our factory shops to try different feels side by side, or browse our mattresses online with free delivery.

If you have ongoing back, neck or joint pain, it's worth speaking to your GP or a physiotherapist about what kind of support suits you best.