Best Type of Mattress for Each Type of Sleeper

Consider your body type and sleeping position when you are choosing your new mattress. 

The most commonly addressed types of sleepers are:

  • Stomach sleeper
  • Side sleeper
  • Back sleeper
  • Combo sleeper

Matching a mattress to sleeper type isn't cut and dry.

Your comfort needs at night are based on your sleeping position as much as they are based on your lifestyle and body comfort needs. Spinal, hip and leg, and neck and shoulder pains can be caused by many work and lifestyle routines, but having a mattress that addresses them and caters to resolving your pains can make a big difference in your wellbeing.

There are many indicators to suggest when it might be time to replace your old mattress. If you’re experiencing body pain at night or in the morning, tossing and turning, or are feeling less well-rested, a new mattress can help. 

Even the best mattresses begin to lose proper support at the end of their lifespan, so if your current mattress is 8 to 10 years old (or 10 to 20 years old if it's a latex mattress), it’s time to consider an upgrade to improve your quality of sleep.

Sleeping position: How do you sleep?

Sleeping position is the first thing to consider when you’re choosing a new mattress. 

What will benefit you the most?

Stomach sleepers

Stomach sleepers usually rest comfortably in a natural sleeping position if the mattress is medium firm. Body weight, and how much you naturally sink into the mattress plays a part in determining how firm your mattress needs to be to offer comfort and and support for spinal alignment. 

There are many types of mattresses that provide firm and medium firm support, from foam to innerspring, but the sales team would be happy to point you in the right direction by offering well-reviewed options.

Side sleepers

If you prefer to sleep on your side, the wrong mattress can result in back pain. Focus instead on how your mattress supports your hips and lower back. 

Try memory foam mattresses that contour, or hybrid mattresses with a memory foam comfort layer to support pressure points and alleviate hip and lower back pain. 

Back sleepers

Back sleepers need a different support than stomach sleepers. Hip, leg, and lower back comfort is important if you prefer to sleep on your back, and many people choose between a hybrid mattress, memory foam, or gel memory foam to help with spinal alignment. 

Combo sleepers

Many mattresses try to accommodate the “combo sleeper” who may fall asleep in one position but ultimately rotate during sleep. Sleepers of all types require proper support, and hybrid mattress options that incorporate foam comfort layers atop innercoil structure offer best-of-both-worlds comfort for those who might be inclined to change positions at night. 

Adjustable mattresses can also help combo sleepers, whose comfort needs may fluctuate with time, or partners with different sleeping styles.

What mattress type is right for you?

Consider your own sleeping style, and any pain points when you’re shopping for the right mattress. If you experience any discomfort at night or in the morning, you might be able to correct it with a properly supportive mattress. What mattress type is right for you?

Foam

Foam beds are best for side sleepers. 

Though there are firm foam options, foam mattresses are often considered soft mattresses made from polyurethane foam (polyfoam). Softer mattresses like these contain no spring coils, which maximizes how deeply you'll sink into the mattress. The foam is cushioning, making it a comfortable option regardless of body weight. Latex foam mattresses also outlast many innerspring and memory foam options, providing comfort and offering durability for 10 to 20 years.

Memory Foam

Memory foam mattresses are dense and less springy than polyfoam, which offers great support and pressure relief for back and side sleepers. 

The foam itself is contouring to support body weight and provide comfort where you need it most. Memory foam is also the best at limiting motion transfer in a bed, which can help couples get a good night's sleep, even if one partner is tossing and turning.

Gel

Like foam mattresses, gel memory foam mattresses also contain no coils, but unlike traditional memory foam, they offer better body heat regulation for hot sleepers. 

The gel component helps to wick away heat produced by the body to keep the body cooled, without compromising support for side or back sleepers. Gel mattresses are a great solution for hot sleepers who need the support of contouring foam.

Innerspring

Hundreds of pocketed steel coils and thin top layers of foam offer a support system for sleepers who prefer a springier coil mattress. 

Though traditional innerspring mattresses are less common now as technology and material options have evolved, the mattresses are available in many firmness levels, and can be customized further with pillow top mattress and airbed mattress toppers.

Hybrid

Among the most popular mattresses, hybrid mattresses pair innerspring structures with other comfort layers such as foam, latex, fiber fill, or down. 

Hybrid constructions are versatile enough to comfort pressure points and alleviate low back pain, while offering a different firmness than standard foam mattresses.

Does body type or body weight make a difference?

Body type and body weight are both factors in determining which mattress is going to be most comfortable, but for every single person, choosing a mattress is a matter of personal preference. 

A firm mattress can be important to many, regardless of weight, just as memory foam can offer support to those who need it, regardless of body type. The biggest thing to understand is how your body prefers to rest, and choosing a mattress that comforts your pressure points.

Buying a new mattress

As you consider your options and determine what the best type of mattress will be based on your sleeping style and comfort needs, know that the Mancini’s Sleepworld sales team is happy to help answer any questions you have. 

They can help you learn more about well-reviewed bed-in-a-box systems, as well as hybrid mattresses that can benefit sleepers who crave a combo sleep structure for their combo sleep style. 

Determining what construction will be the perfect mattress for you can seem difficult, but you can rest easier knowing that mattress brand warranties and mattress store guarantees are available on most mattresses. 

Whether you’re considering a foam mattress to combat back pain, or one with innerspring construction to provide the comfort you need as a stomach sleeper, take advantage of a trial run, and feel better about the investment you’ve made.

You can get a sense of mattress pricing on the website, but keep in mind that there is a big range in cost for a new mattress based on both the construction, and the overall size. 

Let us know if you have any questions about pricing as you shop for your new bed!