Does mattress thickness matter? How thick should a mattress be? It depends on what materials are used in the manufacturing process. A mattress’s thickness impacts how it feels, although greater thickness doesn’t necessarily translate to more comfort or support.
The big determiner of a mattress’s thickness is what materials are used in manufacture. Spring mattresses are usually thicker than pure foam mattresses to accommodate the springs. In this instance, a thinner foam mattress is no bad thing.
Ultimately, the firmness of a mattress, not the thickness, matters. However, the thicker a mattress is, the plusher the experience can be. More layers translate to more cushioning and support.
Also, what a mattress is made of affects how it feels. While you lie on top of a sprung mattress, you squish into a foam mattress. When shopping for a mattress, consider how it feels and the firmness you need for how you sleep.
Sprung mattress thickness
Sprung mattresses have a spring support system with comfort layers on top, so they are usually thicker than memory foam mattresses.
There is no universal rule to mattress thickness, although most sleeping experts agree that 23cm is the minimum for a sprung mattress.
Why 23cm? Because it is sufficient for multiple layers of foam and springs. Sprung mattresses under 23cm have to compromise on comfort layers, and the springs take up most of the space, leaving little room for other layers.
There’s no discernible difference in thickness between pocket sprung and open coil mattresses. 23cm to 30cm is the norm for both sprung systems, with the higher bracket dominated mainly by pocket sprung mattresses.
Foam mattress thickness
The softer a foam mattress is, the thicker it is because the only way to be soft and supportive is with more thickness. After all, there are no springs.
For firm foam mattresses, 15cm is the minimum thickness to be considered in this scenario. 15cm is sufficient for multiple layers of reflex foam, soft foam, and memory foam.
Why 15cm? Because anything less is akin to a toddler mattress. 15cm is sufficient for heavy people to sleep on, providing the mattress has a firm feel.
For soft to medium foam mattresses, 25cm is the minimum. 25cm is sufficient for the foam to compress without reaching its maximum load.
Foam mattresses are thinner than sprung mattresses because there are no springs to accommodate them. On average, springs make up 30% of a sprung mattress’s thickness, so foam mattresses are 30% thinner.
Hybrid mattress thickness
Hybrid mattresses have springs and foam as thick as sprung mattresses, although luxury varieties are thicker with more layers.
Hybrid mattresses are typically 25cm to 35cm thick. The spring system differs from that in sprung mattresses in that it is thinner and more compact.
The thickness of a hybrid mattress comes from foam, not springs, and this is essential for ‘mattress in a box’ brands since foam can roll up and be more compact than a sprung mattress. If you look at hybrid mattresses, most have a 20-80% springs-foam ratio.
Luxury hybrids up to 35cm thick have very thick layers of foam and sometimes more than one row of springs stacked on top of one another.
Is it better to have a thicker mattress?
A thicker mattress potentially offers more comfort and support, but the type of materials and the quality and makeup of the layers matter just as much. Ultimately, you can get a 15cm foam mattress that is nicer than a 25cm foam mattress simply because the thinner mattress has a superior layered system.
Do thicker mattresses last longer?
With a sprung mattress, the overall thickness doesn’t determine how long it lasts, but the thickness of the base layer does. Mattresses with a thicker base layer last longer because the base layer is responsible for the structure of the mattress. When the base layer fails, a mattress will sag underneath where the base layer fails.
With a foam mattress, thicker layers translate to less stress across the bed, improving longevity. Thinner foam mattresses are more prone to wear, although it’s unlikely you will notice a difference between 15cm and 25cm.