Medium Firm Mattress vs Medium

The most popular mattress firmness levels are medium and medium firm because they both support side and back sleeping (the most common positions).

The golden rule is that side sleepers need a soft surface to squash into, making medium mattresses best, while back sleepers need a firmer surface, making medium firm best.

The significant difference between them is the firmness level – or the amount a mattress sinks under you when you lie on it. This is determined by your body weight and the mattress composition, which are inherently linked.

On a scale of 1-10, with 10 being very firm, medium mattresses are a 6-7, while medium-firm mattresses are a 7.5 to 8.5. This percental difference significantly affects how the mattress feels and responds to your movement.

Medium mattresses

Medium mattresses offer perfectly balanced squishiness and support for most people and support side sleepers best. The surface will compress and mould to the shape of your body with more travel than a medium-firm mattress.

Our point about body weight and firmness stays true here – a medium mattress suits people weighing more than 130 lbs but less than 190 lbs.

As you get towards the heavier end of that weight range, medium mattresses start feeling very soft, and as you get to the lower end, they feel firm.

You should buy a medium mattress if you mostly sleep on your side with occasional back sleeping. The medium mattress will relieve pressure on your side and help to keep your spine in a natural, curved position.

Here are a few medium mattresses to consider:

• Sleepeezee Jessica 1800– a hybrid mattress with 1,800 pocket springs, 3cm of memory foam, and a foam-encapsulated design for edge support.
• Shire Beds Pennine Pillowtop – 1,000 pocket springs and 5cm of memory foam set into a plush pillowtop for pressure-relieving support.
• Giltedge Beds Geneva 3000 – 3,000 pocket springs and 7.5cm of memory gel to keep you cool with body-contouring support.

Medium firm mattress

The difference between a medium firm and medium mattress is night and day, with the medium firm mattress’s top surface compacting down around half that of the medium one, creating the sense of a firmer, more rigid mattress.

This extra firmness is best for back sleepers because it keeps the spine in a natural position without dips or subtle curves towards the hips and pelvis.

Side sleepers can also use a medium-firm mattress, although the lack of travel can give you the sense you are sitting on top of the mattress.

We recommend a medium firm mattress if you weigh more than 150 lbs up to 200 lbs and sleep on your back. The additional support will provide a comfortable sleep surface.

It’s crucial to note that firmness is relative – the heavier you are, the softer a mattress feels, so you should err on the firmer side when you are heavy.

Here are a few medium-firm mattresses to consider:

• Sleepeezee Wool Supreme – a plush pillowtop mattress with natural, eco-friendly filings and 2,400 pocket springs for zoned support.
• Giltedge Beds Asteria – a temperature-sensitive memory gel mattress with 2,000 pocket springs and hypoallergenic materials.
• Silentnight Mirapocket Eminence – 1,000 pocket springs, generous memory foam, and a tufted outer cover for supreme comfort.

Summing up

Choose a medium mattress if you weigh less than 190 lbs and sleep primarily on your side, with back sleeping as a secondary position.

Choose a medium firm mattress if you weigh up to 200 lbs and sleep primarily on your back, with side sleeping as a secondary position.

If you weigh less than 140 lbs, consider a medium-soft mattress, and if you weigh more than 200 lbs, consider a firm mattress.

Remember that mattress firmness is relative, so the lighter you are, the firmer a mattress feels – this is important when considering your partner’s comfort. Try to strike a balance so that everyone is comfortable.

Related pages

• The Definitive Advice Guide to UK Bed Sizes
• Top 5 Mattresses for Heat Retention, Helping you Keep Warm