Memory Foam Mattress Buying Guide

Innerspring beds used to be the go-to mattress choice until memory foam rose in popularity in the late 90s. Unlike innersprings, memory foam provides better pressure relief. Heat and pressure causes memory foam to soften and form to the body’s natural curves, relieving pressure points and reducing pain. Plus, memory foam doesn’t lose its shape and maintains support, making it a great mattress option for a better night’s sleep.

But how can you find the best memory foam mattress? Knowing what’s inside a memory foam bed can help you understand the benefits and drawbacks of sleeping on memory foam.

How to Buy the Best Memory Foam Mattress

To find the best memory foam mattress, don’t pick whatever model is most popular. Instead, choose a memory foam mattress based on your sleeping position and body weight. Why? Sleeping position and body weight help determine the ideal level of cushioning, support, and firmness you’ll need to sleep comfortably.

Also, take a look at other factors like foam quality and mattress thickness when selecting the best mattress. These elements can help you pinpoint a high-quality memory foam mattress that will last.

Quality

To determine how long a memory foam mattress will last, take a look at foam quality, or specifically, density and ILD rating. Density refers to how much foam a layer contains, while the ILD rating measures a foam’s firmness level. While some companies may not advertise a memory foam model’s ILD rating, it’s still worth knowing. If a memory foam mattress has foam layers with low ILD ratings, it’s a sign of a cheap bed and may break down within a year of use.

Density

Density is measured in pounds per cubic square foot (PCF). Measurement varies slightly between memory foam and poly-foam—PCF for poly-foam is slightly lower than memory foam. A foam’s density can determine how well the mattress supports the body.

Memory Foam:

• Low: 2.5 PCF to 3.9 PCF
• Medium: 4.0 PCF to 5.4 PCF
• High: 5.5 PCF and higher

Poly-foam:

• Low: 1.8 PCF and lower
• Medium: 1.8 PCF to 2.5 PCF
• High: 2.5 PCF and higher

Density refers to the weight found in one cubic foot of foam. Low-density foams are more breathable and lightweight, but they’re less durable than high-density foams. High-density foams better contour to the body, but may restrict airflow. High-density foams may cost more than low-density foams, but high-density foams are less likely to break down over time compared to low-density foam.

ILD Rating

ILD stands for “Indentation Load Deflection.” ILD determines how soft or firm a foam layer is. To find the ILD rating, mattress manufacturers measure how much pressure it takes to make a 4-inch indentation on the surface. The higher the rating, the firmer the mattress, and the lower the rating, the softer the mattress.

• Extremely soft: 8 to 10
• Very soft: 11 to 15
• Soft: 16 to 21

Most memory foam mattresses have a comfort layer with an ILD rating between 8 and 20. A long-lasting comfort layer should have at least a 10 ILD rating. A rating less than a 10 may be too soft and cause you to feel trapped inside the mattress.

Mattress Thickness

Mattress thickness may affect how long a bed will last, especially if you’re a plus-size sleeper. More body weight needs more support—a thin mattress won’t have enough layers to support a heavier body. Most memory foam mattresses are between 6-14 inches thick. While 6 to 8-inch beds are a great choice for small children, they’re not a good choice for adults.

A 10 to 12-inch mattress is an excellent choice for adult sleepers. This height means the comfort layers should be at least 2 inches thick and have a 6-inch support base. This thickness range provides your body with the right support. Beds thinner than 10 inches could lead to premature sagging and lose their support.

Budget

You don’t have to break the bank for high quality. Many memory foam mattress companies provide excellent, long-lasting models under $2000. Bed in a box mattress brands might be the way to go since they offer quality beds at a fair price.

Bed-in-a-box brands feature memory foam mattresses that are compressed, rolled up, and delivered to your door inside a cardboard box for your convenience. Because they don’t have to pay extra fees for storage or commission, and instead, sell directly to the customer, bed in a box brands can afford to use higher-quality materials inside their mattresses. Plus, since models are often only available online, these mattresses come with extended sleep trials and warranties.

You can score a high-quality memory foam mattress for around $1000 for a queen size with a 100-night sleep trial and a standard 10-year warranty. Other mattress companies may charge more, and instead of a sleep trial, offer a limited return policy of 30 days at most.

Sleeping Position

Sleeping position is one factor that determines the right firmness in a memory foam mattress. Your body leaves a space between you and the mattress in each sleeping position. Memory foam fills in this gap through contouring, but the specific firmness level you’ll enjoy does depend on your sleeping position(s).

Side Sleeping

Memory foam’s conforming ability relieves pressure points. For side sleepers, lying on your side causes pressure to build up in the shoulders and hips. The best memory foam mattress that relieves pressure in these areas would be a softer model, making soft to medium memory foam beds the best mattresses for side sleepers.

Back Sleeping

The best memory foam mattress for back sleepers is one that’s firmer. That’s because a firm or medium-firm memory foam bed can help back sleepers maintain neutral spine alignment while providing enhanced lumbar support. Memory foam forms to the body and keeps its shape without losing support, preventing the hips from sinking too deep. A medium to firm surface is the ideal firmness back sleepers need for all-night comfort.

Stomach Sleeping

Stomach sleeping is the least healthy position because of the intense pressure placed on the spine from gravity. This pressure may cause back pain, but a medium-firm to firm memory foam mattress can help. Firmer memory foam maintains even support and keeps the body resting on top of the mattress without sinking too deeply.

Combination Sleeping

Combination sleepers toss and turn, regularly switching sleeping positions. Because of their constant movement, a medium to medium-firm memory foam mattress is the perfect option. This type of firmness automatically adjusts to each sleeping position, while providing a nice balance of comfort and support. A medium to medium-firm feel also maintains spinal alignment, no matter the sleeping position.

Body Weight

Body weight may also influence the type of firmness you need. Body weight is divided into three groups—lightweight, average, and plus-size. Each weight group needs a specific type of firmness for the best comfort. A too-soft or too-firm bed could create pressure points and lack support.

For example, a lightweight sleeper needs a softer surface to allow their body to sink in for pressure relief. Otherwise, a firm mattress may cause the spine to arch, and could create more pressure points.

Lightweight sleepers don’t weigh that much, about 130 pounds or less, and as a result, may receive little to no contouring. Your body needs to slightly sink into a memory foam mattress for pressure relief, otherwise your spine won’t align and you may have a hard time falling asleep.

Softer memory foam mattresses are able to provide a better contour to side sleepers. The plush surface can better cushion the shoulders and hips, reducing painful pressure points.

In contrast, a soft mattress lacks support for a plus-size sleeper, or those who weigh more than 230 pounds. Because plus-size sleepers have more weight, they need a firmer memory foam mattress for enhanced support. This type of surface also provides plenty of cushion, but without the risk of sagging.

Average weight sleepers weigh between 130 to 230 pounds. A medium surface is the best option for a memory foam mattress because it provides a nice balance between comfort and support—not too hard and not too soft. A memory foam bed that’s softer or firmer than a medium may cause pressure build-up in the shoulders and hips.

Sleep Trials and Warranties

Sleep trials and warranties are reassurances to the customer of a quality memory foam mattress. These are also designed to help a customer find the right bed. After all, memory foam mattresses are an investment, and you want to make sure you can enjoy your investment for years to come.

Sleep Trial

A sleep trial allows you to try a new memory foam mattress in the comfort of your home without pressure from salesmen. Most sleep trials last 90 to 120 nights—some mattress companies require customers to keep the bed at least 30 days, allowing the body to adjust to a new sleep surface.

If you don’t like your mattress, most companies will arrange to pick up and donate or recycle it before issuing a full refund. If a new bed doesn’t come with a sleep trial, take a look at the return policy.

A return policy is a good substitute for a sleep trial, though it’s not as long. Return policies last only 30 days, but you can return the memory foam mattress for a refund during this period.

Warranty

A warranty protects the memory foam mattress from sagging greater than 1 inch (measurement depends on the brand) and manufacturing defects. Most beds come with a standard 10-year warranty—some mattresses may come with longer warranties, stretching 20 or 25 years. Warranties only apply to the original purchaser and can’t be transferred.

Beware of Cheap Memory Foam Beds

You may feel like you’re getting a great deal, but the truth is, memory foam mattresses that cost less than $300 are most likely poorly constructed and made of cheap materials.

Strong Off-Gassing Odor

Memory foam beds may give off a chemical smell known as “off-gassing.” The scent should fade after a few hours once removed from the packaging, but cheaper memory foam may produce a stronger odor that could last for days. This strong smell may lead to headaches and possible allergic reactions.

Breaks Down Within A Year

After a year of regular use, you may notice a visible sag in the middle of your mattress. Cheap beds have poor-quality materials—they tend to break down quickly, giving you no support and a sagging or lumpy surface.

Loose or Broken Seams

Take a look at the seams—if the threads look like they’re about to break or if they’re loose, it could be a sign of a poor-quality bed.

A Thin Mattress

Mattresses thinner than 8 inches don’t have enough support to last more than a few years. While a thinner mattress might be a good idea for a small child, adults need a thicker bed to support their weight without bowing out.

Low-Density Foams

Memory foam mattresses that only contain low-density foams have a larger risk of sagging. Foam layers with lower densities contain less material and tend to break down within a year or two of use.

FAQs

What is memory foam?

Memory foam, or viscoelastic foam, is a polyurethane foam treated with chemicals to create more viscosity, or its ability to change and hold its shape under pressure. Heat and pressure from sitting or lying down causes memory foam to conform to the body, relieving pressure points.

Memory foam is a popular mattress material because it reduces aches and pains by forming to your body’s natural curves. It also provides excellent motion isolation, so you won’t feel your sleep partner’s movement. In contrast, innerspring mattresses are bouncy and have very little motion isolation—you can easily feel any movement which can wake you up at night.

Memory foam’s dense structure restricts air circulation, trapping heat. Heat builds up and may wake you, making it harder to fall back asleep.

Another drawback to memory foam is off-gassing. Off-gassing is a chemical smell memory foam gives off temporarily.

Are there different types of memory foam?

Yes, the most common being traditional memory foam, gel memory foam, and plant-based memory foam. While traditional memory foam doesn’t include cooling materials, it does have open-cell technology to provide some airflow inside the mattress. Traditional memory foam may retain more heat compared to other mattress types. Innersprings, for example, have an open structure, so there’s more air circulation inside the bed. If you’re a hot sleeper, a memory foam mattress with cooling materials may provide a more comfortable sleep experience and reduce the risk of overheating.

Gel

Gel-infused memory foam is designed to absorb and disperse body heat. During the foam manufacturing process, cooling gel or gel beads are added to the foam. Gel memory foam has the same contouring feel as traditional memory foam.

Despite cooling abilities, gel memory foam mattresses can only absorb and disperse so much heat before they start to retain it.

Some manufacturers infuse gel memory foam with copper or graphite. These materials are natural heat conductors. When infused with memory foam, copper and graphite pulls heat away from the body. Plus, copper is antimicrobial.

Plant-Based

Manufacturers partially replace petroleum with plant-based oils like castor oil. Plant-based memory foam contains plant oils, giving it a breathable and responsive structure. This memory foam conforms to the body, but sleepers won’t feel trapped because plant-based memory foam has a higher response rate, so it adjusts to shifting weight and prevents deep sinkage.

Using plant oil and less petroleum means less off-gassing odor, an excellent option if you’re sensitive to smells.

How many layers does a memory foam mattress have?

A typical memory foam mattress contains one to two comfort layers and a support foam layer. Mattress models may contain more layers, depending on the brand. Keep in mind that memory foam mattresses with more layers may drive up the price because more material costs more.

Comfort Layer

Memory foam mattresses feature contouring, pressure-relieving memory foam in the comfort layer(s). The comfort layer has direct contact with your body so it adapts to your movement, evenly distributes body weight, and alleviates aches and pains.

Transition Layer

The transition layer prevents your body from sinking too deeply, encouraging spinal alignment. The transition layer may include zoned support technology, relieving more pressure in heavier sections of your body (the shoulders and hips). The transition layer is usually poly-foam (polyurethane foam).

Support Layer

A sturdy, durable foam can be found in the support layer. This material is designed to distribute your weight across the sleep surface for even support. The base foam is built to last, for consistent support with little risk of sagging.

Should you use a box spring with a memory foam mattress?

Memory foam mattresses don’t need box springs. They provide better support from a solid or slatted base. A box spring won’t provide the right support—memory foam mattresses are heavy, and when placed on a box spring, the coils flex, causing the bed to sag.

Can you flip a memory foam mattress?

Most memory foam beds are created as a single structural unit. They should not be flipped since this could damage the foam layers. But, memory foam beds may need to be rotated every six months to even out wear and tear.

The exception to this rule is if the memory foam mattress is specifically designed to be flipped. Some mattress models have dual firmness levels, meaning one side is softer, and the other side is firmer. The customer can flip the mattress to whichever side they find most comfortable.

Finding the Right Memory Foam Mattress

Memory foam mattresses are an excellent choice for those seeking a pain-free night. Memory foam contours to the body, relieving pressure points and reducing aches and pains. While memory foam may run the risk of overheating, cooling materials can alleviate this problem.

Choosing a memory foam model based on your sleeping position and body weight can provide you with a better night’s sleep.