image source: unsplash
Meta: When you are in the market for a new mattress, and you plan to order one online, check out the ultimate mattress thickness guide to learn what you need to know.
Shopping for a mattress has permanently changed. While you can still visit your local furniture store and lay on a bunch of mattresses before you pick one to be delivered, there is an easier method: ordering one from the comfort of your home.
While shopping online for a new mattress, you will see specifications that include typical sizes like twin, full, queen, and king. Manufacturers also show the mattress thickness and what makes up their layers.
Mattress thickness matters not just in comfort but also in appearance. The depth of a mattress shows when it is sitting on a bed frame. It also is evident when you put atop the beds. It shows when pillows are sitting on them, too.
Low-Profile Mattresses
The thinnest mattresses range between two and five inches. They come in several options like air mattresses that you can store and blow up as well as space-saving foldable mattresses. Low-profile mattresses are excellent choices for young children who are transitioning out of cribs because they are lower to the floor and not so harmful if children fall out of bed.
People who sleep on tall beds with under-bed storage tend to choose low-profile mattresses. Low-profile mattresses look great in modern bedrooms on platform-style foundations. Thin mattresses are also good choices for bunk beds, camper beds, and adjustable beds.
Before I go to bed, I thank God for blessing me with all the things he blessed me with, and for my family to be safe.
-Lauren Alaina
There are some pros and cons to low-profile mattresses. One benefit of low-profile beds is that they often are the lowest price, simply because they do not have as much material in them as the thicker options have.
The cons to low-profile mattress include comfort and longevity. Thin mattresses do not provide the same cushioning as thicker mattresses. They also wear out faster because there isn’t as much in the beds. However, thin mattresses can become more comfortable and last longer when people use mattress toppers.
Low-profile mattresses do not usually have springs or several layers of cushioning. Manufactures use foam or other dense materials that make them highly supportive. Their low profiles make them safe for people who have difficulty getting in and out of a tall bed.
Thin Mattresses
image source: unsplash
The next level of mattress thickness is the five- to eight-inch thick mattresses, known as thin mattresses. These look and feel like traditional mattresses, but many have foam rather than springs, so they are supportive and comfortable. Like low-profile mattresses, their thinness makes them less expensive than thicker counterparts.
While the low-profile mattress is easily stored or used in places like bunk beds or campers, the thin ones are ideal permanent choices for low-profile platform beds. Many people put mattress toppers or box springs with thin mattresses to provide even more support. People who are looking for the clean lines of modern, Scandinavian design want a low and thin mattress.
Standard Mattresses
These are the mattresses that you see at the local furniture store. They measure between 8 and 12 inches in height and manufacturers put a variety of materials in them including:
- Springs
- Memory foam
- Latex foam
- Cotton fiber
- Polyester fiber
The layers in the mattress determine the firmness of the bed. Most standard mattresses have three or four layers, but they can have more than five or only two. The number of layers determines the price, support, and comfort.
Foundation Layers
Most standard mattresses have a foundation layer that should take up half of the mattress thickness. Mattresses with a small foundation will not last as long as those with substantial ones. The foundation prevents the bed from sagging over time.
Support Layers
The next layer above the foundation is the support layer, which makes up the middle portion of the standard mattress. Some manufacturers offer customization, where the support layer can be put above the comfort layer. The support layer provides some flexibility for the spine, while also offering a necessary level where needed, too.
Comfort Layers
On the top of the mattress is the comfort layer. Some mattresses have several comfort layers that keep sleepers cool and relaxed. Comfort layers can reduce motion, so sleepers don’t bounce around when shifting positions.
In modern standard mattresses, comfort layers often include memory foam, pillow tops, and cooling layers. They also have the plush tops that make mattresses feel so good in the store.
How to Choose a Standard Mattress
When choosing a standard mattress, which is what most shoppers buy, there are a few factors to consider. First, larger adults need a substantial foundation layer to provide support and to keep the mattress from sagging.
The total thickness of the top layers should also provide support. When testing out a mattress, notice how your pressure points affect the mattress. If you don’t feel the mattress contour under your elbows and hips, then it might not have enough support for your body. Comfort and support layers should be at least two inches thick on a standard mattress.
You’ve got to get up every morning with determination if you’re going to go to bed with satisfaction.
-George Horace Lorimer
If you are ordering a standard mattress online, the website should show a cutaway of the layers. The photos should include the height of each layer in inches so you can determine if the layers will provide the support you need.
Standard mattresses come in a range of prices, but they are usually more expensive than thin and low-profile mattresses. It is possible to find them at low prices, and some manufacturers will ship them for free. Most standard mattresses have mid-range prices because the taller mattresses are generally the most expensive option.
Consumers have an easy time finding bedding as most fitted sheets are cut to fit the standard size. Bed sheets come in twin, full, queen, and king sizes, just like mattresses, but the depth of the sheets are cut to fit standard mattresses. Some fitted sheets are extra deep, so they bunch up on when placed on standard mattresses.
Thick Mattresses
Thick mattresses are popular with sleepers who like extra cushioning and support. These mattresses measure between 12 and 20 inches tall. These are loaded with layers and often have plush pillow tops, too. Some weigh close to 200 pounds because of all of the supportive elements on the inside.
Like standards mattresses, thick mattresses are readily available in local stores and from online retailers. They have so many layers that they last longer than most other mattress sizes. Even though these mattresses have a higher price than standard mattresses, they also have outstanding sales, too.
Did you know?
Thick mattresses do not look good on platform beds, especially if you are looking for a modern style. If you are putting a mattress on the floor, the thick ones are excellent choices, and if the floor is level, the manufacturer’s warranty still stands.
Thick mattresses do not look good on platform beds, especially if you are looking for a modern style. If you are putting a mattress on the floor, the thick ones are excellent choices, and if the floor is level, the manufacturer’s warranty still stands.
Thick mattresses are also good choices for couples who share a bed. Standard mattresses become saggy in the middle when two people regularly sleep on them. As mattresses degrade, couples roll toward the center, which makes for an uncomfortable night of sleep. Thick mattresses with at least half of it being foundational are less likely to develop soft centers.
Couples who share a bed also appreciate that thick mattresses absorb motion better than thin and standard mattresses do. When one partner rolls, the other partner does not feel it in a thick mattress because they have extra absorbing layers. Some manufacturers offer customers the option to customize the layers on different sides of the bed.
Extra-Thick Mattresses
If you want to sleep like a king and queen, the extra-thick mattress is the choice for you. These are at least 20 inches tall, and some reach 25 inches – over two feet. These need large bases to support the size and weight of these massive mattresses that are loaded with foundational and comfort layers.
Extra-thick mattresses look decadent and posh. To fully appreciate the size of these extra thick mattresses, they look beautiful in large bedrooms with four-poster beds.
These large mattresses are not available online, because it is nearly impossible to roll them up and ship them as many weigh over 200 pounds. It is also difficult to find fitted bed sheets for mattresses that are nearly two feet tall. Extra-thick mattresses do not work well on adjustable bed bases.
Standard, thick, and extra-thick mattresses should last at least ten years. Because of their extreme thickness, extra-thick mattresses often last longer than other types of mattresses.
Mattress Toppers
image source: unsplash
If you have a mattress that doesn’t quite do it for you, then a mattress topper might help make your sleep experience more comfortable. These are inexpensive options to add a comfort layer to a thin or standard mattress. Mattress toppers can be at thick as four inches, and many are made of memory foam.
Mattress toppers are not mattresses on their own; they do not provide enough support. They can be protective coverings for people who have pets sleep on their beds. They are easy to find online and in local big box shops.