Not all mattresses are one size fits all. You may have to do some digging to find the mattress that fits your sleeping position, body type and any other needs you might have.
Firmness
Beds fall at different places on the firmness scale; soft, firm or somewhere in between. The right firmness level for you primarily depends on your sleeping position. Medium mattresses are good for most sleeping positions, however, because they offer a nice balance between soft and firm.
Feel
Mattress materials contribute to the feel of a mattress. Memory foam makes a bed feel dense and slow to respond to pressure. Latex and coils make a bed bouncy, and poly foam makes a mattress feel soft and neutral. It all depends on the feel you’re looking to get from your mattress.
Body type
Beds either have a foam or hybrid construction. Foam beds are fine for most people around 200 pounds or less, but people over the 230-pound range or so should consider a hybrid mattress. Beds should last around seven to 10 years or more, but an all-foam mattress won’t be nearly as long-lasting or durable for plus-size sleepers.
Sleeping position
Side sleepers should opt for a soft to medium firmness level, back and stomach sleepers should consider a medium to firm profile, and combo sleepers should look for a mattress that’s in between.
Temperature
If you’re a hot sleeper, live with hot flashes or are dealing with menopause, a cooling mattress may be the way to go. Most beds have some kind of technology to help them regulate temperature, but only a handful of beds help you sleep on the cool side.
See more: Best cooling mattress for hot sleepers
