Mattress firmness guide
We grade our mattresses in six different tensions ranging from soft to extra firm. For every product available online and in store you can see the available options highlighted. For more advice talk to our experienced team who will help finding the right mattress that will suit you ad read below for a comprehensive guide to the firmness rating you should look out for and why.
The ratings we give are completely subjective and based on the range we sell as a business and not always reflective of the manufacturers or brands specifications which do vary. Please consult with our experts before you decide to buy or want to learn more about why we think the mattresses we sell are rated as they are.
Extra firm rated mattresses
This is generally the firmest type of mattress we sell in all types from no turn to both sides. Pocket springs or solid memory foam types. Good for people who sleep on their stomach or back and recommended if you weigh in excess of 20 stone*
Here are some top rated recommendations of extra firm mattresses;
Great Value;
Handmade mid level recommendation;
Luxury handmade artisan;
Shop all Extra firm mattress options here
Firm rated mattresses
Good for people who sleep on their back or stomach and we recommend you consider a firmer rated mattress if you weigh between 16 and 20 stone due to the support needed at this weight. Mattresses always feel firmer when you receive delivery and rest during your first few nights on a stiff brand new mattress option, customers generally buy too firm for their needs and regret it, getting in touch afterward to let us know they wish they'd considered a softer comfort grade.
Top Tip - Always consider a comfort grade one level softer than what you originally think you might need. Just like a pair of new shoes, mattresses always feel stiff and firmer when they are brand new and need at least 3 months bedding in before you begin to feel fully supported and comfortable.
Great Value;
Handmade mid level recommendation;
Luxury handmade artisan;
Shop all Firm mattress options click here
Medium to Firmer graded mattresses
These mattress options are ideal for people who change position a lot during their sleep in the night. The firmer feel creates a stable surface to move around and turn on but provides a deeper level of cushioning and support with a slightly more responsive feeling from the core of the mattress including the pocket springs.
We find this middle ground of mattress comfort grade is one of the most popular types customers choose when considering a lower priced value level mattress as the edge support and core feel is more stable when a mattress has less pocket springs and upholstery layers.
Great Value;
Handmade mid level recommendation;
Luxury handmade artisan;
Shop all Medium/Firm mattress options click here
Medium tension mattresses
A firm favourite the length and breadth of the U.K, medium comfort grade mattresses appeal to the masses as the safe ‘go to’ option for all new mattress purchases. These options are almost always supremely supportive and give greater levels of cushioning and support not achieved at a firmer grade. The core of the mattress is responsive and depending on the quality of mattress you choose, the upholstery levels and edge support are subtle and respond well as you lay on the surface.
Top Tip; Always consult with a sleep expert first, and if you can, visit our showrooms to try all mattresses before you decide to buy. Not all medium comfort grades feel the same with various bed brands, upholstery levels and pocket spring numbers making every option have subtle differences.
Great Value;
Handmade mid level recommendation;
Luxury handmade artisan;
Shop all Medium mattress options click here
Medium to softer feel mattresses
These medium to softer comfort grade mattresses are generally great for side sleepers due to the enhanced cushioning and support you get in the harder joint areas like the hips and shoulders. We always need to consider a softer support when sleeping, especially on our side where we need the most targeted support. We generally recommend this type of mattress to people who weigh up to about 12 stone but it is especially true that a higher grade quality mattress will offer enhanced support and comfort for a longer life span in a softer feel than a budget option due to the increased build quality, hand side stitched mattress borders and top grade of wire in each pocket spring.
Top tip - Quality hand made mattress options will last longer and support our body for the long hours we sleep in softer comfort grades than budget alternatives. We put our mattresses through a lot, on average spending 8 hours each night on the surface. Over 5 years we will have spent 14,600 hours laying on the same mattress upholstery and springs! It won't owe you much after nearly 10 years at that rate!
Great Value;
Handmade mid level recommendation;
Luxury handmade artisan;
Shop all Medium to softer grade mattress options click here
Soft comfort mattresses
This is the softest level of mattress grade we sell and these options are the most sumptuous of all. The upholstery layers are soft and supportive and the core pocket springs give a responsive feel you don't get with any firmer types. Soft mattresses offer maximum support and are ideal for those who weigh up to and around 12 stone.
The perfect mattress options are those where you feel your body is ‘in’ the mattress and not ‘on’ it from head to toe. It goes without saying that a quality handmade mattress in soft support which uses vanadium steel wire in each spring will support you well and provide year after year of consistent comfort without any core mattress failure and dips appearing. Cheap value alternatives should only be viewed with caution at this comfort level as the core is insufficient to support for long before wear and tear will inevitably become apparent.
Quality speaks for itself at this level and one brand which has consistently shone over the past 60 years our family business has been trading is Vispring. To find out more about this exceptional brand and the reason why they are head and shoulders above any other manufacturer in the market place you can click here to view the brand and products.
Alternatively you can read guides and advice about the brand here;
Great Value;
Handmade mid level recommendation;
Luxury handmade artisan;
Shop all softer grade mattress options click here
Speak to us about all options
Speak to our team of trusted sleep experts who can guide and advise you on the best mattress and divan bed options in all firmness grades, we love to chat and won't pressure sell anyone into an option they are not comfortable with. We are trusted by thousands of customers throughout the U.K to provide good, honest advice which has been carefully curated from trusted sources we know you can rely on.
Our ratings above are subjective and based on our own experience in the bed industry and the mattresses available over the past 60 years. We endeavour to provide a clear guide for consumers when they look to buy but would always recommend trying the mattress out in person before deciding to buy it due to the big variances in surface feel and each brand having unique types of filling and upholstery. No two medium tension mattresses feel the same for example.
100 Night mattress comfort trial…
We offer customers a 100 night mattress trial which comes with strict terms and conditions. This is for complete peace of mind and means you can hopefully find a mattress you love without the pressure of choosing the wrong option and wasting your money. You can refer to the terms here and please speak to us in person about this offer before you decide to buy.
No worries
The last thing we want is for you to lose sleep worrying about whether you've chosen the right mattress. So, you've got 100 nights from the delivery date to change your mind.
Free exchange
If your mattress isn't everything you hoped for, we'll come and pick it up free of charge and change it to one that suits you better.
No quibbles
If you want to exchange your mattress, we won't quibble. As you'd expect, all we ask is that you use the mattress protector you purchased with your mattress, as we cannot take back mattresses that are damaged, stained or marked in any way.
Strict rules apply
To qualify for the 100-night mattress trial, you must purchase either the Deep Fill Cotton, Spundown or Quilted Luxury Mattress Protector simultaneously with your mattress. If, during the 100-night period, you decide it is not suitable, you can change to a different tension or an alternative mattress.
Requirements for completion of exchange/upgrade are as follows;
Proof of purchase is required of the mattress together with the Deep Fill Cotton, Spundown or Quilted Luxury Mattress Protector.
2. The trial only applies to those mattresses tried in person and purchased in-store.
Please note that it must be made clear by us on your paperwork in-store that you are eligible for the 100-night mattress trial.
3. You must have slept on the mattress for at least 30 nights to allow your body to become accustomed to it.
4. You must use the Deep fill cotton, Spundown or Quilted Luxury Mattress Protector for 100 nights, as stained or damaged mattresses cannot be exchanged.
5. Where your new exchange/upgrade is more expensive than the original, we will require payment for the difference in price.
6. We cannot make any refund where the exchanged mattress is less expensive than the original.
7. The 100-night mattress trial does not cover clearance items.
8. The 100-night mattress trial is only applicable to the following standard sizes:-90cm (3' Single)
135cm (4'6 Double)
150cm (5' King Size)
180cm (6' Super King)
180cm Zipped Mattresses (6' Super King)
9. Dual tension mattresses (e.g. one medium side and one firm side) are exempt from the promotion.10. We will only exchange your mattress under this guarantee once.
*Vispring mattresses come as standard with the Vispring 90-day comfort promise.
*Enchanted House Beds mattresses come standard with the Enchanted House Beds 90-day comfort promise.
Category: Mattress Guides
