How to Choose a Mattress: Firmness, Materials and Size

A mattress gets easier to choose once you settle three things: how firm you like it, what it is made of, and which size suits your room. This guide explains how to choose a mattress in plain terms, from firmness and sleeping position to foam, hybrid, innerspring and latex builds, partner motion, sizes in Canada, and what to check on the base and warranty. Browse our mattresses to see the range as you read.

Start With Firmness and Sleeping Position

Firmness describes how a mattress feels when you lie on it. Many makers use a scale of 1 to 10, but there is no industry standard, so one brand's medium can feel different from another's. As a rough guide, soft is around 3 to 4, medium around 5 to 6, medium-firm around 6 to 7, and firm 7 or higher.

Your usual position is a useful starting point for comfort:

• Side sleepers: often prefer a soft to medium surface with some give at the shoulders and hips. If you are shopping for the best mattress for side sleepers, this is the range to try first.
• Back sleepers: often like medium to medium-firm, with an even, supportive feel.
• Stomach sleepers: often choose a firmer surface that keeps the hips from sinking too far.
• Combination sleepers: usually settle on a medium feel that works in several positions.

Body weight matters too. A heavier person sinks further into the same mattress and may find it feels softer than listed, while a lighter person may find it feels firmer. These are preferences, not rules, so let the lie-down test decide.

The Main Mattress Types

Many mattresses blend materials, so read the layer list, not just the label.

• Memory foam: contours slowly around your body and tends to absorb movement. Some sleepers find it warm.
• Hybrid: a coil core topped with foam or latex layers. It usually feels more bouncy than all-foam and lets more air move through the core.
• Innerspring: a coil system with a thinner comfort layer. It has a traditional, responsive feel.
• Latex: springy and quick to bounce back. It can be made from natural or synthetic material and is often heavy to move.

When comparing memory foam vs hybrid, ask yourself whether you prefer a slow hug or a lively, supported feel. Then lie on both.

Partner Motion and Temperature

If you share a bed, ask the showroom to show a motion test: lie down while a partner rolls over. Foam and individually wrapped coils generally absorb movement better than connected coils, which pass more of it across the surface.

If you tend to feel warm at night, look at breathable covers, open coil layers or latex, and ask how the maker describes the temperature feel of each model. Results vary by product and by person, so treat the descriptions as a guide.

Mattress Sizes in Canada

Standard mattress sizes are the same across Canada and the United States. Measure your room against these dimensions, and note that some makers vary by about an inch (2.5 cm).

Choosing between the two most popular sizes is a question of room and sleeping habits, which our guide to king vs queen bed covers in detail. Our beds section shows frames sized to match.

Check the Base and the Warranty

A mattress needs the right support under it, and the warranty often depends on it. Check the maker's information before you buy:

• Slatted or platform beds: foam mattresses usually need slats close together, often no more than about 3 inches (7.5 cm) apart.
• Queen and king frames: many call for a centre support leg to keep the mattress flat.
• Adjustable bases: a mattress has to bend with the base. Foam, latex and many hybrids do, while some stiff innerspring models may not. See our adjustable bases and confirm compatibility with the mattress maker.
• Warranty terms: read what counts as a defect, whether a protector or a specific base is required, and how claims work.

Try It Before You Decide

1. Wear comfortable clothes and bring your partner.
2. Lie on each mattress in your usual position for 10 to 15 minutes.
3. Roll over, sit on the edge and have your partner move to test the feel and motion.
4. Ask for the layer details, the firmness description and the care and warranty information.
5. Confirm the base you need and that the mattress will get through your stairs, hallway or elevator.

Frequently Asked Questions

What firmness is best for side sleepers?

Side sleepers often prefer a soft to medium surface that gives a little at the shoulders and hips. Firmness is personal and varies by maker, so lie on a few in your usual position for 10 to 15 minutes, and trust how it feels more than the label.

What is the difference between memory foam and hybrid mattresses?

Memory foam is made of foam layers that contour slowly and tend to absorb movement. A hybrid adds a coil core under foam or latex, which usually feels bouncier and allows more airflow. Try both to see which feel you prefer.

How long does a mattress last?

There is no single answer. Lifespan depends on the materials, the quality, your body weight and how well the mattress is supported. Read the maker's care and warranty information, and consider replacing it when it shows visible sagging or lumps, or no longer feels comfortable.

Do I need a box spring with a new mattress?

Not always. Some mattresses are made for slatted frames, platform beds or adjustable bases, while others are designed to sit on a foundation or box spring. Check the maker's instructions, because using the wrong support can affect comfort and the warranty.

Lie Down and Compare in Person

A mattress only makes sense after you have lain on it, so give yourself time to compare. Visit our showroom at Unit D200, 9737 Macleod Trail SW in Calgary and try a few firmness levels side by side. Once you have chosen, our guide to how to clean a mattress and keep it fresh helps you look after it.