How Do I Choose the Right Mattress Firmness?

Short answer: The right firmness depends on your sleeping position, body type, and any pain you wake up with. Most people in Boone, Banner Elk, and Blowing Rock sleep best on a mattress in the medium to medium-firm range—soft enough to relieve pressure, but firm enough to support your spine.

Step 1: Start with Your Sleeping Position

Your primary sleep position is the best starting point for firmness:

  • Side sleepers: Usually do best on medium-soft to medium mattresses. You want enough cushioning for your shoulders and hips so they don’t dig into the bed.
  • Back sleepers: Often prefer medium to medium-firm. You need support to keep your lower back from sinking, with just enough softness to feel comfortable.
  • Stomach sleepers: Typically need a firmer mattress so your hips don’t drop and over-extend your lower back.
  • Combination sleepers: If you change positions a lot, a balanced medium feel usually works best.

Step 2: Consider Your Body Type & Feel Preferences

Two people can lie on the same mattress and feel it completely differently. Your body type plays a big role:

  • Lighter sleepers (under ~150 lbs): Tend to feel mattresses as a bit firmer. A medium or even medium-plush can work well.
  • Average build (150–220 lbs): Often land in the sweet spot of medium to medium-firm.
  • Heavier sleepers (220+ lbs): Usually need firmer, more supportive models—especially hybrids with strong coil systems—to avoid sinking too far into the bed.

Beyond the numbers, your personal comfort matters. Some people simply like a “hugged” feeling, while others want to feel like they’re sleeping more “on top” of the mattress. Both are okay—we just need to find the right match.

Step 3: Factor In Back or Joint Pain

If you wake up with back, shoulder, or hip pain, firmness becomes even more important:

  • Too soft: Your hips and midsection may sag, putting strain on your lower back.
  • Too firm: Your shoulders and hips can’t sink in enough, causing pressure points and numbness.

For many people with back or joint pain, a supportive medium or medium-firm hybrid or memory foam mattress works best. Brands like Tempur-Pedic, Stearns & Foster, Sealy, Helix, and Casper offer models with zoned support—firmer where you need it, softer where you don’t.

If you have a diagnosed condition or severe pain, talk with your doctor or physical therapist and bring their recommendations with you. We’ll help you test mattresses that align with their guidance.

Step 4: Understand the Firmness Scale

Most mattress makers use a 1–10 firmness scale (1 = extra plush, 10 = extra firm). While it isn’t perfectly standardized, here’s a general guide:

  • 1–3: Plush / Ultra-soft – Deep sink-in feel; usually too soft for most back or stomach sleepers.
  • 4–6: Medium / Medium-plush – Good balance of comfort and support; ideal for most side and combination sleepers.
  • 7–8: Firm – Flatter, more supportive feel; better for many back and stomach sleepers or those who like a very stable surface.
  • 9–10: Extra firm – Very firm; only a small group of sleepers enjoy this long term.

Step 5: Test Mattresses the Right Way

In our Boone Mall and Foscoe showrooms, we encourage you to:

  • Lie in your real sleeping position for several minutes on each mattress.
  • Notice how your lower back feels—supported, or sagging?
  • Pay attention to your shoulders and hips—are they cushioned, or do they feel jammed?
  • Compare a few different firmness levels in the same brand or collection.

Don’t rush it. The goal is to find a mattress you can imagine sleeping on every night, not just something that feels “fine” for 30 seconds.

How Blackberry Creek Mattress Helps You Choose

When you visit Blackberry Creek Mattress, our team will:

  • Ask questions about how you currently sleep and where you feel discomfort.
  • Guide you through a few firmness options that match your sleep position and body type.
  • Explain the differences between foam, hybrid, and coil support systems.
  • Help couples find a compromise—sometimes with split-firmness or adjustable options.

Our goal is simple: help you leave feeling confident that you chose the right firmness for your body, not just the mattress that happened to be on sale. If you live in or around Boone, Banner Elk, or Blowing Rock, stop by and let us walk you through the options at your own pace, with no pressure.