Fact-checked by: Vincent Wang MS CPE, Certified Professional Ergonomist
A mattress should be your slumber safe-haven at the end of a long day and provide you with ultimate comfort through the night. But to have a good night’s sleep, you need to have the right mattress.
If you’re in the market for a new mattress and are wondering how to pick the perfect mattress for you, Casper is here to help.
In this ultimate mattress buying guide, we’ll teach you how to choose a mattress for your unique sleeping needs. From budget to mattress necessities, we cover the most important factors to consider when mattress shopping.
The average American spends roughly 36 years lying in their bed, therefore investing in a good mattress is worth it.
Before embarking on your journey to pick the perfect mattress, it’s important to first consider how much you’re willing to spend on a new mattress. Keep in mind that you usually spend the most time everyday on your mattress. In fact, research shows that over the course of a lifetime, the average American spends an estimated 36 years lying in their bed. For this reason, investing in a mattress that will provide you with a good night’s sleep is worth it.
While mattresses aren’t as expensive as say, a royal wedding, they can range anywhere from $300 to $3,000. Of course, the price is largely dependent on the type of mattress:
You may be asking yourself, “What kind of mattress do I need?” If you live in a particularly small space it may be best to opt for a smaller size, such as a twin or full mattress. Although, if you have room to stretch, a queen or king-size mattress may be more suitable for your needs.
Let’s run through a quick breakdown of the six mattress sizes available from most manufacturers:
Contrary to mattress myth, the thickness of a mattress does not define its level of comfort—but it does influence how mattress mavens design it. Mattress thickness plays a large role in the cost, too.
Let’s sink in.
Because thicker mattresses require more material, they’re automatically more expensive than thinner alternatives. Most often, mattresses comprise at least two layers. Mattresses of higher quality, however, often have a more intentional design and may have four layers or more.
So how does one gauge the best thickness for their sleeping needs? Well, we’ve got a chart to help you navigate how to pick a mattress.
As you sleep, your body sinks into the material of the mattress. A thick mattress—let’s say 10 inches—gives manufacturers more room to design a supportive cushion.
Whether you’re small or tall, your mattress should support your whole body. To that end, let’s talk about spine alignment and comfort zones. These are key factors to consider when looking for a mattress that provides support.
Spinal alignment is probably the most important aspect when it comes to body support in a mattress.
When you align your body properly during sleeping hours, you give your muscular-skeletal system a better chance to rest—whether it’s from hours hunched over a computer screen or spending seasons in the garden.
To avoid sleep-time soreness, body support is a crucial element when choosing a mattress.
A lot goes into making a comfortable mattress fit for all sleeping styles and body types. The good news is that Casper mattress experts succeeded in creating zoned mattresses that ergonomically aligns spines and supports various sleeping positions.
When perusing the options, look for a mattress that has proper zoning requirements for body support.
When determining how to pick the right mattress, you must consider your preferred firmness level.
There is a common misconception that the firmness of a mattress affects its support, but really, firmness is subjective and does not equate to support. This is because firmness is determined by how far a sleeper sinks into their mattress, while support is measured by how well the mattress maintains a sleeper’s alignment.
FIRMNESS is measured by how much the sleeper sinks into the mattress
SUPPORT is measured by how the mattress is maintaining the sleeper’s spinal alignment.
When deciding between a firm or soft mattress, just make sure to choose one that is designed with zoning requirements for adequate support.
On the same mattress, a heavier sleeper will inevitably sink deeper than a lighter sleeper. So, when is a mattress too firm? To which, the perception of firmness will be determined by the individual.
So how does one determine the best mattress firmness for them? Personal preference! As long as a mattress is zoned properly and supports your body correctly, you are free to choose a softer or firmer mattress.
Ultimately, a mattress’s firmness comes down to how it’s made. A soft foam mattress can have wonderful body support that’ll have you waking wide-eyed and pain-free. Or it may suck you into a cushioned abyss. It’s all in the eye of the sleeper.If you’re going old-school and mattress shopping in-store, test out a few of the cushioned beddings. A good rule of thumb is if you struggle to escape from the mattress’s quicksand-like padding, it’s best to move along to firmer mattresses.
We’ve all been there—tossing and turning without a moment’s shut-eye. But did you know that we still toss and turn even during deep sleep? In fact, people change positions at least 20 times per night.
Most sleepers often start off on their sides and transition to their backs throughout the night—or vice versa. As such, it’s important to find a mattress that can provide adequate support for different sleeping patterns and positions.
There’s no right or wrong answer when it comes to how to choose a mattress type. Really, it greatly depends on your personal comfort preferences.
Think of it like dating:
No matter your preference, there’s a mattress out there for you. But first, you must review the different mattress types:
With a roster like that, you’re sure to find yourself drifting through countless sheep-filled dreamscapes. Aside from looking up different materials, do a thorough mattress review. This includes researching different mattress manufacturers and finding out what other customers say about them. You should also consider your body type into consideration so that you not only find the right mattress type but also the right mattress size.
If you sleep hot at night, be sure to choose a mattress that’s designed with cooling technology.
Temperature plays a big role in your night’s sleep and if you naturally sleep hot, your choice of mattress can help with that. If you tend to wake up drenched in a sweaty stream, a cooling mattress can make all the difference.
You don’t need a pile of mattresses to achieve comfort. For those dreaming of plush, cloud-like mattresses that offer maximum comfort, choose Casper.
Our collection of dreamy mattresses come in all shapes and sizes. When it comes to cozy Casper mattresses, just choose your pick of the bunch:
Like with any good investment, you also have to be mindful of the price. So, find out how much the mattress cost before buying it. Regardless of your choice of mattress, Casper is sure to please.
SWNS. Study: Americans Spend Nearly Half Their Lives Lying in Bed
https://swns-research.medium.com/study-americans-spend-nearly-half-their-lives-lying-in-bed-557f57bfeb43
Good Housekeeping. Your Ultimate Guide to Mattress Sizes and Bed Dimensions.
https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/home-products/a34058112/bed-mattress-size-chart/
Coastal Orthopedics. How Sleep Position Affects Your Spine.
https://www.coastalorthoteam.com/blog/how-sleep-position-affects-your-spine
