Latex Mattress Firmness Guide: Choosing Your Comfort

If you love your mattress to be natural and breathable, you will not go wrong with a natural latex mattress for better sleep. Natural latex mattresses are comfortable and have temperature regulating features, and are known for their supportive features.

Natural latex mattresses can offer varying firmness levels depending on their manufacturing process. Before you decide which firmness is right for your latex mattress, consider choosing a mattress based on some of the following concepts, some of which can be found in our latex mattress buyers guide.

What is Mattress Firmness?

Usually, mattress firmness level implies how supportive your mattress is, and can be determined by how soft or hard the surface of the mattress feels when you lie down. Most mattress manufacturers rate the firmness of mattress types using a 10-point scale, with the firmness level increasing as you move up the scale. Medium-Firm to Firm mattresses tend to provide more support, whereas the softer the mattress provides much less, but can be very comfortable, and relieve pressure points. This can help in picking the ideal firmness level. Heavier sleepers, for example, should consider a new mattress that is firmer for more support. Choosing the right combination of comfort and support is the sweet spot.

Mattress thickness can depend on:

The Construction:

Usually, latex mattresses have a firm core layer topped by a softer comfort layer. The top layer is made from materials like memory foam or natural latex that provide support, while relieving pressure points in the back, shoulders and hips.

Because of its denser nature, Dunlop latex foam is often preferred as a mattress core, while Talalay latex is used to build the softer mattress topper.

The Manufacturing Process:

The manufacturing process of transforming latex foam into latex beds is responsible for determining the mattress firmness. Due to their processing method, Dunlop latex mattresses feel firmer than Talalay latex ones.

The Core Material:

A supportive core made from firmer material like Dunlop latex can help retain the mattress's shape, while keeping the sleeper from sinking into the mattress.

Benefits of Having the Right Mattress Firmness

If you are looking for a mattress that would improve your night's sleep routine, you need to look for the right mattress firmness among the many different firmness levels.

If you like a mattress with a great cushioning effect, you must go for a softer mattress. Those who prefer better mattress support and wish to relieve pressure can opt for a medium-firm or a firm mattress.

How to Measure Mattress Firmness?

As there is no universally accepted measurement of mattress firmness, mattress manufacturers may follow their own systems to rate the mattress firmness on a 10-point scale.

Mattress Firmness Scale

The scale goes from one to ten, where one is the softest mattress, and it goes firmer as you climb the scale, with ten showing that the mattress is too firm.

Soft to Medium-Soft (1-4)

The mattresses in this range are pretty soft, and are popular with side sleepers who weigh less than 130 lbs. They are not the best options for heavier people, as they might sink into the mattress, and feel less supported.

A soft mattress provides a cushioning effect hugging your body type in softness. The mattresses can trap body heat, making you sleep warm, while the soft material can deteriorate faster, making it less durable.

Medium to Medium-Firm (5-6)

Medium to medium-firm mattresses are most popular among mattress buyers, as they can support a wide range of body weights. Medium-firm mattresses offer moderate support, and are ideal for people with body weights between 130 and 230 lbs.

They are an excellent mattress firmness option for both side sleepers and back and stomach sleepers, and last longer than soft latex mattresses.

Firm to Extra-Firm (7 to 10)

Mattresses that range between 7 and 10 levels are firmer mattresses that offer greater support, and a sturdy feel. They are the right mattress firmness for stomach sleepers weighing over 230 lbs.

Mattress Firmness in PlushBeds Mattresses

PlushBeds offers natural and organic latex mattresses with medium and medium-firm densities, along with other bedding accessories, such as organic cotton covers. For instance, if you buy the Botanical Bliss Organic Latex Mattress from PlushBeds, which is often rated as the best latex mattress, you can choose the firmness as below.

• Medium mattress: PlushBeds medium latex beds are ideal for side sleepers, and different sleeping positions.

• Medium-firm mattress: Our medium-firm mattresses are good for back and stomach sleepers, and provide the necessary support in both cases.

• Dual firmness option: With PlushBeds, you can also choose the dual firmness option in our Split King, Split Queen, and Split California-King sized mattresses, where one side of the mattress has Medium firmness, and the other side has Med-Firm firmness. We have the right mattress firmness for each sleeping position, and allow you to choose your preferred firmness level.

The Natural Bliss Natural Latex mattresses from PlushBeds come in two levels of firmness:

• Medium: Ideal for side sleepers and most sleepers, it has a firmness of 7 out of 10 on the firmness scale. It is the most popular mattress firmness among sleepers.

• Medium-firm: Ideal for sleepers with a body weight of 275 lbs and above, and is an excellent option for stomach or back sleepers. It has a firmness of 8.5 out of 10 on the firmness scale.

ILD Rating to Determine Mattress Firmness

Using an ILD rating can be a great way to choose a mattress's firmness, without actually lying on it. Indentation Load Deflection (ILD) measures a force to compress a memory foam, latex, or another foam mattress and measures individual foam layers. The higher the ILD ranking, the firmer the mattress will be.

Here are the various ratings for different kinds of mattresses:

• The ILD rating for soft mattresses usually ranges from 14 to 21 offerings minimal firmness. An ILD rating of 12 for example, would be very soft.

• For medium mattresses, the ILD rating would be between 24-29, while medium-firm mattresses would have an ILD rating between 30 and 37.

• Although uncommon, a very firm mattress will have an ILD rating of upwards of 50.

The Indentation Load Deflection rating is a common way of measuring the firmness of a latex mattress.

PlushBeds Mattresses ILD Ratings

In PlushBeds' Botanical Bliss Organic Latex Mattresses, for instance, the ILD for medium and medium-firm mattresses are as follows:

Mattress Firmness	Talalay Latex	ILD Rating	Dunlop Latex	ILD Rating
Medium	N2	24	D75	24-29
Medium-Firm	N4	36	D85	30-37

 

For a customized firmness level, call 888-254-0556.

Types of Latex

Natural Latex:

Natural latex is made from liquid latex extract from rubber trees. The latex foam goes through a manufacturing process where it is solidified into a latex mattress.

Organic Latex:

Organic latex is produced from rubber trees grown sustainably, and processed into a high-quality latex mattress using a sustainable process.

Synthetic or Blended Latex:

Synthetic latex mattresses are made from blended latex or synthetic materials that are processed using chemicals. Blended latex mattresses have chemical materials that can be too firm. They lack pressure-relieving features, making them the most uncomfortable option for sleepers.

Natural Latex Types Based on Processing

Based on the type of processing (Dunlop and Talalay latex processing), natural latex can be:

Dunlop Latex

The Dunlop latex is formed through a more straightforward manufacturing process. The liquid sap of rubber trees is whipped into latex foam, poured into a mold, and baked using the vulcanization process.

Dunlop latex is heavier and purer than Talalay latex, and is best used as a mattress core.

Talalay Latex

Talalay latex is made by pouring natural latex halfway into the mold, and then vacuum sealed, and flash frozen to turn it into a mattress. This process forms softer Talalay latex layers that are perfect for use in a mattress topper.

Dunlop vs. Talalay Latex Mattress:

Both Dunlop and Talalay latex mattresses are made from the sap of rubber trees.

Because of the density and supportive features, Dunlop latex is generally used as a mattress core. In contrast, the lighter and airy Talalay latex foam is used as a mattress topper.

Some mattresses use both Dunlop and Talalay latex processing. For instance, PlushBeds' Botanical Bliss organic latex mattress use both Dunlop and Talalay latex in our mattresses. While the mattress core is formed using ARPICO latex, the mattress comfort layer is built using Talalay latex certified by GOLS.

Firmness Level of Different Mattresses

While most latex mattresses are known for their support and firmness, memory foam mattresses are an example of softer mattresses. Depending on the materials used, mattress firmness can vary as follows:

Innerspring:

Innerspring mattresses get their name from their coil support core, typically made from steel. The mattresses do not have thick comfort layers, and have denser firmness levels.

Memory Foam:

Memory foam mattresses can have polyfoam, memory foam, or latex in them. Most memory foam mattresses are softer ones that cushion the body, and provide excellent pressure relief.

Latex:

All latex mattresses are known for their comfortable and supportive features, and are highly durable. While the mattress core is made from denser Dunlop latex on many latex mattresses, Talalay latex foam is used to build the mattress topper.

PlushBeds' organic latex mattresses use GOLS (Global Organic Latex Standard) certified organic latex. Both organic and natural latex mattresses from PlushBeds are made using stringent quality standards that make latex foam beds with the right mattress firmness to provide support and comfort.

To make the purchasing process easier, PlushBeds also offers:

• 100 nights of risk-free trial: PlushBeds offer 100 nights of sleep trial to test the mattress at home, and return it free of cost if not satisfied at the end of the trial period.

• 100 nights free in-home comfort exchange: All latex mattresses from PlushBeds have detachable layers of latex. You can exchange the comfort layer of your latex mattress for a layer of your choice, and a new latex layer will be shipped to you at no extra cost. This is exemplary in the mattress industry.

Hybrid:

Hybrid mattresses have a coil support core topped with a thicker comfort layer made from memory foam or latex. The firmness levels of the latex hybrid beds will depend on the thickness of the comfort layer.

The Eco Bliss Hybrid Latex Mattress is a great example of a hybrid latex mattress. The Eco Bliss hybrid mattress is made from natural latex with a supportive core of CertiPUR certified foam, and a soft, breathable organic cotton cover.

Sleeping Position and Firmness Level

The best way to choose your desired firmness level is to look at your preferred sleeping position.

• Side sleepers: Side sleepers put pressure on the shoulder and hips while sleeping, and would do well investing in a medium-soft to medium-firm mattress.

• Back and stomach sleepers: Back and stomach sleepers do well with firmer mattresses that support their body while sleeping, and must go for medium to medium-firm mattresses.

• Combination sleepers: As combination sleepers change positions at night, a medium-firm mattress would be ideal.

Takeaway

If you are looking for a new latex mattress, invest in a natural latex mattress with the right firmness for your preferred sleeping position. And, you can find the best latex mattress right here from PlushBeds.

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