What Mattress Thickness Is Best for Me?

Shopping for a new mattress can be a confusing experience, is memory foam for you, latex, hybrid, or AirFoam™? Once you choose the perfect fit you’re now faced with mattress thickness, does it matter?

Mattresses can be found in slim 2 inches to super thick 20 inches +, your personal preference, sleep style, and budget will impact your choice. Allow this mattress thickness guide to help you choose the best mattress for you.  

Mattress thickness could impact the firmness and breathability of the bed, depending on the materials used in its construction

Does Mattress Thickness Matter?

Mattress thickness could impact the firmness and breathability of the bed, depending on the materials used in its construction. It’s also important to consider motion transfer, spinal alignment if you’re sharing the bed and your weight. 

Mattress thickness will mean how tall the mattress is, if a mattress is 10 inches thick, it’s 10 inches tall. Therefore, consider your height when thinking about mattress thickness because if you’re on the shorter side, a tall mattress may be a challenge to climb in and out of. 

There’s also the sheets and bedding to consider if the mattress is of an above-average thickness (over 12 inches) it may not be easy to find sheets or put them on the bed. Thick mattresses are heavy, so lifting the corners to dress the bed may be an arduous task for some. 

As you can see, a typical mattress construction is in layers of base foam, support layers, and body contouring comfort layers, wrapped in a luxurious cotton cover.  

How Thick Should a Mattress Be?

When determining mattress thickness consider; 

• Your weight
• Existing health issues
• Mobility issues 
• Sleep position 
• Height preference  

A 10-inch mattress could be ideal for those weighing around 225 pounds while a 12 inch may be more suitable for those weighing over 225 pounds. An extra 2 inches may not seem like a big deal, but an additional layer of comfort. 

If you suffer from hip pain, arthritis, or shoulder pain you may find relief from a 10-12 inch mattress, providing it offers pressure relief. The sensitive pressure points of hips and shoulders must be cradled softly while not allowing sinkage.  

If you’re experiencing mobility issues a tall mattress over 12 inches may not be ideal. You want to be able to sit on your bed and have both feet flat on the floor. If the mattress is too tall, you may end up injuring yourself by jumping out of bed. Consider your bed frame, do you use a box spring, foundation, adjustable base, or have your mattress on the floor?  

Side sleepers require pressure relief most of all, therefore, a 10-12 inch mattress would be ideal

A Mattress Thickness Guide 

2 - 5 Inches 

You will find a 2-5 inch mattress in a fold away bed, crib mattress, and air mattress. The average adult would find a low profile 2-5 inch mattress uncomfortable for long term use, as it will not provide adequate pressure relief and comfort to bring restful sleep. A better mattress for long term use would be 10-12 inches.   

5 - 8 Inches 

A slim mattress ranges from 5-8 inches and will typically be made of foam construction. It may be more suitable for small adults and children who do not require much mattress depth. You will find many twin mattresses are 5-8 inches thick. Consider a thicker mattress if you have health concerns, suffer backache, or on the heavier side.     

8 - 12 Inches 

8-12 inches is standard mattress thickness, with the average mattress height being 10 inches. Queen mattress thickness typically falls into the 10-inch category but queen mattress height can be at its comfiest at 10-12 inches. If you’re choosing between 8 inches vs 10-inch mattress, an extra couple of inches can make all the difference for some. 

12 - 20 Inches 

You will find a medium to thick mattress in the range of 12-20 inches. Many hybrid mattresses are in this category but there are things to consider if your mattress is over 12 inches; mattress foundation, mobility issues, health concerns, caution factors. A pressure-relieving 12-inch mattress could be the sweet spot for many.  

20 Inches +

A mattress of 20 inches + is in the thick category but quite rare. Their bulbous size makes them incredibly heavy and cumbersome to move. They take up a lot of space and shipping is not an easy task, therefore, it could increase the cost of your new bed significantly. A 10-12 inch mattress may offer comfort at a more reasonable height.

What Thickness Memory Foam Mattress is Best?

Some consider an 8-inch memory foam mattress to be the ideal size for a small adult or child. Consider a 10-12 inch + memory foam mattress thickness for adults or those on the heavier side. 

Mattress Thickness for Side Sleepers

Side sleepers require pressure relief most of all, therefore, a 10-12 inch mattress would be ideal. The sensitive hips and shoulders of side sleepers must be gently supported to allow the spine and hips to align perfectly for sleep comfort all night.   

Mattress Thickness for Stomach Sleepers

An average mattress thickness would suit stomach sleepers but beware of a too-soft mattress. As a stomach sleeper, the lower back must be supported or you could end up with a lower backache. Conversely, you don't want the mattress to be rock hard as this will put pressure on the hips. A medium firmness of 10+ inches could be suitable.  

Mattress Thickness for Back Sleepers 

When it comes to 10 vs 12 inch mattress for back sleepers, either mattress thickness will bring comfort. Ensure your mattress provides pressure relief so you don't wake with aches and pains, also rest your head on a quality pillow because back sleepers can be prone to neck ache.    

Reminders for Finding the Best Mattress Thickness 

Take into consideration your:

• Sleep position
• Bodyweight
• Medical conditions 
• Mobility issues 
• Height preference  

Mattress Thickness Chart

Conclusion 

When faced with a 6 inch vs 8 inch mattress it may be best to opt for an 8 inch. However, a 10-12 inch mattress may be ideal for most people. This size will ensure your mattress is lightweight so easy to move around. It will be easier to lift the corner of the mattress when you’re cleaning and changing the bedsheets. 

It will be easy to find sheets for the bed as opposed to shopping for a 15 inch + mattress, a typical complaint among those with thick mattresses is the sheet bunching around the corners and coming loose. There may be a limited selection of bedding for this size.

Shopping online gives you far greater choice when determining mattress thickness, you’ll also get up to 100-nights free trial before making your decision. This ensures you’re satisfied with the comfort level for committing.

Compare and Shop Nolah's Premium Mattresses Now

Is a 6 Inch Mattress Thick Enough?

A 6-inch mattress is not ideal for an adult to sleep on long term. A mattress of this size is typically found in fold up beds and cribs. Although sleeping on a 6-inch mattress for a few nights may not do you any harm, long term use could bring aches and pains. 

How Thick Is a Twin Mattress?

You will find twin mattress sizes ranging from 8-12 inches. They can be made of coil springs, memory foam, polyfoam, latex, hybrid, or AirFoam™. Opt for a 12-inch twin mattress if you’re on the heavier side. A 10-inch twin is optimal for most people but ensures you’re buying a pressure relief mattress to avoid aches and pains. 

How Thick Is a Mattress?

Mattress thickness can be as little as 6 inches or as tall as 20+ inches. Depending on your weight, mobility issues, health issues, sleep style, and personal taste, there is no one size fits all mattress. Also, the mattress thickness will be determined by the materials used in its construction. 

Is an 8 Inch Mattress Thick Enough?

An 8-inch mattress might be ideal for smaller adults, children, or a short term use mattress. It is unlikely that an 8 inch mattress could provide adequate pressure relief to most adults. Therefore, a 10 inch or 12-inch mattress could be more beneficial for your sleep health and well being.

How Thick Is the Average Mattress?

An average mattress height for adults is 10-12 inches. These sizes are perfect for most people and are easy to find bedding for. It’s also easy to dress a bed that is 10-12 inches in height because the mattress will be light enough to move around. Those with mobility problems will find these sizes comfortable to use.