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Medium mattresses
A medium mattress sits at 5 to 6 on our 1 to 10 firmness scale: enough give to cushion your shoulders and hips, with enough push-back to keep your middle supported. It suits combination sleepers, couples who sleep differently and many children.
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What does a medium mattress feel like?
A medium mattress, graded 5 to 6 on our 1 to 10 firmness scale, gives a little under your shoulders and hips and then pushes back, so you lie partly in the mattress and partly on it.
That middle feel comes from a balance between the comfort layers and the support underneath. There's enough cushioning on top that you notice it, but not so much that you sink in deeply, and the core of springs or firmer foam keeps you level.
How medium feels also depends on you. The same mattress feels firmer to a lighter person and softer to a heavier one, because more weight presses further in. Bear that in mind if you're buying for someone else, or sharing a bed with someone of a different build.
Who is a medium mattress best for?
A medium mattress (5 to 6) suits combination sleepers best, because anyone who moves between their side and back needs a surface that cushions one position and supports the other. It also suits many couples and children, and heavier side sleepers.
| How you sleep | Medium-soft (3 to 4) | Medium (5 to 6) | Medium-firm (7 to 8) |
|---|---|---|---|
| On your side | Good fit | Good fit, especially if you're heavier | Often too firm at the shoulder |
| On your back | Often too soft | Good fit | Good fit |
| On your front | Too soft | Usually too soft | Good fit |
| A mix of positions | Can feel soft on your back | Good fit | Can feel firm on your side |
| Children | Softer than most need | Good fit | Good fit |
Medium is less likely to suit front sleepers, who usually need medium-firm to firm to keep the hips level. Lighter side sleepers who want more give may prefer our soft and medium-soft mattresses.
Should I choose medium or medium-firm?
Choose medium (5 to 6) if you spend part of the night on your side, and medium-firm (7 to 8) if you sleep mainly on your back or front, or you're heavier and want firmer support.
The difference is how much the surface gives before the support takes over. On medium, your shoulder settles in when you roll onto your side. On medium-firm, you stay nearer the surface, which suits back and front sleepers. Weight shifts the answer as well: a lighter back sleeper may be happier on medium, and a heavier side sleeper may get on well with medium-firm. If your main position is your back or front, compare our medium firm mattresses.
Is a medium mattress good for couples?
A medium mattress is often the easiest compromise for couples, because 5 to 6 is where the usual range for side sleepers (3 to 6) overlaps with the range for back sleepers (5 to 8).
Construction matters too when you share. Pocket springs move independently and memory foam passes on very little movement, so both disturb a partner less than open coil. A hybrid mattress combines the two, with pocket springs underneath for support and airflow and foam on top for cushioning.
Width helps too. On a double, each of you has 67.5 cm, less than the width of a cot bed mattress, while a king size mattress gives you 75 cm each. If there's a big difference in weight between you, choose for the heavier partner's support: a mattress that's too soft for them can dip on their side and tip you towards each other.
Why does medium feel different from one brand to another?
Medium feels different between brands because there's no industry-wide firmness scale: each maker grades its own mattresses, so one brand's medium can be another's medium-firm.
That's why we grade every mattress on the same 1 to 10 scale and show the number on its page. Compare mattresses within one shop rather than across brands, and if you're replacing a mattress you liked, go by how it felt rather than what it was called.
If you'd like a second opinion, send us a message saying how you both sleep and we'll suggest which numbers to look at. For children's beds, start with our kids mattresses.
Medium mattresses: your questions answered
Can't see your question? Ask us and we'll get back to you.
Is a medium mattress good for side sleepers?
A medium mattress suits many side sleepers, particularly heavier ones, whose shoulders and hips sink further into the surface. Lighter side sleepers sometimes find medium pushes back at the shoulder and prefer medium-soft (3 to 4 on our scale). On either, a side sleeper needs a higher, firmer pillow to fill the gap above the shoulder.
Is a medium mattress good for children?
A medium mattress suits many children. Most sleep well somewhere between medium and medium-firm, which gives a growing back support without feeling hard, and a removable washable cover or a waterproof protector helps with accidents. Babies under 12 months are different: the Lullaby Trust's safer sleep advice calls for a firm, flat, waterproof cot mattress.
Will a medium mattress soften over time?
A medium mattress can feel slightly softer once its comfort layers settle in the first few weeks, but it shouldn't change much after that. Rotate it head to toe every few weeks for the first three months, then every three months, so it wears evenly. A dip you can see or roll into is wear, not softening, and a sign it needs replacing.
What's the difference between medium and medium-soft?
Medium-soft (3 to 4 on our scale) lets you sink further into the surface, while medium (5 to 6) gives a little and then supports you. Lighter side sleepers, and anyone who likes to feel held, often prefer medium-soft. People who switch between their side and back usually find medium easier to move on.
Which types of mattress come in a medium feel?
Memory foam, pocket sprung, hybrid and reflex foam mattresses can all be medium; what differs is how each one delivers that feel. Medium memory foam moulds slowly around you, medium pocket springs feel bouncier with more air moving through, and a medium hybrid sits between the two. Choose the construction you like, then look for 5 to 6 on our scale.
Is a medium mattress firm enough for a heavier person?
A medium mattress can be too soft for a heavier person, because more weight sinks further into the same surface. Heavier people usually need firmer support, so medium-firm (7 to 8) or firm (9 to 10) is often the better starting point, ideally with extra depth, a strong spring unit and firm edges. A heavier side sleeper may still be comfortable on medium.
Why does my new medium mattress feel firmer than my old one?
A new medium mattress can feel firmer than the one it replaces because the old mattress softened over years of use, so you'd got used to less support. Brands also grade firmness differently, so the same label can mean a different feel. The comfort layers of a new mattress may also soften slightly as they settle over the first few weeks.
Is a medium mattress a good choice for a guest room?
A medium mattress is a sensible choice for a guest room, because you won't know whether your guests sleep on their side, back or front. Medium sits in the middle of our 1 to 10 scale, so it's unlikely to feel very hard or very soft to anyone staying for a night or two.
Not sure which mattress?
Tell us about your bed and how you sleep, and we'll suggest a few that fit.