Mattress Firmness Guide: Feel, Support & Adjustability

Firmness describes how soft or firm the sleep surface feels. Support describes how the mattress holds and distributes load. Shoppers often use the words interchangeably, but they are not identical.

The important distinction

A manufacturer firmness label is a useful orientation point, not a universal measurement. Body weight, sleep position, comfort-layer thickness and personal preference can change perceived feel.

What to check when shopping

With adjustable air, changing chamber pressure alters the support response while the fixed comfort layers above the chamber continue shaping surface feel.

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