Best Soft Mattresses (Sep. 2026) - Rated by CherryPicks' Experts

Soft Mattress: Things You Need to Know Before Buying

Soft vs. Firm Mattress – Which is Better?

The obvious difference between a soft and firm mattress is the feel. While the latter has less give and is more rigid to your touch, the former compresses more easily when you apply pressure. The softness or firmness of a mattress depends on the materials used to make the mattress.

Whether you need a soft or firm mattress depends on an array of factors such as personal preferences, body, sleep position, weight, height, medical conditions, and many more. Because of the countless mattresses sold today, various firmness options are available in a variety of styles including hybrids, innerspring, latex beds, memory foam, and other types of mattresses.

That being said, it’s prudent to have a look at which groups of people can do better with soft and firm mattresses.

Soft mattresses are better (and bad) for?

Good sleep is a function of an array of factors including weight, health, sleep position, good sleep posture, mattress choice, environment, and other factors.

Soft mattresses may be better for:

• Side sleepers – Side sleeping is one of the most common sleeping positions. Although pinning down hard data can be difficult, according to estimates, one third to one-half of people sleep on their side. According to a study by the National Sleep Survey, 74% of those interviewed preferred to sleep on their side. A soft mattress is good for side sleepers because it cushions the shoulders, neck, and hips better compared to a firmer sleep surface. Although this is the case, be careful not to buy too plush of a mattress as it may cause issues with your spinal alignment.
• Cold sleepers – For many people, it’s common to wake up in the middle of the night feeling like they are laying in the middle of Antarctica. According to Dr Gordon Giesbrecht, a professor of thermophysiology at the University of Manitoba, cold sleepers are folks that shiver or wake up chilly at night. Generally, cold sleepers are more sensitive to cold air. They have difficulty retaining heat at night. For this reason, a soft mattress is a great option because it not only cradles them but also helps insulate their body heat thus keeping them warm all night long.
• Older people – Seniors tend to run colder, especially if they have heart disease. Because of this, a plush mattress allows them to sink in and revel in the insulating benefits. The thicker comfort layers in a soft mattress protect aging joints that may be fragile.
• Lightweight – Lightweight folks have a lower BMI (Body Mass Index). This simply means that they experience mattress firmness differently than heavy people. The lighter you are, the less mattress thickness you need to support your weight. Soft mattresses are great for lightweight people because they closely conform to their weight.
• Sleep apnea sufferers – According to the American Sleep Apnea Association, it is estimated that roughly 22 million Americans suffer from one of the three types of sleep apneas. The three types are Obstructive sleep apnea, central sleep apnea, and complex sleep apnea. Risk factors for this condition include excess body weight, enlarged tonsils, chronic sinusitis, and Down syndrome. The blockage of the airway causes OSA (Obstructive sleep apnea). One way of remedying airway blockage is by proper sleep position (read side sleeping). As aforementioned, soft mattresses are great for side sleepers for various reasons.

Soft mattresses may be bad for:

• Back and stomach sleepers – According to this study, back and stomach sleepers constitute 20% of the population. If you are a back or stomach sleeper, a soft mattress might let you sink too deep thus throwing you off your spine’s natural ‘’S’’ curve. Incorrect sleep posture causes backaches. You’re better off with a firmer bed if you sleep face down or face up.
• Hot sleepers – Hot sleepers need a cool sleeping surface. They do better on a firm mattress because they don’t sink in, hence there’s no heat insulation. Because of the comfort they derive from sleeping on a firm mattress, their body temperatures reduce by around 2 degrees according to Sleep Medicine Review.
• Heavier people – A research by Sleep to Live Institute indicates that people with higher BMI have the worst sleeping patterns especially if they choose the wrong mattress. A soft mattress is inappropriate for heavier people as it makes them sink in excessively hence creating a hammock effect that throws their spine out of alignment. Changing sleeping positions when hammocked can be challenging. This can increase discomfort.
• Arthritis sufferers – A research by Cleveland Clinic discovered that contrary to popular opinion, arthritis sufferers are better candidates for firm mattresses than soft ones. If you have achy joints, you’re better off with a mattress that features a firm support layer and a soft upper comfort layer. Firm mattresses allow easier shifts in sleep position, which goes miles to prevent joints from locking.
• Back pain sufferers – Medium-firm beds are better options than soft ones for back pain sufferers. The latter’s ‘’sinking in’’ effect doesn’t provide much support for your aching spine.

Types of Soft Mattresses Based on Softness Levels

Although how soft or firm a mattress is subjective to each sleeper’s sensations, the mattress industry utilizes a scale of 1-10 to evaluate the softness of a mattress. A soft mattress should be anywhere between 1 and 5 out of 10 on the firmness scale. 10 is the firmness. A plush mattress has considerable sinking and hug feel.

Here are the different softness levels:

• 1 out of 10 (Extremely Soft) – This type of mattress is astonishingly soft. It features a bizarre sinking feeling. An extremely soft mattress does not provide any form of support. If you’re suffering from an extreme type of soreness in the muscles and need to temporarily reduce the pain, then you should lie down on this kind of mattress.
• 2 out of 10 (Ultra Soft) – Similar to the extremely soft mattresses, ultra-soft ones also don’t provide too much support. They are a great option if you have a thing for soft pillows and mattresses or just need a mattress to sit in for reading. You can choose them if you need to take a quick nap.
• 3 out of 10 (Very Soft) – These have an elevated sinkage degree (1.5″-3″ range). They come in two forms – traditional deep contour memory foam or a deep cushion hug that features marshmallow-like comfort. They’re excellent choices for side sleepers.
• 4-5.5 out of 10 (Soft) – If you are looking for a soft mattress with a balanced and consistent feel, then a mattress in this range is the best choice. They offer the ideal spinal support without compromising on softness.
• 5-7 out of 10 (Medium) – The medium range is on the firmer side of the level. Mattresses in this range boast a certain degree of slight softness. They have the core option for hug and sinkage. This firmness range is very important. It caters to more than 80% of sleepers.
• 5-9 out of 10 (Firm) – Firm mattresses are extremely tough. They contain minimal hug or sinkage. If you are a heavy sleeper, this could be a great option.
• 10 (Firmest) – This is the highest level of firmness. Simply put, this is an extremely hard mattress. It does not let you ‘’sink in’’ at all.

Round Up of the Best Soft Mattresses (Verified to Buy)

• 1. Full Size Mattress 12 Inch, Medium Firm Hybrid Mattress in...
• 2. Hycean Memory Foam Hybrid Mattress in a Box with Pocket...
• 3. Soft Plush Queen Mattress 12 Inch Hybrid Mattress in a...
• 4. Novilla King Size Mattress, 12 Inch Gel Memory Foam King...
• 5. Amazon Basics Memory Foam Mattress, Soft Plush Feel, Breathable, 12...
• 6. Avenco Queen Mattress 12 Inch in a Box, Queen Size...
• 7. Novilla Queen Mattress, 12 Inch Hybrid Mattress Queen with Comfort...
• 8. Novilla Full Mattress, 12 Inch Gel Memory Foam Full Size...
• 9. Amazon Basics Memory Foam Mattress, Soft Plush Feel, Breathable, 12...
• 10. Novilla Full Size Mattress, 8 Inch Full Size Mattress in...

Top 10 Soft Mattresses Brands on Amazon

Here is the list of top rated brands that evaluated by CherryPicks.

• in.the.box
• Hycean
• REGOSS
• Novilla
• Amazon Basics
• Avenco
• QOFYU
• EGOHOME
• Zinus
• FDW

Related Soft Mattresses Guides

For more personalized Soft Mattresses guides, Check those pages,

Final Words

When it comes to choosing the best soft mattress, your choice narrows down to three main factors:

• Your weight
• Your sleeping position
• Whether or not you suffer from any kind of pain, such as back pain, knee pain, shoulder pain, neck pain, etc.

In addition to the 3 above-mentioned factors, comfort should also be an important consideration. Regardless of whether a mattress is ideal for your back or not, if you do not feel relaxed or comfortable on the bed, chances are high that you won’t enjoy a good night’s sleep.

Fortunately, your search for a top-rated soft mattress should be easy now that we did the hard work for you.

The mattress that carries the day in this roundup of best soft mattress is Full Size Mattress 12 Inch, Medium Firm Hybrid .... In addition to having a great design to contour pressure points, it also offers above-average motion isolation. This mattress has a cooling gel to prevent overheating. Finally, yet importantly, it features pressure relief foam coupled with deep-compression support layers. Indeed, it boasts a combination of features that make it stand out from the rest.