The UK firmness rating problem#
There is no standardised firmness rating system in the UK mattress market. Emma's "medium" and Simba's "medium" and Hypnos's "medium" may feel meaningfully different from each other. European brands use H1–H5 designations (H1 being softest); UK brands typically use soft/medium-soft/medium/medium-firm/firm labels. These are internally consistent within a brand but not comparable across brands. Always use trial periods to assess actual feel rather than relying on firmness labels alone.
The typical UK firmness scale#
| Label | Who it suits | European equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| Soft | Light side sleepers (under 9 stone); those with pressure point pain | H1–H2 |
| Medium soft | Side sleepers of average weight; lighter combination sleepers | H2 |
| Medium | The most versatile, suits most average-weight side, back and combination sleepers | H3 |
| Medium firm | Back sleepers; heavier side sleepers; those who find medium too soft | H3–H4 |
| Firm | Stomach sleepers; very heavy sleepers; those requiring maximum support | H4–H5 |
| Orthopaedic/extra firm | Heavy sleepers requiring maximum support; post-surgery specific recommendations | H5 |
How body weight modifies firmness perception#
The same mattress feels different to a 8-stone person and a 17-stone person. Heavier sleepers compress comfort layers more deeply, making any given firmness feel softer than it does to a lighter person. As a rule of thumb: if you're above 14 stone (90 kg), consider one step firmer than the standard recommendation for your sleep position. If you're below 9 stone (57 kg), consider one step softer.
Firmness and sleep position: the decision matrix#
Combining your sleep position and weight gives you a starting firmness to look for:
- Light side sleeper (under 9 st): Soft to medium-soft
- Average side sleeper (9–14 st): Medium-soft to medium
- Heavy side sleeper (over 14 st): Medium to medium-firm
- Light back sleeper: Medium
- Average back sleeper: Medium to medium-firm
- Heavy back sleeper: Medium-firm to firm
- Stomach sleeper (any weight): Medium-firm to firm
- Combination sleeper: Medium (most versatile)
What "orthopaedic" actually means#
In the UK, "orthopaedic" is a marketing term, not a medically certified designation. Any mattress brand can call a mattress "orthopaedic." It typically indicates a firmer mattress, but there's no regulatory body that certifies what qualifies. Don't pay a premium for the "orthopaedic" label alone. Assess the firmness, construction and materials independently.
The role of trial periods#
Given that firmness perception is so individual and brand labels are inconsistent, trial periods are essential. Use the trial to assess how you feel on waking, not how comfortable the mattress feels when you first lie on it. A mattress that feels luxuriously soft in week one may feel too soft by week eight as your body provides more data. The 8-week mark is often when sleepers make a more reliable judgement about firmness suitability.
Our firmness ratings for the mattresses we score#
Makers' firmness labels are not comparable between brands, so we rate feel ourselves on the same scale. Here is where the catalogue sits.
| Our rating | Mattresses | Typical buyer |
|---|---|---|
| Extra-firm | Majestic 11000 Extra Firm, Majestic 9000 Extra Firm | Heavier back or front sleepers, or a strong personal preference |
| Firm | LuxeErgo 3400 Hybrid, Luxe OrthoSupport9 Foam, Comfort Ortho Firm | Back pain, anyone over 14 stone, front sleepers |
| Medium-firm | Emma Original Pro, Emma NextGen Premium Plus | Back sleepers, couples with mixed positions |
| Medium | Luxe Velour Hybrid, Emma Original, Superior Cashmere | Most people; the default if unsure |
| Medium-soft | Luxe Nova Hybrid, Luxe-Latex Natural Pillow Top 5000 | Side sleepers under 12 stone |
| Soft | Tencel 1000 | Lighter side sleepers who want to sink |
If you weigh over about 14 stone, move one step firmer than the table suggests for your position; under 10 stone, one step softer. Our weight chart does this for you, and a 100-night trial is the safety net if the guess is wrong.
Frequently asked questions#
What firmness mattress should I get?#
Medium to medium-firm suits the majority of adults. Go firmer if you are over 14 stone, sleep on your front or back, or have lower back pain. Go softer if you are under 10 stone, sleep on your side, or get shoulder and hip pressure on firmer beds.
Is medium-firm the best firmness for back pain?#
For most people with non-specific lower back pain, yes: the best-known trial on the subject found medium-firm beat firm for pain and disability. Heavier sufferers may need firm to get the same effective support.
Why do mattress firmness ratings vary so much?#
There is no industry standard. One brand's 'medium' is another's 'medium-firm', and a firm foam feels different from a firm spring. That is why we rate feel ourselves and why a trial period matters.
Does a mattress get softer over time?#
Yes, all of them. Foams and fillings settle by 10–15% in the first few months and continue slowly after. If you are between two firmnesses, choose the firmer; it will soften toward the feel you want, not away from it.
Related reading#
- Firmness by weight chart – the quick lookup
- Firm vs soft mattress – the two ends compared
- Does firmness affect sleep? – the evidence
- Sleep position and mattress choice – the other half of the equation
- Best firm mattresses – the firm collection
