Mattress firmness: firm or soft?
The right mattress firmness lets you lie down comfortably and change position without discomfort. The hardest model is not automatically the best suited.
Before looking for a new mattress, describe your current discomfort. Is it pressure on the shoulder, a sinking feeling or a surface you find too hard? These sensations do not necessarily call for the same answer.
Mattress firmness: telling surface feel from support
Surface feel is the first sensation when you touch the surface. Support depends on how the whole mattress behaves under your body. A quilted finish can soften the contact without, on its own, describing what happens deeper down.
The terms “firm” and “soft” do not give a universal feeling. Your position, body type and the base used all play a part in your perception. So compare models in conditions as similar as possible.
How to compare in store?
Lie down in your usual position, then switch sides. Don't just sit on the edge. If you share the bed, compare together whenever possible.
| To observe | Question to ask yourself |
|---|---|
| Contact | Is any part of my body under uncomfortable pressure? |
| Movement | Can I turn over easily? |
| The whole bed | Which bed base and pillow go with this model? |
These guidelines organise your comparison; they are not a medical examination. How it feels in store is also different from several nights in your own bedroom.
Harder does not always mean better
A trial published in The Lancet studied 313 adults with chronic non-specific low back pain. It compared firm and medium-firm mattresses. The authors concluded in favour of medium-firm in this population. See the trial by Kovacs and colleagues (2003).
This result does not set an ideal firmness for everyone. Nor does it validate any particular MACACI model. If pain persists or worsens, seek medical advice rather than expecting a purchase to solve it.
Prepare your choice without rushing to buy
First check the condition of your bed base. Note the model of your current mattress and the sensations you want to change. Keep the same position and a comparable pillow when moving from one model to another.
The material remains a separate criterion: our latex vs foam comparison explains what to ask about composition. For the whole bed, also check the height of your pillow.
Updated on 05/11/2026. Article based on the cited references and in-store comparison guidelines. No physical testing or medical validation of MACACI products was carried out for this article.