The Best Mattress for a Good Night’s Sleep

When it comes to getting a good night's sleep, there's no question -- your mattress matters. But with so many choices -- traditional coil, air, latex, and memory foam mattresses being some of the top contenders -- buying a new one can be a nightmare.

Neither bells and whistles nor a super-expensive price tag necessarily mean one mattress is better than another, say four experts consulted by WebMD. The right stuff, they say, should be firm enough to provide support to your back, neck, and legs, while still offering some cushion and recoil for comfort.

It's a delicate balance, says Charles Cefalu, MD, chief of geriatric medicine at Louisiana State University in New Orleans.

"You want a mattress that is firm enough to distribute your weight or you'll wake up sore due to your shoulders sagging or your hips sinking. On the other hand, you don't want to sleep on a board," he says.

Alan Hilibrand, MD, professor of orthopaedic surgery at Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia and a spokesman for the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, agrees that firm is usually the best choice.

"As a general rule, people tend to be most comfortable on a firm mattress, but there's a lot of variation," he says.

"Researchers have tried very hard to study this in a scientific fashion and have found that there is too much variability between people to come to any firm conclusions about what's the best mattress," he explains.

Tips for Mattress Shopping

Roger Herr, PT, a Seattle-based spokesman for the American Physical Therapy Association, recommends a mattress that allows you to relax but that also supports the normal S curve of the back.

You have to devote time (Hilibrand suggests 15 to 20 minutes per mattress) actually testing various sleep surfaces before deciding, the experts agree. Don't be shy: Lie on your back, your belly, your side. If you have a significant other, he or she should be along for the trip.

Clete A. Kushida, MD, PhD, director of the Stanford Center for Human Sleep Research in Stanford, Calif., and a spokesman for the American Association of Sleep Medicine, suggests this test: "Lie on your side. If your shoulders and hips are sinking, if you feel your spine is not aligned, it's probably too soft. If you feel pain and discomfort, it's probably too firm," he says.

Herr recommends shopping as late in the day as possible. In the morning, when you're perky, "a lot of things feel good that wouldn't later," he says. Even then, buy your mattress from a store with a 30-day refund policy. "That way you have time to really give it a chance."

Kushida says that "best" doesn't necessarily mean "most expensive." "Just make sure it's well constructed," he says.