Best Soft Mattress (2024)

What to Look for in a Soft Mattress 

Sinking into a plush mattress at the end of a long day can feel like a luxurious dream come true. However, when deciding on a soft bed, you will want to make sure it can also keep your spine well-aligned. 

To make sure that you’re getting the best plush mattress for you, you will need to consider the type of mattress that you like, along with your preferred sleep position and body type. Once those factors have been determined, it is advisable to consider factors such as cooling, responsiveness, and motion isolation, among others. We will break down these characteristics so that you will know exactly what to look for in a soft mattress. 

Type of Mattress 

Innerspring Mattresses 

Innerspring beds aren’t known for their softness. These beds are highly supportive, bouncy, and breathable, but the thin comfort layer won’t do wonders if you’re looking for something plush. You may be able to find some softer versions, but in general, we wouldn’t recommend a traditional innerspring for those who want a soft bed.

Hybrid Mattresses 

A hybrid is a mattress that’s built with an innerspring unit and multiple foam layers. They usually provide better cushioning and pressure relief than their traditional innerspring counterparts. Some brands sell softer hybrids made with memory foam on top that could work well for sleepers seeking a plush bed. Hybrid mattresses also have the added benefit of extra support and breathability from the coils.

Memory Foam Mattresses 

Memory foam is often found in softer beds because of its ability to relieve pressure well. With a memory foam mattress, you will experience a more slow-moving feel as you notice the foam conforming to your shape. 

Latex Mattresses 

Latex can relieve pressure well, but it can also feel firmer than memory foam. Furthermore, the material’s responsive nature is not always well-received by those looking for a truly soft sensation. Some manufacturers will use Talalay latex, a softer type of latex, in the comfort layers, which could help provide more plushness. 

Read Our Full Guide: Best Latex Bed

Other Considerations When Shopping for a Soft Mattress

Sleeping Position 

Softer mattresses are great for side sleepers because they often provide the most pressure relief, which is important in this position.

When you lie on your side, your weight is concentrated in small, precise zones (namely the shoulders and hips). As a result, you may notice pressure building up in these areas. A softer mattress can help alleviate that pressure by cradling your curves more than a firmer bed would.

Check Out Our Full Guide: Best Mattress for Side Sleepers

However, we don’t recommend soft beds for stomach sleepers, and most back sleepers will prefer a medium-firm or firm mattress. This is because these sleep positions require firmer support compared to side sleeping.

Weight/Body Type of Sleepers 

Lightweight sleepers (under 130 pounds or so) can also benefit from a softer bed. We mentioned earlier that firmness is subjective, and perception of a mattress’s feel can vary depending on your body weight. Lightweight sleepers tend to be especially sensitive to firmer beds, whereas larger people will be more comfortable on them.

Therefore, a softer mattress can help ensure that a petite person feels cozy and cushioned while still keeping their body well-aligned.

Heavyweight sleepers should avoid soft beds because they would sink too far into the mattress, negatively impacting their spine alignment. 

Firmness

The firmness of the bed is probably the most direct measure of how soft it is. Though firmness is subjective, most beds that we consider to be plush will have a rating under 5 on our firmness scale of 1-10. In order to avoid getting a bed that’s too soft, we recommend not getting anything below a 4 rating. For reference, we do not rate beds lower than this on our site because they will provide little to no support for the back.

Cooling 

Softer mattresses are usually made out of memory foam (but not always), and this is a material that can bring the most substantial heat retention if it is not a modern design.

If heat is a problem for you, consider the construction of your soft mattress and make sure that there are cooling measures in place. This will help dissipate the heat and bring more coolness to your bed, in the hopes that you rest soundly.

With this in mind, there are certain materials that bring additional cooling and breathability to the bed. Latex, coils, and gel are among them. They may slightly raise the price, but if you can save yourself from waking up hot during the night, it’s worth it.

Learn More: Our Top-Rated Cooling Beds Reviewed

Motion Isolation 

Couples often enjoy softer beds because many of them are built with memory foam, which is not only excellent for pressure relief, but it’s also great at absorbing motion. This is important for couples, particularly those with different sleep schedules or mismatched sensitivity to movement.

Check out our mattress picks for couples here.

Sex

A soft bed may not be extremely conducive to sexual activity. This is because most people tend to sink further down in soft beds, which may make it difficult to move and reposition. 

However, sexually active couples who want some plushness can consider a softer latex or latex hybrid bed. Latex can help relieve pressure, but it’s also more responsive, which can allow you to move more easily during intimate moments. Look for beds made with Talalay latex as this is generally softer than Dunlop latex.

Pressure Relief 

Pressure relief is a bed’s ability to prevent pressure from building up around the areas of the body that come in contact with the bed throughout the night. For many people, soft beds provide excellent pressure relief, though an overly soft bed can affect spine alignment. Therefore, ensure the mattress will also provide adequate support for your hips and spine. 

Edge Support

Edge support is one thing that a lot of people disregard because it isn’t always of huge importance to every individual or couple. However, it can be important if you are part of a couple that needs more space. As a general rule of thumb, softer beds tend to be more challenged with edge support, though not always.

If you sleep with someone else, you may find yourself using the edges a lot more often than not. This is an example of when you’d truly appreciate proper support in this area. Good edge support allows for more usage of the entire surface, which can help you rest comfortably.

Budget 

How soft a bed feels shouldn’t impact the price. Usually, the mattress price is impacted by factors like material quality, durability, special cooling features, and the types of materials used. The good news here is that many soft beds are memory foam mattresses, which are usually cheaper than hybrid or latex options. Additionally, shopping online can help save you money by cutting out added costs from in-store retailers.

If you’re looking for a budget mattress, check out these cheap mattress options.

Best Soft Mattress FAQs