Buying a suitable and high-performance soft mattress is not easy for most people. We need to make a balance between support and firmness. For a soft mattress, it is not easy to maintain the highest comfort, but also to perform well in support. Therefor, when you select a soft mattress, you want to consider many factors, such as sleeping position, body height/weight, and room environment. At the same time, comfort feeling is subjective. What is best for you may be not good for others. So no one can tell you which mattress is the best.
Though select a suitable soft mattress is not easy, we can still follow some clues. Here we will review the soft mattresses from different manufactures and introduce the most important factors for choosing the best soft mattress. If you decide to have a soft mattress, this article can be your perfect reference. We did many studies to make it easier for choosing a soft mattress.
Also, we will show you the pros and cons of sleeping on a soft mattress, and whether the soft mattress is suitable for your health.
Let’s dive in.
Soft vs. Firm Mattress
Mattresses are usually made of multiple layers that work together to provide a soft or firm feeling. In the mattress industry, we use a firmness number to indicate how the surface of the mattress feels. The firmness is affected greatly by the covering and comfort layer (or the top layer) of the mattress. We measure it by a scale of 1 to 10. The lower the numerical value, the softer the mattress should feel. The higher the numerical value, the firmer the mattress will feel. 1 means softest and 10 means the hardest. Most mattresses sold in the market have a number between 3 (“soft”) and 8 (“hard”). Though the firmness number is corresponding to the subjective feeling of the mattress surface, it is still important to experience it when you choose the mattress.
Generally, soft mattresses are popular in side sleepers because they improve the alignment and decompression of the spine. Also, people in lightweight love the soft mattresses very much, because they provide more consistency to the body shape than firmness models. Though there are lots of benefits, soft mattresses have some obvious drawbacks. One of the most mentioned problems is that you may tend to sleep hot in a soft mattress for the poor heat dissipation ability. If you are heavy, you can feel “sinking” when sleeping in a soft mattress. Also, the soft mattress has a shorter lifespan than the firmness mattress.
Here are general guidelines for mattress softness and firmness.
| 1 | Extremely soft | A mattress that lets you feel you are “sinking in” the bed. |
| 2-3 | Soft | You can feel the “sinking in”, but not so clear and remarkable. |
| 4-6 | Medium | A mattress that lets you feel less “sinking” but still soft. |
| 7-9 | Firm | A harder mattress that will not “sink in” and feels less soft. |
| 10 | Extremely firm | The hardest mattress that does not let you “sink in”, and is not soft. |
Our 7 Best Soft Mattresses
We collect a large amount of information from the market. By careful analysis and testing, we pick 7 best soft mattresses for you.
| Manufacturer | Model | Why We Choose | Price |
 | Purple Hybrid Premier Mattress | Editor’s Pick | Check Price |
 | Layla Mattress | Best Value Soft Mattress | Check Price |
 | Tempur-Pedic Tempur-ProAdapt Mattress | Best Luxury Soft Mattress | Check Price |
 | Brooklyn Bedding Bloom Hybrid Mattress | Best Soft Latex Mattress | Check Price |
 | Puffy Mattress | Best Soft Memory Foam Mattress | Check Price |
 | WinkBeds Hybrid Mattress | Best Soft Mattress for Back Pain | Check Price |
 | Casper Hybrid Mattress | Best Soft Mattress for Side Sleepers | Check Price |
What is the Best Soft Mattress?
The best soft mattress wants to have sufficient support without causing unnecessary firmness. It will provide perfect body adaption, pressure relief, and deep compression support, but still feels super comfortable.
The best soft mattress will not be easy to “sleep hot”. It can be temperature insensitive and keep the sleeper at a comfortable temperature all night.
The best soft mattress is noise-free and can isolate motion efficiently to keep you in less disruption, no matter how your sleep partner shifts body or change posture.
Editor’s Pick
Purple Hybrid Premier Mattress
People love the comfortable and hug-like feeling of soft mattresses, because they allow the sleeper to sink in deeper than average firm mattresses. The Purple Hybrid Premier is no exception. It is wildly popular for all sleep types. The incredible Purple Grid design makes it quite different from every other mattress. The thick comfort layer with the grid structure perfectly adapts to your body and stays cool for superior comfort, support, and overall better sleep.
The top layer is 4-inch Purple’s proprietary hyper-elastic polymer with a grid structure. It perfectly adapts to your body and sleeping position. The open-air zones and temperature-neutral materials let you rest at ease without worry about excessive hot. According to comments from customers, Purple mattress has a more outstanding cooling ability than the average memory foam mattress. It is said that the Purple is the best soft cooling mattress.
The core is supported by pocketed coils, which pair nicely with the polymer comfort layer to create a really bouncy mattress. So when you are sinking deep into the mattress, you do not need to worry about feeling stuck as you roll around.
Also, the Purple provides options of 3-inch and 4-inch of the Purple Grid layer for customers. You can select what suits you best. Since the high performance, this mattress is our editor’s pick.
Good for:
- All sleep types (side, back, stomach and combination sleepers)
- People in all weight groups (light, average, heavy)
- People who tend to sleep hot
- Young Children
- Older people
Best Value Soft Mattress
Layla Mattress
Many people like soft mattresses, but sometimes they also want to try firmer surfaces. Buying two mattresses with different firmness is obvious a waste. If you have such a need, the flippable mattress can perfectly meet you. Meanwhile, it can help you adjust the sleep preference. Flippable mattresses usually have different firmness settings on both sides, one is firm and the other is soft. You can flip it to adjust their sensations for every few months or years.
In the market, flippable mattresses are a little more expensive than average single side mattresses, because of their complex structure and durable design. But our Layla mattresses are relatively cheaper. The Queen size cost you less than $900 and the Cal King size is less than $1000. So we pick it as the best value soft mattress.
The Layla mattress has a “medium soft” (4) surface and a “firm” (7) surface. Each surface is made up of a comfortable layer of copper-gel memory foam, which is a stunning sleep substance. The copper-gel memory foam consists of copper-gel particles mixed in with memory foam. The copper-gel is good at heat transfer. When you sleep on the Layla mattress, the comfort layer fully conforms to your body, but you do not feel hot, because the copper-gel transfers excessive heat away quickly. Meanwhile, the copper-gel can also produce stronger blood flow for sleepers with poor circulation. So it is very healthy for your body.
The softer side of the Layla mattress is a plush cloud that cradles and soothes, and the firmer side provides increased support at deep compression areas. The shared support core is made up of a 4 inches high-density foam that controls the maximum motion transfer, reinforces the mattress and helps prevent indentations in both sides. If you are the person who prefers the soft mattress, and also wants to enjoy the firm support for some time, the Layla mattress is a nice option.
Good for:
- All sleep types (side, back, stomach and combination sleepers)
- People in all weight groups (light, average, heavy)
- People with shifting firmness preferences
- People with poor circulation
- Older people
Best Luxury Soft Mattress
Tempur-Pedic Tempur-ProAdapt Mattress
As one of the biggest brands in the mattress industry, Tempur-Pedic is well-known for its high-quality memory foam. TEMPUR-ProAdapt is one of their latest models, based on the classic TEMPUR-Adapt mattress.
TEMPUR-ProAdapt mattress uses two layers special memory foams: TEMPUR-ES Comfort layer and TEMPUR-APR Support layer. The two layers work combined to adapt to your unique body shape, and allow you to “sink” into the bed to achieve an incredible decompression effect. With a super-soft feel, this mattress minimizes pressure points that keep you awake. It is perfect for any sleep posture. Also, it is good for couples, because it makes good isolation for motion transfer.
Another advantage of the mattress is that it has a removable cooling cover. So the mattress cleaning and maintenance is very easy for you.
It has a 100-night sleep trial and a 10-Year warranty. You may choose it in no risk.
The Tempur-ProAdapt mattress comes in a price range of $2999 – $3999. Though it is a little expensive, it is definitely the best luxury mattress.
Good for:
- All sleep types, especially for side sleepers
- People in light and average weight
- Couples
Best Soft Latex mattress
Brooklyn Bedding Bloom Hybrid Mattress
Latex mattresses are popular for excellent comfort and eco-friendly nature, but most models tend to be tougher than their memory foam counterparts. This is because latex is usually more resilient and sensitive than memory foams. Bloom Hybrid of Brooklyn bedding offers a variety of firmness options, including “soft” (3.5) and “medium” (5.5) settings, which should be sufficient to meet your needs of soft mattresses. Both designs provide close body-conforming, relief the body stress and improve spine positioning for side sleepers.
Latex is a natural material and is widely used in mattresses for its high quality and performance. First, latex avoids the chemicals to be bought into the mattress. Second, it is a flexible material that prevents sleepers from feeling sunk in the mattress. Finally, it can transfer away body heat efficiently and keep you stay at the proper temperature.
The Brooklyn Bedding Bloom Hybrid mattress is made up of 4 layers. The top plush layer is a combination of organic cotton and natural wool. It provides exceptional breathability and moisture emitting. Beneath is a 3-inch high-quality nature Talalay latex layer. It greatly relaxes muscles, relieves tension, and recover the pressures of your body. The top two layers are not only eco-friendly but also highly breathable, which enable the Bloom Hybrid mattress to sleep cool and comfortable for most. The mattress core is an 8-inch engineered layer consists of up to 1189 individual pocketed coils, which are encased in high-density foam. The core provides sufficient support and better reactivity. Compared to other hybrid mattresses, the Bloom Hybrid has the notable ability for motion isolation, which produces less noise and minimizes the sleep disturbance for you.
Good for:
- Side, back, stomach, and combination sleepers
- People in all weight (light, average and heavy)
- People who tend to sleep hot
- People who have a particular allergy to chemicals, or prefer an organic and eco-friendly mattress
Best Soft Memory Foam Mattress
Puffy Mattress
Although different sleepers have different preferences for comfort, most people (with light or average weight) prefer softer mattresses. A good soft mattress can fully conform to your body and give you a feel of hug. A mattress that feels too firm may not hold the sleeper’s body tightly, which limits its ability to reduce stress. Here we pick the Puffy mattress as the best soft memory foam mattress. It lets you feel like sleeping in the cloud.
The top comfort layer consists of breathable gel-infused memory foam and temperature-resistant poly foam, which can take away excessive body heat effectively. So the Puffy sleeps much cooler than the average memory foam mattress. Beneath is the body adapting foam that perfectly conforms your body shape and helps provide full relief to pressure points. As a soft mattress, the Puffy has an outstanding consistency to your body. The third climate-comfort foam empowers the mattress super comfort without disrupting all night. The core is 6-inch foam that provides strong and durable support with highly responsive ability. It can support your body no matter how you move throughout the night. Though Puffy is the softest memory foam mattress, it still provides sufficient support for you all night.
Couples love this mattress very much because it isolates motion to a noticeable extent. No matter your partner gets up or shifts positions, you are not disrupted. Additionally, this mattress is noise-free when bearing weight.
You may notice that the Puffy mattress is a little more expensive than other memory foam mattresses. However, the brand offers free shipping to customers anywhere in the contiguous U.S. and offers a hassle-free lifetime warranty, which includes low-cost exchange options if a defect develops. Also, the mattress has a sleep trial of 101 nights.
Good for:
- Side, back, stomach and combination sleepers, especially for side sleepers
- People in light and average weight
- People who tend to sleep hot
- Couples
Best Soft Mattress for Back Pain
WinkBeds Hybrid Mattress
Hybrid mattresses usually provide a good balance among body adapting, body support and temperature neutrality. But most of them are firm (6 ~ 8). WinkBeds is a notable exception. It comes in 4 considered firmness options, soft(4.5), Luxury firm(6.5), firm(7.5) and plus(8). The Luxury Firm is the most popular model of WinkBeds in the market. As our experience, it is soft enough though it is firm. But if you prefer a softer surface, the soft(4.5) model is available for you.
WinkBeds is designed for sleepers who want to sleep “on top of the bed” rather than “in the bed”. If you want a firm but not too hard mattress, it is an ideal choice.
WinkBeds is also helpful for sleepers with chronic back pain. The innovative coil-on-coil construction allows it to provide more powerful support than the average mattress. The comfort system consists of a two-layer Euro-pillow top, followed by a layer of breathable micro Air-Springs. The Euro-pillow top ensures your body to get supportive cushioning from head to toe and prevent you from sinking in the mattress. The breathable micro air-springs maximum the air flow and keep your body at the proper temperature during sleep. The core system is made up of individually wrapped coils encased in foam, which provides durable sufficient support and reinforce the edges.
Besides, the coil-on-coil construction can isolate motion transfer fairly well. Also, it builds up high-performance air circulation to keep you and your couple in a comfortable temperature all night.
Good for:
- Side, back, stomach and combination sleepers
- People in all weight (light, average and heavy)
- People with back pain
- People who tend to sleep hot
- Couples
Best Soft Mattress for Side Sleepers
Casper Hybrid Mattress
Side sleepers tend to have soft mattresses more than any other type of sleeper. The Casper Hybrid is a good choice for side sleepers for its super plush feeling.
The Casper Hybrid mattress is made up of 4 layers of premium foam. The top layer consists of open-cell foams, which have tiny pores to let excess hot air escape. So you stay warm but not hot during sleep. Next is the combined two layers of memory foam, which can absorb your body pressure and transfers the pressure away from key areas. Additionally, it has special zoned support under shoulders and hips. Whether you sleep on your back, side, or stomach, you’ll get just the pressure relief for comfy alignment of the spine. The core is a layer of resilient-yet-gentle springs to provide more durable and resilient support and reinforce the whole mattress. The Casper Hybrid mattress makes a perfect balance between soft and firm. It is suitable for all weights and all body types.
If you are a side sleeper, you can take huge advantage of the Casper Hybrid, because it allows you to sink deep into the mattress for great pressure relief. Meanwhile, it is also a good option for couples. The memory foam layer can maximum absorb and isolate motion transfer, so you will not be disrupted no matter how your partner moves or changes position. It does not make any noise when bearing weight.
Good for:
- Side, back, stomach and combination sleepers, especially for side sleepers
- People in all weight (light, average and heavy)
- People who tend to sleep hot
- Couples
Is a soft mattress suitable for you?
Good sleep is the result of many factors, including the mattress firmness, sleep posture, body height/weight, age, health status and so on. The feeling of softness is different for every single person. A mattress that is very soft for you may feel firm for others.
Meanwhile, your weight also affects how soft or strong the mattress feels. In some cases, you may feel soft in the showroom of the mattress store, but feel firm at home. That is why most mattress manufactures provide sleep trials for users, which is very important for you to select a long-term satisfied mattress.
Though the soft feeling is subjective and varies for everybody, there are still some signs and indications that show you whether you need a softer mattress.
If you wake up and feel pain at pressure points such as shoulders and hips, you may need a softer mattress (your current mattress may be too hard).
If you sleep cooler, you may need a softer mattress to help you keep the warm temperature during sleep.
If you are in lightweight and you want to have a feel of hug, a softer mattress is suitable for you.
If you are disrupted by your sleep partner, a high-quality soft mattress with the ability of motion isolation can perfectly solve your trouble.
Who is suitable for the soft mattress?
- Side sleepers
- People who tend to sleep cool
- People in light or average weight
- People who are sleep lightly and easily disrupted by other things
- People who are suffering sleep apnea
Soft mattresses are more popular in side sleeper group. According to the study, a soft mattress can cushion your neck, shoulders and hips better than a firm mattress. The comfortable feeling makes side sleepers love the soft mattress very much. However, if the mattress is too plush, you may sag in and lose your spine position.
The colder sleepers are those who get colder at night, not those who wake up sweating and kicking the quilt. Thyroid insufficiency or other diseases may make you feel cold at night, or you may just be one of those people who feel colder than others. Soft mattresses conform to your body shape, allow you to cradle and use your body’s heat to keep warm. It looks a better choice for colder sleepers.
People with lighter weights are also suitable for soft mattresses. The heavier you are, the more likely you are to fall into the comfort layer of the mattress. If you weigh less, the stronger the mattress, the more uncomfortable it will be, so if your BMI is low, you may want a softer mattress.
Older people would like to enjoy softer mattresses. Because older people tend to run colder, a thicker and softer mattress allows you to sink in and enjoy the benefits of insulation. Thicker comfort layers can well protect body joints that become more fragile and weak with age. If you are sensitive and sleep light (cannot full into deep sleep easily), a soft mattress can make you sleep better and wake up feeling no pain.
You may be suffering the objective sleep apnea, which is not a sleep problem, but really affect your sleep quality. According to the study, side posture helps treat objective sleep apnea. A soft mattress can be a better option for side sleeping.
Who is NOT suitable for the soft mattress?
- Stomach and Back Sleepers
- People in heavyweight
- People who tend to sleep hot
- People who have backache
- Young Children
- Arthritis patients
If you sleep on your stomach or your back, a soft mattress may cause you to sink too deep, depriving your spine of its natural “S” curve. If your sleeping posture is incorrect, you wake up with back pain or other body aches. For those who sleep face up or face down, a firmer mattress is better.
Heavier people should not sleep in soft mattresses. The heavier you are, the more likely you are to fall into the comfort layer of the mattress. If you sink into the mattress too much, you may find it difficult to change your posture, which increases your body discomfort. You will find that you are trapped into an excessive hammock effect and your spine loses the alignment for uneven support.
If you are a person who tends to sleep hot, a firm mattress is better for you. Commonly, the less you sink in, the cooler your body is. Related research suggests that when you are in a deep sleep, your body temperature should drop a little. If you run hotter while sleeping, your sleep will be less stable. And a firm mattress may be better for keeping the proper temperature for you.
Backache patients were used to be advised firm mattresses. This theory has been overturned by extensive research, which shows that a medium-firmness mattress is more suitable for the treatment of back pain. Soft mattresses may not work well, because in some cases they can not provide enough and even support for a painful spine.
Body, toddler, and young children are not suitable for the soft mattress either. Soft mattresses may reduce their sleep quality, and even affect their spine alignment. At the same time, children’s sleep patterns vary with age, a firm mattress is much better to provide consistency to the body.
As we have mentioned, the older person has fragile and weak joints. A soft mattress can help to protect them well. But on the other side, a too soft mattress is not good for older people. A mattress with a stronger support layer and a softer upper comfortable surface is ideal for older persons.
Benefits of Soft Mattresses
You can enjoy and take advantage of a soft mattress if you are suitable for it.
1. More comfortable
This is the biggest benefit of soft mattresses. The soft and comfortable layers will cradle your body, allow you to enjoy the “sinking” feeling that many people like. A strong mattress does not have such a feeling.
2. Sleep Warm
According to sleep research, sleeping too hot will wake you up. However, sleeping too cold can also wake you up and disrupt your sleep cycle. Overlaying blankets can help those who run colder, but a softer sleeping surface allows greater “sinking” and will use your body temperature insulation to make you warmer at night, if that is your preference.
3. Comfortable to sit up
If you love to sit in bed reading, watching TV or surfing the Internet on a tablet or laptop, a soft mattress will let you sink in and give comfortable support for your hips and thighs.
4. Motion isolation
Soft mattresses can give improved motion isolation. If your partner often moves at night, a firm mattress becomes a problem because you may feel clear about his/her every move. A soft mattress that is good at motion isolation can protect you from disrupting by motion transfer.
5. Pain relief
If you wake up with pain in your hips, shoulders or neck, a soft mattress may be the answer. The thicker comfort layer eliminates the pressure area and evenly transfers them to the mattress surface. A soft mattress that conforms to your body but prevents it sinking excessively is helpful for relieving the pain when you wake up.
Tips for Buying a Soft Mattress
Now you have decided to select a suitable soft mattress. Here we give you some tips for buying a soft mattress and how to maintain it in the next few years.
1. Using sleep trials
As we have mentioned, most mattress manufacturers provide sleep trials for customers. Since the soft feeling is subjective, we strongly recommend you to fully use the sleep trails. It gives you a chance to deeply experience the mattress. If it is not satisfied with you, you can return the full or partial refund of the mattress before the end of the trail. Or you can replace your current mattress with a different firmness model. The detail sleep trails clause depends on every single manufacture.
2. Understanding warranty coverage
Usually, your mattress has several years’ warranty, such as 10 years or even more. You want to check carefully for your warranty coverage, especial the cases that are out of the warranty range. Surface sinking is a common problem for soft mattresses after using a period. In most cases, mattress manufacturers list excessive sagging and indentations within the product warranty coverage. If your soft mattress begins to sink prematurely, you can repair or replace it at the lowest cost. However, if you want to change the mattress because of your firm preference, it is usually not covered by your warranty.
3. Firmness can affect your pillow choices
Sleepers tend to sink deeper into soft mattresses, so it is not necessary to provide much cushioning for the head. Too much cushioning can cause pain and stress in the neck and shoulders. For this reason, lower and thinner pillows are usually recommended for softer mattresses, rather than higher and thicker pillows.
Sum up
If you prefer a soft mattress or you are suitable for the soft mattress, just check our article and try it.
