We understand that shopping for a mattress online can leave you with few questions - most of them revolving around what your new bed will feel like when you get it home. That’s why we’ve created the ultimate guide to choosing your perfect Zinus mattress, so you can find the answers you’re looking for and put that decidophobia (yes, that word means what you think it means) to bed once and for all.  

Consider a few things first

Perhaps you’ve already given some thought to the preferences mentioned below, but we believe in being thorough. Here’s a checklist of what to think about when you begin to browse our mattresses:

• Your sleeping position
• Your weight and body type
• Whether or not you sleep with a partner (human or animal)
• Your personal sleep habits and preferences

Mattress firmness: a matter of opinion, not fact

 Terms like “soft”, “plush” or “firm” are all relative, qualitative words that often describe a mattress. Truth be told, the firmness level of a mattress is entirely subjective, depending on factors like the sleeper’s weight, sleep tendencies and personal preferences. Let us shed a little light so you can determine what a mattress might feel like to you.

 While shopping, you will notice that most Zinus mattresses come in different thicknesses. Ranging from 6 - 14 inches, we carry a variety of profile heights. In general, a taller mattress will feel softer than a shorter version of the same model. This is because taller mattresses are made up of additional layers, contributing further to the sinking feeling you get from a “soft” mattress. 

 Furthermore, it’s important to remember that your body weight plays a big part in how a mattress feels beneath you. Heavier people will sink further into any mattress, meaning they perceive most models to feel soft. By contrast, lighter people do not put as much pressure on a mattress’s surface, giving them the feeling of extra firmness.

 With a better understanding of how you might perceive mattress firmness, let’s now take a look at a few common types of sleepers and our top recommendations for those individuals. 

The side sleeper

Soft and conforming like the name implies, our Pressure Relief Cloud Memory Foam Mattress is a side sleeper’s dream. It’s designed with layers of cradling memory foam and comfort foam, ensuring that you sink in just right and awake restored.

The stomach sleeper

Our Pressure Relief Gel Memory Foam iCoil® Hybrid Mattress features optimal support from its pocketed springs and a touch of softness from its comfort foam and Viscolatex foam top layers. And bonus points for its cooling gel infusion, which whisks away the extra body heat you’ll tend to generate from all that bodily surface area contact with the mattress.

The back sleeper

Our Pressure Relief Pillow Top iCoil® Hybrid Mattress features a base support layer of pocketed springs which provide a firmer feel while also adhering to your body’s contours. Its pillowy top layer of comfort foam helps it achieve just the right balance between soft and firm for back-sleepers.

The all-over-the-place sleeper

So what if you don’t exactly assume one of the common sleep positions above, but tend to shift between a combination of all three? You’re not alone. And fear not, there are mattresses designed to support more active sleep habits.

Particularly for those who like to flip-flop between back and stomach during the night, our Pressure Relief Olive Oil Memory Foam iCoil® Hybrid Mattress has a few great things going for it. Beginning with a base of 8-inch pocketed springs for a solid foundation, this design lets you rest atop supportive foam layers and a soft fiber and foam quilted cover. As you move around, its iCoils will move independently of one another, helping to isolate motion to your side of the bed. This mattress also features superior edge support, which helps to keep you safely in bed as you work on finding your most comfortable spot. 

If side-to-back or side-to-stomach is more your preference, it’s important to find a mattress that will specialize in molding to your hips, shoulders and spinal curvature. And motion transfer is still an obvious concern, especially if you sleep with a loved one. A memory foam model, like our Pressure Relief Green Tea Memory Foam Mattress, will offer the contouring comfort you need and has a less reactive feel that won’t disturb you or a sleeping partner. 

The petite sleeper

On the smaller side? It’s quite possible that most mattresses feel firm to you. For the right amount of cushioning and support, our Pressure Relief Green Tea Memory Foam 12” Mattress is the way to go. 

The plus-sized sleeper

Our Pressure Relief Extra Firm iCoil® Hybrid Mattress is densely packed with heavy gauge steel pocketed springs to support larger individuals without sagging.

The hot sleeper

Opt for something like our Cooling Gel Memory Foam Mattress. Special gel foam, devised to draw heat away from the body, is built right into the soft, breathable knit fabric covered top layer.

Couples and co-sleeping families

And lucky for you, most of our Zinus mattresses are made from motion-isolating memory foam or iCoil pocket springs, so it’s hard to make the wrong choice. But if you’re asking for our recommendation, we’re big fans of the Pressure Relief Euro Top iCoil® Hybrid Mattress for its luxurious cover, plush quilted top and supportive foundation of iCoil springs. 

 Joint pain sufferers

Our Pressure Relief Cloud Memory Foam Mattress is meant to hug your shape, without putting any unnecessary pressure on sensitive areas like the hips, shoulders, neck and spine.