Soft vs. Medium Mattress: Which Is Right for You?
- Most mattresses sold as soft rate 1 to 4 out of 10, while medium mattresses rate 5 to 6 on the 10-point firmness scale.
- Side sleepers usually do best between 3 and 6, back and combination sleepers between 5 and 8, and stomach sleepers between 7 and 10.
- Soft beds let you sink deeper and tend to feel warmer, while medium beds push back sooner and suit more couples.
A soft mattress (about 1 to 4 out of 10) lets your shoulders and hips sink deep into plush layers, while a medium mattress (5 to 6) cushions you but pushes back sooner. Side sleepers can use either, since their range is 3 to 6, but back and combination sleepers need 5 to 8, which points to medium.
Top Recommended Mattress: Amerisleep AS3
For side, back, and combination sleepers who are torn between soft and medium, my top mattress recommendation is the Amerisleep AS3, a medium memory foam mattress rated 5 to 6 out of 10. Its rating sits inside the 5 to 8 range this guide gives back and combination sleepers and at the firmer end of the 3 to 6 side sleeper range. On my side, my shoulders and hips sank in just enough while my midsection stayed supported. It suits average-weight sleepers and couples. It comes with a 100-night trial and a 20-year warranty.
Soft vs. Medium Mattress: Key Differences
The biggest difference between soft and medium mattresses is how far you sink in, and that one difference shapes how each bed handles heat, edges, and wear.
| Attribute | Soft mattress | Medium mattress |
|---|---|---|
| Firmness rating | About 1 to 4 out of 10 | 5 to 6 out of 10 |
| Surface feel | Plush and enveloping | Cushioned but balanced |
| How far you sink | Deep, especially at the shoulders and hips | Moderate, so you rest closer to the top of the bed |
| Heat | Tends to feel warmer, since more of your body sinks into the comfort layers | Tends to trap less heat than a soft bed made of the same material |
| Edges | Usually compress more when you sit on the side | Usually feel steadier when you sit on the side |
| Wear over time | Thick, soft comfort layers tend to show body impressions sooner | Tends to hold its shape longer than a soft bed of similar quality |
On Sleep Junkie’s 10-point scale, beds sold as soft span the soft (1 to 2) and medium-soft (3 to 4) bands, while medium covers 5 to 6. For how every level from 1 to 10 is defined, see the mattress firmness scale guide.
What Is a Soft Mattress?
A soft mattress is a bed rated about 1 to 4 out of 10 whose thick, plush comfort layers give way easily under your weight and mold to the curves of your body.
Soft beds usually get that feel from 2 inches or more of plush memory foam, soft latex, or a pillow top above the support core, and many are 12 to 14 inches tall to fit those layers. Memory foam tends to give the slowest, deepest hug, latex feels soft but springs back faster, and a soft hybrid adds coils underneath for more lift.
Some people with joint conditions such as arthritis prefer a plush surface because it spreads pressure at the shoulder and hip, but a mattress is a comfort choice, not a treatment, so follow your doctor’s guidance. If you already know you want this feel, the best soft mattresses guide compares current options.
What Is a Medium Mattress?
A medium mattress is a bed rated 5 to 6 out of 10 that pairs a cushioned comfort layer with a supportive core, so it molds to your body without letting you sink far into it.
You can find a medium feel in every major build: all-foam beds use a moderate memory foam or polyfoam comfort layer over dense base foam, latex beds use a medium latex layer, and hybrids place that comfort layer over pocketed coils. Its comfort layers are usually thinner or firmer than a soft bed’s, which is where the extra pushback comes from.
Brands label firmness differently, so one company’s medium can feel closer to another’s medium-firm. Check the number a brand gives, not just the word. If you are deciding between the two ends of the scale instead, the firm vs. soft mattress guide covers that comparison.
Soft or Medium Mattress for Your Sleeping Position
Your sleeping position settles most of this decision: side sleepers can go soft or medium, back and combination sleepers fit medium better than soft, and stomach sleepers need something firmer than either.
| Sleeping position | Recommended firmness | Soft or medium? |
|---|---|---|
| Side | Medium-soft to medium, 3 to 6 | Either one |
| Back | Medium to medium-firm, 5 to 8 | Medium |
| Stomach | Medium-firm to firm, 7 to 10 | Neither; go firmer |
| Combination | Medium to medium-firm, 5 to 8 | Medium |
These ranges assume a sleeper of about 130 to 230 pounds. Under 130 pounds, go one step softer; over 230 pounds, go one step firmer.
Side Sleepers
Side sleepers can pick either firmness, because their 3 to 6 range runs from medium-soft through medium. On your side, the shoulder and hip press hardest into the bed, so they need room to sink while your waist stays supported. Lying on my side, I pay attention to pressure at the shoulder and hip: if the shoulder feels jammed, the bed is too firm for you, and if the waist dips toward the bed, it is too soft. The best mattresses for side sleepers guide lists options in this range.
Back Sleepers
Back sleepers fit medium better than soft, because their range is 5 to 8. A soft bed tends to let the hips sink below the shoulders, which pulls the lower back out of line, while a medium or medium-firm surface keeps the spine closer to neutral. If medium still feels too plush on your back, step up to medium-firm, and compare picks in the best mattresses for back sleepers guide.
Stomach Sleepers
Stomach sleepers usually need a firmer bed than soft or medium, because their range is 7 to 10. Your hips carry the most weight in this position, and a soft or medium surface tends to let them sag, which arches the lower back. Look at medium-firm and firm options instead, such as the picks in the best mattresses for stomach sleepers guide or the best firm mattresses guide.
Combination Sleepers
Combination sleepers are better matched to medium, because their range is 5 to 8. Medium gives enough cushion for the hours you spend on your side and enough support when you roll onto your back. A very soft bed also tends to hold the hip in place for a moment as you turn, while a medium surface lets go faster, so repositioning takes less effort. The best mattresses for combination sleepers guide focuses on this group.
How Body Weight Changes the Choice
Body weight changes the choice because a heavier body presses further into the same mattress, so one bed can feel soft to one person and medium to another. That is why the one-step adjustment above matters most when you sit near the line between soft and medium.
Lighter sleepers often find a medium bed feels firmer than its rating, because they do not press far enough into the comfort layers to feel the contouring. A soft or medium-soft bed gives them the cushion an average-weight sleeper gets from medium, and the best mattresses for petite sleepers guide covers picks for smaller frames.
Heavier sleepers tend to sink through a soft bed’s comfort layers, and many find even medium too soft, especially on the back or stomach. Medium-firm and firmer beds with dense foam or coils usually suit them better, as covered in the best mattresses for heavy people guide.
Soft vs. Medium Mattress for Couples
For couples, a medium mattress is usually the easier shared choice, because its 5 to 6 rating falls inside the side, back, and combination ranges at once, so neither partner gives up much.
A soft bed can still work for two people when both are lighter side sleepers who like a plush feel. If your preferences are far apart, a split king, which is two Twin XL mattresses side by side, lets each person choose a different firmness.
Motion isolation depends more on materials than on firmness: memory foam and individually wrapped coils tend to limit how far a partner’s movement travels, and the overview of types of mattresses compares how each material behaves. To check motion transfer, I lie still while my partner shifts on the other side of the bed. For picks built around shared sleep, see the best mattresses for couples.
Which Should You Choose?
Choose a soft mattress if you sleep on your side and want a deep, plush feel, and choose a medium mattress if you sleep on your back, switch positions, or share the bed.
Choose a soft mattress if:
- You sleep mostly on your side and like the feeling of sinking in.
- You weigh under 130 pounds and medium beds feel hard to you.
- Your current mattress feels too firm and you want more cushion at the shoulder and hip.
Choose a medium mattress if:
- You sleep on your back or change positions often.
- You are a side sleeper of average weight who wants cushion without sinking deep.
- You share the bed with someone whose sleeping position or weight differs from yours.
If you sleep on your stomach or weigh over 230 pounds, neither may fit, so start with the best medium-firm mattresses instead. If you want one medium bed that works for side, back, and combination sleeping, the Amerisleep AS3 is my top pick for this guide. For more options that suit several sleeping styles, the most comfortable mattresses guide is a good next stop.
Bottom Line
Soft and medium mattresses differ mainly in how far you sink. Soft suits lighter side sleepers who want a plush hug, while medium suits back sleepers, combination sleepers, couples, and side sleepers of average weight. To compare specific models in either feel, start with the best mattresses guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a medium mattress the same as a medium-firm mattress?
No, medium and medium-firm are different levels. On Sleep Junkie’s scale, medium rates 5 to 6 out of 10 and medium-firm rates 7 to 8, so a medium-firm bed pushes back more and lets you sink less. Back and combination sleepers can use either, since their range runs from 5 to 8.
Are mattress firmness and support the same thing?
No, firmness and support are different. Firmness describes how soft or hard the surface feels when you lie down, while support describes how well the mattress holds your spine in line. Firmness comes mostly from the comfort layers and support mostly from the core, so a soft bed can still be supportive if its core is sturdy.
Can you make a medium mattress feel softer?
Yes, a plush memory foam or latex topper is the quickest way to make a medium mattress feel softer, since it adds cushion at the shoulders and hips without replacing the bed. Many mattresses also soften slightly during the first few weeks of use. If your bed is sagging or worn, a topper will not fix it, and the mattress topper or new mattress guide can help you decide.
Does a soft mattress wear out faster than a medium one?
A soft mattress often shows wear sooner, because its thicker, softer comfort layers compress more under the same weight. Over time, that can appear as body impressions where you usually lie. Lifespan depends more on material quality than on the firmness label, though, so a well-built soft bed can outlast a cheaply made medium one.
Does a soft mattress feel warmer than a medium mattress?
Usually, yes: a soft mattress tends to feel warmer because you sink deeper, so more of your body touches the comfort layers. Dense memory foam tends to hold the most warmth. Materials matter as much as firmness, since latex and coil hybrids tend to trap less heat than all-foam beds, so a soft hybrid can feel cooler than a medium all-foam bed.
