Getting the Right Thickness of a Memory Foam Mattress

Posted by Andrea Reyes on
Aug 05, 2022

So you’ve decided to take the plunge and get the best memory foam mattress on the market, the Cool Breeze GEL Memory Foam mattress. This is an excellent decision, and we know you’re going to get many hours of restful sleep on this bed.

But the question you’re probably asking yourself, as you look to purchase a bed, is what thickness of mattress do you need? What is the standard mattress thickness, and what is the average mattress thickness? You might also wonder if you need a thick mattress pad to make your mattress comfortable? And what about sleeping on a futon: do you need a thick futon mattress?

Let’s break it all down.

What is a Cool Breeze GEL Memory Foam Mattress?

By now, we all probably know about memory foam mattresses. They’re the mattress types that gives your comfort and support by conforming to the contours and shape of your body. Memory foam was invented by NASA for its astronaut program and it’s very advanced–but can use improvement.

The problem with memory foam is that it conforms just a little TOO well to your body, wrapping you up in a bit of a cocoon while you sleep. And while that may be very comfortable and soothing, it can also be very hot. That’s why we’ve introduced gel comfort layers into the memory foam. These layers wick away the heat, giving you a nice cool mattress that still has all the benefits of memory foam.

But What Size Gel Memory Foam Mattress Do I Need?

Well let’s dispel one notion. There may be predetermined sizes of mattresses (full, queen, king, etc), but there are no official or standardized thicknesses of mattresses.

Generally speaking, most high-quality mattresses will be between 8 inches and 14 inches thick. Again, these aren’t standardized measurements, but a good rule of thumb:

2 to 5 inches: Low profile mattresses
5 to 8 inches: Slim mattresses
8 to 12 inches: Standard mattresses
12 to 16 inches: Thick, deep or tall mattresses
16 inches or more: Extra thick, extra deep or extra tall

Another general rule of thumb, when picking out what mattress you want to have on your bed, is that the height of your bed, with mattress, should come in somewhere around 25 inches. A lot of this will depend on the bed base or bed frame, and whether or not you use a box spring.

What Are the Exceptions to the Rule?

There are actually quite a few exceptions, as you could probably guess. A mattress on a futon frame is going to be a much thinner mattress than a mattress on a standard frame, and the futon will very likely not be 25 inches off the floor.

Also, childrens’ beds do not adhere to these same standards. Children and teens beds will generally use thin mattresses on lower beds and, as the child grows older, they will move more to thicker mattresses.

What About Mattress Toppers?

Mattress toppers are an interesting addition to your bed. Some people want them because of the extra cushioning they provide, but often they are unnecessary (or, at least, provide very little additional support compared to a hybrid mattress like a Gel Memory Foam mattress.

Still, some people swear by mattress toppers, and if you find that they’re comfortable for you and that they relieve pressure points, there’s nothing wrong with adding one to your standard mattress.

What Other Factors Will Affect Your Choice of Mattress Thickness?

Certain types of sleepers will find that certain mattresses suit them better than others. Some of this has to do with body weight: lighter people will be more comfortable on a thinner mattress than heavier people.

Rule of thumb for body type and mattresses:

Someone Weighing Less than 130 Pounds: This size person will be comfortable, generally, in a mattress less than 10 inches deep.
Someone Weighing 130 to 230 Pounds: This person will want something more in the range of 10 to 12 inches for a comfortable sleep.
Someone Weighing More than 230 Pounds: This person will do best in a mattress 12 inches or more

But also the position you sleep in will affect the thickness of the mattress that you want: a side sleeper or a stomach sleeper might find that the thickness of the mattress makes a big impact. Side sleepers have natural pressure points at the hips and the shoulders, and the thicker the mattress, the better night’s sleep these people will get. On the other hand, stomach sleepers might find themselves drowning in a thick mattress and will want something thinner.

Durability

One final factor to consider in a mattress’s thickness is that the thicker the mattress is, the longer it will last. A thin mattress, including the very slimmest, may only last 2-3 years. If you want a mattress that will last for a decent number of years you should shoot for at least eight inches.