Mattresses these days come in a wide range of heights. You can buy some as short as 6 inches or as tall as 16 inches, and that’s not including mattress toppers, comforters, pillows, and all of those other goodies. If you so wish, you can even sleep like the Princess and the Pea with dozens of mattresses! Just make sure to have a ladder handy in case you want to pull that off.
But we digress.
Just like the firmness or softness of a mattress, height is also important as it determines how much support your body is getting as you sleep. Thicker mattresses tend to have more leeway, while thinner mattresses tend to be less forgiving. If you choose the wrong height for your body type, you could end up suffering from more body pains or paying more than you should.
So, before purchasing any mattress from mattress stores in San Diego, you should always ask a specialist what height of the mattress is best for you. Otherwise, you can read our helpful article below to determine what height to go for!
What are the Characteristics of Thick Mattresses?
Thick mattresses are usually between 12 to 16 inches thick. Of this measurement, around 6 inches of it will solely be the support core.
Does it seem like a sure win? Not necessarily! Here are the advantages and disadvantages of a thick mattress.
Advantages
The first pro to a thick mattress is that they’re amazing for people regardless of their weight. With more layers of support, the mattress would be well-equipped to cover every inch of your body while still allowing you to sleep in comfort.
Of course, this also means that thick mattresses are great for couples or families sleeping on the same bed. With a thinner mattress, it’s easy for the center to give away under all that weight.
On a related note, the second pro to a thick mattress is that it has quite a long lifespan. Since it takes a considerable amount of time to show strain, you can get more years out of it. In the case of mattress height, sometimes bigger is better!
Disadvantages
But not everything is as perfect as it seems.
Firstly, the bigger and thicker your mattress is, the more difficult it is to move. That means if you need to switch out the bedsheets, flip the mattress over, redecorate the room, clean under the bed, or move house to house, that thick mattress is going to be giving you some problems. You won’t be going anywhere without anybody else helping you move the darn thing.
Another thing to note about thick mattresses is that they’re quite hard to get out of if you’ve got mobility issues. It’s akin to getting out of a swimming pool bed while you’re in the pool—more than possible, but it takes a bit of effort. If you foresee a problem with that, then you might not want to go for a thick mattress.
What are the Characteristics of Thin Mattresses?
Thin mattresses, on the other hand, are 12 inches and below. Like thick mattresses, they also have their pros and cons.
Advantages
The biggest advantage of a thin mattress is its affordability! You can easily get one that’s within your price range, especially if you’re buying it from a mattress store in San Diego that sells them way below retail price, like Mattress Sale Liquidators. You can definitely find one for less than $1000.
Another advantage to thin mattresses is that they’re lightweight. Thick mattresses are usually very heavy, and older bedposts and frames simply can’t handle all of that extra weight, especially if they’re made of wood. Thin mattresses are fine and dandy and can go virtually anywhere!
Disadvantages
Being cheaper comes with a price. Thin mattresses need to be replaced more frequently because they’re less stable, drooping in the middle. You can try flipping your mattress over and over, but your back is eventually going to start protesting and begging you to replace your mattress entirely!
This lifespan shortens even more considerably if you’ve got multiple people sleeping on it, more so if the weight difference is pretty stark. If you’ve got a heavy-set man and a lightweight woman on either side, one side is going to sink deeper. It will also start caving in, making the lighter person roll towards the deeper side. That’s not exactly the kind of romantic setting you’d want, right?
How Do I Choose the Right Mattress for Me?
The right mattress height for you is dependent on several factors.
First and most important of all is your body weight.
If you’re above 250 lbs., we highly recommend going for a thicker mattress as it offers more support while still being cushiony. A thinner mattress would suffice for lightweight people.
Second, there’s your preferred sleeping position.
If you’re a back or side sleeper, you don’t necessarily need a thicker mattress to compensate. If you’re a stomach sleeper, though, you’ll need a thicker one to cushion your midsection while still aligning your spine just right.
The third is your age.
Older people with mobility problems and joint issues will have more difficulty getting up and down from a taller mattress. However, if you have wheelchairs or crutches, then a tall mattress could also work as you can seamlessly transition from sitting on the bed to sitting on your wheelchair easily.
Fourth is your budget.
If you’ve got money to invest, then go for the thicker mattress, as you can get your money’s worth back in a few years. If you just need a new mattress within a budget, though, then a thin mattress is the way to go.
Last but not least is aesthetics.
Would your room look good with a thin or thick mattress? Would it match the bed frame? Can the bed frame hold it? Will your room even fit it? Take a picture of your bedroom and show it to the specialist at our mattress store in San Diego—they’ll be able to find a mattress that’ll look right at home with your décor.
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