Soft, medium or firm mattress tensions explained.

Updated 2026: The mattress spring tension is based primarily on your body weight, which is where most people make mistakes. It is the fibres on top that create the feel of the mattress.

At John Ryan By Design, we’ve spent over 25 years helping customers understand this distinction. In this guide, we’ll explain how to choose the right spring tension, what makes a mattress feel soft or firm, and which of our mattresses might suit your sleeping preferences.

How to choose your mattress firmness

Before comparing mattresses, follow these four steps:

1. Establish the appropriate spring tension for your body weight to ensure the mattress provides suitable underlying support.
2. Consider your sleeping position and whether you prefer a softer, more cushioning surface or a firmer feel.
3. Review the upholstery and comfort layers, as these largely determine how the mattress feels when you lie on it.
4. Explore mattresses that combine the right support with your preferred comfort, rather than choosing based on a soft, medium or firm label alone.

If you’re unsure where to begin, our Mattress Finder and expert team can help you narrow down the options.

In this guide

1. How to choose the right mattress spring tension
2. Mattress fillings as the comfort layer
3. What makes a soft mattress?
4. What is a medium feel mattress made of?
5. What is inside a firm mattress?
6. How to tell if a mattress is too soft or firm
7. How to soften a firm mattress
8. How to make a soft mattress firmer
9. Frequently asked questions

1. How to choose the right mattress spring tension

Firstly, in the mattress industry, there is no precise industry-wide definition of soft, medium or firm. You will see all sorts of sliding scales and ratings, but without knowing what exactly is inside that mattress, it is just a guess.

Some retailers use these terms to describe the spring unit, while others are referring to the overall feel of the mattress. This makes direct comparisons difficult, particularly when the manufacturer does not publish the spring specification or upholstery details.

Spring tensions of a mattress are usually described as Soft, Medium or Firm. This gives the illusion that the mattress itself will feel this way. However, the spring tension primarily determines how the mattress responds to your body weight, rather than the softness of the upholstery you lie on.

The very first question you need to ask is which spring gauge is best for my body weight. This means you will have the appropriate level of underlying support during the night.

In a high-end mattress, different spring tensions will be available, allowing you to select either a soft, medium or firm spring depending on your body weight.

Spring tension guide by body weight

The table below shows the spring wire gauges we use across our ranges and the body weights each tension is designed to support. These are John Ryan’s published recommendations and should not be treated as a universal scale used by every mattress manufacturer.

Spring Tension	Wire Gauge	Recommended Body Weight
Soft	1.2mm	Bespoke tension (please call us)
Medium	1.4mm	Up to 16 stone (101kg)
Firm	1.6mm	16 stone and above (101kg+)
Extra Firm	1.9mm	20 stone and above (127kg+)

These recommendations are a starting point. The mattress construction, spring unit and individual requirements should also be considered, particularly if your weight falls close to the boundary between two tensions.

Another thing to bear in mind is that mattress tension is also relative to the size of the mattress. The same spring specification can feel different across mattress sizes because of differences in the overall construction and how the sleeping surface responds to weight.

If you’re changing from a single to a king size, or vice versa, it’s worth asking the manufacturer whether this will affect the feel of the particular model you’re considering.

There is also the fabric to consider. Mattresses that have a final layer of Latex or foam often have a soft knitted fabric to face the mattress, whereas some traditional mattresses use woven damask ticking.

The cover can contribute to the surface feel, although its effect depends on the fabric, weave, quilting and upholstery beneath it. For that reason, it’s better to assess the complete mattress construction rather than assume that one type of cover will always feel softer or be more breathable.

How Firm Should My Mattress Be?

Your mattress firmness should be dictated firstly by your weight. Always choose a spring tension that meets your weight using our spring tension guide above. The comfort layers should provide your preferred feel of the mattress, whether soft, medium or firm, but never choose the spring tension solely to achieve a particular surface feel.

Your sleeping position can then help guide the upholstery feel you choose:

• Side sleepers should choose a softer tension
• Back sleepers should choose a firmer tension
• Front sleepers should choose a medium tension

These are general preferences, not fixed spring-tension rules. A side sleeper who needs a firm spring tension for their body weight should not automatically select a softer spring simply because they sleep on their side.

For a full breakdown of how sleeping position interacts with firmness and spring tension, see our complete guide to the best mattress for each sleeping position.

Mattress firmness vs mattress support

There is a clear misunderstanding in the bed industry about perceived firmness and support. Often the two words are used interchangeably. We cannot stress enough how these two words have very distinct meanings and are not the same thing.

The support unit of your mattress is nearly always dictated by your weight and height. This is because spring units are manufactured with certain load or weight tolerances, meaning they are made to take a certain amount of weight to load (compress) and unload (extend) correctly.

If you choose a spring unit made for a weight tolerance that your body weight does not fit, you will either end up with a firmer spring than you need, which means it will not compress as it should, or too soft a spring meaning it compresses too far.

Whilst it is your choice to go for a super firm spring, it really will be overkill if your body weight cannot compress it sufficiently.

Most people mistakenly confuse spring tension with how the mattress will feel.

It is essential that you know the weight limit that can be applied to the spring to work out if it is going to be suitable for you. Even if you want the firmest mattress possible, a spring that is too firm for your body weight may not respond appropriately to your movements and pressure points.

The spring unit’s purpose is to compress and extend to accommodate your weight while providing consistent underlying support.

Unfortunately, there is no standard soft, medium or firm spring tension accepted across the industry. Each manufacturer will have their own definition. Our medium springs accommodate sleepers from around 10 stone up to 16 stone in the Origins range, with some give and take for those slightly outside that range.

Ask the mattress retailer what the spring tolerance is

You simply must ask mattress manufacturers what the spring weight tolerance is. Below we have listed our spring tolerances across three tensions. This should give you an idea of the kind of detail you should expect from any retailer.

Artisan Spring Tension	Weight Range
Soft	Available as a Bespoke Product (Please Call)
Medium	Upto 16 stone / 101kg
Firm	Over 16 stone / 101kg

If you’re unsure which tension is suitable, our team can advise you before you order. You can also explore our Artisan mattress range to see how different upholstery constructions can be paired with an appropriate spring tension.

How to tell if a mattress is too soft or firm

You may notice that your mattress isn’t providing the right combination of comfort and support through the way it feels during the night or when you wake up.

Possible signs include:

• Disturbed sleep
• Turning over frequently during the night
• Stiffness in shoulders, hips or back
• Discomfort on pressure points during the night
• Restless sleep
• Feeling like you are sinking excessively
• Sensations like sleeping on a board
• Difficulty getting out of bed due to discomfort

These symptoms can have several causes and do not necessarily mean your mattress is responsible. However, if you consistently feel uncomfortable on your mattress, it is worth reviewing both the spring tension and the upholstery firmness.

A mattress that is too firm for your comfort needs may create excessive pressure around the shoulders and hips. A mattress that is too soft may allow heavier areas of the body to sink further than is comfortable.

Identifying which issue applies is important before trying a mattress topper, changing the base or replacing the mattress. Persistent or significant pain should also be discussed with a healthcare professional.

If you’re ready to compare alternatives, browse our handmade mattresses or speak to our team about the most suitable construction for your body weight and preferred feel.

2. Mattress fillings as the comfort layer

Once you have established whether the spring support unit is suitable for you, the mattress upholstery layers on top of the spring unit will give you a better idea of the perceived overall firmness. These are also known as the comfort layers of a mattress.

While the spring unit provides underlying support, the upholstery is a major factor in how soft, medium or firm the mattress feels against your body.

By focusing on the spring unit alone, many buyers pay little attention to the type, GSM (how much each layer weighs) and blend of the mattress fillings.

This is where the real choice lies. You can have two medium tension springs, suitable for say a 13 stone sleeper, in two mattresses but topped with different upholstery layers that will give one a medium feel and another a much softer or firmer feel.

As a practical guide to how different fibres affect the feel of a mattress:

• Foams, for example in our Origins Reflex, give a firmer feel in the upholstery layer.
• British Fleece Wool and Cotton in the top layer of the Artisan Luxury will give a really soft feel to the mattress.
• Horsehair will give a firmer feel in the comfort layers, as in our Artisan Bespoke.
• Alpaca fibre and Bamboo are among the softest fibres available, as used in our Artisan Bespoke 003.

The precise feel depends on how these materials are processed, layered and combined. No single fibre guarantees a particular firmness on its own.

Each of our product descriptions in the shop gives an idea of how the mattress will feel for your body weight. We publish detailed GSM breakdowns of our upholstery layers to help customers compare mattress construction rather than relying on a firmness label alone.

How Different Mattress Upholstery Materials Feel

The table below provides a general guide to common mattress fillings. It is intended to illustrate the range of materials used in mattress upholstery rather than provide a fixed firmness rating for every possible construction.

Upholstery Layer	Fibre Type	How it will feel?	Price Point
Polyester	Synthetic	Soft	Cheap
White Fibre	Synthetic	Soft/Medium	Cheap
Recycled Fibre / Eco Fibre	Synthetic	Medium	Cheap
Memory Foam	Synthetic	Medium/Firm	Mid Price
Igel / Hybrid Foam	Synthetic	Medium/Firm	Mid Price
Polycotton	Synthetic/Natural Blend	Soft/Medium	Mid Price
Linen	Synthetic/Natural Blend	Medium	Mid Price
Wool (Pure)	Natural	Soft/Medium	High-End
Cotton (Pure)	Natural	Soft	High-End
Silk	Natural	Soft	Expensive
Horsehair	Natural	Medium	High-End
Mohair	Natural	Medium/Firm	High-End
Hemp	Natural	Medium	High-End
Latex (100% Natural)	Natural	Medium/Firm	High-End
Coir	Natural	Firm	High-End
Flax	Natural	Firm	High-End
Coarse Cashmere	Natural	Firm	High-End
Bamboo	Natural	Super Soft	Expensive / Exclusive
Horsetail	Natural	Firm	Expensive / Exclusive
Alpaca	Natural	Soft	Expensive / Exclusive
Cashmere (Pure)	Natural	Soft	Expensive / Exclusive
Vicuna	Natural	Super Soft	Expensive / Exclusive

For a more detailed explanation of upholstery construction, fibre blends and GSM, see our specialist mattress upholstery guidance. For now, the important thing is to understand how these layers influence the overall feel of a mattress.

3. What Makes a Soft Mattress?

Soft mattresses are usually made up of softer upholstery fibre fillings. These fillings are highly compressible and offer a cradling, enveloping feel rather than a flat, firmer surface.

Wool, Alpaca, Cotton and soft polyester on their own will make for a very soft feel mattress. These are usually layered with other fibres to provide some resilience beneath the surface softness.

A softer comfort feel can be particularly appealing to side sleepers who need cushioning around their shoulders and hips, as well as lighter sleepers who may not compress firmer upholstery layers as much.

A soft mattress should still have an appropriate spring tension for your body weight. Choosing a softer surface does not mean sacrificing underlying support.

John Ryan Soft Feel Mattress Recommendations

We have two genuinely soft mattresses in our ranges.

Origins Comfort 1000

Our entry-level pocket spring model with a soft feel, offering a more accessible starting point for customers who prefer cushioning comfort.

King size price in the existing article: £890 — subject to JRBD confirmation.

Artisan Luxury

Our handcrafted calico pocket spring model with 4,600GSM of 100% natural upholstery including Horsehair, Horsetail and Wool.

This is an option for customers looking for a softer comfort feel alongside a more substantial natural-fibre construction.

King size price in the existing article: £2,955 — subject to JRBD confirmation.

The key difference between these models is not simply how soft they feel, but the materials and construction used to achieve that comfort.

If you’re a side sleeper, our Side Sleeper Mattress Advice & Guidance explains how body weight, pressure relief and upholstery work together.

4. What is a Medium Feel Mattress Made Of?

The most popular mattress feel is medium. It is the good all-rounder in terms of feel: not too soft and not too firm, and genuinely suited to the widest range of sleepers and body weights.

A medium comfort feel provides a balance between cushioning and resilience, although the appropriate spring tension must still be selected separately.

A 2003 randomised controlled trial published in The Lancet found better pain and disability outcomes among participants with chronic non-specific lower back pain who used medium-firm mattresses compared with firm mattresses. This supports the view that firmer is not automatically better, although it does not establish one ideal mattress firmness for everybody.

Medium feel mattresses blend softer fibres like Wool with more resilient ones such as Coir, Horsehair, Mohair and other fibre blends.

The combination of these materials creates a more balanced surface feel, with some initial cushioning and greater resistance as the upholstery compresses.

John Ryan Medium Feel Mattress Recommendations

Artisan Naturals

Our best-selling model with 3,950GSM of upholstery including Mohair and Wool over 1,600 calico-encased pocket springs.

It offers a balanced medium comfort feel and is a useful starting point for customers considering a traditional natural-fibre pocket sprung mattress.

King size price in the existing article: £2,180 — subject to JRBD confirmation.

Artisan Bespoke 004

The Artisan Bespoke 004 sits above the Naturals with 3,600GSM of natural fibres including Horsetail and Wool over 1,600 calico-encased springs.

Its upholstery construction offers a different balance of cushioning and resilience for customers comparing medium-feel natural-fibre mattresses.

King size price in the existing article: £2,860 — subject to JRBD confirmation.

Both models offer spring-tension options to suit different body weights, allowing customers to choose the appropriate underlying support without relying solely on the overall comfort description.

Explore the Artisan Naturals and Artisan Bespoke 004 for their full construction details.

5. What is Inside a Firm Feel Mattress?

Firm feel mattresses use predominantly robust natural fibres such as Horsetail, Flax, polycotton, reflex foam and dense upholstery layers.

These materials can create a flatter, more resilient sleeping surface with less immediate cushioning than a soft-feel mattress.

Some sleepers prefer this sensation, particularly if they sleep on their back or front. However, a firm surface is not automatically more supportive or better for your back.

It is worth being clear that a firm feel from the upholstery is different from a firm spring tension. You can have a firm upholstery feel on a medium spring tension, which is entirely appropriate for a back or front sleeper of average body weight who wants a flatter, more supportive surface without needing a heavier gauge spring.

Firm feel mattresses typically contain dense polyester, high density foam, Coir, Horsehair, Flax and woven hemp pads in the upholstery layers.

John Ryan Firm Feel Mattress Recommendations

Artisan Bespoke

Our firmest handcrafted calico pocket spring model with 5,100GSM of natural upholstery.

This is an option for customers who prefer a distinctly firmer comfort feel but still want a traditional handmade natural-fibre mattress.

King size price in the existing article: £3,145 — subject to JRBD confirmation.

Resilience 2

The Resilience 2 is our firmest foam-based model, designed for customers who prefer a particularly solid, flat sleeping surface.

King size price in the existing article: £2,110 — subject to JRBD confirmation.

These are different constructions, so the right choice depends on your preference for natural-fibre upholstery or foam, alongside your body weight and sleeping requirements.

See the Resilience 2 mattress for further details or contact our team to discuss a suitable firm-feel mattress.

Ultra firm or ultra-soft mattresses

There are some people who really do prefer a rock-hard mattress (ultra-firm) or an all-engulfing ultra-soft mattress.

If this is you, let us know your preference, making it easier for our team to select a product within your price range that will be suitable for you.

Our Resilience 2 is our firmest mattress and may be worth considering for customers seeking an exceptionally firm feel. However, suitability should still be assessed against body weight and the mattress’s underlying support specification.

6. How to Soften a Firm Mattress

If your mattress is too firm and causing you sleepless nights, the good news is you can soften a firm mattress relatively easily.

The best way is by using mattress toppers and protectors, which add extra comfort layers that help give a softer feel to the surface.

This is a practical way to adjust the feel without replacing the entire mattress, though it will not change the spring unit beneath.

The best toppers to soften a firm mattress are:

• Super soft polyester toppers
• Soft Wool toppers
• Goose down toppers
• Duck down toppers
• Natural Latex 5cm deep toppers
• Multiple white fibre (polyester) quilted toppers

Different materials provide different levels of cushioning, so the best choice depends on how much you want to change the surface feel.

For more guidance, see our mattress topper advice before deciding whether a topper is likely to solve the problem.

Is There a Limit to the Number of Mattress Toppers You Can Add to a Bed?

There is no fixed number, but adding more toppers does not necessarily improve comfort.

We have advised some customers with very firm beds, in particular on yachts or motorhomes, to use multiple toppers on custom-made unusually sized firm mattresses where replacement is costly.

The biggest drawback with adding two or even three toppers is keeping them in place.

Check that your mattress toppers have corner straps making it easy to fit them to the mattress and stop them from moving. Alternatively, you can buy clips with elastic straps that connect to each side of the topper to keep them in place.

Bear in mind that multiple toppers can also affect how stable the sleeping surface feels and make fitted sheets more difficult to use. If the underlying mattress is unsuitable, adding more cushioning may not resolve the issue.

7. How to Make a Soft Mattress Firmer

Making a mattress firmer is generally more difficult than making it softer.

If your mattress is resting on a sprung or flexible base, changing to a more rigid, manufacturer-approved base may alter the way it feels. However, this depends on the mattress and base construction.

We sometimes discuss boarding over a sprung base using a suitable support board, but this should only be considered after checking the mattress and bed-base manufacturer’s guidance. Incorrectly modifying a base can affect ventilation, performance or warranty conditions.

If you are already on a platform top base, then unfortunately, there is usually very little scope to make the mattress substantially firmer by changing the base.

Likewise, a firmer-feeling topper may alter the immediate surface sensation, but it cannot correct an unsuitable spring tension or a mattress that has lost its underlying support.

If your mattress is genuinely too soft for your body weight, replacing it with the correct spring tension may be the most effective long-term solution.

If you’re unsure whether the problem lies with your mattress or your bed base, speak to our team before making changes.