--- title: "Mattress Firmness Scale: 1–10 Chart Explained" description: "Mattress firmness scale explained: the common 1–10 chart, what soft to extra firm mean, why UK shops differ, and how weight and base change the feel." url: "https://bedguide.co.uk/mattresses/mattress-firmness-scale/" category: "mattresses" primary_entity: "mattress firmness scale" date_published: 2026-10-21 date_modified: 2026-10-21 --- # Mattress Firmness Scale: 1–10 Chart Explained > A mattress firmness scale rates how soft or firm a mattress feels, often from 1 (very soft) to 10 (extra firm). There is no UK standard. Each shop and maker sets its own scale, so a 6 in one shop can feel like a 7 elsewhere. Body weight, the base and room temperature also change how firm it feels. ## Key facts - Materials: pocket springs, memory foam, latex, comfort fillings Key facts: - Common firmness scale: Usually 1 to 10 — Some shops use 1 to 5, or words only. - Who sets the scale: No UK standard — Each shop or maker sets its own. - A common middle band: Medium-firm ≈ 6–7 — The same number can feel different between shops. - Shop test: At least 10 minutes — Lie in your real sleep position. Sources: - [National Bed Federation (Bed Advice) — how to choose a mattress](https://bedadvice.co.uk/bed-buyers-guide/how-to-choose-a-mattress/) — Springs give support and the layers on top give comfort. Construction types and how they feel. Checked 2026-09-25. - [National Bed Federation (Bed Advice) — buying a bed that is right for you](https://bedadvice.co.uk/bed-buyers-guide/buying-a-bed-thats-right-for-you/) — Heavier people generally need a firmer tension. Partners of very different weights may need different mattresses. Checked 2026-09-25. ## What does a mattress firmness scale measure? A firmness scale describes how a mattress feels when you lie on it. Soft means you sink in more. Firm means the mattress pushes back more and you sink in less. Many UK shops use numbers from 1 to 10. A 1 is very soft. A 10 is extra firm. Some shops use a shorter scale, such as 1 to 5. Others use words only, like soft, medium and firm. The number is a guide to feel. It is not a quality score. A firm mattress is not better made than a soft one, and a soft one is not more comfortable for everyone. ## Is there a UK standard for mattress firmness? No. There is no British Standard for comfort firmness. Each maker or shop sets its own scale. So a "6" in one shop can feel like a "7" in another. A "medium" pocket sprung mattress and a "medium" memory foam mattress can also feel very different, because the materials push back in different ways. Mattress fire safety does have a standard, called [BS 7177](/care/uk-mattress-fire-regulations). Do not confuse a fire label with a comfort rating. The safest way to use a scale is to compare models from the same shop or maker. Then the numbers are at least measured the same way. ## How does the 1–10 firmness chart usually map to words? This table shows a common way UK shops link numbers to words. It is a typical pattern, not a rule. Always read the shop's own description. | Scale number | Common label | How it usually feels | | --- | --- | --- | | 1–2 | Very soft | Deep sink. The surface wraps around you. | | 3–4 | Soft to medium-soft | Clear sink at shoulders and hips. | | 5 | Medium | A balance of sink and push-back. | | 6–7 | Medium-firm | Some give on top, firmer support below. | | 8–9 | Firm | Little sink. You lie more on top of the mattress. | | 10 | Extra firm | Very little give at all. | If a listing gives only a number, ask the shop what words it uses for that number. If it gives only a word, ask where that sits on its scale. ## Why does the same mattress feel different to different people? Body weight changes the feel. A heavier person pushes further into the same springs and foam, so the mattress feels softer to them. A lighter person sinks less, so it feels firmer. Many makers publish body-weight guidance for each spring tension. Sleep position changes it too. Lying on your side puts more load on your shoulders and hips. Lying on your back spreads the load. Our [mattress firmness and sleep position](/mattresses/firmness-and-sleep-position) guide gives common starting points for side, back, stomach and combination sleepers. They are general comfort patterns, not medical advice. Couples with very different weights may find one firmness cannot suit both. A [split tension or dual firmness](/mattresses/split-tension-and-dual-firmness) mattress, or two zip-and-link halves, is one way round that. ## What is the difference between spring tension and comfort feel? They are two separate things, and labels often mix them up. - **Spring tension** is how hard the spring unit pushes back. It is meant to match your body weight. - **Comfort feel** is how soft the layers on top feel. Foam, wool and other fillings set it. A mattress can have firm springs under a soft, padded top. It can also have softer springs under a dense, firm top. The single word "firm" on the label does not tell you which. Read [spring tension vs comfort feel](/mattresses/spring-tension-vs-comfort-feel) for how to ask about both. ## How do the base and the room change firmness? The base matters. The same mattress feels firmer on a [platform-top divan](/beds/divan-platform-vs-sprung) than on a sprung-edge divan. Slats that are too far apart can let foam and hybrid layers sag between them, which makes the bed feel softer and less even. Use the base the maker approves. Temperature matters for memory foam. It softens with warmth and stiffens in the cold. A memory foam mattress can feel firmer in a cold bedroom than it did in a warm showroom. New mattresses also change. Comfort layers and fillings often soften slightly in the first weeks. Rotate the mattress as the label says while it settles. ## Can a topper change mattress firmness? A [mattress topper](/bedding/mattress-toppers) changes the top feel. A soft foam topper can make a firm mattress feel softer. A firmer topper can change the surface a little. A topper cannot fix the support underneath. If the springs are wrong for your weight, or the mattress has sagged, a topper will not solve it. Read [how to make a mattress firmer or softer](/care/make-mattress-firmer-or-softer) for what bedding can and cannot do. ## How should you test firmness before buying? Try the mattress in a shop if you can. Take your shoes off. Lie in the position you really sleep in, for at least ten minutes. Bring your partner if you share the bed. Our guide on [how to try a mattress in a shop](/mattresses/how-to-try-a-mattress-in-a-shop) has a full checklist. When you buy online, read the firmness words, the number and the build together. Check the trial terms, because a trial is the only way to learn how the mattress feels at home over many nights. Online orders usually also come with 14 days to cancel from delivery, but some rules differ for opened or rolled mattresses, so read the returns policy first. ## Related BedGuide guides - [Mattress firmness and sleep position](/mattresses/firmness-and-sleep-position) - [Spring tension vs comfort feel](/mattresses/spring-tension-vs-comfort-feel) - [How to try a mattress in a shop](/mattresses/how-to-try-a-mattress-in-a-shop) - [How to make a mattress firmer or softer](/care/make-mattress-firmer-or-softer) - [Mattress trial periods](/care/mattress-trial-periods) ## Frequently asked questions ### What is a mattress firmness scale? It is a rating that tells you how soft or firm a mattress should feel. Many UK shops use 1 for very soft and 10 for extra firm. Each shop sets its own scale, so compare models within the same shop. ### What number is a medium-firm mattress? Many shops place medium-firm at about 6 or 7 on a 1 to 10 scale. Another shop may call the same feel a 5 or an 8. Read the words and the build as well as the number. ### Is there a standard UK mattress firmness scale? No. There is no British Standard for comfort firmness. Fire safety has a standard, BS 7177, but firmness labels are set by each maker or shop. A "medium" can feel different between brands. ### Does body weight change how firm a mattress feels? Yes. A heavier person sinks further into the same mattress, so it feels softer to them. A lighter person sinks less, so it feels firmer. Many makers give weight guidance for each spring tension. ### Can a topper make a mattress firmer or softer? A soft topper can make the surface feel softer. A firm topper can change the top feel a little. Neither can fix a mattress whose support has sagged, or springs that are wrong for your weight. ### Why does my new mattress feel firmer than in the shop? A different base, a colder room and new comfort layers can all make a mattress feel firmer at home. Memory foam stiffens when it is cold. Many mattresses soften slightly in the first weeks of use. --- Source: https://bedguide.co.uk/mattresses/mattress-firmness-scale/ · BedGuide — independent UK bed guide; paid links are labelled (see /how-we-make-money/). Facts checked against official sources where possible; see https://bedguide.co.uk/editorial-policy. Report an error: https://bedguide.co.uk/corrections.