How to Read a Foam Mattress's Label

Foam mattresses are one of the most popular mattress types on the market, thanks to their perks like comfort, durability, and ease of maintenance. But not all foam is created equal, and the type of foam a mattress uses can affect its overall feel, longevity, and price. That’s why it’s important to know how to read a mattress’s label when shopping for a new foam bed.

Foam is made up of tiny, inflated cells that can change shape to conform to the body’s natural contours. The resulting structure helps alleviate pressure points to promote healthy spinal alignment and reduce pain and stiffness when you wake up. Foam’s ability to absorb movement also means it’s a great choice for people who share a bed with a partner or pets, since movements won’t wake them as easily as they would on a spring-based mattress.

When choosing a foam mattress, you’ll also want to keep in mind the type of foam used and its density. The higher the density, the firmer the foam. Foam densities are usually measured using a unit called indentation load deflection, or ILD. But since each company calculates ILD in a slightly different way, it’s not necessarily a good indicator of the firmness of a mattress.

Another thing to keep in mind is that a mattress’s ILD can be affected by the foam’s manufacturing process and whether or not it’s open- or closed-cell. Closed-cell foam retains the shape of the individual bubbles, which can cause it to heat up more quickly than open-cell foam and increase its propensity for retaining body heat. That said, most reputable foam mattresses use open-cell foams that don’t tend to retain as much heat.

Many foam beds are built with a high-density support core to prevent sagging and extend the life of the mattress. The support core is usually covered in a layer of memory foam, which adds cushioning and comfort. Some companies use a layer of latex, which is known for being more durable than memory foam, or a combination of the two to provide more flexibility and responsiveness.

If you’re not sure about foam but still want some of the benefits it offers, hybrid mattresses are an excellent option. They combine layers of foam and include features that help them sleep cooler than traditional spring mattresses, such as breathable covers, cooling gel, and charcoal bamboo. Hybrid mattresses also feature hundreds or thousands of individual pocket springs that are banded together and reinforced to boost support and durability. This gives them a bit more bounce than foam mattresses and, depending on the construction of the hybrid mattress, may be better suited to heavier sleepers or those who are sensitive to movement transfer from their partners. They can also be a great choice for people who suffer from allergies because they’re more hypoallergenic than other types of mattresses.