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A good quality soft mattress can be tough to find, especially one that still gives your body enough support. For more on what you need to know before purchasing a soft mattress and key soft mattress features, continue reading this buyer’s guide down below.
Key Specs Compared
Numbers match the reviews below (tap to jump).
| # | Type | Height | Feel | CertiPUR-US |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Memory foam | 10" | Plush | Yes |
| 2 | Memory foam | 12" | Plush | Yes |
| 3 | Innerspring | 10" | Plush | Yes |
| 4 | Hybrid | 12" | Plush | Yes |
| 5 | Hybrid | 12" | Plush | Yes |
✓ yes · ✗ no · – not confirmed · Specs as stated on the Amazon listing or by the maker · Not a treatment for any condition
Who Benefits From A Soft Mattress?
Soft mattresses are popular, but they are not suitable for everyone. Soft mattresses are ideal for stomach sleepers and some side sleepers who prefer to sink into their mattresses. A softer surface can feel more comfortable for some stomach sleepers. If you have acid reflux at night, a mattress won’t fix it; raising the head of the bed and other changes may help, so ask your doctor.[1] Side sleepers need extra volume to accommodate their shoulders. A soft mattress is perfect for gently sinking and getting the extra thick support one needs. If you are recovering from a back injury or surgery, ask your doctor what kind of sleep surface suits your recovery.[2] A very soft mattress can let heavier parts of the body sink too far. In studies of people with low back pain, medium-firm mattresses did better than firm ones, so very firm isn’t automatically best either.[3][4]Soft Mattress Buying Precautions
It would be best to heed a few soft mattress buying considerations before deciding.- Ascertain your sleeping position – if you are a back sleeper or, in the case of some side sleepers, you will want a firm to a medium soft mattress. Stomach sleepers usually prefer sleeping on soft mattresses but may also want additional support if they have problems with their back or necks.
- Decide on an appropriate Thickness – side sleepers need the thickest mattresses, at least 8 inches thick and up. A stomach or back sleeper can use a less thick mattress. However, the thickness adds to the comfort factor.
- Breathability – good ventilation is very important, especially for a soft mattress which is commonly made from foam. If foam does not have a perforation or does not have a breathable air ventilation system, it can feel hot at night.
5 Key Soft Mattress Features
Below are 5 of the most desirable soft mattress features you should want when purchasing one!- Over Stuffed – if the mattress is overly stuffed or looks extra plush, there’s a good chance it will sink in and be very soft. It also means that the mattress will likely hold your body shape very well.
- Gel Memory Foam – memory foam is a malleable foam that forms into a contour of your body shape when you heat it. Makers add gel to help memory foam feel cooler.
- Lateral Contoured Lines – gentle contoured foam ridges or padded quilting add a soft, cushioned surface.
- Spring Foam Hybrid Mattresses – for those who need a little bit more support, a gentle, short-spring mattress will give you the support you need.
- Multiple Foam Layers – having more than one layer of foam makes an ultra-soft mattress with varying degrees of support. Good soft mattresses have a breathable foam layer to allow hot air to be redirected away from the sleeper.
Our Picks: Soft Mattresses
Here below are some quality soft mattresses currently available online. We hope you love the products we recommend!1
- This 10-inch mattress has a soft plush-feel memory foam top layer.
- It has 3 foam layers: memory foam on top, a ventilated middle layer and a convoluted foam base.
- The foam is CertiPUR-US certified, and the top fabric is OEKO-TEX certified.[5][6]
- Allow up to 72 hours for it to fully expand after unboxing.
2
- This 12-inch plush mattress has a cooling gel memory foam top layer over an egg-crate foam layer.
- The listing says it is fiberglass-free and the foam is made in the USA.
- The foam is CertiPUR-US certified, and the cover is removable.[5]
- It comes with a 180-night trial and a 10-year warranty, per the listing.
3
- This 10-inch Serta mattress has a plush pillow top over an individually wrapped coil system.
- It uses PillowSoft Aire foam, QuiltLoft memory foam and Cool Twist gel foam.
- Serta says it has 3 foam zones for lower back and hip support.
- It ships in a box, is made in the USA with global components, and Serta says the foam is CertiPUR-US certified.[5]
4
- This 12-inch hybrid has a plush pillow top over memory foam, gel memory foam and pocket coils.
- Individually wrapped coils help reduce motion transfer between sleepers.
- It has reinforced edges and is fiberglass-free, per the listing.
- The foam is CertiPUR-US certified.[5]
5
- This 12-inch hybrid has a soft pillow top over individually pocketed springs.
- The springs move independently to reduce motion transfer.
- It has reinforced edges and is fiberglass-free, per the listing.
- The listing says it is CertiPUR-US certified.[5]
Comparison Table: Top Soft Mattresses
| No. | Product | Image | Features | Brand |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Amazon Basics Soft Plush 10-Inch - Soft Plush Memory Foam Mattress |  |
| Amazon Basics |
| 2 | EGOHOME Plush 12-Inch - Plush Gel Memory Foam Mattress |  |
| EGOHOME |
| 3 | Serta Tranquility 10-Inch - Plush Pillow Top Innerspring Mattress |  |
| Serta |
| 4 | NiSleep Plush Pillow Top - Plush Pillow Top Hybrid Mattress |  |
| NiSleep |
| 5 | PAMYO Plush 12-Inch - Soft Pillow Top Hybrid Mattress |  |
| PAMYO |
Sources
- National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIH). Treatment for GER and GERD. Accessed October 15, 2026.
- National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIH). Back Pain. Accessed October 15, 2026.
- Kovacs FM, et al. Effect of firmness of mattress on chronic non-specific low-back pain: randomised, double-blind, controlled, multicentre trial. Lancet. 2003;362(9396):1599-1604. Accessed October 15, 2026.
- Radwan A, et al. Effect of different mattress designs on promoting sleep quality, pain reduction, and spinal alignment in adults with or without back pain; systematic review of controlled trials. Sleep Health. 2015;1(4):257-267. Accessed October 15, 2026.
- CertiPUR-US. About Certified Foam. Accessed October 16, 2026.
- OEKO-TEX. OEKO-TEX STANDARD 100. Accessed October 16, 2026.
Update History
- Oct 2026: Product picks reviewed and updated; added a Key Specs table; added Sources (NIDDK, NIAMS, peer-reviewed studies, CertiPUR-US, OEKO-TEX)
- Jun 2017: First published
