How to Find the Best Mattress for a Lightweight Person: Shopping Tips and 6 Top Picks

What Is the Best Mattress Type for a Lightweight Person?

If you are a petite sleeper, you may be wondering which mattress type would work for you the best.What Is the Best Mattress Type for a Lightweight Person

Let’s take a look at the most common types on today’s market and see how each of them may perform for a lightweight person:

• Foam. Now, you can come across memory and polyurethane foam. In most foam mattresses, manufacturers use both types (with memory foam serving as comfort layers and polyfoam for transition and support, in most cases). Foam is generally very adaptive (1). It reacts to one’s body heat and weight, which causes the material to compress under pressure and adjust to the body curves. As a result, foam can offer good pressure relief and even weight distribution.  Foam mattresses are a great option for skinny users as this material can be squishy enough to allow for a decent amount of sinkage. However, keep in mind that foam tends to retain heat and might not work for hot sleepers. If you are one of them, consider a mattress that uses either gel-infused or open-cell foam.
• Latex. Similar to foam, latex is adaptive and offers close conforming. However, the material itself is bouncier and tends to offer a bit less sinkage. For petite sleepers, latex can be an excellent choice if you pick a suitable firmness level. Such mattresses are very durable, temperature-neutral, and naturally antimicrobial. At the same time, latex is quite pricey. Plus, it’s heavy and can be challenging to transport. This might be an issue for someone who’s planning to move, for example.
• Hybrid. Hybrid mattresses don’t just use one type of material. They pair up multiple layers to reach a balanced combination of support and cradling. Usually, hybrids have an innerspring core (pocketed coils) and foam (or sometimes latex) comfort layers. For skinny people, hybrid mattresses can often seem too stiff (courtesy of the resilient support core). Therefore, petite users are advised to pick softer hybrids, preferably the ones that have thicker comfort layers. Luckily, many hybrid beds have a plush Eurotop that adds a bit of an extra cushioning. Now, keep in mind that hybrid mattresses are usually expensive and heavy (hence, hard to move). However, this mattress type is quite durable. Hybrids also ensure proper air circulation during the night and don’t sleep hot.
• Traditional innerspring. Let’s cut right to the chase: innerspring mattresses are very cheap and widely available. However, they aren’t ideal for petite sleepers. An innerspring mattress simply will not allow for much sinkage. Such beds usually have a thin comfort layer over the coils, which means your body will simply crush against the bed surface. And that’s far from favorable conditions for sleep. An innerspring mattress might only work for strict stomach sleepers. However, keep in mind that this type isn’t very durable.
• Pocketed coils. In this case, each coil is wrapped in fabric and separated from its “neighbor”. Such a design gives these mattresses an ability to adjust to one’s body and allows for some sinkage. However, lightweight sleepers should remember that such mattresses typically don’t have thick comfort layers. Therefore, pocketed coils might not work for petite side sleepers who require a deeper hug. This mattress type would be better suited for lightweight back and stomach sleepers who need sturdy targeted support.

A word of warning for petite solo sleepers: if you live alone, you need to account for the weight of your new mattress. After all, not all companies offer White Glove delivery, and there’s always a chance that you will have to carry the mattress to your bedroom. By the way, mattresses in a box are an ideal solution in this case.

Nonetheless, shoppers should remember that hybrid and latex mattresses tend to be among the heaviest ones. Therefore, petite solo sleepers might want to avoid these two types or ask friends for help when the mattress arrives.

How to Pick the Best Mattress for a Lightweight Person: Buyer’s Guide

I know it can be hard to find the best mattress for a skinny person. Many of them are advertised as the ones able to give you “cloud-like comfort”. But not all of them actually work for petite individuals.

And there’s a lot more to pay attention to than just the comfort level. To find something that would work for you, you need to consider multiple factors: 

• Type. As mentioned before, there are several common types of mattresses you can come across these days. While the choice would probably be based on your personal preferences, allow me to share a couple of suggestions. For instance, if you appreciate a deeper hug and want to be enveloped by your mattress, foam is your “guy”. If you prefer sleeping “on” your bed rather than “in” it, latex would probably be a more suitable option. And if you want to find a compromise between resilient support and gentle cradling, a good hybrid mattress could do that for you. Petite sleepers may also consider a Pillow-top model. Such mattresses can deliver optimal support but have a soft, squishy layer on top. It’s gentle on the pressure points, making Pillow-top mattresses ideal for sleepers whose weight isn’t always enough to compress the comfort layers.
• Firmness. You already know that each sleeping position requires suitable mattress firmness. Mattresses are typically rated on a scale from 1 to 10, with 10 being the stiffest. There are companies that offer comfort kits (extra layers, if we put it simply) in case you want to alter the feel of your new bed. Also, some latex mattress manufacturers use layers of different density and allow the users to remove the cover and swap the layers to achieve a slightly different comfort level.
• Size. Many shoppers don’t really bother with picking a proper bed size and go with the most popular one – Queen (2). However, if you are a skinny sleeper, you may want to give the size choice a bit more thought, especially if you sleep with a larger partner. As mentioned before, motion transfer can be quite noticeable if your significant other isn’t as petite as you are. If that’s the case, you may want to try a larger mattress, so that you can put a bit more distance between you and your partner. Chances are, the motion transfer from their movement won’t even reach you in this case.
• Price. Setting your budget is a good idea if you want to prevent yourself from overspending. Keep in mind that most great mattresses cost around $800-$1,000 these days. If we’re talking about hybrid mattresses, those are a bit pricier. As for latex, such mattresses tend to be among the most expensive ones. Innerspring and pocketed coils are more affordable, so if you are on a tight budget, you might go for a cheaper option. However, to add a touch of luxury and give yourself a bit more cushioning, you can add a foam topper to your spring bed. That’s a budget-friendly solution, although it isn’t ideal in terms of comfort and durability. But hey, I want you to be aware of all the options you have.
• Durability. If we’re talking about foam, high-density is much more durable than cheaper low-density foam. If you are considering a hybrid bed, check the coil gauge – the lower the number is, the thicker (and more durable) the coils are. As for latex, such mattresses have a pretty long lifespan, so there’s nothing you should worry about (3).
• Sleep trial. An extended sleep trial will give you a chance to test your new bed, see how your body responds to the new materials, and perhaps try different sleeping positions. Typically, manufacturers offer around 100-120 days. However, there are brands with a 365-day sleep trial, which is a great option for hesitant shoppers. Keep in mind that some mattresses have a mandatory break-in period (usually, 30 days), only after which you can return the mattress. Such conditions are normal, as some mattress materials need time to adjust to your body curves. For example, many foam mattresses feel too stiff at first, but after a few nights, they learn to mold to your body and start feeling more comfortable.
• Motion isolation. This aspect is important if you share your bed with a partner and one of you can be a restless sleeper. Remember that foam and latex mattresses are the best ones in terms of motion isolation. Hybrid beds could also work, but you need to make sure that the comfort layers are quite thick. As for innerspring, it’s better to give your preference to pocketed coils (although this isn’t an ideal choice when it comes to motion absorption).
• Temperature. I bet there aren’t many people who like to sleep hot. To avoid waking up all sweaty, you may want to consider temperature-neutral materials such as latex or innerspring. Hybrid beds usually also sleep cool. As for foam mattresses, they tend to trap body heat (4). Therefore, check out models that use either gel-infused or open-cell foam.

Why Choosing the Right Mattress Thickness Can Be Tricky for Petite Sleepers?

Getting a thicker mattress for a petite sleeper could mean a couple of things. It may offer thicker comfort layers and a more generous hug, or it can simply come with a thicker base and thus, deliver sturdier support.

That is why it can be a bit challenging for lightweight individuals to choose a suitable mattress thickness.

As a rule of thumb, petite sleepers do not require extra-thick mattresses. They don’t need that much support a thick mattress can offer, which means lightweight users can save a lot of money by buying a thinner mattress model.

At the same time, extra-thin mattresses often have a firmer feel. In many cases, they combine a thick layer of sturdy base and a thin comfort layer. The latter is not always enough to provide the needed hug for petite users.

Therefore, it would be perfect for such sleepers to stick to something in the middle. In most cases, mattresses measured from 8 to 12 inches in height can deliver the needed amount of cradling while offering adequate support.

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