What thickness of foam for a memory foam mattress?

Summary

1. The difference between density and thickness
2. The ideal thickness of the viscoelastic layer
3. How to choose the thickness of foam according to your body shape

Discover the ideal foam thickness for a memory foam mattress and our tip for easily increasing the thickness of a mattress.

Focus on the thickness of foam for a memory foam mattress

What thickness of memory foam mattress should you choose? We tend to think that the thicker a mattress is, the more comfortable it will be. But is this true? Is thickness the only criterion to consider when choosing your mattress? Bdreams explains everything in this article!

1. The difference between density and thickness

• The thickness of the viscoelastic layer

Let's start with the point that interests us the most: the thickness of the foam in a memory foam mattress . The first important thing to look at is the thickness of the viscoelastic layer, not the thickness of the mattress itself! In fact, when you're lying down to sleep, it's the viscoelastic layer that will adapt and mold to the shape of your body. The entire mattress therefore doesn't move. When choosing your memory foam mattress, you should choose a viscoelastic layer thickness of at least 7 cm. If it's thinner, you're looking at a mixed mattress, not a full-fledged memory foam mattress. The thicker this layer, the greater the support, enveloping, and comfort capabilities. The thickness is generally between 15 and 18 cm (up to 27 cm!): but if it's thicker, it's probably a spring mattress.

• The density of memory foam

Density directly impacts the comfort and durability of a mattress. While density is always higher than 55kg/m3, we recommend opting for a density of at least 80kg/m3 if your weight is between 50 and 100kg. In addition to the foam thickness of your memory foam mattress, density will provide you with comfort and health, with better support for your spine and body.

2. The ideal thickness of the viscoelastic layer

Now you know that density and thickness should not be confused. A 30 cm thick mattress may actually have a fairly low density, unlike a mattress topper a few centimeters thick, which can give you a density of 75 kg/m3. The foam thickness of a memory foam mattress will also depend on your body type: the taller you are, the thicker and more filling the mattress should have. A memory foam mattress must be at least 18 cm thick to be considered “good quality”. The memory foam/conventional foam ratio should also be checked to avoid ending up with a mattress made of only 10% memory foam! For larger body types, we recommend thick and fairly firm mattresses, with a density above 50 kg/m3. Smaller people will prefer softer mattresses, with a slightly lower thickness.

3. How to choose the thickness of foam according to your body shape

What should you do if you realize that the foam thickness of your memory foam mattress is too thin? Should you buy a new mattress? Well, no! You can simply opt for a memory foam mattress topper (also made of foam, synthetic, latex, down, or feathers). Add it directly on top of your mattress and cover it with your fitted sheet to keep it in place. A mattress topper allows you to gain comfort, protect the mattress, but also relieve back pain and promote blood circulation. This bedding accessory should be the same size as the mattress, with an optimal thickness of less than 5 cm. Easy to place and clean, the mattress topper offers multiple advantages for practical and economical use.

As you can see, just because a mattress is thicker doesn't mean it's better for your sleep: this is true only up to a certain point! The foam thickness for a memory foam mattress must take into account your body type, but also the density of the mattress for optimal comfort. If you would like advice on choosing your mattress, contact our Bdreams team !