Your mattress is quite literally the foundation for a good night's rest, so you need to make sure that you choose the best one! Plush mattresses offer an ultra-cozy feel that is unmatched in the comfort department. But, what is a plush mattress? Keep reading to discover if this mattress type suits all of your sleeping needs.

What Is a Plush Mattress?
Benefits of Having a Plush Mattress
Is a Plush Mattress Right for You?
Plush Mattresses vs. Ultra-Plush, Medium, & Firm

What Is a Plush Mattress?

What does "plush mattress" mean? To put it simply, a plush mattress is a type of mattress that sits between levels three and four on the firmness scale. This scale ranges from levels 1–10, with level one being the softest and level ten being the firmest. "Plush" is used to describe a soft comfort level that is firmer than ultra-plush, but less firm compared to medium and firm mattresses. The scale goes from ultra-plush, plush, medium, firm, and extra firm. Check out our Mattress Firmness Scale to learn more about each firmness level.

Plush mattresses are made up of several layers of materials with multiple plush cushioning layers on top. These mattresses can be foam, latex, innerspring, or a hybrid of materials and usually have pillow top or euro top surfaces – both of which create a soft, cushioned space to sleep on. Our Euro Top Mattress Guide compares these two mattress surfaces in detail so you can choose the best one. Unlike firmer mattresses, plush varieties allow your body to sink into the mattress top, which will contour to fit your shape. This makes it feel like you're sleeping on a cloud while also being well-supported.

Tip!

Check out our Mattress Buying Guide to learn more about the mattress materials and top-styles that plush mattresses can come with.

Benefits of Having a Plush Mattress

Now that we've answered "what is a plush mattress?", let's discuss all the ways you can benefit from using one.

• Reduced shoulder and hip pain: Plush mattresses have multiple layers of cushioning to help your body relax after a long day. The top layer is designed to allow your body to sink into the mattress and to cradle the areas around your shoulders and hips to ease joint pain. This way, you wake up feeling refreshed and ache-free.
• Lower motion-transfer: Plush mattresses’ added cushioning actually helps to reduce the amount of movement you experience when a partner gets in and out of bed or tosses and turns, so you can enjoy uninterrupted sleep.
• Enhanced coziness: There's no denying that plush mattresses give you the cushioned, cloud-like feel that you deserve – and all in one product. With a plush mattress, you'll never need a cushioned mattress pad or topper to alleviate the firmness of your bed.

Is a Plush Mattress Right for You?

So, now you know what a plush mattress is and have reviewed its benefits, but is it the right choice for you? Take a moment to review this list to determine if you're a good candidate for a plush mattress.

You Tend to Sleep on Your Side or on Your Back

Plush mattresses are perfect for side sleepers and back sleepers alike because they're designed to contour to the shape of your body and provide extra support and cushioning. The cushioning also helps absorb/support the weight of your shoulders, abdomen, hips, and spine so you always feel like you're cradled in a cozy cloud.

You Experience Shoulder or Hip Pain

Similarly, a plush mattress is a great investment if you typically wake up with hip or shoulder pain caused by a firm mattress. The soft cushioning layers of a plush mattress work to distribute your weight evenly across the surface, supporting the natural curves of your body and preventing a build-up of pressure in one area (like your hip or shoulder).

You Sleep Beside a Partner

A plush mattress can help reduce the amount of motion you feel when a partner changes sleeping positions or gets out of bed. This is because of all the foam cushion layers that plush mattresses have. These layers are designed with low motion-transfer in mind so you can sleep soundly through the night.

You're Lightweight

If you're under 130 lbs., medium and firm mattresses tend to feel harder on your body as you don't sink into them as much as plush mattresses. This can lead to discomfort or joint pain because you're essentially laying on a hard surface. Plush mattresses make it easy for lightweight individuals to sink into the mattress surface and feel cushioned support.

You Get Cold Easily at Night

The same cushioned surface that helps your body sink into the mattress also helps keep you warmer at night. This is because of the way the mattress hugs around the contours of your body, creating a cozy cocoon to help you retain body heat. Tend to run hot? Not to worry! There are plenty of plush mattresses that have cooling technology to make mattresses more breathable.

You Enjoy the Feel of Softer Mattresses

When it all comes down to it, it's all about which mattresses you get the best sleep on. If you prefer a softer, more cushioned feel as you sleep, a plush mattress could be just the thing you need!

Plush Mattresses vs. Ultra-Plush, Medium, & Firm

See how plush mattresses compare to other mattresses on the firmness scale to determine if it's the right mattress for you.

Plush vs. Ultra-Plush Mattress

You now know about plush mattresses, but what about ultra-plush? These are even softer than standard plush mattresses (1–2 on the mattress firmness scale compared to 3–4 for plush mattresses). These mattresses have the most cushioning and work best for side sleepers. However, plush mattresses can provide a similar cushioned feel while offering a bit more support for side and back sleepers.

Plush vs. Medium Mattress

Medium mattresses are the next step up from plush mattresses on the firmness scale (levels 5–6). These mattresses have an equal amount of cushioning and support, so there is less sinkage when you lay down. This perfect blend of plushness and firmness makes medium mattresses preferable for all types of sleeping positions, while the extra cushioning of plush mattresses are ideal specifically for side and back sleepers.

Plush vs. Firm Mattress

Plush and firm mattresses sit at the opposite ends of the firmness scale. Firm mattresses include levels 7–8 and extra-firm mattresses include levels 9–10. The difference between plush and firm mattresses is the comfort-to-support layer ratio. Firm mattresses have thin cushion layers and more support layers to promote good spinal alignment for stomach and back sleepers. In contrast, plush mattresses have more cushion layers than support layers, which makes them ideal for side sleepers. Extra-firm mattresses are the least padded of all the mattress types and are most suitable for stomach and back sleepers or anyone over 250 lbs.

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