Mattress shopping 101: Mattress height

When you’re shopping for a new mattress, there’s one factor that you may not have considered that will have a big impact on your comfort: your mattress’ height. You want to make sure that the finished height — which can include your mattress, box spring, frame and/or bed — allows you to get in and out of bed comfortably. This can be especially important for those that have mobility issues as well as people who are significantly above or below average height.

Thankfully, there are a number of factors that can be adjusted to raise or lower the overall height of your bed so that it works well for you.

Mattress height

When we determine the height of our mattresses, we do not measure from tape edge to tape edge. That’s because many mattresses are going to be a bit higher at the center of the mattress, so we measure from the thickest part of the mattress. Learn more about measuring mattress height here.

Our standard mattresses range in height from 7 inches to 16 inches. In general, the softer the mattress, the thicker it will be due to the additional layers of upholstery. If you like a soft mattress, but also need a lower overall bed height: don’t worry. It’s important to focus on finding the mattress that fits your support and comfort preferences. There are other factors we can adjust to make sure you get the comfort you need at an ideal overall height.

Box springs

The box spring will add some height to your overall mattress but it plays an important role. Our real, flexing box springs act as a shock absorber for the mattress, improving its long-term comfort and durability.

Our standard box spring is 8 inches high, but we also offer low-profile box springs that are 5 inches high. Low-profile box springs can be a great option for those who need a lower bed.

Bed frame

A bed frame accommodates a box spring and gives your mattress set a solid, supportive foundation on which to rest. Our bed frames are 7 inches high, but we also offer options like low-profile glides or bed risers to raise or lower your bed frame.

Bed frames are used in combination with box springs. They can also be used with headboards, footboards, and siderails (although they may not always be necessary, depending on the style of bed).

Adjustable bases

Adjustable bases allow you to raise the head and/or foot of your mattress to allow you to read, watch TV, and sleep more comfortably. Our adjustable bases have a 3-inch platform that the mattress rests on. They have legs that can be adjusted from 8 inches to 13 inches in .5-inch increments — or they can be removed entirely to be compatible with platform beds.

When you use an adjustable base, you do not use a box spring or bed frame.

View our adjustable bases here.

Bed or platform bed

“Bed” can mean many things, but in this case, we’re referring to the headboard and footboard with siderails. Beds may or may not require a separate bed frame, and they may or may not accommodate a box spring. There is so much variety in bed styles, so it will vary quite a bit as to how much it impacts the overall height.

You may opt for a platform bed in place of a box spring and frame (we talk more about a bed frame vs. platform bed here). We don’t sell platform beds, but they can vary widely in height.

We often recommend that people who opt for a platform bed consider a bunk board to provide additional support to your mattress. Platform beds often come with slat supports that may not be ideal for your mattress to rest on directly. A bunk board provides a solid surface for the mattress and only adds 1.5-2.5 inches of height to the overall bed.

Making sure the bed height works well for you

Upon delivery of your new mattress, we highly recommend that you test getting in and out of the bed comfortably before our delivery team leaves. They can make adjustments or, if necessary, help you make changes to your order. Once they leave and the products are out of our control, we are not able to accept returns. We do offer our size change policy that would be able to help in this scenario. Learn more about our policies here.

Ready to start your mattress buying journey? Come to The Original Mattress Factory first. No one knows more than our team about what makes a great mattress great. Whether you buy from us or not, you’ll be better prepared to make a smart mattress buying decision. Find a store near you.