Having a mattress that is comfortable and supportive for both you and your partner is very important in maintaining a healthy and loving relationship. If one or both of you are not getting the best quality of sleep or your mattress is causing aches and pain, it can put a strain in your relationship because it’s hard to be a pleasant person if you are constantly fatigued, have body pains and stressed.

Buying a mattress as a couple can be complicated because unlike buying one as a single adult, you will need to take into consideration the needs and preferences of your partner and vice versa. A compromise might be in order, to get the best possible mattress that can satisfy both parties.

In our mattress buying guide, we shared all the important factors that you need to be aware of when purchasing a mattress. That guide is geared more toward single adults so as a couple, there are a few extras that you need to be aware of and that’s what we are going to be outlining in this guide.

Mattress Type and Size for Couples

Choosing which mattress type to buy as a couple can be tricky. If both of you prefer the same type, then there should be no problem, go for the one that you like. If, however, you both prefer different types, the best way to determine which mattress type to get is to list the features that are important to both of you and choose a mattress that satisfies both of your needs the most. A compromise might be in order.

• Mattress Size

Getting a mattress that can provide ample sleeping area for two people is very important. For couples, the minimum size to consider should be a Queen.  A Queen sized mattress is 60 inches wide so there is enough sleeping area for two people.

Ideally, the best size to get for couples is either a King or California King. A King sized mattress is measured at 76″ wide by 80″ long and a Cal-King is at 72″ wide by 84″ long.

A Full or Full XL mattress can also be acceptable but more often than not, couples that bought a mattress of this size regret the purchase because it is too narrow so it is best to go straight for a Queen, King or Cal-King mattress from the start.

• Frames and Foundations

A strong and high quality frame or foundation is needed in order to properly support the weight of the mattress combined with yours. Any frame or foundation, provided that they adhere to the guidelines of the mattress manufacturer, can work as long as there is a strong center support. A strong center support is important in mattresses that are wider than a twin mattress.

Features to Look For

There are certain features added to a mattress that are specifically aimed for couples. Here they are.

• Motion Isolation

This is a feature that reduces or eliminates motion transfer on your mattress. This is a great feature for couples because if one moves a lot while they sleep or they need to get out of the mattress, they won’t disturb their partner. This can prevent waking up and getting irritated.

Motion isolation is a feature that is found mostly on memory foam mattresses, latex mattresses and mattresses that use a pocketed coil system.

• Edge Support

Edge support is another feature that couples need to factor in. For single people, edge support is not as important because generally, they will be sleeping on the center of the mattress. As for couples, they will be sleeping near the edge all the time so having a good edge support in a mattress is a must. If your mattress has weak edge support, you might find yourself falling off and that’s not a fun experience.

• Intimacy

Aside from sleeping, there are many activities that can be done on a mattress and one of them is sexual intercourse. You’ll be surprised to know that a lot of couples tend to forget to factor in their sexual needs and preferences when they are shopping for a mattress. This is a very important factor that you should always consider whenever you buy a mattress.

The mattresses that are easier to move around on when you are having intercourse are springs, latex and air. Spring mattresses, and to a lesser extent, air mattresses, are also bouncier than other mattress types. These are great options if you and your partner enjoy active sex with multiple positions.

If you prefer a mattress that can be discrete because of certain factors such as kids in the next room, thin walls, etc., the best choices are memory foam and latex. Being an all-foam mattress and their motion absorbing feature will make sure that noise is minimal. These two types of mattress, and a spring or air mattress depending on the comfort layer, are the most comfortable, meaning reduced pressure points, because of their comfort layer.

• Firmness

The firmness level of your mattress is also a factor that needs to discussed when buying a new mattress. If both of you prefer the same level of firmness, you should consider yourselves lucky because you just eliminated one of the problems in buying a mattress as couple.

If both of you prefer a different level of firmness, there are many ways to tackle it.

First one is to meet each other half way. If one prefers a firm mattress and the other prefers a softer one, you can go for a medium mattress so that no one is compromised. The only problem with this method is that over time, both of you may be dissatisfied with the level of firmness and that is no way to spend your nights.

The second way of dealing with this is the utilization of mattress toppers. You can buy a mattress topper for one side of the mattress that has the level of firmness that your partner prefers. Or you can buy 2 mattress toppers with different firmness levels so that the mattress retains its shape and is not taller on one side. This method is easier if you have a King sized mattress because you can just buy a Twin XL mattress topper which is exactly half the size of a King. If you have a Queen or a Cal-King, you will need to cut the topper in order to fit.

The main disadvantages to this method are the amount of work to be done if you have a Queen or Cal King mattress, the cost and the gap in the center of the mattress. A mattress topper, depending on the materials used, can be expensive. If you choose the one mattress topper method, the center of the mattress will be uneven and this can be problematic during intimate moments.

Lastly, you can buy a mattress that can be adjusted on each side or you can buy two smaller mattresses and join them together.

A dual air chamber mattress can be adjusted on each side but the downside to this one is the cost. This type of mattress is the perfect solution for people that have the budget for it because it does not have many disadvantages aside from the cost. There are no issues in the center of the mattress and more importantly, you don’t have to compromise the level of firmness that you prefer.

Buying two smaller sized mattresses, Twins or Twin XLs, can also work. The main disadvantage to this is the gap in the center that can be problematic when it comes to intimate moments. This option is most common in adjustable bed setups for couples that prefer different mattress positions as they sleep.

There is no perfect way of dealing with this particular problem when it comes to buying a mattress for couples. Just choose one where you think the disadvantages are tolerable.

Summary

As you can see, buying a mattress as a couple can be tricky and will involve a lot of compromise. You just need to have a discussion with your partner and choose a mattress where both of you are satisfied. If one is not satisfied, that person should not be hesitant in voicing out his or her concern so that something can be done because sleeping in a mattress where you are not comfortable or you are not supported properly can have long term health problems and can also lead to problems in your relationship.

Hopefully, this guide has been helpful in your search for a new mattress.