What Is Mattress Edge Support?

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Edge support is a term that tells consumers how firm the perimeter of a mattress is. When people fall out of bed in the middle of the night or stumble when they get out of bed in the morning, it is usually because the edges of their mattresses are not sturdy enough. Let’s take a look at the reasons why edge support is something you should consider when you look for your next mattress.

Why Is Edge Support Important?

Increased mattress edge support provides several benefits. When a mattress is firm at the edges, the overall sleeping area increases. This can be a major plus for couples who like to spread out when they sleep and for individuals who toss and turn a lot during the night. Increasing the amount of edge support prevents sagging and can make mattresses last longer. It also improves safety. When the edges of a mattress provide little support, adults, children or pets are more likely to fall out of bed when they roll over.

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Mattresses with firm edges usually provide more shoulder and lumbar support, but what is lumbar support?. This term refers to how much support a mattress provides to the back’s lumbar area and how well it maintains the natural curve of the spine. If you sleep on a mattress that provides plenty of lumbar support, you probably won't wake up with lower back pain.

Another benefit of firmer edge support is reduced motion transfer. Mattresses that lack sufficient edge support tend to be softer, which means they're not great at isolating and containing movement. If you're easily disturbed and your partner moves around a lot during the night, switching to a mattress with better edge support could prevent interruptions and help you sleep more soundly.

Age and Body Weight Considerations

Edge support is even more important for the elderly and people who weigh more than 150 pounds. Elderly individuals may find it difficult to get out of a bed that does not provide enough edge support, and heavier people need more support at the edges of their mattresses than lighter people. Switching to a mattress that provides more edge support can also help people who suffer from medical conditions that cause back or joint pain.

How Is Edge Support Measured?

Mattress manufacturers test their products to find out how much edge support they provide when people sit or sleep on them. Sleepers come in all shapes and sizes, so several different weights are used to conduct these tests. To measure sitting edge support, weights are placed around the sleeping surface perimeter. Testers then measure how far the weights sink into the edge of the mattress. Sleeping edge support is measured by placing the weights in the middle of the mattress and then gradually moving them to the edge. Special instruments are used to measure how much the mattress compresses as the weights are moved.

Which Mattresses Provide the Best Edge Support?

The way a mattress is constructed will determine how much edge support it provides. Innerspring mattresses provide the best edge support because their coils span the entire sleeping surface. If all of these coils are the same, the edge of an innerspring queen mattress will be just as supportive as the center. Some mattress manufacturers place more robust coils at the edges of their innerspring mattresses to provide even more support.

Memory foam mattresses are designed to yield to the contours of the human body, but they don't provide very much edge support. Manufacturers try to make up for this shortcoming by placing firmer high-density foam at the perimeters of their mattresses. If you want the comfort of a memory foam mattress but don’t want to sacrifice edge support, you could choose a hybrid mattress that contains both foam and coils.

Choosing the Right Mattress

Choosing the right mattress can lead to a better night's sleep and fewer aches and pains in the morning. Most people think primarily about firmness when they choose their mattresses, but edge support is also important. A mattress that provides superior edge support will last longer and have a larger sleeping area. It will also be safer and more comfortable to sleep on.