When you’re sitting or lying down near the edge of your mattress, do you feel like you are going to fall off the bed? If so, your mattress may not have great edge support.
When reviewing mattresses, we pay close attention to edge support. Keep reading to learn more about our testing methodology and what gives a mattress good edge support.
Why Is Edge Support Important?
There are several benefits to sleeping on a mattress with excellent edge support. Having great edge support prevents your mattress from sagging, makes it easy to get in and out of bed, and provides you with extra space to sleep. Though everyone can benefit from a mattress with good edge support, there are a few people who may want to keep this top-of-mind:
People with Small Beds
If you sleep on a twin or twin XL mattress, one toss or turn can result in sleeping on the very edge of your bed. People with small beds don’t have much surface area to sleep on, so what little space they have should offer plenty of support. Beds with excellent edge support ensure sleepers have plenty of room to rest and can help prevent sleepers from falling off of the side.
Couples
If you share a bed with a partner, you’ll want to make sure your bed feels supportive around the sides. If the edges cave in, you’ll be forced to sleep closer toward the center of the mattress. This means you won’t be able to utilize the full surface area of the mattress, which can make you feel cramped and uncomfortable.
How We Test Edge Support
We thoroughly test each mattress we review. Here’s a peek behind the curtain about how we assess a mattress’s edge support.
Sitting
Because not every person experiences edge support the same, it’s important to get a variety of perspectives when testing mattresses. That’s why both Marten and Elisa test the mattresses and share notes.
Marten, who is 6’7,” will sit along the side of the mattress and see how far he sinks into the layers. He will even bend down to tie his shoes to see whether he feels like he will roll off the side. Then, Elisa, who is 5’3,” does the same thing. The two reviewers then discuss their findings and write detailed notes for the final review.
Sleeping
Next, Marten and Elisa take turns sleeping near the edge of the mattress. If either reviewer feels like they might roll off the side of the bed, they lower the edge support rating.
What Gives a Bed Good Edge Support?
A mattress’s edge support greatly depends on what it’s made out of. High-density foam doesn’t usually offer as much support as innerspring coils do. Some mattresses have reinforced edges. This extra padding is either made from dense polyurethane foam or pocketed coils, which can help prevent sleepers from rolling off the side of the bed.
How Materials Affect Edge Support
Let’s go over different types of mattresses by material and see how they typically perform in our edge support testing.
Memory Foam
In our experience, all-foam beds don’t have the best edge support. The slow-moving comfort layers often sink when pressure is applied, and they can make some people feel like they will roll off the bed.
That said, not all memory foam mattresses have poor edge support. The Plank Firm mattress is a flippable foam mattress that feels particularly supportive.
Hybrids and Innersprings
Both hybrid and innerspring mattresses have coils in the support layers. Generally, these types of mattresses have better edge support than all-foam beds. That’s because coils are stronger than foam and don’t sag as much as time goes on. Take a look at our list of the best hybrid mattresses for some good options.
Latex
All-latex and latex hybrid mattresses often have great edge support. That’s because latex is a naturally supportive material. It’s also quite durable–some latex mattresses can last over 15 years. Because this material doesn’t sag as time goes on, it offers plenty of support.
FAQs
What is edge support in a mattress?
Edge support refers to how comfortable and sturdy the perimeter of your mattress feels. A mattress with excellent edge support will allow you to securely and comfortably sit or lie near the edge without feeling like you will fall off.
How do you fix mattress edge support?
If your mattress is sagging or is lacking edge support, there are a few ways you can temporarily improve your bed’s level of support. First, try rotating your mattress. If that doesn’t help, you can add a firm mattress topper to add support near the edge of your bed. Next, consider replacing your mattress’s foundation or bed frame if it is not providing you enough stable support. If none of these methods work, it may be time to replace your mattress.
Which mattresses have the best edge support?
Hybrid and innerspring mattresses typically have the best edge support because coil layers are more durable and supportive than high-density foams. Mattresses with reinforced edges are also less prone to sagging.
What is a reinforced edge on a mattress?
Some mattresses have reinforced edges that offer extra support around the perimeter. This edge can be made out of pocketed coils or high-density support foam to ensure your mattress won’t sag when you sit or lie near the edge.
