Medium Mattresses
A medium mattress is the true middle of the firmness scale: soft enough to cushion your shoulders and hips, supportive enough to keep your spine aligned. It's the firmness side sleepers most often get on with, and a safe meeting point for couples who want different things.
Medium mattresses come in every construction, from boxed foam to handmade pocket sprung, starting around £130. Because brands interpret firmness differently, comparing them in one place matters more here than almost anywhere else.
We compare medium mattresses across UK retailers and check prices regularly, so each one shows an up-to-date price alongside the retailers that stock it.
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×What medium actually means
Medium sits at 4 on our seven-point scale, the true middle. You settle into the comfort layers noticeably more than on a medium firm, getting real cushioning at the shoulders and hips, while the support core still keeps your spine in line. It's the feel most people imagine when they picture a comfortable bed that isn't soft.
Remember that firmness labels aren't standardised, and your weight changes how any mattress feels: lighter bodies sit higher and read a mattress as firmer, heavier bodies sink deeper and read it as softer. Use the label as a guide and the trial period as the test.
Who medium suits
- Side sleepers, who benefit from the extra give at the shoulder and hip.
- Lighter to average weights, who actually reach the cushioning a firmer bed would deny them.
- Couples mixing a side sleeper with a back sleeper, as a workable compromise.
- Anyone who found a previous mattress too hard but doesn't want to feel enveloped.
Who might want a different option
- Front sleepers and most back sleepers usually do better one step up, on medium firm, to stop the hips dipping.
- Heavier sleepers may sink further than intended and should consider firm.
- If you want a plush, sink-in feel, look at medium soft or soft.
Choosing well at this firmness
Construction shapes the feel as much as the label. A medium memory foam gives a closer, slower cradle, while a medium hybrid feels springier and cooler at the same rating. Since medium is the firmness side sleepers reach for most often, the depth of the comfort layer matters as much as the rating on the label.
How much medium mattresses cost
Medium starts around £130 and runs up to luxury handmade beds. The typical medium sits near £800, higher than the market overall, because a true medium needs comfort layers deep enough to cushion without collapsing under you. Most buyers find the best balance between £400 and £900.
How we compare them
We use information from manufacturer and retailer specifications, verified owner reviews and our own catalogue data across more than 800 construction-checked models, with prices checked regularly across our UK retail partners. You can read more on how we assess mattresses and how we stay independent on How We Make Money.
Is a medium mattress good for side sleepers?
It's one of the best starting points. Side sleeping concentrates pressure at the shoulder and hip, and a medium gives enough contour to cushion both while keeping the spine straight. Lighter side sleepers sometimes go softer still.
Medium or medium firm, which should I choose?
Side sleepers and lighter bodies usually favour medium, while front sleepers and heavier bodies usually favour medium firm, with back sleepers split between the two. If you straddle the two, medium firm is the safer error, since a topper can soften a firm bed but nothing can firm up a soft one.
Do medium mattresses soften over time?
All mattresses soften somewhat as comfort layers break in, typically most noticeably in the first few months. A quality medium should stay recognisably medium; budget foams soften furthest, which is worth factoring in if you're between firmnesses.
Is medium too soft for a bad back?
Not necessarily, since support comes from the mattress core rather than the surface feel, and a good medium still keeps the spine aligned. Medium firm is the most commonly recommended starting point for back comfort, but comfort is personal, and persistent pain is a question for your GP rather than a firmness chart.
How much does a good medium mattress cost?
Medium starts around £130, with the typical model near £800. Most people find the best balance of quality and value between £400 and £900, with premium and handmade options beyond that.