Soft Mattresses
A soft mattress lets you sink into a deep, cushioned surface that wraps around pressure points rather than pushing back against them. For lighter bodies and committed side sleepers it's often the only firmness that delivers real pressure relief.
Soft mattresses start around £140, though the typical one sits nearer £900: a plush feel that stays supportive needs deep, well-made comfort layers, and that quality costs.
We check soft mattress prices regularly across UK retailers, so you can compare today's price and stockists for each model.
Our picks at this firmness
Every mattress at this firmness
Emma Original Mattress
What soft actually means
Soft sits at 2 on our seven-point scale. The comfort layers do most of the work: you sink in deliberately, the surface wraps around your shape, and pressure at the shoulders and hips all but disappears. A good soft mattress is not an unsupportive one, since the core underneath still has to keep your spine straight while the surface yields.
That balance is exactly what separates a well-made soft mattress from a cheap one that's merely saggy, and it's why construction and material quality matter more at this end of the scale than anywhere else.
Who soft suits
- Dedicated side sleepers, particularly of lighter build, who need maximum give at the shoulder and hip.
- Sleepers with pressure sensitivity who wake sore on firmer surfaces.
- Anyone who genuinely loves the enveloped, sink-in feel of a plush bed.
- Lighter bodies generally, who barely compress firmer mattresses and only find comfort at this end.
Who might want a different option
- Front sleepers: deep hip sink at this softness pulls the spine out of line. Head to medium firm or firmer.
- Heavier sleepers, who risk sinking through the comfort layers entirely. Medium upwards will support better and last longer.
- Combination sleepers who move a lot, since deep contour makes changing position harder work.
- Hot sleepers, because deeper sink means more material around you and less airflow.
Choosing well at this firmness
Quality shows fastest at soft firmnesses, because generous comfort layers that keep their loft are expensive to make. Pillow top and natural-filled pocket sprung designs are prominent at this end of the scale, and they hold their shape better than budget foam plushness. If you love a soft feel but sleep warm, a soft-topped hybrid breathes better than deep all-foam softness.
How much soft mattresses cost
Soft mattresses start around £140, but the typical one sits near £900, the highest of any firmness. Plush comfort layers that hold their loft cost more to make than a firm surface, and cheap softness tends to turn into sag within a few years. The top of the range runs into handmade beds with natural fillings.
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.
Are soft mattresses bad for your back?
Not inherently. Support comes from the mattress core, and a well-made soft mattress can hold the spine straight while the surface cushions. The genuine risk is a cheap soft bed whose support gives way along with the surface. If you have ongoing back trouble, that's a conversation for your GP rather than a firmness chart.
Who should sleep on a soft mattress?
Lighter-weight sleepers and dedicated side sleepers benefit most, since they need the surface to yield in order to get any pressure relief at all. Heavier bodies and front sleepers are usually better served further up the scale.
Do soft mattresses wear out faster?
Deep comfort layers do more work, so material quality decides everything. Premium soft mattresses with dense foams or natural fillings hold their feel for years, while budget soft beds tend to develop body impressions soonest of any firmness.
Are soft mattresses hot to sleep on?
They can be, because sinking deeper means more material wrapped around you and less air movement. If you sleep warm but want softness, look for a soft hybrid or a breathable natural-fill design rather than deep memory foam.
What's the difference between soft and medium soft?
Depth of sink. A medium soft cushions you while keeping you near the surface; a soft lets you settle properly into the bed with a wraparound feel. If you're unsure, medium soft is the safer starting point.