How we Score and Test Mattress Edge Support

When considering mattresses, many sleepers prioritize the overall comfort and feel, often overlooking important aspects that significantly impact the mattress's long-term comfort levels. Edge support is a crucial aspect. Many sleepers only realize the importance of edge support when they struggle to sit or sleep near the edge due to sagging and a lack of support.

Our team at Sleepiverse recognizes the importance of edge support and its effect on sleep quality. Our mattress reviews aim to educate sleepers by sharing information about specific mattresses and how well they perform. To make sure our reviews are credible and accurate, we follow a strict research methodology.

This article will discuss the concept of edge support, exploring what it is and the factors contributing to good edge support in a mattress. We'll then move on to explain our detailed testing methodology for evaluating edge support.

What is edge support?

Edge support is defined as the strength of a mattress's edges. When pressured, it prevents the sides from compressing excessively. This feature is important for keeping the mattress stable and in shape. It lets people use the whole surface without fear of rolling off.

Importance of Edge Support in Mattresses for Sleep

Edge support is crucial for sleepers who sit or sleep close to the bed's edge. It adds to the mattress's overall durability and offers a firm edge to sit on. A mattress lacking adequate edge support can cause discomfort and a higher chance of falling off the bed. A mattress with good edge support can offer the following benefits:

• Maximizing Sleep Surface Area: A mattress with robust edge support ensures that the entire surface area is usable. This means you can sleep right up to the edge without feeling like you'll roll off. For couples, this extra space can be particularly beneficial, allowing both partners to spread out comfortably.
• Prevents Sagging and Prolongs Mattress Life: A good edge support maintains the mattress's structural integrity. It prevents the edges from sagging over time, extending the mattress's lifespan. This is especially important for heavy sleepers or those who frequently sit on the edge of the bed, as it helps distribute weight more evenly and reduces wear and tear.
• Ease of Getting In and Out of Bed: Mattresses with strong edge support provide a stable surface for sitting when getting in and out of bed. This is particularly helpful for seniors or individuals with mobility issues, as it offers added stability and reduces the risk of falls.
• Improved Sleep Quality: Edge support can significantly enhance overall sleep quality, especially for those who tend to sleep near the edge of the mattress. Good edge support provides consistent support, preventing excessive sagging and maintaining proper spinal alignment. This can help relieve pressure points and improve sleep comfort.
• Better Sleep for Couples: Edge support can contribute to better motion isolation for couples. This means that movements on one side of the bed are less likely to disturb the person on the other side. Additionally, strong edge support allows couples to utilize the entire mattress surface, reducing the likelihood of feeling cramped and improving overall comfort.

Who Benefits Most from Good Edge Support?

While all sleepers will benefit from strong edge support, some will find it very essential. Good edge support not only makes a mattress more comfortable but also helps it work better and last longer. Groups of people who should care about a mattress's edge support are listed below.

• Couples: Couples need to have strong edge support. This support keeps the sleeping surface stable across the whole mattress and prevents any sensation of instability that might disturb their sleep. If you need a mattress that focuses on comfort and support for couples, look at our selected list of the best mattresses for couples.
• Elderly Sleepers: To get in and out of bed, older adults often need firm edges. Good edge support provides the necessary stability while reducing the risk of falls and instability.
• People with Mobility Issues: Those with mobility challenges, such as people recovering from injuries, need a mattress with strong edge support. It helps make the transitions in and out of bed safer and easier, lowering the danger of falls.
• Individuals Who Sleep Near the Edge: People who sleep near the mattress edge need strong edge support. This stops them from feeling like they might fall or roll off and helps them sleep better and more comfortably.
• Plus-Size Sleepers: People with a greater body weight require mattresses with better edge support. This provides the stability and support needed to handle more pressure without reducing comfort. To help you find a mattress that meets your specific needs, we put together a list of the best mattresses for plus-size sleepers. You can look at this list by clicking here.
• People Who Sit on the Bed: Those who often sit on the bed edge to dress or relax require strong edge support. This helps keep the bed comfortable and prevents the mattress from wearing out.
• Those with Children: Families with kids who play or rest on the bed need mattresses for kids that have strong edges to hold up to the added stress and avoid damage. Kids often jump, climb, and sit on the edges, which can lead to early wear if the mattress doesn't have strong edge support.
• Sleepers Using Adjustable Beds: To maintain their shape and ensure comfort in various positions, adjustable beds require mattresses with solid edge support. When an adjustable bed moves, the mattress must bend and flex without losing its support along the edges.

Factors Affecting Edge Support

Not all mattresses have edge support, but its presence can have a major impact on your sleep. Below, we will look at factors that affect edge support.

It's crucial to recognize that these are merely basic guidelines; a mattress can incorporate additional technologies not included in the list, or even just one, and still offer effective edge support. The design and manufacturing of the mattress to enhance edge support determine its overall performance.

Mattress Materials

Many materials go into making a mattress, and each contributes in its own way to affect how the mattress performs and even its edge support. Below are some materials and their characteristics that are known to be effective in improving edge support.

• Foam Density: Foam with a high density, such as memory foam, provides better edge support than foam with a lower density. The firmness and durability of high-density foam help to prevent too much sinking at the edges, keeping the mattress stable and long-lasting.
• Type of Coils: The coil type in a mattress can influence edge support. For instance, individually wrapped pocketed coils offer superior motion isolation and robust edge support. These coils have extra strength around the edges to increase stability and prevent them from wearing out.

Reinforcement Techniques

Edge support is challenging to achieve in a mattress, so there are special techniques to improve it, and these techniques have the most significant impact.

• Edge Reinforcement: Many mattresses have reinforced edges, including sturdier coils or denser foam at the edges. This reinforcement stops sagging and gives a solid edge that helps with both sitting and sleeping near the edge.
• Zoning: Zoning means manufacturing the mattress with different firmness levels in various areas to help with pressure relief. The middle third of the mattress is often firmer to support the body's middle, and this firmness may continue to the edges, boosting stability and support where it's most needed.

Mattress Firmness

A mattress's firmness level is critical to edge support. Firmer mattresses offer better edge support as they resist compression and keep their shape at the edges. Softer mattresses might be cozy but can lack the needed design to maintain edge stability, leading to possible sagging and dips.

Mattress Construction

The construction of a mattress is of great importance, regardless of the materials, reinforcement techniques, and appropriate firmness, for strong edge support. That is because even with top-notch materials, improper construction can result in weak performance. The following are some construction methods that improve edge support:

• Enhanced Coils: To improve edge support, manufacturers can use reinforced or higher-gauge pocketed coils around the mattress perimeter. These tougher coils give extra support and keep the edges from falling apart, making a stable and long-lasting place to sleep.
• Foam Layers: Denser or firmer foam layers can improve edge support. Some mattress styles also include firmer foam encasements around the edges. All of these help to keep the mattress's shape and prevent the edges from wearing out, providing excellent edge support.
• Hybrid Designs: Hybrid mattresses are the best of both worlds, as they combine coils and foam layers and provide excellent edge support. They frequently have strengthened coil edges and high-density foam layers. This mix provides strong coil support and foam comfort, resulting in outstanding edge support.

Learn More: The Best Hybrid Mattresses.

Testing Mattress Edge Support

As previously highlighted, edge support is a crucial aspect of a mattress that requires careful consideration. That's why we test it, helping sleepers understand its importance and its overall impact on sleep quality.

Testing edge support is a critical step in our review process. We aim for these tests to help you understand the performance of a mattress without trying it yourself. We carry out reliable and relevant tests and provide the results in a simplified way.

Our testing methodology includes two thorough tests, as explained below. These tests show the real effects of edge support in a mattress.

Before testing, we make sure the environment is controlled. We unbox the mattress and let it expand as recommended, or at least 24 hours if no particular instructions are given. We then put it on a stable bed frame and do not use any bedding or toppers to avoid skewed results.

1) Hand Pressure Test

The first test evaluates how a mattress's edge reacts to pressure. It mimics the pressure of sitting or lying close to the edge and shows the overall stability and support of the edge.

To conduct this test, a reviewer applies firm, consistent pressure along the entire perimeter of the mattress using their hands, then releases the pressure. This allows us to evaluate how the edges hold up against compression.

During the test, the reviewer pays attention to particular details and gives feedback. We ask if they experienced any counterpressure while pressing on the edges, or if the edges were easy to compress. We also ask about the recovery time, which is the speed at which the edges recover back to normal after the pressure is released.

We draw conclusions based on the reviewer's feedback. Usually, a mattress with good edge support will give a clear feel of counterpressure when pressed on the edges, and after releasing pressure, the edges should recover quickly.

However, it is important to realize that some memory foam mattresses take longer to recover. This does not always mean bad edge support. It is simply a material characteristic. These mattresses can still provide great edge support, even with the slower recovery.

2) Sitting on Edge Test

The second test simulates a real-world scenario by evaluating how well a mattress supports a person sitting on the edge.

We use a reviewer with an average weight to cater to the needs of most buyers. This prevents a reviewer's heavier or lighter weight from influencing the results, which wouldn't reflect what a typical user would encounter.

To carry out this test, our reviewers sit on the mattress edge, and we calculate how much it compresses due to their weight. We also get the reviewer’s thoughts on how supportive the edge feels.

We draw conclusions about the edge support based on the reviewer's experience. A mattress with good edge support exhibits minimal sinking and receives positive feedback on its support.

However, it's important to keep in mind that a mattress is made to be comfortable, not rock-solid. If there is enough support, a bit of sinking is normal.

How We Rate Mattress Edge Support

After completing our testing methodology, we give the mattress an edge support rating from 0 to 5. This score simplifies the findings, as previously mentioned, and highlights the considerations and observations from our two edge support tests. Here is a clear explanation of each score.

Conclusion

Edge support is a crucial factor in achieving good sleep. Many sleepers benefit from this without knowing it. If edge support is lacking, your sleep quality could suffer.

Our mattress reviews offer valuable insights. Thanks to our thorough and unbiased research methodology, you can recognize how a mattress performs, including its edge support. This helps you make an informed decision and choose a mattress that fits your needs for comfortable sleep.