Layers

A good mattress has a good construction. A lot of layers go into making a mattress that ultimately gives you comfort and a great night's sleep. Ticking, quilting and top padding, middle padding, insulated padding, extra support, coils and box spring are what make your mattress what it is.

Ticking

The outermost layer of mattresses is generally constructed with a cotton-polyester blend.

Quilting and Top Padding

Mattresses feature a few layers of padding underneath the ticking. Usually, mattresses have quilting made of foam or batting. Batting ensures uniform softness.

Middle Padding

Middle padding starts with convoluted foam, which is softer than a flat slab of the same foam type. Convoluted foam spreads weight over a wider surface area, and this provides enhanced comfort. Other padding options are garneted cotton (thick wads of batting that provide loft but compress quickly) and more foam layers of varied thickness and density.

Insulated Padding

Insulated padding sits right on top of the springs so you don't feel them while you sleep. Common insulated fabric materials are matted fabric, plastic fibers, and coco padding (made from coconut husk fibers). Coco padding results in mattresses feeling a little stiffer. Your other options include plastic webbing and metal grids that may lie directly on top of springs to keep them from destroying the pad above.

Extra Edge Support

At the edges of the mattress, extra dense foam adds extra support. This prevents you from rolling off the bed at night and helps you sit without sliding off.

Coils

Premium queen size mattresses have between 500 to 950 coils, while lower end mattresses feature approximately 400 coils. Coils are configured in a number of different ways; possible coil configurations include hourglass, individual pockets and sense and respond coils.

The Box Spring

The box spring offers extra support and stability. As just a wooden frame covered with boards, a wooden frame with springs or a metal frame with springs, box spring works better when purchased with a mattress as a set.

Firmness

The firmness of a mattress is very important. It is responsible for how your body is cradled and the level of comfort and support you can get from your mattress. There is a large range of mattress 'surface feels' available, so try the mattress (lay on it) for at least 10 minutes before you buy it.

Pillow Top Mattress - It is a type of mattress that features a loosely attached layer that creates additional softness.

Plush - This happens to be a mattress with a soft feel.

Tight Top - It is described as a mattress type that does not have an extra surface layer like a Pillow Top or Euro Top. A tight top can be firm or plush.

Other types include firm, box pillow top and Euro box top.