My Mattress Is Too Firm: Solutions Before You Return It

A mattress that is too firm is one of the two most common new-mattress complaints. The good news: there is more you can do before initiating a return than most people realize. The bad news: some firmness problems cannot be fixed without a different mattress.

This guide picks up where our mattress-too-hard overview leaves off, with specific solutions and timelines for each fix.

The Break-In Period: What It Means

Every mattress has a break-in period. The materials, foam, latex, coil springs, need compression cycles before they reach their final feel. This is not a marketing claim; it is material science.

• Innerspring / hybrid: 30-45 days for coil springs to settle
• Memory foam: 30-60 days; feels hardest when cold, softens with body heat cycling
• Latex: 30 days; does not soften as dramatically as foam
• Foam: 14-30 days for initial compression

If your mattress is under 30 days old and feels too firm: wait. If it is 45 days or more and still feels like sleeping on a floor, it is genuinely too firm for you and a fix or swap is warranted.

4 Solutions Before You Return It

1. Soft Mattress Topper (Best Fix)

Effectiveness: 8/10 | Cost: $80-$200

A 2-3 inch memory foam topper rated medium or plush immediately changes the surface feel. Memory foam conforms to pressure points at shoulders and hips, exactly where firm mattresses create discomfort for side sleepers.

What to look for: ILD 10-20 for a plush feel, ILD 20-30 for medium. A 3-inch topper provides more pressure relief than a 2-inch; the difference is meaningful for side sleepers.

2. Adjust Your Sleep Position

Effectiveness: Variable | Cost: $0

Mattress firmness requirements are directly tied to sleep position. A medium-firm mattress that is right for back and stomach sleepers is often too firm for side sleepers. The pressure points at the shoulder and hip are the issue, not the overall firmness level.

If you are a primary side sleeper on a firm mattress, try back sleeping for two weeks. Some people find they adjust; others find the firmness feel resolves with position change.

3. Allow Full Break-In Time

Effectiveness: 6/10 (if break-in is the issue) | Cost: $0

Sleep on the mattress, specifically on it, not around it. Walk on it in socked feet for 5 minutes each day for the first two weeks. Memory foam particularly needs body heat and pressure cycles to soften.

Keep the room temperature warm during break-in. Memory foam that is too cold feels dramatically harder than at normal sleeping temperature (65-70 degrees F).

4. Use Your Trial Period Strategically

Effectiveness: 10/10 for getting the right mattress | Cost: $0

If after 60 days the mattress is still too firm and you have tried a topper without satisfactory results, you have the wrong firmness level. Most trial periods let you exchange for a different firmness before a full return. Saatva allows a one-time comfort exchange within its 365-night trial window, one of the most generous policies in the industry.

See our guide on how to use your mattress trial period to maximize this option. Also see our what to do if your mattress is not comfortable after 30 days guide.

Pain Patterns That Mean Too Firm

Specific pain patterns on a too-firm mattress are distinct from other mattress problems. Too-firm pain typically:

• Appears at shoulders and hips (pressure point areas), not lower back
• Is worse for side sleepers than back or stomach sleepers
• Improves immediately when you get up (unlike soft-mattress back pain, which lingers)
• Includes numbness or tingling in arms from restricted shoulder circulation

See our full waking up in pain guide to distinguish too-firm vs. too-soft vs. alignment problems.

When to Replace Instead of Fix

A topper covers up a firmness mismatch but does not solve it permanently. Three situations where a swap makes more sense:

• The mattress is under 60 days old and still in trial: exchange or return now rather than spending $150 on a topper for a mattress that is not right for you.
• You are a strict side sleeper: side sleepers need 3-4 inches of compliant material above the support core. A purpose-built plush or medium mattress handles this more durably than stacking a topper on a firm bed.
• You are waking with hip or shoulder pain that a topper does not resolve: the core of the mattress is generating enough point pressure through the topper to cause pain. Time to swap.

Comparing Your Options

Option	Cost	Best For	Downside
Memory foam topper (3 in)	$80-$200	Mattress otherwise good, just too firm on top	Does not fix core support issues
Saatva Classic Plush Soft	From $1,395	Firmness uncertainty, innerspring fans, comfort exchange needed	$99 return fee, heavy
Amerisleep AS3	From $1,049	Full swap, side/combo sleepers, pressure point pain	Softer edges than a coil hybrid

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take for a firm mattress to soften?

Most mattresses soften noticeably in the first 30 days as materials break in. Memory foam can take up to 60 days. If the mattress is still uncomfortably firm at 60 days, it is not going to change significantly and is likely the wrong firmness for your sleep style.

What type of mattress topper makes a firm mattress softer?

Memory foam (3 inches, medium or plush) or soft Talalay latex are the two best options. Memory foam conforms to pressure points and relieves shoulder and hip pressure most effectively. Wool toppers add slight softness but less pressure relief.

Can sleep position change how firm a mattress feels?

Yes. Side sleepers need more pressure relief at shoulders and hips, and a firm mattress will feel much harsher for side sleepers than for back or stomach sleepers. If you have recently changed sleep position, the firmness issue may resolve with positioning adjustment.

Is it bad to sleep on a mattress that is too firm?

A mattress that is too firm for your sleep position creates pressure points at the shoulders and hips, restricts blood flow, and can cause you to wake up on your back even if you start as a side sleeper. Over time this can cause shoulder and hip pain.

How do I know if my mattress is too firm or just needs break-in time?

If the mattress is under 30 days old: wait. If it is 30-60 days and you are waking with shoulder or hip pain on the side you sleep on, it is too firm. Pain that appears with the mattress and was absent before is the clearest diagnostic signal.