Innerspring mattresses
Innerspring mattresses are the most common type of mattress. They give support from metal coils. Don’t let a salesperson convince you that a mattress is good based on the number of coils it has — it’s not important. What is important is the gauge of the wire the coils are made from. The gauge — or thickness — of the coil affects the firmness of the mattress; the heavier the gauge, the stiffer the mattress, and the lighter the gauge, the springier the mattress. When asking about gauge remember that the lower the gauge number, the more durable the wire is. For example, a 12-gauge wire is thicker than a 14-gauge wire.
Foam mattresses
Foam mattresses are filled with a combination of natural fibers and synthetics. Most people, when they think of foam mattresses, are thinking of memory foam or visco-elastic foam that molds to the contour of your body when you sleep. Expect to pay more for one of these beds — at least $1,000 for a queen mattress.