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Memory Foam Grades

Memory foam is no longer the rare item it once was - today you can buy a bewildering array of brands and products at prices ranging from "bargain" to "ouch!". How do you compare different offerings and decide which really is the best buy for you?

Unfortunately there seems to be no universally accepted method of grading memory foam for the consumer. Standards such as CertiPUR-US provide basic assurances but still leave room for much variation in quality. This means that reputation of the manufacturer, personal recommendation and independent reviews remain important. That said, there are a couple of things you can look for.

Product Comparison

Thickness

There are two basic measures that can be used when comparing memory foam products. The first is the thickness of the foam. This is probably of most importance when buying a topper or pad. A pad that is very thin is unlikely to give much support, a pad that is very thick is unlikely to be providing enough extra benefit to justify the cost. Most people find a thickness of two or three inches seems to work best.

Density

The other objective comparison is the density of the foam. So what does memory foam density mean to you? Basically it affects the amount of support given by the product. In general, denser foam will be firmer than the less dense variety from the same range. However foams of the same densities from different manufactureres can still have different levels of firmness (is there a word for that? firminosity perhaps?). In the US, foam density is usually described in terms of pounds per cubic foot. Common densities for sale today are 3lb, 4lb and 5lb.

Smell

Brand new memory foam smells bad, at least for a little while. Some high end manufacturers allow their products to air for a while before packing and distribution, meaning that once you receive them the smell is less severe and fades more quickly. It's less likely that budget foam producers will spend the extra time (=money) on this step.

Premium

Some manufacturers describe their products as being of premium quality. There's no real definition of this term, in general it refers to the denser foams.

Environment

For all its advantages memory foam is basically a petrochemical product. For those concerned about the environment there are a variety of more eco-friendly foams available.


At the end of the day there's no single clear method of comparing the quality of different memory foam products. A number of different factors need to be taken into account and balanced according to your personal priorities and budget. The advice remains to shop around, read the reviews but remember that what's right for someone else might not be best for you.