Firmness level for a box spring bed – which one suits you best?

Are you currently considering buying a box spring bed? Then the classic questions quickly arise: Which design should it be? How does the headboard look? Which size fits in the bedroom? What many people underestimate, however, is that the firmness of the box spring bed significantly influences how your bed actually feels – whether you sink in softly, lie with stable support, or hit the sweet spot.

And that's precisely where it gets interesting: A box spring bed reacts differently than a classic mattress. The box springs, the mattress provides targeted support, the topper refines the sleeping experience – and the firmness level of the box spring mattress is where everything comes together.

Knowing which firmness level suits your body and sleeping style transforms the entire experience: you lie more naturally, more relaxed, and above all, in a way that feels right for you. This guide will help you understand the different firmness levels available, how to find the right one, and how to adjust the firmness of your box spring bed to be firmer or softer as needed.

Table of contents

1. Basic knowledge about box spring bed mattresses and firmness levels
2. Understanding firmness levels: How the box spring bed works as a system
3. Which firmness level suits you best? – Guidelines based on weight and desired feel
4. What sleeping position has to do with firmness
5. Fine-tuning for sleeping comfort: small adjustments with a big impact
6. Why the firmness level of a Belanoti box spring bed feels natural
7. FAQ about firmness levels for box spring beds
   

Basic knowledge about box spring bed mattresses and firmness levels

• What does firmness level mean? By definition, the firmness level describes the firmness of the mattress in a box spring bed – in other words, how soft or firm you lie on it.
• What scales are used? The classic ratings range from H1 (very soft) to H5 (very firm). In practice, firmness levels for box spring beds fall within the range of H2, H3, and H4, because these combinations correspond to most body types.
• What do you base your decision on? A general rule of thumb: the higher your body weight, the firmer the mattress should be. But your sleeping position and personal preference also play an important role.
• Why doesn't the firmness of a box spring bed feel the same everywhere? Firmness levels aren't standardized. Each manufacturer defines them slightly differently – depending on the construction, spring core, and material mix. That's why an H3 firmness level from supplier A can feel significantly softer than an H3 level from supplier B.

Understanding firmness levels: How the box spring bed works as a system

Your new box spring bed – which firmness is right for you?

The appropriate firmness level depends on your body weight and desired sleeping comfort . The following overview offers a brief guide and is based on our regular experience at Belanoti:

What does my sleeping position have to do with the firmness of the box spring bed?

Your sleeping position reveals a lot about how your box spring bed should support you.
From an orthopedic perspective, the main thing is that your spine stays in its natural line – neither sagging nor overextended. And that feels a little different depending on your position:

• Side sleepers need space for their shoulders and pelvis. A slightly softer feel (H2 or a softer H3) allows these areas to sink in gently without the waist feeling "unsupported".
• Back sleepers often prefer a stable core. This is where the H3 mattress excels: the body sinks in slightly but remains well supported – ideal for relieving pressure on the lumbar spine.
• Stomach sleepers generally lie flatter. A mattress that's too soft is rarely comfortable, as it can cause the back to arch. Many therefore find a slightly firmer setting more comfortable, but this doesn't automatically mean it should be H4.

In short : Your sleeping position provides a guideline – and your body's signals determine what feels truly comfortable. A combination of both usually leads to the optimal choice.

Fine-tuning your sleeping comfort: Here's how you can make your box spring bed firmer – or softer.

There are a few simple adjustments you can make to fine-tune the firmness of your box spring bed without changing the system.

• Choosing the right topper: The topper noticeably influences the feeling of lying down: Cold foam feels more stable and provides firmer support, while visco reacts more softly and adapts more strongly.
• Note the material's reaction : Visco reacts to body heat and automatically softens during the night. If this becomes too soft for you, a cold foam topper is often a better fit.
• Rotate your mattress : Sometimes simply changing your sleeping position helps. The rotation distributes the pressure more evenly – and the surface feels more stable again.
• What's not a good idea : Improvised solutions like boards, panels, or cheap additional layers may change something – but often at the expense of ergonomics. The feel of the bed usually becomes unnaturally hard, and the suspension can no longer function properly.

For your information : If you choose an electrically adjustable box spring bed , you can't change the firmness level itself – but you can adjust your posture in bed very precisely. The variable position of the head and foot sections allows you to relieve pressure points and adjust the feel of the bed to be most comfortable for your body.

Why the firmness level of a Belanoti box spring bed feels natural

With the box spring bed It's not about a single component, but about the interplay between them. That's precisely where Belanoti beds often feel different – ​​and more natural for many.

We build our box spring beds with wood . This means the box, with its Bonnell spring cores, is stable and comfortably absorbs movement. On top lies the 7- zone pocket spring mattress , which reflects the chosen firmness level and provides targeted support for your body. If you opt for a 180x200 cm or 160x200 cm box spring bed and share it with a partner, you'll often encounter what we see every day in our consultations: two people rarely have the same sleeping experience. That's precisely why our firmness levels can be flexibly combined on each side: a mattress can, for example, have H2 on one side and H3 on the other without any noticeable difference. H3/H4 is also possible if one side requires more support.

The topper completes the sleeping experience and provides the finishing touch – we offer a viscoelastic foam topper as standard, because it's pleasantly conforming for many sleepers and distributes pressure well. If you prefer a firmer, more defined feel, you can easily select a cold foam topper during the ordering process – at no extra cost.

Incidentally, our beds are manufactured in Europe – and you can feel it in the way they feel. No artificially "inflated" firmness levels for showrooms, but honest materials that perform as they should. In short: The firmness of your Belanoti box spring bed feels exactly as you choose it – and no other way.

FAQ about firmness levels for box spring beds