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Understanding just what it is you want out of a mattress will help you choose the best one for you.

Most bedding manufacturers recommend buying a new box spring that coordinates with the mattress you choose. Since they are designed together, the pair works best when purchased together, they say. An old set of springs is likely to have sagged some over the years. A good box spring has a coil system surrounded by a frame of wood. It is usually stiffer at the edges with more give in the middle for comfort.

Now we come to the mattress itself. Whether it is filled with steel coils, tempur memory foam, air or water, the support system is the means by the spine is held in the correct position. The most conventional means of support is the inner spring, a series of coils or springs that gives slightly under weight. They are designed to only give a little so that you do not sink too much.

Memory foam or tempur foam mattresses use a man-made foam that responds to weight and temperature for support. It is designed to be harder in the places that the body touches the least and softer under heavy pressure points. Aerobed and waterbed mattresses use the same idea by filling a balloon-like sack with air or water to counter the pressure from above.

The uppermost layer is the padding placed on top of the support system. Whether it is wool, cotton or foam, the amount of padding determines the comfort level. A firm mattress has the least padding. A plush mattress has a thicker layer. And a pillow top mattress has the thickest layer of all.

Knowing what makes up a comfortable mattress helps you make the best decision. Keep in mind that there are several choices, and choose the one that offers you the best support for your money.