Here's How Thick Your Mattress Should Be To Simulate A Hotel Sleep

Though spending long stretches of time in hotel rooms isn't everyone's cup of tea — and certainly isn't very budget-friendly — there's no reason you can't recreate that heavenly hotel sleep experience in your own home. After all, the hotel chains have to get their bedding from somewhere, why wouldn't you be able to find similar products to use yourself? As interior designer Anouska Hempel revealed to HuffPost, the magic mattress thickness to simulate a hotel mattress is 12 inches. 

Before you even delve into the world of mattress toppers or other bedding staples, make sure you're starting with a mattress at least that height for the coziest possible sleeping experience. When it comes to mimicking the hotel sleeping experience, the mattress is one of the most important components. No matter how soft your linens are, and no matter how comfortable your pillows are, you won't get high-quality sleep if you're tossing and turning on a lumpy mattress or dealing with box springs digging into your back.

There's a ton of variation in height when it comes to mattresses. There are low profile or slim options clocking in at anywhere from 2 to 8 inches, which may help achieve a minimalist aesthetic, but likely won't deliver on comfort. It's worth noting that a standard mattress is typically somewhere between 8 and 12 inches, meaning you'll need to find something at the taller end of the standard spectrum to mimic the hotel bed experience.

Your best bet is to look for keywords such as thick, deep, or tall when mattress shopping. Mattresses that fall within this category are usually about 12 to 16 inches in height, so they should provide the feel you're looking for. And, while the ideal mattress firmness will depend on your most frequent sleep position, it's worth noting that most hotels opt for medium-firm mattresses, as these are typically the best choice for the widest range of sleep positions.

Finally, don't forget about all the extras that make a hotel bed truly unforgettable. A mattress topper adds extra softness to even the coziest mattress, and high thread count linens can make a big difference. And, an abundance of high-quality pillows can likewise provide that luxurious hotel feel. Interior designer Anouska Hempel recommends six to eight total pillows in order to mimic the hotel bed experience, per HuffPost. "It is important to make it an inviting and special place for yourself," she explains. 

If you've had an utterly life-changing night's rest at a particular hotel, don't hesitate to simply get in touch with them and ask about what mattresses they're using in their rooms — many upscale hotels will have no issue with sharing that information. Provided that particular mattress is available to consumers and not just for wholesale buyers like hotels, and the price is within your budget, you can easily snatch one up.

What about if your mattress is the right height and perhaps even one of the same brands that the hotels use, but you're still not as impressed with it at home as you were at the hotel? It may be worth considering the age of the mattress and whether it needs replacing. While it obviously varies between hotels, it's estimated that hotels replace their mattress every five to seven years, or in the case of high-end luxury establishments, even as often as every three years. You certainly don't need to be replacing your own mattress with the same frequency, but keep an eye out for signs that your mattress may be getting a bit past its prime.