Comfort IQ™ · Scored on what actually matters
NM 12″ Medium Firm Memory Foam Mattress — Performance & Feel
Comfort IQ™ scores eight dimensions 0–10 from National Mattress's in-house testing + construction — the same scale on every model, so two beds compare on what actually matters. Results vary by body type, base, and room temperature.
The NM 12″ Medium Firm Memory Foam is a deep, immersive cradle — Pressure Relief 9.0. Two and a half inches of high-density memory foam let the body sink in 2.51-3.52 inches, flowing around shoulders and hips so the heavy points stop bearing down, and the silent, near-zero-motion all-foam build makes it a genuine light-sleeper's bed. It pairs that deep plush cradle with a comfortable surface temperature (Cooling 8.8) for an enveloping, undisturbed night. For side sleepers, couples, and anyone who wants to melt in and sleep still, this immersive memory-foam bed is a perfect match.
Performance Scores
An 8.5 overall built on a deep pressure cradle and near-best-in-line motion isolation, with the soft, sinking feel and all-foam edge as the honest trade-offs.
Pressure Relief9.0
A deep, body-hugging cradle flows around shoulders and hips — near weightless.
Responsiveness8.9
A slow, controlled melt that rebuilds around you — cushioned, not springy.
Cooling8.8
Neutral — the surface vents, but the deep hug holds a little body heat.
Motion Isolation8.5
Deep memory foam swallows motion on contact — among the lowest measured.
Durability8.2
High-density memory over an HD+ core resists early soft spots and denting.
Edge Support8.1
All-foam rim gives at the side; fine in the field, soft to sit on the edge.
Spinal Support7.7
Dense HD+ core keeps the hips in line; the medium top lets you settle in.
Off-Gassing 8.5 Brand 7.0 Sleep Trial 10.0 Value 7.2
In National Mattress's in-house Comfort IQ analysis, the NM 12″ Medium Firm Memory Foam scores: Overall 8.5/10, Cooling 8.8/10, Pressure Relief 9.0/10, Motion Isolation 8.5/10, Edge Support 8.1/10, Responsiveness 8.9/10, Spinal Support 7.7/10, Durability 8.2/10.
Best For
Side sleepers and pressure-point sufferers. Pressure Relief 9.0 — a deep, immersive cradle that releases shoulders and hips the moment you lie down.
Couples and light sleepers. Motion Isolation 8.5 + a silent all-foam build — a partner's moves barely register across the surface.
Sleepers who love a soft, sinking feel. Responsiveness 8.9 — a slow, controlled melt that conforms and rebuilds around you.
Buyers who want a deep plush bed that lasts. Durability 8.2 — high-density memory over an HD+ core resists the denting cheap foam shows early.
Considerations
Cooling runs neutral, not cool. A deep, plush foam build that you sink into hugs the body closely, and an all-foam core cannot vent heat like an open coil chamber — if you run hot and still want a sinking surface, those two pull against each other.
Edge Support 8.1 — a soft all-foam perimeter. With no coil ring, edge sinkage measures 3.74-5.80 inches, so sitting on the rim or sleeping right at the edge, the foam gives noticeably.
A lot of sink — not for everyone. Spinal Support 7.7 is solid, but back and stomach sleepers who want a firmer lift, and anyone who dislikes the immersive feel, may find this much give too much.
How It Performs — The Measured Detail
Feel & Firmness · 4/10 Medium
A soft, plush medium with a deep memory-foam character — the two and a half inches of memory up top let you settle in and the surface rebuilds gently around the body. The thick 12-inch build gives a generous, immersive sink rather than an on-top feel. Sinkers will love it; anyone who wants to rest on the surface will find it a lot of give.
Cooling 8.8
Cooling on the NM 12″ Medium Firm Memory Foam is where it trades comfort for honesty — the surface peaks in the 30.2-33.0°C range with the climb over baseline in the 8.2-11.0°C range, essentially level with an average bed, so call it neutral rather than cool. A SoftLux breathable cotton cover and a breathable poly layer move heat at the surface, but a deep, plush build you sink into hugs the body closely, and an all-foam core cannot vent warmth like an open coil chamber. By morning it eases into the 25.1-29.3°C range; an average sleeper stays comfortable.
Pressure Relief 9.0
Pressure relief is the headline on the NM 12″ Medium Firm Memory Foam — at a medium feel the body sinks in 2.51-3.52 inches, a deep, immersive, body-hugging cradle. The memory comfort layer flows around the shoulders and hips and spreads the load so the heavy points stop bearing down. Side sleepers, and anyone who collects tension in their pressure points, feel the give the moment they lie down — an almost weightless, enveloping contact. The flip side is real: if the sinking-in sensation is not your thing, this much immersion reads as too much.
Motion Isolation 8.5
For couples this is close to the best in the lineup — peak transfer reads in the 1.38-4.67 m/s² range, among the lowest anywhere we have measured, with movement settling out in the 0.54-0.76 second range. The deep memory-foam comfort layer swallows motion on contact, so a partner rolling over, climbing out, or getting back into bed barely registers across the surface. Paired with the dead silence of an all-foam build, it becomes a real answer if a restless sleeper next to you is what wakes you.
Edge Support 8.1
An all-foam perimeter is the honest weak point of a soft, sinking bed like this — with no coil ring or encasement bracing the sides, edge sinkage measures in the 3.74-5.80 inch range, so sit on the rim or sleep right at the edge and the foam gives noticeably under you. That is the expected behavior of a 12-inch plush foam build, not a defect. Out in the main sleep field it makes no difference; if you routinely use the side or want every inch edge-to-edge with a partner, a coil-encased bed holds firmer.
Responsiveness 8.9
The NM 12″ Medium Firm Memory Foam answers pressure with a slow, controlled melt rather than a spring-back, which is exactly the point of a soft memory-foam build — total bounce travel comes in around the 5.07-9.81 inch range, and recovery takes a deliberate beat, the surface fully reforming in under 3.21 seconds and mostly settling in under 1.55 seconds. The memory foam yields gently and rebuilds around you. It feels cushioned and enveloping; the trade is that it is not a quick, athletic surface to switch positions on.
Off-Gassing 8.5
Break-in smell is a non-issue here — the off-gassing clears in 12-24 hours, with the initial odor rated Low. The foams are CertiPUR-US certified, independently tested against strict low-VOC limits, finished in Ontario and roll-packed right before delivery rather than spending months compressed in a box in transit, where an imported bed-in-a-box concentrates its scent. Unbox it, give it a day to breathe, and the faint new-foam smell is gone.
Sleep Position & Body Weight Fit
The medium, sinking feel is squarely a side sleeper's bed — the deep cradle lets shoulders and hips settle into the support rather than perch on top. Lighter and average bodies get the full immersive contour; heavier sleepers are still held by the dense HD+ core, though the deep sink may feel like a lot. Back and stomach sleepers who want a firmer lift under the spine, and dedicated hot sleepers, are the groups who may prefer a firmer or cooler model.
At a Glance
Type · Foam Firmness · 4/10 Medium Height · 12″ Comfort layer · 4.5″ Fiberglass-free CertiPUR-US certified Made in · Canada Trial · 365 nights Delivery · Free on orders over $199
Full construction, per-size dimensions and coil counts are in the product description above. View 365-night trial details.
Frequently Asked
Is the NM 12″ Medium Firm Memory Foam good for side sleepers?
Yes — it is built for them. Pressure Relief scores 9.0, with the body sinking in 2.51-3.52 inches into a deep, body-hugging cradle. The memory foam flows around shoulders and hips so pressure points release the moment you lie down, with an almost weightless contact.
Does the NM 12″ Medium Firm Memory Foam sleep hot?
It is neutral, not cool. Cooling scores 8.8 on its band but peaks in the 30.2-33.0°C range, level with an average bed. The deep, plush build you sink into hugs the body and an all-foam core cannot vent heat like coils, so dedicated hot sleepers will feel it warmer.
Will I feel my partner move on the NM 12″ Medium Firm Memory Foam?
Almost never. Motion Isolation scores 8.5, with peak transfer in the 1.38-4.67 m/s² range — among the lowest we have measured. The deep memory-foam layer swallows movement on contact, and the silent all-foam build makes it a real light-sleeper's bed.
Is the NM 12″ Medium Firm Memory Foam too soft for back sleepers?
It can feel like a lot of give. Spinal Support scores 7.7 — a dense HD+ core keeps the hips in line — but the medium top lets you settle in deeply. Back and stomach sleepers who want a firmer lift under the spine will likely prefer a firmer model.
Can I try the NM 12″ Medium Firm Memory Foam at home first?
Yes. It ships with a 365-night sleep trial — a full year to live with the soft, sinking feel through every season — and free delivery on orders over $199. If it is not right when the window closes, you return it for a refund or exchange.