When you’ve shopped for a mattress in the past, did the salesperson talk to you about coil count?

Unfortunately, it’s a topic that some store associates won’t talk to you about unless you ask. But at E.S.C. Mattress Center, that’s not the case. Co-owner Joshua Rigsby says that—especially if you’re looking for a new mattress—it’s important to consider coil count when comparing models.

But first, what exactly is coil count and why does it matter?

The most popular type of beds—Innerspring—usually have energy-absorbing coils arranged in tight rows and columns that help support the body and distribute weight to relieve stress at pressure points.

Coils can be tied together and connected—meaning that when the pressure is applied the spring all react together—or individually wrapped. When individually wrapped, coils are encased in fabric that prevents the free-standing coils from getting tangled. Because of this, these types of coils give you custom contoured support.

While it can be difficult to compare coil counts across brands, Rigsby says higher coil count usually means a better bed and better support, but a lower coil count is like “balancing a plate with three fingers instead of five, it will work but not as well.”

A higher coil count can also increase the mattress’s longevity. So logically, you want to avoid mattresses with a lower coil count. But what’s too low?

At minimum you should look for at least 550 coils in a queen (most coil counts are quoted in queen size).

However, more coils can mean more comfort and support, and Rigsby says he recommends around 700+ coils as a starting point, especially for individually wrapped coils. That’s because individually wrapped coils are more conforming than tied together coils, as well as better at mitigating movement.

However, while this is great information to know, there are many other factors that help with coil performance, like coil design, number of turns, the gauge of wiring, and tempering of steel when comparing innerspring support systems.

It’s also worth noting that Coil Density (which is used by some brands) can be a bit misleading. Generally if a brand is advertising Coil Density instead of Coil Count they’re trying to inflate the perceived number of support springs in a mattress. Coil Density refers to how many coils would be there if there wasn’t a foam encasement on the mattress, not the actual number of coils.

So next time you’re shopping for an innerspring mattress, be sure to ask your local retailer about all different aspects of the coils, starting with the count.

Family Owned E.S.C. Mattress Center believes sleep is a pillar of good health and offers only brands they believe in. They have interest-free financing and no-credit-needed financing so you don’t have to settle for something that isn’t right for you.

E.S.C. Mattress Center is located at 10121 Evergreen Way, Ste. 30, Everett. They’re rated 5 stars on Yelp and Google, “A+” rated with the Better Business Bureau, and are the five time winner of the Herald Readers’ Choice Award. For more information, call (425) 512-0017.