Futon Mattresses Explained
When futons were first introduced into the United States, the only kind of mattress you could get was a thin, all-cotton creation. We all lived with it because there was no alternative. We liked the simple design, the mobility and let’s be honest, the price. The traditional futon mattress is still a great bargain and a solid choice for college students everywhere.
But futon mattresses have grown up, in a big way. These days you don’t have to sacrifice comfort to get a stylish futon at a good price. There are really three simple 
ways to categorize futon mattresses: soft, medium and firm. In other words, what kind of mattress do you like to sleep on? Once you answer that question, your futon shopping just got a heck of a lot easier.
If you are thinking soft futon mattress, here’s what you want: a high-density foam core. Don’t scrimp on this. Be prepared to spend $500 on a good quality soft futon. The foam core must be a high-loft variety — one that cushions and envelopes your body as you sleep.
When it’s all together this type of futon will measure about 10 inches. Besides the foam core, it should have interlocking layers of egg crate-style foam, to add loft. Additional thin layers of cotton or poly-cotton blend may be added to the inner part of the mattress. In the end, the whole thing will be wrapped by pure cotton batting. This gives the mattress it’s final structure. Soft, supple and hardy enough to weather years of use.
Medium futon mattresses are generally made from a quality foam core and cotton batting. They can also, as in the picture, have a spring coil at the center. The thickness of the mattress should be about 8 inches. The foam core may or may not interlock to add extra support.
If you choose to forgo spring coils at the center, remember the very core of the mattress should be, again, high-density foam. The additional foam can be of more moderate rating. You can expect to pay $300-$400 for a medium firmness mattress and that additional foam quality is a place where maybe you can save yourself a few dollars.
Finally, the firm mattress is will have a foam core as well. The foam at the center of a firm-grade futon mattress should be rated high-density. The general construction of firm and extra-firm futon mattresses is foam at the center and cotton as the wrap around. A firm mattress will cost about $400 and can range in thickness from 8 to 10 inches.
Better quality firm mattresses will use a combination of slabs of foam with egg crate-style foam with slabs being dominant.
Almost any futon shop you walk into or browse online will have examples of the mattress construction. If you don’t see an example, ask the salesperson if they have a cut-away example of the mattress construction. You need to see what you’re really buying.
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