Also referred to as movable foundation. It is a type of foundation that offers ability to bend and change your position. It has an electric motor underneath connected to a remote, which enables you to change an incline, elevate the mattress and set a position you prefer. Often called an electric or hospital bed, it is becoming a very popular option bringing its functional and health benefits to mainstream. Adjustable bases come in various types and options from very basic ones only moving up and down to high-end ones offering wave massage, wireless remotes and smart phone functionality. Many innerspring and most of foam mattress are compatible with movable bases.

Is a traditional support base placed below a mattress. A real box spring uses heavy-duty springs or torsions inside a wooden or steel frame that work together with the mattress and provide additional support. These coils act as shock absorbers and giving in once the pressure and weight is applied. Box spring and its components will eventually wear out with time. There are some manufacturers still using true box spring, but vast majority utilizes solid, non-yielding foundations.

Density refers to the mass of one cubic foot of foam material. Typically, this value is given in feet - 4.0 lbs or 4.0 lbs/ft³. High density often translates into better durability and lifespan. Traditional polyurethane foams have typically lower density that memory foams because of their different molecular structure.

High-density foams contain larger amounts of polymers and less air are denser and consequently weigh more and last longer. They also react quicker – having faster response time. There are also more expensive to make since they require more raw material and less air. Low-density foams contain more air pockets per cubic foot, thus are lighter and will start collapsing much earlier, not withstanding repeated pressure over longer period of time.

Most of the memory foams currently available you can assign to one of three categories, with Low Density foam being the softest with the slowest response time:
Low Density – 2.0 lbs to 3.5 lbs

Medium Density – 3.5 to 5.0 lbs

High Density – 5.0 lbs to 8.0 lbs

The very top layer of the padding layers inside the mattress, usually made from foam and/or fibers stitched together and attached to the bottom of the ticking. It can provide additional cushioning but mainly is serves as a breathable insulating layer of the mattress. Quilting could be also referred to a process of stitching the quilting layer together with the ticking and the rest of padding layers. Different type of quilting can be used when finishing the very top of the mattress – multi-needle and single-needle stitching, tack and jump quilting.

Support core, also referred to as inner core or poly core, is a support portion of the foam mattress. Where innerspring mattresses use steel coils for support, foam mattresses use high-density polyurethane foam or latex usually 3-8 inches high. High quality mattresses use high-density polyurethane core (6-8 inches) whereas lesser-quality products will either use thinner support layers (3-6”) or lower-density foam.

Ticking is the outer layer of protective fabric that covers and encases the mattress. Often referred to as the mattress cover, it can enhance the feel and durability of the mattress. It plays a significant role in breathability and temperature regulation, where natural fibers are superior to synthetic ones. Inexpensive ticking is made from polyester or polypropylene, while quality ticking is made from cotton, rayon or viscose and is breathable, flexible, durable, and antistatic. Popular types of ticking include damask and knit.

Same as padding layers or comfort layers, these are foam or fiber layers that are added on the top of the support system to provide overall comfort level and softness of the mattress. Manufacturers use different shapes, amounts and densities of padding materials (polyurethane, gel, latex and memory foams, polyester, cotton, wool, cashmere) to achieve varying levels or softness. Pillow top models, being the softest, have a larger amount of padding layers on the top, while firm models have only a few layers.

VOC stands for volatile organic compound. These are carbon-containing compounds that easily evaporate at room temperature. Some VOCs can be harmful to human health and the environment. The new mattress smell or chemical off-gassing is the result of these chemicals added to mattresses mostly in a form of glue or foam stabilizers.