How Many Coils Should Be in a Crib Mattress for Excellence?

For the best crib mattress, don't rely on coil count alone.

Minimum Coil Count

According to "The Baby Gizmo Buying Guide," high-quality innerspring crib mattresses should have at least 150 coils. Crib mattresses generally range in coil count from 80 to 280. Author Heather Maclean suggests starting at 150 coils.

Strength of Coils

"Consumer Reports" warns that, no matter how many coils are in the mattress, if the springs are made with a cheap, weak steel, the mattress will not be firm or possibly safe. The range of steel gauge in mattress springs is 12.5 to 19. The lower the gauge, the better the quality and thickness of the steel will be.

Bottom Line

Choosing a crib mattress based solely on the number of coils can be misleading, as the best mattresses not only have moderately high coil counts but also lower steel gauge ratings. "Consumer Reports" suggests looking for a mattress with at least 150 coils and a steel gauge below 15.5.

References

• "The Baby Gizmo Buying Guide"; Heather Maclean; 2008
• "Consumer Reports": Crib Mattresses