Best Mattress for Airbnb Guests in New Zealand: What Firmness Should You Choose?

If you own an Airbnb, holiday home or short-term rental in New Zealand, choosing a mattress is a little different from choosing a bed for yourself.

At home, you can simply choose the comfort level you personally love.

In an Airbnb, you need to choose a bed for hundreds of potential guests - all with different body types, sleeping positions and comfort preferences.

So, what mattress firmness is best for an Airbnb?

From our experience supplying beds to Airbnb properties and accommodation providers around New Zealand, there is one comfort level that stands out as the most popular choice:

Medium.

It provides a balance between comfort and support without being at either extreme — which is exactly what many accommodation operators are looking for.

Why your Airbnb mattress matters

Guests may initially book your property because of its location, photographs, views, amenities or price.

But once they arrive, one of the most important experiences they'll have is remarkably simple:

How well did they sleep?

A guest might spend eight hours in your bed.

That's a significant part of their stay.

A beautiful property can be let down by an uncomfortable mattress, while an exceptionally comfortable bed can become something guests specifically remember.

For an Airbnb owner, the mattress isn't just another item of furniture.

It's part of the guest experience.

What mattress firmness is best for an Airbnb?

For most Airbnb and holiday accommodation properties, we believe Medium is an excellent starting point.

Why?

Because you aren't trying to find the perfect mattress for one particular person.

You're trying to choose a mattress that can comfortably accommodate many different people.

Your guests might include:

• side sleepers

• back sleepers

• couples with different sleeping preferences

• younger travellers

• older guests

• lighter sleepers

• heavier sleepers

• people who normally sleep on soft mattresses

• people accustomed to firmer beds

You can't possibly match every guest's individual preference.

The goal is therefore different:

Choose a comfort level with broad appeal and avoid going too far towards either extreme.

That's where Medium makes sense.

Why do so many Airbnb owners choose Medium?

At Luxury Orthopaedic Beds, customers can choose our Orthopaedic Merino Bed in four comfort levels:

Soft · Medium · Firm · Extra Firm

When somebody is buying a bed for their own home, there isn't one comfort level we recommend to everybody. Mattress comfort is personal.

However, we've noticed something different with our Airbnb, holiday-home and accommodation customers.

Medium is the comfort level most commonly selected for guest accommodation.

And there's a logical reason for that.

An Airbnb owner doesn't know whether next week's guest loves a soft bed and the following week's guest prefers a firm one.

Medium provides the middle ground.

It gives guests cushioning and comfort while still providing the underlying support they're looking for.

For an accommodation property sleeping many different people throughout the year, that's a very sensible combination.

Should Airbnb hosts avoid very soft or very firm mattresses?

Not necessarily.

There will always be guests who love a Soft mattress and others who would happily choose Extra Firm.

But those are more individual preferences.

The further you move towards either end of the comfort scale, the greater the possibility that another guest will find the feel too extreme for them.

A very soft mattress may feel luxurious to one person but too soft to another.

An Extra Firm mattress may feel wonderfully supportive to one guest but simply too hard to the next.

That's why Medium can be such a practical choice when you're furnishing a bed for people you've never met.

You're aiming for broad appeal rather than one person's perfect mattress.

Think about how many different people will sleep in your Airbnb bed

This is perhaps the biggest difference between buying a mattress for your home and buying one for accommodation.

Imagine your Airbnb hosts 100 different couples over the next year.

That's potentially 200 people sleeping on the same mattress.

They won't all:

• weigh the same

• sleep in the same position

• be the same age

• have the same body shape

• want the same level of cushioning

• agree on what "comfortable" means

Trying to find a mattress every one of them considers perfect is impossible.

Instead, choose a quality mattress that provides good support, good comfort and a balanced overall feel.

What should Airbnb owners look for in a mattress?

Comfort is important, but it's not the only consideration.

An accommodation mattress has a different job from the average mattress in a private home.

Look for a combination of:

Support

The mattress should provide consistent support across the sleeping surface.

Broad comfort appeal

Avoid choosing purely according to your own personal preference. You're buying for your guests, not necessarily for yourself.

Durability

Airbnb beds can experience frequent use from guests of many different weights and sleeping habits.

Edge support

Guests frequently sit on the side of a bed while getting dressed, putting on shoes or packing luggage.

Partner comfort

Many Airbnb beds are shared by couples, so consider how the bed performs with two people sleeping on it.

Quality

A mattress is something your guests will potentially use for seven, eight or more hours every night.

It's worth getting right.

Pocket springs can be a great choice for Airbnb beds

For accommodation properties, we particularly like individually pocketed spring systems.

Unlike traditional interconnected spring systems, individual pocket springs are designed to respond more independently to the person sleeping above them.

This can be particularly useful when two guests share a bed.

If one person moves or changes position during the night, reducing the transfer of that movement across the mattress can help the other person sleep more comfortably.

Our Orthopaedic Merino Bed uses a 5-zone pocket spring support system, combined with New Zealand merino wool in the comfort layers.

For accommodation owners, that combination provides both the supportive construction and comfortable sleeping surface they're looking for.

Queen or King: what size bed is best for an Airbnb?

For many Airbnb properties, Queen is an excellent practical choice.

It comfortably accommodates couples while fitting into a wide range of New Zealand bedrooms.

However, if the room comfortably accommodates one, a King bed can be a worthwhile upgrade.

A King gives two guests considerably more personal sleeping space and can also help create a more premium impression in the bedroom.

If you're positioning your property towards couples, luxury stays or higher nightly rates, we'd seriously consider a King where the room allows it.

But don't squeeze a King into a room that's too small.

Guests still need room for:

• bedside tables

• luggage

• wardrobes

• doors

• walking around the bed

• getting dressed

• housekeeping

The bedroom should still feel spacious and inviting.

What about Super King and California King beds?

For large master suites and premium accommodation, going bigger again can create a genuine point of difference.

A Super King or California King can work particularly well in:

• luxury Airbnb properties

• premium holiday homes

• large master bedrooms

• romantic accommodation

• boutique lodges

• high-end retreats

A beautifully presented oversized bed can become a feature of the room rather than simply somewhere to sleep.

Just make sure the room is large enough and that suitable sheets, protectors and bedding are readily available.

Don't overlook the mattress protector

For an Airbnb or holiday rental, we strongly recommend protecting your mattress from day one.

Accommodation mattresses are exposed to considerably more people than the average household mattress.

A quality mattress protector creates an additional barrier between the guest and the mattress and helps protect your investment from perspiration, spills and other contamination.

For busy accommodation, we'd also consider keeping spare mattress protectors available so housekeeping can replace one immediately when necessary rather than waiting for it to be washed and dried.

How often should you replace an Airbnb mattress?

There isn't one replacement age that applies to every accommodation property.

An Airbnb occupied 300 nights a year has a very different level of use from a bach that's booked for only a few months.

Instead of relying entirely on age, regularly inspect your beds.

Look for:

• deterioration in support

• excessive or abnormal indentation

• damage

• staining

• deterioration around the mattress edges

• problems with the bed base

• changes in the overall comfort of the mattress

And pay attention to your guests.

If you begin receiving repeated feedback about the bed, investigate it.

Is buying a cheap mattress for an Airbnb actually cheaper?

When furnishing an entire property, it's tempting to reduce costs wherever possible.

But your beds are one area where we'd be careful about buying purely on price.

Think about the mattress in terms of cost per night of use, rather than simply its purchase price.

If a quality bed lasts well, keeps guests comfortable and contributes to the overall standard of your accommodation, spending more initially can make good commercial sense.

A mattress is also one of the few furnishings your guests may use continuously for eight hours.

They may barely notice what brand your microwave is.

They'll certainly notice whether they had a comfortable night's sleep.

Why NZ-made can make sense for New Zealand accommodation

There are also advantages to choosing a bed made here in New Zealand.

You're buying a product manufactured for the New Zealand market and dealing with a New Zealand business if you need advice or support.

Luxury Orthopaedic Beds' Orthopaedic Merino Bed is made in New Zealand and incorporates New Zealand merino wool.

It combines this with a 5-zone pocket spring support system and is available in four different comfort levels:

Soft · Medium · Firm · Extra Firm

We supply beds to Airbnb properties, holiday homes and other accommodation providers throughout New Zealand.

So, what bed would we choose for an Airbnb?

If an accommodation owner asked us to choose without knowing anything else about their guests, our starting point would generally be:

Queen bedroom

Queen · Medium

A practical combination with broad appeal.

Premium couples' bedroom

King · Medium

Extra sleeping space with a balanced comfort level.

Luxury master suite

Super King or California King · Medium

Where the room is large enough, an oversized bed can help create a more luxurious guest experience.

The important word in all three recommendations is:

Medium.

Not because Medium will be every person's favourite mattress firmness — no mattress can achieve that.

We recommend it because, from our experience supplying accommodation customers, Medium is the most commonly chosen all-round comfort level when the bed needs to suit many different guests.

Choosing beds for an Airbnb or accommodation property?

If you're furnishing an Airbnb, holiday home, lodge or other accommodation property in New Zealand, choosing your beds is an important decision.

Luxury Orthopaedic Beds manufactures our Orthopaedic Merino Beds here in New Zealand, with Soft, Medium, Firm and Extra Firm comfort choices and sizes through to California King.

Whether you need one bed for a holiday apartment or multiple beds for an accommodation property, we can help you work through the most appropriate size and comfort level for each bedroom.

Airbnb Mattress FAQs

What mattress firmness is best for an Airbnb?

For most Airbnb properties, we recommend considering a Medium mattress as a starting point. It provides a balance between cushioning and support and avoids the extremes of very soft or very firm. Medium is also the comfort level most commonly selected by Luxury Orthopaedic Beds' accommodation customers.

Why is Medium a good mattress firmness for guest accommodation?

Airbnb hosts need to accommodate many different guests rather than one person's individual comfort preference. Medium provides a balanced feel that can make it a sensible all-round option.

Should I buy a Queen or King bed for my Airbnb?

Queen is a practical choice for many Airbnb bedrooms. If the room and budget allow, King provides couples with more personal sleeping space and can create a more premium bedroom experience.

Is a King bed better for an Airbnb?

Not necessarily, but it can be an attractive upgrade. If your property targets couples or the premium end of the market and the bedroom comfortably accommodates a King, the additional sleeping space may improve the overall guest experience.

What type of mattress is good for an Airbnb?

Look for a quality mattress that combines comfort, support, durability and good partner performance. Individually pocketed spring systems can be particularly useful for beds shared by couples because the springs respond independently.

Should Airbnb mattresses have protectors?

Yes. We strongly recommend a quality mattress protector for accommodation beds. It provides an additional barrier against perspiration, spills and other contamination and helps protect the mattress.

Are Luxury Orthopaedic Beds made in New Zealand?

Yes. Luxury Orthopaedic Beds' Orthopaedic Merino Beds are made in New Zealand and incorporate New Zealand merino wool.

What Luxury Orthopaedic Bed would you recommend for an Airbnb?

For a typical accommodation property, we'd generally start with our Medium Orthopaedic Merino Bed and then determine whether Queen, King, Super King or California King is the most appropriate size for the room.

Can you supply multiple beds for Airbnb and accommodation properties?

Yes. Luxury Orthopaedic Beds supplies beds to Airbnb properties, holiday homes and accommodation providers throughout New Zealand. We can help with bed sizes and comfort choices when furnishing multiple bedrooms.