Adjustable beds vs regular beds: benefits, drawbacks and comparison guide

Improved posture

One of the most significant advantages of an adjustable bed is its ability to provide spine support in a neutral posture while you sleep. Unlike a flat mattress that might force your body into an unnatural position, an adjustable base allows you to maintain the spine’s natural curves by raising your upper or lower body as needed. Experts generally concur that good sleeping posture keeps your spine aligned and minimises strain on your back.

By gently elevating parts of your body, an adjustable bed eliminates pressure points on the spine and holds you in a comfortable, ergonomically sound position – often referred to as the “zero-gravity” position. This slight elevation of the head and feet mimics the posture astronauts adopt during launch and is widely considered ideal for minimising pressure on the back.

On a regular flat bed, your body may not receive adequate support in certain areas. Lying completely flat can put pressure on muscles and joints, potentially straining the lower back and forcing your spine out of alignment. Over time, sleeping in poor alignment can lead to aches, stiffness, or even contribute to health issues.

An adjustable bed contours to your body, enabling you to sleep with better posture by keeping your neck, shoulders, spine, and hips in a more natural alignment. This improved posture not only helps prevent morning stiffness but also promotes deeper, more restorative sleep.

Better comfort (fewer pressure points)

Another key benefit is enhanced comfort throughout the night. If you’ve ever experienced pressure on your hips, shoulders, or heels on a traditional flat mattress, you’ve felt how a flat bed can concentrate weight on specific body points. These pressure points can cause discomfort and lead to tossing and turning as you unconsciously adjust to relieve the pressure.

With an adjustable bed, you can distribute pressure more evenly by raising your head, knees, or feet to fit your body’s contours. By slightly elevating the upper body or bending the knees, the mattress supports you in a more cradling position, reducing pressure on your joints and sensitive areas. This means less soreness, numbness, and fewer awakenings due to discomfort.

Essentially, the bed conforms to your body rather than your body adapting to a flat surface. Many people find they sleep longer and more soundly because they aren’t disturbed by discomfort in their hips, back, or shoulders.

For those with chronic pain or conditions like arthritis, this pressure relief can be particularly beneficial. An adjustable bed paired with a suitable adjustable mattress can alleviate stress on painful joints, making it easier to fall asleep and stay asleep. Even without specific pain issues, the customisable comfort of an adjustable base can simply make your bed a more relaxing place.

Easier accessibility (getting in and out)

For individuals with limited mobility, an adjustable bed can provide significant convenience when getting in and out of bed. This daily task can be challenging for people with injuries, disabilities, or age-related mobility issues. Adjustable mobility beds address this by allowing you to raise or lower the bed’s height and angle.

For instance, you might elevate the head of the bed, swing your legs over the side, and then lower the bed to help your feet touch the floor when standing. This powered adjustment means less strain and reduced risk of falls.

Adjustamatic beds, for example, are designed to help you sit up at a comfortable angle, making the transition from lying to sitting much easier. This convenience promotes greater independence. If assistance is normally required to get out of a flat bed, an adjustable bed could enable you to do so independently, preserving dignity.

Independent controls for couples

Split adjustable bed models allow couples to sleep together without compromising individual comfort preferences. On a standard double or king bed, one person’s movements or pillow arrangements often affect the other. If partners prefer different sleeping positions or have different needs (e.g., one likes to read propped up while the other lies flat), a regular bed forces compromise or mutual disturbance.

With a split adjustable bed, you essentially have two beds within one frame, each with its own mattress section and motorised base. This allows each partner to adjust their side independently. One person can raise their head to read or alleviate snoring while the other keeps their side flat. This feature prevents disturbances when one partner changes position. Independent controls eliminate comfort compromises for couples, ensuring both get a good night’s sleep.

Reduced snoring and improved breathing

A popular reason for considering an adjustable bed is to help with snoring or nighttime breathing issues. Snoring often occurs or worsens when sleeping flat on your back, as gravity causes the tongue and soft throat tissues to relax backwards and partially block the airway. This narrowed airway leads to vibrations as air struggles to pass through.

An adjustable bed offers a simple, non-invasive remedy: elevating the head of the bed by a few inches can significantly reduce snoring. This slight incline uses gravity to help keep the airway open. Sleeping with the upper body raised can also open airways and reduce pressure on the chest, aiding conditions like asthma or sleep apnoea. Asthma + Lung UK suggests propping yourself up to alleviate these issues. The NHS also advises raising the head of your bed by about 10–20 cm to help prevent acid reflux at night. An adjustable bed achieves this with ease.

Relief from back pain

Back pain commonly affects sleep. Approximately 1 in 6 UK adults experiences back pain, with many suffering from chronic, severe back pain. Finding a comfortable sleeping position is vital, yet a flat mattress may not provide adequate support. Maintaining a posture that supports the spine’s natural curve is key. Experts often recommend using pillows under the knees or propping up the legs to reduce pressure on the lower back – adjustments easily made with an adjustable bed.

With an adjustable bed, you can experiment with different positions to alleviate back pain. Raising the legs slightly (bending the knees) can take pressure off the lumbar region. The “zero-gravity” position – with head and knees elevated – has been shown to reduce spinal strain and ease back pain. An adjustable bed allows you to achieve this posture effortlessly. Sleeping in a reclined position can also be more comfortable for conditions like spinal stenosis or degenerative disc disease.

Many adjustable beds, like Adjustamatic’s, also offer built-in massage therapy functions (e.g., NHC Cyclo-Therapy® system) that can further soothe aching back muscles.

Improved circulation and reduced swelling

For those with poor leg circulation, swollen feet/ankles (oedema), or varicose veins, an adjustable bed can be highly beneficial. Elevating the lower body improves blood flow from the legs back to the heart. An adjustable bed simplifies this: you can raise the foot of the bed to the desired height and keep it there securely.

Sleeping with legs elevated above heart level helps gravity move blood and fluids. Health professionals frequently recommend leg elevation to reduce swelling; an NHS guide for patients with leg ulcers advises elevating legs higher than hips to reduce swelling. This can lead to reduced morning swelling, relief from heavy or throbbing sensations, and fewer night-time leg cramps.

Improved circulation also benefits those with restless leg syndrome or diabetes. For lymphedema, leg elevation aids lymphatic fluid drainage.