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Firm mattresses might not be right for everyone, but they’re a lifesaver for back and stomach sleepers. The extra firmness helps to promote proper spine alignment, which helps alleviate pain and discomfort in your neck, back and hips.
Firmness is a scale, so just because you need a firmer bed doesn’t mean you’ll sacrifice pressure relief. The level for you depends on your support needs and personal sleep preference. Medium-firm mattresses offer a little pressure relief, while firm mattresses offer maximum support.
I have tested over 100 different mattresses throughout my career and have literally slept on the job for hours in honor of curating our CNET best lists. For our best firm mattress review, we compiled a list of the most comfortable hybrid mattresses, affordable firm beds, memory foam models and more. Read on to find your ideal mattress match.
What is the overall best firm mattress?
Getting a feel for the Saatva Classic mattress.
The Saatva Classic is a high-end mattress available in three different firmness levels and two height profiles. Considering each mattress is made to order, you’ll essentially get a customized bed made to fit your preferences. It also has an ultra-supportive design, unlike most beds I’ve tested. Inside, the Saatva Classic boasts two coil layers and extra lumbar reinforcements.
Note that all prices quoted are the list price for a queen size, not inclusive of the frequent deals that mattress makers offer.
Read more: Mattress Firmness Scale Explained
Best firm mattress: Video
Watch CNET video producer Owen Poole review the best firm mattresses.
Best firm mattresses of 2024
Mattress price scale:
$ = Budget: $799 and below
$$ = Average: $800 to $1,699
$$$ = Premium: $1,700 and up
These reflect MSRP or list prices. Sales might make a mattress less expensive, but are always changing.
Type Hybrid mattressFirmness 3 firmness levels | Plush Soft: Medium or 5 | Luxury Firm: Medium-firm or 7 | Firm: 9/10 or firmTrial 365 nightsWarranty Lifetime warranty Price $$
Like
- Multiple firmness and height options available
- Dual-coil construction makes for extra support
- Lumbar Spinal Wire is great for back pain sufferers
- Suits all body types
Don’t like
- Might be out of some people’s budgets
- Return fee will cost $99
Why we chose the Saatva mattress:
The Saatva mattress is a premium mattress worthy of a fancy five-star hotel room. Two-thirds of Saatva Classic’s firmness options are on the firm end of the spectrum, giving you the chance to buy a hybrid mattress with a medium-firm or solid-firm profile. Looking for even more support? The Saatva Classic has two different coil layers and a Lumbar Support Spinal Wire for all the added reinforcements you could ask for. I also love its cozy, airy pillow top covered with organic cotton.
It’s constructed with multiple layers of innerspring coils with luxury foams, that Lumbar Active Spinal Wire I mentioned for improved back support, multiple comfort layers and big, and a fluffy pillow top cushion. In the center is memory foam that provides special lumbar support, so your spine stays aligned, affording pressure relief, especially when you’re sleeping on your side — something that many other firm mattresses fall short on. I’d even dub the Saatva Classic as one of the best firm mattress picks for people who have back pain.
With the Saatva mattress, there are three firmness options and two mattress heights — 11.5 inches and 14.5 inches. This essentially gives you the option to customize your firm mattress more because you can choose how soft or supportive you want it to be. Keep in mind, if you go with the deeper mattress, make sure you’re also getting deep-pocket sheets. Read more in our full Saatva mattress review.
Saatva Classic
Type Hybrid mattressFirmness 3 firmness levels | Soft: 3 or Medium-soft | Medium: 5 or Medium | Firm: Medium-firm or 7Trial 120 nightsWarranty 10-year limited warranty Price $$$
Like
- Cooling technology
- Multiple firmness options
- Supportive hybrid construction
Don’t like
- Probably too cool for someone who doesn’t sleep hot
- Not a budget choice
Why we chose the Brooklyn Bedding Aurora Luxe mattress:
No other mattress does it quite like the Brooklyn Bedding Aurora Luxe when it comes to cooling. It’s one of the coolest beds we’ve tested.
Brooklyn Bedding is known for making quality beds at affordable prices. The Aurora Luxe is no exception. It’s a premium mattress with five layers of comfortable foam, pocketed coils and cooling technology. You have to be careful with cooling sleep products because many don’t actually cool you. You can rest assured that the CooperFlex foam and Titan Cool cover make this mattress physically cool.
A mattress always gets extra points when it allows for customization. The Aurora Luxe mattress has three firmness options: soft, medium and firm. You can even add a pillow top. Anyone can sleep on it, though the firmest option is why it’s on this list.
While the Brooklyn Bedding Aurora Luxe isn’t the cheapest bed out there, the high-quality design and cooling technology make it a must for people who want a firm mattress that will keep them cool. You’ll also often see it discounted, knocking a few hundred off the top.
Read our Brooklyn Bedding Aurora Luxe review.
Brooklyn Bedding Aurora Luxe
Type Flippable hybrid mattressFirmness 2 firmness levels |Firm: Medium-firm or 7 | Firm: Firm or 10Trial 120 nightsWarranty 10-year limited warranty Price
Like
- Flippable design gives you two firmness levels
- Neutral-foam feel makes it easy for combination sleepers to switch positions
Don’t like
- Won’t be as supportive for heavier sleepers over 230 pounds
Why we chose the Plank mattress
Flippable mattresses aren’t as common in the mattress market, so this is a unique design that helps set the Plank mattress apart from other beds on our best firm mattress list. It may not be the ideal bed for heavier sleepers because of its foam construction, but Plank is one of the best firm mattress picks for back and stomach sleepers under 230 pounds who want versatility and firmness at an affordable cost.
The Plank is very properly named, and it’s one of the firmest beds in our best firm mattress review. It’s a foam bed-in-a-box mattress from Brooklyn Bedding that measures over 11 inches thick and has a flippable construction. That way, you get two firm profiles in one mattress. Whether you want a medium-firm feel with some pressure relief or a supportive, firm feel, you have the option to choose.
As far as feel goes, this mattress has a responsive, neutral-foam feel that contours your curves without making you feel like you’re sinking into the mattress as you get with some memory foam beds. This is especially nice for people who toss and turn often during the middle of the night, it’s much easier to move around on.
The Plank Firm Luxe from Brooklyn Bedding
Type Latex HybridFirmness 7 or medium-firm with the pillow top (9 or firm without)Trial 365 nightsWarranty 25-year limited warranty Price $$$
Like
- Made with eco-friendly and sustainable materials
- Boasts a long list of impressive green certifications
- Accommodates all body types
- Made with breathable materials, a plus for hot sleepers
Don’t like
- Beds with organic materials tend to be more expensive
- The pillow top costs a few extra hundred dollars
Why we chose the Avocado Green mattress:
Almost as natural as the fruit it’s named after, Avocado Green is a certified organic, environmentally friendly mattress. All the materials are either recycled or responsibly sourced from organic farms, which follow strict regulatory guidelines. Its main, latex-foam comfort material is perforated, so it also allows for increased airflow and doesn’t retain heat like memory foam. The Avocado Green is firm by itself and medium-firm if you add the pillow top.
The foundation is made with recycled steel coils and the comfort layers include: organic latex made from the sap of a tropical rubber tree, New Zealand wool and organic cotton. It feels a bit firm, medium-firm with the pillow top and firm without. However, if you sleep on your back or stomach and are particularly health conscious, I think you’ll be a big fan of the bed.
Organic latex beds are durable, hypoallergenic and antimicrobial. It has a ton of certifications to back up its eco-friendly claims, and it’s one of the best firm mattress models I’ve tested. Read more in our full Avocado mattress review.
Avocado Green
Type Memory foam mattressFirmness Medium to medium-firm or 6Trial 365 nightsWarranty Forever warranty Price $
Like
- Good budget-friendly pick
- Available in a hybrid model to accommodate all body types
Don’t like
- Memory foam feel might feel too intense to switch positions
Why we chose the Nectar mattress
TheNectar is a popular online mattress brand with beds that boast a memory foam feel, similar to the expensive Tempur-Pedic mattresses. The best part? The Nectar bed is a fraction of the cost. After the foam is warmed by your body, the foam slowly morphs to accommodate the nooks and crannies of your figure, but you don’t fall into a middle-of-the-bed sinkhole. Nectar is perfectly supportive for firm-bed lovers under the 230-pound range.
It has a firm mattress feel that takes a moment to warm up to your body. Once it does, you slowly become nestled into the layers of the mattress, and the foam remembers the shape of your body for several moments after you get up. Hence the name “memory foam.”
I rated the firmness around a medium-firm, making it best for back, stomach or combination sleepers who are looking for a more supportive feel. The original Nectar bed is only made out of foam. In that case, I think it’s the best firm mattress for sleepers who weigh under the 230-pound range. Read more about this bed in our Nectar mattress review.
Nectar Memory Foam
Type Hybrid mattressFirmness Medium-firmTrial 100 nightsWarranty 10-year warranty Price
Like
- Zoned coil layer
- Responsive pillow top feel
- Extremely responsive
- Sleeps temperature neutral thanks to the Purple Grid
Don’t like
- One of the most expensive beds we’ve tested
- Potentially too firm for petite side sleepers
Why we picked the Purple Rejuvenate mattress:
When it comes to back pain, the name of the game is support. The Purple Rejuvenate mattress is ultra-supportive with its edge-to-edge zoned coil system that offers target support under your back.
The Purple Rejuvenate is a luxury-style mattress with a medium-firm profile and comfortable pillow top. It’s our pick for the best firm mattress for back pain thanks to its target coil system that is slightly firmer under the back and softer at the head and foot of the bed. Other beds with a zoned design feature segmented foam layers rather than targeted coils.
If you’ve had your eye on a Purple mattress but are unsure you want to commit to the unique feel Purple is known for, then you’ll like the Rejuvenate mattress. Since the GelFlex Grid is deeper in the bed, you mostly get the pillow top feel when lying on it. You still get the benefits of the grid, like sleeping temperature neutral and being extremely responsive.
Here’s the thing about this bed: it’s expensive. Retailing at $5,495, this bed is out of many people’s budget. If you have the extra cash and want to invest in a mattress that will likely ease your back pain, you’ll like the Purple Rejuvenate bed.
Purple Rejuvenate
Type Hybrid mattressFirmness 3 firmness levels | Medium-soft or 3 | Medium or 5 | Medium-firm or 7Trial 120 nightsWarranty Lifetime warranty Price $$$
Like
- Known for durability and longevity
- Three firmness options
Don’t like
Why we chose the WinkBed mattress
When you’re looking for the best firm bed with a medium profile, the WinkBed Classic is a quality option that fits the bill. It’s a premium hybrid with a medium-firm model that offers a comfortable, responsive feel more like that of neutral or blended foam. It’s firm without being overly solid, and each WinkBed is put through a rigorous simulation to ensure long-lasting durability and support. It’s one of those mattresses you’d find in a nice hotel or expensive AirBnB.
The WinkBed mattress is a pillow top mattress that combines the sturdiness and support of zoned pocketed innersprings, with the comfort and plushness of multiple foam layers and a fluffy pillow top. It’s incredibly thick and the firm model is, as WinkBed says, “firm but not hard.”
I’d rate the WinkBed’s Firm model around a medium-firm. It’ll keep your spine in proper alignment with your neck, but it isn’t such a firm mattress that it’ll cause irritation and press into your joints. Read more about the bed in our WinkBeds mattress review.
WinkBed Mattress
Type Neutral foam mattressFirmness Medium to medium-firmTrial 120 nightsWarranty 10-year limited warranty Price
Like
- Ultra budget pick
- Three thickness options
Don’t like
- No extra features
- Strong off-gassing when you open it
- Not the best choice for people over 250 pounds
Why we chose the Dreamfoam Doze mattress:
If you’re on a strict budget, you’ll like the DreamFoam Doze mattress. Retailing for $240 for the thinnest option, this all-foam bed is affordable and comfortable.
Dreamfoam is a subbrand of Brooklyn Bedding that makes extremely affordable mattresses. The cheapest option is the new Dreamfoam Doze, an all-foam mattress in three thicknesses: 7, 9 or 11 inches. The thicker the constructions go, the softer they get. People who want a firm budget bed should stick with either the 7-inch (firm) or the 9-inch (medium-firm).
Since it’s a budget mattress, it won’t have all the bells and whistles that other beds on the list, there’s no zoned support or cooling covers. That said, don’t let the price suggest the quality isn’t as high. While testing, we were pleasantly surprised by how comfortable the Dreamfoam Doze mattress was. It’s a great option if you’re looking for a cheap, comfortable mattress with a neutral foam feel.
Dreamfoam Doze
Type Memory foam hybrid mattressFirmness 7 or medium-firmTrial 100 nightsWarranty 15-year limited warranty Price $$
Like
- Ultra supportive, primarily designed for heavy sleepers over 230 pounds
- Extra dense memory foam offers a balance of support and pressure relief
Don’t like
- Might be too supportive and firm for those under 200 pounds
- Expensive
Why we chose the Helix Plus mattress
Sleepers who weigh more and deal with back pain should look for an extra supportive and durable mattress, and Helix Plus checks those boxes. With a thick hybrid construction, medium-firm profile and extra large pocketed coils that can support up to 1,000 pounds, it’s a solid pick that won’t cost an arm and a leg.
The Helix Plus hybrid mattress, rated a seven to eight out of 10 on the firmness scale, is designed to offer extra support for heavier sleepers. It’s made of wrapped coils and several layers of memory foam in varying densities, but the real star of the show is a 4-inch layer of high-density foam. This extra foam held up the other layers, providing adequate support, but also adding some cushioning that provided relief for my shoulders and hips.
Because the mattress is thicker — it’s 13 inches tall — it will feel firmer if you have a lower body mass index, but I thought it had just the right amount of give. It was comfortable and provided motion isolation really well, so I didn’t bounce around, even when my boyfriend moved in the middle of the night. Read more in our full Helix mattress review.
Helix Plus
Other mattresses we tested
Helix Dawn mattress: The Helix Dawn bed is a very supportive hybrid mattress that’s as firm as firm beds can get, similar to Plank. Rated around a nine to 10 on the firmness scale, it could be a great firm mattress pick for stomach or back sleepers under 230 pounds who want maximum support at an affordable price. I also like its general foam feel; it’s like the foam out of your favorite comfy couch. It’s more breathable and more responsive to pressure than memory foam.
GhostBed Flex Mattress: Rated a six to seven out of 10 on the mattress firmness scale, the GhostBed is classified as a medium-firm mattress. It’s made of a combination of latex-like memory foams that have a soft, springy feel, but also provide enough support so you don’t feel like you’re sinking into the mattress (and then waking up in pain). It also has two rows of reinforced coils around the edge of the bed that hold the layers up and contribute to excellent edge-to-edge firmness level support.
Read more: Best Mattress for Side Sleepers for 2023
How we test firm mattresses
Video producer Wes testing out the edge support on the Nectar mattress
CNET editors pick the products and services we write about based on editorial merit. When you buy through our links, we may get a commission.
To test firm mattresses, we use our own instincts and pay close attention to how firm a bed feels. Particularly in comparison to other mattresses. We look for how much our body is engulfed by the foam, how far we sink into the bed and how supportive a bed feels in every sleeping position. If a bed presses strongly into our shoulders and hips while lying on our side, that’s a good indicator that it’s firm.
Read more on how we test mattresses.
What to consider when buying a firm mattress
Sleeping position
Back and stomach sleepers are the types who usually sleep most comfortably on a firm mattress. Side sleepers typically like softer beds that offer pressure relief to the hips and shoulders. If you’re a side sleeper, you may not want a firm bed.
Weight
The lighter you are, the firmer a mattress is going to feel. People under 150 pounds will likely perceive a medium-firm bed as firm. The opposite is true for heavier sleepers; the heavier you are, the softer a bed is going to feel. If a bed is rated around a medium firm and you weigh 245 pounds, it will likely feel closer to a medium instead. Keep this in mind when you’re shopping for a bed so you choose the most suitable one.
Firmness type
All firm beds aren’t made to be the same. Beds that are considered firm land between six to 10 on the firmness scale. Beds rated around six to eight are considered among the medium-firm range, while eight to 10 is firm territory. Medium-firm beds offer both pressure relief and support, while firm beds offer maximum support.
