When it comes to picking out a mattress, firmness is what most people need. After all, being able to get a good night’s sleep leads to a better mood throughout the day. I will admit that picking out the right firm mattress for your bedroom can be quite overwhelming. There are plenty of options to choose from within this subset of brands. Today, I’ll talk briefly about some of the top mattress brands and their products which may help you in making your final decision. I personally had no trouble choosing between these products, but I’ll explain why and hope you find it useful. We made this list by analyzing hundreds of items and only choosing the best ones.
The Best Firm Mattresses – Our Top Choices
- Best Innerspring – Saatva
- Best Firm Cooling – Brooklyn Bedding Aurora
- Most Comfortable Firm Mattress – Amerisleep AS1
- Best Firm Mattress for Side Sleepers – WinkBed
- Best Value – DreamCloud
- Best Frim Hybrid Mattress – Idle Hybrid
- Best Extra-Firm Mattress – Plank
- Best Overall Firm Mattress – Helix Plus
Best Innerspring
Saatva
The Saatva mattress offers an appealing mix of firmness and pressure point relief, especially for stomach and back sleepers. Its hybrid, coil-on-coil construction promotes excellent performance and durability.The support core in the Saatva is a layer of 13 gauge Bonnell coils. In the 11.5-inch model, the coils are four inches tall; in the 14.5-inch model, they are seven inches tall. These thick coils offer a firm, stable foundation for the mattress, and the edges are buttressed with a high-density polyfoam encasement.
| Ideal For | Highlights | Sizes |
|---|---|---|
| Sleepers who desire the coil feel of an innerspring with the price and comfort of a foam | Choice of three firmness levels | Twin, Twin XL, Full |
| Sleepers who need extra lumbar padding | Strong lumbar support | Queen, King |
| Shoppers who want free white-glove delivery | Coil-on-coil design delivers firm support | California King |
Why is Saatva a Top Choice Among Others?
A firm mattress for those who prefer to sleep on their stomach or back, the Saatva offers powerful support and pressure relief. Its hybrid layers promote excellent performance and lasting durability, and can be suitable from a variety of sleep positions.
Saatva is the first luxury mattress designed and engineered in America, and offers exceptional value for the money. It has a firmness level that is ideal for stomach and back sleepers, yet it also sleeps cooler than traditional memory foam beds. Saatva integrates best-in-class design, materials, craftsmanship and comfort into a convenient package that fits easily into a standard size box spring, or on any solid foundation.
Saatva partners with you to arrange free white-glove distribution after you have put your order, which involves setting up the Saatva and removal of the current mattress. With the option of returning it for a refund minus $99 deducted for return pickup, you then have 180 nights to check it out. A 15-year warranty to cover any flaws comes with the mattress.
Is the Saatva mattress right for you? We want to help you answer this question by giving you a detailed analysis. Read Saatva mattress review here.
Best Cooling Firm Mattress
Brooklyn Bedding Aurora
The Aurora Hybrid mattress is a highly functional and supportive bed that is flexible enough for many sleep types. Its hybrid comfort system provides enough cushioning to deliver responsive support, while its tempered copper-infused polyfoam and gel-swirl memory foam in the comfort layers give some contouring and motion isolation. The two-stage support core gives the mattress above-average edge support and stability, plus it offers great cooling through its phase change material cover.
| Ideal For | Highlights | Sizes |
|---|---|---|
| People who have a tendency to sleep hot | Sturdy innerspring core provides deep compression support | Twin, Twin XL, Full |
| Sleepers needing a combination of contouring and bounce | CopperFlex foam helps keep the mattress cool | Queen, King |
| People who weigh over 230 pounds in any sleeping position | Three foam layers offer a balance of mild contouring and above-average responsiveness | California King |
Why is Brooklyn a Top Choice Among Others?
Light and airy, the layers of TitanFlex, CopperFlex, and gel-swirl memory foam are designed to provide ample cushioning and support for the person sleeping on top. The springs in the support core offer above-average responsiveness and edge support, allowing you to feel comfortable moving about the mattress as your body contours to different positions. The Comfort Model does a superb job of isolating motion—so when one partner gets up or rolls over, the other is unlikely to feel it. The temperature regulation features of this mattress are impressive, with its phase change material keeping the surface cool while keeping you warm.
This mattress has 3 inches of CopperFlex in the top comfort layer. This creates a cool sleeping surface, as CopperFlex is infused with copper to dissipate heat. Below this layer is a second layer of TitanFlex, which offers contouring and motion isolation. The middle layer is one inch of gel-swirl memory foam that responds quickly to pressure. A high-density polyfoam core helps fight sag and promotes edge support.
Brooklyn Bedding gives clients a 120-night sleep trial which provides the Aurora with a 10-year extended warranty containing defects.
Most Comfortable Firm Mattress
Amerisleep AS1
The Amerisleep AS1 mattress is available at Mattress Warehouse in Columbus, OH. With a firm comfort layer of memory foam over a thick base layer of polyfoam, the AS1 is best suited to stomach sleepers weighing 130 to 230 pounds. Many competing all-foam beds sink excessively when used by larger individuals, but the AS1 delivers strong support with a firm (7-8) feel. The mattress sleeps exceptionally cool due to its open-cell memory foam comfort barrier and breathable cotton cover.
| Ideal For | Highlights | Sizes |
|---|---|---|
| Back and stomach sleepers | Cushioning and contouring feel of memory foam | Twin, Twin XL, Full |
| Sleepers who prefer the contouring feel of memory foam | Firm, dense foam prevents excessive body sink | Queen, King |
| Couples | Open-cell memory foam and breathable cover help keep the mattress cool | California King |
Why is Amerisleep a Top Choice Among Others?
Amerisleep’s AS1 mattress is an all-foam bed, with a comfort layer of dense thick memory foam over a layer of polyfoam that’s 20% thicker than the 1.5″ found on most of the company’s beds. This thicker base layer provides very strong support and helps the mattress sleep cool. The AS1 comes in a medium (6.5) firmness, and it’s not too soft or too firm for back and stomach sleepers weighing between 130 and 230 pounds.
The AS1 mattress is ideal for sleepers weighing 130 – 230lbs. With a firm, supportive feel, and a unique body-contouring comfort layer, it is both supportive and lightweight.
Amerisleep promises free regular delivery for all consumers in the contiguous U.S., including most bed-in-a-box products. As well as a 20-year guarantee that protects flaws in the mattress until the trial time expires, the AS1 is accompanied by a 100-night sleep trial.
Best Firm Mattress for Side Sleepers
WinkBed
The WinkBed is a Euro-style hybrid mattress, but with some unique twists. First, the entire mattress is coil-on-coil. Traditional innerspring mattresses typically utilize a dual-mesh system where pocketed coils form a separate top layer from a coil spring foundation. The pocketed coils offer good edge support and bounce, but tend to be bouncier than non-pocketed coils or more independent memory foam layers.
| Ideal For | Highlights | Sizes |
|---|---|---|
| Ideal for sleepers who like the bounce of innerspring coils, with the support of foam. | Choice of four firmness levels | Twin, Twin XL, Full |
| For sleepers who tend to roll onto the edge of the bed, this mattress pad offers a safe edge. | Coil-on-coil support provides dynamic support | Queen, King |
| Sleepers who want the peace-of-mind of a lifetime warranty | Lifetime warranty | California King |
Why is WinkBed a Top Choice Among Others?
The WinkBeds edge support as each of these interior components retain their structural integrity around the perimeter. The bounce from the coils makes it easy to move around on the WinkBed, including during intimate activities.
The WinkBed also offers a lifetime guarantee, making it an even better value. For customers who prefer a firmer feel but still want some cushioning, the WinkBed could be the right choice.
A 120-night sleep sample comes with the WinkBed, meaning consumers have the chance to check it out in their own space for an extended time. By delivering a lifetime warranty that protects flaws in components and development, the company expresses its confidence in the durability of the goods.
On the WinkBed, however, I noticed that the pocketed coils on top also worked to offer edge support without any loss of bounce or comfort. The very deep coils are individually wrapped, so they can be arranged in different areas to react to body weight and provide an optimal comfort level under each person.
Is the WinkBed mattress right for you? We want to help you answer this question by giving you a detailed analysis. Read WinkedBed mattress review here.
Best Value
DreamCloud
The DreamCloud is the first hybrid mattress to combine pressure relief and cooling properties of memory foam with the body contouring support of latex to create a better sleep experience at night. This model, the Hybrid, offers firm edge support with padding that gives extra softness for your side, back or stomach sleepers. The quilted cover and thick profile make this bed feel plush.
| Ideal For | Highlights | Sizes |
|---|---|---|
| Excellent for all sleep positions. | Exquisitely soft with a medium-firm feel that offers a versatile choice for many sleep preferences. | Twin, Twin XL, Full |
| Those who sleep hot at night | Exceptional 365-night sleep trial | Queen, King |
| Sleepers over 130 pounds | The quilted cover of our large size mattress gives your body the comfort and support it needs | California King |
Why is DreamCloud a Top Choice Among Others?
f you’re looking for a great medium firm (6) mattress that doesn’t cost much, you should consider the DreamCloud. This bed performed extremely well in our pressure mapping test and has some extra padding on top, making it a good choice for most sleepers.
The DreamCloud is a medium firm hybrid from mattress-in-a-box (MiB) brand, DreamCloud. Its six firmness settings allow it to suit most sleepers, but its supportive coil structure makes it a more ideal fit for back and stomach sleepers who prefer medium or firmer beds. Aerus Inc., the parent company of both Saatva and Leesa, uses compressing foam and individually-wrapped coils in the construction of this bed.
For a hybrid mattress, the DreamCloud comes at an average cost-point, which is remarkable considering its high profile and premium materials. They offer an impressive guarantee, providing clients a 1-year sleep trial and a limited lifetime warranty.
Is the DreamCloud mattress right for you? We want to help you answer this question by giving you a detailed analysis. Read DreamCloud mattress review here.
Best Hybrid
Idle Hybrid
The Idle Hybrid is a 12″ flippable mattress with a medium firm feel on one side, and a firm feel on the other. You can rotate the mattress every few months to extend its longevity.
Want a great mattress that offers great sleeper customization options? Look no further than the Idle Hybrid, which delivers just that. The Idle Hybrid is a 10.5-inch mattress built on a coil system that employs air flow technology and breathable foam layers to encourage airflow and temperature regulation. Like all of our memory foam products, the Idle Hybrid sleeps quite cool. It is available in both firm and medium firm, so you will be able to achieve a feel that best matches your sleeping preferences.
| Ideal For | Highlights | Sizes |
|---|---|---|
| Shoppers who are in the market for a customizable and flippable bed with higher end materials such as eco-friendly latex and cotton | With Flippable, you can easily change the way your room looks and feels in a matter of seconds with no tools needed. Plus, kids love it. | Twin, Twin XL, Full |
| Hot sleepers | Responsive pocketed coils provide targeted support for a cool feel all night long. | Queen, King |
| Side, back, and stomach sleepers who weigh at least 130 pounds will find that our mattress offers comfortable support. | Sleeps cool | California King |
Why is Idle Hybrid a Top Choice Among Others?
Regardless of your sleeping position, the Idle Hybrid will meet your needs. With a firm feel that offers good support and is very easy to move across the floor, this mattress is likely to work well for most couples. Firm sleepers should like the option of a firm feel on both sides, but those who prefer less contouring might want to stick with one side in the medium firm and one in the firm configuration.
Idle Sleep’s testing duration, lasting 18 months in length, is one of the longest in the mattress industry and the Idle Hybrid comes with a lifetime promise for extra peace of mind. For all consumers in the contiguous U.S., regular ground delivery is free. In terms of the mid-level sticker price, these perks make the Idle Hybrid a cost-effective purchase.
Best Extra-Firm Mattress
Plank
Plank is the world’s first reversible mattress made of four unique layers of polyfoam with a quilted cover. The bottom layer features a TitanFlex foam that contours to your body and provides bounce. Two middle layers feature core 7” high density base polyfoam, both offering superior contouring and edge support. Plank’s technology includes natural transfer, an organic compound that allows cooling power of a phase change material while also limiting heat retention commonly found in memory foam.
| Ideal For | Highlights | Sizes |
|---|---|---|
| Sleepers who want an extra-firm option | Flippable design with firm and extra firm options | Twin, Twin XL, Full |
| People looking for a reversible firmness design | One of the firmest feeling mattresses on the market | Queen, King |
| Those who put a premium on significant edge support | Optional cooling top panel enhances temperature regulation | California King |
Why is Plank a Top Choice Among Others?
The Plank features a construction of four layers. This includes .75 inches of fiber fill quilted into the cover, followed by two inches of TitanFlex foam. Next is seven inches of high-density polyfoam, and 1.5 inches of fiber fill is quilted to the cover as well. This layered combination offers firm comfort, while the TitanFlex foam layer adds bounce to the mix for a pleasant pressure relief. The mattress is extremely minimalistic, which also pairs well with its firmness level.
A revolutionary mattress design from Brooklyn Bedding, the Plank is like a dream come true for people who want a firm mattress. The mattress is flippable, allowing customers to easily choose between a Firm and Extra Firm feel.
With a 120-night sleep trial that lets you check out the mattress in your own house, Brooklyn Bedding embraces the Plank. The business also gives a limited 10-year guarantee covering flaws in fabrics and craftsmanship.
Best Overall Firm Mattress
Helix Plus
The Helix Plus is a great choice for sleepers who want a firmer feel while still sleeping cool, and it’s structure makes it very good at preventing motion transfer. Overall, the Helix Plus is a great option for larger sleepers who want a firm mattress that still contours. It also has a great warranty and exceptional customer support. If you’re looking for a firm mattress with more structure, the Helix Plus could be a good choice for you.
| Ideal For | Highlights | Sizes |
|---|---|---|
| Side sleepers who prefer a medium firmness, with a pillow that gently holds their head in place and contours to the shape of their face. | With the spring gradient customized for a medium-firm feel, you get support with no loss of comfort. | Twin, Twin XL, Full |
| Engineered to be flexible yet strong, sleepers love the responsiveness of an innerspring. | This mattress offers above-average motion isolation and edge support. | Queen, King |
| For those that don’t want their head to sink too far into memory foam. | Pocketed coils move separately, rendering targeted support and pressure relief. | California King |
Why is Helix a Top Choice Among Others?
This mattress is specifically designed for side sleepers with its firm comfort system, which uses a combination of different foams to create a comfortable but supportive feel. The support core consists of pocketed coils and polyfoam to help hold up the sleeper’s body weight while also providing pressure relief and dissipating heat. The airy foam on top provides a balanced layer that feels plush.
The Plus is a great upgrade to one of the most popular firm mattresses, and the price is very reasonable given all of its layers. This mattress doesn’t sink into the softness of other mattresses whose comfort systems overuse polyfoam, but rather its balanced firmness really fits well with its supportive pocket coils system. If you’re looking for a mattress that relieves pressure and sinks in at spots where you need it, this could be a great option.
The Plus comes with a 100-night sleep trial as well as a 10-year extended warranty for long-term security.
Is the Helix mattress right for you? We want to help you answer this question by giving you a detailed analysis. Read Helix mattress review here.
How To Choose a Firm Mattress?
When deciding on a mattress firmness level, your weight and main sleeping position play a significant role. Use these easy guidelines to find the best option for you.
Firmness is the amount of support that a mattress offers, and it’s measured on a scale of one to 10. Firm mattresses suit people who weigh more than 230 pounds (or are extremely tall) and those who sleep on their stomachs or back. They also tend to support better spinal alignment, which can relieve back pain.
Selecting the right mattress firmness can be a difficult endeavor, but body weight is one way to narrow down potential options. Understanding firmness level can help consumers with heavier body weights select the appropriate comfort level for their needs.
| Weight | Side Sleeper | Back Sleepers | Stomach Sleepers |
| Less Than 130 pounds | Soft – Medium | Medium Soft – Medium Firm | Medium Soft – Medium Firm |
| Between 130-230 Pounds | Medium Soft – Medium Firm | Medium – Firm | Medium Firm – Firm |
| More Than 230 Pounds | Medium – Medium Firm | Medium Firm – Firm | Medium Firm – Firm |
Sleeping Posture
The desired sleeping posture of a person is closely related to their ideal mattress firmness.
- Side sleepers are likely to experience discomfort if they use a firm mattress, which is typically the most recommended style of mattress. Instead, what side sleepers really need is a softer mattress. A soft or plush mattress absorbs much of the force generated at the pressure points by your body weight so that you feel supported while still being able to sink into it.
- When you sleep on your back, it puts more pressure on the lower back. Back sleepers generally benefit from a firmer mattress that keeps their midsection from sagging into a U-shape that can strain the lower back.
- Stomach sleepers have similar support needs as back sleepers but often prefer an even firmer bed so that it doesn’t feel as though they are being suffocated or swallowed by their mattress.
- Soft mattresses are not for combination sleepers. The mattress is too soft, and sleepers sink too far into the bed. When combination sleepers spend more time on their back or stomach, they can feel stuck in the mattress. Having a hard bed makes it easier to adjust to different sleeping positions during the night. If combination sleepers have good core strength, however, they may be better off with a softer mattress, which can provide better lumbar support than firmer mattresses.
What Are The Benefits Of Firm Mattresses?
One common misconception among people who have never tried a firmer mattress is that it’s not comfortable. As we mentioned previously, a firm mattress is nothing like those thin mattresses that you remember from childhood. These are carefully constructed sleep solutions that offer a number of essential benefits. While you can get benefits from using a mattress that’s too soft, medium or plush products do not offer the support and comfort that many sleepers need to get a restful night’s sleep. The following are just some of the main benefits of firm mattresses.
- The harder surface will align the spine and help to relax muscles, leading to greater blood flow and pain relief, especially in those suffering from arthritis or other forms of chronic pain.
- You’ll enjoy greater mobility during sleep, as well as deeper and more restorative slumber.
- Natural support and comfort for your back, neck, and joints.
- Weight distribution. When it comes to body alignment, there is only one product that can make a significant difference to your internal body mechanics. That product is a quality mattress.
Mattress Shopping Guide
While buying a mattress online is often the easiest way to find the right firmness level and type of mattress, it’s also possible to achieve the same goal from your local store. One advantage of this method is that you can try out each mattress in-person to see which one feels most comfortable. You also have the advantage of being able to test a mattress for comfort before you buy it.
Mattress shopping often takes time because there are numerous brands, sizes, and prices to consider. To help make your search easier, many retailers provide their inventory on their websites so you can check whether or not they sell online first. Some even offer price matching if you find a better deal from another retailer to eliminate any mystery about the best choice.
Types of Firm Mattresses
If you’re not sure how to narrow down the choices available, focusing on the kinds of mattresses available is a strong starting point.
Each mattress group has some shared design and performance characteristics, but note that there are exceptions. A sense of the possible feeling is provided by the type of mattress, but the best knowledge comes from diving into the specifics of any given brand and model.