If you’re one of the 86 million U.S. adults who experience sleep deprivation, you probably know a poor night’s sleep can negatively impact your mood and energy levels the next day. That’s because the right amount of good-quality sleep is critical for repairing and maintaining brain and neurologic function. Without this nightly upkeep, you may find it harder to regulate emotions, or you may experience worsening anxiety and other symptoms of poor mental health.
Having a comfortable and supportive place to rest is a huge piece of the puzzle, as studies show muscle relaxation can help people fall asleep and feel less fatigued. You’re unlikely to feel relaxed on a mattress that makes you feel pressure in some areas of your body and out of alignment in others. Mattress comfort is highly subjective, but you might need a firm mattress if you sleep on your back or stomach or weigh more than 250 pounds.
Our Handbook Team testers have been hard at work lying, sitting, and bouncing on mattresses to collect firsthand data, and we’ve selected the best options with a firmness score above six (out of 10) to help you narrow down your choices.
Best firm mattress overall
With a firmness rating of 6.5 out of 10, the WinkBed Original mattress stands out with high scores in everything we tested, from cooling to edge support to motion transfer The degree of movement felt on one side of the mattress when a sleeping partner moves on the other side of the bed. . It’s also our pick for the best firm mattress for pressure relief, as it evenly distributed the weight of our testers, regardless of whether they lay on their sides or backs.
Our picks for the best firm mattresses
- Best firm mattress overall: The WinkBed
- Best firm mattress for back pain: Helix Plus
- Best medium-firm mattress: DreamCloud Original Foam
- Best extra firm mattress: Plank Firm Luxe
- Best mattress for heavy side sleepers: Saatva HD
- Best firm memory foam mattress: Bear Original
- Best mattress for back and stomach sleepers: Saatva Classic
- Best firm mattress for couples: Sparrow by Nest Bedding
- Best cooling firm mattress: DreamCloud Premier Rest
Our testing experience
Purchase mattress as mystery shoppers.
Set up mattress in testing lab.
Lie on mattress and rank firmness.
Lie on back, side, and stomach to find the best sleeping position.
Place 10-pound ball in mattress center and measure sinkage.
Find biggest pressure points using pressure map reading.
Evaluate cooling capabilities by recording temperature differences.
Drop 10-pound ball onto mattress to measure bounce score.
Test motion isolation.
Test edge support.
Calculate composite “sex” and “family” scores.
The Handbook Team hand-tests every mattress we review. We evaluate brands and models by recording our findings on a 42-question standardized testing form to identify standout features and services, document issues with each product, and describe our personal experience lying on each mattress. For example, we record:
- Firmness score and whether the mattress is best for back, side, or stomach sleepers.
- Starting temperature of the mattress and how much it heats up after two testers lie on the mattress for five minutes.
- How many times a 10-pound ball bounces on the mattress after dropping from a height of two feet in order to arrive at a mattress bounce score.
We paid close attention to specific considerations that sleepers of all ages seek, as identified by respondents in our survey of 600 mattress owners. This included price, features, and the set-up process. We also interviewed real people to better understand the motivations behind shopping for a new mattress as well as the benefits of purchasing one.
According to our survey
According to our survey, about 80 percent of all respondents said their new mattress helps them sleep better, and 65 percent reported improved mental health.
As our testers evaluated each brand and its features, we considered why many people choose a new mattress in the first place. Of our respondents, 42 percent decided to purchase a new mattress for “improved comfort and support for better sleep,” while only seven percent did so for “pain relief and targeted support.” The most common pain respondents wanted relieved was lower back pain.
Despite only 42 percent of respondents prioritizing comfort and support for better sleep when shopping for a new mattress, 68 percent reported they sleep longer on their new mattress and 49 percent and 45 percent, respectively, said their stress and anxiety had improved after switching to their new mattress. Almost all mattress owners we surveyed (95 percent) were at least somewhat satisfied with their new mattress. We consulted sleep experts, physical therapists, occupational therapists, and pain specialists to understand what mattresses offer that make an overwhelmingly positive impact.
In order to focus on the mattresses themselves, we structured our test designs to objectively rank each one based on a range of criteria. For example, we tested things like bounce, edge support (the sturdiness of your mattress edge), and cooling capabilities the same way on each mattress and compared the results. That way we can accurately compare each mattress’s score in an unbiased way while also sharing our subjective point of view as mattress testers and experts.
Lastly, we compared warranty lengths, trial periods, and white glove delivery (in-home delivery and setup) options. While most brands offer warranties, not all are comprehensive. And many brands on the market don’t have free white glove delivery. This could be a deal-breaker if you’re nervous to invest in a new mattress because you’re worried the bed won’t get set up properly or offer what you need.
From our tester
“During our research, we realized that the brand’s firmness scale and perceived firmness aren’t always the same. We decided to report how firm we thought the mattress felt so that you can gain a different perspective, but more importantly, feel confident about what you’re purchasing.”
A note on our testing
We acknowledge that every body is different, and what feels comfortable to one person may not feel comfortable to another. Throughout our reviews, we refer to weight categories as light (below 130 pounds), average (130–250 pounds), and heavy (above 250 pounds) to distinguish between body weights.
Typically, lighter sleepers perceive mattresses to feel firmer than they are, and higher-weight sleepers perceive mattresses to feel softer than they are. Keep in mind that most mattresses are designed for the average-weight person.
Why HelpGuide cares about a good night’s sleep
Quality sleep is a key part of mental health, physical health, and overall well-being. Sleep helps us reset our bodies, process our emotions, and ease daily stress. Without it, we are at an increased risk of developing anxiety and depression, according to research.
But there are medical conditions that can make sleep difficult. Chronic pain, acid reflux, loud snoring or sleep apnea, and insomnia are issues that can keep you up at night, tossing and turning.
Finding solutions for better sleep can be frustrating, but we’re here to help. The HelpGuide Handbook Team wants to empower you to make the right decision by providing the most honest information about sleep-related products, like mattresses.
Good sleep is essential for physical and mental health because it’s our body’s chance to recharge after the physical and cognitive loads of our day. When we sleep well, we have better relationships and communication with our partners, we can think more clearly, and we’re in a better mood.
Julia Catlin, licensed psychotherapist at Calm Science in Las Vegas.
In order to recommend the best options to fit your needs, we sought to better understand how sleep impacts overall health. We consulted with mental health experts, researchers, and industry leaders in sleep and ergonomics to connect the dots about what really matters in a mattress.
Ultimately, all of our research is directed at taking the stress out of finding the highest-quality products that can support your sleep health—and in turn, your overall mental well-being.
What you need to know about the best firm mattresses
If you only learn four things about firm mattresses, here’s what you need to know:
- They help maintain spinal alignment and prevent hips from sinking into the mattress.
- Firm mattresses often include hybrid materials, like a mix of coils and foam.
- Bed-in-a-box options are available in all firmness levels.
- For people who weigh more than 250 pounds, firm mattresses offer better support.
Compare the best firm mattresses of 2024
| Price | $1,149–$2,049 | $811.30–$1,811.30 | $839–$2,178 | $924–$1,732 | 1,995–$4,390 | $786–$1,690 | $1,295–$2,790 | $1,226–$2,452 | $1,849–$4,198 |
| Firmness | 6.5/10 | 8/10 | 6.5/10 | 7.5-8.5/10 | 7/10 | 8/10 | 7/10 | 8/10 | 6.5/10 |
| Material | Hybrid | Hybrid | Memory foam | Hybrid | Hybrid | Memory foam | Innerspring hybrid | Hybrid | Memory foam or hybrid |
| Warranty | Lifetime | 15 years | Lifetime | 10 years | Lifetime | Lifetime | Lifetime | Lifetime | Lifetime |
| Trial period | 120 nights | 100 nights | 365 nights | 120 nights | 365 nights | 120 nights | 365 nights | 365 nights | 365 nights |
| Best for | Best firm mattress overall | Best firm mattress for back pain | Best medium-firm mattress | Best extra firm mattress | Best mattress for heavy side sleepers | Best firm memory foam mattress | Best mattress for back and stomach sleepers | Best firm mattress for couples | Best cooling firm mattress |
The best firm mattresses reviews
Best firm mattress overall: The WinkBed
Scoring a 6.5 out of 10 on the firmness scale during testing, The WinkBed gets our vote as the best firm mattress for a variety of sleepers, thanks to chart-topping pressure relief and excellent cooling, edge support, and motion transfer performance.
Key product features
- Brand score: 9.3/10.
- Material: Hybrid (foam and coils).
- Cost: $1,149–$2,049.
- Warranty: Lifetime.
- Trial period: 120 nights.
- Shipping: Free shipping to the contiguous U.S.
- Firmness: 6.5/10.
- Height: 13.5 inches.
- Sizes available: Twin, twin XL, full, queen, king, California king.
Our final verdict
The WinkBed’s firm models include Firm (6.5 out of 10) or Plus (8 out of 10), depending on your preference. Each showed excellent performance across the board during testing, making it our choice for best firm mattress overall. In particular, The WinkBed shines in terms of pressure relief for side and back sleepers, indicating minimal to no pressure in pressure map A mat rolled across a mattress that uses color-coded thermal imaging to show how much pressure someone puts on the bed when they lie down on it. images.
It also has impressive edge support thanks to a perimeter of coils that are narrower than the coils that support the main sleeping area. Our testers didn’t feel like the mattress would give out when lying on the edge of the bed, and they said it’s easy to sit on the edge without awkwardly sinking.
From our tester
“This bed feels very stable when I sit at the edge in the middle of the bed, but it sort of collapses if I move toward the corner. ”
A member of the Handbook Team testing edge support on The WinkBed
The WinkBed also does a fantastic job of isolating motion. We tested this by asking one of our mattress testers to crawl around on the mattress, roll a heavy ball on it, and jump up and down while another tester lay with their eyes closed. Only faint movement was felt by the “sleeping” tester in all scenarios.
Additionally, the cover on this mattress incorporates breathable fabric to assist with cooling, so we tested it using a temperature gun. After lying on the mattress for five minutes, one tester left an imprint that was six degrees warmer than before, which is a great result. To put that into perspective, we’ve seen imprints that were 12 degrees warmer on other mattresses we tested.
Pros and cons of The WinkBed
Best firm mattress for back pain: Helix Plus
The Helix Plus demonstrated exceptional pressure relief for back sleepers during our tests, but some people may still need to make adjustments (like sleeping with their knees elevated) to reduce back pain.
Key product features
- Brand score: 9.2/10.
- Material: Hybrid (foam and coils).
- Cost: $811.30–$1,811.30.
- Warranty: 15 years.
- Trial period: 100 nights.
- Shipping: Free shipping throughout the U.S.
- Firmness: 8/10.
- Height: 11.25 inches.
- Sizes available: Twin, twin XL, full, queen, king, California king.
Our final verdict
A few other mattresses scored just as high as the Helix Plus for pressure relief and comfort for back sleepers, but we like that the Helix Plus is designed for larger people thanks to its steel-reinforced eight-inch coils. Studies show that weight gain can cause and exacerbate lower back pain, so the Helix Plus is uniquely positioned to help more people with back pain sleep better.
Our testers consider the Helix Plus an extra-firm mattress, rating it an eight out of 10
When one tester lay on her back, the pressure map images showed even weight distribution with no significant pressure build-up. However, pressure relief is different from support, and one tester noted their lower back was unsupported in this position. But this may be due to their size and shape as a petite, average-size sleeper.
From our tester
“For lighter curvy people, the Helix Plus may not support the spine’s curves. But the mattress is intended for heavier people, who may have a better experience than I did.”
Helix advertises the Plus mattress as a six or seven on the firmness scale, which would make it medium-firm. Our testers noted the Helix Plus felt much firmer and more resilient than other medium-firm models tested, so we gave it an eight out of 10 for firmness.
Pros and cons of the Helix Plus
Best medium-firm mattress: DreamCloud Original Foam
We gave this mattress a 6.5 out of 10—the Goldilocks of mattress firmness scores. While the DreamCloud Original Foam mattress is supportive, it’s a slightly softer firm mattress, like The WinkBed Firm.
Key product features
- Brand score: 9.2/10.
- Material: Memory foam.
- Cost: $839–$2,178.
- Warranty: Lifetime.
- Trial period: 365 nights.
- Shipping: Free shipping to the contiguous U.S.
- Firmness: 6.5/10.
- Height: 12 inches.
- Sizes available: Twin, twin XL, full, queen, king, California king, split king.
Our final verdict
This DreamCloud model is a great choice for people who want a slightly firm mattress. It contains five layers of foam and no coils. (If you’re looking for a truly firm memory foam mattress, keep scrolling to learn about the Bear Original.)
Our testers were impressed with how quickly the memory foam conformed, supporting them even when quickly changing positions. Because this mattress is on the firmer side, they weren’t fighting to get repositioned. They felt comfortable and supported when lying on their back and side, but their hips sank lower than the rest of their body when imitating a stomach sleeper.
From our tester
“This feels really middle-of-the-road. There’s give when I press my hand into the mattress but it’s still firm. It’s not so firm that it’s like rolling on a plank. There’s softness to it where it conforms to your position.”
The DreamCloud Original Foam, shown here in our testing studio, easily conformed to our testers’ bodies.
Because it doesn’t have an innerspring layer, there’s no bounce in the DreamCloud Original Foam, and it has average edge support. Memory foam mattresses have a reputation for holding onto body heat, but this DreamCloud model demonstrated good cooling capabilities—the tester’s imprint increased the temperature of the mattress by only six degrees. As a reminder, a change of five degrees or fewer is considered an excellent performance in our cooling test. We ended up giving this a four out of five for cooling.
Handbook Team survey
According to a Handbook Team survey of 600 recent mattress consumers, 92 percent of people who own a DreamCloud memory foam mattress said they were satisfied with their purchase.
Pros and cons of the DreamCloud Original Foam
Best extra firm mattress: Plank Firm Luxe by Brooklyn Bedding
Best mattress for heavy side sleepers: Saatva HD
Best firm memory foam mattress: Bear Original
The Bear Original mattress provides a 10-inch layer of memory foam that’s supportive in most positions and doesn’t sag. One of our testers believes it’s even firmer than the company claims, rating it eight out of 10 on the firmness scale.
Key product features
- Brand score: 9.4/10.
- Material: Memory foam.
- Cost: $786–$1,690.
- Warranty: Lifetime.
- Trial period: 120 nights.
- Shipping: Free shipping to the contiguous U.S.
- Firmness: 8/10.
- Height: 10 inches.
- Sizes available: Twin, twin XL, full, queen, king, California king, split king.
Our final verdict
Based on our testers’ experiences, stomach sleepers will feel extra comfy on the Bear Original memory foam mattress. One tester, a petite sleeper under 140 pounds, noted their shoulders felt “jammed up” when lying on their side, and lying on their back produced a small gap between the bed and the lower back. But the Bear Original perfectly supported them in a stomach-sleeping position.
From our tester
“It’s a firmer type of memory foam surface versus other more forgiving memory foam surfaces that would make my hips sink down, but this doesn’t do that. ”
The Bear Original memory foam mattress, shown here in our testing studio, is a good choice for stomach sleepers.
That said, everyone’s body is different. If your entire back makes contact with the Bear Original, our pressure relief tests suggest you’ll feel like your weight is evenly distributed across the mattress. Curvy or lightweight people may find this firm mattress doesn’t sink enough to support the whole body properly.
Handbook Team survey
Ninety-three percent of the Handbook Team’s mattress survey respondents reported feeling satisfied with their Bear memory foam mattress.
Pros and cons of the Bear Original
Best mattress for back and stomach sleepers: Saatva Classic
Our testers confirmed they felt great sleeping on their back or stomach on the Saatva Classic. The mattress also supports combination sleepers (people who sleep in multiple positions), thanks to responsive material that doesn’t make you fight to roll over.
Key product features
- Brand score: 9.8/10.
- Material: Innerspring hybrid.
- Cost: $1,295–$2,790.
- Warranty: Lifetime.
- Trial period: 365 nights.
- Shipping: Free white glove delivery and setup.
- Firmness: 7/10.
- Height: 11.5 or 14.5 inches.
- Sizes available: Twin, twin XL, full, queen, king, split king, California king, split California king.
Our final verdict
Made of two coil layers with a thin layer of memory foam in the lumbar region—the lower vertebra of the spine—the Saatva Classic allows your hips to rest on firmer material than your feet and head. One tester reported this made a big difference in how comfortable they felt lying on their stomach or back. They also noticed the lumbar zone is the only area of the mattress that bounces. These functional differences may take some getting used to, as this tester—who is five feet, three inches—had to scoot down to make sure their body was correctly positioned over the lumbar support area.
From our tester
“I felt like I was laying on top of the mattress, which is what I expect from a firm option. I was also really impressed by the edge support in the Saatva Classic because not only was it firm, it felt like it was protecting me from rolling off the bed.”
According to our pressure relief tests, the Saatva Classic does a better job of reducing pressure points when people sleep on their back rather than their side. This mattress fails to significantly limit motion transfer, though, as testers felt it was “very disturbing” when a second person jumped on the opposite side of the bed.
The Saatva Classic, seen here in our testing studio, performed well during edge support and pressure relief evaluations.
If you want to use this mattress with the Saatva adjustable base, be sure to get the 11.5-inch version.
“Stomach sleepers should choose a firm mattress to prevent the hips from sinking too deeply and causing spinal misalignment. Medium-firm to firm mattresses are usually ideal for back sleepers.”
— Drew Miller,vice president of marketing at Sit ‘n Sleep
Pros and cons of the Saatva Classic
Best firm mattress for couples: Sparrow by Nest Bedding
Best cooling firm mattress: DreamCloud Premier Rest
FAQ
Firm mattresses are good for people who sleep on their stomachs and backs, as well as higher-weight people who want a mattress that’s less prone to sagging.
Not necessarily. Back sleepers need a mattress that’s soft enough to make contact with the spine with no gaps, yet firm enough to not allow the hips or shoulders to sink uncomfortably low. Depending on your body weight and shape, a firm mattress may not give you the support you need when sleeping on your back.
Doctors acknowledge that mattress comfort is a personal decision. There’s no mattress firmness that’s suitable for everyone. However, firm mattresses are suggested for heavier people or those who typically sleep on their back or stomach.
Lightweight people may not sink down enough on a firm mattress to create supportive contact between the mattress and the body. This could cause strain and pain.
We chose The Winkbed in Firm or Plus as the best firm mattress because it passed all our tests with flying colors, including pressure relief, cooling, edge support, and motion isolation. But choosing a mattress is a highly subjective process, so we’ve also included other options from DreamCloud, Saatva, Helix, and more in this round-up.
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