And the Award for Best Firm Mattress Goes to…
Plank Firm Luxe
The Plank Firm Luxe has a dual-sided design, so you can change the firmness level by flipping the mattress over. Each side is noticeably firm with impressive all-around performance and robust edge support.
If you are looking for sturdiness, prefer a firmer feel, or need extra support for pain relief, a firm mattress may provide the sleep surface you need. But a firm mattress shouldn’t feel like you’re sleeping on a cement block. Instead, it should balance strong support with light cushioning that helps your body ease into sleep.
When shopping for a firm mattress, finding the right mix of comfort, cushioning, and support can be challenging. That’s why we asked our testing team to evaluate dozens of mattress options and identify their picks for the best firm mattresses. We also assembled a guide covering the key things to know when deciding between firm mattress options.
If you want to look at a broader list of mattresses, including medium firm models, check out our list of the best mattresses of 2024. If you’re struggling with back pain and want a mattress that can provide relief, take a look at our guide to the best mattresses for back pain.
Presidents’ Day Mattress Sales Are Here!
Presidents’ Day is a great time to purchase a new mattress. Many leading brands offer major sales and discounts throughout the month of February. Check out our list of Presidents’ Day mattress sales for details about the biggest deals.
Find Your Perfect Mattress
We know mattresses work differently for different types of sleepers. Use the filters below to help narrow down your options for your best bed.
Read on to see why the following five options made our top picks list of 2024’s best firm mattresses.
Sleep Doctor’s Picks
Best Overall Mattress
Plank Firm Luxe
The Sleep Doctor’s Review
With the dual-sided Plank Firm Luxe, you get two exceptionally firm surfaces in one mattress. Our tests show this affordably priced hybrid is particularly well suited to anyone who needs extra support from their mattress, including back and stomach sleepers over 230 pounds.
BUY FROM PLANK
Firm / Very Firm
Good for Sleepers Over 230 Pounds
Heavy Sleepers
Great Value
Pros
- Flippable design gives sleepers the choice of a firm or an extra firm side
- Excellent support for back and stomach sleepers over 230 pounds
- Optional cooling cover dissipates body heat on contact
Cons
- Both sides may feel too firm for most side sleepers
- People who share a bed may notice when their partner moves or gets in or out of bed
If you’re in the market for a firm mattress, the Plank Firm Luxe from Brooklyn Bedding offers excellent bang for your buck. The reversible design features a firm (7) feel on one side and an extra firm (9) feel on the other, the latter being one of the most supportive surfaces our team has tested. When you want to change things up, simply flip over the Firm Luxe — the mattress is relatively lightweight and easy to lift with a partner.
Why We Like It
During hands-on tests, most of our back and stomach sleepers preferred the firm side of this mattress. Some testers who use these positions and weigh more than 230 pounds also felt comfortable on the extra firm side. If you’re a side sleeper, chances are you won’t receive enough cushioning from either surface, though some on our team gave the firm side favorable ratings.
The Firm Luxe’s perimeter feels quite stable, so the mattress earned high marks for edge support. Most of us encountered little to no resistance when moving across the surface. We also found that the mattress slept cool, though people who are “hot sleepers” may want to consider the cooling GlacioTex cover upgrade. Other notable qualities include below-average pricing and a wide size selection.
How Does It Feel?
The firm side contains fibers quilted into the cover, followed by two dense foam layers. Light contouring ensures you’ll get some cushioning from the mattress without too much sink or hugging. On the extra firm side, a single foam layer keeps your body on an even plane and barely conforms at all. Pocketed coils located between the comfort systems serve as the support core for both sides of the mattress.
Standard Firm Luxe models come with knit polyester covers. For an extra fee, you can swap in a cover made of GlacioTex phase change fabric engineered to capture and release body heat. Brooklyn Bedding offers a dozen sizes for the mattress, including a split California king for couples who share adjustable beds and several RV-friendly options.
Standard ground shipping is free within the contiguous U.S. Each order is backed by a 120-night trial period and 10-year manufacturer’s warranty.
Best Value Mattress
Titan Plus
The Sleep Doctor’s Review
The Titan Plus is one of the firmest mattresses we’ve tested, making it well-suited to people over 230 pounds. Steady airflow through the coil layer helps the mattress stay cool, and you can add a phase change panel to the cover for extra thermoregulation.
BUY FROM TITAN
Firm
Good for Sleepers Over 230 Pounds
Heavy Sleepers
Great Value
Pros
- Exceptionally firm with a robust and supportive design
- Optional cooling cover offers appeal for hot sleepers
- Affordable pricing for a firm hybrid mattress
Cons
- Inadequate cushioning for side sleepers under 230 pounds
- Permits some motion transfer across the mattress surface
Brooklyn Bedding’s Titan Plus combines above-average durability and edge support, making it a good choice for sleepers over 230 pounds. It also has an attractive price-point, so shoppers on a budget can still take advantage of its benefits.
Why We Like It
The cover contains gel-infused memory foam designed to provide subtle pressure relief while drawing heat away from the sleeper. During our temperature control tests, thermal mapping tools detected very little heat buildup on the surface. The rest of the hybrid structure integrates foam comfort layers with a robust pocketed coil core. Our testers noted that the layer of TitanFlex polyfoam adapted to their bodies without conforming too closely.
How Does It Feel?
The Titan Plus has an 11-inch profile and a firm (8) feel. The stomach and back sleepers on our testing team found that the solid surface helped encourage proper spinal alignment, but those under 130 pounds and our side sleepers reported that it felt a little too firm.
The pocketed coils are designed to stabilize the top layers while encouraging a spinal alignment. Two inches of high-density polyfoam reinforce the base. The Titan Plus uses gel infusions and pocketed coils designed to help remove excess heat, and people who tend to sleep hot can opt for an additional cooling top panel.
Most Comfortable Mattress
Lytton Signature Comfort Firm
The Sleep Doctor’s Review
Dense transitional foam and zoned coils give the Lytton Signature Comfort Firm a sturdy, robust feel. The top foam layer offers some cushioning without sacrificing support, allowing most back and stomach sleepers on our team to lie comfortably on the mattress.
BUY FROM LYTTON
Firm
Good for Sleepers Over 230 Pounds
Back Sleepers
Fair Value
Pros
- Thick foam layers cushion the body without reducing firm support
- Zoned coils push back and provide extra support around the midsection
- Earned high marks from heavier testers across all sleep positions
Cons
- Too firm for most side sleepers under 230 pounds
- Springiness from the coils can cause motion transfer
The coils resting beneath your midsection are thicker than those under your head and legs. This creates balanced support for your entire body, even if you carry extra weight in your chest, stomach, or hips. High-density base foam rounds out the 13-inch design. Air flows freely through the coils to ensure a comfortable interior temperature, and the cover is made from a breathable blend of organic cotton and polyester for added cooling.
Why We Like It
Firm mattresses can be somewhat polarizing, but most of our testing team awarded the Signature Comfort Firm a rating of good or better. The mattress was particularly popular among our side sleepers weighing more than 230 pounds, and our back and stomach sleepers weighing at least 130 pounds. The thick foam layers also allows the Signature Comfort Firm to alleviate pressure well. In our experience, this is a performance area where hybrids tend to struggle. Temperature control is another strength we observed during our tests, as thermal mapping imagery revealed little to no heat buildup on the Comfort Firm’s surface.
How Does It Feel?
Adaptive polyfoam quilted into the cover gives the Signature Comfort Firm an invitingly plush feel when you get into bed. Beneath this layer rests 3 inches of proprietary Serene foam that conforms to your body’s unique curves while also pushing back against your weight and keeping you on an even plane. The top layer is infused with cooling gel, so the foam layers shouldn’t sleep uncomfortably warm, either. The coils resting beneath your midsection are thicker than those under your head and legs. This creates balanced support for your entire body, even if you carry extra weight in your chest, stomach, or hips. High-density base foam rounds out the 13-inch design. Air flows freely through the coils to ensure a comfortable interior temperature, and the cover is made from a breathable blend of organic cotton and polyester for added cooling.
Best Luxury Mattress
Helix Dawn Luxe
The Sleep Doctor’s Review
The firmest and most supportive of Helix’s luxury hybrids, the Dawn Luxe offers gentle cradling with a Euro-top surface and excellent overall reinforcement from its zoned coil system. A breathable, moisture-wicking cover also helps ensure a comfortable temperature throughout the night.
BUY FROM HELIX
Firm
Good for Sleepers Over 230 Pounds
Heavy Sleepers
Fair Value
Pros
- Designed for sleepers who don’t want to sink into their mattress
- Moisture-wicking Tencel cover encases a sleek pillow-top
- Zoned coil system provides targeted lumbar support
Cons
- Limited ability to isolate motion
- Lacks contouring preferred by many side sleepers
Made with high-quality materials, the Helix Dawn Luxe has a firm (8) feel designed with stomach and back sleepers in mind. Not only is this one of the firmest mattresses we’ve tested, it also features three foam layers in the comfort system to alleviate pressure points.
Why We Like It
Testers felt they got a good balance of support and contouring from the zoned support core, which focused its support on the back and hips while contouring the shoulders and legs. Our tests also showed that the thicker gauge coils reinforced the perimeter and reduced sagging along the edges. The high-density polyfoam that forms the mattress’ base helps ensure that the upper layers function optimally. We recommend the Helix Dawn Luxe for sleepers who want a higher-end firm mattress designed to provide good support. However, while back and stomach sleepers over 130 pounds are likely to enjoy this mattress, side sleepers may need something that provides a little more contouring.
How Does It Feel?
The Dawn Luxe features a breathable Tencel cover and a pillow-top cushioned with dense memory foam. Our testers reported that the foam interior gently contoured the body, and the cover kept the surface cool. Beneath the pillow-top, there’s also a layer of gel-infused memory foam that is engineered to alleviate pressure points and promote proper spinal alignment. Two layers of polyfoam complete the comfort system. We found that the thicker top layer provided a good balance of adaptive support and subtle bounce. The transitional polyfoam layer provided even contouring while absorbing shock from the steel springs.
Best Mattress for Back Pain
WinkBed
The Sleep Doctor’s Review
The WinkBed is a luxury hybrid available in four firmness levels, including a standard firm (7) and a Plus (8) model specifically designed for people over 230 pounds. Dense comfort layers and zoned coils work together to keep your body aloft and reduce pressure along the spine.
BUY FROM WINKBED
Firm
Good for Sleepers Over 230 Pounds
Heavy Sleepers
Good Value
Pros
- Gel-infused and quilted Euro-top delivers good pressure relief for a firm mattress
- Sturdy hybrid design provides impressive edge support
- Choice of four firmness options
Cons
- Thick coils generate responsiveness that can transfer motion on the firm version
- Firm model may lack pressure relief for side sleepers
A firm mattress sometimes comes at the expense of pressure relief, but the WinkBed manages to merge support with comfort. With four different firmness options — medium soft (4), medium (6), firm (7), and Plus (8) — this mattress can accommodate a range of sleep positions and body sizes.
Why We Like It
Our testers reported that the coils provide robust support. This quality was most evident with the firm and Plus models. Steady airflow through the coils and the moisture-wicking Tencel cover also helped the WinkBed perform well during our temperature control tests.
We also found that the mattress does a great job of providing pressure relief at a variety of firmness levels. This makes the WinkBed a good choice for sleepers who prefer a firmer mattress but still need solid support at pressure points. We recommend either of these models to anyone looking for a balance of firmness or pressure relief.
How Does It Feel?
The WinkBed integrates contouring and bounce by combining polyfoam comfort layers with different-sized coils. The comfort system for standard models consists of a Euro-top with a eucalyptus-derived Tencel cover designed to wick away heat while gently cushioning pressure points. This is followed by a layer of adaptive polyfoam. In the Plus model, the comfort layer is composed of latex for added support and responsiveness.
Zoned coils make up the support core. Thicker coils rest beneath your midsection to push back against extra weight in your torso and hips, while thinner coils cradle the head and legs. The perimeter is also reinforced to limit sinkage when you sleep near the edges or get in and out of bed.
I often recommend firm mattresses to sleepers who need a supportive and even sleep surface, including stomach sleepers and those weighing over 230 pounds. Hybrids and innersprings tend to be the most popular models with firmer options, but firm foam and latex models are available as well.
Do You Need a Firm Mattress?
You may need a firm mattress if you are a stomach sleeper, back sleeper, or weigh over 230 pounds. For stomach and back sleepers, a firm mattress keeps the midsection from sinking too deeply into the bed and pulling the spine into an unnatural curve. Heavier individuals may find that a firm model feels sturdier and keeps their body on an even plane.
People seeking deep contouring for pressure points should avoid a firm mattress. Likewise, side sleepers may experience excess impact on their shoulders and hips with a firm mattress.
Video: Is a Firm Mattress Good for You?
Watch our video to learn more about whether a firm mattress is best for you.
How to Choose the Right Firmness Level for You
The right firmness level is inherently subjective. You may have a natural preference for a firmer or softer mattress, but the optimal firmness also depends on your sleeping position and body weight, since these influence how your weight is applied to the mattress surface.
To help compare firmness levels across mattress models, we use a 10-point scale, with 1 being the softest mattress possible and 10 being the firmest. Most mattresses fall in the range of soft (3) to firm (8).
| Under 130 lbs. | Between 130 and 230 lbs. | Over 230 lbs. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Side Sleepers | Soft (3) to Medium (5) | Medium Soft (4) to Medium (5) | Medium Firm (6) to Firm (7) |
| Back Sleepers | Soft (3) to Medium (5) | Medium (5) to Firm (7) | Firm (7-8) to Extra Firm (9) |
| Stomach Sleepers | Medium Soft (4) to Medium Firm (6) | Medium (5) to Firm (7) | Firm (7-8) to Extra Firm (9) |
What’s Important to Consider in a Firm Mattress?
When shopping for a mattress, there are factors besides firmness that you should consider, including mattress type, your spinal alignment and body pain, edge support, pricing, returns, and warranties.
Mattress Type
Every type of mattress offers benefits and drawbacks based on its design and materials. For example, foam mattresses often provide above-average cushioning and motion isolation but can retain more heat, whereas hybrid and latex beds are known for their responsiveness but typically have a higher price tag. An adjustable airbed uses inflatable air chambers in its support core, and air can be added or removed via a remote control or smartphone app to adjust the firmness.
Spinal Alignment
If you want to avoid waking up with a sore back, you should consider how well a mattress encourages neutral spinal posture, since spending hours in bed with your spine misaligned can induce aches and pains. To promote healthy spinal alignment, a mattress should offer cushioning around pressure points without permitting excess sinkage.
Body Pain
If you have achy joints or other body pain, you should look for a mattress that can offer relief. Depending on your sleeping position and body weight, a firm mattress may facilitate spinal alignment to minimize back pain. However, if your mattress is too firm, it could generate painful impact around the hips, shoulders, or lower back.
Edge Support
Edge support describes how sturdy a mattress feels around its perimeter. Above-average edge support lets you take advantage of the full sleeping surface, which is important for couples. For a firm mattress, edge support also creates a more consistent and robust mattress feel.
Price, Sleep Trial, and Warranty
Mattress prices range from less than $250 to more than $3,000, with the cost largely driven by design, materials, size, and features.
Almost any mattress bought online will come with a sleep trial, which allows you to return it after trying it at home for a set period. This gives you time to make sure a mattress has the right firmness, which may take a few weeks to determine.
A mattress warranty protects against defects and will cover a repair or replacement, but warranties usually do not cover gradual decreases in firmness or other types of expected wear and tear.
Tips for Making Your Mattress Feel Firmer
If you want to make your existing mattress feel firmer without replacing it, a few simple steps may do the trick.
- Try a mattress topper: Typically around 1 to 4 inches thick, a mattress topper goes on top of your existing mattress. This is helpful if you wish to adjust your bed’s firmness, but keep in mind that a topper can’t fully compensate for an underlying mattress that is sagging or extremely plush.
- Rotate your mattress regularly: Repositioning your mattress frequently can prevent wear patterns that cause it to soften in specific places. We suggest rotating it 180 degrees about once a month.
- Give your mattress the right support: Your mattress may take on a firmer feel if you put it on top of a sturdy base, like a box spring. You can also put a rigid board, known as a bunkie board, under the mattress to make it firmer. Be sure to check your mattress’ warranty, as some models can only be used with certain approved types of bases.
Discover More Mattress Solutions
In addition to this guide to the best firm mattresses, our testing team has hand-picked top-performing beds in a variety of popular categories.
Best Mattresses by Type
How We Test
Our testing team picked the best firm mattresses by thoroughly researching and trying out dozens of different models using our thorough product testing methodology. Our in-house testing lab includes equipment to measure performance metrics like pressure relief and heat retention. We also make sure that our team includes people with diverse sleeping positions and body weights so that our recommendations are based on feedback from multiple perspectives.
Frequently Asked Questions
The best mattress for back pain varies depending on the individual and their body type, preferred sleeping position, and the type of back pain they experience. That said, research has shown that medium firm mattresses tend to offer a good mix of cushioning and support for people with lower back pain.
Firm mattresses work for some side sleepers, but they are often too firm to effectively cushion the shoulders and hips of people who sleep on their side. Firm mattresses tend to work best for side sleepers over 230 pounds who want to avoid sinkage.
Firm mattresses don’t necessarily last longer than other mattresses, as durability largely depends on the construction and materials within the mattress. Some firm mattresses are made with dense and robust materials that hold up extremely well over time. However, firm mattresses can also be made with lower-quality materials that can soften or break down over just a few years of use.
You can make a mattress firmer by using a firm mattress topper, putting your mattress on a firm base, or placing a bunkie board underneath the mattress. You can also try to get more firmness from your existing mattress by rotating it on a regular basis, which avoids uneven wear and tear of the interior materials.
About The Author
Certified Sleep Science Coach, Director of Product Testing
David is a Certified Sleep Science Coach with a lifelong passion for well-being and health optimization. His interest in sleep developed with the arrival of his son, when sleep suddenly became a precious commodity.
- POSITION: Side sleeper
- TEMPERATURE: Hot Sleeper
- CHRONOTYPE: Lion
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