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Best firm mattress 2023: solid support for pain-free sleep

Stop that sinking feeling with the best firm mattresses – recommended by our sleep experts

One of the best firm mattresses, a Sweetnight Prime Memory Foam Mattress in a modern farmhouse-style bedroom
(Image credit: Sweetnight)
Best firm mattress 2023: Jump Menu

A Naturepedic Chorus mattress in a traditional bedroom

(Image credit: Naturepedic)

1. The list in brief ↴
2. Best overall: Naturepedic Chorus
3. Best for back pain: Nectar Memory Foam
4. Best memory foam: Emma Original
5.  Best luxury: Sattva Classic
6. Best for combination sleepers: Sweetnight Prime
7.  Best cooling: Casper Wave Hybrid Snow
8. How to choose
9. How we test

At first, you may think the softer the bed, the better. But if you're a front sleeper, get hot in the night, or suffer from back, or joint pain, then there's nothing worse than the sinking feeling you get from plusher mattresses. One of the best firm mattresses can help with spinal alignment, back support, and pressure relief. Investing in a firm bed may make all the difference to getting your best sleep yet. 

However, we've found most manufacturers focus on making the softest beds possible, with memory foam and pillow-top options being the most popular. With a noticeable gap in the market for firm beds, we've taken the time to research and find the best firm mattresses to buy online. 

Tried, tested, and recommended by us, these are the firm mattresses worth investing in – all of which feature in our best mattress guide. Your back will thank you later. 

Best firm mattress deals

It's the best time of the year to bag big-ticket items, such as mattress, at major discounts. Some of the best firm mattresses are on sale right now for less than $700. 

Nectar Memory Foam Mattress | Was $1,099, now $659 at Nectar
Best for back pain

Nectar Memory Foam Mattress | Was $1,099, now $659 at Nectar
If you sleep on your back, and you tend to wake with aches and pains, you should consider investing in the best mattress for back pain. If you take advantage of the seasonal sales, you could save $350. Our expert tester, who suffers from fibromyalgia, found that the Nectar absorbed the pressure from her joints and kept her hips and spine in line. 

Casey's Nectar Memory Foam Mattress review has more detail.

Emma Original Mattress | Was $1,053, now $469 at Emma

Emma Original Mattress | Was $1,053, now $469 at Emma
This bed-in-a-box is selling at half-price. The Emma Original impressed on test with its medium-firm feel to suit all sleep styles, as well as its excellent edge support. This mattress boasts thousands of five-star reviews on the Emma site, praising its comfort and versatility. We think it's one of the best affordable mattresses on the market. 

Chiana's Emma Original Mattress review has more detail.

SweetNight Prime Memory Foam Mattress | Was $1,309.00, now $720 at SweetNight

SweetNight Prime Memory Foam Mattress | Was $1,309.00, now $720 at SweetNight
This memory foam mattress delivers four firmness levels in one. Just flip, rotate, or roll to the other side to find the level of support that suits you. The SweetNight Mattress is made for front, back, side, and combination sleepers alike. Not bad for $720.

Alex's Sweetnight Prime Mattress review has more detail.

Saatva Classic Mattress | Was $1,995, now $1,695 at Saatva
Best on test

Saatva Classic Mattress | Was $1,995, now $1,695 at Saatva
This isn't a new deal. The Saatva Classic has been selling for $1,695 since at least last May, by my count. But it's a decent price to pay for the best mattress in the world. This luxury innerspring incorporates Lumbar Zone technology to send support where you need it most. 

Jaclyn's Saatva Classic Mattress review has more detail.

The quick list

We've summarised the best firm mattresses here, so if you only want the headlines, you're in the right place. We go into more detail further down the page.

The best firm mattresses in 2023

You can trust Homes & Gardens. Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing the latest products, helping you choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test.

The best firm mattress overall