Best firm mattress 2024 – 6 tried and tested options for sturdy support

The best firm mattress could help to prevent back pain overnight and promote good posture in the morning. You can choose between a traditional innerspring with pocketed coils for pressure relief, a high-tech hybrid with enhanced edge support, or a high-density memory foam model made to mold to the shape of your body.

There is no common standard for mattress firmness. Some brands measure it on a scale from 1 to 10, where 1 is super-soft and 10 is ultra-firm. Others prefer to put mattresses into categories: Soft; Medium-Soft; Medium; Medium-Firm; Firm; and sometimes even Extra Firm. Which mattress firmness feels best for you depends on your sleep position. If you tend to lie on your back or stomach, you'll appreciate the support of a firm mattress to keep your spine straight.

As H&G's resident sleep writer, I lead a team of expert testers in the search to find the world's best mattress. I've combed through our back catalog of reviews to bring you six tried and tested contenders for the title of 'best firm mattress' for pressure relief and spinal alignment. Our reigning champion is the Naturepedic Chorus Mattress, but you might find that another mattress better meets your sleep needs.

Best firm mattress 2024 – 6 tried and tested options at a glance

Below, you'll find a bite-size summary of each mattress, detailing who it suits, what it costs, and the most important pros and cons. To find out more about a particular mattress, keep scrolling, or press 'read more below' to skip straight to that section. There, I've outlined all the need-to-know specifications before delving into the details of our testing experience.

The best firm mattress overall

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This isn't your grandmother's innerspring mattress. The Naturepedic Chorus Mattress isn't springy or squeaky, but supple and responsive, filled with hundreds of individually wrapped steel coils for lumbar support and enhanced motion isolation. That's good news for light sleepers and anyone who shares a bed with a pet or partner.

'Naturepedic labels their Chorus Mattress as a Medium, but I have to disagree,' says expert tester Courtney Irwin. 'It feels much firmer than other medium mattresses I've slept on. As a side sleeper, it cradles my hips perfectly, but feels a touch too firm around my shoulders. Even though the Naturepedic Chorus is medium-firm, it's still comfortable. I could feel the pressure relief as soon as I lay down, and my back feels fully supported when lying flat.'

The Naturepedic Chorus Mattress does a good job of dissipating heat and wicking moisture. I attribute that to the microcoils, which boost breathability as they compress and depress beneath your body, as well as the organic wool batting, which is naturally thermoregulating.

One pain point: the edge support leaves something to be desired. 'I weigh around 120 lbs, and sitting on the side of the bed still requires effort,' complains Courtney: 'I could have slid right off.' If you like to sit or sleep at the side of the bed, then you'll need to find a firm mattress with superior edge support. I recommend the Woolroom Hebridean 3000 for a similar look and feel.

Reviewed by

Reviewed by

Courtney Irwin

Courtney lives with her partner in the Midwest. Since they share a bed, and she's a light sleeper, Courtney needs a mattress with excellent motion isolation, so she can sleep undisturbed. She prefers medium-firm support to align her spine. Read the full review: Naturepedic Chorus Mattress

Naturepedic Chorus Mattress | $1,999 at Naturepedic

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The best firm mattress for back pain

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Our expert tester, Casey Clark, lives with fibromyalgia, a chronic pain condition that leaves her aching all over her body. She needs a mattress that's firm enough to take the weight off her bones but not so firm that it exacerbates her aches and pains. The Nectar Memory Foam Mattress hits the sweet spot.

'Nectar says the mattress offers medium-firm support, and I'd agree with that rating,' says Casey. 'The Nectar Memory Foam Mattress feels firm, but not inflexible. I appreciated how the mattress sank underneath my chest to make some breathing room when I was laying on my stomach. When laying on my back, I felt like my spine was in perfect alignment.'

The Nectar Memory Foam Mattress features in several of our bedding buying guides: most prominently in the #1 spot for 'best affordable mattress'. It's almost always discounted in the mattress sales, so you can bag a top-rated, Queen-sized mattress bed for just $649.

No mattress is perfect, and Casey found a few faults with the Nectar Memory Foam Mattress. All that dense foam tends to trap heat, making it hard for fresh air to circulate through the mattress, though you could always dress your bed with a set of the best cooling sheets. Unfortunately, there's no quick fix for a lack of edge support. If you prefer to sit or sleep on the side of the bed, I suggest you consider a sprung mattress, such as the DreamCloud Luxury Hybrid Mattress.

Reviewed by

Reviewed by

Casey Clark

Casey is a freelance product tester whose reviews feature in Forbes, HuffPost, TODAY, and more. As someone who suffers with chronic pain and a heat intolerance, she needs a mattress to relieve pressure and keep her cool. Read the full review: Nectar Memory Foam Mattress

The best firm hybrid mattress

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A hybrid mattress combines the breathability and support of an innerspring with the body contouring and pressure relief of memory foam. Over the years, we've tested 30 mattresses, 10 of which are hybrids: the DreamCloud Luxury Hybrid offers some of the best performance at the most affordable price.

'DreamCloud rates this mattress a 6.5 out of 10 on the firmness scale, though I'd say it's more like a 7 or a 7.5,' says expert tester Camryn Rabideau. 'It's great for sleepers who like a little more support. There's enough give that my hip and shoulder can sink in while sleeping on my side, but I never feel like I'm being swallowed up by the mattress.'

Unlike some of the memory foam mattresses on this list, the edge support on the DreamCloud Luxury Hybrid Mattress is excellent. Camryn shares a bed with her partner and their dog, and she often ends up pushed to the very edge of the mattress. Sleeping at the side of the DreamCloud Luxury Hybrid, she always felt well supported.

Like any sprung mattress, the DreamCloud Luxury Hybrid has a bit of bounce. The coil core makes it much easier to get into and out of bed but it does lead to motion transfer. 'Every time my partner rolled over on his side of the bed, I bobbed and bounced on mine,' complains Camryn. If you're looking for a firm mattress with excellent motion isolation, I suggest the Naturepedic Chorus Mattress.

Reviewed by

Reviewed by

Camryn Rabideau

Camryn is a freelance product reviewer. Since she shares a bed with her partner and their pet, Camryn often ends up sleeping at the side of the mattress, so she looks for excellent edge support. Read the full review: DreamCloud Luxury Hybrid Mattress

The best firm memory foam mattress

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Memory foam is made to mold to the shape of your body and bear your weight, taking the pressure off your neck, shoulders, hips, and knees. You'll see a lot of 'soft' and 'medium' memory foam mattresses, but I suggest 'medium-firm' for enhanced support, which the Nolah Original Mattress delivers in spades.

'This memory foam mattress feels plush up top, with denser foam down below,' according to expert tester Jamie Davis Smith. 'I felt I could sink through the first inch or two of foam, really relaxing into the mattress, and still feel supported. Good news for side sleepers who appreciate a firmer surface: the Nolah Original Mattress feels extra flexible around the shoulders, so you shouldn't wake up with a stiff neck.'

Your average memory foam mattress is a bit of a heat trap: filled with dense foam that leaves little room for air to flow. The Nolah Original Mattress is filled with AirFoam, instead, perforated with countless tiny air pockets to boost breathability throughout the bed. I'd recommend this mattress for hot sleepers in search of a firmer surface.

Jamie found that the edges of the Nolah Original Mattress feel firmer than the middle and she could comfortably sit on the side of the bed to tie her shoes. She acknowledges that 'the edge support is a little lacking in comparison to a high-tech hybrid, but that's what you get from foam, and the pressure relief more than makes up for it.'

Reviewed by

Reviewed by

Jamie Davis Smith

Jamie is a freelance product tester, based in Washington, DC. She is one of our more prolific product testers, with 3 mattress reviews and 2 topper reviews under her belt. As a stomach sleeper with lower back ache, Jamie needs a firm mattress with plenty of pressure relief. Read the full review: Nolah Original Mattress

Nolah Original Mattress | $942 at Nolah

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The best firm innerspring mattress

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For decades, an innerspring mattress was the default choice for American homes, and it's still a good option for back and stomach sleepers in search of firm support and thermoregulation. I like to think of the Woolroom Hebridean 3000 Mattress as an elevated innerspring. It's filled with 3,000 steel coils, strategically arranged for ergonomic support, and topped with organic wool for natural moisture-wicking. It's a great choice for hot sleepers: in fact, I'd rank it amongst the best cooling mattresses.

'The Woolroom Hebridean 3000 is a firm mattress that is unyielding without feeling uncomfortable,' says tester Sophie Edwards. 'Although I thought I'd prefer something softer, I actually felt very well supported. I tend to switch positions in my sleep, moving between my stomach, back, and side. In the past, I've had a few issues with neck and back pain, but I never woke up with aches on the Woolroom Hebridean 3000.'

Like all the best organic mattresses, the Woolroom Hebridean 3000 is filled with natural, non-toxic materials. Hypoallergenic, it's great for sensitive sleepers as well as eco-conscious shoppers. The combined weight of the wool and the steel springs means the mattress is very heavy: Sophie recommends you ask a friend or family member to help you lift, flip, or rotate the mattress.

'I had some difficulties with Woolroom's UK delivery partner,' says Sophie. 'If a delivery is missed, it can only be rescheduled through an automated WhatsApp message that took a few tries to go through. When I finally received tracking information, the website was incredibly dated and difficult to use. That being said, the drivers who delivered my mattress went above and beyond to help me get set up within five minutes.'

Reviewed by

Reviewed by

Sophie Edwards

Sophie writes for our News column. As an eco-conscious shopper, Sophie wanted to find a natural, non-toxic mattress that offered firm support to align her spine. Read the full review: Woolroom Hebridean 3000 Mattress

Woolroom Hebridean 3000 Mattress | $1,510.28 at Woolroom

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The best firm mattress for couples

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If you share a bed with a pet or partner, you'll understand the importance of motion isolation. It's the difference between a good night's sleep and waking up in fits and starts every time your partner tosses and turns. The best firm mattress for couples should feature excellent motion isolation and edge support, so you aren't disturbed when your pet or partner gets into or out of bed. The Nectar Premier Hybrid Mattress hits both marks.

'On a firmness scale of 1 to 10, Nectar rates their Premier Hybrid Mattress around a 6, but I'd say it's more like a 7,' says tester Millie Hurst. 'The surface of the mattress is firm enough to maintain proper spinal alignment and stop you from sinking. There's just enough give to cushion my joints, but not so much give that my back begins to arch.'

Millie acknowledges that 'your average hybrid mattress has too much bounce to offer much in the way of motion isolation, but the Nectar Premier Hybrid is the exception to the rule.' Millie performed our motion isolation test: filling a glass with water, setting it in the middle of the mattress, and applying pressure around it. The closer she got to the glass, the more it started to move, but she never spilled any water. Millie says that, 'for a hybrid mattress, that's about as good as motion isolation gets.'

'The edge support on the Nectar Premier Hybrid is a marked improvement on their Memory Foam Mattress,' says Millie, 'I could perch on the edge of the bed to apply lotion or tie my shoes without slipping straight off the sides.' Still, the edge support isn't quite as solid as you'll find on the Naturepedic Chorus Mattress.

Reviewed by

Reviewed by

Millie Hurst

Millie is our former Section Editor for the Solved column, where she handled home organization, decluttering, and cleaning content. Sharing a bed with her partner, Millie needs a mattress with excellent motion isolation. Read the full review: Nectar Premier Hybrid Mattress

Best firm mattress 2024 − SIde by Side

Honorable mentions

Over the years, our expert team has tested 30 mattresses. My top 6 represent the very best for pressure relief, thermoregulation, motion isolation, and edge support. Still, I wanted to shout out two more mattresses that performed well in our tests for your consideration.

• Zinus Cooling Green Tea Mattress: 'For the first 10 days of testing, this mattress felt unbelievably hard, like lying down on a wooden bench,' says expert tester Camryn Rabideau. 'My theory is that the foam had gotten too cold during shipping and storage, but it soon softened up. I'd still describe it as a medium-firm mattress: it takes a minute or two to conform to your body and you'll sink into the surface two or three inches while sleeping.' For a memory foam mattress, the edge support and thermoregulation are excellent. I would have voted the Zinus Cooling Green Tea Mattress as 'best firm memory foam mattress,' if it weren't for Camryn's worries about Zinus mattresses and fire safety.
• Siena Memory Foam Mattress: 'As a back sleeper, I need a mattress to support my spine and stop my neck and shoulders from sinking too far into the bed,' says expert tester Tonya Pendleton. 'Since my old mattress had started to sag, I immediately noticed a difference with the Siena Memory Foam Mattress. I could comfortably lie in bed to sleep and recline to watch TV or scroll through social media.' The motion isolation is excellent, but the edge support leaves something to be desired, which is why the Siena Memory Foam Mattress didn't make my top 6.

How we test mattresses

I lead a team of expert testers to find the world's best mattress. Together, we represent a wide range of ages, body types, and sleep styles, and we live right across the country in all sorts of climates. We test mattresses for a minimum of 30 days before we write our initial reviews. This accounts for the time it takes to get used to a new mattress and gives an accurate indication of long-term performance. To find out more about how we test mattresses, consult our expert guide.

We assess each mattress against the same criteria: pressure relief; thermoregulation; motion isolation; and edge support. To assess edge support, we lie on the mattress and flip between our sides, backs, and stomachs, considering how comfortable the mattress feels in each position. To assess thermoregulation, we turn off our AC and sleep through all weathers, making note of any time we wake up in a sweat. Where possible, I assign hot sleepers in warmer climes to test cooling mattresses.

To assess motion isolation, we fill a glass with water and place it in the middle of the mattress. Then, we take a weight, set that on the mattress, and move it incrementally closer to the glass. The more the glass moves, and the more water spills, the worse the motion isolation, and the less suitable the mattress for couples and light sleepers. To assess edge support, we sit on the side of the mattress and measure how far we fall. The further we sink, the worse the edge support, and the less comfortable it will feel to sit or sleep on the side of the bed.

We also consider all the practical aspects of buying a mattress, from the length of the mattress sleep trials to the extent of the mattress warranty. We like to compare our findings against verified customer reviews to pick out common concerns. Finally, we bring it all back to the price of the mattress to help you determine value for money.

How to choose a firm mattress

A mattress is a major investment, so you want to make sure you spend your money wisely. Here are the most important things to bear in mind while shopping for a firm mattress.

Your sleep position

If you've read any of my other articles, you'll know I talk a lot about sleep positions. Whether you lie on your front, back, or side makes an impact on your spinal alignment and indicates which sort of mattress you'll find most comfortable.

This is when we need to think about mattress firmness. Some mattress manufacturers rate firmness on a scale from 1 to 10, where 1 is super-soft and 10 is ultra-firm. Other brands prefer to categorize their mattresses as Soft, Medium-Soft, Medium, Medium-Firm, and Firm. If you sleep on your back or stomach, you'd appreciate the best firm mattress.

Back sleepers prefer a medium-firm mattress to stop their hips from sinking below their shoulders, while stomach sleepers need a firm surface to support their chest. Side sleepers need a slightly softer surface to cushion their joints while supporting their waist to keep their spine straight.

Your body type

How much you weigh informs how soft or firm a mattress might feel for you. Heavier people (250 lbs and up) need a firmer mattress to bear their weight and stop them from sinking too far into the surface. You're looking for a sprung mattress with a high coil count and thicker gauge springs for enhanced support. Don't worry if you don't recognize some of these terms: cross-check them against my mattress jargon buster.

Lighter people might sleep more comfortably on a softer mattress that offers body contouring, especially if you tend to lie on your side.

Your sleep temperature

If you suffer from night sweats or hot flashes, or you live in a warm climate, then you're what's known as a hot sleeper. You need the best cooling mattress to dissipate heat and wick moisture.

Steer clear of thick slabs of high-density foam in favor of firm innersprings to get the support you need. If you're set on the look and feel of memory foam, but you want to keep cool, narrow the search to a gel memory foam mattress, which is better for blocking odors.

FAQs

Is a firm mattress good for your back?

The best mattress for back pain is one that keeps your spine in a neutral position. Imagine a straight line running from your neck all the way down to the base of your spine: that's the optimal sleep position, the one that will put the least amount of strain on your back.

Whether or not a firm mattress is good for your back depends on your sleep position. If you sleep on your back or stomach, you might find that a firm mattress works to stop your hips from sinking and keep your spine straight. If you sleep on your side, however, you might find that a firm mattress has insufficient give to cushion your joints and support your spine. To learn more about why your mattress might be causing back pain, consult our expert guide.

Is a firm mattress good for side sleepers?

Side sleepers tend to feel more comfortable on medium mattresses with enough give to cushion their joints. If you lie on your side on a firm or extra firm mattress, you'll find that your hips and shoulders are crushed against the surface. This lack of body contouring could cause pain in your joints and lead to a less comfortable night's sleep.

You might have made it to the end of this article in window-shopping mode. You'd love a new, firm mattress but you can't afford to replace your bed. As H&G's resident sleep writer, I'm often asked: 'can I make my mattress firmer?' The answer is 'yes', if you're willing to get creative. You could pop a piece of plywood between your mattress and your bed base to create more consistent support. You could rotate your mattress to distribute wear and tear more evenly across the surface. Alternatively, you could buy one of the best mattress toppers to toughen up your soft, sagging mattress.