- We chose the Plank Firm Luxe as the “Best Overall Firm Mattress” because it uses a unique flippable design, offering two levels of firmness in one mattress. It also provides a high level of functional support for good spinal spinal alignment and mobility.
- Military personnel, first responders, educators, students, and health care professionals get 30% off. Eligibility is verified through ID.ME.
Best Firm Mattress of 2024
Personal preference is crucial when selecting a mattress, but sleeping position and body type are also important to consider. For instance, the best firm mattress will offer substantial support and can help the spine stay aligned, making them especially good for back and stomach sleepers. [1] Tung-Ho Hong T. Influence of Mattress Stiffness on Spinal Curvature and Intervertebral Disc Stress—An Experimental and Computational Study. Biology. July 8, 2022.
“I recommend firmer mattresses for my patients with back issues,” said Kevin Nelson, a Denver, Colorado-based chiropractor. “They do a better job of keeping the spine positioned properly.”
Good sleep is a critical component of health maintenance and disease prevention, [2] Kannan R, et al. Sleep is Essential to Health: An American Academy of Sleep Medicine Position Statement. Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine. Oct. 1, 2021 especially as we grow older. If you’re looking for a firm mattress, we’ve rounded up our top six picks to help you discover the most suitable firm mattress tailored to your needs.
Best Firm Mattress Overall
The Plank Firm Luxe is our top choice due its unique flippable design, substantial support for spinal alignment, and mid-range pricing.
Best firm mattresses in 2024
- Plank Firm Luxe: Best Overall Firm Mattress
- Saatva Classic: Best Innerspring Firm Mattress
- Helix Plus: Best Firm Mattress for Higher-Weight People
- Emma Comfort Hybrid: Best Affordable Firm Mattress
- Nolah Evolution: Best Firm Mattress for Side Sleepers
- Bear Original: Best Memory Foam Firm Mattress
Compare the best firm mattress, as of May 2024
Price | $924–$2,048 | $1,395–$2,690 | $936.30–$1,740 | $812–$1,649 | $1,499–$3,198 | $699–$1,690 |
Material | Hybrid | Innerspring-hybrid | Hybrid | Hybrid | Hybrid | Memory foam |
Firmness | Firm or extra-firm | Plush soft, luxury firm, and firm | Firm | Firm | Plush, luxury firm, or firm | Firm |
Trial period | 120 nights | 365 nights | 100 nights | 365 nights | 120 nights | 120 nights |
Shipping | Free in a box | Free white-glove delivery | Free in a box | Free in a box | Free FedEx shipping in a box; white-glove delivery starting at $125 | Free in a box, white-glove delivery for $175 |
Warranty | 10 years | Lifetime | 15 years | 10 years | Lifetime | Lifetime |
Sizes | Twin, twin XL, full, queen, king, California king, split California king, short queen, short king, Olympic queen, RV king | Twin, twin XL, full, queen, king, split king, California king, split California king | Twin, twin XL, full, queen, king, California king | Twin, twin XL, full, queen, king, California king | Twin, twin XL, full, queen, king, California king | Twin, twin XL, full, queen, king, California king, split king |
Height In inches | 13.25″ | 11.5″ or 14.5″ | 11.25″ | 13″ | 15″ | 10″ |
Best firm mattresses of 2024, reviewed by experts
Best Overall Firm Mattress: Plank Firm Luxe
Best Innerspring Firm Mattress: Saatva Classic
Best Firm Mattress for Higher-Weight People: Helix Plus
Best Affordable Firm Mattress: Emma Comfort Hybrid
Best Firm Mattress for Side Sleepers: Nolah Evolution
Best Memory Foam Firm Mattress: Bear Original
How to choose the best firm mattress
When it is time to turn in for the night, the best firm mattress is the one that feels most comfortable to you and allows for a night of sound sleep. Personal preference plays an important role in picking out a new mattress. We tested and reviewed a number of brands and models, determining the Plank Firm Luxe as the best overall firm mattress, but it is still possible it won’t be the right one for you. Take a close look at all of the options in this guide, keeping in mind the following considerations before you buy.
Sleep Position
Your mattress should maintain your spine alignment while you lay on it, and sleep position can play a part in choosing a mattress to achieve that goal. [4] Wong, D. W., et. al, (2019). Sleeping mattress determinants and evaluation: a biomechanical review and critique. PeerJ, 7, e6364. For example, many back sleepers prefer the support provided by medium to firm mattresses. If you tend to sleep on your stomach, a firmer mattress can help support your hips, preventing them from sinking into the mattress uncomfortably. Side and combination sleepers may find soft to medium mattresses to best suit their needs. Ultimately, you are the best judge of how comfortable you feel on a mattress in your preferred sleep position.
Body Type
While personal preference and comfort play a large role in choosing a mattress, body type can influence this decision as well. Typically, medium-firm to firm mattresses provide the best support for people of a higher weight. While people of a lower weight might perceive firm mattresses to be firmer than they are, preferring the feel of a softer mattress. Similarly, memory foam mattresses may not provide enough support for higher-weight sleepers, but a mattress with an innerspring core can help sleepers maintain spine alignment. The size of the mattress may also be important for some people, with a King or Cal King providing more space to those who need it.
Sleep Partners
If you share your bed with a partner, a larger mattress size might be the most comfortable choice. If you and your sleep partner have different comfort preferences and needs, this can present additional challenges during the shopping process. A memory foam mattress with motion isolation is often a good fit for couples with different comfort needs.
Who would benefit from a firm mattress?
Buying a mattress is a highly personal decision, and some sleepers may benefit more from a firm mattress than others. For example, the best mattress for back sleepers is often a medium-firm mattress that offers some pressure relief. A stomach sleeper may find they are more comfortable on a firm mattress that allows them to maintain an aligned spine. As mentioned above, people of heavier weights may require the extra support a firm mattress provides, while a softer mattress might feel too soft.
Do doctors recommend sleeping on a firm mattress?
Sleeping on a firm mattress may provide health benefits for certain people. A medium-firm mattress has been found to encourage sound sleep and lower the risk of developing back pain. The best mattress for back pain is often one that falls somewhere between medium and firm.
What level of mattress firmness is best for you?
Mattress firmness is rated on a 1 to 10 scale, with 1 representing an extra-soft mattress and 10 representing an extra-firm mattress. Softer mattresses sink under the sleeper’s weight and contour around their body. An extra-firm mattress typically doesn’t contour to the shape of the body or sink under the sleeper’s weight at all.
It is often true that back and stomach sleepers benefit from a medium to firm mattress. These mattresses provide enough support to keep the spine aligned. A side sleeper, however, may be more comfortable on a soft to medium mattress. When the mattress is able to conform to the shape of the body, a side sleeper may be more likely to maintain a neutral spine. If you are a person of heavier weight, a firmer mattress may be more comfortable, while a softer mattress often feels more comfortable for people of a lighter weight.
Bottom line
If you prefer a firm mattress, there are many options. Selecting the best firm mattress is crucial if you need a supportive sleep surface that maintains spinal alignment, particularly if you’re a back or a stomach sleeper, higher-weight person (more than 250 pounds), or have specific back pain concerns.
A firm mattress prevents excessive sinking and ensures a stable, even surface for proper spinal alignment. The Plank Firm Luxe stands out among the top picks for a firm mattress for its exceptional support, durability, and comfort. Its unique design and high-quality materials cater to a wide range of sleepers. But the right mattress for you is subjective, and all the mattresses on this list are solid options. If you’re experiencing back pain or any other issues and think a new mattress can help, make sure to speak to your doctor first. Your health care provider can ensure you make the right choice or provide other options that can help.
Frequently asked questions
We recommend firm mattresses for the following sleepers:
- Back sleepers: A firm mattress provides the necessary support for the spine, helping to maintain its natural alignment.
- Stomach sleepers: If you’re a stomach sleeper and your hips aren’t supported, your spine is out of alignment, which can lead to back pain. This is why stomach sleepers benefit from a firmer surface.
- Higher-weight people (more than 250 pounds): Those with a higher body weight may find that a firm mattress prevents excessive sinking, ensuring better support and alignment.
- Personal preference: Some people simply feel more comfortable on a firmer surface and want a mattress that doesn’t sink.
A firm mattress may help prevent back pain, especially for people who sleep on their back or stomach. Firmer support can help maintain proper spinal alignment, reducing stress on the spine and preventing the lower back from sinking too deeply. But the ideal mattress firmness for alleviating back pain varies based on personal preference, sleeping position, and body type. A mattress that provides a balance between support and pressure relief, aligning the spine without causing pressure points, is key.
The “best” firm mattress is subjective and depends on various factors, including personal preferences, sleeping positions, and specific needs, such as temperature regulation or motion isolation. It’s important to consider personal comfort and support needs. To determine the best firm mattress for you, you should also consider your budget, available delivery methods, and sleep trials.
Have questions about this review? Email us at reviewsteam@ncoa.org.
Sources
- Tung-Ho Hong T. Influence of Mattress Stiffness on Spinal Curvature and Intervertebral Disc Stress—An Experimental and Computational Study. Biology. July 8, 2022. Found on the internet at: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9311775
- Kannan R, et al. Sleep is Essential to Health: An American Academy of Sleep Medicine Position Statement. Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine. Oct. 1, 2021. Found on the internet at https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34170250
- Caggiari, Gianfilippo et al. “What type of mattress should be chosen to avoid back pain and improve sleep quality? Review of the literature.” Journal of orthopaedics and traumatology : official journal of the Italian Society of Orthopaedics and Traumatology vol. 22,1 51. 8 Dec. 2021. Found on the internet at doi:10.1186/s10195-021-00616-5
- NCOA Mattress Survey. 600 respondents. Conducted using Pollfish. Launched January 2024
- Wong, D. W., Wang, Y., Lin, J., Tan, Q., Chen, T. L., & Zhang, M. (2019). Sleeping mattress determinants and evaluation: a biomechanical review and critique. PeerJ, 7, e6364. https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.6364