Written by
McKenzie Dillon,
Our expert, award-winning staff selects the products we cover and rigorously researches and tests our top picks. If you buy through our links, we may get a commission.
Reviews ethics statement
McKenzie Dillon Writer
McKenzie, a Certified Sleep Science Coach and proclaimed mattress expert, has been writing sleep content in the wellness space for over four years. After earning her certification from the Spencer Institute and dedicating hundreds of hours to sleep research, she has extensive knowledge on the topic and how to improve your quality of rest. Having more experience with lying on mattresses than most, McKenzie has reviewed over 150 beds and a variety of different sleep products including pillows, mattress toppers and sheets. McKenzie has also been a guest on multiple radio shows including WGN Chicago as a sleep expert and contributed sleep advice to over 50 different websites.
Expertise Certified Sleep Science Coach, Certified Stress Management Coach, Bachelor of English.
Reviewed by: Troy Mensen, DO Medical Reviewer
Dr. Troy Mensen is a family medicine doctor based in the Chicago area. He completed his undergraduate degree at the University of Northern Iowa and his doctorate at Des Moines University College of Osteopathic Medicine.
Expertise Family medicine Credentials
- American Board of Family Medicine, Family Medicine
- State of Illinois, Medical Examining Board License
Education
- University of Northern Iowa, BA
- Des Moines University College of Osteopathic Medicine, DO
With 5+ years of mattress testing experience, we use our different sleeping position and body type perspectives to offer well-rounded, honest reviews.
How we sort our mattresses
Best firm mattress in a box
Plank Firm Luxe
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Best cheap firm mattress
Dreamfoam Doze
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Best firm mattress for hot sleepers
Brooklyn Bedding Aurora Luxe
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You can do several things to set up the ideal sleep environment, but having the right mattress is crucial for a good night's rest. If you're a back or stomach sleeper, you'll probably want a firmer bed, as it offers optimal support and promotes proper spinal alignment. A firm mattress can prevent your spine from sagging as you sleep on your back or stomach, which increases comfort and can help alleviate back pain.
But note that just because you need a firmer mattress doesn't mean you'll have to sacrifice the pressure relief offered by a softer mattress. It all depends on your support needs and personal sleep preferences. To give you an idea, medium-firm mattresses provide some pressure relief, while firm mattresses offer maximum support.
I have tested over 100 different mattresses throughout my career and have slept on the job for hours in honor of curating our CNET best mattress lists. For the best firm mattresses on the market, we compiled a list that includes the most comfortable hybrid mattresses, affordable firm beds, memory foam models and more. Read on to find your ideal firm mattress match.
What is the best firm mattress overall?
Getting a feel for the Saatva Classic mattress.
Jon Gomez/CNETThe Saatva Classic is a high-end mattress with three different firmness levels and two height profiles to choose from. Since each mattress is made to order, you'll essentially get a customized bed that fits your preferences and needs. Unlike other beds I've tested, it also has an ultra-supportive design. Inside, the Saatva Classic boasts two coil layers and extra lumbar reinforcements.
Note that all prices quoted are the list price for a queen size, not including the frequent deals these brands offer.
Read more: Mattress Firmness Scale Explained
Watch CNET senior video producer Owen Poole review the best firm mattresses.
Best firm mattresses of 2024
Saatva Classic
Best firm mattress overall
Our take - The Saatva Classic mattress is a premium mattress worthy of a fancy five-star hotel room. Most of Saatva Classic's firmness options are on the firm end of the spectrum, meaning you can buy a hybrid mattress with a medium-firm or solid-firm profile. Looking for even more support? The Saatva Classic has two different coil layers and a Lumbar Support Spinal Wire for all the added reinforcements you could ask for. I also love its cozy, airy pillow top covered with organic cotton.
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9.3 /10
SCORE
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Warranty
lifetime warranty
Plank Firm Luxe
Best firm mattress in a box
Our take - Flippable mattresses aren't as common in the mattress market, so this is a unique design that helps set the Plank mattress apart from other beds on our best firm mattress list. It's also great for heavier sleepers because of its hybrid design. Plank is one of the best firm mattress picks for back and stomach sleepers who want versatility and firmness at an affordable cost.
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7.8 /10
SCORE
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Type
flippable hybrid mattress
Firmness
2 firmness levels |firm: medium-firm or 7 | firm: firm or 10
Warranty
10-year limited warranty
7.5 /10
SCORE
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Type
neutral foam mattress
Firmness
medium to medium-firm
Warranty
10-year limited warranty
Nectar Classic
Best firm memory foam mattress
Our take - Nectar is a popular online mattress brand with beds that boast a memory foam feel, similar to the expensive Tempur-Pedic mattresses. The best part? The Nectar Classic bed is a fraction of the cost. After the foam is warmed by your body, the foam slowly conforms to your figure. You don't fall into a middle-of-the-bed sinkhole. The Nectar Classic is perfectly supportive for firm-bed lovers under the 230-pound range.
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7.9 /10
SCORE
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Type
memory foam mattress
Warranty
forever warranty
Brooklyn Bedding Aurora Luxe
Best firm mattress for hot sleepers
Our take - Brooklyn Bedding is known for making quality beds at affordable prices. The Aurora Luxe is no exception. It’s a premium mattress with five layers of comfortable foam, pocketed coils and cooling technology. You have to be careful with cooling sleep products because many don’t actually cool you, but you can rest assured that the CooperFlex foam and Titan Cool cover make this mattress physically cool.
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8.5 /10
SCORE
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Firmness
Soft: (3) Medium: (5) Medium firm: (7)
Warranty
10-year limited warranty
Avocado Green mattress
Best organic firm mattress
Our take - Almost as natural as the fruit it's named after, Avocado Green is a certified organic, environmentally friendly mattress. All the materials are either recycled or responsibly sourced from organic farms, which follow strict regulatory guidelines. Its main latex-foam comfort material is perforated, so it also allows for increased airflow and doesn't retain heat like memory foam. The Avocado Green is firm and becomes medium-firm if you add the pillow top.
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8.5 /10
SCORE
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Firmness
7 or medium-firm with the pillow top (9 or firm without)
Warranty
25-year limited warranty
8.5 /10
SCORE
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Warranty
10-year warranty
WinkBed mattress
Best medium-firm mattress
Our take - When you're looking for the best firm bed with a medium profile, the WinkBed Classic is a quality option that fits the bill. It's a premium hybrid with a medium-firm model that offers a comfortable, responsive feel more like that of neutral or blended foam. It's firm without being overly solid, and each WinkBed is put through a rigorous simulation to ensure long-lasting durability and support. It's one of those mattresses you'd find in a nice hotel or expensive AirBnB.
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8.4 /10
SCORE
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Firmness
3 firmness levels | softer: medium-soft or 3 | luxury firm: medium or 5 | firmer: medium-firm or 7
Warranty
lifetime warranty
CNET Exclusive Offer
Helix Plus
Best firm mattress for heavy sleepers
Our take - Sleepers who weigh more and deal with back pain should look for an extra supportive and durable mattress, and Helix Plus checks those boxes. With a thick hybrid construction, medium-firm profile and extra large pocketed coils that can support up to 1,000 pounds, it's a solid pick that won't cost an arm and a leg.
Looking for a new mattress? With this CNET-exclusive deal, you can take 27% off Helix sitewide and get two free pillows with any mattress purchase. This is the biggest discount available -- you won’t find it anywhere else. Use code CNET27
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8.3 /10
SCORE
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Firmness
Medium firm: (7)
Warranty
15-year limited warranty
Helix Dawn mattress: The Helix Dawn bed is a very supportive hybrid mattress that's as firm as firm beds can get, similar to Plank. Rated around a 9 to 10 on the firmness scale, it could be a great firm mattress pick for stomach or back sleepers under 230 pounds who want maximum support at an affordable price. I also like its general foam feel; it's similar to the foam in your favorite comfy couch. It's more breathable and more responsive to pressure than memory foam.
GhostBed Flex Mattress: Rated a 6 to 7 out of 10 on the mattress firmness scale, the GhostBed is classified as a medium-firm mattress. It's made of a combination of latex-like memory foams that have a soft, springy feel, but also provide enough support so you don't feel like you're sinking into the mattress (and then waking up in pain). It also has two rows of reinforced coils around the edge of the bed that hold the layers up and contribute to excellent edge-to-edge firmness level support.
Read more: Best Mattress for Side Sleepers for 2024
Show more
The Mattress Smasher 9000 testing a bed.
Dillon Lopez/CNETAs sleep and bed experts, we test the firmness of a mattress in one of two ways. First, we use our own instincts and pay close attention to how firm a bed feels to us -- particularly in comparison to the hundreds of other mattresses we've tested. We analyze how the foam responds to our body, how far we sink into the bed and how supportive a bed feels in each sleeping position. If a bed presses firmly into our shoulders and hips while lying on our side, that's a good indicator that it's firm.
The second way we test firmness is with CNET's proprietary device and software, aptly dubbed the Mattress Smasher 9000. This instrument was developed in-house by our lab technicians to objectively measure a bed's firmness. It presses into the middle of the mattress and scores each bed on a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being the firmest and 1 being the softest.
Here are the Mattress Smasher 9000's objective firmness levels of the best firm mattresses, ranging from the softest at 4.9 to the firmest at 9.5.
Read more about how we test mattresses.
Sleeping position
Back and stomach sleepers are the types who usually sleep most comfortably on a firm mattress. Side sleepers typically like softer beds that offer pressure relief to the hips and shoulders. If you're a side sleeper, you may not want a firm bed.
Weight
The lighter you are, the firmer a mattress is going to feel. People under 150 pounds will likely perceive a medium-firm bed as firm. The opposite is true for heavier sleepers; the heavier you are, the softer a bed is going to feel. If a bed is rated around medium-firm and you weigh 245 pounds, it will likely feel closer to a medium instead. Keep this in mind when you're shopping for a bed so you choose the most suitable one.
Firmness type
All firm beds aren't made to be the same. Beds that are considered firm land between 6 and 10 on the firmness scale. Beds rated around 6 to 8 are considered among the medium-firm range, while 8 to 10 is firm territory. Medium-firm beds offer both pressure relief and support, while firm beds offer maximum support.
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The best firm mattress will depend on your personal preferences, body type and sleeping style. We found that some of the best firm mattresses that range from medium-firm to firm include:
- Saatva Classic
- Brooklyn Bedding Aurora Luxe
- Plank
- Avocado Green
- Nectar
- Purple Rejuvenate
- WinkBed
- Dreamfoam Doze
- Helix Plus
It primarily depends on your favorite sleeping position. If you're a back or stomach sleeper, a firm mattress does a great job of keeping your neck and spine in proper alignment.
If you sleep on your back or stomach, a firm mattress can keep your spine and neck in a straight alignment to prevent you from sagging into the bed and experiencing back pain. If you're a side sleeper, a firm mattress can push into your body and promote a curved spine.