The 10 Best Firm Mattresses in 2023

Best Overall Firm Mattress: Saatva Classic

BUY IT, $887 FOR A QUEEN (WAS $1,695)

Key Specs

• Mattress Type: Hybrid (foam and coils)
• Mattress Advisor Score: 9.3/10
• Firmness: Plush-soft (3/10), luxury-firm (6/10), and firm (8/10)

Why We Chose It

The Saatva Classic is a hybrid mattress with multiple firmness levels, which make it a good fit for different types of sleepers. Stomach and back sleepers who don't like the feeling of sinking into their mattress may prefer the firmest option. But for side sleepers who want a little more cushion, the luxury-firm model is a solid choice.

Pros & Cons

Pros: The Saatva Classic is a good choice for people living with back pain and those who need a cooler mattress. It comes with a 15-year warranty and an 180-night window for returns.

Cons: The Saatva Classic may not be the best choice for people on a budget or those who need a fast product delivery.

Overview

The Saatva Classic's high-quality construction includes a dual-coil innerspring system, an organic cotton cover, and a plush pillow top. The innerspring system in particular contributed to the bed's high Mattress Advisor scores in key areas like spine alignment (10/10), pressure relief (8.75/10), and responsiveness (8.5/10).

Unlike other online mattress brands, Saatva offers free white glove delivery, meaning your new mattress will be set up in your home and your old mattress removed at no extra cost.

From the Sleep Lab: "You really get that luxury experience when you lie on the Saatva. It feels like you're treating yourself. The luxury-firm model hits the sweet spot for balancing comfort and firmness."

Best Extra-Firm Mattress: Brooklyn Bedding Plank

BUY IT, $1,274 FOR A QUEEN

Key Specs

• Mattress Type: Memory foam
• Mattress Advisor Score: 9.1/10
• Firmness: Firm (7/10) and ultra-firm (9/10)

Why We Chose It

The Brooklyn Bedding Plank is designed with two levels of firmness, a 7 and an ultra-firm 9 score. You can flip the dual-sided mattress to choose the best level of firmness and pressure-point comfort.

Pros & Cons

Pros: The Brooklyn Bedding Plank gets high marks for keeping sleepers' spines in near-perfect alignment and for being responsive to motion.

Cons: People accustomed to all-foam mattresses may find the edge support more firm than they're used to. Both mattress sides may be too firm for side sleepers who require more pressure relief at their hips and shoulders.

Overview

The Brooklyn Bedding Plank mattress is best for back, stomach, and combination sleepers as well as couples. The high-density foam base provides sturdy support, and both levels of the flippable mattress provide adequate support to help distribute body weight evenly and prevent sleepers from sinking into the mattress.

The mattress comes with a 120-night trial and return period, and a 10-year warranty. It's easy to assemble and testers were able to set it up in less than two minutes.

From the Sleep Lab: "If you've ever gone so far as to sleep on the floor because you like firmness, you can get that feeling in a much more comfortable way with the Plank. The bed definitely lives up to its firm reputation, and the cooling panel is an excellent touch if you don't mind spending a little extra."

Best Firm Mattress for Back Pain: The WinkBed

BUY IT, $1,499 FOR A QUEEN (WAS $1,799)

Key Specs

• Mattress Type: Hybrid (foam and coils)
• Mattress Advisor Score: 8.6/10
• Firmness: Soft (4.5/10), luxury-firm (6.5/10), firm (7.5/10), and plus (8/10)

Why We Chose It

The WinkBed is available in four different firmness levels (soft, luxury-firm, firm, and plus), though the firm and plus are recommended for sleepers with back pain. It's a good option for back, stomach, and combination sleepers, those with back pain, and hot sleepers.

Pros & Cons

Pros: The mattress can accommodate a broad range of sleepers while offering the breathability of the innerspring layer.

Cons: The WinkBed only offers moderate motion isolation, meaning movement is easily transferred across the surface of the bed, which is not ideal for people who sleep with a partner.

Overview

Mattress Advisor testers who experience back pain enjoyed sleeping on the firm WinkBed. This hybrid mattress combines an innerspring coil system with a soft pillow top to deliver support and comfort. The bed excelled in the spine alignment test (8.75/10), which is important if you're trying to limit the amount of pressure placed on your lower back.

The mattress comes with a lifetime warranty, and the company offers a trial and return period of 120 nights.

From the Sleep Lab: "I like how you feel support and pressure relief in any position on this mattress. It also sleeps cool, which helps me stay comfortable as a hot sleeper."

Best Firm Mattress for Side Sleepers: Helix Dawn Luxe

BUY IT, $1,949 FOR A QUEEN

Key Specs

• Mattress Type: Hybrid (foam and coils)
• Mattress Advisor Score: 8.7/10
• Firmness: Firm (8.5/10)

Why We Chose It

The Helix Dawn Luxe combines a plush pillow top with a firm feel to provide a high level of support without skimping on comfort. The bed also comes with a breathable Tencel cover, which will help keep you cool during the night.

Pros & Cons

Pros: This is a good mattress option for people living with back pain and for sleepers who prefer a cooler mattress during the night.

Cons: It's a firm mattress, so the Helix Dawn may not be the best choice for side sleepers and those who prefer a softer mattress.

Overview

The breathable cover of the Helix Dawn promotes airflow, and its individually wrapped coils offer cushier support under the shoulders and firmer support under the hips. The plush pillow top creates a soft surface to sink into, though side sleepers need to be sure they're getting adequate pressure relief to avoid pain.

For the Helix Dawn, there's a 100-night trial period and a 15-year warranty.

Helix offers six beds in its standard lineup, providing options for all types of sleepers at a variety of firmness levels. The brand also created Luxe versions of each bed, which feature a pillow top and special lumbar support system that make these mattresses 2 inches taller than their standard counterparts.

From the Sleep Lab: "The big difference with the Helix Midnight and Helix Dawn is the type of foam. Firm mattress lovers should really feel and appreciate the firm difference the dense polyfoam makes in the Dawn."

Best Firm Luxury Mattress: DreamCloud

BUY IT, $999 FOR A QUEEN (WAS $1,598)

Key Specs

• Mattress Type: Hybrid (foam and coils)
• Mattress Advisor Score: 9.1/10
• Firmness: Medium-firm (6.5/10)

Why We Chose It

At less than $2,000 for a queen size, the DreamCloud is relatively affordable compared to other hybrid beds. The mattress is especially great for back sleepers who want medium-firm support.

Pros & Cons

Pros: The DreamCloud is a good choice for side, back, and stomach sleepers, sleepers with back or hip pain, and couples.

Cons: Heavier sleepers, typically weighing more than 230 pounds, may not find the DreamCloud to be the best option.

Overview

The DreamCloud is a hybrid mattress that features a luxurious cashmere blend cover and gel-infused memory foam. When testers sank into the surface, they commented on the excellent pressure relief it provided, awarding the bed an 8.75 out of 10 in the category.

The DreamCloud also features individually wrapped coils, which reviewers said kept their spines in a healthy alignment and added stability around the perimeter of the mattress. The bed earned a 9 out of 10 for both spine alignment and edge support. Looking for a tad more comfort? The brand offers an extra dose of coziness in its sister model, the DreamCloud Premier, which has a plush pillow top.

The company offers a full year (365 nights) for a trial period and a lifetime warranty.

From the Sleep Lab: "The cover of DreamCloud feels so soft and nice, I might never be bothered to sleep on top of sheets. But it's not so cozy and snug that you can't move—you get that nice propped-up feeling from the coils. The edge support is also robust enough that two people can easily sleep on a firm queen size without feeling at risk of rolling off the side."

Best Cooling Firm Mattress: GhostBed Classic

BUY IT, $977 FOR A QUEEN (WAS $1,395)

• Who It's Best For: Side, back, and combination sleepers, hot sleepers, and couples
• What Stands Out: The durable materials, like latex, its excellent cooling capabilities, and the robust warranty
• Mattress Type: Latex with foam
• Mattress Advisor Score: 8.6/10
• Firmness: Firm (7.5/10)
• Trial Period for Returns: 101 nights
• Warranty: 20 years

The GhostBed Classic is made of memory foam and breathable latex, which testers say helps combat night sweats. Latex is a natural temperature regulator, but it also responds to movement and works to keep the spine aligned and hips elevated. Plus, the GhostBed Classic comes with an ultra-breathable cover that wicks away moisture. All of these features earned the bed an 8.5 out of 10 in Mattress Advisor's cooling test.

Though the mattress provides plenty of support, it may be too firm for side sleepers who need extra cushioning around the hips and shoulders. Those sleepers might prefer the brand's newer model, the GhostBed 3D Matrix, over the original because of its slightly softer firmness level (it ranks as medium-firm on the firmness scale). Every mattress in GhostBed's lineup has a 20- to 25-year warranty—for comparison, most competitors offer 10- to 15-year warranties.

From the Sleep Lab: "Off the bat, you can tell the GhostBed feels more breathable than a typical memory foam mattress, plus it's cool to the touch. However, it still has that cushioning memory foam feel and nicely cradled my lower back."

Best Firm Hybrid Mattress: Awara

BUY IT, $1,199 FOR A QUEEN (WAS $1,898)

• Who It's Best For: Back, stomach, and combination sleepers, hot sleepers, sleepers with allergies, and couples
• What Stands Out: The sustainable materials, like natural latex and organic wool, the bed's excellent responsiveness, and its durable construction
• Mattress Type: Hybrid (latex and coils)
• Mattress Advisor Score: 8.8/10
• Firmness: Firm (7/10)
• Trial Period for Returns: 365 nights
• Warranty: Lifetime

Hybrid mattresses like the Awara combine materials for a unique sleep experience. In this case: innerspring coils that make switching positions seamless and a foam top layer that's incredibly comfortable. Awara differentiates itself from other hybrid mattresses by using natural Dunlop latex in its construction. A material known for its durability, this latex variety is a byproduct of tapping sap from rubber trees. Its bounce and contouring properties helped the mattress earn solid scores in both spine alignment (8.5/10) and responsiveness (8.25/10) from Mattress Advisor testers.

Although Awara will appeal to firm mattress aficionados thanks to its sturdy 7 out of 10 ranking on the firmness scale, the quilted cover of organic cotton and wool kept sleepers cozy during the night, according to testers.

From the Sleep Lab: "I didn't know latex was used in mattresses before I was a tester, and it quickly became one of my favorite materials. Everything from the nonexistent off-gassing to the increased breathability gives Awara a definite edge in the firm hybrid mattress category."

Best Firm Memory Foam Mattress: Puffy

BUY IT, $949 FOR A QUEEN (WAS $1,699)

• Who It's Best For: Back and side sleepers and those with back pain
• What Stands Out: Its huggable feel, excellent lumbar support, and robust warranty
• Mattress Type: Memory foam
• Mattress Advisor Score: 9/10
• Firmness: Firm (7/10)
• Trial Period for Returns: 101 nights
• Warranty: Lifetime

Love the huggable feel of memory foam but want something firmer so you don't feel stuck in your mattress? Puffy might be your new go-to, according to Mattress Advisor testers. Puffy is rated a 7 out of 10 on the firmness scale, so the mattress has a more supportive feel than most memory foam beds. However, firmer support doesn't mean less pressure relief in this case. The Puffy earned an 8 out of 10 in the Mattress Advisor pressure relief test. Testers who suffer from back pain noted that the bed's five-layer construction alleviated some of the strain they experience, so they awarded it an 8.75 out of 10 for spine alignment. Side, stomach, and back sleepers all reported that they maintained a healthy posture during the night.

Another benefit to Puffy: It comes with a lifetime warranty, so you know you're getting a durable product.

From the Sleep Lab: "Puffy is one of my favorite memory foam mattresses I've tested. You not only get that 'floating on air' feeling from the firmness of the mattress, but also plenty of pressure relief. For couples who want a firm mattress, the Puffy excels at mitigating motion transfer, which is why we scored it a 9.25 out of 10 [in that category]."

Best Firm Mattress for Couples: Layla Hybrid

BUY IT, $1,499 FOR A QUEEN (WAS $1,699)

• Who It's Best For: Side, back, and stomach sleepers, couples, and sleepers who want options
• What Stands Out: The flippable design, impressive motion isolation, and cooling features
• Mattress Type: Hybrid (foam and coils)
• Mattress Advisor Score: 8.7/10
• Firmness: Medium-soft (4/10) and medium-firm (7/10)
• Trial Period for Returns: 120 nights
• Warranty: 10 years

For couples with differing sleep styles and firmness preferences, the Layla Hybrid offers a savvy solution that's rare among online mattresses: a two-in-one design. This flippable bed is medium-soft on one side and medium-firm on the other. The medium-firm option—which is a 7 on the firmness scale—suits most sleepers by striking a nice balance between comfort and firm support. For side sleepers, the medium-soft option allows your hips and shoulders to sink slightly into the mattress, relieving tension along pressure points. No matter what position you and your partner sleep in, the Layla Hybrid has you covered.

The bed also excels at isolating movement, so you won't be disturbed if your partner gets up in the middle of the night to use the bathroom (the mattress's responsiveness makes it a great bed for sex, too). Plus, it functions as a cooling mattress, promoting breathability through a perforated polyfoam layer and innerspring coils.

From the Sleep Lab: "While the soft side is a little plush for me, it's unique to have a flippable hybrid. The medium-firm side hits that nice balance of support and comfort—something that people with back pain often look for."

Best Firm Mattress for Pressure Relief: Casper Wave Hybrid

BUY IT, $1,795 FOR A QUEEN (WAS $2,895)

• Who It's Best For: Side, back, and stomach sleepers, hot sleepers, and couples
• What Stands Out: Unique targeted support that provides a softer feel under the shoulders but a firmer feel under the hips, the responsive latex layer, and the universally appealing medium firmness level
• Mattress Type: Memory foam
• Mattress Advisor Score: 9.3/10
• Firmness: Medium (5/10)
• Trial Period for Returns: 100 nights
• Warranty: 10 years

The Casper Wave Hybrid uses a support system made of memory foam and nearly 90 gel pods to relieve pressure on the back. Mattress Advisor testers say the bed kept their spines in alignment throughout the night and distributed weight evenly to alleviate pressure points (overall, it earned an 8.5 out of 10 for pressure relief). Underneath the zoned support grid is a base of individually wrapped coils that provides even more stability. The mattress also includes natural latex, which is perforated to help disperse body heat.

The Casper Wave Hybrid is a comfortable mattress that works well for a variety of sleep positions thanks to its medium firmness level. However, due to the bed's higher price tag—$2,695 for a queen—it's not the best pick for budget shoppers.

From the Sleep Lab: "The responsiveness of the Casper Wave's latex makes moving around really easy and you don't feel stifled when switching positions. So, if you're a solo sleeper who switches positions often, even a firm twin-size mattress should feel like enough room as you adjust and move through the night."