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May 18, 2023

Best firm mattress 2023: solid support for better sleep

Stop that sinking feeling with the best firm mattresses – recommended by our sleep experts Decor Ideas. Project Inspiration. Expert Advice. Delivered to your inbox. Thank you for signing up to Homes &

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

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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 four firm mattresses worth investing in – all of which feature in our best mattress guide. Your back will thank you later.

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.

Our expert review:

Why you should buy itTaking the number one stop in our best mattress guide too, the Saatva classic is the most comfortable and supportive firm mattress on test. It's a hybrid so it offers the perfect balance between cushioning your joints and supporting spinal alignment.

Why we love itThis mattress comes in three firmnesses: Plush Soft, Luxury Firm, and Firm. We tested the Luxury Firm and found it suits side, front, and back sleepers. This medium option is more towards the firmer side – the firm being even better for those needing a hard sleep surface. Our tester Jaclyn loved it for its unbelievable pressure relief, so you'll barely notice pain if you turn over in the night, as well as near-perfect edge support motion isolation.

Good to knowIt's impossible to avoid the price of this mattress - it's pretty expensive. We also aren't fans of the $99 return fee if you don't like the mattress and the relatively short 1-year warranty.

Jaclyn's Saatva Classic Mattress review goes into more detail.

Our expert review:

Why you should buy itThis Nectar mattress is proven to help tackle back pain thanks to its firm, but cushioning surface.

Why we love itMemory foam is not usually the material of choice for a firm mattress, but if you suffer from back pain, this is the firm mattress you're going to be grateful for. Its' our best choice for back pain, as our reviewer Casey found it alleviated some pain of her fibromyalgia. While you should be very careful not to rely on buying a mattress for back pain (and more on that below), there's plenty of anecdotal evidence that it's helped some people relieve their discomfort.

Good to knowThis mattress has some of the infamous off-gassing odor that comes with memory foam mattresses, but it faded after a couple of days. You may also notice over time your body forms impressions – especially if you stay in one place at night.

Casey's Nectar Memory foam mattress review goes into more detail.

Our expert review:

Why you should buy itLatex mattresses are known to be bouncy. This Avocado one may be firm, but its spongey layer offers both comfort and support.

Why we love itLatex is one of the best materials for a firm mattress. The top latex layer is comfortable but doesn't yield much. This means that this mattress is on the firm side of medium, so it's an excellent option if you want back support or like to sleep on your stomach. Our tester found it gently molds to your body without the sinking sensation, you get with plush beds. Not only is latex supportive, but this natural material harvested from trees is also a particularly good choice for those with allergies. This mattress is free of chemical adhesives and has a GOTS-certified cotton and wool cover which is a natural fire-retardant.

Good to knowThis sort of quality will cost you - queen beds start at $1999.

Antonia's Avocado Green Mattress review covers all the detail.

Our expert review:

Why you should buy itIf you want the feel of memory foam but need firmer support.

Why we love itConsidering this is a bed-in-the-box option, our tester was impressed by its soft but supportive layers that cradled her joints without feeling as though she was sleeping in the mattress like most memory foam options. Chiana often woke up with joint pain, and the Emma mattress relieved all issues after a few weeks. At an affordable price, this is a great value firm memory foam mattress.

Good to knowThere's no ignoring the fact that memory foam mattresses sleep hot. Compared to other firm mattresses on this list, it's one to avoid if you're an especially sweaty sleeper.

Chiana's full Emma Original Mattress review has all the detail.

Homes & Gardens' mattress review process is editorially independent and not influenced by any third parties. Our reviews are based on the real-life experience of using these products at home and testers sleep on each featured mattress for at least four weeks. We usually hold on to samples for longer so we can assess how they hold up to wear and tear and different seasonal conditions.

The best firm mattresses on this list have been selected from the many mattress reviews conducted by our specialist reviews team. They have to have a firmness rating of medium-firm and above and adhere to claims of comfort, joint support and back pain relief that most are looking for in a firm mattress. We put various tests in place and ask testers to be transparent about their sleep styles and habits.

For more insight into our hands-on review process, refer to our how we test review guidelines. Meet our mattress testers:

Our former sleep ecommerce editor, Jaclyn frequently tests out and stays up to date on all things mattresses and bedding. She's not willing to sacrifice comfort or value and is after a mattress that makes it easy to sleep through the night. In addition to Homes & Gardens, you can find her work in Real Homes, Livingetc, Apartment Therapy, MyDomaine, and The Spruce. She lives in Atlanta, GA.

Antonia has worked in media and publishing for over a decade at brands like The New York Times, People, Entertainment Weekly, and Page Six. She now works on the Audience Development team here at Future.

Casey Clark is a freelance writer who covers beauty and style. She has been a writer for nearly three years and has been featured in Tom's Guide, Real Simple, Taste of Home, Forbes, and Insider. She graduated from Hofstra University magna cum laude with a journalism degree and minors in public relations and creative writing.

Chiana is our Junior Writer, and spends most of her time producing content for the Solved section of the website. She helps readers get the most out of their homes through clever decluttering, cleaning, and tidying tips. She reviewed the Emma Original mattress for this guide.

When it comes to choosing the right mattress for you, there are a three things to consider if you're wanting the best firmness bed:

Yes, but our usual qualification applies. If you suffer from back pain, speak to a doctor. Back pain can be caused by many different conditions and should always be discussed with a medical professional first.

There's no guarantee that a new mattress will solve back pain. You could spend thousands of dollars on a mattress to relieve your back only to find that your new, expensive bed does nothing for your discomfort. With that said, I've personally found that if I'm sleeping on a mattress softer than my own - if I'm in a hotel, or visiting family - then it can exacerbate back pain. Exacerbate is the keyword. Unless you're sleeping on a broken mattress, no mattress can cause back pain, but a soft mattress can make bad pain worse.

All of this means that a firm mattress can help back pain, but it won't remove it. Manual labor, the wrong office chair, incorrect form in the gym, or just random back luck can cause back pain. A firm mattress is a great help, but don't expect any miracles.

Absolutely. As a side-sleeper, I like firmness to help with spinal alignment. If the mattress was too soft, I run the risk of sinking, which causes my knees to overlap, putting me out of form. Though it's important to find what feels comfortable for you. Almost all mattresses will suit side sleepers, but additional needs like back pain or joint ache may mean a firm or soft mattress suits you better.

There is no one-size-fits-all answer here, but it tends to be the case that heavier people benefit from a firmer mattress. Soft mattresses compress more than firm ones, so if you weigh more than average, you might find that a soft mattress sags and becomes lumpy. It's a good idea to check the weight limits on any mattress you buy.

For example, the Nectar mattress featured above is rated for up to 650lbs, so if you're single, it will work, but might not if both you and your partner are heavier than average. We haven't tested it yet, but Saatva's Luxury Hybrid HD is a version of the mattress featured above that's specifically designed for heavier couples.

If your current mattress is in good condition but isn't supporting your needs, then it might be worth getting a mattress topper to make your mattress firmer instead. More affordable than buying a brand new bed, adding a topper will save you money and help protect your back for better sleep.

Decor Ideas. Project Inspiration. Expert Advice. Delivered to your inbox.

Louise is your eCommerce Editor and sleep specialist to help you wind down well. A connoisseur of the mattress world, Louise previously covered sleep and wellness (as well as the occasional organizational buy) at Real Homes, and has tried, tested, and reviewed some of the buys for your bedroom. With an MA in International Journalism and PR experience, Louise brings bags of bedding expertise and enjoys nothing more than helping readers find solutions and products that best suit their sleep needs.

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