Best Firm Mattress You Can Buy For Yourself in 2024

The Amerisleep AS2 medium-firm mattress is made to facilitate healthy spinal alignment. Verywell Health even calls it the best mattress for back pain. If you’re a back or stomach sleeper, the AS2 is perfect for you.

While a firmer bed, the Amerisleep AS2 features a plush and breathable cover crafted from a unique fiber blend that shares qualities with Celliant, which a material known for its exceptional energy transfer properties.

Here is what some of the thousands of reviews said about the Amerisleep AS3 firmness. While most are satisfied, some say the firmness doesn’t last:

Me: My husband & I have both had surgeries – him – his hip – me MAJOR back surgery & these mattresses are so incredibly comfortable and give great support without being too firm — no pressure points anywhere – just the right amount of softness — they’re great!

Shan: Place where we regularly sleep on the mattress sides have basically collapsed without any firmness/support. Middle of bed still very firm. Loved the bed when we first got it, but now buying a different bed 8 months later.

Marcos: I’ve had memory foam and standard mattresses previously, this is one of the best mattresses I’ve used. At 65, I need a firm mattress that doesn’t get out of shape.

Let’s talk about Bio-Pur®. In the AS2, this material is 2 inches thick, which is just the right amount to contour to the sleeper while still bouncing back quickly to provide consistent support. Bio-Pur® is a plant-based, open-cell foam, so it’s cool, bouncy, and breathable.

Traditional memory foam beds sink down too far and leave the user feeling trapped, but not Bio-Pur®. Thanks to the replacement of some petrochemicals with castor oil during manufacturing, Bio-Pur® is more breathable and responsive than other foams. Sleeping on Bio-Pur® has helped Amerisleep customers with their night sweats and bodily aches, leaving them looking forward to laying back in bed all day long.

Next is the Affinity layer with HIVE® technology. This transition layer has hexagon-shaped cutouts grouped closely together where you need firm support, and spaced farther apart where you need cushioning. Essentially, the HIVE® technology delivers targeted spinal support and contouring to prevent pressure build-up and pain. The cutouts in the foam also increase airflow through the mattress.

Finally, a 7-inch thick Bio-Core® layer in the base works to keep the wear of the upper layers even. In other words, because of the Bio-Core®, the AS2 develops little, if any sags, and is the reason behind Amerisleep’s generous 20-year warranty.

The AS2 ships free, comes with free returns, and a 100-night sleep trial. And again, the AS2 comes with a 20-year warranty covering sags and defects.

The Saatva Classic provides all the comforts you’d expect out of an innerspring mattress. It bounces just like an innerspring mattress. And it’s highly breathable all the way through, just like an innerspring mattress. So those who have gotten used to the innerspring feel don’t have to worry about losing it if they purchase the Classic.

On the other hand, you also don’t have to worry about all the problems inherent to innerspring beds when you sleep on the Classic. The adaptable pocketed coil support layer makes the Classic much more contouring than a regular innerspring mattress. It also increases the motion isolating capabilities of the bed.

People who bought the Saatva looking for a firm mattress love it. See some reviews for yourself:

Amanda: I love my new mattress – it’s the perfect amount of firm. Came super quickly and easy delivery process.

Christy: You will not regret purchasing the Classic Medium/Firm mattress. I bought it for our new guest room and during the summer, when the master bedroom would get too hot, I slept on it instead. Wow. What a difference.

LTibbets: I loooove my new mattress! I did a lot of research and it took me a while, but I’m absolutely delighted with my purchase of the Queen Size Saatva Classic Luxury Firm mattress and foundation. 

The Saatva Classic starts out with a three-inch contouring Euro top. This layer offers pressure relief and comfort to tired joints. It’s also wrapped in a hypoallergenic organic cotton cover treated with GuardinTM botanical antimicrobial treatment that prevents bacteria, mold, and other icky things from flourishing in your mattress. This is a boon for allergy sufferers everywhere.

Below the Euro-style pillow top, you’ll find the high-density memory foam layer. This layer increases pressure relief above and also helps the mattress transition from foam and fibers to steel coils.

The first support layer of the Classic sits right underneath the transition foam layer. These adaptable pocket coils add contoured support to the Classic to help keep your spine in optimal alignment. This is also the coil layer that helps neutralize motion transfer.

The coil layer that provides innerspring bounce and breathability is the open coil support core right below the pocketed coils. These ultra-strong coils are 13-gauge tempered steel, so you won’t have to worry about sagging for a long time.

These networked coils are also surrounded by a perimeter railing system made of high-density foam. That means the Classic mattress boasts superior edge support to go along with its dual support cores.

Lying down on the Evolution, the first thing you’ll notice is its superior contouring. The Evolution combines multiple layers of adaptable memory foam with an equally adaptable pocketed coil support core. That means this mattress can perfectly contour to your body to keep your spine in healthy alignment and cradle your pressure points.

This is also an incredibly cool mattress. It combines multiple cooling features that work together to both pull heat away from you and keep cool air flowing through the mattress. So no worries about overheating memory foam. This mattress can regulate its temperature!

Overall people love the Nolah Evolution 15 whwn choosing a firm mattress. However, it should be noted, you really need to select the right firmness when ordering:

Hannah M: An amazing mattress! Constructed with luxuriously well made materials that are breathable and incredibly comfortable. After almost one year of sleeping on this mattress, my husband and I are still talking about how much we love it. We both are combo sleepers and feel it’s the perfect balance between soft and firm.

Anonymous: We purchased the Nolah Evolution Hybrid 15 in Plush . We originally ordered the luxury firm version but switched to plush. Excellent customer service, quality Mattress and very comfortable for side sleeping.

Joel C: Random thoughts: 1) I love my mattress. 2) It is firmer than I thought it would be, but it turns out, this is the firmness I really wanted. 3) Dealing with the Nolah call center was excellent.

The Evolution starts off with the ArcticTexTM cooling cover and quilted cooling Euro top. These two features keep the surface of your bed cool to the touch and offer an amazingly plush feel no matter which firmness level you choose.

Next, comes the AirBreathTM heat escape gusset. This gusset ensures there is nothing impeding airflow underneath your body. That allows the mattress to wick away moisture and body heat from the time you go to sleep to the time you wake up.

The comfort layer of this mattress is cooling Nolah AirFoamICETM. This graphite-infused memory foam helps conduct heat down into the mattress. The graphite infusions also create a hostile environment for microbes that could infest your bed.

Between the coils and comfort layer, you’ll find two layers of high-resilience and high-density foam. These layers create buoyancy to keep you on top of the sleep surface.

Finally, the HDMaxTM pocketed coils provide 25 percent more support than traditional coils. They’re also arranged into three zones to ensure each zone of your body gets its ideal mix of support and comfort.

On the website, Brooklyn Bedding describes the Plank as a firm bed for sleepers who say a typical firm isn’t enough. (If you prefer some cushioning, or have pressure points, you’ll want to steer clear of the Plank.) Some people who will love the Plank include stomach sleepers, larger people, some back sleepers, and people who get hot at night.

We like this mattress because of its dual, flippable firmness. This means one side of the bed has one firmness, and the other side has another. With the Plank, one side is firm, and the other is extra-firm. Both sides have cooling technologies to prevent hot nights. Plus, both sides do feature a thin layer of quilting to provide a slight cushion.

Out of over 1400 reviews, the Plank scores a 4.8 out of 5 stars. Buyers talk about how sleeping on the Plank has improved their sleep and pain immensely. Plus, despite being so firm, the bed is still comfortable and doesn’t leave them feeling achy. The firmness also helps customers who share a bed, ensuring they won’t disturb their sleep partner when shifting or getting out of bed.

Here are some of those reviews:

Unis K: So far, it has met our expectations. I hope it stays the same and doesn’t sink. It is quite firm and very comfy. My husband and I love it. My back pain is gone.

Pulkit J: My parents started getting bad back pain

Cory L: Still deciding on the bed! It might be a little bit too firm even on the softer side. I will let you know when I lay on it more thank you.

As we mentioned, both sides of this mattress act as comfort layers. Each side is a quilted top layer, with the extra-firm side having a 0.75-inch thick quilted top, while the firm side is a 1.5-inch quilted top, followed by 2 inches of TitanFlex™ comfort foam. The core of the mattress is 7 inches of dense base foam.

Each side can also have an optional cooling panel sewn on to better regulate the surface temperature.

Customer reviews mention how much better they’ve slept since switching to the Bear, and how it’s greatly improved chronic pain they’ve dealt with. Some even saw improvements in their sleep and how they felt in the morning after their first night. Now wonder the word “comfortable” is the most recurring bit of praise in consumer reviews.

Don’t just take our word for it, though. We surveyed hundreds of people on what they thought about the Bear, here is what some had to say:

Shelby: I’ve always had a firm mattress, but due to bursitis in my hip and lower back pain, I could no longer tolerate the firmness. This mattress has been perfect. Minimal hip and back pain when I wake up now.

Jeff: I love the Bear; it sleeps cooler than any memory foam product I’ve ever had.

Steph: We like the mattress itself. They are a little soft for us but the biggest issue is the constant separating of the split king/two twins. They are too light and the base needs side bars to keep them in place.

The Bear Original is 10 inches tall and contains 1 inch of graphite gel memory foam, 2 inches of transitional poly-foam, and 7 inches of high-density base foam. The polyester mattress cover incorporates FDA-determined Celliant® technology.

The all-foam structure of the Bear Original provides excellent pressure relief and balanced support. Graphite-infused gel memory foam pulls heat away from the body to prevent overheating, while Celliant® technology transforms body heat into infrared light. Infrared light is then re-absorbed into the body as energy.

The medium-firm feel of the Bear Original is perfect for back sleepers. Layers of memory foam offer excellent support to the back, but they’re still soft enough to prevent the hips from sinking too deeply, keeping the spine in neutral alignment. Customers mention how impressed by how firm a mattress entirely made from foam can truly be.

The Titan is a medium-firm mattress with a lot of reinforcement, meaning it’s a great choice for heavier back and combo sleepers, but not so much for heavier stomach sleepers. If you want a mattress that can keep you lifted without failing to contour, the Titan might be the best option for you because it offers a good mix of pressure relief and lift.

With thousands of reviews, all of them on the official site are happy with the firmness:

Roger L: I’m not going to lie I thought this matress would not be good after I bought it, your page says what it is but it wrong this matress is very underrated I love it it’s great firm and strong as anything now I want to buy a very good pillow then I will be.set thanks for all your support

Nicole R: This mattress truly let us know how bad our old one was. We are a 230# & 140# couple and it is equally comfortable for both of us. We definitely rate it as “firm“, but our morning back/hip pains have been totally eradicated with this mattress! Unboxing & set up was was easy.

David T: I was concerned that the mattress would be too firm and cause shoulder pain while alleviating back pain. I am happy to report that this was not the case. I am sleeping well now and waking without the back pain I was living with before.

The Titan starts off with an optional GlacioTex cooling cover that helps maintain skin temperature at the ideal for sleep: 88 degrees. This cover works with the quilted top with gel-infused memory foam to draw heat away from your body and ensure your sleep surface never overheats.

Underneath these layers, a layer of patented TitanFlex™ foam delivers the ideal mix of buoyancy and cradling that heavier bodies need to maintain ideal spinal alignment. Then, a layer of Energex™ foam offers enhanced contouring and deeper compression for added pressure relief.

Underneath all these cooling and cradling layers, there sits a layer of up to 1,032 TITANCALIBER™ individually encased coils that offer reinforced support and superior motion isolation, making this a wonderful hybrid mattress for couples and heavier sleepers alike. And its 120-night sleep trial will make all sleepers happy!

The Dawn Luxe is a firm mattress, but that doesn’t mean it eliminates all pressure relief. In fact, the plush and cooling pillow top adds lots of cushioning back into the sleep surface that the firm feel takes away.

This can ensure your hip bones don’t press into the mattress and suffer pain as a result. For women, it also helps prevent the breasts from being squished by the combination of your body weight and the firm mattress exerting force.

Most people apprecieate the firmness of the Helix Dawn, with some wishing it was more firm. Here is what some had to say:

Mark W: Good, nice thick mattress. It is the firmest mattress I have ever slept on. It has a nice, almost pillow top feel on the very top 2 inches, then gives a good firm, no sag, feel. I sleep mostly on my stomach, and a lesser mattress let’s my back arch too far and I wake up in pain. I sleep better these days.

Paul D: Really bad unclear shipping times, waited way long for the matress itself. My particular one was listed as firm but its far too soft

Wilson L: Very satisfied with my Helix mattress, I has the firmness I’ve looking for at an affordable price.

The Dawn Luxe starts off by giving you the choice between two cooling covers. You can pick either breathable TENCEL or thermoconductive GlacioTex fabric that draws your body heat away from you.

Whichever cover you choose, it will sit on top of the premium cooling pillow top layer and the contouring Helix Dynamic Foam comfort layer. These layers work together to increase the contouring and pressure relief of the mattress without sacrificing the firm feel.

Next up, the high-density Memory Plus Foam reacts and contours to your body while offering tons of buoyancy to help fight sinkage and keep you on top of the sleep surface.

Underneath this layer, you’ll find a layer of high-grade polyfoam that provides ergonomic support and seamless progression to the zoned support core below.

Finally, the support layer offers over 1,000 individually wrapped coils that are zoned to offer you enhanced support in the middle of your body and better pressure relief for your shoulders and hips, which for stomach sleepers, translates into improved contouring for the chest and front of the pelvis.

At the moment, Avocado offers seven mattresses: the Avocado Green Mattress, Avocado Latex Mattress, Avocado Vegan Mattress, Avocado Vegan Latex Mattress, Organic Crib Mattress, Luxury Organic Crib Mattress, and Organic Luxury Plush Mattress. For vegan shoppers, the Avocado Green’s vegan alternative is the Avocado Vegan. The two beds are the same in every way, only the Avocado Vegan has a layer of organic cotton in place of the New Zealand wool.

The firmness of Dunlop latex provides a cool and responsive sleep surface. Pocketed coils with various gauges (thicknesses) are strategically placed in the base, creating a 5-zone support layer. Coils with higher gauge provide softer support to the shoulders and hips, while lower gauge coils provide firmer support to the head, back, and legs.

Customers can alter the firm feel of the Avocado mattress to a medium-firm feel. For an extra charge, customers can add a non-removable, 2-inch Dunlop latex pillow top. However, many customers noted how, even without the pillow top, the mattress is comfortable, helps their pain, and improves their sleep quality.

If a firm mattress is what you need, the pillowtop option might be for you. Here is what some of the customers have said:

Susan A: I love the support my new Avocado mattress gives me with just the right amount of firmness – no more hip pain, yeah! I’m sleeping like a baby.

Myron B: Firmness of the Green with pillowtop is exactly what I wanted.

Anne A: This is the second one I have had. After my husband passed the king was too big so I gave it to my son- they love it too! So I got the same regular one in queen and it is also the firmness I like.

The Avocado Green Mattress has latex instead of memory foam in the comfort layer. Dunlop latex is naturally derived from rubber tree sap. It mimics the same properties as memory foam, but it sleeps cooler and feels firmer than traditional memory foam. Dunlop latex doesn’t form as close to the body or trap heat, a feature you’ll love if you’re a hot sleeper. The firmer surface also gives you better back support. You’ll enjoy the cradling sensation in your hips.

The support layer contains individually wrapped recycled steel coils. These coils have different gauges to form a 5-zone support system. You’ll feel softness under your shoulders and hips, and firmness under your head, back, and legs. This support system gives targeted support and pressure relief, keeping your body evenly supported on the bed’s surface without sagging.

The Avocado Green Mattress is normally medium-firm, but if you want a slightly softer surface, you can add a 2-inch Dunlop latex pillow top for an additional fee. The pillow top softens the bed to a medium—still a great choice for back sleepers. However, beds softer than a medium may feel too soft for back sleeping and cause your body to sink too deep.

Beyond the feel of the different firmnesses, the Novosbed has a distinctly breathable feel. The memory foam cushions your curves to soothe pressure without causing you to sink into your mattress. 

It’s easy to switch positions and get in and out of bed without trouble. If you share a memory foam mattress with someone, the foam isolates motion so you don’t disrupt each other when getting up for a midnight snack. 

While overall reviews of the Novosbed are positive, many people actually feel it is too firm. Here is what some had to say:

Meranda R: Amazing for tempature control as that’s why we bought it. But wat more firm then we like.

Ken D: Medium mattress a bit firm, I’m hoping over time it softens.

Patricia W: We bought 2 twin beds – both firm mattresses, my husband loves his, I am finding it too firm.

It’s 11 inches thick and contains 2 inches of memory foam, 2 inches of transitional poly-foam, and 7 inches of high-density foam. The stretch-knit Tencel® cover is removable and machine-washable.

The Novosbed comes in three firmnesses: soft, medium, and firm. The firm variation is a good choice for back and stomach sleepers. The firm mattress contours to the body, but keeps weight evenly distributed for healthy spinal alignment.

Should the mattress feel too soft or too firm, Novosbed will send a complimentary Comfort+ layer, which acts like a mattress topper. Depending on which firmness you’re looking for, the Comfort+ layer will either be softer or firmer memory foam. Once it arrives, customers only need to unzip the mattress cover and place the Comfort+ layer on top of their mattress.

The Lull firm mattress offers a supportive and comfortable sleeping surface. Designed to provide a solid foundation with minimal sinkage, it garners praise for its ability to maintain proper back and spine alignment. This quality is particularly valued by individuals dealing with back issues or those who prefer a firmer sleeping experience. Despite its firmness, the mattress still offers effective pressure relief by evenly distributing body weight and reducing pressure points, which can alleviate discomfort and improve overall sleep quality.

One notable feature of the Lull firm mattress is its ability to promote a cooler sleeping environment. Firmer mattresses generally allow for better airflow around the body, preventing overheating during the night. However, it’s important to note that transitioning from a softer mattress to a firmer one might require an adjustment period. This is entirely normal as your body acclimates to the different level of support.

Ultimately, comfort is a highly personal preference, and what suits one person may not be ideal for another. It’s advisable to consider individual needs and preferences, especially if there are specific health concerns or preferences at play. If possible, testing the mattress in person or taking advantage of a trial period can help ensure that the Lull firm mattress aligns with your unique sleeping requirements.

Not many buyers of the Lull Mattress mention softness or firmness when giving their thoughts on this firm mattress, but those who do tend to be happy with it:

Elizabeth F: The firmness is great! I am beyond excited to go home every evening! Thank you Lull! I would definitely recommend this mattress to my family.

Bonnie W: I just had back surgery and I needed a firm mattress and this mattress is just what I needed. Also I couldn’t believe how fast shipping was. Thank you Lull.

Critsela O: I just love it!!! Very comfortable, it’s firm but soft at the same time. I can sleep better and deep without wake up in the middle of the night.

The Original Lull Mattress is 10 inches tall and contains 1.5 inches of gel-infused memory foam, 1.5 inches of transitional foam, and 7 inches of high-density poly-foam. The cover is made of a polyester rayon blend.

By conforming to the body, gel memory foam not only relieves pressure points but also pulls heat away and evenly disperses it. The transitional foam layer evenly supports the body, while high-density poly-foam prevents sagging. Novosbed users describe the bed as being stiff and supportive, yet still soft so there’s no pressure build-up. It doesn’t cause sleepers to feel stuck in bed or notice when their sleep partner is moving throughout the night.

The medium-firm sleep surface of the Lull mattress is an excellent option for lightweight sleepers and back sleepers. Lightweight sleepers need a sleep surface that will support their weight but also slightly conform to the body to reduce pressure. Back sleepers need a sleep surface to support their back and cradle the hips to maintain neutral spine alignment—the Lull mattress does both.