The best firm mattress 2024: sturdy, reliable support

If you're in search of the best firm mattress, we can help you find it. Many of the options in our best mattress guide are classed as medium-firm, which is probably as firm as a lot of sleepers care to go, but there are some who'll benefit from a seriously firm bed. Back and stomach sleepers in particular will need a firmer mattress that keeps their hips from sinking too deeply into the bed and reducing spinal support, while anyone of a bigger and taller build will appreciate the extra support a firm mattress provides.

A firm mattress is usually an excellent choice for anyone who needs the best mattress for back pain because, as a rule, a firmer bed can help keep your spine properly aligned. And for some, of course, a firm mattress is simply a personal preference; if you've grown up used to a firm bed you'll probably want to carry on sleeping on one in adult life.

We rate mattresses on a scale of 1-10. A score of 8 or above is classed as firm, while a 7 or 7.5 is medium-firm and and a 5-6.5 would be medium. Our reviewers base their scores on a sinkage test (measuring how far a kettlebell sinks into the center of the mattress) as well as their real-world experience of sleeping on it. 

While we strive to be as objective as possible in these scores, firmness is a very subjective thing. Your opinion of 'firm' might be very different someone else's. All of our firm mattress picks include sleep trials, so you can test them out for yourself to see if they match what you were expecting, and suit the way you sleep. And bear in mind that you shouldn't have to pay the MSRP, as mattress deals can be found throughout the year. All clear? Let's take a look at the best firm mattresses you can buy right now.

The quick list

 The best firm mattress 2024 – as chosen by experts 

The best firm mattress overall

The best firm mattress we've tested is the Awara Natural Hybrid mattress. It's marketed as a 7 out of 10 in terms of firmness, but our review panel collectively agreed it was an 8, and found it delivered just enough pressure relief while remaining sturdily supportive, right up to the edges.

Being a natural mattress, the Awara swaps synthetic foam for latex foam. It's bouncy, responsive, and some of our testers felt like they were floating on it. We found the Awara delivered gentle cradling without significant sinkage, which is ideal if you want a firm mattress without feeling like you're lying on a brick. It proved comfortable in all sleep positions, including side sleeping. That's unusual – most of the best mattresses for side sleepers tend to be softer, to allow the hip and shoulder to sink in.

The responsiveness of the surface makes it easy to change position on the Awara (a common benefit of firm mattresses), but because it's so bouncy, it does have higher-than-average levels of motion transfer. If you share a bed, you might be disturbed by a partner changing position or getting up.

Latex tends not to trap heat like synthetic foams can, and here it's paired with a cotton and wool cover, both of which are naturally breathable materials. As a result, the temperature regulation here is good. 

Natural latex mattresses tend to command a higher price, but the Awara is impressively affordable, and great value for money in the mid-range price bracket. Latex is known for being one of the most durable bed materials, so you can expect this mattress to last, but to reassure you there's also a forever warranty. A generous 365 night trial rounds out this impressive offering. 

• Read more: Awara Natural Hybrid mattress review

The best premium firm mattress

If you're happy to invest a bit more in a luxurious firm mattress, you can't do better than the Saatva Classic. It's available in three firmness options, but we're focusing on the Firm here, which we tested for our review, and which is around an 8 out of 10 in terms of firmness. We found it delivered sturdy, yet comfortable, support. 

This mattress is mostly made of coils, which means it has a traditional feel. A quilted pillow-top provides some comfortable cushioning, but this is a mattress you lie on top of rather than sinking into. Our testers found it comfortable in all positions, including side sleeping (although some lighter weight side sleepers may prefer the luxury firm option, rated 5-7 out of 10). 

Coils offer lots of breathability, and this mattress regulates temperature very well. It'll work just fine for hot sleepers. However, the extra bounce does mean you might experience a little motion transfer. Our reviewer didn't have any issues on this front, but other customers have reported being disturbed by a partner's movements. 

If you're seeking a firm mattress due to back pain, this is a good choice – there's extra support built into the central third, beneath the lumbar region. However, our top pick in that area is another Saatva – the Loom & Leaf at #4.

Saatva is a premium bed brand, and it's worth the investment (although do keep an eye out for a Saatva sale or deal to take the price down). The build quality is impeccable and the look and feel is decidedly luxurious, too. As well as the three firmness options, you can also choose from two different heights. There's also the most comprehensive package of extras you'll find anywhere – free white glove delivery (including setup and free old mattress removal if required), plus a full year's trial and lifetime warranty.

• Read more: Saatva Classic mattress review 

The best budget firm mattress

If you're on a tighter budget, check out the wallet-friendly Siena Memory Foam mattress. We rate it as the best cheap mattress, and it punches well above its price tag in terms of quality. Officially, it's marketed as a 6.5, which we'd class as 'medium' in feel, but in our tests, our experienced reviewers found it far, far firmer than that. Collectively, they judged it to be around a 9 out of 10 – the firmest option on this list.That sturdiness extends right up to the edges, which can be a point of weakness for all-foam mattresses like this one.

There's not much by way of contouring, as you'd expect from such a firm feel. Those seeking a bit of extra pressure relief much be better off looking elsewhere. However, it scored highly on motion isolation – which means bed-sharers shouldn't be disturbed by their partner's movements – as well as temperature regulation.

The design is simple but effective: 10 inches, made up for three different foam layers. The quality was much higher than we expected for the budget price; perhaps unsurprising given it's from the same parent brand as Nectar (our #1 best memory foam mattress). 

• Read more: Siena Memory Foam Mattress review

The best firm mattress for back pain

The Loom & Leaf is the best firm mattress for back pain. This 12-inch tall mattress layers up different types of foams, including some super-dense, premium 5lb foam, and topped with a tufted cover made from breathable organic cotton. It's available in two different firmness profiles. Our reviewer tested the softer of the two – the 'Relaxed Firm', which is officially between 5 and 7 on the firmness scale, but we judged to be 7 – and found it led to a noticeable improvement in her ongoing back pain. 

However, this is best firm mattress guide, so you're probably interested in the 'Firm' option, rated 8 out of 10. It has the same design but promises a more responsive surface, which is easier to shift position on. Saatva says it's a 'true firm' but 'never hard on the back or joints'. There's also extra support in the central third, to target the lumbar region. 

The Loom & Leaf is the second Saatva mattress in this roundup, and boasts the same impeccable build quality and generous extras, including free white glove delivery, so you won't have to lift a finger. It also sits in the premium price bracket, but we think it's well worth the investment. 

While the Classic (#2) is mainly coil-based, the Loom & Leaf is entirely foam. Expect a gentle contouring feel with excellent pressure relief and motion isolation (great news if you share a bed). However, our tester found it could trap heat on occasion, so if you run hot at night, you'd be better off with the more breathable Classic.

The best firm mattress for bigger bodies

How you experience a mattress will be affected by your body weight – mattresses tend to feel firmer to lighter people and softer to heavier people. The WinkBed Plus is specifically designed to provide unwavering support to sleepers weighing 250lbs or more, and we rate it the best mattress for heavy people. 

The 13.5-inch tall design includes layers of durable latex, foam, and coils. Latex (which also features in our #1 pick, the Awara) is known for being one of the most durable mattress materials, and is often described as creating a weightless, floating feeling, rather than the sink-in feel of synthetic memory foam. The coils here are banded together to boost support and also durability. 

The whole thing is zoned to provide extra pressure relief or sturdiness exactly where it's needed, and customers describe it as firm but still comfortable. It's marked as an 8 out of 10 on the firmness scale, but WinkBeds does note that it might not feel like that. In fact, it says that 8 score is based on individuals under 200lbs, whereas those weighing 300lbs or more, might experience it as more of a 6.5 (which is medium based on our definitions). If you're not plus size, this mattress might still be a good choice, but for that premium price you have plenty of other options.

The best medium-firm mattress

If you've read through all your options here and decided that, actually, a firm mattress sounds a bit much, and you'd prefer something a tad softer, check out the DreamCloud. This hybrid mattress delivers excellent support and a sturdy surface, but with slightly plusher feel. Officially it's a 6.5 out of 10, but our reviewer judged it to be 7.5, which makes it a medium-firm mattress.

That level of firmness will suit most people and sleep styles – side sleepers, in particular, might prefer a medium-firm rather than a firm, because it allows their shoulder to sink in a little, preventing pressure from building up. 

The design includes individually wrapped coils, some foams for cushioning, and a surprisingly luxurious, cashmere-blend cover. We rate it as the best hybrid mattress around, because it's a really strong all-rounder, offering high levels of comfort and support as well as strong edge support, motion isolation and temperature regulation. The extras are also outstanding for the price (lower-mid or mid-range, depending on which DreamCloud deal you land on) – a full year's trial, plus forever warranty. 

• Read more: DreamCloud Hybrid Mattress review 

Best firm mattress: expert buying advice

If you sleep mainly on your back or front, the chances are you will need a firmer mattress to keep your spine aligned and comfortable. 

If a mattress has a firmness level of 6 to 7 out of 10 this is considered to be ‘medium firm’ while anything higher than this will be ‘firm’. If you are a combination sleeper who also sleeps on the side of the body, or you are of average weight or petite body size, then a medium-firm should be suitable. If you are taller or heavier in weight, then you may need the extra support a harder mattress offers, so look out for 7 or even 8 in firmness.

Latex foam tends to be the firmest mattress material, while hybrid options will also offer enough support. Spring mattresses can also be a good option if you are on a budget, but the feel of these might not suit everybody.

When looking for the best firm mattresses you should also consider any extra features that you might need such as cooling, eco-friendly materials or a plush layer – whatever you need to help you sleep.