The Best Firm Mattresses of 2024

Who it’s best for: This mattress has consistently tested exceptionally well for temperature control in our lab and field tests. This is one of our highest rated beds for sleeper over 230 pounds. It’s also a perfect fit for back and stomach sleepers above 130 pounds due to its firm and extra firm construction.

Feel: This is a float-on-top bed, which should suit all firm mattress lovers. The Plank Firm Luxe is aptly named and has a very firm feel. The flippable design lets you choose your firmness, but both sides are equally supportive and ultra responsive.

What it’s made of: The Plank Firm Luxe is a flippable hybrid, meaning the bed sandwiches pocket coils in-between layers of high-density foam. They offer an optional cooling cover for $75.

What we don’t like: There is very little pressure relief to speak of, so side sleepers should be wary unless you’re a bigger bodied person. The added firm feel means this bed performs poorly at dampening your partner’s movement.

Why choose the Plank Firm Luxe: This bed has one of the firmest, most supportive surfaces we’ve ever tested. It’s very well-suited to folks weighing over 230 pounds – particularly back and stomach sleepers.

Who it’s best for: This bed is an ideal fit for back and stomach sleepers in middle to larger weight categories, so from 130 lbs and up. For anyone above 200 lbs, the Firmer WinkBed works really well as a side sleeping mattress.

Feel: One of our testers compared the firm version of the WinkBed to the feeling of “lying on a sandy beach.” What he meant by that is the bed has this initial cushioning that absorbs your body pressure, but you’re met immediately with supportive resistance. It’s a combination that pairs perfectly for folks with back pain.

What it’s made of: The Firmer WinkBed has a euro-style pillow top, which means a layer of foam is sewn into the cover to provide padding. Underneath is a layer of transitional foam on top of a pocketed coil support system.

What we don’t like: We like this bed for heavier side sleepers, but if you’re under 130 pounds, the firm feel is going to be too much. Our team noticed more pressure build up in the shoulders when on their sides as compared to the Helix Twilight, so it’s worth considering a side sleeping specific firm bed.

Why choose the Firmer WinkBed: Sleeping this close to the coil system means you’ll get rigid yet reflexive support. It’s why we like this mattress for back pain. It’s also a cool sleeper, if you struggle with getting hot in the night, this bed is a strong antidote.

Who it’s best for: If you’re a side sleeper who is larger (above 180 lbs) or otherwise wants or needs a firm mattress, the Helix Twilight is your best option. We really like this bed for it’s float-on, low-sinkage feel, but also for its exceptionally cool feel.

Feel: There’s contouring here, but it’s not a bed you fall into, and with the bounce and responsiveness, the Twilight is a surface that pushes back instead of absorbing your weight.

What it’s made of: As a hybrid mattress, the Twilght sits memory foam and transitional polyfoam on top of a sturdy base of pocketed coils wrapped in a breathable polyester cover.

What we don’t like: This bed doesn’t hold up for lighter weight folks, who tend to need a softer surface that better conforms to lesser force. The responsive nature means you’ll feeling some shifting of your partner as they move about the bed.

Why choose the Helix Twilight: For firm mattress needing side sleepers, it can be especially challenging to find a bed that fits in that intersection. The Twilight has the right profile for it, and when our team took this home for trial runs, it was a clear winner for side sleepers among the firm beds we’ve tested.

Who it’s best for: As the firmest of all our firm bed recommendations, the all-foam version of the Plank is where we tell exclusive stomach sleepers to look. It’s also the bed we rate best for heavyweight back sleepers, and frankly anyone who needs their bed to feel like you’re sleeping on the ground.

Feel: The firm side of the bed has slight give, so you’ll get a smidge more sink compared to the extra firm side, where there’s almost no compression under your weight. The edge is also super strong and stable, and we found very little heat buildup.

What it’s made of: A flippable all-foam model, this mattress is made with a layer of TitanFlex under the cover on the firm side, a high density base foam, and a quilted foam cover. It’s a self-described tatami mat lookalike.

What we don’t like: The Plank Firm boils down to one of those incredibly subjective mattresses, where you’ll either love it or hate it, and there’s no in between. It’s a no-frills, ultra firm mattress, so there’s no universal appeal. We DO NOT like this bed for lighter and medium weight folks unless they specifically want that extra hard feel.

Why choose the Plank Firm: Anyone struggling to find adequate support or needs a bed that doesn’t hammock over time should check out the Plank Firm. Optimal for bigger bodied individuals who need a bed that doesn’t break down underneath them.

Who it’s best for: With three different firmness options, the Saatva is able to accommodate sleepers of practically any position or weight, but the firm version is best suited to heavier sleepers and stomach sleepers. The bed’s innerspring design is also exceptionally cool, so this is a great choice if you tend to sleep hot at night.

Feel: The bed has a thin, plush surface feel, followed by a firm comfort system. It’s quite bouncy and responsive, which makes it easy to move around on.

What it’s made of: Topped with a euro-top on the surface, followed by a thin memory foam layer, a layer of microcoils, and then a support core of larger hourglass coils.

What we don’t like: With a starting price of nearly $120, the Saatva isn’t an ideal option for those on a budget.

Why choose the Saatva Classic: The Saatva Classic is one of the most supportive and coolest mattresses on the market. If you like the innerspring feel and have the budget, go with the Saatva.

Who it’s best for: The firm Signature Hybrid hits that sweet spot of contouring and support for side and back sleepers over 230 pounds. People who run hot in bed should also enjoy this breathable hybrid design.

Feel: The foam layers offer some cradling, but this mattress feels quite firm and supportive compared to other hybrids we’ve tested. Upgrading with the cooling pillow-top adds a bit more softness to the surface.

What it’s made of: Two polyfoam layers make up the Signature Hybrid’s comfort system. You can add a third form layer for an extra fee. The support core contains pocketed coils and high-density base foam.

What we don’t like: The Signature Hybrid – Firm lacks the gentle cushioning of softer models and won’t be ideal for most people who weigh under 130 pounds. There’s also some noticeable off-gassing odor for the first few nights.

Why choose the Brooklyn Bedding Signature Hybrid – Firm:If you’ve found other foam hybrids too soft and need robust support for your lower back, the Signature Hybrid – Firm should be a solid match.

Who it’s best for: The Helix Dawn is quite firm, being a step up from the Helix Twilight listed earlier on this list. While many firm beds struggle to isolate motion, we found the foam layers on this bed to limit disturbances across the surface pretty well. So couples consisting of heavier sleepers, or perhaps stomach sleepers, will find this bed appealing.

Feel: The firm foam surface conforms slightly to the body, but the bed is fairly bouncy and responsive overall.

What it’s made of: The Helix Dawn is a hybrid containing surface layers of polyfoam with coils in the support core.

What we don’t like: For side sleepers—Unless you’re over 230 pounds or so, the pressure on your shoulders will likely make this bed uncomfortable.

Why choose the Helix Dawn: The Helix Dawn is firm, affordable, and good for couples. I you and your partner are a bit heavier or like to sleep on your stomachs, this is a great option.

Who it’s best for: Firmer beds inherently provide less pressure relief than softer ones, but the Nolah’s thick foam surface layers conform close to the body and without sacrificing the bed’s firm support. We recommend this bed for people with pain issues who prefer a firmer mattress.

Feel: The foam on the surface of this bed is dense and responsive, conforming a bit to your body but providing a sturdy base that prevents midsection sinkage.

What it’s made of: On the top is an airy foam euro-top, then thick polyfoam comfort layers and a coil support core.

What we don’t like: With a starting price of over $1000, the Evolution is definitely edging towards luxury territory.

Why choose the Nolah Evolution 15: This bed is a great best-of both worlds option for those looking for both firmness and pressure relief. If you struggle with pain issues, and you’re the type of sleeper who requires a firmer bed, this is the mattress for you.

Who it’s best for: Practically all the beds on this list are good for stomach sleepers, but the Bear Elite Hybrid is unique in that it tested equally well for both back and stomach sleepers. We recommend the firm iteration of this bed to people who sleep in those positions, particularly a combination of both.

Feel: The foam on the surface conforms to the body a bit, but the layers on the firm version are thinner and firmer. You can feel the transitional foam layer under the comfort layers, which are zoned to support your midsection.

What it’s made of: The surface layers consist of memory foam and polyfoam, while the support core contains coils. There’s also the optional celliant cover, which reduces heat retention and is said to promote muscle recovery.

What we don’t like: This bed is around 14 inches thick, and might require deep pocket sheets.

Why choose the Bear Elite Hybrid: This mattress is incredibly well-rounded. It’s firm and supportive, reliefs pressure, and works well for sleepers of multiple positions.

Who it’s best for: This bed is ideal for the heavy sleeper on a budget. It’s quite firm, relatively high quality, and with a starting price of less than $600, is one of the more affordable options for its niche.

Feel: Really just a no-frills firm hybrid. This bed is designed to support the mid-section of heavier sleepers, and that’s what it does. If firm is your thing, you’ll find it comfy.

What it’s made of: A thin memory foam comfort layer, transitional polyfoam, with a pocketed coil support core.

What we don’t like: If you’re under 230 pounds and/or sleep on your side, this bed is probably too firm for you.

Why choose the Titan Plus: Choose with bed if you’re heavy, need support, and want good quality at an affordable price.