Sleep Soundly on Our Favorite Firm Mattresses (2024)

Our Top Picks

We love Saatva’s Solaire Adjustable Firmness Mattress because even when adjusted for a softer feel, it is still more firm than most other mattress options. In testing, it provided us with excellent support, while the three-inch Euro pillow top still offered a feeling of plushness.

We didn’t experience any sort of sinking-in with this product; it’s a true firm mattress that developed no indentations after daily use.

We also love that Saatva offers free in-room delivery and setup, and with their professionals on hand it only took about ten minutes to inflate in our home.

Saatva also offers a lifetime warranty, a one-year trial, and free mattress removal. Just be aware: Despite Saatva’s excellent customer service, there is still a return fee should you decide it’s not the right fit for you.

_{Type: Memory foam, latex | Material: Memory foam, cotton | Firmness: 50 Adjustable settings | Thickness: 13 inches}

Nolah’s Evolution Mattress proves that a high-quality firm mattress can offer all of the benefits of more expensive options without the accompanying price tag.

This value-packed product is available in three firmness options (Plush, Luxury Firm, and Firm). We opted for the Luxury Firm option, which impressed us with excellent support that didn’t allow sinking in, all while feeling like we were being hugged as it conformed to our body shape through the night.

What we really loved about this firm mattress, though, was it only got better with time. After four weeks of consistent use, we found it continued to improve our sleep quality. This hybrid mattress provided support in the right places, a result of the foam cushioning up top and the structural heavy-duty coils underneath.

It also arrived in a box, which left us surprised at just how much quality could fit into such a small package. Lastly, Nolah’s lifetime warranty is a nice perk we appreciate for extra peace of mind.

Just be aware that at 15 inches thick, this is a taller mattress than others on our list. It may be too high with your existing bed frame, especially if you’re someone who struggles to get into a higher bed.

_{Type: Hybrid | Material: Foam, coils | Firmness: Luxury Firm | Thickness: 15 inches}

As soon as we slept on the Purple Mattress, we appreciated its support, comfort, and performance. We found this mattress has a very mild amount of give and softness, making it fit perfectly into the medium firm category.

That minimal softness is a byproduct of the 2-inch proprietary GelFlex Grid, a hyper elastic polymer that adapts to movement. We loved the excellent support of this mattress, a result of the durable base foam, which conformed without molding to our bodies.

We felt the Purple offered good spinal alignment, and after a month there were no visible indentations or signs of wear. In fact, the mattress looked good as new, a sign of solid durability. After that month, we also noticed our sleep quality continued to improve.

In our testing, this firm mattress worked well for back and side sleeping, but it proved to create some mild pain when we tried sleeping on our stomachs. Delivery was a breeze, as the mattress arrived with a simple 10-minute setup process, though it did take two full days to expand to size.

We also like that Purple provides a 100-night trial and a 10-year warranty, so you can quite literally rest assured (of its quality).

_{Type: Foam | Material: Polyethylene, polyurethane foam, viscose, polyester, lycra | Firmness: Medium Firm | Thickness: 9.25 inches}

Just be mindful it did take some adjusting for us to get used to the Mint before we fully reaped the benefits. When laying on it, we were able to feel the firmness and support, which left our spines feeling nicely aligned. Over the course of a month, we also found the foam proved to be resilient as well; even with consistent usage, there are no visible indentations or signs of wear.

Do be aware that while we felt supported, we didn’t find this mattress to offer much in the way of pressure relief, despite the brand’s claims that the T&N Adaptive Foam would provide it. Lastly, we found it to work well for back and stomach sleeping, but it felt too firm for us in the side sleeping position.

_{Type: Foam | Material: Foam, graphite | Firmness: Medium | Thickness: 11.5 inches}

Just be aware that this is the second most expensive option on our list at over $5,000 for a queen size, which can be a bit prohibitive. It’s also very thick, measuring at 15.5 inches tall, which may be too high for many average bed frames.

_{Type: Hybrid | Material: Foam, coils, viscose, polyester, lycra, rayon | Firmness: Firm | Thickness: 15.5 inches}

If standard firm mattresses just aren’t getting it done for you, let us introduce you to the Plank Firm by Brooklyn Bedding, one of the firmest mattresses available on the market. As the name implies, this mattress isn’t joking around with its firmness, using high-density foams that are thick and dense. Ranking at a ten on the firmness scale, this option is suited to people who leave their beds at night to sleep on the floor.

The benefits of a mattress this firm include excellent promotion of spinal alignment, while also offering lumbar support and lowering stress on the spine. Additionally, if you find this option is too extreme for you, you can opt to flip it to the other side, which provides more of a medium firm feel.

Beyond the exceptional firmness, this mattress uses foams with open cell technology to wick away body heat and you can also upgrade and order it with the GlacioTex cooling cover for added cooling support. Lastly, you'll enjoy free shipping and a 120-night trial when you purchase this mattress.

Of course, it’s important to understand that with this level of firmness, even when it's needed for all-night comfort or support, there can be a bit of an adjustment period. Also, despite having a lengthy trial, there is a fee for returning this mattress should you decide it’s not the right fit.

_{Type: Foam | Material: Foam | Firmness: Extra firm | Thickness: 11.75 inches}

If money isn’t a factor and you're a hot sleeper, we like the Tempur-Pedic’s Tempur-Breeze LuxeBreeze in Firm. We've tested a lot of Tempur-Pedic mattresses, and this one impressed us.

While there are two firmness levels to choose from, we like the Firm option because it features a 13-inch profile that’s specifically designed to have 33 percent more Tempur material for added body-conforming support. All of the layers in this firm option work to alleviate pressure, helping to enhance comfort across the body and ensure a consistent night of sleep free of tossing and turning.

We also like the hybrid design of the Tempur-Breeze, which features over 1,300 springs and three layers of foam and hybrid material for a more responsive overall feel.

But where this mattress really separates itself from others on our list is its focus on cooling. On top, the SmartClimate cover features a dedicated cooling layer meant to help dissipate body heat, all while the brand’s Pure Cool and Pure Cool Plus materials pull heat away from you. A fourth layer of ventilated pressure-relieving material promotes further breathability so warm sleepers can stay comfy.

Just be aware that, despite the costly nature of this mattress, it only has a 10-year warranty, which is short when compared to much more affordable options that offer lifetime warranties, like the Nolah Evolution Mattress (our best value pick).

_{Type: Hybrid | Material: Foam, coils | Firmness: Firm | Thickness: 13 inches}

Final Verdict

If you’re looking for a mattress that offers control over its firmness level, is supremely comfortable, and provides excellent support, our best overall pick the Saatva Solaire Adjustable Firmness Mattress is a great option. If you’re looking for a firm mattress but don’t want to break the bank, we recommend our best budget pick, the Tuft + Needle Mint Mattress, which we found to works well for back and stomach sleeping, all while also offering spinal alignment.