What Is The Most Popular Mattress Firmness

How We Chose Our Products

Our team of sleep specialists have reviewed more than 150 mattresses, using proprietary analysis and hands-on testing to establish easy-to-understand scores. In addition to an overall score, we measure subscores for support, edge support, cooling, motion transfer, durability, trial period, and warranty.

For our roundup of the best firm mattress, our first parameter was that all products need multiple firmness options or above-average firmness. An effective firm mattress has lots of support and durability, so we chose beds scoring high in both categories. Of the 10 products on this list, eight of them scored a 4 out of 5 or higher in these two areas.

Purple Mattress Return Policy For Damage Or Defective Products

There is no warranty that everything in this world will be perfect. Purple Mattress is always strict in its delivery. Still, a mistake may occur. If there any defect or damage is seen on the item from the brands manufacturing unit, they will surely help you in return. Though you need to call 1-888-848-2305. Or you can send mail it to .

Whats The Most Comfortable Mattress For Stomach Sleepers

Frankly, stomach sleeping is hard on your spine and one of the worst sleeping positions. However, its comfortable for lots of people. If you prefer stomach sleeping, use a medium-firm or firm mattress to prevent your back from curving incorrectly.

The best mattresses for stomach sleepers include the Saatva Classic and GhostBed Classic.

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Which Degree Of Firmness Should I Choose If I Struggle With Herniated Discs

If you suffer from a herniated disc, then choosing a mattress with the right support is of enormous importance.

It is important to immediately relieve pressure and ensure that the spine always remains in a healthy alignment.

In order to achieve this, your mattress of choice shouldnt be too firm or too soft.

For most people, soft or medium-firm mattresses in the H2 or H3 range should be good.

However, it may also be helpful to discuss this with your orthopaedist, who will be able to give you valuable tips.

Best Foam: Plank By Brooklyn Bedding

• Flippable design for customized firmness

Cons:

• Doesn’t have great edge support

How It’s Made: The foundation of most extra-firm mattresses is pure memory foambut this Zinus design tries something different. It opts for individually encased heavy-gauge springs, which both reduce motion transfer and provide customized spinal support. This innerspring base is then covered with two layers of CertiPUR® US Certified memory foam. The first is a dense foam for edge support, while the latter is a comfort layer without too much give.

How It Arrives: Don’t be alarmed when a compact box arrives at your door. Each mattress is compressed into a slim roll, which takes about 72 hours to expand upon arrival. While some reviewers warned of an off-gassing smell from chemicals, many said it dissipated quickly.

What Customers Say: This extra-firm design has more than 5,700 perfect ratings and is one of Amazon’s most popular picks. Among these rave reviews, a shopper with chronic pain wrote that “life has been so much better” since purchasing this mattress, which never sags and always returns to its original shape.

Note: Similar to many budget mattresses, Zinus incorporates fiberglass as a flame retardant. Although affordable, this may present an issue as your mattress wears down over time.

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Purple Mattresses: The Sleep Solution For All Firmness Levels

When choosing the right mattress firmness for you, there are many factors to consider. There’s a lot to think about, from bodyweight to sleeping position to existing body pain, before pulling the trigger on a new purchase.

That said, Purple has a variety of high-quality and comfortable mattresses to meet your specific needs. With our patented GelFlex Grid technology, you get the comfort and support exactly where you need it. Buyers can even contact one of our sleep experts to help them make the right decision.

What To Look For In An Extra

• Price: It’s possible to find an extra-firm mattress on a budget under $300, but there are plenty of splurge-worthy options available, too.
• Warranties: Your mattress is an investment, so it’s important to find a design that’s constructed to last. A warranty is a great way to suss out what’s built for the long haul.
• Sleeping position: Stomach and back sleepers will love the support offered by an extra-firm mattress, which helps maintain proper alignment by reducing the sinking common in softer constructions.
• Weight limit: An extra-firm mattress can be a great option for people who weigh more than 230 pounds, but it’s important to look at the weight limit to ensure the construction offers enough support.

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Best Mattresses For Side

Side-sleepers generally feel most comfortable on medium-soft to medium mattresses. These are plush enough to cushion the shoulders and hips, but supportive enough to keep the spine aligned. The all-foam Loom & Leaf has a cradling, not-too-sinky feel, and the Leesa Hybrid is slightly firmer and more resilient. Our guide to the best mattresses for side-sleepers has more recommendations.

Our pick

*At the time of publishing, the price was $2,449.

Best Mattress For Kids

TL DR: Casper is a trusted company, and the Element comes at a great price, but its best for smaller and lighter bodies like children that wont sink quite so much into the soft foam.

Construction: The Element is an offshoot of Caspers flagship model, the Casper Original. Its the brands most basic and affordable option. It contains three layers of premium foam, as opposed to the Originals four, with a firm bottom support layer, a middle layer made of responsive memory foam, and a soft breathable top layer. Its also thinner, at ten inches, as opposed to the Originals 11 inches.

Firmness and Support: With one less layer of foam than the already-soft Original, the Element runs soft.

Who Tested It: Lauren Ro, Strategist writer.

How I Sleep: Back-to-side sleeper, who prefers a firm mattress.

What Else to Know: 100-day trial | 10-year limited warranty | Free shipping to 48 states | White-glove delivery for $149

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Best Overall: Saatva Classic Mattress

• Available in two different firmnesses

• Thick, plush pillowtop

• There’s a fee to return

Who else recommends it? Forbes also picked the Saatva Classic Mattress.

The first difference you’ll notice with the Saatva Classic Mattress is that it doesn’t arrive compressed in a box like many other popular online retailer mattresses. This is because the Saatva is primarily an innerspring mattress, with tempered steel base coils topped by individually pocketed coils. However, it also incorporates foam mattress innovations, with a layer of high-density memory foam running through the middle of the mattress to provide targeted lumbar support. Finally, there’s the organic cotton pillow top.

The foam components of the Saatva Classic are all certified by CertiPUR-US, a non-profit that verifies that mattress foam exceeds emissions and materials standards, with no fiberglass, formaldehyde, mercury, or other heavy metals. The mattress also has durable edge support to prevent sagging and make it easier to get in and out of bed.

“I fell in love with this mattress pretty much immediately,” our tester said. “I would often wake up with lower back pain, but the firmness on this mattress is perfect. In the first few weeks it softened slightly, which is to be expected. But so far it is still providing top notch support and comfort. I haven’t slept this well in a while.”

She did note, however, that the Saatva was a little warmer than she expected.

Price at time of publish : $1,580

If Youre Average Weight

Average weight people in the range of 130-230lb need a balance between comfort level and support.

There needs to be enough of a plush comfort layer to allow a little sinkage and contouring, with enough support underneath to prevent sinking too far and help with pressure relief.

Average weight people probably have the widest range of mattresses to choose from, and chances are theres a selection of mattresses out there that will suit your preferences if you are in this weight range. Beds in the Medium-soft to Medium-firm range will likely be the best match.

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Best For Infants: Moonlight Slumber Little Dreamer Crib Mattress

Courtesy of BuyBuyBaby

• Mattress may cave in over time

To ensure safety and a good nights sleep, most infants sleep in a crib and youll want a comfortable and durable crib mattress. This mattress checks those boxes. It has a dual-side design so for the first year or so, the baby can sleep on an extra firm foam side made just for infants.

As the baby grows, flip the mattress to the softer, plusher toddler side. The mattress is hypoallergenic and waterproof, so itll be easy to clean when the inevitable happens. At just over 8 pounds, its easy to lift for changing sheets and the squared edges and corners make that even simpler.

Construction Type: Foam | Firmness: Extra firm | Thickness: 5 inches | Sizes Available: Crib, Twin, and Full

Best Firm Mattress According To Our Sleep Experts

The best firm mattress for spinal alignment provides a perfect balance of comfort and support. Here are our top picks so you can get a good night’s sleep.

Reviewed by:

Troy Mensen, DO

Troy Mensen is a family medicine doctor based in Chicago. He received his Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine from Des Moines University College of Osteopathic Medicine and holds a certification in family medicine from the American Board of Family Medicine. He is licensed by the State of Illinois Medical Examining Board.

McKenzie Dillon

Writer

McKenzie, a Certified Sleep Science Coach and proclaimed mattress expert, has been writing sleep content in the wellness space for over three years. After earning her certification from the Spencer Institute and dedicating hundreds of hours to sleep research, she has extensive knowledge on the topic and how to improve your quality of rest. Having more experience with lying on mattresses than most, McKenzie has reviewed over 150 beds and a variety of different sleep products including pillows, mattress toppers and sheets. McKenzie has been a guest on multiple radio shows including WGN Chicago as a sleep expert and contributed sleep advice to over 50 different websites. Before she was writing about sleep, she graduated as an English major from the University of Nevada, Reno and was covering music news for an online entertainment magazine.

Lindsay Boyers

CNET Contributor

• More Products and sleep advice

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The Problem With Firmness Extremes

Even though the firmness scale is measured between 1 and 10, it is unlikely youd ever come across a mattress that sits at the extreme of either end of the scale.

Why? Because level 1 or 10 would be so soft or so firm, theyd pretty much be at the point of ridiculousness and not actually suitable for anyone but the rarest of cases. A mattress with level 1 softness would have an extreme level of sinkage while not providing any meaningful support.

A mattress with level 10 firmness would nearly feel like sleeping on a tabletop extreme pushback levels with next to no sinkage or conforming properties and extremely thin soft comfort layer.

What To Consider When Choosing A Firm Mattress

While it ultimately the best mattress for you comes down to personal preference, there are several things to think about when shopping for a firm mattress. In addition to your sleep stylefirmer mattresses are usually a great option for back sleepersyoull also want to think about materials, the trial period and specialized features, like temperature regulation layers or pillow top covers.

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How Do I Know If My Mattress Is Too Firm

You will know if your mattress is too firm because you may experience noticeable symptoms, like numbness and tingling in your arms and back pain. This would be due to the mattress putting excess pressure on your shoulders and hips. Rather than replacing a mattress thats too firm with a softer one, you may be able to find your sweet spot by adding a mattress topper.

Whats The Best Sleeping Position For Kids

While there isnt one sleeping position for kids that reigns supreme, resting on your back has been regarded as the healthiest sleep position. Thats because it puts the least amount of pressure on your lumbar spine. Side-sleeping is considered the next healthiest, helping to aid in digestion and relieve heartburn. And while many kids find stomach sleeping to be the most comfortable, know that this face-down position can lead to back or neck pain since the spine is more likely to fall out of alignment.

Be sure to select a mattress that best fits your childs sleeping position, which is the easiest way to ensure a comfortable, healthy night of rest.

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If Youre Heavy Weight

Heavy people who are 230lb+ need a mattress with plenty of dense, sturdy support. Heavier individuals need a bed that isnt going to suffer wear and tear prematurely, but that doesnt mean it has to have rock hard firmness.

In saying that, firmer beds will suit heavier-than-average people in general due to the increased pushback they generally have. They tend to have thinner comfort layers that, while still conforming and contouring the body, wont allow deep sinkage.

Firmer mattresses tend to have transition layers or springs that act as a buffer between the soft layer above and the hard support layers below.

If a heavy person has a mattress that allows them to sink too deep, this can cause them to fully compress the comfort layers and come to rest on the more rigid materials below, meaning they suffer inadequate support and pressure points not to mention plain discomfort.

The mattresses that are likely to be the best fit for heavy people will be in the Medium-firm to Firm range.

Whats The Most Comfortable Mattress For Back Pain

When dealing with back pain, sleep on your side or back to prevent aggravating your pain further. For side sleepers, use a soft or medium mattress. Back sleepers do best with medium or medium-firm mattresses to protect the lumbar spine.

The most comfortable mattresses for back pain include the Amerisleep AS3, Zoma Mattress, and GhostBed Classic.

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What To Look For

There are several factors a person may consider before buying a mattress topper. These include:

• Cooling properties: If a person experiences overheating while sleeping, they may wish to look for breathability and cooling features, especially in foam mattress toppers, which can trap heat.
• Support: If a person is looking for extra support, they may wish to look for a topper that supports spinal alignment and relieves pressure points.
• Durability: It may be best to look for long-lasting, durable materials, such as natural latex, which is more durable than petroleum-based foams.
• Thickness: Mattress toppers come in a range of thicknesses usually, the thicker the mattress topper, the plusher the feel.
• Sleeping position: Side sleepers may be more comfortable with a medium thickness mattress topper, whereas back and front sleepers may prefer medium-firm feels. However, firmness is subjective, and people should purchase the mattress topper that offers the support they require.
• Price: Investing in a high quality product may initially be more expensive, but this may maximize longevity.
• Cleaning: Some mattress toppers may be spot clean only, so it may be best to consider a removable, washable cover.

The Mattress Firmness Scale Explained: How To Choose The Right Firmness Level

Theres probably no other characteristic of a mattress that has as significant a bearing on how comfortable and suitable it is for you as its firmness.

In this guide, youre going to learn about the mattress firmness scale and what the different levels of firmness mean in terms of comfort and mattress performance.

Youre also going to learn how to choose the right mattress firmness based on your unique needs and preferences, including your size, weight, and dominant sleeping position, and well answer frequently asked questions about mattress firmness.

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Sex And Firmness Levels

Two main factors influence how a bed performs for sex: responsiveness and sinkage. Mattresses that are responsive and bouncy make movement easier, while those that absorb motion can make it more challenging. Additionally, a surface that sinks deeply may inhibit movement. That said, contouring can also enhance traction. While responsiveness and contouring are determined largely by materials, couples often find that softer models provide extra traction but are more difficult to move on.

Some other factors to consider include edge support and noise potential. Mattresses with stronger perimeters let couples use the entire surface, and quiet models allow greater discretion. Firmer mattresses frequently have sturdier edges, though soft models may include reinforced perimeters to make the full surface usable. Noise level is a result of a mattress materials and construction, but the ample comfort system of some soft mattresses could help muffle sounds.