Forever warranty
A firm mattress is a mattress that provides additional support for your body while sleeping. For those that suffer from back pain or other types of pain, a firm mattress can be extremely helpful as it can assist in keeping your spine aligned in a neutral position. For those that are stomach or back sleepers, firm mattresses can also be a great choice, as they can be helpful in preventing the hips and shoulders from sinking into the mattress. In this article, we’ll explore the benefits of sleeping on a firm mattress, as well as how to choose the right firmness for your needs.
Our top picks for December 2024
9.9
9.9
Hybrid
The Benefits of Firm Mattresses
Firm mattresses offer a wide variety of benefits while sleeping. One of the most common is to improve back pain relief, as it can help your spine stay aligned in a neutral position. Firm mattresses also provide increased support, which can help improve your posture. As for pressure points, firm mattresses can also reduce them throughout your body, preventing pain or discomfort. Overall, firm mattresses are known to encourage better quality of sleep, allowing you to wake up feeling refreshed and energized.
Sleep Positions
The ideal firmness for a mattress varies, and depends greatly on your specific sleep position. If you are a back sleeper for example, you’ll want to opt for a mattress that provides sufficient support for your lower back. If you are a side sleeper, however, you’ll need a mattress that gives you the support needed for your shoulders and hips. And if you’re a stomach sleeper? You’ll need to ensure that the mattress you choose is firm enough to prevent your hips from sinking into your mattress.
Check Price
More details
Great for back- and side sleepers
Suitable for couples & heavier builds
Premium edge support for people with limited mobility
365-night trial
Lifetime defect warranty
Combines comfort & support
Limited sinking
Heavy & difficult to move
More details
Fully customizable mattress
3 levels of firmness
USA made
Lacks custom memory foam option
Not the cheapest option
More details
Adjustable firmness
Great edge support
Ideal for back sleepers
Not suitable for side sleepers
Cooling topper not included
Understanding Firmness
It’s become a standard practice in the mattress world to measure firmness on a 1 to 10 scale, with 1 being the softest and 10 being the firmest. You can determine if the firmness is right for you by going to a store and laying down on the mattress to get a feel of what sleeping the night on it would be like – ideally feeling supported without being too compressed. If you decide to order online however, for a more efficient and sometimes even cost-effective option, you should opt to read reviews from other users that sleep in a similar position to you. If you are really worried, do keep in mind that most brands do offer generous trials with free returns.
When choosing the right firmness level for you, you’ll need to take your weight, body type, sleep positions and individual preferences into account. Heavier builds need a more firm mattress for additional support, and as for soft or firm being more comfortable – that’s something that can be rather subjective.
Types of Firm Mattresses
There are a wide variety of firm mattresses on the market, including innerspring mattresses, foam mattresses and latex mattresses. Innerspring are the most common and are made from a series of springs to provide support while sleeping. Foam mattresses are constructed from a single piece of foam that also provides support while sleeping and come in a variety of firmness levels. And Latex mattresses, unsurprisingly made from latex, which also provides support and is best known for its comfort and durability.
Pricing of Firm Mattresses
Similar to all mattresses, firm mattresses range in price, anywhere from a few hundred dollars to a few thousand dollars – it really depends on the specific mattress and brand. Firm mattresses are however in general more pricey than soft mattresses since they are made with more costly materials. The investment is likely to be worth it for a better night’s sleep, as well as the fact that they can help prevent health problems down the line.
In Summary
Firm mattresses have no shortage of benefits, including improved back pain relief, better sleep quality, reduced pressure points and increased support while sleeping. If you’re looking for a new mattress, a firm mattress might be the right choice for you – just be sure to consider your budget and read reviews.
