When it comes to mattresses, medium-firm is the sweet spot. This is the firmness range that many people find comfortable—firm enough to make you feel stable and supported in just about any sleep position, but sufficiently soft to quickly lull you off to a good night’s sleep. The best medium-firm mattresses strike just the right balance.
The best medium-firm mattresses are ideal for back, stomach and combination sleepers.
ILLUSTRATION: FORBES / PHOTOS: RETAILERS
Just about every mattress manufacturer out there has a bed with a medium-firm feel. But to help you narrow down your options, we’ve rounded up nine of the very best medium-firm mattresses, with the Bear Star Hybrid Mattress earning the best overall spot on our list. We love its hybrid construction, luxe pillow top and unique Celliant-infused cover, and it offers a good bang for your buck. If that doesn’t seem like just the right fit for your needs, read on for more details and other mattresses we love, with options for cooling, different constructions and more.
You can tell the Bear Star Hybrid is a premium mattress just by looking at it, and it feels just as comfy as it looks. Its medium-firm profile and pocketed coil system that makes up its base layer make the Bear Star feel supportive, while the gel-foam pillow top gives it an extra cushy touch that elevates it from comfortable to luxuriously cozy. The icing on the cake is Bear Star’s Celliant-infused cover. It’s a mineral-based fabric that’s designed to turn body heat into infrared energy, which is beamed back into the body. The brand says this process is meant to help boost the natural recovery process and promote better sleep. To my pleasant surprise, a queen size is often on sale for less than $1,500.
What the editors say: Vetted mattress and sleep editor McKenzie Dillon owns the Bear Star Hybrid Mattress and says, “It’s one of my favorite mattresses I’ve ever tested. I love a good pillow top mattress, and the Bear Star feels like an expensive hotel bed you’d sleep on at the Ritz-Carlton. I’m a stomach-leaning combination sleeper, and it’s perfect for me.”
Pressure relief is closely tied to the kind of support that keeps your spine aligned, no matter how you sleep. With layers of premium memory foam and individually wrapped coils, that’s exactly what the DreamCloud is designed for. The mattress has two layers of foam that offer close contouring so you feel cradled, while a dynamic transition layer above 8.5 inches of coils means it will support you in all the right places. DreamCloud claims that its hybrid mattress has a “just right” feel—a 6.5 on the firmness scale out of 10, so it strikes a great balance of contouring comfort and precise support.
What reviewers say: There are over 12,000 reviews of the DreamCloud, and the overwhelming majority are glowing. One customer writes, “It only took me a couple night’s sleep to truly begin appreciating the lack of pressure points.” They continue, “I have a nerve injury from an accident that can really be uncomfortable if it’s irritated by sleeping on a too hard or too soft mattress. I’ve had zero issues with this mattress and my low back feels great.” Another writes, “highly recommended. My back and neck feel so much better.”
Owned by retail giant Walmart, the Allswell apple doesn’t fall far from the tree with an affordable cost that’s on brand with Walmart’s low-price promise. That said, it’s much nicer and of higher quality than other low-budget beds on the Internet. For starters, it’s constructed with a system of pocketed coils in the base for support, whereas most beds within the same price range are made from just foam. This makes the Allswell Hybrid suitable for most bodies, including heavier body types over 230 pounds who want a supportive bed that won’t break the bank. The Allswell Hybrid comes with reinforced edges for boosted perimeter support (a plus for couples who share a bed) and gel-infused memory foam for comfort and temperature regulation. Although its top layer is made of memory foam, it boasts more of a neutral-foam feel that makes it easier to move around or switch positions on.
What the editors say: Dillon says, “Allswell is my go-to recommendation to back and stomach sleepers on a tight budget who just want a simple, comfortable bed. I’d go as far as to say it’s one of the best hybrid mattresses you can get for the price, as long as you’re interested in bed on the firmer end of the spectrum. My partner slept on an Allswell mattress for years during his college days and claims he always slept soundly.”
Memory foam used to be infamous for retaining heat, but bedding brands have stepped up their game by designing their beds with temperature regulating features to offset this issue. Cocoon, owned by bedding veteran Sealy, takes it a step further with the Cocoon Chill Hybrid, fit with a phase change cover that’s cool to the touch, draws body heat away from your body and evenly disperses it throughout the mattress. Paired with breathable memory foam and pocketed coils that promote airflow, the Cocoon Chill Hybrid is a good cooling pick for back, stomach and combination sleepers who tend to warm up at night. It’s a hair firmer than medium, and I recommend the hybrid model for added support and temperature regulation. However, if you’re under 230 pounds and want to save a few hundred dollars, the foam model is constructed with the same phase change cooling cover.
What the editors say: Dillon attests to Cocoon’s cooling abilities by saying, “There are only a handful of beds I consider actually ‘cooling’ and the Chill Hybrid is one of them. It’s also suitable for a wide range of sleeping positions (back, stomach and combination), accommodates heavier body types and offers a hugging memory foam feel that many people find comfortable.”
There are several beds from the bed-in-a-box realm that can go head-to-head with the industry’s biggest luxury names (think Beautyrest, Tempur-Pedic and Sealy), and the WinkBed mattress is one of them. WinkBed mattresses are quality made—the brand puts its beds through a simulation that mimics 20 years of wear and tear to assure durability. Not to mention, it’s ultra comfortable and reminiscent of high-end hotel beds. The WinkBed is its flagship offering with three different firmness levels to pick from, but I think the firm falls around the medium-firm end of the spectrum, with a nice balance between support and pressure relief.
The pocketed coils in WinkBed’s base layer are zoned, meaning they are more reinforcing under the spine for added support, and softer under the areas of your body that assert less pressure. Above the coils are four layers of comfort foam and a fluffy Euro pillow top, giving the WinkBed a blended feel that contours your curves and properly supports the back—no “sink in” feel here.
What the editors say: Dillon is a fan of the WinkBed and says, “It’s under the umbrella of affordable luxury beds in the online market, with a comfortable feel and design that rivals most high-end mattresses. The kicker is that you can get a queen size under $1,500 when it’s on sale. Its one of those beds that’s hard not to like, and accommodates all shapes, sizes and sleeping positions.”
Type: Hybrid | Trial: 365 nights | Warranty: Lifetime | Key features: Active cooling foam, quilted memory foam cover, dynamic support to support all sleep styles
The Lull Original is a medium-firm mattress with that “just right” feeling, thanks to four layers of premium, high-resiliency memory foam—all without the premium price tag. Lull claims its Certipur-US certified memory foam adapts to your shape for ample pressure relief while also supporting the spine in any sleep position. It offers impressive motion control, and the open-cell design promotes airflow, and is also infused with gel beads to minimize heat retention. If you like a hugged sensation from memory foam, instead of a quicksand sink-right-in feel, the Lull Original Premium might just check all the boxes for your best night’s sleep yet.
What reviewers say: The Lull Premium is incredibly well rated, with over 41,000 reviews and a 4.6 out of 5 rating overall. One customer writes, “It’s out of this world comfy and I love it. Such a great night’s sleep. Very high quality and very comfortable.”
The Birch Luxe Natural Mattress is made with organic and natural materials to promote comfortable, supported and dreamy sleep. Organic wool and cotton are paired with Talalay latex and hundreds of eight-inch steel coils in a hybrid construction that meets a number of high rigor safety standards. In fact, the mattress holds Greenguard Gold and GOTS certifications. It’s a non-toxic way to enjoy targeted lumbar support and pressure relief, with a medium-firm feel designed to accommodate any sleep position. All in all, we think it’s a great choice for just about anyone.
What reviewers say: The Birch Natural has over 3,500 happy reviews. Customers call it comfortable, supportive and temperature regulating, and many are particularly pleased about its natural, eco-friendly materials. “So happy to be sleeping on something without worrying about it off-gassing harsh chemicals,” writes one. “The quality of it is amazing and knowing that the materials used to make it are eco friendly is a major added bonus,” says another.
Type: Hybrid | Trial: 365 nights | Warranty: 25 years | Key Features: Firmness options on both sides, vegan materials, CertiPUR-US-certified foam
This dual-sided hybrid mattress from Brentwood Home is made with charcoal-infused memory foam to minimize heat retention, Global Organic Latex Standard (GOLS) certified latex for lifted support, and pocketed coils that are zoned to evenly distribute body weight and bolster the hips and shoulders. According to the company, the mattress is toxin free and certified vegan, with a choice of firmness that you can achieve at home by flipping the bed. One side is what Brentwood Home calls restorative—naturally cooling with a cushioned, medium-soft feel, thanks to the top layer of memory foam. Flip it over and you’ll find the responsive side, which has a balanced and medium-firm feel from the durable latex layer. The whole mattress is wrapped in a silky, beautifully stitched cover for a bed that really looks as good as it feels.
My daughter has this mattress, and it’s truly indulgent. The softer side has a little give, but you feel supported and stable—hugged in all the right places. She has gone back and forth between the soft and medium-firm side, which is still soft but with a little more lift, so that you don’t feel quite as enveloped. Either way, she loves this thing.
What the reviewers say: One happy customer writes, “This mattress is awesome, we love it. I have suffered from back pain for years, but it stopped hurting after 3 nights on Brentwood Oceano and has nearly vanished. We have had it for 3 months and have used the semisoft side. We are about to flip it and try the firmer side.”
Type: hybrid | Trial: 365 nights | Warranty: 25 years | Key features: Greenguard Gold certified, Made Safe certified, certified organic latex, wool and cotton
The Avocado Green Mattress uses sustainable materials from top to bottom—from the cotton, wool and latex used in the comfort layers to the recycled steel in the supportive innerspring base. That’s not just a better option for the planet, these materials give it a great balance of buoyant firmness, comfort and cooling. Tempered coils in three gauges are arranged in five zones to elevate the hips, back and shoulders (aka higher pressure areas) for a neutral spine. Avocado puts it at a 7 out of 10 on the firmness scale.
What reviewers say: With over 16,500 reviews, the Avocado is exceptionally well rated. Happy customers praise the balanced feel and eco-friendly materials. One writes, “The organic, natural materials are perhaps what separates this bed from others, while it’s the amazingly comfortable and superior support that I think tops my list.” Another notes, “I was impressed with Avocado’s B Corp certificate and the organic materials.”
How We Chose The Best Medium-Firm Mattresses
There is no universal standard for mattress firmness, and different manufacturers have their own ideas about what feels plush or firm. To zero in on medium-firm options, we looked for mattresses that companies rated between 5 and 8 on a 10-point firmness scale, which is standard across most manufacturers. We included mattresses that feature different materials and constructions to suit a variety of sleep styles and preferences. We also read through hundreds of customer reviews and prioritized mattresses with ratings of 4.5 stars or more.
What To Consider When Shopping For A Medium-Firm Mattress
Medium-firm mattresses are lauded as “universally comfortable,” and that’s true to some extent. Depending on the materials and construction, these mattresses can work well for all sleeping positions, all body types, and those seeking specific benefits, like breathability, pressure relief, or motion isolation. Here’s what else to consider.
Material
The composition and construction of a mattress affects how it feels, so it’s important to consider your preferences as you scope out brands. Lots of materials can impart a medium-firm feel, and you may also prioritize a hugged sensation or a mattress that will respond quickly as you change positions. Remember that a mattress will also feel firmer or softer depending on your body type and sleep position, so you may need to opt for a different firmness rating if you’re angling for a medium-firm feel. Petite sleepers, for example, may find medium-firm options feel as hard as a rock, while a 200-pound football player could find they’re too cushioned for comfort. That’s where trying the product out at home comes in.
Temperature
Sleepers who tend to overheat at night will benefit from breathable constructions, temperature-neutral materials and constructions or active cooling technology. Hybrid mattresses are a good option for breathability, because the coils promote more airflow than all-foam mattresses can offer. Border gussets around a mattress perimeter can also help dissipate excess heat. This feature is commonly found on pillow-top mattresses. Adding this kind of stitched side panel around the entire mattress border helps funnel away trapped body heat and can even boost durability and comfort.
For moisture control and temperature regulation, look to wool and latex. These natural materials are often praised for their inherent temperature regulation properties. Gel- and graphite-infused foams can also help minimize heat retention—a common issue with memory foams in particular. Some mattresses have proprietary materials that actively transfer heat away, which can lead to more comfortable nights.
Warranty And Trial
While the idea of universal comfort is, well, comforting, it doesn’t mean every medium-firm mattress is right for you. Individual body types and preferred sleep positions will ultimately affect the quality of your sleep on a given mattress, and you need sufficient time to test that out. Look for mattresses that have a generous trial window. Many manufacturers offer at least 100 days and ask that you sleep on a new mattress for about 30 nights before making a decision about returns or exchanges. It takes time to adjust to a mattress, and a month is a reasonable window for a new mattress to break in, and your body to acclimate to it.
Double check warranties as well. While many won’t cover typical wear and tear, you should have some protection against true defects that can occur over time.
Is It Better To Sleep On A Medium Or Firm Mattress?
Firmness is subjective, and your individual body type, sleep style and preferences will play a role in what feels best—and unfortunately that can change as your body changes, or even over the course of a few nights if you’re more or less sore from things like exercise or a long day on your feet. In general, side sleepers will be more comfortable on a medium mattress because it offers contouring to the hips and shoulders, while still keeping the spine aligned. Back and stomach sleepers tend to sleep well on firmer mattresses, which have the support they need to keep the hips and lower back comfortably elevated for a neutral spine.
Is A Medium-Firm Mattress Good For Back Pain?
There are scientific studies that conclude medium-firm mattresses are the best choice for promoting comfort, sleep quality, and spinal alignment. Still, there is no one-size-fits-all when it comes to mattresses, and what works to relieve one person’s back pain may not work for the next. If relieving back pain is the goal, a medium-firm mattress with pressure-relieving materials that accommodates your body type and preferred sleep position is a good place to start. If pain persists, contact your healthcare provider.
