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Mattress shopping doesn’t have to be a minefield. Here is GQ’s guide to the best firm mattresses on the market
All products are independently selected by our editors. If you buy something, we may earn an affiliate commission.
All products are independently selected by our editors. If you buy something, we may earn an affiliate commission.
Chances are, if you’re reading this, you’re either one of the 27 per cent of Britons who prefers a firm mattress or suspect you could be. Welcome! Though there are various types of mattresses on the market, shopping for the best mattress isn’t as much of a minefield as you might expect. Sure, the most coveted options will put a dent in your wallet, and nobody wants to go through the rigmarole of trial and error with something that weighs approximately the same as your nan’s getting-about-town banger.
It’s worth noting that the firmness level of a mattress will be subjective based on personal characteristics like body weight, height and typical sleeping position, while personal preference will come into it too. But if you have an idea of what you’re looking for — something firm, as evidenced by the fact you clicked this article — that’s a great first step towards better-sleepdom.
We'd hazard a guess that if you’re in the market for a firmer mattress over a soft mattress, there are a couple of key factors you’re after. You’ll likely be after a good level of support — maybe you have a dodgy lower back, and the hot chiropractor you pay God-knows-how-much an hour to straighten out your vertebrae is insisting on you flexing the plastic for a nighttime ortho mattress upgrade. You will likely also want comfort and a sense of hotel-grade cushioning and luxury — if it’s within your price range, that is.
Luckily for you, we can help with most of that and we've even got a separate round up of the best supportive mattresses for back pain specifically. (As for the hot chiropractor you’ve just remortgaged to keep on the books, you’re on your own.) GQ’s product experts have scoured the internet, supported by our army of mattress testers, to collect the best options on the market. Here’s our firm list.
Skip to: Which are the best firm mattresses? | How we chose the best firm mattress: GQ's mattress review process | What makes a firm mattress? | Are firm mattresses good for back pain? | Shop GQ’s favourite firm mattresses for 2024…
Which are the best firm mattresses?
We've gone into more detail (edge support, motion transfer, open coil, you know, the good stuff) about the best firm mattresses a little further down but if you want a quick round up of the best firmer mattress options out there, we've got you covered directly below.
- The best overall firm mattress: Nectar Memory Foam Mattress, from £475 at nectarsleep.co.uk
- The best luxury firm mattress: Hypnos Luxurious Earth 05, from £2,700 at bensonsforbeds.com
- The best affordable pocket spring firm mattress: John Lewis Ortho Support 1200 Pocket Spring Mattress, from £399 at johnlewis.com
- The best hybrid firm mattress: Simba Hybrid Ultra Mattress, from £1,999 at simbasleep.com
- The best affordable hybrid firm mattress: Dusk The Original Hybrid, from £349 at dusk.com
How we test the best firm mattress: GQ's mattress review process
At GQ, we have reviewed mattresses from a range of the leading brands from Tempur to Simba, with the best quality mattress options overall contributing to our best mattress guide. When we commit to a mattress review, our writers and testers sleep on the mattress in question for at least a month to test various factors, from temperature regulation and comfort of the sleeping surface, to how effective it is at relieving pressure points and offering effective pressure relief. If we are recommending a mattress we haven’t reviewed in-house, we have looked into reviews, considered the trial period, warranty and price tag, as well as ensured we have selected from trusted mattress stores to make sure your new mattress is definitely an improvement on your old mattress.
All of GQ’s interiors guides are written by our in-house team of contributing testers and experts, and are edited by Daphne Bugler, British GQ’s Senior Commerce Writer, who has been working at GQ for the past four years, and has written extensively about interiors and mattresses since 2020. The team also regularly talks to experts in a variety of interiors categories to better understand the products we write about and what we should be looking for.
What makes a firm mattress?
Often mattress companies will include a firmness rating with their online product descriptions which isn’t so far from what you’d use to pick your steak in a bougie restaurant. Softer mattresses sit at end of the scale, medium-firm mattresses occupy the middle (and the majority), while firm mattresses and extra firm are at the other end.
Where your chosen mattress lands will depend on a variety of factors, from spring tension and the fillings, to upholstery materials and whatever the mattress is topped with. Typically, memory foam is a good go-to for that firm feel but there are also orthopaedic mattresses that usually have a firm or extra firm rating for extra support.
Ultimately, there aren’t any hard-and-fast rules — which is why it’s helpful to consult reviews from the fine product testers at, say, GQ to ascertain which might be the right mattress for you and your personal preferences.
Are firm mattresses good for back pain?
Firm mattresses can be good for back pain, but it depends on your sleep position and body weight as to whether they are the right choice. A firm mattress helps keep that spine of yours properly aligned, which can alleviate back pain for back and stomach sleepers. Those who like to slumber on their sides however, may find a firm mattress too unyielding, putting pressure shoulders and hips, and frankly, no one needs that in their life. If you are one of these side sleepers, you might consider a medium to firm comfort rating rather than extra firm, so we have included a couple of those below too.
Shop GQ’s favourite firm mattresses for 2024…
For the low down on the best firm mattresses out there, across a range of budgets, we have you covered below, with options from Simba through to Hypnos.