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Whether you like a soft, medium, or firm (or something in between) mattress, firmness is a subjective experience unique to each person. Our preferences can depend on several factors, including body type, sleeping position, and whether we experience chronic pain. For instance, extra-firm mattresses are typically ideal for higher-weight sleepers (more than 250 pounds) and most stomach sleepers.
Some people simply prefer the feel of an extra-firm mattress and find that it gives them the stability and support they need to sleep well. We rate our firmness levels on a scale of one to 10:
Since we haven’t tested any mattresses higher than a nine, we rounded up the best ones we tested with a firmness score of eight and above to bring you the best extra-firm mattresses we’ve tested.
“Extra firm mattresses are well-suited for specific sleepers, particularly those with higher body weights, back sleepers, and those with certain types of pain, like lower back pain,” said Sean Ormond, a pain management specialist at Atlas Pain Specialists in Glendale, Arizona. “However, they may not be ideal for lighter individuals, side sleepers, or those with significant joint pain due to the potential for increased pressure points.”
Read on to learn more about the models that made it to our best extra-firm mattresses list and why we like them.
We consider several important factors when choosing extra-firm mattresses, including:
We consider a mattress that scores seven to 10 (out of 10) firm, so we selected mattresses that scored eight or above during testing.
We made sure to include firm mattresses that offer contour and cushion to relieve pressure.
Many mattresses rated as extra firm already have decent edge support, but we chose ones that offer great support around the mattress’s perimeter.
An extra-firm mattress may be ideal for those who sleep on their back or stomach. The added firmness gives sleepers the support needed in the hips and lower back.
The Plank Firm offers a unique flippable design, with one side firm and the other extra firm. Our testers found that the mattress has great edge support (five out of five) and functional support ⓘ NCOA Adviser’s rating of suitability for older adults who may have limited mobility; calculated using firmness level (30%), overall support score (30%), edge support score (30%), and bounce score (10%) (4.05 out of five). This means its combination of bounce, support, and firmness makes moving around or getting up from the bed easier.
We think lighter-weight (less than 130 pounds) back and side sleepers may find the extra-firm side too firm, but higher-weight (more than 250 pounds) and average-weight (130–250 pounds) sleepers should feel supported in all sleep positions. Our testers’ hips stayed elevated while on their back and sides, and they felt especially comfortable on their stomachs.
“Stomach sleepers can benefit from a firmer surface to prevent the hips and abdomen from sinking too deeply,” said Ormond. That sinkage, he said, can cause the lower back to arch too much, which can lead to aches and pain.
Despite being made of memory foam, which often makes movement harder, our testers thought it was easy to change positions without sinking too much into the foam. A mattress that provides easy movement is ideal for people with mobility issues and combination sleepersⓘ People who sleep in more than one position throughout the night .
Our tester on the Plank Firm mattress:
“I felt really comfortable on my stomach.”
Who may love it
Who may want to avoid it
The Plank Firm mattress has 4.7 stars out of five on the brand’s website, with more than 3,200 reviews. Many reviewers noted it was the firmest mattress they’ve slept on. But it’s worth testing whether firm mattresses are for you during the trial period because some buyers say they developed back pain from the mattress.
“I looked for the firmest mattress I could find. Found this, got it and it’s just what I needed. BEST MATTRESS EVER!”
Teri M., verified buyer on 7/28/2024
“It’s perfect. The firmest mattress I’ve ever slept on.”
— Stephanie O., verified buyer on 7/20/2024
For more information, read our full Plank Firm mattress review.
The Titan Plus is a four-layered hybrid mattress consisting of 3 inches of foam, 8 inches of individually wrapped coils with reinforced steel, and a 0.25-inch base layer for durability. The top layer has a gel-infused ⓘ Memory foam with small gel pods designed for cooling quilted cover for cooling.
This mattress is ideal for higher-weight sleepers in all positions. But our testers said the Titan Plus was a little too firm for lighter-weight back and side sleepers, although average-weight side sleepers may find it comfortable.
Overall, average-weight and higher-weight sleepers may appreciate the supportive feel of the Titan Plus, with our testers saying it kept their spines neutral.
We also found this provided above-average bounce, with our testers saying it was easy to move from one position to another.
Our tester on the Titan Plus mattress:
“Since there’s not much sinkage I found this easy to move around on.”
Who may love it
Who may want to avoid it
The Titan Plus mattress has 4.7 stars out of five on the brand’s website, with more than 2,600 reviews. Many reviewers noted its durability and supportiveness. Others shared that their mattress actually became softer and less supportive over time.
“I don’t think there are as firm hybrid mattresses out there with the same quality of fit and finish for the price.”
— Joseph S., verified buyer on 3/12/2023
“The edge support is fantastic! Not to mention the price can’t be beat for a hybrid of this quality. So far loving it.”
— David M., verified buyer on 10/16/2022
For more information, read our full Titan Plus mattress review.
A top pick in our best cooling mattress roundup, the Brooklyn Bedding Aurora Luxe Cooling (firm model) mattress uses several heat-reducing technologies to keep it cooler. During testing, our testers described the GlacioTex cooling cover as “very cooling” and “extremely breathable.” The top layer is infused with cooling fibers designed to absorb body heat. When we used a thermal gunⓘ A device that measures temperatures through the thermal radiation left behind on a surface on the mattress after our testers lay on it for a period of time, it went up less than 6 degrees, which is excellent cooling.
Lighter-weight back and side sleepers may find the mattress too firm. On the other hand, higher-weight sleepers who like to sleep on their stomachs may need more hip support to keep their spines aligned.
Sleepers who switch positions at night or need help with mobility may especially appreciate the Aurora Luxe Cooling because it’s firm enough to support movement at night. Our testers reported they could change positions effortlessly and never felt “stuck” in the foam when shifting around.
Our tester on the Brooklyn Bedding Aurora Luxe Cooling (firm model) mattress:
“When I touched the mattress it felt icy. It was also very breathable and cooling when I lay on it.”
Who may love it
Who may want to avoid it
The Brooklyn Bedding Aurora Luxe Cooling mattress has 4.7 out of five stars on the brand’s website, with more than 3,400 reviews. Many reviewers noted how supportive and comfortable the mattress felt.
“The mattress is advertised as cooling. It most certainly does as advertised. We love it.”
— Kerry T., verified buyer on 8/2/2024
“I love this bed! From the moment I got in it I was sooooo happy. Every night I look forward to sleeping in this great bed. The cooling is so helpful and definitely a great value.”
— Elizabeth H., verified buyer on 7/29/2024
For more information about other Brooklyn Bedding mattress options, see our Brooklyn Bedding mattress review.
Priced less than $1,000 for a queen, the Bear Original is one of the most affordable extra-firm mattresses we’ve tested. The mattress is lightweight, which can make dressing the bed easier.
We think this mattress is best suited for stomach sleepers of all body types and higher-weight sleepers due to its firmness. During testing, some of our lighter-weight sleepers said it didn’t contour their lower back enough while they lay on their back, and while on their side, they said they felt crunched. But average-weight and higher-weight side sleepers should compress the material more and get more pressure relief. All of our testers agreed that they felt most comfortable on their stomach.
Although this mattress has a poor bounce, our testers said the material was responsive, and the firmness made it easy to move around on. This makes it good for people who sleep in more than one position or those with mobility issues.
The Bear Original scored high in motion isolation, a feature that’s helpful for couples who don’t want to disturb one another while sleeping. Our testers could also lay right on the edge of the mattress while still feeling stable. Good edge support can make it easier to sit at the edge of the mattress without feeling off-balance. Our testers felt secure and protected when sitting and lying near the edge.
Our tester on the Bear Original mattress:
“I felt most comfortable on my stomach, so if people want a memory foam for your stomach sleeping, this is it.”
Who may love it
Who may want to avoid it
The Bear Original mattress has 4.7 out of 5 stars on the brand’s website, with more than 10,600 reviews. Many reviewers noted that it offers good quality for the price. Others shared they felt something changed in the new model because it didn’t feel the same as they remembered from former models.
“Extremely comfortable and a great value. Customer Service is exceptional!”
— Anisa, verified buyer on 6/22/2024
“So pleased with the mattress and a great value! Perfect for our guest bedroom.”
— Susan C., verified buyer on 8/6/2023
For more information, read our full Bear Original mattress review.
The Helix Plus is a great mattress option for those who don’t want to sacrifice pressure relief and comfort in the name of firmness. Its durable construction, enhanced steel-coil system, and high-density foam should help those with back pain and higher-weight sleepers, providing support and a high level of pressure relief.
The mattress performed well for back pressure relief, with our testers giving it a five out of five. When we tested this mattress with a pressure mapⓘ A mat with sensors that detects pressure buildup when someone lies across it , we saw all blue, indicating no pressure buildup. Our testers felt only a small amount of arch in the lower back. The mattress distributed weight evenly across back-sleeping pressure points, like the head, shoulders, and hips. The Helix Plus also scored above average in functional support, earning a 3.65 out of five. It’s important to note that this mattress was designed for higher-weight sleepers, but we found it good for lighter-weight and average-weight back and stomach sleepers as well.
Stomach sleepers who experience back pain may appreciate how the Helix Plus keeps spines aligned. Our testers felt supported on their stomach without their hips sinking into the mattress. Research shows a supportive mattress can help keep good spinal alignment, which is ideal for those with back pain.
“Extra firm mattresses can be beneficial for those with lower back pain, especially if the pain is related to poor spinal alignment during sleep,” said Ormond.
Our tester on the Helix Plus mattress:
“I like how it feels when on my stomach, with my back hips elevated and spine aligned. I also felt evenly supported when lying on my back.”
Who may love it
Who may want to avoid it
The Helix Plus mattress is rated 4.4 stars out of five on the brand’s website, with more than 2,950 reviews. Many reviewers noted that the mattress has helped their back pain, while others state the mattress started to sag in the middle over time.
“This is the most comfortable mattress I have ever slept on. My wife has had some issues with mattresses and her back. She loves this mattress too.”
— Jonah S., verified buyer on 7/3/2024
“So far so good. I don’t wake up with the back aches that I use too. That in itself is a blessing.”
— Debbie H., verified buyer on 6/30/2024
To learn about Helix, read our Helix review.
Our Reviews Team has dedicated more than 1,000 hours to researching the mattress industry, consulting at least 10 health care professionals, and testing roughly 40 brands and 130 unique mattress models for quality and comfort. We’ve also interviewed 16 older adults who recently purchased a mattress and surveyed more than 3,200 recent mattress buyers to understand their experiences shopping for a new bed.
Each mattress undergoes a rigorous 36-page testing procedure to score its different characteristics, including firmness, support, and other aspects most shoppers consider. We choose the best extra-firm mattresses based on the scores of the relevant criteria. See how we tested the most important considerations for this review below.
Firmness
Like most mattress brands, we use a one-to-10 scoring method when testing firmness. Most firm mattresses are rated seven for a true firm and nine as extra firm. Our testers rate this by lying on the surface and comparing the feel to other mattresses we’ve tested. Material density and coil strength influence firmness the most. For best extra-firm mattresses, we only chose mattresses that have a firmness rating of eight and up.
Pressure relief
We rate pressure relief on a scale of one to five. Mattresses that earn a five are most effective at relieving pressure. To test this metric, we consider how the bed feels and use a pressure map with sensors to visualize pressure points around the body accurately. Areas shaded blue and green indicate great pressure relief, while areas shaded yellow, orange, and red show pressure buildup. Ideally, extra-firm mattresses should score a four or five (out of five) for pressure relief.
Support
We score support on a scale of one to five, with five being the most supportive. Mattresses with strong support hug your body (known as contouring) and push into the curves of your lower back or midsection. We gauge support during in-person testing and through pressure map results. Maps with mostly white space at the lower back show that the mattress doesn’t make contact with the area, indicating a less supportive mattress. Extra-firm mattresses on this list score an average of three and above (out of five) in overall support.
To learn more about our testing and scoring methods, review our sleep methodology.
We continuously test new mattresses monthly and ensure we give you the most up-to-date information possible. You can bookmark this article and check back for updates.
Your sleep position and body weight impact your ideal firmness, with spinal alignment and overall comfort important considerations. The best extra-firm mattress for you is the one that feels the most supportive and gives you a good night’s sleep.
While we chose the Plank Firm as the “Best Extra Firm Mattress Overall,” it doesn’t mean it’s the right one for you. Keep in mind sleep position, body type, and whether you share a bed before you buy.
The mattress you choose should keep your spine in alignment while in your preferred sleeping position to reduce pain. Typically, the best firm mattresses provide good lower back and hip support. If you’re a stomach sleeper, look for a mattress that supports the hips to prevent sagging into the mattress. Side sleepers may not get enough pressure relief on an extra-firm mattress and should look for a medium-soft mattress that supports and contours the shoulder and hips instead.
Ultimately, your desired firmness level will depend on your sleeping position. For help choosing mattresses based on sleep position, read our reviews of the best mattresses for back sleepers, the best mattresses for side sleepers, and the best mattresses for stomach sleepers.
Your body type will impact how firm a mattress feels. For example, a person who weighs less than 130 pounds will usually perceive mattresses as firmer than someone who weighs more than 250 pounds. Higher-weight people compress mattress material more, so a firmer mattress usually feels softer than it would to a lighter-weight person.
If you share your bed with a partner, then you know how distracting movements can be at night. It’s rare to find a hybrid mattress that balances both bounce with motion isolation, but some mattresses, like The WinkBed, do a good job. But if motion isolation is high on your list of necessary features, memory foam mattresses tend to isolate motion better than innerspring or hybrid mattresses. If you and your partner have different sleeping preferences (like soft versus firm), consider a split king adjustable bed that supports two mattress types on one bed frame. You’ll also want a mattress with good edge support, so you can use the full surface of the mattress.
Extra-firm mattresses are not for everyone. Here are the most common groups of sleepers who might benefit from the extra durability and support of this type of mattress:
It’s important to note that not everyone will benefit from an extra-firm mattress, with research showing that a medium-firm mattress is often the most effective with helping reduce or prevent pain.
| Mattress type | Foam | Hybrid | Hybrid | Foam | Hybrid |
| Mattress height (in inches) | 10.25″ | 11″ | 13.25″ | 10″ | 11.5″ |
| Our firmness rating | Firm | Firm | Firm | Firm | Firm |
| Warranty | 10 years | 10 years | 10 years | Lifetime | 10 years |
The best extra-firm mattresses give you a supportive sleep surface and are particularly good for higher-weight sleepers and stomach sleepers. Extra-firm mattresses can keep your hips from dipping too much into the bed and help maintain a flat surface for spinal alignment. Choosing a mattress depends on your preferences and needs. Our Reviews Team has tested all the mattresses on this list, so you can decide which one is right for you.
While hybrid mattresses contain sturdy coils that can give a firm feel and provide durability, dense memory foam (like in the Plank Firm) can also create a sturdy, firm surface. Other materials, like latex, can also give you the firmness you need, it just depends on the construction of the mattress. If unsure, go to a mattress store and lay on a few. If you purchase a mattress, most online mattress stores offer a trial period of 100 days or more.
Some people might believe they need an extra-firm mattress to help with back pain, but research shows that medium-firm mattresses may actually be more helpful. Extra-firm mattresses can be great for higher-weight sleepers and those who sleep on their stomach.
As with other mattresses, the cost of an extra-firm mattress depends on factors like materials, size, and brand. Since there’s a wide price range, most people can find a mattress within their budget. The mattresses we reviewed ranged from $998–$2,265 for a queen.
Have questions about this review? Email us at reviewsteam@ncoa.org.
