The NCOA Adviser Reviews Team researches these products & services and may earn a commission from qualified purchases made through links included.
The NCOA Adviser Reviews Team researches these products & services and may earn a commission from qualified purchases made through links included. NCOA does not receive a commission for purchases. If you find these resources useful, consider donating to NCOA.
If you’re shopping for the best mattress for you, chances are its firmness level will be a deciding factor before you purchase. Feeling comfortable on your mattress is one of the best ways to ensure a good night’s sleep, and how soft or firm your mattress is can significantly influence your comfort level. Your preferred sleeping position may also influence the level of firmness you like or need in a mattress since pressure can build up in different areas of the body, depending on how you sleep.
For example, soft and medium mattresses may be good for side sleepers since they provide enough contouring and pressure relief in the shoulder and hip area. On the other hand, medium-firm to firm mattresses may be great options for stomach and back sleepers since they provide better support for the lower back and help keep the spine in a neutral position.
If you’re a side sleeper or prefer a firm but not too firm mattress, a medium-firm mattress may be right for you. In this article, we reviewed some of the best medium-firm mattresses on the market to help you make an informed decision as you shop. We evaluated these mattresses for quality, performance, pressure relief, and more. Continue reading to see our top picks.
We found several important factors when specifically testing medium-firm mattresses including:
The materials a mattress is made with may influence its firmness level. For example, memory foam mattresses provide a high level of contouring compared to latex or innerspring mattresses, which can increase how soft they feel.
Firmness level
We rank mattresses on a scale of one to 10, one being the softest and 10 being the firmest. Medium-firm mattresses range in scale from five to six on that scale and have a firm, but not too firm, feel.
Whether your mattress is soft, medium, medium-firm, or firm, you want a mattress that supports a neutral spineⓘ The spine’s natural curves at the neck, middle, and lower (lumbar) sections. in its most natural position.
Medium-firm mattresses often have layers designed to relieve pressure. Effective pressure relief targets sensitive areas like the shoulders, hips, and lower back—the most common pressure points—reducing stress and discomfort.
A mattress trial with 100 nights or more gives you three full months to test it out and return if it isn’t helping.
| Price | $1,149–$2,049 | $1,995–$4,390 | $839–$2,578 | $1,893–$3,920 | $1,499–$2,399 | $1,374–$2,249 |
| Material | Hybrid | Hybrid | Hybrid | Hybrid | Hybrid | Hybrid |
| Firmness | Softer, luxury firm, firmer, plus | Medium-firm | Medium-firm | Soft, medium, firm | Plush, medium-firm, firm | Medium-firm |
| Trial Period (nights) | 120 | 365 | 365 | 120 | 100 | 100 |
| Shipping | Free | Free | Free | Free | Free | Free |
| Warranty (years) | Lifetime | Lifetime | Lifetime | Lifetime | 10 | 25 |
| Height in Inches (″) | 13.5 | 15″ | 12″ | 14″ | 14″ | 11″ |
The WinkBed luxury firm model is a medium-firm hybrid mattress made from a combination of cooling gel memory foam and innerspring coils. The brand offers its flagship model in four firmness levels: softer, luxury firm, firmer, and plus. The luxury firm is the brand’s most popular model. Our Reviews Team gave it a score of 6.5 out of 10 on the firmness scale, making it a true medium-firm by industry standards.
One of the mattress’s standout features is its cooling cover made with Tencelⓘ A brand of lyocell fiber made from wood pulp that’s known for being soft, breathable, and absorbent. , an eco-friendly material that’s soft, cool to the touch, and helps wick moisture away from the body. The cover also features a soft foam layer, which helps relieve pressure. Underneath the Tencel cover is the Euro topⓘ A style of pillow top that provides an added layer of plush. The extra layer of padding is stitched beneath the mattress cover, so it’s flush with the edges of the mattress without adding extra height. comfort layer, which is made with gel-infused foam and offers some of the sinkageⓘ Good contouring sinkage can give sleepers the feeling of being “hugged” by their mattress, but too much sink can result in misalignment of the spine, especially for stomach and back sleepers. typical of memory foam mattresses. Since gel memory foam sleeps cooler than traditional memory foam, this may be an appealing feature for people who tend to sleep hot. These features also made The WinkBed one of our top picks for the best mattresses for couples.
The next layer is the support layer, made with individually pocketed coils that are zoned to provide the right level of support in the lower back, hip, and knee areas. This layer also features an additional layer of coils surrounding the perimeter of the mattress to help prevent sagging and provide good edge supportⓘ This refers to the bed’s stability along the edges. . Our testers said the mattress edges felt stable when they applied pressure or sat down, meaning this may be a good option for people with mobility issues, or who want to take advantage of the mattress’s full surface area.
When our tester evaluated motion transfer ⓘ The amount of movement felt on one side of the mattress when a bed partner moves on the other side of the bed. by dropping a 10-pound weighted ball on the mattress, they noticed little movement across the mattress, which means you’re unlikely to feel a partner moving around at night. Despite isolating motion well, this mattress also has a good amount of “bounce” due to its innersprings, which makes it an appealing option for combination sleepers who change positions frequently, or people who need a boost in mobility when changing positions or getting in and out of bed.
Overall, we think The WinkBed is a solid choice for people looking for a mattress that offers contouring and pressure relief while also offering a high level of support.
Who may love it
Who may want to avoid it
The WinkBed Luxury Firm has a star rating of 4.8 out of five, with more than 8,686 reviews on its website. Many reviewers discuss how the mattress offers a good blend of comfort and support.
We purchased a king size luxury firm. Delivery was very fast and setup was easy. The mattress is heavy, so it’s best to have 2 people. There was a slight off-gassing odor for the first week or two, but it wasn’t too bad and then it was gone. We have had our mattress for about 6 weeks. Our prior mattress was quite plush, so it took a bit of time to adjust to the firmness of this bed. However, now that we’ve gotten used to it, we’ve found it to be very supportive and comfortable and we sleep very well. We have been turning it every two weeks as per instructions. I do wish the mattress had handles to make lifting and turning easier, but that would be my only criticism.
— Amy B., verified buyer on 5/23/24
The mattress was fine for the first few months, but about 5–6 months in I started getting severe neck/upper back pain on waking up. Tried a variety of pillows (and even no pillow) but it didn’t help much. I switched back to my old mattress (which is slightly firmer and offers more support) and my pains went away. I really wanted to like the mattress and wanted it to work, but it wasn’t meant to be.
— Vinay R., verified buyer on 11/21/23
Was so unsure purchasing this because I had never heard of the brand. We have had our bed 6 months and absolutely love it. Firm but not rock hard. I’m probably buying a second one soon.
— Julie M., 5/27/24
The Saatva Rx was designed for people with painful back conditions, including sciatica, arthritis, scoliosis, and herniated disks. We gave this mattress high marks for pressure relief (4.75 out of five) and a perfect score of five out of five for overall support
You can reach Saatva customer service by:
Saatva accepts Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express, Google Pay, and PayPal. The brand also provides financing options through Affirm.
The company offers a discount of $225 for orders of $1,000 or more for members of the military, teachers, health care providers, government employees, and adults over age 65.
These are the scores we compiled for the Saatva Rx during our extensive testing process.
Learn more about our testing and scoring methods.
The Saatva Rx mattress was designed specifically for people with serious or chronic back issues. Our team likes that the mattress is made with natural and organic materials, making it an appealing choice for shoppers who prefer environmentally friendly materials.
The Rx has six primary layers, beginning with the natural organic cotton cover, which has been treated with an antimicrobial treatment to prevent the growth of bacteria, mold, and mildew. The quilted cover has zoned support that targets the lower back region to help keep the spine neutral. Because it’s made with organic, breathable cotton, the cover helps promote airflow and wicks away moisture to keep you cooler as you sleep. Saatva elevated the cover even further by going fiberglass free and using naturally derived thistle pulp as a fire barrier.
Our testers rated the Saatva Rx highly in almost every category we tested and said it performed especially well for back sleepers of all weights, as well as lighter-weight and average-weight stomach sleepers. Higher-weight stomach sleepers may need a firmer mattress that can support their midsection and keep it from sinking into the mattress and pulling the spine out of alignment, which is one of the drawbacks of soft and medium-firm mattresses.
The Saatva Rx is also great for side sleepers of all body types, but especially average-weight side sleepers. During testing, we found that the mattress provided good contouring and distributed our weight evenly. We also found that it provided good support for the hips while stomach sleeping, and provided good pressure relief for the hips and shoulders while back and side sleeping. “I didn’t feel any pressure, I could feel this mattress cradling my hips and shoulders, but not like I was sinking in. Instead, it was like sleeping on a cloud,” said one tester.
It also offered great edge and overall support, earning five out of five in both categories. We were impressed with its balance of motion isolationⓘ The ability of a mattress to keep movement on one side of the bed from affecting the other side and bounce, making it good for couples and people who want a boost in mobility.
Who may love it
Who may want to avoid it
The Saatva Rx has a star rating of 4.9 out of five, with 73 reviews on its website. Many reviewers discuss how the mattress helps relieve their back pain and how well they sleep on it.
At 44 I’ve struggled with severe sciatica for 15 years. Over the past 5 the pain has migrated to my hip and inner thigh. After a lot of research (and a particularly painful night of aches) we decided to give this mattress a try. I am so glad we took a chance on this—while my sciatica remains, I no longer have hip or inner thigh pain. I don’t wake up in the middle of the night with shooting back pain. Customer service was also fantastic when I reached out—this is a great company and a great product.
— Michelle, verified buyer on 1/18/24
“The first night I slept on the Rx mattress I knew it was a winner. Soft, but supportive. Zero hip pain sleeping on my side. First time in a decade. I’m sleeping more soundly than I have in years. No longer do I wake up at 2:30am with hip pain. Outstanding! One caveat: Most reviews state the Rx has “good” edge support. In my opinion, the edge support is fair at best.”
— Gjo, verified buyer on 2/11/24
“Honestly, each night has been even better than the first. No pain from pressure points, I feel supported (the mattress almost “cradles” me!) and 100% comfortable. Life changing in the best possible way!”
— KM, verified buyer on 6/7/24
The DreamCloud Memory Foam mattress is made with five layers of foam, which feature a combination of gel memory foam and standard foam to offer contouring, comforting sinkage, and support.
The layers of foam are all wrapped in a cashmere blend comfort cover that’s soft, breathable, and plush. The first two layers of the mattress are made with CertiPUR-US ⓘ This is a certification given to foam bedding materials that are environmentally friendly. certified gel memory foam and standard foam sewn into the cover for cushioning and support. Typically, memory foam retains heat, but our testers found this mattress was cool to the touch. Gel memory foam stays cooler than traditional memory foam, so sleepers shouldn’t need to worry about overheating on this mattress. We used a thermal gun to get a temperature reading and found that the mattress went up 6.5 degrees when our tester was lying on it. For context, anything less than 10 degrees is considered good cooling.
Our testers were impressed with the amount of support the DreamCloud provided and also noticed little to no pressure buildup in the lower back when resting on their back. We gave the pressure relief for side sleeping a score of four out of five because our testers felt a small amount of pressure in the shoulders, but still felt it performed well overall. Stomach sleeping positions were also well supported. Our testers said their hips stayed elevated rather than sinking into the mattress, keeping their spine in alignment. In our testing, we have found that all-foam mattresses sometimes have the unfortunate tendency to sink at the midsection, which can result in new or increased back pain.
One of the main benefits of memory foam mattresses is that they isolate motion well. The DreamCloud is no exception. Our testers gave the DreamCloud a five out of five for motion transfer, meaning no motion was detected from one side of the bed to the other in our tests. While this mattress has little bounce (bounce makes it easier to change positions), our testers said the firmness of the foam still made it easy to move around, which is important if you have reduced mobility.
Who may love it
Who may want to avoid it
The DreamCloud Original has a star rating of 4.6 out of five, with 8,903 reviews on its website. Many reviewers discuss getting quality, restful sleep on the mattress.
“This mattress has made my anxiety about back and neck pain at bedtime go away. Since getting this mattress, I have had the best sleep, without tossing and turning, and no back pain. It’s supportive and comfortable. After I unwrapped it, I let it sit in a spare room for two days to let it air out and form its shape. Great mattress. Highly recommend.”
— Sheila A., verified buyer on 5/13/24
“I bought my mattress about a month ago and I love it. I was hesitant to make a purchase online, but the customer support team here made my purchase go over so smoothly. I have always had a coil, old-fashioned-style Sierra mattress in my home, but switching to a hybrid mattress was the best choice I could have made. This bed will cushion and support all the pressure points in your body. Best night’s sleep I’ve had in a long time! You won’t wake up with back pain, and best of all it has a cooling activating layer to keep you cool at night. The bed frame was so easy to assemble. I’m so happy with my purchase.”
— Ann D., verified buyer on 5/12/24
The DreamCloud has a score of 4.5 out of five on Google, with 21,814 reviews. Some people have said it’s a good mattress for higher-weight sleepers, and some commented on the edge support being weaker than they’d anticipated.
The Elite Hybrid is available in three firmness levels: soft, medium, and firm. We tested the medium.
The Bear Elite Hybrid is a luxury hybrid mattress with advanced cooling technology. The quilted cover is made with phase change material (PCM)ⓘ A material that stores or releases heat to maintain a constant temperature. 1, a fabric designed to absorb body heat. Beneath the cover, a layer of copper-infused memory foam continues the job of absorbing your body’s heat so you can sleep cooler. An optional Celliantⓘ Celliant contains naturally occurring minerals and elements woven into fiber, making a product that’s able to capture a body’s heat and convert it into infrared energy that goes back into the body. -infused cover can be paired with the PCM cover. Celliant is a fiber that’s designed to absorb the body’s heat and reflect it back to the sleeper as far infrared radiation (FIR), a naturally occurring energy that is believed to aid in muscle recovery by increasing blood flow and decreasing inflammation.
The Elite Hybrid’s claim is that its Celliant cover will assist athletes and active people in recovering while sleeping. But the therapeutic benefits of FIR go beyond its use for muscle recovery. Studies have found that FIR has numerous health benefits and healing properties, like increased blood circulation and wound healing, and is increasingly being used to treat muscle aches, swelling, and other health issues. While Celliant is not a miracle cure, it may boost your body’s natural healing abilities and help ease chronic pain so you can sleep easier.
Underneath the cover is the copper-infused, memory foam comfort layer. This layer offers the traditional contouring you’ll get from memory foam and provides sinkage and a cushiony feeling around the shoulders and hips, which is ideal for side sleepers. Our testers said the Bear Elite Hybrid provided an exceptional amount of pressure relief, especially when resting on their back. They rated it a five out of five for back sleepers.
Despite the additional layer of coils built into the perimeter of the mattress for edge support, our testers didn’t feel that the edge support lived up to expectations. They noticed some dipping and sinkage when sitting or applying pressure at the edge, which is something people with mobility issues should consider. A firmer and more responsive, bouncier edge is a great assist in getting out of bed without too much effort, and the Bear Elite Hybrid does not have that.
While this mattress offered minimal bounce, our testers felt it was responsive enough to make movement easy. “As I switched positions, the cover pushed upward, helping me move. It’s firm on the inside but plush on top, providing support and cushion,” said a tester.
Who may love it
Who may want to avoid it
The Bear Elite Hybrid has a star rating of 4.6 out of five, with 3,776 reviews on its website. Many reviewers discuss how well the mattress relieves shoulder and back pain.
“I was looking for a new mattress because my previous mattress (foam) just became too firm over time. My husband and I both experience back pain and decided on switching to a hybrid instead of foam. We came across the Bear mattress and it just has exceeded our expectations. This mattress has just the right amount of firmness so you won’t sink into the bed, but just the right amount of plush to make you feel like you’re sleeping on clouds. Shipping also came on time and overall just had a pleasant experience.”
— Jada, verified buyer on 6/4/24
“Expectations blown out of the water! Worth every penny spent. I sleep in every position, so something versatile was needed. This brand came highly recommended from my mom. I absolutely do not regret giving it a try. The ability to choose firmness was awesome, in my opinion. I chose the medium firm and it was the Goldilocks pick for me. Soooo happy I chose this bed. Also, my dog LOVES it. She has refused to get out of bed every morning since her first night sleep[ing] on it.”
— Nichole T., verified buyer on 4/28/24
“I very much like my new mattress. It is exceedingly comfortable and much of the back pain and stiffness I experienced with my old mattress has disappeared. Additionally I am able to sleep longer and feel more refreshed when I awake. My only criticism is that the mattress is much too soft at the edges, and that’s where I spend most of my awake time in bed… reading, writing, listening, etc. If I’m sleeping in the very middle of the mattress it’s perfect. If I fall asleep on the edge I awake with some soreness and back pain. Guessing my body sags more and the distortion of my neck and spine are causing the discomfort.”
— Robert B., verified buyer on 4/10/24
We chose the Leesa Sapira Chill as the “Best Hybrid Medium-Firm Mattress” because it offers great support, bounce, motion isolation, and is suitable for different body types and positions. The Leesa Sapira Chill features layers of memory foam on top of innerspring coils, providing a high level of contouring and cushioning.
You can reach Leesa customer service by:
Leesa accepts Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover, and PayPal. The brand provides financing options through Affirm.
The company offers a “hero’s discount” of $50 off for military, first responders, health care professionals, educators, and college students. The discount code can’t be combined with other promotional codes.
These are the scores we compiled for the Leesa Sapira Chill Hybrid during our extensive testing process.
Learn more about our testing and scoring methods.
The Leesa Sapira Chill mattress is a luxury hybrid mattress constructed from a combination of seven layers of memory foam, gel-infused cooling foam, airflow foam, and innerspring coils. The mattress comes in three different firmness levels: plush, medium-firm, and firm. We tested the medium for this article.
As indicated by its name, the Leesa Sapira Chill has cooling technology integrated into its cover and in the layers of foam. The cover is made with cooling fibers, and the first layer of the mattress is made with quilted gel memory foam that helps keep things cool and offers some contouring. The third layer of airflow foam and sixth layer of wrapped innerspring coils provides beathability so heat isn’t trapped in the memory foam layers. While many mattress brands advertise cooling technology, it’s not always that effective. But our testers found the Sapira Chill lived up to its name and gave it a five out of five for cooling.
Our testers rated the Leesa Sapira Chill highly for its supportive and pressure-relieving properties, confirming that it would be a good choice for back sleepers. “I felt on the surface as a light-weight sleeper, but I still felt contouring and support,” said a tester.
While our testers said they felt some pressure with side sleeping, overall we feel it’s a good option for most side sleepers as well. Lighter-weight sleepers with severe shoulder pain may want to choose the plush option or add a cushioned topper.
Who may love it
Who may want to avoid it
The Leesa Sapira Chill has a 4.2 star rating out of five, with 57 reviews on its website. Many reviewers comment on liking the plush feel, but some reviewers said the springs were “creaky” and that they had reached out to customer service for resolution.
“We’re sleeping better than ever on our new mattress. It’s so supportive and soft at the same time, like magic!”
— Patti B., verified buyer on 6/3/24
“Was very skeptical of ordering a mattress in a box, but I am so happy with the product! We put the mattress in our son’s room on a platform frame. it’s a perfect firmness and feels like it will last for years. I’m planning on ordering another one for our guest bedroom!”
— Diane, verified buyer on 5/30/24
“This is a good mattress and it’s very nice quality. It would describe it as medium firmness, not firm at all. It is comfortable with the thick pillow top and it works well with our adjustable frame. It’s just a little jiggly for me. Good company and it’s nice to be able to speak to someone.”
— Kathy G., verified buyer on 4/29/24
The Birch Natural is an all-natural hybrid featuring a mix of natural latex, innersprings, and organic cotton and wool. Birch focuses on the production of all-natural mattresses and has two primary mattresses: the Birch Natural and the Birch Luxe Natural, which includes a plush Euro-top for added comfort.
The Birch Natural is covered in a soft, GOTS certifiedⓘ The leading textile processing standard for organic fibers worldwide. This means it has been ethically sourced and monitored during the production process. organic cotton cover designed for breathability. Beneath the cover is five key layers, the first of which is made from flame-retardant organic wool. Many mattresses use fiberglass materials as flame retardants, which has come under scrutiny in recent years. But since wool is naturally flame-retardant, Birch uses it in several of its mattress layers instead.
Our testers rated the Birch Natural as a good option for back sleepers and some side and stomach sleepers, with some body types and positions faring better than others. Overall, back sleepers of all weight categories should feel comfortable on the Birch Natural, while only higher-weight side sleepers will likely find it comfortable. Lighter-weight and higher-weight stomach sleepers will probably feel enough support on the mattress, while higher-weight people may find it dips in the hip area and throws their spine out of alignment. Because of the bounce from the latex and innersprings, combination sleepers and people with reduced mobility should find it responds well to movement.
“I think this mattress is ideal for people who need help with movement throughout the night, because it was springy and responded well when I changed positions,” said one of our testers.
The brand markets the cover and subsequent layers as cooling, but our testers’ said otherwise. They said the mattress heated up the longer they rested on it, which may be something to consider if you sleep hot. We rated the Birch Natural a four out of five for pressure relief, as there was a bit of pressure buildup in the side sleeping position.
Who may love it
Who may want to avoid it
The Birch Natural has a 4.6 star rating out of five, with 4,509 reviews on its website. Reviewers discuss how supportive the mattress is.
“This bed is amazing. Super soft, quiet, and supportive.”
— Spencer S., verified buyer on 5/23/24
“We love our new Birch mattress, the perfect combination of firmness and softness. It’s so comfortable, and I appreciate that it’s made with natural materials. I took my time buying a new mattress and compared several before buying Birch.”
— Mary H., verified buyer on 5/7/24
“My new mattress arrived on time and was easy to set up. It is very comfortable and a great upgrade from a basic mattress.”
— Satomi F., verified buyer on 5/7/24
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 eight older adults who recently purchased a mattress and surveyed more than 2,700 recent mattress customers 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 chose the best medium-firm mattresses based on the scores of the relevant criteria. See how we tested the most important considerations for this review below.
Like most mattress brands in the industry, we use a numeric one-to-10 scoring method when testing firmness, with 6.5 being the true medium-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. All of the mattresses chosen by our Reviews Team for this review met our standard for a true medium-firm mattress.
We rate pressure relief on a scale of one to five, with five being the most pressure-relieving. We consider how it feels and use a pressure map with sensors to visualize pressure points around the body accurately. Blue and green pressure map results show great pressure relief, while yellows, oranges, and reds indicate pressure build-up. Of the six medium-firm mattresses we chose for this review, the Bear Elite Hybrid scored the highest for pressure relief with a five out of five rating. Our testers said it provided a cushiony feeling and just the right amount of sinkage.
We score support on a scale of one to five, with five being the most supportive. Mattresses with strong support contour and push into the curves of your body, particularly the lower back or midsection. Not only do we feel support during testing, but we can also visualize it through pressure map results. Maps with mostly white space at the lower back show how the mattress isn’t making contact with the area, which means the mattress isn’t supportive. Half of the medium-firm mattresses in this review had an excellent score of five out of five for support, but your experience will depend on your body shape, weight, and sleep position.
We score edge support on a scale of one to five, with five being the strongest. Our team tests this by sitting and lying on the edge to determine how safe it feels and measure how far it sinks. For example, if a short 11-inch mattress’s edge sinks about 2 inches, it may feel weak because it collapses under body weight. For people experiencing leg or back pain, having a bed with strong edge support can be an especially important consideration, since it will hold them steady as they rise from the bed. Out of the six medium-firm mattresses in this review, the Saatva Rx mattress had the best edge support, with a perfect score of five out five.
We use a temperature gun to determine how well a mattress disperses body heat. If the mattress heats up more than 15 degrees, it’s considered a poor score. If it only heats up 5–10 degrees, it’s considered a good or excellent score. The feel of the material under our body is also factored into the score, with one indicating a poor score and five indicating good cooling technology. Our testers gave high marks to the medium-firm Bear Elite Hybrid for its above average cooling capabilities, and a perfect score of five for the Leesa Sapira Chill Hybrid, which uses a combination of cooling and airflow materials to keep sleepers cool.
Motion transfer is scored on a scale between one and five, with five being the most motion-isolating. To score this, one tester lies on one side of the mattress while another changes positions while lying on the other side. We score this feature by how much movement we can feel across the mattress. If we don’t feel movement, the mattress dampens motion well, scoring a five out of five. For sleepers who are easily awakened by a bed partner’s movements, motion transfer may be a priority, especially if they have trouble getting to sleep in the first place. The medium-firm DreamCloud mattress was the only mattress on this list with a perfect motion transfer score of five.
Our team scores bounce on a scale between one and five, with five being the most bouncy. We test this by dropping a 10-pound weighted ball on the mattress surface, recording how many times it bounces, and analyzing the sound of its landing. The ball will bounce multiple times on bouncier mattresses before cradling into the surface, while others thud onto the material, indicating low bounce. This is one area where sleepers with sensitive pressure points will appreciate a score of less than five, since bounciness can also mean less contouring and sinkage, as well as more motion transfer. But for people who need a bit of an assist for changing positions, the bounciness—also referred to as responsiveness—can help them to feel less stuck in a contoured spot, and can help them to get up and out of bed more easily. The Leesa Sapira Chill Hybrid and Birch Natural medium-firm mattresses had the highest scores for bounce. For less bounce with more pressure relief, consider the DreamCloud Memory Foam.
Our team developed this unique score to understand how well a mattress accommodates mobility issues, like difficulty moving around or getting up from the bed. We combined firmness (30%), support (30%), bounce (10%), and edge support (30%) to create a score between one and five, with five being the most helpful for movement in bed. In the medium-firm mattress category, the Saatva Rx and Leesa Sapira Chill Hybrid were above average in all of these categories.
To learn more about our testing and scoring methods, review our sleep methodology.
Our research and testing are ongoing, so our reviews evolve over time. We test new mattresses monthly to give you the most up-to-date information possible. Check back regularly for updates.
When shopping for a medium-firm mattress you’ll want to consider how well it relieves pressure, how much support it provides, the materials it uses, how well it isolates motion, and its bounce—or responsiveness. Medium-firm mattresses come in a variety of styles, and the performance of each one will fluctuate in all of these areas.
Your preferred sleeping position and your weight will influence how you feel on your mattress, so be sure to take those factors into consideration when evaluating the below categories.
Pressure relief in a mattress is a major consideration for people dealing with pain. Medium-firm mattresses are typically excellent for pressure relief since they provide the right level of contouring to relieve pressure in your joints, and enough support to keep the spine in a neutral position.
Since firmness is subjective, you may experience a different level of pressure relief on a medium-firm mattress than someone else would. Your sleeping position will also impact how a mattress feels. For example, if you sleep on your stomach on a medium-firm mattress, you may feel a greater amount of sinkage due to the way you’re applying pressure on the mattress. Finding the right sleeping position can help relieve pressure and improve your sleeping experience.
Your weight may also influence the way a mattress feels. For example, a mattress may feel firmer to someone who weighs less than 130 pounds than it would to someone who weighs more than 250 pounds.
A supportive mattress will help evenly distribute your bodyweight, stabilize your body, and keep your spine aligned in a neutral position. Like with pressure relief, finding the right level of support is important for those who experience pain, as support can help minimize pressure and stress on the joints.
People with back pain will want to find a medium-firm mattress with targeted support for the lower back. Many mattresses are made with layers of zoned support that can be found in the foam, latex, or innerspring layers. This design ensures your body is supported in the areas you need it most, while you receive pressure relief where you need it to.
The materials used in a mattress will largely influence how soft or firm it feels. Memory foam mattresses are often some of the softest mattresses on the market, as they provide a feeling of contouring and sinkage, which makes it feel like your body is being cradled.
Latex mattresses are made out of either Dunlop or Talalay latex and have a naturally bouncy feel to them. Dunlop latex tends to be firmer than Talalay, but both can be used in medium-firm mattresses to provide contouring and support.
Innerspring mattresses provide a lot of bounce, which means they’re good for combination sleepers due to their responsiveness. They tend to feel firmer, though, because they sometimes lack additional layers of cushioning, making them a less-than-ideal choice for side sleepers or sleepers with sensitive pressure points. Many innerspring mattresses come with pillow tops that offer sinkage for pressure point relief, and hybrid mattresses often use layers of memory foam over a layer of innersprings to provide a cushiony feeling with added support and responsiveness.
Motion isolation refers to how well a mattress is able to prevent motion from transferring across its surface. This is an important factor to consider if you sleep with other people, since their movement may potentially disturb you at night.
Materials like latex and innersprings are made to provide bounce, which is ideal for some purposes, but can also lead to motion transfer. If you tend to sleep lightly and are concerned about motion transfer, you’ll want to find a mattress made with materials that isolate motion to one side of the bed, like memory foam or some latexes. Hybrid mattresses that include memory foam are also a good option.
Medium-firm mattresses are made with a variety of materials, so be sure to check what a mattress is made of if motion isolation is a primary need for you.
When we measure bounce we’re evaluating how much spring or pushback the mattress gives when responding to pressure. Bounce is especially important for combination sleepers since they change positions frequently, and for people who use their bed for sex.
Mattresses made with innersprings typically provide the highest level of bounce, but hybrid mattresses and latex mattresses can also respond well to pressure. Bounce is also a good indicator of responsiveness, which affects how easy it will be to move around on the mattress.
Medium-firm mattresses may have varying levels of bounce depending on materials used, so be on the lookout for innerspring mattresses, latex mattresses, and hybrid mattresses if bounce is a priority for you.
Medium-firm mattresses are a good choice for people who experience back pain and pressure buildup. They may also be good for side sleepers since they tend to be soft enough to contour the shoulder and hip areas, where pressure is most likely to build. This level of firmness may also be suitable for higher-weight sleepers.
Firmness levels will likely be a deciding factor when it comes time to buy a mattress. But how firm a mattress feels may depend on different factors, including your weight and sleeping position. Generally, mattresses should be designed to distribute pressure evenly across the body. Higher-weight people compress a mattress more, so they may experience a mattress as being “softer” due to the sinkage, while the opposite is true for lighter-weight sleepers.
A medium-firm mattress may be a good option for average-weight or higher-weight side sleepers since it will provide the right amount of contouring and pressure relief needed in the shoulder and hip areas. Lighter-weight sleepers may experience medium-firm mattresses as more firm than others since there’s less push-back with their weight. This can be good for lighter-weight stomach sleepers, though, since firm mattresses help keep the hips elevated and the spine aligned.
Your sleeping position may be a deciding factor on whether a mattress is right for you. Here’s what you should consider based on your sleeping position:
Mattresses are made with a variety of materials, which are important to consider when purchasing a new mattress. While innerspring mattresses were at one time the most popular type of mattress available, we have a lot more options now, with hybrid, memory foam, and latex being the three primary types of mattresses on the market.
People who experience back pain or any other type of chronic pain will need a mattress that provides a combination of pressure relief and support. Medium-firm mattresses may be best for these sleepers as they offer support in the lower back region while offering enough cushion to offload pressure. But you don’t necessarily need a new mattress to relieve pressure.
“People can offload pressure points without changing their sleeping surface by using supportive pillows and adjusting the number of layers on their mattress,” said Peter Hinz, doctor of chiropractic and lead chiropractor at Cool Springs Chiropractic in Franklin, Tennessee.
“For example, if a person sleeps on their side, placing a pillow between their knees can help ease pressure on their hips. Using a firmer or softer pillow under the head can also help with spinal alignment.”
In addition to cost, body type, and sleeping position, firmness level is one of the most important factors to consider when choosing a mattress. Ultimately, we chose The WinkBed as our top medium-firm pick for its high-quality construction and high performance scores in support, pressure relief, motion isolation, and cooling. But comfort is a subjective experience. All the mattresses on this list have been tested by our Reviews Team, so you can make an informed decision and find the right one for you.
Medium-firm mattresses can be good for people with back pain because they provide a great balance of pressure relief and support in the lower back region.
Whether you sleep on a firm or medium-firm mattress depends on your sleeping position, body type, and personal preference. For example, stomach sleepers may need a firmer option, while lower-weight stomach sleepers may find a medium-firm mattress provides more than enough support. Lighter-weight or average-weight sleepers (particularly side sleepers) may appreciate the contouring and cushioning offered by medium-firm mattresses and find firm mattresses build up too much pressure. Be sure to do your research about weight and sleeping position before purchasing your mattress.
We rate mattress firmness on a scale of one to 10 and consider mattresses that fall between six and seven to be medium-firm. According to the industry standard, 6.5 is a perfect medium-firm mattress.
Medium-firm mattresses may be a good choice for side sleepers since they can offer contouring and pressure relief in the shoulder and hip areas, two places where pressure tends to accumulate for these sleepers.
Have questions about this review? Email us at reviewsteam@ncoa.org.
