When shopping for an extra firm mattress, the design and materials used are some of the most critical variables. Whether you’re a heavier person looking for a more supportive mattress, or a back sleeper in need of pressure relief, finding the best extra firm mattress can make all the difference.
Many times, a firmer mattress means either an innerspring or hybrid mattress. Still, some extra firm foam mattresses live up to the label. With different needs and preferences in mind, we’ve compiled and reviewed some of the best extra firm queen mattresses available. This list includes something for everyone, with six different mattresses and brands, each with its specialty.
Top 6 Extra Firm Mattresses
- Best Extra Firm Organic Mattress :Avocado Green MattressStarting at $1399 Shop Now
- Best Extra Firm Flippable Mattress :PlankStarting at $699 Shop Now
- Best Extra Firm Value Mattress :Titan Luxe HybridStarting at $899 Shop Now
- Best Extra Firm Pillow-Top Mattress :Helix DawnStarting at $799 Shop Now
- Best Extra Firm Luxury Innerspring Mattress :Saatva ClassicStarting at $935 Shop Now
- Best Extra Firm Memory Foam Mattress :Amerisleep AS1Starting at $1049 Shop Now
Compare the Best Extra Firm Mattresses
Best Extra Firm Organic Mattress
Why Avocado wins as best extra firm organic mattress
The Avocado is made of organic, environmentally friendly materials. Built with hybridization of latex foam atop recycled steel coils, it provides extra firm support, ideal for back and stomach sleepers. These mattresses are handmade in the company factory and are GOTS and GOLS certified.
Avocado’s best features
- The hybrid use of springs and foam provides extra firm support while maintaining comfort. The design uses over 1,400 coils, arranged ergonomically to maximize support where the body needs it most.
- Handmade construction using organic, environmentally friendly materials make these mattresses a unique and eco-friendly approach. For the materials used, Avocado mattresses are GOLS, GOTS, and Greenguard Gold certified.
Why we picked this bed
It can be hard to find a mattress that measures up when it comes to environmental friendliness and conscientious construction. The Avocado mattresses meet strenuous standards for quality organic materials while providing extra firm support and comfort. The firmness of this mattress, derived from the arrangement of coils within it, makes it an ideal mattress for back and stomach sleepers.
Best Extra Firm Flippable Mattress
Why Plank Firm wins as best extra firm flippable mattress
The Plank Firm mattress from Brooklyn Bedding offers different firmness profiles on each side, allowing sleepers to choose between the two at will. Despite being coil-free, this mattress provides support and firmness instead of creating that sinking sensation that often comes with foam beds.
Plank Firm’s best features
- One of the most notable features of this mattress is how it offers two different firmnesses, depending on which side of the mattress is up.
- Pulling off a firm mattress with foam is a tricky endeavor, but one that Plank Firm excels at. The Plank Firm mattress provides the comfort of foam yet delivers the kind of firmness needed for back and stomach sleepers.
Why we picked this bed
The Plank Firm mattress uses a top layer of proprietary quilted foam for comfort and luxurious support yet doesn’t lay it on so thick that sleepers will sink into the bed. Beneath this quilted comfort is firm support, derived from a layer of TitanFlex support foam atop a thicker layer of high-density polyfoam. The aggregate effect is one of supportive firmness with just the right amount of comfort on top.
Best Extra Firm Value Mattress
Why Titan wins as best extra firm value mattress
While the Titan mattress isn’t the cheapest, it is constructed with exceptional quality for its price. Built with a hybrid design, the Titan mattress has a 6” section of pocketed cools with three separate layers of specialized foams, each layer utilizing a different type. This construction creates a durable hybrid bed that provides firm support and luxurious comfort.
Titan’s best features
- The design of this mattress is one of the things that places it ahead of the curve. Totaling at 11” inches thick, the Titan mattress is built with four layers; support foam at the bottom, pocketed springs above that, followed by a layer of TitanFlex foam, and topped with 1” of memory foam.
- Compared to others on the market, the Titan mattress delivers a consistent firmness that leans towards the firmer end of the spectrum. This firmness makes the mattress ideal for heavier sleepers, as well as back and stomach sleepers.
Why we picked this bed
There are many firm mattresses to choose from, but the Titan firm hybrid mattress delivers a high degree of firmness, with quality construction for an affordable price. Thanks to its construction and design, this mattress delivers well on durability, body support, comfort, motion isolation, and responsiveness.
Best Extra Firm Pillow-Top Mattress
Why Helix Dawn wins as best extra firm pillow-top mattress
Many people prefer a firmer mattress to support their weight and keep their spines aligned. This pillow-top mattress provides this while still delivering a plush layer of comfort on top.
Helix Dawn’s best features
- Affordable but not budget, this mattress offers a high level of firmness beneath a pillow-top layer of comfort, making it one of the best extra firm mattresses in its price range.
- Quality for price is another feature of the Helix Dawn. Although the mattress isn’t cheap, it offers exceptional quality for its price range.
Why we picked this bed
Many sleepers prefer a firmer mattress but don’t necessarily want to go entirely without the plush comfort so often associated with softer beds. This extra firm mattress blends the two by adding a luxurious pillow-top to the surface of the mattress.
Best Extra Firm Memory Foam Mattress
Why Saatva wins as best extra firm luxury innerspring mattress
The Saatva delivers firm support within the trappings of luxury. It combines individually wrapped pocket coils with an innerspring system, memory foam, a Euro-top, and an organic cotton mattress cover.
Saatva’s best features
- Individually wrapped pocket coils deliver firm support with an added boost to motion isolation.
- An anti-microbial organic cotton mattress cover, nonremovable, provides a soft and luxurious feel to the bed.
- A bottom layer of innerspring coils makes sure the foundation of this bed starts with extra firm support.
Why we picked this bed
Sometimes going with a firmer mattress can mean sacrificing that luxurious feel that comes with plusher beds. The Saatva firm mattress balances this out by adding layers of luxury and comfort without diminishing the strength of its firmness.
Best Extra Firm Memory Foam Mattress
Why Amerisleep AS1 wins as best extra firm memory foam mattress
Although made of memory foam, this mattress can deliver the type of firmness that usually requires springs and coils. While it has some of that memory foam feel while lying in it, the AS1 is firm enough to make shifting positions in the night relatively easy.
Amerisleep AS1’s best features
- The memory foam used in this mattress is Bio-Pur memory foam, providing greater support and breathability than traditional memory foam. This modern technology prevents that sinking feeling associated with older forms of memory foam while also helping to keep the bed cool while you sleep.
- Added to the construction is a machine-washable mattress cover to provide an extra layer of comfort and protection.
Why we picked this bed
Finding an extra firm memory foam mattress can be tricky, especially without breaking the bank. Yet, this mattress manages to deliver on just such a balance. Advanced materials and clever design allow for an extra firm memory foam mattress, that while not cheap, is well priced for what it achieves.
Who Is An Extra Firm Mattress Best For?
Extra firm mattress lovers are a rare breed, but we see why some people really like or need them! Below, we’ve listed the major reasons why you might want to consider an extra firm mattress.
Heavy Sleepers
For people over 230 lbs., it can be difficult to find a bed that’s supportive enough. An extra firm bed, however, will provide the support heavy back and stomach sleepers need for proper spinal alignment. In other words, it ensures their back doesn’t sink into the foam, which can promote back pain.
Back and stomach sleepers
If you strictly sleep on your back or stomach, a firm bed may be beneficial for you because it can keep your spine in neutral alignment with your neck while you sleep.
Hot sleepers
Firm beds allow you to sleep more on top of them rather than inside, preventing a bed’s foam from hugging your body. This helps it not retain heat, allowing you to sleep cooler and more comfortably.
How To Shop For A Firm Mattress Online
Since you can’t try out your mattress when shopping online, here are a few things you can look out for to ensure your shopping experience is smooth sailing.
- Keep an eye out for good sleep trials so you can test your bed at home and let your body adjust to the firmness.
- Opt for a flippable mattress with two firmness levels, so you get two chances to find the right firmness level.
- Shop from reputable brands or brands you know make good products.
- Research on mattress review websites (like ours) to see what they recommend and which firm beds are on their radar.
Medium Firm vs. Firm
There are a few different types of firm mattresses: firm and medium-firm. Of course, firm is the firmness level we were focused on today. It’s as hard and solid as you can get in a mattress, and it offers an extremely supportive profile.
Medium-firm, on the other hand, offers a bit more pressure relief. This is helpful if you switch positions at night or want a little more plushness on your mattress. Honestly, medium-firm is more popular and liked than firm. But, as we said earlier, extra firm beds are great for the right sleepers!
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The Review Team
That depends on the type of sleeper you are. If you sleep on your back or stomach, a firm mattress will be good and will promote proper spinal alignment. If you’re a side sleeper, however, you’ll probably need a softer bed.
Firm beds are known to be the best for back sleepers, stomach sleepers, and folks with back pain, while side sleepers and those with aching joints tend to like soft mattresses.
An extra firm mattress will be the most solid, supportive, hard bed you can buy. Imagine the ground – -that’s what you’re working with. A medium-firm bed will offer more pressure relief and is a good option for combination sleepers.