Best Medium-Firm Mattress: Our Top Picks (November 2024)

A true medium-firm mattress offers both plushness and support, with a little extra focus on support. The plushness usually comes from softer top layers that use foam or latex. The mattress’s support layers use either higher-density foam (seen in foam mattresses like Douglas Original) or innersprings, which you would find in a hybrid mattress like Logan & Cove Choice.

Medium-firm mattresses are very popular because they appeal to a wide variety of sleep styles and body weights.

Mattresses fall under one of five firmness categories:

• A soft mattress has a high level of comfort and a low level of support, meaning you’ll sink right into its plush layers. However, this could lead to (or worsen) back problems if you weigh more than 120 pounds and can’t get the spine support you need.
• A medium-soft mattress still has a high level of comfort but comes with a little more support. You’ll still notice plenty of cushioning, but you won’t sink down as far. Still, the added support may not be enough to keep your spine aligned.
• A medium mattress provides equal levels of comfort and support. The top layer can be fairly plush with a good level of support beneath. But even with this balanced support, you might still notice pressure points when sleeping on a medium mattress.
• A medium-firm mattress offers more support than comfort, but you can still enjoy some plushness in the top layer. This is an excellent choice for spinal alignment and pressure point relief. If you’re looking for a comfortable mattress with lots of support, this is likely your best option.
• A firm mattress is even firmer than you might expect—all of the layers are extremely supportive with a very low level of comfort. This type of mattress isn’t designed for side sleeping and could create uncomfortable pressure points if you try.

Most people will sleep comfortably on a medium-firm mattress. That’s because medium-firm mattresses are a good fit for factors like:

• Sleep Style: Side sleepers, stomach sleepers, and back sleepers tend to prefer different firmness levels. However, a medium-firm mattress is ideal for all of these sleep styles because it relieves pressure points and provides comfortable support.
• Body Weight: The more your body weighs, the firmer the sleep surface you likely need. A medium-firm mattress provides ideal support for most body types and keeps you from sinking too far into the mattress.
• Back Pain: A medium-firm mattress helps you stay comfortable while keeping your spine properly aligned. This is good news if you suffer from upper, mid, or lower back pain. (You may also want to check out our guide to the best mattresses for back pain.)
• Bed Sharing: If you share your bed with a partner, kids or pets, a medium-firm mattress should fit everyone’s different sleep needs and provide a good night’s rest.

Douglas Original is the best medium-firm foam mattress for any sleep style. It offers superior edge support, a cooling gel layer, pressure-point relief, and excellent motion isolation—all for $799 for a queen size.

Looking for a medium-firm hybrid mattress? We recommend Logan & Cove Choice. It offers advanced cooling, motion-isolating pocket coils, and a 5-zone coil system that provides excellent overall support as well as targeted support for high-pressure areas like your back. Logan & Cove Choice has exceptional value for the price, at $999 for a queen size.

Both mattresses are loaded with features and values. You can also upgrade from Douglas Original to Alpine or Summit, or from Logan & Cove Choice to Frontier. To cap it all off, both mattress brands offer an industry-leading 365-night sleep trial so you’ll have plenty of time to confirm you made the right choice.

Logan & Cove Choice is the best medium-firm mattress for back pain. It features a 5-zone coil system, with thinner coils under the shoulders and knees for cushioning, thicker coils under the hips to maintain spinal alignment, and reinforced coils along the perimeter of the mattress for edge support.

This mattress has excellent value at $999 for a queen size. It also comes with a 365-night sleep trial to make sure it’s right for you.

When you’re living with back pain, you need a mattress that supports your spine in a neutral position. If you have lower back pain, you’ll want to look for a mattress that properly supports your spine in any sleep style. If you have shoulder or hip pain, or you sleep mainly on your side, look for a mattress with good pressure relief.

Logan & Cove Choice is your best match for all these types of back pain.

A medium-firm mattress is generally good for your back. However, not all mattresses are created equal. You’ll want to consider mattress materials, too, like high-density polyfoam, innerspring, or hybrid foam and coil mattresses—all of which play an important role in providing proper support and keeping your spine aligned.

If you have back pain or mobility issues getting in and out of bed, consider a mattress with zoned support and a higher level of edge support. Douglas Original fits the bill at $799 for a queen size. It also comes with a 365-night sleep trial, superior edge support, a cooling gel layer, pressure-point relief, and excellent motion isolation.

Mattresses fall into many different categories. Each has different characteristics that are a good fit for a variety of sleep styles. Here are just a few types of mattresses:

• Hybrid: Hybrid mattresses like Logan & Cove combine innerspring layers with foam or latex for a perfect pairing of contour and support. They tend to have better edge support and lower temperatures than memory foam, but this comes with reduced motion isolation for a slightly less peaceful sleep. (Shopping for a hybrid? Check out our list of the best hybrid mattresses.)
• Cooling Gel Foam: Some sleepers find normal memory foam too hot, so cooling gel foam mattresses like Douglas can be a great alternative. This type of mattress combines memory foam with cooling gel to keep temperatures comfortable while you sleep.
• Innerspring: Innerspring mattresses support your weight with metal coils. This makes the mattress bouncy and provides good edge support, but you might find this type of mattress less comfortable if your body needs more contouring.
• Memory Foam: Memory foam mattresses like Octave “hug” your body to relieve pressure and keep your spine aligned. They often incorporate zoned support, which can help relieve sore joints and provide other health benefits. In fact, the brand states that 86% of customers suffering from back pain said Octave helped reduce their pain.
• Latex: Natural or synthetic latex mattresses can relieve pressure in any sleep position. They have a reputation for comfortable temperatures and can last longer than other types of mattresses. However, latex mattresses can also be more expensive and may not be ideal for some people with latex allergies.

When you’re choosing a mattress, it’s important to consider more than just how comfortable it is. There are a whole range of factors to keep in mind, which we list below. (And when you’re ready to buy, make sure you buy a mattress online vs. in store.)

• Budget: Set a budget for your new mattress and stick to it. You might even be able to make this budget go further by finding limited-time deals and promotions online.
• Construction: Figure out what type of mattress you want, whether it’s foam, hybrid, or innerspring. There are pros and cons for each construction style, and knowing what you want will help narrow down your options.
• Firmness: Choose a mattress with the right firmness level for your sleep style—that is, whether you sleep on your side, back, or stomach. For example, side sleepers often want a softer mattress, while back sleepers may prefer something firmer. (Did you know that a medium-firm feel is ideal for most sleep styles? Get our guide to the best medium-firm mattresses.)
• Pressure-Point Relief: Got achy joints? How about a sore back? If you do, look for a mattress with enhanced pressure-point relief so you sleep better at night. Octave Vista comes with five body-contouring support zones to aid in your body’s natural recovery and help you wake up pain-free the next day.
• Motion Isolation: Pay close attention to motion isolation if you share your bed with a partner, kids, or pets. The higher the isolation score, the less you’ll notice movement from the other side of the bed.
• Edge Support: Are you in the habit of sitting or sleeping near the edge of the bed? Look for a mattress with good edge support so you feel supported in any position.
• Bounce: If you have trouble getting out of bed in the morning, you might prefer a mattress with extra bounce. (Your inner child will enjoy it, too!)
• Contouring: Contouring materials like memory foam help support your body in all the right places. That said, too much “hug” can cause overheating and make it hard to move, so find the level of contouring that’s best for your body.
• Temperature: Speaking of overheating—if you’re a warm sleeper, look for a mattress that promotes airflow and reduces heat. Look for a mattress with cooling gel foam and other cooling technologies.
• Responsiveness: A responsive mattress allows you to change positions without feeling stuck. Often found in hybrid designs, a responsive mattress can help you enjoy certain activities in bed even more.
• Noise: Nobody likes a squeaky or crinkly mattress. Get a quiet night’s sleep with a mattress made from noise-quieting materials like foam or latex.
• Company Policies: Get details about the manufacturer’s sleep trial, return policy, and product warranty so you know what you’re getting into.

Expect to spend anywhere from $399 to $1,699 on a good medium-firm mattress. The price depends on what type of mattress you choose, what size you purchase, and whether you’re buying online or in-store.

You may spend a little more if you want certain features or need a particular kind of mattress to address specific comfort issues. For example, a cooling foam mattress like Douglas Original costs $799 for a queen size. If you need more back support, consider a hybrid like Logan & Cove Choice—you can get a queen mattress for $999.