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Best Medium Firm Mattress: Balanced Comfort
Our Top Picks
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Best Overall Mattress
Helix Midnight Luxe -
Best Value Mattress
Silk & Snow Hybrid -
Most Comfortable Mattress
Saatva Classic -
Best Mattress for Side Sleepers
DreamCloud Premier Hybrid -
Best Cooling Mattress
Nectar Premier
Best Overall Mattress
The Helix Midnight Luxe checks all of the important boxes if you’re seeking a medium firm mattress. Cushy foam layers, supportive coils, a sturdy perimeter, and a light, mellow bounce define this well-crafted hybrid model.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Foam layers provide even contouring that adds comfort and relieves pressure
- Zoned coils push back underneath heavier areas of the body
- Virtually silent in response to movement
Cons
- Foam materials can emit an off-gassing smell the first few nights
- GlacioTex cooling cover comes at an additional cost
Ratings
Our Take
Best Value Mattress
The Silk & Snow is a quintessential hybrid with a balanced feel and premium features at an affordable price-point. One stand-out feature our testers enjoyed was the zoned polyfoam and coils. This zoning prevented their midsections from sinking too deeply into the mattress and straining the lower back.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Great breathability and temperature control
- Standout edge support for a medium firm mattress
- Coils have zoned design for targeted pressure relief and lumbar support
Cons
- Bounciness of the coils can transfer motion across the bed
- May have too much “hug” for some sleepers
Ratings
Our Take
Most Comfortable Mattress
The Saatva Classic is a high-end innerspring with thoughtful construction to match. A plush Euro-top and pocketed minicoils prevent pressure buildup in sore spots, while a lumbar pad and coil system keep the body on an even plane. This balanced feel was comfortable for many of our testers.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Zoned lumbar pad gives the lower back extra support
- Quilted Euro-top cradles the body without excess sinkage
Cons
- Zoned lumbar pad gives the lower back extra support
- Quilted Euro-top cradles the body without excess sinkage
Ratings
Our Take
Best Mattress for Side Sleepers
The DreamCloud Premier is a high-profile foam hybrid that strikes a balance between cushioning and support. Our testers found the adaptive foam comfort system effective at reducing joint pain, while the coil system kept their bodies on an even plane.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Quilted Euro-top features memory foam that cushions pressure points
- Sturdy coils provide a dependable base of support
- 365-night sleep trial
Cons
- Tall mattress profile may require fitted sheets with a deeper pocket
- Foam layers can cause off-gassing after unboxing
Ratings
Our Take
Best Cooling Mattress
A lot of all-foam mattresses sleep hot, but the Nectar Premier mitigates this issue with a top layer infused with cooling gel and phase change material. The result is an adaptive, pressure-relieving sleep surface that closely contours to your body without feeling excessively warm.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Isolates motion well, so bed partners won’t disturb one another
- Excels at relieving pressure
- Comes with a 365-night sleep trial
Cons
- Edges may buckle under body weight
- May produce an off-gassing odor for a few days after being opened
Ratings
Our Take
Compare Our Top Picks
| Mattress | Mattress Type | Ideal For | Value | Sleep Trial |
| Helix Midnight Luxe | Hybrid | Combination Sleepers | Good Value | 100 nights (30-night requirement) |
| Silk & Snow Hybrid | Hybrid | People with Back Pain | Great Value | 365 nights (30-night requirement) |
| Saatva Classic | Innerspring | Back Sleepers | Fair Value | 365 Nights ($99 Return Fee) |
| DreamCloud Premier Hybrid | Hybrid | Back Sleepers | Great Value | 365 nights (30-night requirement) |
| Nectar Premier | Foam | Couples | Great Value | 365 nights |
Who Should Sleep on a Medium Firm Mattress?
A medium firm mattress strikes a balance, so it doesn’t feel either too hard or too soft. Imagine gently sinking into your mattress enough to cradle your body’s pressure points, but not so much that you feel stuck in place. If that sounds up your alley, you should sleep on a medium firm mattress.
You may get the best results from a medium firm mattress if you:
- Weigh between 130 and 230 pounds and need a blend of cushioning and pushback
- Are a combination sleeper who switches sleeping positions during the night
- Experience back pain and need consistent, dependable support
Their balanced feel gives medium firm mattresses broad appeal. In contrast to many plush beds, medium firm mattresses provide enough support to keep your spine aligned. But unlike extra firm beds, they have enough cushioning to limit painful impact with the mattress.
While everyone has their own subjective preferences, the majority of people can obtain at least average comfort on medium firm mattresses, which is why these beds are often used in hotel rooms.
Medium firm mattresses hit a sweet spot of support and cushioning that meets the needs of most sleepers, so there are often at least a few on our lists. When friends ask for mattress advice, I’ll usually direct them to a medium firm bed as a starting point so they can get a feel for what works for them. They’re also popular with couples, since they can be a good point of compromise that works for the different needs of two people.
Who Should Avoid a Medium Firm Mattress?
You should usually avoid a medium firm mattress if you prefer a harder or softer mattress, if you are a side sleeper who weighs under 130 pounds, or if you are a stomach or back sleeper over 230 pounds.
Side sleepers under 130 pounds typically find medium firm mattresses to be too hard to effectively cushion pressure points around their shoulders and hips.
Back and stomach sleepers who weigh over 230 pounds usually need a firm or extra firm mattress to prevent sinkage that can cause spinal misalignment.
Video: Is a Firm Mattress Right for You?
Watch our video to learn everything you need to know about mattress firmness so you can select the best level for your needs.
How to Choose the Right Mattress Firmness
We rate firmness on a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 being the softest and 10 being the firmest. On this scale, a medium firm bed is a 6. We evaluate firmness based on our testing methodology standards and experience with beds, aiming for a consistent measure. Although a mattress may be marketed as “mid-plush” or “extra firm,” we’ve found that these terms aren’t always accurate and that it’s best to evaluate beds according to our system.
There’s no single firmness level that’s perfect for everyone. Finding the mattress firmness that’s right for you depends on your personal preferences about what feels best. Also, your sleeping position and body type influence which firmness level works best for you. In general, you need the most cushioning if you sleep on your side. If you weigh over 230 pounds, you likely need more firmness to avoid bothersome sinkage.
What to Consider in a Medium Firm Mattress
When shopping for a medium firm mattress, also consider things like mattress type, support, and durability.
Interior materials determine the mattress type. Given the popularity of medium firm mattresses, you can find them offered in all mattress types.
Each kind of mattress type has benefits and drawbacks related to its materials. Memory foam usually provides excellent pressure relief and motion isolation, but struggles with edge support and temperature regulation. Latex sleeps cool and has significant bounce, but doesn’t contour closely to the body. Hybrids combine materials and capture a blend of their material’s pros and cons.
Think about the performance elements that matter most to you, and use that information to guide you to a specific mattress type.
Support
Support is another way of describing how well a mattress enables spinal alignment during sleep. Maintaining a neutral spine not only enhances comfort, but also reduces the chances of strained muscles and joints.
Because it depends on your body type and sleeping position, support from a mattress isn’t the same for everyone. When choosing a mattress, consider what mix of contouring and support can best accommodate your pressure points so that your body rests evenly on the mattress.
Durability
On average, a mattress lasts for about 7 to 10 years. But, this time frame varies based on the type of mattress, the quality of its materials, and how well it is cared for.
Durability is an important consideration when looking for a medium firm mattress, because weakening of the firmness level is one of the first symptoms of a worn-out mattress. If you prioritize a medium firm feel, you want a well-built mattress that can maintain that firmness level without premature sagging or softening.
Discover More Mattress Solutions
If you’re interested in seeing more great mattress options, check out our guides for the best models in different key categories.
More Mattress Guides
How We Test
All of our mattress recommendations are based on a thorough testing methodology that is applied by our in-house testing team. Using years of experience in the industry, our team members personally research and evaluate dozens of mattress models to identify their benefits and drawbacks.
During the testing, we take objective measurements, as well as solicit subjective input from each team member. By combining these different kinds of data, we can make the most reliable recommendations for our mattress buying guides.
Frequently Asked Questions
A medium firm mattress can suit a wide range of sleepers, but it tends to be best for people who weigh between 130 and 230 pounds. A medium firm bed also suits most combination sleepers who need a mattress that works well for multiple sleeping positions.
For most people, sleeping on a medium firm mattress delivers a balanced feel with moderate cushioning and stable support for the body. This firmness level hedges against excess sinkage and provides a dependable sleep surface. At the same time, a medium firm mattress has enough softness to gently cradle the body’s pressure points. That said, the feel of a mattress can differ based on a person’s body type and sleeping position preferences.
With a combination of pressure relief and support, a medium firm mattress is often a good choice for people with back pain. Some research studies have found that medium firm mattresses are most effective at reducing lower back pain.
For many sleepers, a medium firm mattress can promote spinal alignment and limit twisting that strains the back muscles. This may translate to increased comfort and less pain.
A medium firm mattress suits most side sleepers, but it may not be ideal for side sleepers who weigh under 130 pounds.
Side sleepers need a mattress that can cushion their hips and shoulders. At the same time, the mattress needs enough pushback to keep the hips and shoulders from sinking into the bed too deeply.
A medium firm mattress accomplishes these goals for many side sleepers, but it may lack the softness needed for sleepers who weigh less than 130 pounds.
In most cases, a medium firm mattress can be expected to last for at least 7 years. However, a medium firm mattress with poor design or subpar materials may start softening and sagging earlier in its lifespan. For optimal durability, look for a medium firm mattress that is solidly built with high-quality materials.
