Best Medium-Firm Mattress

Written by Loren Bullock, Editor, Mattress & Bedding Expert

Methodology

Here at Mattress Nerd, we’ve tested hundreds of mattresses to bring you unbiased, expert reviews of the top brands. Learn more.

In This Article

Our expert mattress testers compiled a list of the best-performing, medium-firm mattresses. This list is based on our most up-to-date testing results.

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Looking for a new mattress? If you’re someone who likes a bed that offers softness without compromising on support, then a medium-firm mattress really is the best of both worlds. So, it’s no wonder that the average sleeper tends to sleep best on these kinds of beds. Read on to check out some of the best medium-firm mattresses on the market.

The Bottom Line: Which Medium-Firm Mattress Is Best?

The Mattress Nerd team chose the Saatva Classic as the best medium-firm mattress due to its universal firmness level, high-quality materials, and top-notch policy combo.

Best Medium-Firm Mattresses of 2024

• Saatva Classic – Editor’s Pick
• DreamCloud Premier – Best Medium-Firm Mattress for Side Sleepers
• Nectar Original – Best Medium-Firm Memory Foam Mattress
• Helix Midnight – Best Medium-Firm Queen Mattress 
• The WinkBed – Best Medium-Firm Mattress for Back Pain 
• Brooklyn Bedding Signature Hybrid – Best Affordable Medium-Firm Mattress
• Avocado Eco Organic – Best Organic Medium-Firm Mattress

Chosen by Experts and Advocates

To create this list of the best medium-firm mattresses, our Lead Mattress Tester, Loren; Editor, Becca; and Staff Writer, Ashton referenced mattresses with a firmness level between 6–7 out of 10 on the firmness scale.

All of the mattresses on this list have been personally tested by our team and have the Mattress Nerd stamp of approval. Learn more about our review process here.

Video Review: Best Medium-Firm Beds

Editor’s Pick – Saatva Classic

When it comes to medium-firm beds, the Saatva Classic has it all: great back support, breathability, top-notch edge support, responsiveness, and three different firmness options. If you’re an average-weight sleeper (between 130 lbs and 230 lbs), then the Saatva Classic’s medium-firm, or “Luxury Firm” option will most likely be ideal for you. However, this mattress is also an excellent choice for heavier side sleepers and lightweight stomach sleepers.

Also, some highlights of the hybrid Saatva Classic include its reinforced edges, which are a big plus for the bed’s durability and edge support, and its quilted foam mattress top, which adds extra pressure relief and contouring to this otherwise solid mattress. Not to mention, the Saatva Classic’s organic materials and breathable pocketed-coil base make this mattress one of the most cooling out there.

See our full Saatva Classic Mattress review to learn more

Pros/Cons of the Saatva Classic mattress

Pros

• Hot-sleeper friendly
• Great for combo sleepers
• Could help relieve back pain

Cons

• Doesn’t isolate motion well
• Can be pricey to some
• Lack of pressure relief for lightweight side sleepers

What our testers say: “The Saatva Classic is a Mattress Nerd fav to put it simply. The materials are high-quality, supportive, durable, and customizable. The luxury-firm option has a medium-firm feel that suits sleepers of most body types and sleeping positions.” – Loren, Lead Mattress Reviewer

Best Mattress for Side Sleepers – DreamCloud Premier

The DreamCloud Premier is such a great pick for side sleepers because it offers exceptional pressure relief, especially for a firmer hybrid bed. When lying on this DreamCloud, you’ll feel lifted and supported, while cushioned by this mattress’s contouring top layers. All in all, this balance of firmness and pressure relief makes the DreamCloud Premier ideal for side sleepers who weigh over 130 lbs. Plus, the Premier has solid edge support too.

Diving deeper into this bed, what really makes the difference in the hybrid DreamCloud Premier for side sleepers is its top layers. With cashmere in the Premier’s mattress cover and two layers of contouring foam below that, this bed is in a league all its own when it comes to pressure relief and softness.

See our full DreamCloud Premier Mattress review to learn more

Pros/Cons of the DreamCloud Premier mattress

Pros

• Offer a hotel-bed feel
• Very durable construction
• Also great for back sleepers

Cons

• Doesn’t isolate motion well
• Doesn’t support most stomach sleepers
• May hold a bit of heat

What our testers say: “The DreamCloud Premier is a medium-firm bed, so it should be comfortable for the majority of sleepers, especially average to heavyweight side sleepers. The euro top, cashmere cover, and high profile give the DreamCloud Premier a more luxurious feel—sort of like an all-out beach-front vacation.” – Loren, Lead Mattress Tester

Best Memory Foam Mattress – Nectar Original

We’ve covered a couple medium-firm hybrid beds, now let’s move the spotlight to the Nectar Original, a medium-firm all-foam mattress. Unlike the previous entries on this list, the Nectar does not have pocketed coils at its base layer. That’s not to say the Nectar comes up short, however. Where hybrid medium-firm mattresses tend to be more solid feeling, this foam bed feels much more like soft, sinking quicksand.

With several layers of contouring foam, the Nectar is excellent for lightweight back sleepers and for average-weight side sleepers too. If you’re a fan of mattresses that you can really sink down into, while still feeling supported, the Nectar might be for you. Also, this bed’s all-foam design does wonderfully at reducing motion transfer, putting it at the top of any light sleeping couple’s list.

See our full Nectar Original Mattress review to learn more

Pros/Cons of the Nectar mattress

Pros

• Offers good motion isolation
• Cooling foam infusions
• Affordable price

Cons

• Lacks solid edge support
• Doesn’t support most stomach sleepers
• Is not actively cool, more temperature-neutral

What our testers say: “Nectar’s strength is balancing comfort and support. It has a traditional foam feel: sort of like Tempur-Pedic on a budget.” – Loren, Lead Mattress Tester

Best Queen-Size Mattress – Helix Midnight

Every mattress on this list comes in Queen-size, but the Helix Midnight is also a great mattress for couples, many of whom share Queen-size beds. For starters, the Helix Midnight has exceptional motion isolation, especially for a hybrid bed. Even if you’re a light sleeper, you likely won’t be able to feel your partner’s tossing and turning. Not only that, but the Midnight is a super breathable mattress too. So, if you find that your partner also heats up your bed like a furnace, the Helix Midnight should have you covered. And finally, the Midnight performs well for all sleeping positions, meaning that everybody wins when splitting this bed.

You might be wondering how exactly the Helix Midnight can do all that. Well, this bed’s hybrid design features a contouring and breathable mattress cover set above two layers of pressure relieving transition foam. This keeps movement on top of the bed from moving the pocketed coils at the Midnight’s base.

See our full Helix Midnight Mattress review to learn more

Pros/Cons of the Helix Midnight mattress

Pros

• Great pressure-relief for side sleepers
• Isolates motion well for couples
• Comes at a value price

Cons

• Not firm enough for heavyweight stomach sleepers
• The foam muffles the responsiveness a bit
• The edge support could be stronger

What our testers say: “Couples should appreciate how well this bed isolates motion. The universal firmness level and all-around good performance allows this bed to work well for most people.” – Becca, Editor & Mattress Tester

Best Mattress for Back Pain – The WinkBed 

Up next is the WinkBed, a medium-firm hybrid that just falls short of the “firm” category. But, if you’re a back sleeper, don’t let this mattress’s firmness put you off, because the WinkBed has outstanding lower back support and pressure relief too. When lying on this mattress, you’ll notice that it feels cooling and lifted (but with enough softness on top). Additionally, the WinkBed has great edge support and responsiveness, for combination sleepers, as well.

Like other hybrid mattresses on this list, the WinkBed has base layers of high-density foam and pocketed coils, but this bed stands out in that it has latex in its comfort layers. Unlike standard foam, latex offers much more lift and bouncy, making the WinkBed plenty supportive for back sleepers of all sizes.

See our full WinkBed Mattress review to learn more

Pros/Cons of the WinkBed mattress

Pros

• Very breathable construction
• Bouncy and responsive
• Supports all body types

Cons

• The coils don’t allow for motion isolation
• “Plus” model is more expensive
• There is a period of off-gassing after unboxing

What our testers say: “The lumbar support in the WinkBed is a stand-out feature.  I experience back pain when I stand for long periods of time and I’m not cognizant of my posture. Lying on the WInkBed cushioned my back and helped ease some of that pressure.” – Becca, Editor & Mattress Tester

Best Affordable Mattress – Brooklyn Bedding Signature Hybrid

It’s important to get value out of your mattress, especially if you’re shopping on a budget. While the Brooklyn Bedding Signature Hybrid isn’t the cheapest hybrid bed on the market, it has lots to offer at about $ for a Queen-size (and under $1,000 with sales and promotions). 

In terms of what you’re actually getting for the price tag, the Signature Hybrid includes a nearly one-foot-tall construction that has quilted memory foam at the top for ideal pressure relief and comfort, in addition to several layers of gel-infused memory foam specifically designed for supporting your spine while you sleep.

See our full Brooklyn Bedding Signature Mattress review to learn more

Pros/Cons of the Brooklyn Signature mattress

Pros

• Value price
• Combo-sleeper compatible
• Breathable and cooling enough for hot sleepers

Cons

• Heavyweight stomach sleepers may want more lift
• Side sleepers may not get enough pressure relief on the medium-firm version
• Lacks strong edge support

What our testers say: “The Brooklyn Signature is customizable, and we tested the medium version in the Nerd Lab. It works best for back sleepers and average to heavyweight side sleepers. I have to call out that it’s made in the USA, which really contributes to the value price.” – Loren, Lead Mattress Tester

Best Organic Mattress – Avocado Eco Organic

What your mattress is actually made of can be just as important as how it feels or how much it costs. If you’re in the market for a medium-firm mattress made from quality, organic materials, the Avocado Eco Organic is definitely worth checking out. This bed is made entirely from natural and eco-friendly materials like wool, cotton, latex, and steel coils—all at a great value.

That said, the Avocado Eco Organic isn’t just good for the environment, it’s all ideal for stomach sleepers of all sizes and hot sleepers too. This is because the Eco Organic’s natural materials are naturally breathable (cotton and steel coils) and lifted as well (latex).

See our full Avocado Eco Organic Mattress review to learn more

Pros/Cons of the Avocado Eco Organic mattress

Pros

• Under $1,000 for a Queen
• Natural and organic materials
• Cooling and responsive

Cons

• Motion transfers across the surface
• On the firm side of medium-firm
• Can be heavy to unbox

What our testers say “I’m surprised how affordable the Avocado Eco Organic is. It nearly got a 5/5 on all of our performance tests, and it’s built with naturally derived materials.” – Becca, Editor & Mattress Tester

What Is a Medium-Firm Mattress?

Two different sleepers can find the same mattress more or less firm, but certain kinds of materials and types of beds are objectively softer or firmer than others. To keep it simple, we use a scale of 1–10 when testing beds, and, with this scale, medium-firm would be from 6–7 out of 10.

Mattress Firmness Scale

To go into more depth on our firmness scale of 1–10, think of “1” as being super soft and “10” being like a hardwood floor. Mattresses under 6 on this scale would be “soft to medium-soft”, and mattresses above a 7.5 would be “firm”. Generally, firmer beds are more lifted but can also cause pressure issues for some, especially side sleepers.

Medium vs. Firm Mattress

You might still be wondering, how exactly do we draw the line between “medium-firm” and just flat-out “firm”? In terms of feel, medium-firm beds are similar to the average mattress, whereas firm mattresses tend to be much more dense and responsive, but often short on pressure relief.

Who Is a Medium-Firm Mattress Best For?

The best thing about medium-firm mattresses is that they’re really for everybody: side sleepers, back sleepers, and stomach sleepers. This is because medium-firm beds tend to have a middle-of-the-road and balanced feel. Specifically, however, back sleepers and average-weight sleepers (between 130 lbs and 230 lbs) tend to sleep best on these mattresses.

Who Should Avoid a Medium-Firm Mattress?

On the other hand, medium-firm mattresses may not be ideal for some heavyweight sleepers, especially if they’re stomach sleepers. Often, heavyweight sleepers and stomach sleepers prefer more supportive beds that other kinds of sleepers may find too firm. Also, some lightweight side sleepers may prefer a soft mattress for maximum pressure relief at the hips and shoulders.

What to Consider When Shopping for a Medium-Firm Mattress

Knowing the right firmness for your next bed is a great first step, but, if you want a mattress that’s really the right fit for you, it’s worth considering some other facts as well.

Materials

• Hybrid: Hybrid beds are, well, a hybrid of memory foam and coils, which provides a balance between the contouring feel of memory foam and the lifting bounciness of coils. Generally, hybrid mattresses feature several foam comfort and support layers above a base layer made of coils. Depending on the thickness of those foam layers, hybrids can be softer or more solid.
• Memory Foam: Memory foam mattresses are known for their soft and sinking feel, but these beds can actually range from super soft to ultra firm. However, unlike other kinds of mattresses, these are made entirely of polyfoam. In terms of firmness, you expect most all-foam beds to fall between “soft” and “medium-firm”.
• Latex: Latex is a rubbery material often included in beds for its lifted and bouncy feel. Also, it’s made from organic materials. While latex itself isn’t very soft, latex beds that have thicker comfort layers can be more contouring. Also, one major distinction to make between latex beds is if they’re made from Dunlop or Talalay latex, with Talalay being a bit softer.
• Innerspring: Finally, innerspring mattresses are the traditional kinds of bed. Essentially, they’re like hybrid beds, but without the thick foam layers above their coils. These beds are usually pretty responsive and cooling, but they’re typically not very soft.

Sleeping Positions

• Side Sleepers: Of all kinds of sleepers, side sleepers tend to need more softness and pressure relief. When it comes to medium-firm mattresses, heavyweight and average-weight sleepers should be able to provide enough support and cushioning, but some lightweight side sleepers may need a softer kind of mattress.
• Back Sleepers: For back sleepers, keeping the “S”-shape of the spine aligned is most important, and medium-firm mattresses generally do a pretty good job of this. Specifically, for heavier back sleepers, more firmness is usually beneficial for keeping this balanced feel, while, for lighter back sleepers, more pressure relief tends to be better.
• Stomach Sleepers: Stomach sleepers are all about firmness since they need to keep their hips elevated to sleep well. However, when it comes to medium-firm beds, heavyweight and average-weight stomach sleepers will likely prefer firm mattresses. And, for lightweight stomach sleepers, even some medium-firm beds may still be too soft.
• Combination Sleepers: Combination sleepers often change their sleeping positions throughout the night, so responsive and lifted mattresses are often best for them. Generally, medium-firm beds tend to be more responsive than softer beds, but this varies widely by material. Hybrid and innerspring mattresses are usually a better fit for average-weight and heavyweight combination sleepers.

Temperature-Regulation

Although different kinds of mattresses can provide a medium-firm feel, they won’t all necessarily provide the same temperature regulation, which can be especially important for hot sleepers. If you’re someone who overheats at night, you’ll want to go with an innerspring or hybrid medium-firm bed, while sleepers who are less concerned about temperature control should be okay with most foam beds too.

Motion Transfer

Too much motion transfer is bad news for light sleepers sharing a bed. If your sleeping partner tosses and turns a lot, then you’ll likely prefer a medium-firm bed that offers good motion isolation. In general, foam beds tend to have better motion isolation (since they’re less bouncy), whereas hybrid and innerspring beds tend to vary a bit more.

Policies

When buying your next medium-firm bed, it’s essential not only to pay attention to your bed’s feel and performance, but also its policies like warranty, sleep trial, and shipping. When it comes to mattress warranties, you can expect most beds to come with a warranty that ranges from 10 years to Lifetime. And, for sleep trials, you can expect anywhere from 90–360 nights.

Price

Lastly, you’ll want to consider the price of your next medium-firm mattress and the pros and cons of going with a cheaper or more luxury bed. Generally, cheaper mattresses range from about $400–600 for a Queen, affordable mattresses are about $600–$1,000, and luxury mattresses are usually $2,000 or more. While the right bed for you can depend on a variety of factors, you’ll typically find that luxury beds often are more thick, supportive, and come with more generous policies.

Best Mattress Accessories for Your Medium-Firm Mattress

We’ve covered all the ins and outs of shopping for your next medium-firm bed, so let’s wrap up with some mattress accessories, the things you’ll put on top of your bed.

Pillows

Just like with the actual mattress itself, the best pillow for you will depend on your sleeping preferences. Generally, if you’re a back sleeper or stomach sleeper, you’ll want a thinner pillow so that your back stays naturally straight while you sleep. However, for side sleepers, on a medium-firm bed, you won’t be able to sink down as much as a soft bed, so you’ll want a fluffier, softer pillow to support your neck.

Toppers

Mattress toppers are a great way to add extra softness or support to your medium-firm bed. And, like pillows, they can come in a variety of materials like foam or feathers. That said, since medium-firm beds have a mostly neutral feel, many sleepers may feel fine without one.

Recap of the Best Medium-Firm Mattresses

Mattress Model	Award	Firmness Level
Saatva Classic	Editor’s Pick	6.5/10
DreamCloud Premier	Best for Side Sleepers	6.5/10
Nectar Original	Best Memory Foam	6/10
Helix Midnight	Best Queen-sized	6/10
The WinkBed	Best for Back Pain	8/10
Brooklyn Bedding Signature Hybrid	Best Affordable	6/10
Avocado Eco Organic	Best Organic	7/10

Medium-Firm Mattress FAQs

What medium-firm mattress is best?

There are tons of great medium-firm mattresses out there for all kinds of sleepers, but we’ve found that the Saatva Classic is about as good as it gets. This bed supports sleeping in all positions, and it has excellent temperature control, edge support, and pressure relief too.

Do most people prefer medium or firm mattresses?

Generally, medium-firm mattresses appeal to back sleepers and average-weight sleepers the most. So, the typical sleeper will likely be able to find a medium-firm bed that works for them. However, if you’re a lightweight or heavyweight sleeper, you may prefer a softer or firmer bed.

Do hotels use medium-firm mattresses?

Yes. If you’re looking for a mattress that recreates the lifted but soft feel of a hotel bed, we recommend you start with medium-firm beds. The reason why many hotels use these kinds of mattresses is that they appeal to side sleepers, back sleepers, and stomach sleepers alike.

Loren Bullock

Editor and Mattress & Bedding Expert

About Author

Loren is the Lead Mattress Reviewer at Mattress Nerd. She has prioritized sleeping for as long as she can remember, rarely deviating from seven to nine hours each night. As an editor on Mattress Nerd and a Certified Sleep Science Coach, Loren aims to help people achieve optimal sleep health and pick the best sleep accessories for their needs. You can find her testing mattresses, exploring the best sleep hacks, and telling you about her findings on Mattress Nerd’s YouTube channel and on TikTok.

Combination Sleeper

Education & Credentials

• Certified Sleep Science Coach