Best Medium-Firm Mattress 2024

Our Expert’s Take

The Helix Midnight is an incredibly well-rounded, medium-firm mattress. This model is made of high-quality materials and sold at a value price. It’s great for those wanting a balanced foam feel since the hybrid’s durable coils add responsiveness. The Midnight offers nice pressure relief and lots of support to keep sleepers’ spines in proper alignment. The medium-firm feel makes it an excellent fit for most side sleepers as the foam layers should offer some nice pressure relief to the hips and shoulders. Most back sleepers should also appreciate the comfy contouring this bed provides.

What We Love About the Helix Midnight

• There are some great cooling benefits that the Midnight offers. The mattress has a breathable cover, and because it’s a hybrid mattress, the coil layer offers some additional airflow. 
• The Helix Midnight is a great balanced mattress. The Memory Plus Foam and Helix Responsive Foam contour the body, and the supportive coils in the mattress give a nice bit of bounce to the bed.
• In spite of the bouncy and responsive nature of the mattress, it isolates motion pretty well, thanks to the Memory Plus Foam. This is great for partners who might disturb each other throughout the night.

What to Keep in Mind About the Helix Midnight

• If you wake up easily throughout the night, you might be disturbed by the creaking and squeaking of the coils in this mattress. Though the noises weren’t loud, they could still be annoying for some.
• This is a slightly firmer than average mattress, and while many sleepers may be comfortable on this mattress, most stomach sleepers may want something slightly firmer.

Other user reviews

On the Helix site, customers ranked the mattress with 4.5 out of 5 stars. Customers praised how comfortable the Midnight mattress was for them, and some even mentioned that the mattress helped alleviate their back pain.

Read our full Helix Midnight mattress review for more information. Or if you’re looking for more options, see our roundup of the best mattresses. 

Our Expert’s Take

Medium-firm mattresses offer additional support that can be great for heavier side sleepers, or side and back sleepers looking for a firmer feel. The Nectar has 3” of gel foam, followed by 2” of a higher-density foam as a transition layer. Its softer foam helps relieve pressure points around the shoulders and the hips. The transition foam keeps the sleepers from sinking too far into the mattress. This is further supported by Nectar’s sturdy seven inches of base foam.

What We Love About the Nectar

• The Nectar is made with soft foam layers that contour the body, so side sleepers shouldn’t feel pressure in their hips and shoulders when laying on the mattress. 
• The Nectar mattress is also made with great edge support, so if you find yourself near the edge of the bed while you sleep, the sturdy perimeter should keep you from feeling like you’re going to roll off.

What to Keep in Mind About the Nectar

• If you’re a larger sleeper, you’ll likely need a firmer mattress than the Nectar. The softer foams in the mattress will likely allow you to sink too far into it, leading to some uncomfortable sleep.
• As with heavier sleepers, stomach sleepers also tend to need a firmer mattress. The Nectar will likely be too soft for most stomach sleepers, even if they are smaller sleepers.

Other user reviews

On the Nectar site, the Original mattress is rated 4.7 out of 5 stars. Users say that the mattress cradles their body, and helps with some chronic pain they have. On the other hand, though, some users felt like the mattress was really soft, and therefore didn’t offer enough support.

Read our full Nectar mattress review to learn more about this mattress. Or if you’re looking for more options, take a look at our Best Mattresses for Side Sleepers.

Our Expert’s Take

If you want a mattress with a plush, pillow-top feel, the DreamCloud Premier might be right up your alley. The top layers of the mattress are soft, so when our testers pushed their hands into them, they pressed through easily. Once they got to the base layers, however, they weren’t able to push their hands further, thanks to the support those layers offer. This is a great testament to the balance of comfort and support that the Premier mattress is made with.

What We Love About the DreamCloud Premier

• Hot sleepers should enjoy the DreamCloud Premier. It has coils that promote airflow, and the cover is made from a cashmere blend, making it breathable.
• It’s a mattress that balances out comfort and support, which back sleepers should love. Since it’s a medium firm feel, it should give cushion on the top layer and the layers underneath offer support.
• Side sleepers who need pressure relief for their sides and hips should love this mattress. The layers of memory foam and soft foam will contour the joints and offer pressure relief.

What to Keep in Mind About the DreamCloud Premier

• If you don’t love a medium-firm feel and want something very soft or very firm you likely won’t want this mattress. This bed is right in the middle in terms of firmness and feel.
• Stomach sleepers also aren’t likely to want this mattress. It’s not firm enough for stomach sleepers who’ll need a bed that is at least a 7.5/10 on the firmness scale.

Other user reviews

The DreamCloud mattress has a 4.5 out of 5 star rating on their website, and customers praise the fact that this is a mattress that accommodates heavier sleepers who sleep in multiple positions. Some reviews did note that if you decide to purchase this mattress, it may be useful to have a friend to assist with the initial setup.

Read our full DreamCloud Premier mattress review for more information. Or check out our list of Best Pillow Top Mattresses for more great options.

Our Expert’s Take

If you’re a hot sleeper who doesn’t want to wake up stuffy, opt for the WinkBed. The cover incorporates Tencel (a breathable material sourced from eucalyptus trees), and the comfort layer’s foam is gel-infused to further promote cooling. Finally, the support layer of individually wrapped coils allows for lots of additional airflow. The WinkBed comes in three firmnesses, but the Luxury Firm version is ideal for those wanting medium firmness.

What We Love About the WinkBed

• If you’re a combination sleeper, you’ll likely love the WinkBed. It’s easy to move around on, so you shouldn’t have a problem switching between positions throughout the night.
• This bed will likely sleep on the cooler side, thanks to the breathable Tencel cover and the individually wrapped coils that offer some airflow throughout the mattress.

What to Keep in Mind About the WinkBed

• If you’re a lighter sleeper and are easily awakened if your partner moves around at night, you might not love sleeping on the WinkBed with them, since this bed doesn’t have the best motion isolation.
• Shoppers looking for something a bit more plush and conforming might not feel comfortable on the WinkBed, which makes you feel more like you’re sleeping on top of the mattress rather than “in” it.
• The WinkBed isn’t a mattress for folks who want a plush and contouring mattress. It gives the feeling that you’re sleeping “on it” rather than “in it”.

Other user reviews

On the WinkBeds website, customers gave this mattress 4.8 out of 5 stars. Most people felt that the mattress was comfortable and supportive, however, there were a few customers who complained that the bed was too firm.

Read our full WinkBed mattress review to learn more. Or if you’re looking for more options, take a look at our list of the best cooling mattresses. 

Our Expert’s Take

Medium-firm mattresses have the ideal firmness for alleviating and preventing back pain. The support offered promotes spinal alignment and the comfort layers contour to pain points. The Saatva is an excellent example of a mattress that’s great for back pain. Because of its dual set of steel coils and great edge support, premature sagging isn’t a concern. We recommend opting for the Luxury Firm model, but ultimately the right bed for your needs to suit your body type and sleeping position.

What We Love About the Saatva

• The zoned construction in the Saatva should make this mattress a great fit for combination sleepers. The firmness should feel different based on the sleeping position, so combination sleepers should feel comfortable no matter how they shift throughout the night.
• Back sleepers should love the Saatva, especially the Luxury Firm version of the mattress. It’ll allow for the hips to into the mattress while the rest of the body is  supported by the coil system.
• Speaking of firmnesses, the Saatva comes in three different options: Plush Soft, Firm, and Luxury Firm. This, along with the zoned construction means that most sleepers should find a Saatva mattress that fits their needs.

What to Keep in Mind About the Saatva

• Although Saatva offers a Plush Soft option, lovers of very soft mattresses still may find that one to be too firm. Instead, take a look at our roundup of the best soft mattresses. 
• Since the Saatva mattresses all feel a bit firm, lightweight side sleepers may feel some pressure on their hips and shoulders on this mattress.

Other user reviews

The Saatva is a mattress that users love, as it’s rated 4.8 out of 5 stars by customers on the Saatva site. Some of the top reviews praised the amazing customer support from the brand, and the luxury feel of the product, and some users highlighted the fact that their sleep has improved since purchasing their mattress.

Read our full Saatva mattress review for more information. Or for more options, see our roundup for the best mattresses for back pain.

Our Expert’s Take

If an innerspring mattress is too firm or if you get stuck in the layers of a memory foam mattress, try a hybrid. Hybrid beds combine strong coils with foam comfort layers. A medium-firm model like the Nolah Evolution creates a balanced feel. Along with its great hybrid features, the Nolah Evolution is one of the brand’s most luxurious models and is packed with advanced cooling technology, and is comfortable and supportive.

Note: This mattress comes in several different firmness levels. We recommend the luxury firm, which feels the closest to a medium-firm bed.

What We Love About the Nolah Evolution

• Couples who are looking for one of the best mattresses for sex may want to look at the Nolah Evolution. It’s bouncy and responsive, so that means that partners should have a fairly easy time moving around and changing positions.
• Couples should also love that the Nolah Evolution features great motion isolation. So if you sleep with a partner and their movement disturbs you at night, the Evolution may help keep that at bay.
• The Nolah Evolution has some pretty great cooling features. It has a breathable cooling cover, and a coil system that promotes airflow, and the foam is infused with graphite and has an AirBreathe heat escape gusset, so you shouldn’t overheat on this mattress.

What to Keep in Mind About the Nolah Evolution

• The Nolah Evolution is a mattress on the more luxurious side, so it has a more luxurious price tag. If you’re on a budget, you should check out our roundup of the best affordable mattresses.
• Stomach sleepers tend to need firmer mattresses to keep their hips and spine in proper alignment while they sleep, so the Nolah Evolution may be too soft to offer this support.

Other user reviews

Customers on the Nolah site seem to love the Evolution mattress. It was rated 4.9 out of 5 stars, and reviewers highlighted the comfort, luxury materials, and amazing customer service when they bought their mattresses.

Read our full Nolah Evolution Hybrid mattress review. Looking for more recommendations, take a look at our best hybrid mattresses for other great options.

Our Expert’s Take

Medium-firm beds are ideal for back sleepers (especially average-weight back sleepers) because they blend comfort and support. With the Bear, sleepers should sink into the foam as it contours to their body. Its high-density foundation foam supports sleepers well, promoting neutral spine alignment. For an all-foam mattress, the quality materials add durability, so premature sagging shouldn’t be a concern.

What We Love About the Bear Original

• The Bear offers a balanced foam feel that’s great for back sleepers. It offers both soft, plush, comfort, and sturdy support so that the hips and spine are properly aligned.
• Light and average-weight folks who sleep on their sides should enjoy that the plush layer of this mattress cushions the joints, and allows for some great pressure relief to the hips and shoulders.
• The Bear is infused with gel in the foam layers, which helps keep heat from being trapped. This may make it a good fit for sleepers who tend to sleep hot.

What to Keep in Mind About the Bear Original

• Though back and side sleepers should find some great comfort on this mattress, stomach sleepers may feel differently. Typically, stomach sleepers tend to need a firmer mattress than the Bear.
• The Bear is an all-foam mattress, and it has a classic foam feel. For folks who are looking for a more responsive bed, like couples searching for the best mattress for sex, you may want to opt for a hybrid mattress, like the Bear Elite Hybrid.

Other user reviews

On the Bear website, the mattress is rated 4.5 out of 5 stars by real, verified customers. Combination back and side sleepers loved how comfortable this mattress was, but stomach sleepers didn’t think that the Bear was firm or supportive enough.

Read the full Bear Original mattress review. For more options, see our best mattresses for back sleepers. 

Our Expert’s Take

Mattresses can be quite an investment, but with the Brooklyn Bedding Signature, you can get a high-quality mattress for a reasonable price. This is because Brooklyn Bedding has its factory and cuts out the middleman, so it can then pass the savings on to the customer. Both the comfort and transition layers provide responsiveness, so the Signature has a bouncy feel. Its six inches of Ascension coils give it plenty of support. This “on top of” feel is great for combination sleepers.

What We Love About the Brooklyn Bedding Signature Hybrid

• Most sleepers should be able to find the Brooklyn Bedding Signature Hybrid comfortable since the mattress comes in three different firmness types: Soft, Medium, and Firm.
• The Signature Hybrid has some great cooling features: gel-infused foam, which helps dissipate body heat and a coil layer that promotes airflow.
• Couples who are looking for the best mattress for sex will want something bouncy and responsive, and the Signature Hybrid fits the bill perfectly.

What to Keep in Mind About the Brooklyn Bedding Signature Hybrid

• Though couples may love the Signature Hybrid as a great mattress for sex, its bouncy nature makes it not-so-great when it comes to motion isolation. 
• Since the Signature Hybrid is bouncy and easy to move around on, it doesn’t isolate motion very well. If you sleep with a partner who moves around a lot, there is a chance that you’ll feel them moving around throughout the night.

Other user reviews

On the Brooklyn Bedding site, users rated the Signature Hybrid mattress 4.7 out of 5 stars. They claim the mattress to be supportive and soft, and the setup was simple. On the contrary, some customers thought the Signature Hybrid mattress was too soft, so it didn’t provide them enough support.

Read our full Brooklyn Bedding Signature mattress review to learn more. Not sold on the Brooklyn Bedding Signature, take a look at our best mattress for the money to see more recommendations.

Our Expert’s Take

If you’re worried about toxins and chemicals in your mattress, then you can rest assured on the Birch. It’s a medium-firm, eco-friendly mattress. On top of the bed, there’s an organic cotton cover. Talalay latex acts as the comfort layer above individually wrapped coils. This mattress is GREENGUARD and GOTS certified, meaning it passes rigorous emissions tests.

What We Love About the Birch

• The Birch is an all-natural mattress that’s made with organic materials such as wool and cotton, and Talalay latex. It’s flame-resistant and it’s also eco-friendly!
• Since this mattress uses a latex layer instead of traditional foam, it traps less heat than some other mattresses. Considering there is also a coil layer in the mattress that promotes airflow, this mattress shouldn’t trap heat.
• The Birch may be a great fit for couples who are looking for one of the best mattresses for sex. It’s a quiet mattress, and it’s bouncy and responsive, which makes it easy to move around on.

What to Keep in Mind About the Birch

• Since the Birch is a bouncy mattress, it doesn’t do the best job at isolating motion. If you sleep with a partner who moves around at night, they may wake you with their movements.
• Some hybrid mattresses will still give you a classic, slow-moving foam feel on the top layer, but the Birch offers more of a responsive feel since it has a latex layer instead of foam.

Other user reviews

The Birch mattress is currently rated at 4.7 out of 5 stars on the company’s site. Reviewers praise the mattress’ comfort, and how easy it is to set up. Most reviewers also love the eco-friendly materials that the mattress is made from. On the other hand, some reviewers claimed that the latex layer of the mattress was too thin.

Read our full Birch mattress review. For more options, see our best organic mattresses.