Firm Mattresses

Why choose a firm mattress?

A firm mattress can provide additional back support to those who need it, giving you a more comfortable night's sleep as a result. Firm mattresses help to distribute your weight more evenly, providing excellent support to the neck, back, spine and legs.

What are the benefits of a firm mattress?

Superior back and joint support

Firm mattresses are excellent for offering maximum support to the natural curvature of the spine, as well as providing extra compression cushioning for the neck, shoulders, hips and other joints prone to aches and pains. This is because a firm mattress pushes back against the sleeper’s body weight to maintain alignment and relieve pressure points, offering a consistently firm and supportive sleep surface all night long.

Less motion transfer

Firm mattresses are great for couples or heavier sleepers due to the lack of motion transfer they provide. Much less prone to sinkage, a firm mattress means a lot less tossing and turning throughout the night as you look for a comfortable position as its composition naturally lends itself to supporting your body’s correct alignment. This is especially great for heavier sleepers are they are less likely to sink into the mattress as well as couples who sleep in the same bed and are prone to waking each other up.

Promotes better circulation

A firm mattress can help to improve your body’s circulation as the amount of pressure applied to your blood vessels throughout your sleep is alleviated by the mattress's extra level of firm support. As your body is also correctly aligned, it is also argued that firm mattresses can help sleepers to breathe better throughout the evening as everything is laying as it should and the lungs aren’t stretched or squeezed by any unnatural sleeping positions.

Is a firm mattress good for your back?

Firm mattresses are best for sleepers who suffer with back pain as these mattresses experience much less “sinkage” when being used – especially if a sleeper is a little larger. This ensures the mattress keeps its shape, pushing back against any sore back or joint to maintain correct spinal and joint alignment throughout the night.

However, a firm mattress is very much a personal preference and may be too firm for some sleepers who suffer with a bad back for various individual reasons. Instead, a slightly softer medium-firm mattress may be more appropriate. Or, in chronic cases or for other reasons, sleepers with back pain may choose to opt for an orthopaedic mattress as an alternative.

Check out our full Mattress Firmness Guide for everything you need to know.

Who should have a firm mattress?

Firm mattresses are widely regarded as best suiting sleepers who:

• Suffer with back pain or achy joints
• Sleep on their stomachs
• Have heavier bodies

As already mentioned, firm mattresses are often great with those who suffer with back pain or achy joints as they provide excellent compression support for the skeleton and help to maintain correct posture while sleeping. 

For those with heavier builds, a firm mattress is also brilliant as they will push back against the sleepers frame, helping to evenly distribute body weight and relieve any strain on pressure points.

And finally, for stomach sleepers, firm mattresses are an excellent option as they will prevent your hips and pelvis from sinking lower than your shoulders, avoiding an unnatural and uncomfortable curve in the spine when you go to sleep.

Firm mattresses can also work well for couples sharing a bed, as the strong structure reduces bounce which means if one of you is tossing and turning in the night, the other person should be less impacted. 

Do firm mattresses last longer?

On paper, firm mattresses should last just as long as any other standard mattress, not needing to be replaced until around eight to 10 years if cared for properly. For example, many of our models are designed to be turned and rotated every so often in order to ensure even wear and tear for a longer lifespan and no uncomfortable lumps or bumps.

There is some argument that firmer mattresses tend to fare better over the course of time as their extra firmness suggests they are less likely to sag as years go by, making them a little more durable than other mattresses. The jury’s out on this one so you can be the judge!