TLDR;
Medium-firm mattresses are the first choice for a very large number of mattress buyers. Once you know you want a medium-firm mattress, the next question becomes how to choose the best medium-firm mattress, for you, your back and your co-sleeper.
When buying a mattress, many people are not looking for extremes. A very firm or very soft mattress is not always the right choice. Often, it’s the happy middle ground of a medium-firm mattress that gives the right support while also delivering on the all-important comfort aspect. For people with certain back issues, too soft or too firm can exacerbate the cause of the underlying pain, providing too little or too much pressure in key points of the body. In the case of a couple sharing a bed, where one prefers a firmer mattress and the other a softer experience, medium-firm can be the ideal compromise.
What to Consider When Buying a Medium Firm Mattress
If you are looking to buy a medium-firm mattress, start with examining the construction. You will need to decide between an all-foam and hybrid construction, which is a combination of foam and innerspring. Some people prefer the slight bounce that innerspring can provide, even when the layers of foam assure the medium firmness that you are searching for. On the other hand, the foams used in mattress construction today are of excellent quality and provide solid firm support. In the case that a memory foam mattress may feel a bit too firm, you can offset the sensation and return to a medium-firm experience with a mattress that has a pillow top or cushion top cover.
Some mattresses even include a gel top cover, so you can have the mid-level firmness with an extra bonus of the cooling gel effect.
Best Medium Firm Mattresses
Let’s take a look at our choice of the best medium-firm mattresses available today:
Nectar Mattress
The popular Nectar mattress brand is ranked right in the middle between soft and firm, making it a great choice for best medium-firm mattress. Giving the support of foam with a certain flexible softness, it is constructed of an adaptive memory foam core, topped with gel memory foam that distributes weight evenly and contributes a cooling effect. The mattress is topped with quilted gel memory foam and cooling cover, for a good night’s sleep in cool comfort. An all-foam mattress, which is traditionally a firmer choice, the Nectar actually offers a bit of bounce, putting it in the medium-firm category at an affordable price. And you’ll enjoy a very generous 365-night sleep trial and the Forever warranty that keeps you covered for the life of the mattress.
Tuft & Needle Mattress- Medium Firm
With two mattresses in the collection, Tuft & Needle definitely falls into the category of best medium-firm mattress. The very affordable T&N incorporates open-cell foam that promotes comfort with medium support, and great cooling features, including added graphite to wick away moisture and a cooling gel top layer.
The advanced Mint mattress has three layers, including two layers of special adaptive foam, and a luxury knit cover that gives a more plush feel. The luxe mattress version also has 30% more graphite for extra cooling and an extra 4 inches of firm foam around the bottom layer to give added structure to the mattress. Tuft & Needle medium-firm mattresses are available at two price points so everyone can find the best medium firm mattress for their budget. The company offers a 100-night sleep trial and a 10-year limited warranty.
Loom & Leaf Medium-Firm Mattress
Loom & Leaf’s mattress is available in two firmness options: Relaxed Firm and Firm. The Relaxed Firm option is ideal for those looking for the best medium-firm mattress. It has quilted organic cotton covering, cooling layer of breathable foam, with spinal zone gel for solid lumbar support, an eco-friendly firm foam layer, and a multilayer breathable support foam base. All this in a 12-inch thick mattress that works well with adjustable bases, making it a recommended affordable option for the medium firmness feel that many people are looking for. It comes with a generous 120-night sleep trial and 15-year warranty.
Purple mattress
The Purple brand offers two options for the medium-firm mattresses – the Original Purple, a memory foam only mattress, and the hybrid New Purple, which uses similar foam construction reinforced with innerspring. Both mattresses incorporate Purple’s exclusive Smart Comfort Grid open-cell foam feature, which gives ideal medium-firm support, helping to reduce pressure on key points of the body while promoting airflow through the mattress for extra freshness and comfort.
The New Purple, the more advanced option, has a responsive support coil base, and because you can choose the thickness of the Smart Comfort Grid, you can make sure to have the precise medium firmness that’s right for you. With Purple, you get the industry-standard 100-night sleep trial and a 10-year warranty.
Leesa Mattress
Both mattresses in the Leesa range give solid medium-firm support. The memory foam only option has 3 layers, starting with a high-density support foam layer, followed by a layer of memory foam designed to relieve pressure, topped with a breathable layer that gives extra support for side sleepers. Leesa’s hybrid mattress has thousands of pocket springs varying in strength from the outer rim to the inner part of the mattress to give the right support where needed. It contours to the body with the extra firm bounce of springs, while still maintaining its position on the firmness scale at the medium firm. The Leesa Hybrid is the more expensive option of the two, but both are a good choice for best medium-firm mattress. Plus, don’t forget the standard 100-night sleep trial and a 10-year warranty for peace of mind.
Which Mattress is Best For You
The mattress market today is incredibly varied, with a huge number of mattresses of every style and size, and a range of materials and construction methods, all of which contribute to the particular sensation of firmness and comfort. In the category of medium firm mattresses, there is quite a selection to choose from, and what constitutes the best feeling of medium firm support is subjective, meaning it will differ from person to person. Mattress construction today is comprised of layers, including various types and structures of foam, memory foam, innersprings (in hybrids) and top comfort layers. Be sure to assess the specific construction style before making your best medium firm mattress decision – it’s the single most important factor in the support and comfort that the mattress will provide.
Why You Should Listen to Us
The ideal mattress is out there, for everyone. It’s a matter of combing through all the information and deciding which one is the best for you. This is no easy feat, with so many options available. Factors such as your preferred sleeping position, whether you have back problems, whether you share your bed or sleep alone, whether you are a warm or cool sleeper, and of course, personal preferences for comfort and firmness, will all affect the final verdict. That’s why you need reliable, objective and up to date information about the options, and that’s why we’re here.
The Mattress Reviews site is a compilation of straight up, objective mattress information and comparisons from our team of mattress experts. We’ve tested and assessed all the mattresses on this site, and we keep up to date with new developments, features, products and brands, all with the aim of helping you find your best medium firm mattress. There’s no one brand that’s better than any other and we don’t push you towards any particular decision. It’s just about giving you the tools to make your own decision, independently and effectively.
Best Medium Firm Mattresses Overview
Medium firm mattresses are a popular choice for many consumers. Lots of people don’t want a very firm or very soft mattress. They want something in the middle, providing the right support without compromising on comfort. This is particularly true for side sleepers, who need a good level of support with the right ‘give’ in high pressure areas, like the shoulders, hips and knees. It is also ideal for partners who share a bed and need a happy compromise. The brands listed above as the best medium firm mattresses are all solid options – it’s really a matter of fine-tuning your preferences and narrowing down your choice.
What Else You Should Remember
The best medium firm mattress brands provide options in a range of construction styles and budgets. If your budget allows, you may want to invest in the upgraded versions of the various mattresses, but even if you can’t afford to, you have assured some very strong options in the list above. As always, take a look at the construction methods – if you have a back problem, there are medium firm mattresses that give extra lumbar support, which might be just what you need. If you share a bed, take a look at the flippable or dual options, so you can adjust the mattress according to both partners’ needs. And remember to check out the warranty and trial period conditions. These are important to maintain your peace of mind while working on your medium firm mattress decision.
Lee Levy
Lee is an experienced reviewer and passionate about trying new products. She is a side sleeper and always looking to ways to avoid back pains in her sleep. Lee is a mom for two little princesses and a devoted wife, living in Brooklyn, NYC.