Best Firm Mattress – Reviews And Awards 2021 UK


A firm bed is a great option for those with lower back pain. This support level is also better for heavier individuals who find other beds too soft. A firm mattress is not suitable for everyone, however.

Some might find it too unforgiving while others might even find that it aggravates their aches and pains. That is why we only chose the best firm mattresses that come with a free home trial. That way, you can make sure that you are making the right choice.

Please note that we show the firm double mattress size and that all prices were correct at the time of writing.

Best Firm Mattress

1. The Lux Mattress By Brook And Wilde – A Firm Bed/100 Free Nights (£749)

Brook and Wilde manufactures two hybrid mattresses. We included both because they are among the best firm mattresses on the market today.

Both are award-winners – but we will cover those sparkly prizes in a later section. First, we want to introduce you to the brand’s smaller bed. Do not mistake the word “smaller” here. This mattress has 6 layers.

Lux Mattress By Brook And Wilde

The Benefits Of This Firm Mattress

The Lux mattress is suitable for all sleeping positions, especially side sleepers and back sleepers. If you like what you see but find firm mattresses a tad too uncomfortable – there is hope. The Lux Mattress is also available in soft and medium tension.

Let’s pull those layers apart and admire the benefits of this firm bed.

Layer 1: The top layer is a stylish wrap that encloses the entire mattress. But this is not just a pretty face. The fabric is soft (ah, that feels nice) and breathable (oh, thank goodness, no more hot nights).

Layer 2: Brook and Wilde’s mattresses have great layers of foam. This particular sheet has cooling properties that also helps sleepers to make it through the summer’s worst evenings. The foam also eliminates motion transfer between partners – which is useful if one person or both tends to toss and turn. Last but not least, it also adapts to the contours of your body to give you tailor-made pressure relief.

Layer 3: If painful pressure points prevent you from getting a good night’s sleep, then this firm mattress has something that can help with that problem – a layer of pocket springs. Side sleepers, in particular, will benefit from the sensitive support. When you move or turn over, the 2,000 springs instantly adjust to your body’s weight and shape to provide pressure relief.

Layer 4: Side sleepers with back pain also benefit from another unique feature. Brook and Wilde took specialist memory foam and shaped the material to grow with a swell or a bulge towards the head of the bed. This design gives extra support to the shoulders and also keeps the spine aligned while sleeping on your side.

Layer 5: Both Brook and Wilde’s firm hybrid mattresses contain a second sheet of pocket springs. In this layer, the spring count is 1,000 larger coils. They do comfy stuff like provide intuitive support to back sleepers and side sleepers, comfort back pain, and also gives that all-important edge support for the mattress.

Layer 6: The best mattresses have a good support base. The Lux Mattress has specialized foam that is sturdy enough to give structure to the entire bed and to keep the rest of the layers in great shape for years to come.

How Long Is The Home Trial And Guarantee?

You can test this 6-layered sandwich at home for 100 nights. But let’s get a little negative. Perhaps, after a few days of participating in the trial, you find the mattress too much on the firm side – or maybe you need something with more firmness. Then Brook and Wilde will allow you to exchange the Lux Mattress for the Elite Mattress which has an extra level of firmness (but in case you want something softer, it has other comfort levels too).

Once you cart the Elite Mattress into your home, you can continue with the remainder of the trial period. Those who decide to purchase a mattress from this brand will receive a 10-year warranty. Here are the terms and conditions.

Here are more of the best free home trials from top brands.

Awards And Reviews

The mattress won a Which? Best Buy award in 2019. Together with the Elite Mattress, the Lux Mattress was named by Real Homes as one of the best bed-in-a-box mattresses. Over at Trustpilot, hundreds of reviews rate both mattresses together. At the moment, they have a great rating of 4.3 out of 5 stars.

Find out more about the brand’s best deals and bedding range. Read our complete Brook and Wilde mattress review for more information.


2. The Elite Mattress By Brook And Wilde – An Extra Firm Bed/100 Free Nights (£1099)

The Elite Mattress has a few more layers and perks than the Lux Mattress. It is available in soft, medium, firm, and extra firm. The mattress also has 8 layers – which is not something you see every day in the bed business.

In case a double firm mattress is also not your thing, there is the option to instead pick between a single, king, and king-size bed. But overall, this could be your new mattress if you are looking for a bed that combines firmness with sumptuous luxury.

Elite Mattress By Brook And Wilde

The Benefits Of This Firm Mattress

There are so many perks to this mattress that we can scribble a short novel. But seriously, who wants to read that? Instead, we can give you a layer-by-layer perk-festival that you can skim through quickly.

Layer 1: The best mattresses are easy to maintain. The Elite Mattress has a stylish top that wraps around the bed. It can be unzipped and washed to make sure that your sleeping environment stays as clean as often… Well, as often as you feel like laundry day. The wrap also breathes to keep you cool and comfortable during hot nights.

Layer 2: This feature should really be in all memory foam mattresses. It is called the memory foam protector. The sheet acts as a buffer between the moving top cover and the foam coming up in the third layer. Its job is to remove the friction between them and more importantly; to prevent the two from snagging on each other (such an unfortunate event can damage both the memory foam and the mattress wrap).

Layer 3: This sheet of memory foam makes the mattress a great option if you need extra firmness, support, and cooling foam. It nails all three. The high-density foam cradles your spine, soothes lower back pain, and softens pressure points. The foam also has an open-cell structure that allows the mattress to breathe and keep you cool.

Layer 4: The first layer of coils in this hybrid mattress holds 2,500 pocket springs. This hearty number zooms in on pressure points to provide firm side support to those who snooze mostly against their shoulders and hips. The coils also give the borders of the mattress edge support. The latter is important because it lengthens the lifespan of a mattress.

Layer 5: You have already met this unique feature in the Lux Mattress. That is right. The Elite Mattress also contains the specialist foam shaped like a bulge. In case you need a reminder, this design adds more support for the shoulders and spinal alignment, especially for side sleepers. It also brings pressure relief for other sleeping positions and when you turn over.

Layer 6: The second layer of pocket coils (numbering 1,000) make sure that the mattress can breathe more, while the coils also help with edge support, firmness, and comfort.

Layer 7: This support base keeps the rest of the mattress in working order. However, it is particularly designed to maintain the longevity of the pocket coils and the firmness they provide.

Layer 8: The bottom cover is made of non-slip material. This keeps the mattress on the bed frame, preventing it from travelling over the edge and getting damaged.

How Long Is The Home Trial And Guarantee?

All Brook and Wilde mattresses get the same deals. So, it does not matter if you love the Lux or the Elite, you will get a 100-night trial period to test the bed for firmness and support. If you decide that this is the best mattress for you, then the brand will cover your hybrid mattress with a 10-year warranty. Here are the terms and conditions again in case you want to read the small print of the guarantee.

Awards And Reviews

A little earlier, we mentioned that the Elite was named (together with the Lux) as one of the best bed-in-a-box mattresses by Real Homes. But on its own, the Elite Mattress has two noteworthy ribbons. It received the seal of approval from the Good Housekeeping Institute in 2020. Good Homes Magazine also dropped this gem, saying that it was “One of the best mattresses we have ever tested.”

Read our complete Brook and Wilde mattress review if you want to learn more about the brand and its special offers.

Do you want to view the best soft, medium, and firm mattresses from the top brands? Here are the greatest soft beds, medium beds (with medium-firm mattress options), and firm beds.


3. The Miracoil Memory Mattress By Silentnight – A Firm Bed/60 Free Nights (£419)

Silentnight is one of the UK’s first superbrands. It also has some of the best mattresses on the market. The brand has a special section for firm mattresses. From this pool, we selected the Miracoil Memory Mattress. The bed is a good choice for those who feel that the best firm mattress has an open-coil system and supportive sheets of memory foam. If we just described your dream bed (or something close), then you’re up kid. This one is for you.

The Miracoil Memory Bed is not the only budget mattress in town. We hunted down the best cheap mattresses and picked only those with the best quality that are manufactured by elite brands.

Miracoil Memory Mattress By Silentnight

The Benefits Of This Firm Mattress

The best firm mattresses must offer consumers a choice between several sizes. After all, one size rarely fits all. But Silentnight offers five sizes – which is not too bad. If you like the Miracoil Memory Mattress, you can choose between single to super king-size. Big and small aside, what else can you expect from this firm mattress? Here are the highlights.

  • The best firm mattress must also be comfy and soft – especially the top layer. This mattress has a sumptuous knit cover to bring on those Zzz’s.
  • The mattress is also 24 cm deep and consists of coils and memory foam.
  • The memory foam moulds to your body to give perfect support when you get in and out of bed or turn over in your sleep. This makes it one of the best firm mattresses for couples (no motion transfer), and back sleepers as well as side sleepers. (Find the best beds for back sleepers from the top brands).
  • The open-coil system provides pressure relief, edge support, and also soothes back pain. The springs also add to the bed’s firmness and durability.
  • This is also a good choice if you want a firm mattress that breathes better than the average memory foam mattress. Thanks to its special border design, the bed has a better airflow cycle than most other foam mattresses.
  • The firmness of this bed supports perfect spinal alignment. (We also found all the top beds for a bad back for those who need ultimate support and comfort for back pain).
  • You never have to flip this firm mattress over. As a single-side bed, it has been designed to stay in shape without turning. Another great bonus if you hate this chore or cannot do heavy lifting.
  • The mattress is also treated with Purotex. This is amazing stuff – especially if you have epic battles with allergies. Purotex contains friendly probiotics that eliminate allergens in your mattress. It creates a more hygienic and healthy sleeping environment.
  • UK customers also get free delivery. Lucky ducks.

How Long Is The Home Trial And Guarantee?

Silentnight has a similar offer to Brook and Wilde. The only difference is that the home trial period is shorter. Instead of a 100-night test, you can snuggle up to the Miracoil Memory Mattress for 60 nights. Just like Brook and Wilde, however, if you are unhappy with the firm mattress, then you can exchange it for any other Silentnight mattress. An important caveat is that you can only switch mattresses within the first 28 days of the free home trial.

Those who decide that this is the best mattress can look forward to a 5-year warranty. Here are the terms and conditions.

Awards And Reviews

Al right, sad news first (if you adore awards). The Miracoil Memory Mattress has not won anything to date. But over at Silentnight, customers can leave reviews and ratings on a product’s page and that’s good news for anyone who is interested in this firm mattress. Why? Because other people have already bought and tried the mattress and gave rave reviews. At the time of writing, 213 buyers left their opinion and experiences. Altogether, they rated this firm mattress as 9 out of 10.

Silentnight looks like a Christmas tree with all its brand awards. You can read more about those, the brand’s background and its other mattresses. Read our complete Silentnight mattress review.


4. The Luxury Hybrid Mattress By DreamCloud – A Luxury Firm Mattress/365 Free Nights (£699)

DreamCloud is one of only two mattress brands that offer a full year to customers who demand a trial period. Its only mattress, a boxed bed, is called the Luxury Hybrid Mattress.

It is suitable for all sleeping positions, including back sleepers and those who change positions during the night. So, are you a back-to-side sprawler who need extra firmness? Here is something that might work for you.

Best Luxury Hybrid Mattress

The Benefits Of This Firm Mattress

DreamCloud poured a lot of their attention and effort into creating the perfect mattress. Many sleepers who have bought this mattress side with the brand on this one. They love the mattress too. But what makes this bed so special, other than its fantastic trial period?

  • DreamCloud has a curious term for the firmness of its mattress. On a scale of 1 to 10, firmness grows harder the closer a mattress is rated towards 10. The brand marks the Luxury Hybrid Mattress as 6.5. For some, this might rate the bed as a medium-firm mattress but DreamCloud calls it “luxury firm.”
  • The quilted top cover is soft and regulates temperature. Whether you are facing winter or summer, it will keep you comfortable and at the right toasty temperature.
  • A layer of memory foam multi-tasks to make this one of the best mattresses, regardless of firmness. It brings support to the entire body, regulates temperature, creates pressure relief, limits motion transfer between couples, and add edge support. Those sleeping on their side will feel especially comfortable.
  • The second layer of memory foam adds more support and firmness.
  • This hybrid mattress also contains 15 cm high pocket springs. One of their primary functions is edge support but the coils also help to reduce motion transfer between you and your pet dinosaur, while also ensuring that the surface of the mattress remains firm.
  • The mattress also has a firm support base.

Hybrid mattresses offer the best of both worlds. You get the soft sumptuousness of the memory foam and the sensitive support from pocket springs. If you feel like taking a detour down the wonderful world of these blended beds, then here are the best hybrid mattresses.

How Long Is The Home Trial And Guarantee?

Well, you get the best mattress trial in the business. DreamCloud is very confident that few customers would return their mattresses and that is why they offer a year-long free home test. You also get the best warranty when you pick this firm mattress – a lifetime guarantee. You can read the terms and conditions of this fantastic warranty. Heads up, it is kind of a 10-year guarantee. What we mean by this is that the brand will only replace a damaged mattress with a spanking new one during the first decade. After that, DreamCloud will repair your mattress when an issue arises.

Awards And Reviews

The Luxury Mattress also has not won anything (yet). But to consumers who are safety conscious, perhaps the safety status of the firm mattress might matter more. The Luxury Mattress is CertiPUR® certified. This qualification means that the foam used in this firm mattress is free of carcinogenic chemicals, heavy metals, and phthalates. At Trustpilot, nearly 750 reviews rated everything about this mattress. From its firm qualities, support, and comfort, the mattress earned a good rating of 4.2 out of 5 stars.

You can find out more about the brand, special offers, and more. Read our complete DreamCloud mattress review.


5. The Tempur Sensation Supreme Mattress By Tempur – A Firm Mattress/100 Free Nights (£2,149)

This is truly one of the best firm mattresses. NASA thinks so too. Tempur is the only mattress brand that carries a certification of quality from the space agency. Tempur took the original foam invented by NASA, tweaked it into something more comfortable and started stuffing pillows and mattresses (both products are certified by NASA). But when it comes down to the practical benefits, what does the Tempur Sensation Supreme Mattress has to offer those who need a firm bed?

Sensation Supreme Mattress By Tempur

The Benefits Of This Firm Mattress

This firm mattress is suitable for back sleepers, stomach snoozers, and those who dream on their side. Tempur also offers a remarkable number of sizes for this firm mattress – 10. Unlike most other mattresses, which have only one depth, customers can also choose between 3 depths (21 cm, 25 cm, and 30 cm). In case you are wondering, no, the mattress has no other firmness other than, well, “firm.” The Sensation Range specifically contains the brand’s firmest beds.

Here are more highlights of the Sensation Supreme.

  • The cover can be zipped open, removed, and washed. If you want more tips on how to clean a bed, grab our guide for the best practical tips.
  • The mattress contains only memory foam, including special support and firmness layers.
  • The firmness is also rooted in the bed’s strong support base that keeps the other three foam layers intact and functional.
  • The mattress might be firm but you can also expect comfortable support (full-body), pressure point relief, and instant adjustment when you roll over on your side or get into bed.
  • The firm mattress promises ultimate back support and spinal alignment, no matter which sleeping position you favour. (Here are all the best beds for stomach sleepers).
  • Despite its firmness, the mattress is also designed to have a certain level of “bounce.” This makes the mattress feel more fluid – as opposed to feeling like you are sleeping on a stiff board.
  • The bed is wrapped with a soft, quilted cover. This adds style to the bed’s appearance and also helps sleepers to experience a more comfy and luxurious sleeping surface.
  • If you despise mattress maintenance, then here is some good news. You never need to turn this firm mattress over. It will maintain its support and firmness for years – no flipping required.

How Long Is The Home Trial And Guarantee?

Tempur gives customers 100 nights to try any of their beds. You can also read more about the free home trial by looking at the terms and conditions. If you love the firmness of your new space bed, then the brand will cover your new purchase with a 10-year guarantee. You can read more about Tempur’s client support during this time by reading the warranty’s own terms and conditions.

Awards And Reviews

At the time of writing, the Tempur Sensation Supreme Mattress has yet to win a major accolade. But hey, it still has NASA’s nod of approval and that is something. But what about reviews? At Trustpilot, it is still early days with just 19 reviews. But the customers who purchased this firm mattress have mostly left positive remarks. At the moment, the firm mattress is holding steady at 4.5 out of five stars which is an excellent rating.

You can find out more about the brand and their other firm mattresses. Read our complete Tempur mattress review.


6. The Octaspring Levanto Memory Foam Mattress By Dormeo – A Firm Bed/60 Free Nights (£1,249)

Dormeo is the proud parent of the multi-award-winning Octaspring bed range. At the heart of this success is the so-called Octaspring technology. Essentially, if you were to look at this technology you would see “pocket springs” made of foam.

These springs provide incredible support and plushness at the same time. Are you ready for a firm mattress that is also deliciously luxurious? Say hello to the Levanto Memory Foam Mattress.

Octaspring Levanto Memory Foam Mattress By Dormeo

The Benefits Of This Firm Mattress

  • The mattress has a depth of 19 cm.
  • You also do not need to flip this mattress over. Just rotate the bed now and again on its base and the firmness will remain the same for years.
  • The memory foam expertly hugs any body shape and sleeping position. This comfortable support gives tailor-made relief against pressure points and aches. (Here are all the best beds for side sleepers).
  • The memory foam also never loses its shape. Once you get out of bed, it will return to its original shape (no more of those annoying dips that give foam mattresses such a bad name).
  • Another layer of foam helps air to ventilate through the bed. The mattress also has a unique ventilation system that makes it 8 times more breathable than other types of foam. The 3-D Octasprings also help with the airflow. Needless to say, this is the perfect firm bed for you if you tend to overheat at night.
  • The top sheet is also removable and washable for a cleaner sleeping surface.
  • The mattress is treated with probiotics. This means that you can say goodbye to pesky allergens such as dust mites, bacteria, and more.
  • Despite the bed’s firmness, there is no motion transfer between couples.
  • The mattress is designed to help you fall asleep faster and to stay in deep sleep for longer. Deep sleep promotes energy and vitality.
  • The bed is also firm enough to ensure that your spine stays aligned.

How Long Is The Home Trial And Guarantee?

Dormeo offers a 60-night home trial on this firm bed. There are certainly longer trials out there but let’s face it. Two months should be plenty of time for someone to gauge the comfort levels of a mattress. If you do not like the mattress, Dormeo will collect it at no extra charge and – if you really want a Dormeo bed – they will then let you try another one instead. While its home trial is not among the lengthiest, one cannot truly complain about the warranty because it offers 20 years of protection. You can find out more by reading the guarantee’s terms and conditions.

Awards And Reviews

The mattress itself has no awards. But no bed in this range can be discussed without mentioning the awards won by the Octaspring range thanks to its unique foam springs. In 2017, it won the prestigious Crystal Cabin Award from the aviation industry (aeroplanes use the coils in passenger seats). The range was also a finalist during the 2017 Apex Awards, selected for the Interior Innovation Award in 2013, nominated for the German Design Award in 2011, and won the iF Design Award in 2009.

For more information on the brand, read our complete Dormeo mattress review.

Get the best bed-in-a-box mattresses from the top brands.


Two Free Guides To Help You Find The Best Firm Mattress

Here is an unfortunate truth. A firm mattress – if unsuitable – can be one of the most uncomfortable things on Earth. These mattresses are best for those who truly need them and even then, such individuals must pick a bed or a brand that caters to their specific needs. A firm bed’s tension can swing between medium and extra hard, for instance. What design and benefits are best? Which brand can provide the most comfort for your backaches?

Our guide that explains how to choose a bed is not specific to finding the right comfort level – but it is packed with practical tips to identify all the things you want in a mattress before you purchase anything. You can also get our free guide that explains the different mattress sizes to see what size is best for you.

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About the Author Tom

My journey into the world of sleep came about through living in several properties over my lifetime and always seeming to have the worst luck with neighbors. All but one have been extremely noisy and very inconsiderate. What this made me realize early on, was that the little sleep my neighbors allowed me to get needed to be of great quality. So I started to learn all about sleep, and what helps people get the best quality sleep possible.