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Best Firm Innerspring Mattresses: The Support You Need

Danielle Mcleod

Everybody thinks they want a soft, contouring mattress surface that ‘feels like a cloud’. But what they aren’t aware of is if a mattress feels soft to you, chances are it won’t support you in a healthy position through the night.

Firm mattress choices are considered the best for all sleep positions to provide the support your body needs to keep your spine in alignment. Soft, contouring, and comfortable surfaces should be reserved for the first few inches of the mattress and can be achieved via a wide variety of material options that most mattress manufacturers offer.

Mattresses that contain an innerspring are often considered the firmest overall due to their more rigid construction designed for durability, and long-lasting wear. This includes hybrid mattresses that are built-in layers around an innerspring core to provide various comfort needs. Take a look at our top firm innerspring mattress options to find the best for you.

RankProductHighlights
#1S Secretland by Molblly 10 inch

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  • Material Layers: 3D knitted cover, Memory foam, innerspring steel coil core
  • Sizes: Queen
  • Features: Steel pocketed innerspring core, Contouring surface, bed-in-box, 10-year warranty
#2Zinus 14 Inch

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  • Material Layers: Foam comfort foam, gel-infused foam, pocked steel coil innerspring
  • Sizes: Twin, Full, Queen, King, Cal. King
  • Features: Layered design for airflow, gel infusion for cooling, Pocket steel coil core, bed-in-box, 10-year warranty
#3Linenspa 10 Inch

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  • Material Layers: Memory Foam surface, Solid steel innerspring core
  • Sizes:  Twin, Full, Queen, Short Queen, King, Cal. King
  • Features: Cooling gel-infused memory foam layer, Solid Steel innerspring core, 10-year warranty, bed-in-box design
#4Flash Furniture Capri Comfortable Sleep 12 Inch 

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  • Material Layers: Foam comfort layer, Solid steel innerspring core
  • Sizes: Twin, Full, Queen, King
  • Features: Optional profile, foam layer, and topper choices; Firm, supportive surface; Solid steel innerspring core; 2-year warranty, bed-in-box design
#5Olee Sleep 10-inch

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  • Material Layers: Dense foam surface layer, supportive steel innerspring core
  • Sizes: Twin, Full, Queen, King
  • Features: Comfort gel infused foam layer, Firm, supportive surface, Solid steel innerspring core, 10-year warranty, bed-in-box design

How Firmness is Defined

The term firmness, in and of itself, is not defined as a hard surface, but rather the overall feel of a surface when you sleep on it. Subjective to your body shape, size, and weight, what you perceive as soft may be denser and less forgiving to another person. Despite that, mattress companies provide an idea of this sleep surface comfort based on how their mattresses are constructed.

Most mattresses are built in layers, and offer a surface option generally made from various types and densities of foam and soft material padding. Beneath you will most likely find a transition layer that sits upon a more firm base- made of heavy foam or innerspring options.

Mattresses that boast an innerspring core are amongst the most solid, or firm, and long-lasting since they are built from a material that does not compress or wear down easily under pressure. This support influences the layers stacked upon it and helps create an overall more solid surface than other types of mattress core materials.

Despite that, it’s not as if you would be sleeping on a hard-topped surface. Those top layers offer a huge range of comfort to pick and choose from to help cushion your joints and provide the feel you prefer.

How to Determine Your Firmness Level of Comfort

The firmness level of comfort is often broken up onto a scale that ranges from 1 to 10, with lower numbers expressing a softer experience, and high numbers related to a more solid, or firm feel. Rarely are the extreme low or high numbers ever used, with most mattresses falling somewhere between 4 and 7 as a firm mattress core is important for body support.

Numbers below 5 will have more sink and contouring, and provide less overall support, whole numbers above 5 won’t be as contouring on a whole, but will provide the uplift needed for the majority of body types. Firmer choices are best for back and stomach sleepers as well to help align the spine, while an uplifting, but the responsive surface is generally a side sleeper’s choice to allow for the shape of the hips and shoulders.

Firm Mattress Benefits

Firm mattresses are considered quite healthy for all body types and sleep positions. Check out the many benefits a firm choice provides:

• Supports Back, Neck, and Joints

You can never have a TOO firm surface, but you can have a too soft surface. Soft surfaces may feel comfortable initially, but are unable to support your body properly and when you wake with aches and pains, this is due to your muscles and tendons in flex as it struggles to align your spine through the night. If you feel your mattress is more solid than you prefer, you can always add a topper to help cushion the experience without sacrificing the support.

• Aligns the Spine

A firm choice keeps your spine in alignment and helps allow your body to relax. Spinal alignment is crucial for a healthy night’s sleep and provides better blood flow that disseminates nutrients and oxygen through your body for healing purposes.

• Creates Proper Weight Distribution

Your body weight is not evenly distributed, and you need a mattress that won’t cave under the bulk of your body weight to create an uneven sleep surface. If your mattress is too soft, it will create an uneven sleep surface, misalign your spine, joints, and muscles.

• Helps Influence a Deeper Rest

Sleeping in alignment with the proper support allows full body relaxation and keeps you from tossing and turning. This in turn provides a deeper, more healing and restful night.

Best Firm Innerspring Mattresses

The following innerspring mattress choices are considered some of the most popular. These options incorporate various layers and coiled pocketed innerspring to provide unparalleled support and comfort to a wide array of body shapes and sizes.

1. S Secretland by Molblly 10 inch Individually Wrapped Coils Innerspring Mattress

SPECS:

  • Material Layers: 3D knitted cover, Memory foam, innerspring steel coil core
  • Sizes: Queen
  • Features: Steel pocketed innerspring core, Contouring surface, bed-in-box, 10-year warranty

Helps Reduction of Motion Transfer

The core of this 10-inch mattress is made of individually wrapped innerspring coils made of a tempered steel support system. This provides amazing medium-firm support that moves and flexes beneath your weight and movement to provide all body support. The top layer is made of memory foam covered in s 3D soft knitted material for airflow and cooling properties. It also is joint cushioning and comfort. 

The reinforced foam helps create a strong mattress edge to avoid sagging, It also has incredible motion transfer reduction, making it perfect for couples to avoid disruption through the night. This is a true bed-in-box option as well, shipping straight from the manufacturer to your door to help keep it budget-friendly.

ProsCons
  • Other sizes and depths available
  • Incredibly comfortable surface
  • Great affordability
  • Might be too firm for some

Who Should Purchase

If an affordable, durable, and firm mattress option is on your list, this one is a great one to consider. The layered memory foam and 3D knitted cover keep you cool and comfortable without losing support. 

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2. Zinus 14 Inch Gel Memory Foam Pocket Spring Hybrid Mattress 

SPECS:

  • Material Layers: Foam comfort foam, gel-infused foam, pocked steel coil innerspring
  • Sizes: Twin, Full, Queen, King, Cal. King
  • Features: Layered design for airflow, gel infusion for cooling, Pocket steel coil core, bed-in-box, 10-year warranty

Best Cooling Pocket Spring Firm Mattress

This 14-inch hybrid pocket spring mattress made by Zinus is backed by the company’s 10-year warranty, and long-standing name to provide an affordable mattress option in the bedding industry. The specialized steel pocket innerspring core is an excellent choice to help isolate motion and is layered with amazing comfort. 

Topped by 2 inches of cooling fusion gel memory foam, and 1.25 inches of soft comfort foam, you have a combination that helps relieve pressure while keeping firm support in place for excellent body alignment. The layers and gel work together to help allow air circulation and pull heat from your body for a cooler night’s sleep. It also is a bed in a box design for easy setup and saves.

ProsCons
  • Reduces motion transfer well
  • Good side support
  • Nice comfortable surface without giving up support
  • It may take up to a week for off-gassing to dissipate

Who Should Purchase

Available in 10, 12, and 14-inch profiles, this is a great choice for anyone looking to help create a cooling, firm, and comfortable sleep surface for all night relaxation.

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3. Linenspa 10 Inch Memory Foam and Innerspring Hybrid Mattress

SPECS:

  • Material Layers: Memory Foam surface, Solid steel innerspring core
  • Sizes:  Twin, Full, Queen, Short Queen, King, Cal. King
  • Features: Cooling gel-infused memory foam layer, Solid Steel innerspring core, 10-year warranty, bed-in-box design

Best Firm Memory Foam Comfort Layer for an Innerspring Mattress

Linenspa is one of the most popular beds in a box mattress and their firm comfort option is incredibly well-received. Available in 8, 10, and 12-inch profiles, each depth includes an increasingly thicker memory foam surface layer to help support various body needs. Created with a steel innerspring core that flexes with your movement without sacrificing support.

The foam is also gel-infused to help draw heat from your body and dissipate it away. The open coiled design helps with amazing airflow for a breathable option to help anyone who may be concerned with heat retention.

ProsCons
  • Amazing surface comfort
  • Surprisingly durable and long-lasting
  • Great profile options without sacrificing comfort
  • 8 inch may be very firm overall

Who Should Purchase

If you want a firm option with a durable core for great full-body support, Linenspa offers a cooling choice that helps isolate motion and a cushioning, yet supportive surface.

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4. Flash Furniture Capri Comfortable Sleep 12 Inch Foam and Pocket Spring Mattress

SPECS:

  • Material Layers: Foam comfort layer, Solid steel innerspring core
  • Sizes: Twin, Full, Queen, King
  • Features: Optional profile, foam layer, and topper choices; Firm, supportive surface; Solid steel innerspring core; 2-year warranty, bed-in-box design

Best Budget Innerspring Mattress

With a 12 inch profile, this layered foam and pocketed steel innerspring core mattress offers excellent height, durable side support, and also helps maximize motion isolation to avoid bothering your partner through the night. Sold as a box in bed option direct to your front door, it is easy to set up and offers great cost savings.

2 inches of contouring, comforting foam tops a 10-inch steel coil core that flexes and gives to your weight and movement. The quilted top layer is both protective and comforting and offers a soft, smooth option. Breathable and durable, it is a popular option and has a 2-year warranty.

ProsCons
  • Great selection of options
  • Surprisingly durable as a budget choice
  • Comfortable and supportive
  • The foam layer may compress and wear down within 5 years

Who Should Purchase

This is considered a very comfortable, firm topped option that is a budget-friendly pick for guest rooms or quick need for quality. It also is offered in a 10-inch profile, memory foam layer option, as well as an added topper.

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5. Olee Sleep 10-inch Omega Hybrid Gel Infused Memory Foam and Pocket Spring Mattress

SPECS:

  • Material Layers: Dense foam surface layer, supportive steel innerspring core
  • Sizes: Twin, Full, Queen, King
  • Features: Comfort gel infused foam layer, Firm, supportive surface, Solid steel innerspring core, 10-year warranty, bed-in-box design

Quilted Top Comfort Innerspring Mattress

This is another great budget mattress choice that offers a gel-infused, high-density foam to help draw heat from the body, and keep you supported through the night. The foam measures 1.5 inches and provides a surface option for both support and comfort. Supported by a steel, pocketed spring core, it helps hold the body in alignment while providing movement and weight contouring for excellent support. 

The thick, quilted top is smooth, protective, and comforting and allows for a slightly soft initial feel. Built for durability, it comes with a 10-year warranty and provides a quality option that helps keep your body in alignment.

ProsCons
  • Springs provide excellent shock support
  • Great motion reduction
  • The foam layer is cooling
  • Some people find it not firm enough
  • It will keep you cool throughout the night
  • Contains soft memory foam top layers
  • Maybe too plush for some

Who Should Purchase

If affordability, firmness, and quality are what you want, consider this choice. The bed in box design allows you to save and has it show up on your front porch. 

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Conclusion

If you need a good, supportive, firm sleep surface, these are all excellent options that provide comfortable and healthy options. Affordable as well, they provide choices profile height, cooling choices, and even foam layer types. They all have popular reviews by consumers and are about bed-in-box designs that ship directly from the manufacturer to your front porch.