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Medium-Firm Mattresses

Best Medium-Firm Mattresses UK (2023)

Last updated: 31.10.2023 Reading time: 4.5 Min.

It can be difficult to find the perfect mattress.

At first glance, a mattress can seem too firm or too soft and it’s not always easy to find the one that's right for you.

But if you’re looking for a mattress that’s neither too soft nor too firm, then a medium-firm mattress is the ideal solution.

How do you find the best medium-firm mattress? And who is a medium-firm mattress right for?

Don't despair, we'll answer all your questions and recommend some of our favourite medium-firm mattresses in this handy guide.

Medium-firm mattresses

Our top medium-firm recommendations

Sleep Hero Favourite

Simba Hybrid

The Simba Hybrid mattress is a high-quality pocket sprung mattress with multiple layers of foam.

This award-winning and five-star-rated original mattress by Simba Sleep is a unique hybrid mattress that combines polyfoam, memory foam, high-definition foam, and pocket springs.

The Simba Hybrid is an award-winning hybrid pocket sprung foam mattress by Simba Sleep. 🏆

It features four layers, including:

  • A comfort layer of graphite-infused, open-cell Simbatex foam
  • A core of up to 2000 Aerocoil mini pocket springs across 13 zones
  • A CertiPur stability layer
  • A base layer of no roll-off SupportCore with up to 1000 barrel springs

This is a medium-firm mattress that's an excellent choice for a wide range of sleepers, regardless of body size or preferred sleeping position.

Simba Hybrid mattress
The Simba is one of our favourite hybrid mattresses.

The Simba mattress is supportive enough to prevent a build-up of tension, but also soft enough to allow your body to sink in where necessary.

This allows for optimal spinal alignment. 🦴

The Simba Hybrid mattress comes with an antibacterial hypoallergenic cover designed to maximise airflow.

The cover is also removable and machine-washable - but we'd always recommend making use of a mattress protector to safeguard your mattress. 🧼

The Simba comes with free delivery, a 200-day risk-free trial period, and a 10-year guarantee. 

40% OFF SIMBA HYBRID

  Simba Hybrid
Composition: Hybrid mattress with foams, mini pocket springs, and full-size pocket springs.
Firmness level: Medium-firm
Height: 25 cm (10 inches)
Trial period: 200 days
Guarantee: 10 years
What makes this mattress special:  A unique combination of materials; very comfortable for average-weight back and side sleepers; cooling properties
Runner-Up

Nectar Premier Hybrid

The Nectar Premier Hybrid combines deep springs, micro springs, and memory foam for exceptional zoned support for all body shapes.

Enjoy 8 layers of premium comfort with Nectar's Premier Hybrid mattress.

The Nectar Premier Hybrid mattress is one of Nectar's best-selling medium-firm mattresses, designed for superior comfort and support for all body types. 

The mattress is made up of 8 layers:

  • Quilted cooling cover for moisture-wicking comfort
  • Dynamic support layer for enhanced temperature regulation
  • Micro-springs layer for additional air circulation
  • Pressure-relieving memory foam layer for body-hugging comfort
  • Engineered transition layer for optimal spinal alignment
  • Up to 832 full-size pocket springs (12 cm / 4.7 inches) for overall support and enhanced edge support
  • Firmer support base foam for extra support and stability 
  • Positioning base material to keep your mattress in place on the bed

This mattress has been designed with enhanced cooling in mind, wicking away moisture more effectively and allowing for greater air circulation. ❄️

This helps keep the mattress cooler and more comfortable, making it better suited to hot sleepers or those who sweat easily. 

The combination of up to 2,462  micro springs and full-size pocket springs also aids support and gives you a more stable sleeping surface, in contrast to the "sink-into-the-foams" feel you may get from standard memory foam mattresses.

nectar premier hybrid mattress

Like all Nectar mattresses, the Nectar Premier Hybrid comes with quick delivery times and free named-day delivery. 🤩

It also comes with a risk-free 365-day trial, giving you the chance to try the product in the comfort of your own home.

The Nectar Premier Hybrid comes with a lifetime warranty.

45% OFF NECTAR PREMIER HYBRID

  Nectar Premier Hybrid mattress
Composition: Memory foam, micro springs, full-size pocket springs
Firmness level: Medium-firm
Height: 28 cm (11 inches)
Trial period: 365 days
Guarantee: Lifetime warranty
What makes this mattress special: Designed for exceptional support and enhanced cooling.
Best Trial Period

DreamCloud Luxury Hybrid

The DreamCloud Luxury Hybrid mattress is a 5-layered premium mattress that combines memory foam with pocket springs.

This is a high-quality mattress designed for enhanced breathability, comfort, and support. 

The DreamCloud Luxury Hybrid is a premium mattress from the same company that's brought you the Nectar memory foam mattress.

It combines high-quality memory foam with full-size pocket springs (called ActiveEdge coils), each measuring 15 cm (5.9 inches).

DreamCloud luxury hybrid

This is an orthopaedically designed mattress with medium-firm support to help eliminate back, neck, and shoulder pains.

The mattress offers enhanced breathability to help keep you cool and refreshed all night long. ❄️

It also has low motion transfer and great edge support, making it a great choice for couples.

The DreamCloud Luxury Hybrid mattress is 28 cm (11 inches) thick and stands out as a key feature in any bedroom. 🏆

The mattress comes with free delivery & returns, a remarkable 365-night risk-free trial period, and a lifetime guarantee.

£540 OFF DREAMCLOUD + FREE BEDDING SET£ 408.07

  DreamCloud Luxury Hybrid
Composition: Memory foam, pocket springs
Firmness level:  Medium-firm
Height: 28 cm (11 inches)
Trial period: 365 days
Guarantee: Lifetime warranty
What makes this mattress special? Fantastic premium-choice option suitable for most; revolutionary trial period and a lifetime guarantee.
Great For Couples

Emma Hybrid

The Emma Hybrid is a high-quality mattress combining memory foam and springs for superior comfort, support, and breathability.

This hybrid mattress by the award-winning Emma brand is best suited to those wanting the feel of memory foam without excessive heat retention.

The Emma Hybrid is a unique mattress by the award-winning Emma Sleep.

It combines high-quality memory foam with up to 2000 mini pocket springs for superior comfort, support, and breathability.

Memory foam adapts well to the contours of your body. 🤗

emma hybrid mattress

This relieves pressure adequately, allowing you to relax fully and enjoy a good night's sleep. 😴

Pocket springs enhance overall breathability, ensuring a steady flow of air to carry away heat and moisture and keep you cool and comfortable all night long.

This makes the Emma Hybrid particularly suitable for more hot sleepers or heavier sweaters.

Like all Emma mattresses, the Emma Hybrid comes with free delivery & returns and a risk-free 200-night trial period. 🥳

5% OFF EMMA HYBRID W/ "SLEEPHEROUK5"

  Emma Hybrid
Composition: Memory foam with mini pocket springs
Firmness level: Soft
Height: 25 cm (10 inches)
Trial period: 200 nights
Guarantee: 10 years
What makes this mattress special: Better breathability and ease of movement than standard memory foam

How we test products

Our mission is to take the guesswork out of finding the perfect sleep products.

We've dedicated hundreds of hours to testing mattresses and sleep accessories, and rely on a team of testers of differing weights, temperature preferences, and sleeping positions to evaluate each product. 

Tested products are granted the Sleep Hero tested stamp of approval, a mark of our review's reliability.

To learn more about our testing process, check out our methodology page.

If we haven't personally tested a product, please be assured that we invest significant time and energy into scouring the UK market and researching the best recommendations, and we work with a team of sleep experts who review our articles, ensuring that the insights we provide are not only relatable but also reliable.

What is a medium-firm mattress?

A medium-firm mattress is suitable for people of a small or medium build, who do not like firm mattresses, and who do not suffer from any back problems. They are also suitable for heavier-weight people who like a soft mattress but still desire the quality and support necessary for their health.

Stability is essential in a mattress. This is determined by the composition of the mattress and refers to how much support the mattress gives you. Good support takes into account the optimal alignment of the spine. It is important not to confuse stability and firmness. A soft mattress can offer as much support as a firm mattress.

A medium-firm mattress offers a balanced approach. It is not too soft and not too firm but still offers the required stability to optimally support your body and keep your spine in a healthy alignment. This ensures that your body remains in a great position, allowing you to get a good night's rest.

Sleep Hero firmness scale

In order to better explain the degrees of firmness of different mattresses, we’ve come up with the Sleep Hero firmness scale. Our firmness scale is based on scores awarded by our independent reviewers. It is used extensively on the Sleep Hero website and we've used it to rate each mattress in our mattress reviews.

If you’re looking for a medium-firm mattress, then we’d advise you to look at mattresses with a rating between 5 and 6.5 out of 10 on the Sleep Hero firmness scale.

What type of sleeper is a medium-firm mattress suitable for?

A medium-firm mattress is suitable for a wide variety of people and body types. It can support you well, regardless of whether you’re short, tall, skinny, or heavier. It can also support you well if you sleep on your side, your back, or your stomach. Ultimately, a medium-firm mattress is a mattress for all.

However, the exact feeling of lying down on a mattress will depend on your preferences and your body size. If, for example, you’re a short and skinny person, then a medium-firm mattress may seem firmer to you than it would for someone who is taller or of a larger build, and vice versa.

Generally, we would recommend a medium-firm mattress for people weighing between 50 kg and 100 kg.

Why choose a medium-firm mattress?

Most people think that a firm mattress is better than a soft mattress. This isn’t necessarily true. A poor quality firm mattress can cause as much damage as a poor quality soft mattress. Ultimately, what’s important is the support a mattress gives.

You need to find a mattress that supports your body and ensures that your spine remains in its optimal alignment, without creating unnecessary pressure points in your shoulder and hip areas. This will allow your body to relax sufficiently and doesn't cause back or neck pains.

Body alignment

A good medium-firm mattress will function as an orthopaedic mattress and keep your body in its optimal alignment while you sleep. This allows you to get a good night’s rest and keep your body well-supported and healthy.

Conclusion

By choosing a medium-firm mattress, you will get the perfect mattress that’s neither too soft, nor too firm. It’s also a great compromise for couples who cannot agree on the desired firmness of their mattress.

There are many high-quality medium-firm mattresses available. One of our favourites, though, is the Simba Hybrid.

Nicky

Nicky

Content Director & Partner Relations

My mum calls me "bear" because I like to sleep so much. I never thought that, one day, I'd be a certified sleep coach and apply my skills more widely. Can you tell that I've found my calling? 

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