Best Firm Pillow Top Mattresses for 2019


Our review process

We've already done all the grunt work researching firm pillow top mattresses. That way, you don't have to pour over confusing articles about selecting the perfect one for you. By reading this article, you'll have an excellent understanding of what kinds of mattresses are available on the market, so you can confidently buy a mattress that will ensure comfortable sleep for years to come.

Here's what we think you'll want to know about firm pillow top mattresses. These mattresses feature various types of coils, so you can choose what's right for you depending on your preferences. Moving heat away from your body, they keep you from getting too warm at night. They are designed to provide the optimal balance of firmness and softness for endless comfort throughout the night. Featuring pressure-point relief, these pillow top mattresses offer additional support to sensitive areas like the hips and shoulders. However, they can smell a bit like chemicals at first, sometimes lasting up to a couple of weeks before wearing off. In addition, they are expensive, so if you're on a budget, this might not be the best option for you.

These mattresses encourage circulation and blood flow, aiding in deeper and more restful sleep. They are perfect for people who sleep on their back. However, they may be uncomfortable if you're not used to sleeping on hard surfaces, so it'll take a little bit of time to get used to them. Additionally, they can put strain on specific pressure points, including the shoulders and hips.

Best Overall Score
An image of Helix Twilight Firm Pillow Top Queen-Size 10-Inch Individually Wrapped Pocket Coils Thick Mattress

For a better night's rest and endless comfort, opt for a Helix Twilight Firm Pillow Top Queen-Size Mattress. This HELIX mattress offers pressure point relief, reducing and alleviating tension in your muscles and joints. It has a supportive design, aligning your spine horizontally while sleeping on your side. Featuring a pillow top construction, it will have extra padding and relieves back pain.

This HELIX mattress is available in a queen-size, offering a comfortable amount of sleeping room without taking up a large amount of space. It has a 10-inch thickness, preventing any structural problems that thinner mattresses often have. It features four layers and a firm comfort level, which promotes deeper and more restful sleep. It features gel Visco memory foam, Memory Plus Foam, poly foam, and Duradense Foam layers.

This HELIX mattress features a Helix Ultra cool cover, which is designed of a special material made to absorb excess heat and keep you cool at night. With a cooling cover, it is ideal if you tend to overheat at night. This thick mattress includes individually-wrapped pocket coils, so it reduces pressure points and optimizes comfort. It has a 100 night sleep trial, which means that if it doesn't feel like the perfect mattress for you after that time, you can return it free of charge.

    Pros
    • Firm comfort level is perfect for people who need precise spinal alignment
    • Pressure point relief technology ensures that your weight is evenly distributed on the mattress
    • Supportive design ensures proper spinal support and alignment
    Cons
    • Queen-size doesn't provide ample space for couples
    • Firm comfort level can put uncomfortable pressure on pressure points
    • 10-inch thickness wears faster than other thicker mattresses
Runner Up
An image of Stearns and Foster Lux Estate La Sardina Firm Pillow Top Queen-Size IntelliCoil System Mattress

The Stearns and Foster Lux Estate La Sardina Firm Pillow Top Queen-Size Mattress is a wonderful choice for an environmentally-friendly option, free from toxic chemicals and low in VOCs. This Stearns and Foster mattress has an edge support system, adding resistance around the edges of the mattress. It features a firm comfort level, giving stronger balance to pressure areas that we tend to stress. Available in a queen-size, it provides enough room to stretch out and sleep comfortably. It has a tencel cover, making it one of the most environmentally-friendly fabrics.

With a pillow top construction, this Stearns and Foster mattress will have added padding and relieves back pain. It features Primasense gel foam and Advanced Adapt memory foam layers. Made with eco-friendly fabric, it has lower chemical and VOC emissions compared to regular mattresses. It conforms to your body, so your shoulders and hips will sink more deeply into the mattress, offering better spinal alignment. This Stearns and Foster mattress has a supportive design, aligning your spine horizontally while sleeping on your side.

    Pros
    • Firm mattress is great for people who require precise spinal alignment
    • Comes with a tencel cover, making it one of the most environmentally-friendly fabrics
    • Conforms to your body, increasing its overall support and comfort
    Cons
    • Queen-size doesn't provide ample space for couples
    • Firm mattress can put uncomfortable pressure on pressure points
    • Pillow top construction has questionable durability
For Side Sleepers
An image of Sealy Posturepedic Select Yonge Street Firm Pillow Top King-Size 14-Inch Mattress

For both comfort and support, choose the Sealy Posturepedic Select Yonge Street Firm Pillow Top King-Size Mattress and enjoy a good night's sleep. This Sealy Posturepedic mattress features a pillow top construction, increasing contouring and relieves back pain. Built with exceptional breathability, it promotes airflow to prevent mold from developing. It features antimicrobial fabric, protecting you from dangerous bacteria. With a firm comfort level, it is good for people who sleep on their back since it provides fantastic spinal support. Featuring a 14-inch thickness, this Sealy Posturepedic mattress will maintain its shape and form even after prolonged use. Available in a king-size, it offers plenty of room to stretch out and relax.

    Pros
    • Firm mattress is a perfect choice for those who suffer from back pain since it relieves pressure points
    • Built with antimicrobial materials to minimize the chances of bacteria surviving
    • Features exceptional breathability, creating a healthy and comfortable sleeping environment
    Cons
    • King-size can be difficult to move
    • Firm mattress can put uncomfortable pressure on pressure points
    • 14-inch thickness may appear disproportional in some bed frames
Additional Picks
An image of Dreamfoam Bedding UDCQPT-K-C7 Firm Pillow Top King-Size Foam Base 11-Inch Mattress

For serious comfort and a restful night's sleep, consider the Dreamfoam Bedding Firm Pillow Top King-Size Mattress. This thick mattress has a firm comfort level, which is great for people who need precise spinal alignment or improved blood circulation. It is available in a king-size, providing you with more room than queen and full-size mattresses. It has an 11-inch thickness, keeping your mattress functional for years.

This thick mattress features a pillow top construction, which adds contouring and relieves back pain. Built with a foam base, it adequately supports all major pressure points of your body. It reduces motion transfer, which promotes uninterrupted rest, especially if you share your bed with a partner. It has a design that contours to your body, so you will be fully supported during sleep.

    Pros
    • Firm mattress will support your joints and other vulnerable areas
    • Contours to your body for excellent pressure point relief
    • Minimizes motion transfer, making it ideal for restless sleepers
    Cons
    • King-size can be difficult to move
    • Firm mattress can put uncomfortable pressure on pressure points
    • 11-inch thickness can appear disproportional in some bed frames
An image of Sealy Posturepedic Firm Pillow Top King-Size 14-Inch Mattress

For a good night's sleep and endless comfort, choose a Sealy Posturepedic Firm Pillow Top King-Size Mattress. Available in a king-size, this thick mattress offers plenty of room to stretch out and relax. Made with pressure point relief technology, it is good for stomach sleepers. With a firm comfort level, it is perfect for those who sleep on their back because it offers fantastic spinal support. This thick mattress helps reduce tossing and turning at night, which improves your quality of sleep. It has a 14-inch thickness, which may appear disproportional in some bed frames. It features a pillow top construction, adding contouring and relieves hip and shoulder pressure. This thick mattress is made with an edge support system, adding resistance around the edges of the mattress.

    Pros
    • Firm mattress provides overall support of your body for uninterrupted sleep
    • Helps eliminate tossing and turning at night, significantly improving your quality of sleep
    • Offers pressure point relief, making it good for stomach sleepers
    Cons
    • King-size can be difficult to move
    • Firm mattress can put uncomfortable pressure on pressure points
    • 14-inch thickness may tend to appear too large in some bed frames
An image of Coaster Home Furnishings Firm Pillow Top King-Size Mattress

For serious comfort and a restful night's sleep, select the Coaster Home Furnishings Firm Pillow Top King-Size Mattress. This Coaster Home Furnishings mattress features a pillow top construction, increasing contouring and relieves back pain. It has a supportive design, aligning your spine horizontally when sleeping on your side. It has quilt foam, quilt foam, and quilt foam layers. Available in a king-size, this Coaster Home Furnishings mattress ensures that you'll have a generous amount of space to spread out and have a good night's sleep. It includes three layers and features a firm comfort level, giving stronger support to pressure areas that we tend to stress. The cover has a super soft design, providing an added layer of protection and comfort to your mattress. Featuring a chemical-free cover, this Coaster Home Furnishings mattress is a healthy, non-toxic option for your bedroom. This damask quilt Coaster Home Furnishings mattress will appear elegant.

    Pros
    • Firm mattress is a great choice if you suffer from back pain since it relieves pressure points
    • Supportive design ensures proper spinal support and alignment
    • Comes in a king-size, giving you the space to stretch out
    Cons
    • King-size does not fit in small rooms
    • Firm mattress can put painful pressure on pressure points
    • Pillow top construction is difficult to maintain
An image of Sealy 52254361 Firm Pillow Top King-Size DuraFlex Edge System Responsive SealyCool Gel Memory Foam 14-Inch Mattress

For a good night's rest and ultimate comfort, opt for a Sealy Firm Pillow Top King-Size Mattress. With a 14-inch thickness, this Sealy mattress will maintain its shape and form even after prolonged use. It has a responsive foam core, meaning it adjusts to small movements, allowing it to contour to your body for optimal support. Available in a king-size, this Sealy mattress ensures that you'll have a generous amount of room to spread out and have a good night's sleep. With a firm mattress, it is suitable for those who sleep on their sides or stomach as it is comfortable and supportive. This Sealy mattress has a supportive design, aligning your spine horizontally while sleeping on your side.

This thick mattress has a pillow top construction, which adds contouring and relieves back pain. It has a knitted cover, keeping its shape for easy care. This Sealy mattress has an edge support system, adding resistance around the edges of the mattress. It has a soft cover, so you can have double the added comfort. It is built with SealyCool gel memory foam.

    Pros
    • Firm mattress is great for people who need precise spinal alignment
    • Responsive foam core reacts to small movements, allowing it to contour to your body for optimal support
    • Supportive design ensures proper spinal support and alignment
    Cons
    • King-size can be difficult to move
    • Firm mattress can put uncomfortable pressure on pressure points
    • 14-inch thickness may appear disproportional in some bed frames
An image of Sealy Posturepedic Firm Pillow Top King-Size 16-Inch Mattress

For both comfort and support, choose the Sealy Posturepedic Firm Pillow Top King-Size Mattress and enjoy a good night's sleep. This Sealy Posturepedic mattress is made with an edge support system, adding resistance around the edges of the mattress. It has a 16-inch thickness, resulting in a bulky appearance that can be off-putting for some. This Sealy Posturepedic mattress is available in a king-size, allowing partners to have their own sleeping space. With a firm comfort level, it is good for people who rest on their back because it provides additional spinal support. It features a pillow top construction, adding support and relieves back pain. This thick mattress helps eliminate tossing and turning at night, which improves your quality of sleep. With pressure point relief, it works to relax strained muscles and joints.

    Pros
    • Firm mattress aligns your spine properly to reduce back problems
    • Helps eliminate tossing and turning at night, drastically improving your quality of sleep
    • Provides pressure point relief, minimizing pain or stiffness while you're sleeping
    Cons
    • King-size does not fit in compact rooms
    • Firm comfort level can put uncomfortable pressure on pressure points
    • 16-inch thickness can tend to appear disproportional in some bed frames
An image of Dream Solutions USA Firm Pillow Top King-Size Innerspring System Innerspring Support 11-Inch Mattress

For serious comfort and a restful night's sleep, choose the Dream Solutions USA Firm Pillow Top King-Size Mattress. This orthopedic mattress features a firm comfort level, which provides the support required to keep your body straight. It has pressure point relief technology, so your body is supported to diminish any pain. This orthopedic mattress has a supportive design, ensuring proper spinal support and alignment. It features an 11-inch thickness, so it won't sink, sag, or leave body impressions after a long period of time. This orthopedic mattress is available in a king-size, so you have maximum space to sleep comfortably. Featuring innerspring support, it has both a flexible and supportive surface. It has a pillow top construction, which increases support and relieves back pain. This orthopedic mattress features a quilted cover, providing added comfort and cushioning. It is suitable to use for standard box springs.

    Pros
    • Firm mattress is perfect for people who need precise spinal alignment
    • Supportive design ensures proper spinal support and alignment
    • Offers pressure point relief, making it suitable for stomach sleepers
    Cons
    • King-size can be difficult to move
    • Firm mattress can put uncomfortable pressure on pressure points
    • 11-inch thickness may tend to appear too large in some bed frames
An image of Sealy 52254340 Firm Pillow Top Full-Size DuraFlex Edge System SealyCool Gel Memory Foam 14-Inch Mattress

For a better night's rest and ultimate comfort, choose a Sealy Firm Pillow Top Full-Size Mattress. With a firm comfort level, this Sealy mattress ensures excellent spinal support, which is great for people who enjoy sleeping on their back. It features a 14-inch thickness, which ensures support for heavier sleepers. Available in a full-size, this Sealy mattress is ideal for accommodating one sleeper. It has an edge support system, adding resistance around the edges of the mattress. It has a pillow top construction, adding contouring and relieves back pain. This Sealy mattress has a supportive design, aligning your spine horizontally when sleeping on your side. It is built with SealyCool gel memory foam.

    Pros
    • Firm mattress is perfect for people who need precise spinal alignment
    • Supportive design ensures proper spinal support and alignment
    • Full-size provides more sleeping space that won't take up a lot of room
    Cons
    • Full-size does not comfortably accommodate couples
    • Firm mattress can put painful pressure on pressure points
    • 14-inch thickness can appear bulky in some bed frames
Still Need Help Narrowing Down Your Options? Here's Some Additional Information to Know:
The Sizes Available for Firm Pillow Top Mattresses
King-Size Mattresses

If you are someone who likes having loads of space while you sleep, you should look at a king-size mattress. These mattresses are ideal for master bedrooms and measure 76" X 80". They are built to spaciously fit couples, providing extra space for you to move around. One downside is that they are not suitable for areas with limited room, making small areas look somewhat cluttered. Also, they are heavy and large, making them hard to transport and flip.

Full-Size Mattresses

If you want a full-size mattress, this firm pillow top mattress could be right for you. These mattresses measure 54" X 75" and fit in studio apartments. They are built to reasonably accommodate couples, with a cozy fit between the two sleepers. A potential downside is that they have a narrow width, so you will have limited space to move around when sharing your bed with another person. On top of that, they are short in length, so they might not be a good option if you're taller than 6'3".

Queen-Size Mattresses

Not sure whether to get a queen-size mattress? Read on to learn a bit about them. These queen-size mattresses are perfect for master bedrooms and measure 60" X 80". They are built to adequately fit couples, offering enough space for two people. However, they are smaller compared to king-size mattresses, so if you like having extra space while sleeping, you should consider getting a larger mattress. In addition, they are not great for spaces with limited room, making small rooms look somewhat cluttered. Now that you know the reasons to get a queen-size mattress, if you think you want one, take a look at this one.

What Is the Best Mattress Thickness for Your Firm Pillow Top Mattress?
10-12 Inch Mattresses

There are only two firm pillow top mattresses with a thickness of 10-12 inches. Less likely to cave in, these mattresses will continue to hold their structure and provide proper support as time passes. They have a strong build, so they can hold the weight of two people. They are standard size, so you can rest assured knowing that they'll fit in almost any bed frame, unlike super thick mattresses. They are suitable to use with standard-size sheets, so it will be easy to find sheets that fit properly. A potential downside is that they are higher off the ground, so getting into and out of bed is more difficult than it would be with a thinner mattress. If you think a 10-12 inch mattress is a good choice, here's one to take a look at.

12-14 Inch Mattresses

If you're looking for a comfortable and supportive firm pillow top mattress, you might want to think about getting a 12-14 inch mattress. These mattresses have a solid design, making them more durable and able to sustain more weight. They are suitable to use with standard-size sheets, so it will be easy to find linens that fit properly. They are less likely to sag, so they will provide adequate support, even after prolonged use. A potential downside is that they are higher off the ground, so getting into and out of bed is more difficult than it would be with a thinner mattress. If you think a 12-14 inch mattress is a good choice, here's one to take a look at.

14-16 Inch Mattresses

There are only two firm pillow top mattresses with a thickness of 14-16 inches. These mattresses are less likely to sag, ensuring that you sleep in the correct posture to prevent joint pain. They have a sturdy build, so they can sustain more weight than other kinds of mattresses. A potential downside is that they are thicker than most mattresses, so finding sheets that will cover the top and sides is much more difficult. If you think a 14-16 inch mattress is a good choice, check out this one.