Finding a mattress for back pain is kind of like finding a soulmate. You need one that will support and comfort you without causing pain. And there’s a lot of misinformation regarding mattresses for back pain, so we’re here to set the record straight.
“Historically, and even in certain cultures, sleeping on hard surfaces was encouraged, but the key is having the right balance of firm[ness] and soft[ness]” Mount Sinai’s Dr. Alopi Patel, a double board-certified anesthesiologist and pain management specialist tells PEOPLE. Factors like mattress type and sleeping position can affect your quality of sleep and level of pain, so you should “read your body” before choosing a mattress to determine what will work best for you.
Dr. Patel recommends trying out the mattress “many times if you can,” Our team did just that, sleeping on 18 top-rated mattresses for two to four weeks to see which ones consistently provided the best sleep and lessened any pain upon waking. Around half held up to our testing standards, providing good support, comfort, and sleep quality.
Read on for the winners PEOPLE considers the absolute best mattresses for back pain.
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Saatva
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So comfortable; we didn’t shift around very much while sleeping, and we definitely slept better overall
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Dual-sided firmness with a luxury plush side and a gentle firm side
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Supportive for all sleeping positions
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We continually woke up with no back, neck, or hip pain while sleeping on this mattress
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Feels low to the ground if you have a platform bed, since there’s no box spring
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Had a faint smell when installed, but that dissipated within a few minutes
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The price might be too high for some budgets
We found our soulmate in the Saatva Zenhaven Mattress: It’s incredibly comfortable, versatile, and supportive. The mattress arrived ready to go (not rolled up or compressed into a box), and though it had a faint smell when the plastic was removed, the scent dissipated after a few minutes. We have a platform bed, so we noticed this mattress feels a little low to the ground since it doesn’t come with a box spring or foundation, but if you have a standard bed frame, this shouldn’t be an issue.
We gave this mattress a perfect score for comfort after two weeks, and it remained one of the most comfortable mattresses we’ve ever slept on, earning it continued high scores even after a month of use. The firmness is super versatile because it’s a dual-sided mattress with a luxury plush side and a gentle firm side. We slept on the plush side for the first two weeks and the firm side for the next two weeks. Both sides were supportive without feeling too hard or soft. The firm side was more comfortable when sleeping on our backs, and the plush side was perfect for side and stomach sleeping.
We’ve had four weeks of extremely restful sleep, thanks to this Saatva mattress. Prior, we used to wake up in the middle of the night, and that isn’t happening as often with this mattress because we aren’t shifting around as much to get comfortable — the comfort is immediate. It’s definitely an expensive mattress, but it’s worth it because after sleeping on this mattress for a month, we continually wake up refreshed with no neck, back, or hip pain.
Price at time of publish: $1,495+
Firmness: One side is luxury plush, and the other is gentle firm | Filling Material: Organic natural latex | Sizes: Twin, twin XL, full, queen, king, split king, California king | Best for: Stomach, back, and side sleepers | Return Policy: 365-night sleep trial
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People / Bronwyn Barnes
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People / Bronwyn Barnes
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Amazon
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Affordable pricing that works for a range of budgets
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Completely unscented after unboxing it
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Memory foam is super comfortable for back and side sleepers, and it molds around you as you move
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Edges don’t provide as much support, and you can slide off the side of the mattress
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There’s not much bounce; it’s quite solid with little movement
If you want a comfortable mattress without spending thousands, this Amazon find is an absolute winner. It ships within two days, arrives in a box, is super easy to set up, and fully expands within 24 hours. We also appreciated that it didn’t have any strange smells when unboxed, like some mattresses that are wrapped in plastic have.
The memory foam is quite comfortable — especially for side and back sleepers — and it molds around your body as you move and shift (though it doesn’t bounce or have much movement). We did notice the edges were a little flimsy and it’s easy to slip off if you’re sitting on the side of the mattress. It’s not a cooling mattress, and we were quite cozy when sleeping on it; we didn’t experience any discomfort, lower back pain, or neck pain. Considering the quick shipping, easy setup, low price, and general comfort, we think this is a great budget-friendly mattress.
Price at time of publish: $419.99+
Firmness: Medium-Firm | Filling Material: Gel memory foam | Sizes: Twin, full, queen, king | Best for: Side and back sleepers | Return Policy: 30-day free return
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Bear
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Its softness and comfort improved our sleep quality with fewer middle-of-the-night wakeups
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Reduced soreness and joint pain, thanks to good support throughout the night
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Material won’t rip or fray even if you let your furry friends sleep in the bed
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It’s underpriced given the good quality (and extras like the included free pillows)
When a mattress gets perfect scores in every category, you know it’s worth the hype. This Bear mattress dazzled our team with its ease of setup, immense comfort, and reduction of back pain after just a few weeks of sleeping on it. The mattress expanded within an hour after installation and only had a faint plastic smell (which faded shortly). This isn’t our Best Overall pick because it only offers firm support, while our Best Overall pick offers dual-sided support. However, if you know you like a firm mattress, this is the one for you.
Compared to the mattress we’d been sleeping on prior to this test, this Bear mattress felt amazing. Our team member suffered from back aches for a long time, and the Bear mattress offered a welcome change in comfort. It hugs your body and contorts to your movements throughout the night. Despite intense workouts and daily exercise, our team member never wakes up with pain anymore. The sleep quality also improved, without as many wakeups in the middle of the night.
Even after four weeks, we still love this mattress. The memory foam keeps you from feeling movement made by anyone else in the bed, and the material (as we learned via our dogs) holds up to sharp claws without ripping or fraying. It also comes with two free cloud pillows despite having a low price to start. Given its high quality, we actually think this is super underpriced — ergo, grab it while you can!
Price at time of publish: $487+
Firmness: Medium-Firm | Filling Material: Cooling gel memory foam, bear original foam | Sizes: Twin, twin XL, full, queen, king, split king, California king | Best for: Side and back sleepers | Return Policy: 120-Night sleep trial
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People / Jennifer May
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People / Jennifer May
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Helix
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Like sleeping on a cloud; you almost sink into sleep
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Blends firm and soft support well so you wake up without any joint or neck pain
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Sleep quality has vastly improved since using this mattress, and we don’t toss and turn after falling asleep
Some of us like to sleep on a cloud, and this cloud of a mattress will bring sweet dreams without the accompanying back pain. When this Helix mattress arrived, it fully expanded within a few minutes. While the mattress didn’t have a scent, we noticed a faint smell of plastic with the two free pillows that come with it. This mattress reminded us of one you’d find at a resort: super plush, but a perfect balance between soft and firm.
Our sleep quality has drastically improved with this mattress, and it feels like we are literally sinking into sleep each night. It supports our body regardless of sleeping position, and the included pillows provide great neck support. In fact, most mornings we wake up in the same position we fell asleep in (no tossing and turning here!). This mattress is certainly expensive, but the value supports the price.
Price at time of publish: $1,099+
Firmness: Medium-Firm | Filling Material: Coils, pillow top, hypoallergenic cooling cover | Sizes: Twin, twin XL, full, queen, king, California king | Best for: Side sleepers | Return Policy: 100-Night sleep trial
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Amazon
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It’s a good blend of firmness and softness to support you, while still feeling plush
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Our lower back pain hasn’t been an issue since sleeping on this mattress
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Excellent price point for the quality, versatility, and comfort level
Sometimes we get really attached to our mattresses and it can be daunting to try a new one, but we’re happy we tried this hybrid mattress from Sweetnight. Despite us ordering a king-sized mattress, it arrived in a box no bigger than a small fridge. That said, it had no trouble expanding to its full size within 30 minutes or so and didn’t have any lingering manufacturing smells.
We were apprehensive about using a plush mattress for back pain, but it’s actually quite firm and supportive (without being too hard). The hybrid design with foam and coils offers a good balance of support and comfort while you sleep. You can place it on a slatted-bed frame or a platform bed, which offers a nice versatility should you want to swap out your furniture. We have consistent lower back pain, yet our back didn’t have any issues during the month we’ve slept on this mattress. Even though we still toss and turn a bit, it’s a great value when you consider the price and quality.
Price at time of publish: $319.99+
Firmness: Plush | Filling Material: Gel memory foam | Sizes: Full, queen, king, California king | Best for: Side or stomach sleepers | Return Policy: 10 year warranty and can call customer service about any returns
People / Abigail Moore
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Casper
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Provides a good mix of firmness and softness
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Supports us while we sleep and alleviates some lower back and hip pain
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Balances support for your joints with a comfortable feel
You might think you need a firm mattress to receive adequate back support, but a medium-firm one like this Casper pick can be equally supportive and comfortable. The manufacturer instructions said this mattress should only take a few minutes to fully expand, but we gave it 24 hours before sleeping on it.
It proved to be extremely supportive and comfortable, though it definitely leans slightly more firm than plush. This mattress thoroughly supported our back and hips no matter what position we slept in. Our team member is a runner and often deals with hip and lower back pain, and this mattress helped alleviate it. We woke up without feeling nearly as sore or out-of-alignment. Despite its firmness, this mattress is extremely comfortable and we didn’t toss and turn at all while falling asleep. It maintained its comfort and support throughout the four-week period. We acknowledge it’s a pricey pick, but if you can afford it, we think it’s worth the cost.
Price at time of publish: $2,460+
Firmness: Medium-Firm | Filling Material: Gel memory foam | Sizes: Twin, twin XL, full, queen, king, California king | Best for: Side, back, and stomach sleepers | Return Policy: 10-year limited warranty, but can call customer service for return inquiries
People / Samantha Jones
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Saatva
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Firmness provides thorough support for those who sleep on their stomachs
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The quality and support helped alleviate lower back pain over time
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Super comfortable to sleep on given its balance between firm and soft
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Runs a little warm when you’re sleeping
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Faint scent upon arrival, but it dissipated quickly
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A little too firm for side and back sleepers, but did soften some over time
Stomach sleepers require a certain firmness in a mattress, given the angle of their bodies during rest. Our resident stomach sleeper fell in love with this mattress immediately. There was a faint scent when the mattress first arrived, but it didn’t linger past a day or so.
Our team member used to wake up with lower back pain, but with the firmness of this mattress, the aches and pains have slowly dissipated. The mattress runs a little warm, but combined with a cooling pillow, it felt perfect while falling asleep. It’s a little firm for back and side sleepers, but it did soften over the course of four weeks. Overall, we think this mattress offers a great combination of support and comfort, and our sleep quality improved over the month we’ve tested it.
Price at time of publish: $995+
Firmness: Luxury Firm | Filling Material: Lumbar support quilting, pillow top, high density memory foam | Sizes: Twin, twin XL, full, queen, king, split king, California king | Best for: Stomach sleepers | Return Policy: 365-night sleep trial
People / Ashleigh Morley
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Lull
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Balances support and comfort well, and the memory foam molds around your body
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Incredibly low price, given the luxury quality of this mattress
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Has cooling technology to reduce body temperature and provide breathability while you sleep
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It might be too soft for those who need a really firm mattress
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It lost some support after a few weeks, and didn’t cushion our side as much as others on our list
Back sleepers can utilize plush or firm mattresses depending on their preference, but a medium-firm mattress like this Luxe Hybrid option will provide the best back support, while still maintaining comfort. When this mattress arrived, it took about 10 hours to fully form (though the bulk of it expanded right away). We noticed a stark difference between this hybrid mattress and our old coil one — especially how the memory foam molded around our bodies.
Over the course of two weeks, we felt equal comfort and support (both on our back and side), and looked forward to sleeping every night on this dreamy mattress. The medium-firmness really helped reduce our back pain compared to the old mattress, and we felt the difference waking up in the morning. Around week three, the mattress softened a bit more, providing less support, and we noticed that there was still some pain when we slept on our side. This is really the best option for back sleepers (rather than side sleepers), and given the low price and high quality, we plan to use it for the next decade.
Price at time of publish: $999+
Firmness: Medium-Firm | Filling Material: Open-cell memory foam | Sizes: Twin, twin XL, full, queen, king, California king | Best for: Back sleepers | Return Policy: 365-night sleep trial
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Nolah
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It only took a few minutes to fully expand
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Super cozy and plush but firm enough to support your joints and back while sleeping
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Provided better sleep quality with fewer aches and pains in the morning
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Quite high with a box spring underneath, but you could also just place it directly on the bed frame
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Somewhat pricey, but within the range of most mattresses
A mattress in a box is definitely a new age concept, but the quality lines up with traditional options — and sometimes exceeds them. When this Nolah mattress arrived, it only took minutes to fully expand, and it was beyond comfortable to lay on. Even after just one night, we felt a huge difference in our back pain because it’s more plush than the old mattress we were working with. It’s super cozy and soft to lay on, but not flimsy.
The support was immediate — no sinking feeling — yet the mattress still had a plush feel. We used this mattress with a box spring and it was quite high when combined (about 15 inches). If you like to literally climb into bed, this might be a pro; if not, a con. You can also always forgo a box spring for a lower height. We noticed a difference in the quality of sleep we got while testing this mattress, given that our back pain was noticeably less upon waking. It eliminates pain and provides support in all the right places. This Nolah mattress is a good value that lies in the median price range, and considering the quality, we think it justifies the cost.
Price at time of publish: $1,999+
Firmness: Medium-firm | Filling Material: Foam hybrid | Sizes: Twin, twin XL, full, queen, king, split king, California king | Best for: Side or back sleepers | Return Policy: 120-Night sleep trial
Things to Consider When Buying a Mattress for Back Pain
Firmness
The level of firmness in a mattress can absolutely affect your level of back pain in the morning. It’s kind of a Goldilocks scenario: you don’t want it to be too firm or too soft, but rather something right in the middle. A medium-firm mattress will often provide the best balance of comfort and support, which is why our list is comprised of mostly medium-firm mattresses (with variances should you prefer slightly firmer or softer mattresses).
Dr. Patel adds that how you get out of bed can also worsen your pain — for instance, “sitting straight up (i.e. flexion of the back) can worsen disc pain versus turning to the side and then getting up.” It’s a lot easier to sit up on a medium-firm mattress than one that’s too soft.
Material
Memory foam is often a popular material for side sleepers because it molds to the form of your body. However, other mattress designs feature latex, springs, regular foam, and a hybrid of several fillings to support you while you sleep. If you sleep on your back, you might prefer a hybrid option like the Lull Luxe Hybrid Mattress, while stomach sleepers could benefit from a firmer foam mattress like the Saatva Classic Mattress.
Sleep Position
Your sleeping position can hugely impact your level of comfort and the type of mattress that is best for you. As mentioned above, certain materials and fillings are more conducive to different types of sleepers, as well as the level of firmness. When purchasing a mattress, the position you actually sleep in is more crucial to finding the best option — but your waking position should be considered in the mornings to reduce pain, as well. So consider the position you fall asleep in and the position you wake up in, so you can find the right mattress to best support your alignment while you catch some z’s.
People / Jennifer May
How We Tested Mattresses for Back Pain
Prior to testing, our lab team consulted board-certified physical medicine and rehabilitation doctor Dr. Angelie Mascarinas to determine which type of mattresses we should test for back pain. Dr. Mascarinas, who is trained in interventional spine and musculoskeletal care, suggested medium-firm mattresses.
We tested 18 top-rated mattresses (all medium-firm) in our homes for a period of two to four weeks to see which ones provided the best quality of sleep, while being comfortable and supportive — without adding to pain levels.
Our team included a variety of side, stomach, and back sleepers, and we had various testing criteria for each. For stomach sleepers, we considered whether the mattress adequately cushioned under our stomach area, so that our bodies were aligned while sleeping. Our side sleepers had to note whether our spines remained still without flexing or twisting while falling asleep. And for back sleepers, we looked at how the mattress supported our lower backs.
According to experts, generally you’ll start noticing a difference in pain around the two-week mark, so during the testing period, we considered if our joints and muscles were sore in the morning, and how well we were sleeping overall. We rated our sleep quality and comfort after four weeks, as well.
Why Trust PEOPLE?
Madison Yauger is a senior commerce writer for PEOPLE who’s tested hundreds of lifestyle products across all categories. With a background in news and lifestyle journalism, she has a wide network of expert sources and a penchant for accuracy. For this story, she spoke to Mount Sinai pain management specialist and anesthesiologist Dr. Alopi Patel, researched back pain and its correlation to mattresses, and used insights from our lab tests to determine the best mattresses for back pain of 2023.
What Is PEOPLE Tested?
We created the PEOPLE Tested seal of approval to help you find the very best products for your life. We use our unique methodology to test products in three labs across the country and with our network of home testers to determine their effectiveness, durability, ease of use, and so much more. Based on the results, we rate and recommend products so you can find the right one for your needs.
But we don’t stop there: We also regularly re-review the categories in which we’ve awarded the PEOPLE Tested seal of approval — because the best product of today might not be the best of tomorrow. And by the way, companies can never buy our recommendation: Their products must earn it, fair and square.
In short, PEOPLE Tested provides recommendations you can trust — every day, every purchase.
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