Going to bed at the end of a long day is supposed to leave you feeling fresh and well-rested in the morning. But if you’re sleeping on the wrong mattress, you might end up with aches and pains that don’t seem to go away no matter what you do. If this sounds familiar, it’s probably time to invest in a new mattress. The best mattresses for back pain offer ample support to keep your spine aligned as you snooze, but also take the pressure off your joints and allow your body to fully relax.
The Nectar Premier Memory Foam Mattress has a five-layer structure that properly supports your body … [+]
Nectar
While there are personal preferences to consider, a medium-firm mattress is typically the best option for people with back pain. “You should look for a mattress that supports the natural curve of your spine when you are lying flat and on your side,” says Neel Anand, M.D., a professor of orthopedic surgery and director of spine trauma at Cedars-Sinai Spine Center in Los Angeles. Memory foam and latex mattresses are often considered the top choice for this purpose, but you can also find innerspring and hybrid mattresses that fit the bill if you prefer these materials.
If you’re ready to upgrade to a new mattress and hopefully banish your aching back, these are some of the best mattresses for back pain based on reviews from people who have seen real results.
Best Mattress For Back Pain Overall
Saatva Classic Mattress
- Materials: Memory foam, wrapped coils
- Sizes: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, California King
- Trial period: 180 nights
Saatva offers three levels of firmness: plush soft, firm and luxury firm, a blend of cushiony softness and firm support. The latter two are recommended for people with back pain, with the luxury firm being the company’s most popular option. The mattress is built with double-layer coils for added support, along with layers of memory foam and polyfoam to help keep you comfortable and stable while you sleep. It also has a wire Lumbar Zone in the center of the mattress to add additional support and pressure relief to the middle of the mattress.
What the Reviews Say: “As someone who has back and leg pain, I’ve dreaded going to bed for the past couple years. But this new mattress is exceptional, striking a balance between softness and support,” one five-star reviewer wrote. A fellow back pain sufferer also wrote that they, “absolutely made the best choice ever” by picking this mattress.
Best Pressure Relieving Mattress For Back Pain
Helix Twilight Mattress
Helix Sleep
Helix Twilight Mattress
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- Materials: Memory foam, Helix dynamic foam, wrapped coils
- Sizes: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, California King
- Trial period: 100 nights
Helix offers mattresses that are tailor-built to your needs—you answer a short questionnaire, and the company will recommend the perfect mattress for you. The Helix Twilight is a top choice for back pain. It offers a firm feel with no sink or give, but it’s not so hard that you feel like you’re sleeping on a rock. The mattress has a special Memory Foam Plus Foam layer to help cushion your pressure points, especially when you’re sleeping on your side, along with a polyfoam “transition layer” for added support.
What the Reviews Say: Most reviewers agree that their pain is gone after upgrading to this mattress. “I no longer have pains when I wake up,” one reviewer wrote, while another called it “the perfect combination of soft and firm.”
Best Eco-Friendly Mattress For Back Pain
Avocado Green Mattress
- Materials: GOLS-organic latex, pocketed support coils
- Sizes: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, California King
- Trial period: One year
Many of today’s mattresses are made from memory foam, which typically contains synthetic chemicals. If you’re looking for something a bit more eco-friendly, consider the Avocado Green Mattress. It’s made up of organic ingredients, including a layer of organic latex sitting on top of more than 1,000 pocketed support coils. The mattress has a gentle yet firm feel, and it’s best for back and stomach sleepers.
What the Reviews Say: “I bought this mattress after sleeping on a pillow-top mattress for a number of years and having lower back pain frequently,” explains one reviewer. “I decided that I needed a very firm mattress that better supports my back and body…I have not had any lower back pain since sleeping on this new mattress, and I am 71 years old.”
Best Mattress For Combination Sleepers With Back Pain
Parachute Eco Comfort Mattress
- Materials: Pocketed coils, wool comfort layers
- Sizes: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, California King
- Trial period: 100 nights
The Parachute Eco Comfort Mattress is another eco-friendly mattress that can help alleviate back pain. It has two layers of pocketed steel coils, and it’s designed to be firm in the middle for back support and softer at the head and feet for pressure point relief and spinal alignment—great for combination sleepers. In between the coils is a comfort layer made from real wool, and the whole thing is wrapped in an organic cotton cover.
What the Reviews Say: “I am sleeping so much better since buying this mattress,” explains one buyer. “It is very comfortable, not too firm and not too soft. My back feels so much better than it used to in the morning, and I feel overall more rested.”
Best Memory Foam Mattress For Back Pain
Layla Memory Foam Mattress
- Materials: Memory foam, support foam
- Sizes: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, California King
- Trial period: 120 nights
Layla’s mattress is built with four layers of foam, including a 4.5-inch layer of support foam. That layer is specifically aimed at keeping your back aligned and making sure you don’t feel like you’re sinking too far into the mattress when you sleep. The mattress is flippable, with both a soft and firm side, but back pain sufferers will likely feel the most comfortable on the firm side.
What the Reviews Say: “No more tossing and turning, no more thrashing, no more back pain,” one reviewer wrote after sleeping on the mattress. “Slept the entire night without waking up even once. And absolutely no back pain!” another said.
Best Hybrid Mattress For Back Pain
Purple Hybrid Mattress
- Materials: Memory foam, support coils
- Sizes: Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, California King, Split King
- Trial period: 100 nights
Thank to its patented Purple Grid, the Purple Hybrid Mattress is unlike any other on this list. It consists of five layers, and the Purple Grid gently gives under your body, hugging your pressure points and fully supporting your back while you sleep. The grid sits on top of a 7.5-inch later of responsive coils that add additional support while you sleep. Plus, there are open air channels that allow air to freely flow through, making it much cooler than memory foam-only models.
What the Reviews Say: One five-star reviewer who said she’s struggled with back pain for nine years says she “could immediately feel the difference when waking up the next day.” Another reviewer said the mattress is “soft where it needs to be and supportive where it needs to be.”
Best Targeted Support Mattress For Back Pain
Casper Original Mattress
Casper
Casper Original Mattress
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- Materials: Memory foam
- Sizes: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, California King
- Trial period: 100 nights
The Casper mattress has three zones of targeted support to help align your spine—and hopefully ease your back pain in the process. Softer foam around your shoulders cushions your upper body, while firmer foam under your hips, waist and lower back keep your spine in the right position. And the durable foam base underneath allows for added firmness and support, so the mattress doesn’t sink or sag under your weight.
What the Reviews Say: “It’s been 30 days and no amount of money could make us part with this mattress! Hip, back pain gone,” a five-star reviewer wrote. Another back pain sufferer wrote that they can now “understand why people look forward to getting in their beds at night” after using this mattress.
Best Mattress For Side Sleepers With Back Pain
Nectar Premier Memory Foam Mattress
- Materials: Memory foam
- Sizes: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, California King
- Trial period: 365 nights
For side sleepers, finding the sweet spot is the key to a quality night’s sleep, and that’s possible with this Premier Memory Foam Mattress from Nectar. Its five-layer structure supports your body weight to create a space ideal for sleeping, while also keeping you cool so you stay comfortable throughout the night. The 3-inch layer of gel memory foam is designed to respond to your body’s unique changes in temperature, while its shift-resistant lower cover keeps the mattress in place even if you twist and turn.
What the Reviews Say: Reviewers appreciate how they can move on their side of the mattress without bothering a spouse: “I get up a lot, and I never disturb my husband’s side!” one shopper says. “Amazing that I don’t even feel my partner as he moves around at night,” says another five-star reviewer.
Best Firm Mattress For Back Pain
Amerisleep AS1
- Materials: Bio-Pur memory foam
- Sizes: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, California King, Split King
- Trial period: 100 nights
Thanks to its Bio-Pur memory foam—a proprietary foam that’s more responsive and adaptive to movement—this mattress contours your back and neck, promoting alignment and relieving pressure points, helping reduce back pain. Those with back pain know that soft spots can be detrimental to your comfort, however, there’s no need to worry about that with memory foam that bounces back in seconds. With an open-cell design, this mattress also keeps you cool throughout the night by allowing air to quickly pass through.
What the Reviews Say: With an overall rating of 4.7 stars, reviewers rave about how their back pain has greatly been reduced with this mattress. “[It] seems to be helping with back pain and increased our ability to sleep on our sides for the first time in a long time,” one five-star reviewer says. “It has played a dramatic role in reducing our chronic back pain woes,” another satisfied customer writes.
Best Luxury Mattress For Back Pain
Tempur-Pedic Tempur-Adapt
- Materials: Tempur-Material
- Sizes: Twin, Twin Long, Full, Queen, King, Split King, California King and Split California King
- Trial period: 90 nights
Filled with special Tempur-Material that was originally developed by NASA, this luxury mattress provides advanced pressure relieving power that’s ideal for those with back pain. Responding to your weight, shape and temperature, this adaptive mattress caters to your body for a quality night’s rest. The proprietary material also absorbs motion better than other memory foam mattresses, so if you sleep with a partner, you won’t get jostled awake if they toss and turn in the middle of the night.
What the Reviews Say: Reviewers enjoy the uninterrupted and painless sleep they experience with this mattress, which has an average rating of 4.6 stars. “I don’t wake up every two hours turning because I no longer hurt!!” one happy customer says. “My back pains are gone and I am no longer tossing and turning at night,” says another.
What type of mattress is best for back pain?
Back pain often occurs when your mattress isn’t providing adequate support to your body throughout the night, causing your spine to be misaligned. The key to alleviating an aching back is finding a mattress that provides appropriate support for your spine.
In general, memory foam and latex mattresses are often considered the best options for back pain, as they conform to your body, cradling pressure points while supporting your spine and keeping it aligned. However, other types of mattresses can provide these same benefits, as well.
Is a firm mattress better for back pain?
Many people will tell you that you need a firm mattress to stop back pain, but that’s not necessarily true. A mattress that’s too firm can also cause spine misalignment by pushing up the shoulders and hips. Instead, look for a medium-firm mattress that offers some cushioning for these key pressure points.
Are memory foam mattresses good for back pain?
Memory foam mattresses are often touted as the best option for back pain, and they can certainly be beneficial, thanks to their balance of support and cushioning. However, it’s key to purchase a mattress made with high-quality, dense memory foam, which will provide the support you need. Many inexpensive memory foam mattresses are too plush and don’t provide adequate support, which may end up worsening your pain.
How do I know if my mattress is causing back pain?
Because back pain can be caused by many things, it can be hard to pinpoint whether your mattress is the culprit. If your back pain is worse in the morning, that’s a definite sign that your mattress isn’t providing proper support. You may also find yourself tossing and turning throughout the night. Additionally, if your mattress is more than seven years old, that’s another sign it might be time to invest in a new one.
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