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If you are one of the estimated 65 million Americans who have experienced back pain in the last year, your mattress might be contributing to the problem. However, the right mattress can help alleviate your discomfort. To help you find the right bed, our team of certified sleep science coaches and product experts has tested over 330 mattresses and compiled a comprehensive list of the best mattresses for back pain.
Before a mattress is considered, it must go through our rigorous testing criteria, which includes using testers with different body types and preferred sleep positions for each bed, to bring you thoughtful and well-rounded evaluations. Our Chief Medical Product Tester Dr. Joseph J. Tedesco, DPT, OCS, ATC, CSCS, also regularly visits our Charlotte, NC, sleep studio to test mattresses and give us his professional feedback on the potential benefits and drawbacks of each.
In addition to our diverse team of experts, we also consulted with our Chief Medical Advisor Dr. Raj Dasgupta, MD, FACP, FCCP, FAASM about how a mattress can cause or worsen back pain. He told us, “Using the wrong mattress can disrupt spinal alignment, create pressure points, and lead to discomfort, but a suitable mattress can help ease back pain by providing proper support that keeps your spine aligned naturally, reducing muscle strain.”
Once you have read this article, we feel confident you’ll join the more than 60,000 people we’ve helped find their ideal mattress.
Best Mattresses for Back Pain
- Nectar Mattress – Best Overall Mattress for Back Pain
- Helix Midnight Luxe w/ErgoAlign Layer – Best Mattress for Combination Sleepers With Back Pain
- Leesa Sapira Chill Hybrid – Best Mattress for Side Sleepers with Back Pain
- Saatva Classic – Best Innerspring Mattress for Back Pain
- WinkBed Mattress – Best Cooling Mattress for Back Pain
- Bear Elite Hybrid Mattress – Best Hybrid Mattress for Back Pain
- Saatva Rx Mattress – Best Mattress for Back Sleepers With Back Pain
- Silk & Snow Hybrid Mattress – Best Mattress for Couples With Back Pain
- Nolah Evolution Hybrid Mattress – Best Luxury Mattress for Back Pain
- Brooklyn Bedding Signature Hybrid – Best Cheap Mattress for Back Pain
- Brooklyn Bedding Plank Firm Luxe Mattress – Best Firm Mattress for Back Pain
- Titan Plus – Best Mattress for Heavy Sleepers With Back Pain
Current Top Deals
- Nectar Mattress – Save up to 50% on mattresses + 66% on bundles
- Leesa Sapira Chill Hybrid – Save 30% off mattresses
- Brooklyn Bedding Signature Hybrid – Use code LABORDAY30 and save 30% off sitewide
- Titan Plus – Use code LABORDAY30 and save 30% off sitewide
- Helix Midnight Luxe w/ErgoAlign Layer – Use code SLEEPOPOLIS27 and save 27% off sitewide
Disclaimer: Please note that the content in this article is meant for informational purposes only and should not be construed as medical advice or serve as a substitute for seeing a medical professional regarding any sleep problems you may have. Please see your doctor regarding any urgent medical issues.
What I Looked for in the Best Mattresses for Back Pain
I can’t take a one-bed-fits-all approach when choosing the best mattresses for back pain. The location of your pain, your preferred sleeping position, and your body type are all significant factors to consider when looking for a bed to help ease back pain. When deciding on the best mattresses for back pain, we use a comprehensive review methodology that includes data, research, doctor consultation, and hands-on testing. We also hone in on specific performance categories that are shown to benefit sleepers with back pain. These include:
- Spinal alignment: The first mattresses we considered for this roundup were mattresses that have been proven to support healthy spinal alignment. The Sleepopolis team has tested each of these mattresses to determine which sleeping positions and body types they best serve, with the primary concern being support. A supportive bed can lift the body into a neutral spinal alignment to help prevent aches and pains.
- Pressure relief: While spinal support is crucial for alleviating back pain, it’s also important that the mattress relieves pressure. An ill-suited or too-firm mattress can cause excess pressure buildup in sensitive areas, exacerbating back pain or even adding joint pain. In testing, we lie on a pressure map on top of each mattress to record and display where pressure builds up in the three major sleep positions. We then use these results, measured in pounds per square inch (PSI), to determine an overall pressure relief score. Over time, our testers have found that the average PSIs for back and side sleeping are 15.1 and 12.6, respectively. A lower-than-average PSI usually means that the bed is less prone to pressure buildup in those positions.
- Firmness level: Our firmness scale places mattresses on a scale of 1 to 10, where 1 is the softest possible mattress, and 10 is the firmest. Our testers consider a 6.5 out of 10 as a true medium-firm mattress, offering a balanced feel of comfort and support. Medium-firm is our general firmness advice for folks seeking to relieve back pain, as it provides comfort and support. After testing over 300 mattresses, our testers have found that the overall average firmness among them is 6.7 out of 10, confirming that most manufacturers aim for that medium-firm sweet spot.
Need help finding the right mattress?
Compare the Best Mattresses for Back Pain
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| Nectar Mattress | Helix Midnight Luxe Mattress with Ergoalign L | Leesa Sapira Chill Hybrid | Saatva Classic | WinkBed Mattress | Bear Elite Hybrid Mattress | Saatva Rx Mattress | Silk & Snow Hybrid Mattress | Nolah Evolution Hybrid Mattress | Brooklyn Bedding Signature Hybrid | Brooklyn Bedding Plank Firm Luxe Mattress | Titan Plus | |
| Rating | ||||||||||||
| Firmness | Medium-firm: 6.5/10 | Medium-soft: 6/10 | Multiple firmness options | Multiple firmness options | Firm: 7/10 | Multiple firmness options | Medium-firm: 6.5/10 | Medium-firm: 6.5/10 | Multiple firmness options | Medium-firm: 6.5/10 | Multiple firmness options | Firm: 7.5/10 |
| Material | Foam | Hybrid | Hybrid | Innerspring | Hybrid | Hybrid | Hybrid | Hybrid | Hybrid | Hybrid | Hybrid | Hybrid |
| Cooling | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||||
| Best For |
Side Sleepers, Back Sleepers, Stomach Sleepers, Back Pain, Couples
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Side Sleepers, Back Sleepers, Stomach Sleepers, Hip Pain, Seniors
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Side Sleepers, Back Sleepers, Stomach Sleepers, Hip Pain,
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Back Sleepers, Stomach Sleepers, Hot Sleepers, Back Pain, Seniors
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Side Sleepers, Back Sleepers, Stomach Sleepers, Hot Sleepers, Back Pain
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Side Sleepers, Back Sleepers, Hot Sleepers, Hip Pain, Seniors
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Side Sleepers, Back Sleepers, Stomach Sleepers, Back Pain, Hip Pain
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Side Sleepers,
Back Sleepers, Hot Sleepers |
Side Sleepers, Back Sleepers, Hip Pain, Seniors,
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Side Sleepers, Back Sleepers, Hip Pain, Couples,
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Side Sleepers, Back Sleepers, Stomach Sleepers, Hot Sleepers, Couples
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Back Sleepers, Stomach Sleepers, Back Pain, Hip Pain, Seniors
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Best Mattress for Back Pain Video Review
Nectar – Best Overall Mattress for Back Pain
The Nectar Classic is a memory foam mattress that provides solid support for most light to average weight sleepers. The cushioning memory foam allows for plenty of pain relief around the lower lumbar spine. Most back sleepers and side sleepers should enjoy the pressure relief. Plus, a lengthy trial period, lifetime warranty, and affordable price make the Nectar a reassuring choice for many. Watch our video review to learn more.
What our tester says:
“I think the Nectar Classic does a great job of relieving back pain. The pressure map test results show a lot of blue and green on our backs, meaning back sleepers should experience good pressure relief from the Nectar.” – Nichole Mondshein, lead reviewer and staff writer
The all-foam, flagship Nectar Classic mattress brings a mix of pressure relief and support in its construction that eases back pain — and a price and warranty that relieves budget aches. Although the Nectar is less expensive than other mattresses on our list, it claimed the top spot because it exceeded expectations across the board, earning a 4 or higher in all performance categories, including pressure relief, edge support, motion isolation, and responsiveness.
Although the Nectar is a memory foam mattress with a slow-moving, contouring feel, it still offers balanced support, including a sturdy perimeter that allows sleepers to use the entire bed surface without fear of the edges collapsing. Our testers gave it a 4 out of 5 in this category.
After testing the Nectar, Dr. Tedesco said, “This bed can be great for those with back pain, especially if you need to stay aligned to feel comfort because it creates a very supported feeling. Those with back pain who need structural support will likely think this bed is great.”
If you shy away from all-foam mattresses because of some known drawbacks, such as a lack of responsiveness and cooling, you will be pleased with how well the Nectar performs in this category. The Nectar Classic earned a 4.5 and a 4 in these categories, respectively. It’s surprisingly responsive, meaning it could be a solid choice for combination sleepers and sexually active couples who need a bed that allows them to move from one position to another without much effort.
My colleague and mattress expert, Kenny Timper, said, “For an all-foam bed, it is surprisingly easy to switch between different positions. I think it’s easier to switch positions because it’s not a very tall bed, so you don’t sink too far into it.”
Heat can often get trapped in foam, leading to overheating, but the breathable cooling cover on top of the mattress helps to mitigate that. Though it wasn’t cool to the touch, the Nectar impressed us during testing. Kenny took an initial temperature of the bed using a thermal temperature gun and then another one after he lay on the bed for five minutes. After absorbing his body heat, the Nectar’s temperature increased less than six degrees, causing him to state, “I think the Nectar has excellent cooling.”
Foam beds are usually coveted for their motion-isolating ability. The Nectar delivers a cushy, sinking feeling on top, but its thinner surface layer isn’t enough to absorb movement before it travels across the surface. Small shifts might go undetected, but if you wake up when your partner gets out of bed, you might want to look for a mattress that adapts better to motion. Also, although our lightweight tester, Asha Birjah, felt comfortable on her back on the Nectar, she wasn’t as keen on it when she was on her side, saying, “I feel pressure and discomfort around my shoulder.”
Want to find out more? Read our full Nectar mattress review. You should check out the Bear Original for a foam bed with better motion isolation.
Helix Midnight Luxe With ErgoAlign Layer – Best Mattress for Combination Sleepers With Back Pain
Helix has a line of six hybrid mattresses, each with a different level of firmness. The Midnight is one of their medium models. It has enough contouring for side sleepers, but should still be supportive enough for back sleepers, as long as they don’t mind a softer bed. Also, the Luxe models give you the option to add Helix’s ErgoAlign Layer, which upgrades the top layer of your mattress so that you will experience deep body contouring from the zoned foam. Although it cost more, if you’re a combination sleeper with back pain, we recommend spending the extra $199. Learn more in our video review.
What our tester says:
“I like the Helix Midnight Luxe for back sleepers and side sleepers. The medium-soft to medium-firm feel should give these folks the right balance of comfort and support.” – Nichole Mondshein, lead reviewer and mattress tester
The Helix Midnight Luxe is a hybrid with a luxurious feel, thanks to its pressure-relieving pillow top. It’s got a medium firmness (we rated it at 6 out of 10 on our firmness scale) that’s sure to please a wide variety of sleepers, not just the side sleepers it was designed for. The bed earned a 4 or higher in all our tests, including motion isolation and cooling.
Combination sleepers need a bed that allows them to move from one position to another with little effort. When a sleeper can move from their back to stomach or their side to back without much work, their risk of waking up is lowered. The Helix Midnight Luxe’s coil unit adds great springiness. When I tested this bed’s responsiveness, I noted that although it has a softer upper layer, it was still easy to move in all positions. I gave it a strong 4 out of 5 in this category.
Dr. Tedesco was a fan of this bed for side and stomach sleepers. This is a bit of an anomaly, as side sleepers usually need a much softer bed than stomach sleepers. He said, “This could be great for side sleepers with back pain because I feel that my pelvis lifted. For some people, this can mean opening up space in the lower back, which could feel very therapeutic. However, when I switched to my stomach, my knees were lower than my butt, and I felt a posterior pelvic tilt, making it a solid choice for stomach sleepers with back pain.”
Although neither Dr. Tedesco nor I tested a model with the optional ErgoAlign Layer, it is a worthwhile addition for back pain sufferers. This layer uses zoned dense foam to provide additional back support and pressure relief where you need it most. It also helps keep your spine in a neutral position throughout the night, contouring your lower back.
Other areas the Helix Midnight Luxe excelled were edge support (4.8 out of 5) and cooling (a 4 out of 5). The reinforced coils along the perimeter of the mattress keep it from sagging, even as the plush pillow top compresses when bearing weight. When we performed our cooling test, we only saw a temperature increase of 3.3 degrees after lying on the bed’s surface for five minutes, making this the right mattress for hot sleepers.
Two main drawbacks of this bed that come to mind are its shorter trial period (100 nights) and cost. It’s a luxury mattress with a luxury price, which may deter some budget shoppers.
Read our full Helix Midnight Luxe review to find out more. If you’re looking for something more affordable, you might consider the original Helix Midnight model.
Leesa Sapira Chill Hybrid – Best Mattress for Side Sleepers with Back Pain
The Leesa Sapira Chill is a hybrid mattress, available in three firmness levels. We tested the Medium-Firm model and felt it was just softer than average, but could still work for all three sleeping positions — a rare find among mattresses. It also has some effective cooling technology built into it, which helps to keep sleepers cool throughout the night. Learn more in our video review.
What our tester says:
“I really think the medium-firm model is a great fit for all sleeping positions. Yep, the Leesa Sapira Chill is one of those unicorn mattresses that provides a great balance of comfort and support for a wide range of sleepers.” – Bridget Chapman, senior product editor
If you sleep on your side and still wake up with pain, you likely need a mattress with the right balance of softness and support. The Leesa Sapira Chill Hybrid is one such bed, made with foam and coils to achieve just that. It has a medium feel (which we rated 6 out of 10 on our firmness scale), and earned an overall score of 4.3 out of 5 for pressure relief in the back-sleeping position (and a 4.5 out of 5 for overall pressure relief) from our testers in each weight category.
Tester Riley Otis praised the Leesa Sapira Chill for its contouring ability. She explained, “I really enjoyed the feeling of the soft pillow top around my hips and shoulders, and it did an excellent job filling in the space at my lumbar zone.” This can work to keep pain off the hips and lower back. She also found that every part of her body was in its proper alignment despite this plushness, with her hips and shoulders properly elevated.
As for what else the mattress excels in, it’s no surprise that with “Chill” in its name, it performed well in our cooling test. Riley conducted this test by taking the initial surface temperature of the mattress, and then again after she laid down on it for about 5 minutes. In this time, the temperature only rose 5 degrees. More than that, Riley found the cover to be cool to the touch, and she could feel it actively cooling as she rested. She said that she would “for sure recommend this bed to hot sleepers,” and gave it an overall cooling score of 4.5 out of 5.
If you also tend to sleep toward the sides of the mattress, you may be interested in whether or not a mattress’s edges can support your weight. Riley called the Leesa Sapira Chill’s edge support “solid,” but not the best she’s ever seen. Still, it earned a 3.9 out of 5 in this category. In other words, you should be able to sit or lie down at its edges and feel relatively secure. However, older adults or folks with mobility concerns may want a mattress that’s got a more rock-solid perimeter.
As a hybrid mattress, we’d expect the Leesa Sapira Chill to be a bit bouncy, but it already faltered in our responsiveness test. When Riley moved around on the surface of the mattress, she noticed that the deep tufts of the pillow top really hindered that movement. “It did require a bit of effort to achieve a good bounce,” she said. This means combination sleepers may have a difficult time switching positions on this bed.
The Leesa Sapira Chill Hybrid earned its lowest score in motion isolation (3.7 out of 5), a common drawback to beds with innerspring coils. As her testing partner moved around on the other side of the bed, Riley commented, “I felt like my body was being jostled around heavily, and I don’t think I would have been able to sleep through it.”
If you want a Leesa mattress with better motion isolation, consider checking out the Leesa Original. Otherwise, read more in our full Leesa Sapira Chill Hybrid mattress review.
Saatva – Best Innerspring Mattress for Back Pain
The Saatva’s coil-on-coil construction provides a classic innerspring feel. It’s a good option for combo sleepers, who will want to feel free to switch positions and avoid feeling “stuck” in the mattress. It comes in three firmness levels, so you should be able to find one that suits your needs. The white glove delivery Saatva provides is an added perk and will save you the headache of getting rid of your old mattress (they take it away for free!). For more information, watch our video review.
What our tester says:
“I think the Saatva is a great option for back sleepers, as the Luxury Firm model provides enough cushioning for their lumbar region, but also lots of support to keep their spine in a neutral alignment.” – Nichole Mondshein, lead reviewer and staff writer
The Saatva combines coil-on-coil construction with a cushiony pillow top to win the title of best innerspring mattress for back pain. The Saatva did well in most of our performance tests, but it shined brightest in edge support and responsiveness, landing a 4.8 and 5 out of 5, respectively.
The mattress packs in multiple back-pain-specific enhancements, including a layer of foam designed to contour to your lower back, a wire within the coils that promotes proper spinal alignment, and zoning in the center third of the mattress to add additional firmness where you’ll need it most.
After spending some time on the Saatva, Dr. Tedesco stated, “This is an excellent bed for people with back pain — no matter their preferred sleeping position.” He was particularly impressed with how evenly his weight was distributed, leading to a supported and neutrally aligned spine. My co-worker, Livvi DiCicco, a combination sleeper who tucks herself in on a Saatva Classic every night, agreed with Dr.Tedesco; she enjoys it in every position: back, side, and stomach.
One of the highlights of the Saatva Classic is its bounce. It earned a perfect score in this category, likely because it almost launches you across the surface when you move around on it. Livvi calls herself a “particularly rowdy combination sleeper,” and she loves how easy it is to move around on the bed’s surface without feeling “trapped” by the cushiness of the Euro top. The only downside is that this mattress’s bounce doesn’t translate well to isolating motion, earning it just a 2.7 out of 5 in this category. Livvi said, “I can feel every little movement on the other side of the bed, and I wouldn’t recommend the Saatva for light sleepers with a restless partner.”
The Saatva comes in three different firmness options and two heights. This allows you to tailor the mattress to your specific preferences. We tested the Luxury Firm and think that it’s an excellent choice for back sleepers. However, side sleepers, especially petite ones, will likely want the Soft model. When testing the Luxury Firm on her side, lightweight tester Asha Birjah, said, “I feel a lot of pressure in my shoulder and upper back, and I don’t feel like my hips are aligned with my spine.”
Read our Saatva Classic review to find out more. Want a Saatva bed with better motion isolation? Check out the Saatva Rx, also on this list.
WinkBed – Best Cooling Mattress for Back Pain
The WinkBed is a luxury hybrid mattress. It has a similarly supportive and sturdy feel to a traditional innerspring mattress, but upgrades like a Euro top and cooling Tencel cover give it a touch of modern luxury. Available in three firmness levels, there is a WinkBed for just about every sleeper. And a responsive and bouncy feel makes it a great pick for combination sleepers. Learn more in our video review.
What our tester says:
“If you like the feel of a traditional innerspring mattress, the WinkBed could work for you. Since this bed offered great pressure relief around my lumbar region, I’d also recommend it to folks who suffer from lower back pain.” – Nichole Mondshein, lead reviewer and staff writer
Overheating on your mattress is the last thing you want to deal with on top of back pain. Luckily, WinkBed has been built to address both of these problems. Its highlighting feature is its sturdy zoned coil unit, which is firmer in the center to provide necessary support for the lumbar area. The coil construction also offers ample room for airflow, keeping the bed cool while you’re on it and helping this bed earn our spot for best cooling mattress for back pain. However, the WinkBed isn’t a one-trick pony; it secured a 4.3 or higher in back pressure relief, edge support, and motion isolation.
The WinkBed is an excellent example of why we use quantitative data and hands-on testing. When we used the thermal temperature gun to record an initial surface temperature and then captured another reading after tester Riley Otis had lounged on it for five minutes, we saw an 8-degree increase, which earned this bed a 3.5 out of 5.
However, Riley’s hands-on feedback and other testers’ experience with this bed’s cooling allowed us to evaluate the mattress under real-world conditions and reward it with a best-in-class cooling superlative. Riley said, “I thought the WinkBed felt pretty cool when I first laid down on it. After 5 minutes, I didn’t notice any significant heating up, despite what the thermal gun said. You can feel that 8-degree increase with some beds, but I didn’t notice it on the WinkBed.”
Dr. Tedesco thinks the WinkBed is an exceptional choice for those with back pain because of its pressure-relieving capabilities. He said he had no pressure buildup when he was on my back. “I prefer sleeping on my back, and when I was in that position, I could have fallen asleep during the few minutes I spent on the WinkBed,” he said. He also thinks those with back pain will reap the benefits of sleeping on this bed. The doctor said the even support combined with the softer pillow top should make it an excellent option for those who sleep on their sides.
Although Dr. Tedesco and our other testers enjoyed this bed on their backs, it didn’t fare as well for lightweight side sleepers. Asha Birjah, a tester who weighs less than 130 pounds, said, “My hips sank in a little bit, causing some strain on my mid back, and my weight didn’t feel evenly distributed.”
The excessive sinkage that Asha felt on her side might also present a problem for combination sleepers. The WinkBed only scored a 3 out of 5 for response because our testers sank into its plush pillow-top comfort layer. While this comfort layer offers back sleepers great pressure relief, combination sleepers who frequently change positions at night might find it more challenging to do so on this mattress.
Find out more in our full WinkBed mattress review. Want a foam version? Check out the WinkBeds GravityLux.
Bear Elite Hybrid – Best Hybrid Mattress for Back Pain
The Bear Elite Hybrid uses foam and coils for a mix of support, cushioning, and cooling. While designed for athletes prioritizing wellness and recovery, sleepers of all activity levels can enjoy the many luxurious features. Enjoy zoned support for targeted relief, an “on top of” feel allowing for ease of movement, and cooling features throughout. For more information, watch our video review.
What our tester says:
“I’d recommend the Bear Elite Hybrid for most back and stomach sleepers.I think these sleepers will get the needed pressure relief and contouring around the lower back and hips. This mattress does a wonderful job at offering body contouring while still helping the sleeper stay elevated and lifted as well. The layers of foam should provide comfort while the coil system should offer lots of support.” – Nichole Mondshein, lead reviewer and mattress tester
Many folks like a balanced hybrid mattress, which combines pressure-relieving foams and sturdy coils for support. It’s why hybrids often make some of the best mattresses for back pain, and the Bear Elite Hybrid is the best of the best in this category. It earned a 4 or higher in our tests for back pressure relief, edge support, motion isolation, and responsiveness.
To further flex its versatility muscles, the Bear Elite Hybrid has multiple firmness options (Soft, Medium, and Firm) so you can choose which will work best for you. We tested the Medium and found it at a 7 out of 10 on our firmness scale, a smidge harder than true medium-firm.
Although it is a little firmer than what typically works for side sleepers, Dr. Tedesco gave me an emphatic yes when we asked him if he thought it would work well for side sleepers with back pain. “In the side position, I feel very supported and cradled,” he said. “I don’t notice any pressure that would lead me to believe that people with back pain wouldn’t enjoy this mattress.”
Our heavyweight mattress tester, Caine Wilkes, also appreciated how this bed relieved pressure when he was on his back. He said, “I feel no extra pressure and am equally supported throughout my body. I think this is a good mattress for heavy back sleepers.” Caine’s feelings about the Bear Elite for back sleepers were backed up when we tested his pounds per square inch (PSI) on a specialized mat to track pressure buildup. The average mattress PSI for back sleepers is 14.8, and Caine’s was 14.5 on this mattress. Considering he weighs over 230 pounds, this is an impressive score.
One of the main reasons I like hybrids in general and the Bear Elite, in particular, is because they often perform well in two categories that matter a lot to me: responsiveness and motion isolation. Although I sleep primarily on my side, I switch back and forth from my right to my left side throughout the night, and the Elite’s responsiveness, which received a 4 out of 5, allows me to do so fairly effortlessly. Since my husband is an extremely restless sleeper, I also look for beds that isolate motion well, and the Bear Elite Hybrid earned a 4.7 in this category.
The major drawback for this bed might be that its $2,000 price point for a queen-sized mattress won’t fit all budgets. We also found it may cause too much pressure for lightweight side sleepers.
Check out our full Bear Elite Hybrid review to learn more about this bed. Price-conscious? Take a look at the Bear Original, Bear’s affordable foam mattress.
Saatva Rx – Best Mattress for Back Sleepers With Back Pain
Designed specifically for sleepers with back pain and joint pain, the Saatva Rx features several layers that combine both foam and coils. This creates a blend of comfort and support throughout the entire mattress that’s cushioning enough for any aches and pains while still being sturdy enough for a neutral spinal alignment. Learn more in our Saatva Rx video review.
What our tester says:
“I found that this bed has a supportive feel that easily works for people of all weights, but still feels plush and comfortable.” – Amelia Jerden, senior staff writer
Back sleepers struggling with back pain should be on the lookout for a mattress designed to offer superior pressure relief while still ensuring the healthy alignment of the spine. One such bed is the Saatva Rx, an orthopedic-focused luxury mattress with Saatva’s proprietary “Lumbar Zone” technology, consisting of quilting and a gel-infused “crown” in the center to support and contour the lower back. It earned a 4.8 when we averaged side and back pressure relief and a perfect 5 in motion isolation.
After Dr. Tedesco tested the Rx, he felt it may be a pain relief prescription. “This bed could be a great option for someone who sleeps on their back and has back pain,” he said. “I feel some nice elevation in my legs, which feels good and gives me some back relief because my legs feel a little lifted; having that slight posterior tilt could provide a lot of relief.”
Back sleepers typically benefit from a bed with medium firmness that balances support and contouring, and product tester Erin Chiles found that this mattress hit that sweet spot. She said, “I absolutely loved this mattress on my back. The pillow top fills in every area of my body while the firmness supports the heavier areas. This is probably one of my favorite mattresses I have tried.”
Erin was also impressed with how well this bed performed during the motion isolation partner test. She said that she couldn’t tell when her testing partner, Kayla Godfrey, got in or out of bed. When Kayla changed positions, Erin said, “It was one of the lightest motion disturbances I have experienced on a mattress. It was barely noticeable.”
However, as much as Dr. Tedesco and Erin enjoyed this bed, that doesn’t mean it is without fault. When Erin tested the seated edge support, she noted that the strong support she felt in the center of the bed didn’t extend to the perimeter. The edge collapsed under her, making it more difficult to stand from a seated position. When we performed our cooling test, we also found that the mattress heated almost 10 degrees from the initial surface temperature to the one taken after Erin lay on the bed for five minutes, which suggests that this bed doesn’t dissipate heat well. If you overheat when you sleep, you may want to skip the Rx.
Check out our full Saatva Rx review for more information. If you’d like a bed by this manufacturer that offers better edge support and cooling, check out the Saatva.
Silk & Snow Hybrid – Best Mattress for Couples With Back Pain
As an affordable option with a medium-firm feel, we think that the Silk & Snow Hybrid should appeal to a wide variety of sleepers, including back sleepers, side sleepers, hot sleepers, and budget shoppers. Learn more in our full video review, where we compare the Silk & Snow Hybrid to the original Silk & Snow, which doesn’t have coils.
What our tester says:
“The Silk & Snow Hybrid is a great middle ground firmness for those who don’t want an ultra-firm bed, but also want to feel well-supported.” – Amelia Jerden, senior staff writer
If you or your partner are looking for a new mattress to address your back pain, you may want to consider one that’ll be good for couples, too. If you fall into this category, you’ll want to check out the Silk & Snow Hybrid, our pick for the best mattress for couples with back pain. Not only can this bed help alleviate back pain for some sleepers, but it also scored a 4 or above in responsiveness, motion isolation, and cooling — all of which benefit couples.
Given its performance scores for couples and Dr. Tedesco’s evaluation of how it should relieve back pain, it was a no-brainer that we’d recommend this bed to couples where one or both partners have back issues. “I really like this mattress for back pain, especially for back sleepers with back pain,” said Dr. Tedesco. “It gives a little posterior pelvic tilt, which makes it feel like your knees are bent and your knees are slightly elevated, like if you had a small pillow under your knees — but without the pressure buildup you might get from having something actually under your knees.”
Sexually active couples usually prefer beds that make it easy to switch up positions, and the spring coils at the base of this bed should help them do that. When my colleague Dan Caffrey tested this mattress, he said that he didn’t find it challenging to switch positions, but once he was in a new one, he felt a little wobbly before eventually settling in. Ultimately, he said, “I would say that, overall, this is a pretty responsive mattress that makes it fairly easy to move around on.”
Although Dan has been testing mattresses for years, he admitted that the Silk & Snow Hybrid’s motion isolation ability surprised him a little when he performed the “ripple test.” Dan filled a large container with water during this test and placed it on one side of the bed. He then sat down on the other side, stood up, and moved around like a partner going to bed at a different time would while evaluating how much the water swished and splashed.
He said, “I was surprised how little the water moved on the Silk & Snow Hybrid. Hybrid mattresses aren’t always the best at isolating motion because of their springs, so it was refreshing to see how still the water remained.”
However, one of the drawbacks of this bed is that its support isn’t as strong along the perimeter as it is in the center of the bed. This could be problematic for couples who like to spread out and use the whole sleeping surface, as they may not feel secure when they scoot to the edge. It also lacked a little when it came to side pressure relief, which is something you should note if this is your preferred sleeping position.
Read our full Silk & Snow Hybrid mattress review for more. Want better edge support? Check out the Brooklyn Bedding Signature Hybrid.
Nolah Evolution – Best Luxury Mattress for Back Pain
The Nolah Evolution’s hybrid construction offers the cushioning of memory foam with the responsiveness of coils. The Luxury Firm model is a good option for side and back sleepers due to its medium-firm feel, though there are Plush and Firm versions as well. Those who share a bed may also appreciate its low motion transfer, so you won’t be disturbed by a partner’s movements and its solid edge support to allow you to maximize surface area. For more information, check out our video review.
What our tester says:
“I laid down to rest on this mattress on my back — my primary sleep position. I felt comfortable, but also appreciated the cozy, plush top of the bed. After some time lying on my back, I switched over to my side. I didn’t find this position quite as comfortable, as I did feel some slight pressure buildup in my shoulder.” – Amelia Jerden, senior staff writer
Sometimes, a plain Jane, bare-bones mattress won’t cut it, especially if you’re looking to treat yourself and your back pain. A luxury mattress like the Nolah Evolution treats your lumbar aches with layers of sumptuous foams, strong coils, and proprietary features to enhance overall performance and comfort. Our testers and Dr. Tedesco evaluated the Luxury Firm version of this mattress and found that it was well worth its hefty price tag. The Nolah Evolution scored a 4 out of 5 or higher in responsiveness, motion isolation, edge support, cooling, and pressure relief.
In addition to its top-notch materials and construction, this is an excellent bed for those who have painful backs. After Dr. Tedesco tested the Evolution, he said, “I think people who have back pain could stand to benefit from this mattress. With this mattress, you get some great weightlessness and slight posterior tilt as a back sleeper, which is ideal for alleviating hip and back pain.”
As a middle-aged CrossFitter, I am always looking for ways to ease my aching back, but I also pay special attention to how well a bed isolates motion. My partner is so restless it feels like I experience nightly earthquakes, although we live nowhere near a fault line. Eliminating how much of his flipping and flopping I felt was one of the main reasons I bought the Nolah Evolution. The latest updates of this bed have made it even more appealing, and I am trying to figure out how to treat myself to a second new Evolution in less than 18 months.
The price tag will be the primary deterrent for shoppers with this mattress. And considering the cost of this mattress, it’s disappointing that they consistently arrive in boxes that look like they have been bounced down the interstate. I would like more resolute packaging for a bed that will add as much to your credit card statement as this one.
We are working on our full review of the Nolah Evolution Luxe and will post it as soon as possible. Check out the Nolah Signature if you want a more affordable bed from the same brand.
Brooklyn Bedding Signature Hybrid – Best Cheap Mattress for Back Pain
The Brooklyn Bedding Signature Hybrid mattress combines a foam comfort layer and sturdy coils. This combination of materials makes it bouncy and easy to move around on. It comes in three firmness levels, and we recommend the Medium model for most back sleepers. It’s a great choice for shoppers who are looking for a new mattress on a budget. For more information, check out our video review.
What our tester says:
“Given that the Signature Hybrid has some excellent bounce, I’d highly recommend this mattress for combination sleepers who often change positions multiple times throughout the night. I also think the Signature Hybrid could be a great fit for couples. You shouldn’t be overly disturbed by a restless partner on this bed, and it has nice, firm edge support.” – Nichole Mondshein, lead reviewer and staff writer
Brooklyn Bedding offers a wide array of mattress options, with the Signature Hybrid being one of its most comfortable and economical mattresses (you can often find a queen size for under $1,000 after discounts). Our testing found that its simple yet effective hybrid construction of foams and springs helped us maintain a healthy sleeping posture, essential for avoiding back pain. This bed performed well in our cooling and edge support test, earning 4.5 and 4.3, respectively.
Dr. Tedesco said the Signature Hybrid was an excellent choice for back and side sleepers with back pain. “On my back and side, I can tell that the bed is providing great support for my spine’s natural curves through the lumbar, thoracic, and cervical spine,” he said. “You aren’t put in any unnatural position.” The doctor’s assessment shows that you don’t have to go into debt to find a mattress that will ease your back pain.
I was the pressure relief tester for this bed, and although the Signature Hybrid isn’t flashy, I appreciate its steady consistency. Since pressure-relieving capabilities can help with back pain, I was pleased with how well this mattress performed in this category. When I used a specialized mat to measure my pressure in PSI, it showed a 13.43 reading when I was on my side, which is well below the average PSI of 14.45 for side sleepers.
Unfortunately, the Signature Hybrid’s motion isolation and responsiveness did not stand out. When my colleague, Kenny Timper, tested the responsiveness, he noted that the soft cover layer caused him to exert more effort to move from his back to his stomach. Kenny also noted noticeable movement when he conducted the “ripple test” to assess the bed’s motion isolation. When he placed a container of water on one side of the bed and moved around on the other side, he saw significant splashing when he shifted from one sleeping position to another.
Check out our Brooklyn Bedding Signature Hybrid mattress review. Want a hybrid with better motion isolation? Check out the Bear Elite Hybrid.
Plank Firm Luxe – Best Firm Mattress for Back Pain
The Plank Firm Luxe by Brooklyn Bedding is a flippable mattress with different firmness levels on either side. It’s like getting two mattresses for the price of one! This mattress is great for any sleeper seeking the firmest mattress possible. The extra-firm side is one of the firmest we have tested, while the firm side has a more classic medium-firm feel. For more information, watch our video review.
What our tester says:
“The mattress is incredibly bouncy and was very easy for me to change sleeping positions and to move freely on top of this mattress. It felt like I was on a trampoline. I gave this bed a perfect score for responsiveness so this bed is an excellent pick for combination sleepers as well as a good bed for sex!” – Nichole Mondshein, lead reviewer and mattress tester
If you’re looking for a firm mattress, you’d be hard-pressed to find a better option than Brooklyn Bedding’s Plank Firm Luxe. The Firm Luxe is a flippable hybrid that has a Firm and an Extra-Firm side. However, our testers found that the Firm side felt harder than the Extra-Firm side, with the former being given a 9 out of 10 for firmness and the latter a 7.5. Both sides received a perfect 5 out of 5 for responsiveness. The Extra-Firm side outperformed its softer counterpart in cooling, edge support, and motion isolation, scoring a 4.3 or higher in those categories.
Yet, when it comes to back pain, Dr. Tedesco recommended the regular Firm side. He felt that the Extra-Firm side is ultimately just too rigid for back pain relief but said that the Firm side will give you support where you need it. He said, “My pelvis, hips, and spine are in a neutral position. People with back pain who are back sleepers will feel supported and neutral.”
Another benefit to this bed is that it’s responsive — and back pain shouldn’t be exacerbated by the need to put a lot of effort into moving around on it. My colleague, Riley Otis, found the Firm Luxe to be very easy to migrate around on. “It’s like rolling on a flat surface,” she said. “There is no deep sinkage to prevent mobility, but there is also no bounce to help switch positions. However, it’s not needed since the firm foams don’t trap the body.”
Considering this mattress’s firmness on both sides, we don’t recommend it for side sleepers. They will likely find it unyielding and feel substantial pressure buildup. Also, if you sleep with a restless partner, you may want to find a mattress with better motion isolation. The Extra-Firm side performed better in this area, though you may still detect some movement transfer from your partner’s side of the bed because of its innerspring coils. I would recommend a firmer, all-foam mattress to these sleepers instead.
Read more in our Plank Firm Luxe review. Want a bed with better motion isolation? Check out the original Plank Firm.
Titan Plus – Best Mattress for Heavy Sleepers With Back Pain
The Titan Plus mattress is a durable mattress made with heavy sleepers in mind. It’s firm and features heavy-duty coils and Titanflex foam that makes it bouncy and easy to move around on. We think that heavy back sleepers and stomach sleepers should be especially comfortable. For more information on the Titan Plus, check out our video review.
What our tester says:
“I think the Titan Plus lives up to its name as a good mattress for heavier sleepers. It will offer them the deep compression support and durability they need.” – Nichole Mondshein, lead reviewer and staff writer
A firm and supportive mattress is crucial for heavy sleepers who compress the mattress layers more than others. Fortunately for these folks, Brooklyn Bedding has designed the Titan Plus for people over 230 pounds. This bed received perfect 5s in motion isolation and responsiveness, and a 4 or higher in back pressure relief, cooling, and edge support.
This mattress does a great job promoting proper spinal alignment through the use of coils and foam, a boon for those with back pain. Dr. Tedesco thinks this bed is excellent for side sleepers with back pain. While he also feels that many back sleepers with back pain will benefit from this bed because of its substantial support, he said, “If you have issues with back pain stemming from your sacrum, you may not feel as much relief. So, it depends on where your back pain is and your sleeping position.”
That said, our heavyweight tester, Marten Carlson, was a fan of this mattress for back sleeping. “The Titan Plus provides great alignment and fantastic overall support. This is great for back sleeping…. especially for a bigger guy like me.” Marten also tested how well this mattress relieves pressure using a specialized mat that takes thermal images of pressure buildup. These images are color-coded to indicate pressure points, with blue and green meaning little pressure and yellow and red showing higher pressure areas. Marten said, “The pressure map is great. My whole body is light blue when I am on my back.”
Counter to Dr. Tedesco’s thoughts, the Titan Plus did not fare well for side sleeping, especially for lightweight folks. Our lightweight tester, Asha Birjah, said, “I feel a ton of pressure and strain on my neck and shoulders. I wouldn’t recommend this for lightweight side sleepers.” We also don’t think it is a great fit for those looking for a bed that wraps you in a deep hug. You’ll feel more “on top” of the Titan Plus than “in” it. If you’re looking for a more enveloping feel, I’d recommend one of our best memory foam mattresses.
Read more about this bed in our full Titan Plus mattress review. Want more motion isolation? Check out the upgraded model, the Titan Plus Luxe.
Other Mattresses I Considered
There are plenty of high-quality mattresses out there that could also work for those with back pain. If you didn’t find what you were looking for on our list, here are some contenders that didn’t make the final cut:
Birch Luxe
The Birch Luxe is an organic luxury mattress featured on our best for sciatica article. It’s great if you’re looking for a latex bed that brings springy support. However, it didn’t make our list, as it’s a bit on the pricey side. Plus, its 7-out-of-10 firmness rating may be a bit too unyielding for lightweight sleepers and side sleepers with back pain.
Brooklyn Bedding Aurora Luxe
The Brooklyn Bedding Aurora Luxe is a higher-end cooling hybrid that earned a spot on our best orthopedic mattresses list. It can provide pressure relief for those with back pain, and it keeps pretty cool for hot sleepers. That said, it’s a bit more expensive than the Signature Hybrid, which is featured in this article.
Bear Original
The Bear Original mattress is an all-foam bed designed for affordable support. It’s on our list as one of the best beds for scoliosis, so you could say it’s primed to address back pain. However, it’s an all-foam bed and not the hybrid construction we prefer, hence why we chose its more luxurious cousin, the Bear Elite Hybrid, instead.
How We Picked and Tested These Mattresses
We evaluate mattresses based on performance, construction, and policy to get a full picture of what the bed offers and who will enjoy it best. When looking at a mattress for back pain, we prioritized three main categories: spinal alignment, pressure relief, and firmness.
Spinal Alignment
Sound support is super-important for those who suffer with chronic back pain, as it helps keep your spine neutrally aligned, which goes a long way toward preventing soreness. The proper spinal posture for sleep is one that follows the natural S-curve. A bed with good spinal alignment will allow for some give while providing more support where you need it most. This is why some mattresses have zoning in their layered construction to keep things firmer in the center to keep your hips elevated, as an example.
It’s important to realize that support and firmness are not the same. You can have a soft mattress that’s ultra-supportive, and a firm one that doesn’t support the body at all. Adequate support is all about how a mattress props up your body, while also holding it in comfortable alignment.
Pressure Relief
More than other sleepers, those who struggle with chronic pain need to find a mattress that will actively alleviate tension at sensitive spots along the body, especially at the lower back region and shoulders.
Typically, pressure points form when there’s more pushback focused on a specific area, which tends to cause misalignment at the spine. As your body moves out of alignment, more pressure is placed on the back, which can lead to frustrating pains throughout the torso. Therefore, it’s important to make sure you’re not sleeping on a mattress that places pressure on any of your major joints. By doing so, your body is able to enter a relaxed state, and the chance of pressure points forming along the spine and lower back is diminished.
Here at Sleepopolis, we actually test a mattress’s pressure-relieving capabilities with our pressure mat. We roll the mat across the bed’s surface and have a tester lie down on it in different sleeping positions (back, stomach, side). The mat measures how much pressure is being put on their body, then maps out the results on a computer via thermal imaging. Blue and green are signs of low pressure, yellow is a sign of moderate pressure, and orange and red indicate high pressure.
Firmness
Dr. Raj Dasgupta notes the importance of finding a mattress firmness that works best for you and your specific needs. He notes that “an overly soft mattress may lead to poor spinal alignment and lack of support, contributing to discomfort in your back.” He recommends a medium-firm mattress above all, because “it maintains proper spine curvature, distributes weight evenly, and reduces pressure points.” On the Sleepopolis scale, we consider 6.5 out of 10 to be medium firm, hence why you’ll see most of the mattresses in this article fall somewhere around that line. Our firmness ratings for each mattress are based on multiple opinions from our testers that are averaged to get our final, all-encompassing score. This number might even be different from what’s advertised by the mattress manufacturer.
Your ideal firmness can also be affected by factors such as your preferred sleeping position or body weight. We’ll also go into detail on these common categories and what we recommend for each.
What to Consider in a Mattress for Back Pain
The best mattresses for back pain are wide and varied, as you’ve already seen in this article. Let’s go over some of the important factors that may have an impact on your new mattress decisionn, as well as preference-based features you may not have yet considered in your search.
Mattress Type
There are several different types of mattresses, and some are better than others for combatting back pain. Let’s take a look at the main mattress types and their common features.
Memory Foam Mattresses
All-foam mattresses rely on high-density poly foams to support the sleeper. If you struggle with back problems, we often recommend avoiding all-foam mattresses in favor of slightly more supportive innerspring or hybrid mattresses. However, the pressure relief provided by foams can help fill in hollows in the back.
Innerspring Mattresses
Innerspring mattresses combine steel coil support with top layers made of thin comfort foam. They’re often firm and bouncy, which can work well for back pain (as long as they also provide enough pressure relief).
Hybrid Mattresses
Hybrid mattresses use coil and foam layers to create a supportive yet comfortable sleeping environment. These beds can vary widely in feel and materials, but are often the type of bed we recommend for sleepers looking for back pain relief.
Latex Mattresses
Latex mattresses are taut, bouncy, and naturally cooling. These beds are very durable and supportive, but are not my first choice for sleepers with bad backs. These folks often need a material that offers more body contouring. Latex mattresses don’t usually provide the right sort of cradling to ease tension, especially at the lower back, unless they’re combined with other materials or formulated to have a more pliant feel. Most organic mattresses also use latex in their construction, driving up the price.
Although it’s possible for any type of mattress material to be comfortable for someone experiencing back pain (there are exceptions to every rule), we think hybrid mattresses and innerspring mattresses are generally going to be best. The springs present in these beds are most likely to provide the spinal support you need to stay neutrally aligned and prevent further pain.
Body Weight
One of our medical advisors, Dr. Shelby Harris, summed up the relationship between body type and overall mattress feel. “The feel and support of a mattress is regularly affected by how much you weigh,” she says. “A mattress will feel firmer to those lighter in weight than it does to those heavier in weight.” Let’s dive deeper into what sleepers in each weight category should prioritize in choosing a mattress to improve their sleep quality.
- Lightweight sleepers (less than 130 lbs) – Since beds feel firmer to these folks, they may want to go for something softer than the typical medium firm we recommend for back sleepers. This is so their body can comfortably sink into the bed and feel some pressure relief.
- Average-weight sleepers (130 lbs to 230 lbs) – Average-weight sleepers fare best on medium to medium-firm beds. This range should work well for those with back pain. As we’ve mentioned, we recommend 6.5 out of 10 on our firmness scale for these folks.
- Heavyweight sleepers (more than 230 lbs) – Heavyweight sleepers may need a firmer mattress to counteract possible support concerns. They won’t want to sink too far into the mattress, which can only exacerbate back pain. So a bed on the firm or even extra-firm side, depending on their sleeping position, may be a better choice.
Sleeping Position
How you sleep can also determine what features and firmness you’ll need from your mattress. Let’s go over the main types and what we recommend these sleepers look for in order to have better sleep.
- Side sleepers. Dr. Raj Dasgupta noted that these sleepers might deviate from the typical medium-firm recommendation for back pain: “Some side sleepers may prefer a softer mattress to cradle their pressure points. They might benefit from having a pillow between their knees, too.” Look for mattresses with thicker foam comfort layers that will allow for some sinkage.
- Back sleepers. Back sleepers should do well on a medium-firm mattress, which is coincidentally what is best recommended for back pain. This firmness provides a balanced feel and should keep the spine aligned.
- Stomach sleepers. Stomach sleepers may want something a bit firmer, perhaps above a 7 out of 10 on our scale, for extra support. This is to ensure that their hips don’t sink too far out of alignment, which can cause lower back pain.
- Combination sleepers. Combination sleepers should also benefit from the medium-firm recommendation, as it’s one of the most versatile firmnesses. They may want to prioritize beds with responsive features, like coils, to make switching positions on the surface a bit easier.
Motion Transfer
Motion transfer or motion isolation refers to how movement travels across the surface of a mattress. If you sleep with a partner, you usually want a bed with better motion isolation (or low motion transfer), as this means you won’t feel them from the other side of the mattress. It can be especially important for light sleepers prone to waking up at any little disturbance. Generally, beds with slow-moving foam on top tend to be best at isolating motion. This layer can also provide the pressure relief necessary for comfort when you have back pain.
At Sleepopolis, we test for motion transfer in two distinct ways: First, we use a water test. We put a container full of water on one side of the bed and observe it as we move around on the other. How much it ripples will determine whether or not motion is being stifled. We also test with a partner, who wears a blindfold as we cause a commotion on the other side of the mattress and raises their hand when they can feel our movements. The number of times a hand is raised determines the overall score. Finally, we use a seismographic app to record disturbances that are made when we drop a ball onto the bed’s surface at different heights.
Edge Support
Edge support refers to how well a mattress holds up on its edges compared to the center. Some beds tend to be less supportive around the perimeter, which is something those with back pain, seniors, and heavy people should look out for. I’d recommend seeing if the brand mentions edge support or reinforced edges on their site. We test for edge support by lying down and sitting on the edge of the bed, sometimes using a yardstick or tape measure to determine how much the mattress sinks. From there, we give it a score out of 5 based on how secure we feel.
Durability
The durability and quality of materials used in a mattress’s construction affects its long-term performance and support. Dr. Raj Dasgupta highlights the importance of this fact for those with back pain: “High-quality materials ensure lasting comfort and support, and some mattresses even offer customization options. Over time, material degradation and inadequate size can also contribute to back pain.”
To determine a mattress’s durability, pay attention to the construction. Look for individually wrapped coils and dense foam layers. We also consider edge support a good marker of how long a bed will last before starting to sag. You may want to look at the warranty offered, since it’s a good indication of how long the brand expects the mattress to last. Overall, the typical 10-year warranty lines up with the typical 10-year lifespan of a mattress.
Price
Budget is often the deciding factor when purchasing a high-ticket item such as a mattress. Generally, we recommend that you do your due diligence when choosing an “affordable” option. Sometimes manufacturers cut corners and you end up with a lower-quality product. A good price for a queen-size bed is usually around the $1,000 mark. But don’t just assume that anything lower is a good deal and anything higher is overpriced. Some beds have luxurious features reflected in the cost, and these features (such as zoned support and pressure-relieving pillow tops) may be beneficial for those with back pain. I’d recommend taking full advantage of any sleep trial offered by the brand. This allows you to try before you commit to your purchase, as most brands will offer a full refund if you return it within the trial period.