Written by Logan Block, Mattress Reviewer
If you struggle with chronic back pain, you know how frustrating it can be to find pain relief. According to Sleepopolis Chief Medical Advisor Dr. Raj Dasgupta, back pain can become worse if you don’t have the right mattress.
“Using the wrong mattress can disrupt spinal alignment, create pressure points, and lead to discomfort,” explains Dr. Dasgupta. “But a suitable mattress can help ease back pain by providing proper support that keeps your spine aligned naturally, reducing muscle strain. It also distributes your body weight evenly, relieving pressure points that can cause discomfort. The mattress adapts to your preferred sleeping position, whether you’re a back, side, or stomach sleeper.”
When deciding on the best mattresses for back pain, Dr. Dasgupta’s observations make it clear that isn’t a one-size-fits-all decision. That’s why, when putting together this list, I chose a wide variety. These beds run the gamut from affordable to luxurious, firm to soft, and are sure to give you plenty of options to mull over. The cost ranges from $850 to $3,259 for a queen size. With 39% of American adults struggling with back pain, we want to help sleepers find the perfect bed. Sleepopolis has helped 12,544 people find a mattress in 2024, and hopefully this roundup will help you find your own personal best mattress for back pain.
My Top Pick for Sleepers With Back Pain
Nectar shines on my list as the best overall pick due to the contouring of its softer foams and the support offered by its firmer foams — both key factors for reducing back pain.
Best Mattresses for Upper and Lower Back Pain
- Nectar – Best Overall Mattress for Back Pain
- Saatva Rx – Best Mattress for Side Sleepers with Back Pain
- DreamCloud – Best Mattress for Back Sleepers with Back Pain
- Helix Midnight Luxe – Best Mattress for Combination Sleepers with Back Pain
- WinkBed – Best Cooling Mattress for Back Pain
- Saatva – Best Innerspring Mattress for Back Pain
- Bear Elite Hybrid – Best Hybrid Mattress for Back Pain
- Nolah Evolution – Best Luxury Mattress for Back Pain
- Brooklyn Bedding Signature Hybrid – Best Cheap Mattress for Back Pain
- Silk & Snow Hybrid – Best Mattress for Couples with Back Pain
- Plank Firm Luxe – Best Firm Mattress for Back Pain
- Titan Plus – Best Mattress for Heavy Sleepers with Back Pain
Best Mattress for Back Pain Video
Disclaimer: The content on Sleepopolis is meant to be informative in nature, but it shouldn’t take the place of advice or treatment from your physician or medical professional. This review is meant to be an informative guide for those looking to maintain healthy posture while they sleep. User experiences and needs will vary. If you experience lasting pain, soreness, or discomfort while sleeping, it’s always a good idea to seek out a healthcare professional in person.
What I Look for in the Best Mattresses for Back Pain
Spinal Alignment
Mattresses that we’ve proven to healthily support spinal alignment were my first considerations on this roundup. I’ve tested each of these mattresses and determined which sleeping positions and which body types they best serve, with my primary concern being support. When a mattress has strong support, it doesn’t mean it’s firm. A supportive bed is able to lift the body into a neutral spinal alignment and to keep the body well-supported throughout the night, preventing aches and pains.
Pressure Relief
While mattresses with spinal support are crucial for alleviating back pain, I also pay attention to pressure relief using a test of ours called the pressure map.
This involves rolling a specialized mat over the mattress that, through thermal imaging, displays how much pressure is being put on my body in different sleeping positions. Blue indicates almost no pressure, green indicates low pressure, yellow indicates moderate pressure, and red means high pressure. If the pressure map shows blue (or maybe a little green) at the upper or lower back in various sleeping positions, it’s likely an effective mattress for back pain.
If a mattress is overly firm, it can cause excess pressure buildup in sensitive areas, resulting in exacerbated back pain or even added joint pain. That’s why I consider it paramount for back sleepers to receive cushioning at the lumbar region, side sleepers at the shoulder and hip, and stomach sleepers just a bit at the hips. The pressure map helps me identify these traits.
Firmness
When testing mattresses, I use our firmness scale which 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. It also happens to be our general firmness advice for folks looking to relieve back pain, as it offers a blend of comfort and support.
Compare The Best Mattresses For Back Pain
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| Nectar Mattress | Saatva Rx Mattress | DreamCloud Original Mattress | Helix Midnight Luxe Mattress | WinkBed Mattress | Saatva Mattress | Bear Elite Hybrid Mattress | Nolah Evolution Hybrid Mattress | Brooklyn Bedding Signature Hybrid Mattress | Silk & Snow Hybrid Mattress | Brooklyn Bedding Plank Firm Luxe Mattress | Titan Plus | |
| Rating | ||||||||||||
| Firmness | Medium-firm: 6.5/10 | Medium-firm: 6.5/10 | Firm: 7/10 | Medium-soft: 6/10 | Firm: 7/10 | Multiple firmness options | Multiple firmness options | Multiple firmness options | Medium-firm: 6.5/10 | Medium-firm: 6.5/10 | Multiple firmness options | Firm: 7.5/10 |
| Material | Foam | Hybrid | Hybrid | Hybrid | Hybrid | Innerspring | Hybrid | Hybrid | Hybrid | Hybrid | Hybrid | Hybrid |
| Cooling | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||
| Best For |
Back Sleepers, Back Pain, Stomach Sleepers, Side Sleepers, Couples
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Back Pain, Hip Pain, Stomach Sleepers, Side Sleepers, Back Sleepers
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Back Sleepers,
Hot Sleepers, Seniors |
Back Sleepers, Stomach Sleepers, Side Sleepers, Hip Pain, Seniors
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Back Sleepers, Stomach Sleepers, Back Pain, Hot Sleepers, Side Sleepers
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Back Sleepers, Stomach Sleepers, Back Pain, Hot Sleepers, Seniors
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Back Sleepers, Stomach Sleepers, Hot Sleepers, Hip Pain, Seniors
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Side Sleepers, Back Sleepers, Hip Pain, Seniors,
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Couples,
Back Sleepers, Hip Pain |
Hot Sleepers,
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Hot Sleepers, Back Sleepers, Stomach Sleepers, Side Sleepers, Couples
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Back Sleepers, Stomach Sleepers, Back Pain, Hip Pain, Seniors
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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
My Expert Opinion on the Nectar Mattress
Made entirely of foam, the Nectar is a pressure-relieving mattress with a medium-firm feel. When reviewing it, I found that the mattress was very effective in relieving back pain, especially for back sleepers. They should feel the top foams supporting their lower backs, which can help promote a healthy spinal alignment. I even felt supported while stomach sleeping, which isn’t usually the case with all-foam mattresses. It’s also surprisingly responsive for a foam bed, meaning the Nectar could be a solid choice for combination sleepers who frequently switch between different sleeping positions at night.
How the Nectar Performed In Testing
Motion Isolation 3.5/5
Surprisingly, the thick foams of the Nectar didn’t absorb motion very well. When I tested out the vibrations of a 10-pound steel ball with a seismometer, there were some fairly large spikes, showing that the movement was rippling across the bed. Couples may want a bed with better motion isolation, especially if one partner is a light sleeper.
Support 5/5
Once again, the Nectar is very supportive for a memory foam mattress. I got a slight lift in all three sleeping positions, which helped keep my spine neutrally aligned.
Cooling 4.5/5
The Nectar sleeps cooler than the average memory foam mattress, with its temperature rising less than 6 degrees after five minutes of me lying on it. So if you’re a hot sleeper who still loves memory foam, the Nectar could be a sensible option for you.
Edge Support 4.5/5
When I measured the Nectar’s sinkage while sitting on the corner, it only sank 2 inches. While it probably doesn’t have as sturdy of an edge as an innerspring or hybrid mattress, it still has impressive edge support for a foam bed.
Pressure Relief 4.5/5
While lying on my back and side on the Nectar, the pressure map was entirely blue and green at the upper and lower back, indicating little no pressure in these areas.
How Will the Nectar Mattress Help with Back Pain
As you can see on the pressure map, the Nectar did an excellent job relieving pressure at the back when back sleeping, as indicated by the blue. The foam did an excellent job cushioning my lumbar region.
Although the Nectar does not contain supportive coils, I found the foam supportive enough to lift my body and prop my spine into the proper position.
Nectar Mattress Specs
| Material | Memory foam |
| Price (Queen) | $949 (before discounts) |
| Firmness | Medium soft |
| Shipping | Free shipping |
| Sleep Trials | 365 nights |
| Warranty | Lifetime warranty |
| Height | 13″ |
| Adjustable Base Compatible? | Yes |
What our tester says: “ I think the Nectar does a great job relieving back pain, especially for back sleepers. The pressure map results above also make me think this bed is a great fit for any sleepers with hip pain.” – Nichole Mondshein, lead reviewer and staff writer
What Customers Say
Nectar is one of the biggest players in the mattress industry, so it’s no surprise that the bed has almost 48,000 reviews on the company’s website. Many customers have positive things to say about the optimal blend of comfort and support; how the mattress is soft without letting you sink too far into the layers. I recommend purchasing a Nectar online to take advantage of the Nectar’s lower price, especially because it also comes with a generous forever warranty. But you can also find it at independent mattress retailers such as Mattress Firm if you want to test it out in person.
Nectar Company Information
Customer Service Information
Hours of Operation:
- 9 a.m.–9 p.m. EST, Monday to Sunday
Contact Information:
Phone: 888-728-2885
Email: support@saatva.com
Live Chat: Available on their website
Showrooms:
- Visit their website for showroom locations.
Payment Options
Saatva accepts a variety of payment methods, including PayPal, Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover, and offers financing options through Klarna.
Additionally, Saatva provides a 10 percent discount for military members.
Interested in learning more about the Nectar? Read our full Nectar mattress review, or check out our best mattress roundup.
Saatva Rx – Best Mattress for Side 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
My Expert Opinion on the Saatva Rx
Side 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 when resting on it. The Saatva Rx is one such bed — an orthopedic-focused luxury mattress that includes Saatva’s proprietary “Lumbar Zone” technology. This trait was awarded a seal of approval by the Congress of Chiropractic State Associations.
The Rx designs each layer to deliver a different level of support based on a sleeper’s typical needs. More specifically, it has firmer support in the center of the mattress for the spine, with softer support and cushioning provided for the hips, shoulders, and knees in other areas of the bed. That’s because when you’re on your side, you need softer cushioning for your shoulders and knees, but firmer spinal support to prevent posture disruption and unhealthy sinkage. When I laid on this bed, I got all the support I needed, while also experiencing deep pressure relief where I needed it the most.
How Did the Saatva Rx Perform In Testing
Motion Isolation 4.5/5
I use a few different methods to test a mattress’s motion isolation. One of them is dropping a 10-pound steel ball onto the bed’s surface from different heights and measuring the vibrations with a seismometer. The Saatva Rx didn’t spike too much with any of the ball drops, which tells me that it’s good at isolating motion. If you sleep with a partner, you’re unlikely to feel each other tossing and turning.
Support 5/5
The dynamic construction of the Saatva Rx gives it enough durability and spinal support for back sleepers, side sleepers, and stomach sleepers alike.
Cooling 4.5/5
The Saatva Rx’s should sleep cool, due to the airflow-promoting coils, as well as infusions of graphite gel and phase change material in the foam module. I also tested the bed’s temperature with a thermal gun, and it only increased 8 degrees when I laid down on it for five minutes, which indicates good cooling.
Edge Support 4/5
The Saatva Rx has a reinforced perimeter, which kept it from sagging too much when I laid on the edge of the mattress. I did notice some sinkage when sitting on the corner of the bed, but overall, I’d say it has solid edge support.
Pressure Relief 4.5/5
To measure the pressure relief of the Saatva Rx, I rolled out a specialized mat across its surface. The mat used thermal imaging to create a “map” of my body to show where pressure was building up. Most of the pressure map lit up bright blue, indicating little to no pressure buildup.
How Will the Saatva Rx Mattress Help with Back Pain
Looking at the Saatva Rx’s pressure map, we see no pressure building along the back. As a mattress designed for people with joint pain, I’m not surprised by how well it cradled my sensitive areas.
I found incredible support on this mattress. In all three sleeping positions, I was able to maintain proper spinal alignment, so I think people with back pain can find great relief.
Saatva Rx Mattress Specs
| Material | Hybrid |
| Price (Queen) | $3,295 (before discounts) |
| Firmness | Medium firm |
| Shipping | Free white glove delivery |
| Sleep Trials | 365 nights |
| Warranty | Lifetime warranty |
| Height | 15″ |
| Adjustable Base Compatible? | Yes |
What our tester says: “This bed a supportive feel that easily works for people of all weights, but still feels plush and comfortable.” – Amelia Jerden, senior staff writer
What Customers Say
Around the time of the Saatva Rx’s release, a Reddit user asked for other peoples’ opinions on the mattress. One user had this to say about the bed and its effect on their back pain:
“The Saatva Rx arrived a few weeks ago, and it’s the first time in years I’ve been able to sleep through the night, and my back pain is almost completely gone. Zero pain sleeping, and no more numbness. Sometimes I wake up in the morning in the same exact position I slept in. That’s amazing for me because I would toss and turn all night on the other mattresses. Rx is exactly what I was looking for.”
Saatva Company Information
Customer Service Information
Hours of Operation:
- 9 a.m.–9 p.m. EST, Monday to Sunday
Contact Information:
Phone: 888-728-2885
Email: support@saatva.com
Live Chat: Available on their website
Showrooms:
- Visit their website for showroom locations.
Payment Options
Saatva accepts a variety of payment methods, including PayPal, Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover, and offers financing options through Klarna.
Additionally, Saatva provides a 10 percent discount for military members.
Will this mattress lead you to restful nights? Find out in our full Saatva Rx mattress review, or check out our list of the best mattresses for side sleepers.
DreamCloud – Best Mattress for Back Sleepers with Back Pain
With soft foam and a sturdy layer of innerspring coils, the DreamCloud strikes a balance between comfort and support — a little bit of contouring up top and on-top-of-the-bed feel that comes from the bottom. It’s a fairly firm mattress that we think is most comfortable for back sleepers. It also has some luxury touches such as a cashmere-blend cover that are reminiscent of a high-end hotel. Learn more in our DreamCloud video review.
What our tester says:
“I really like how luxurious this mattress feels and how it could work for a variety of sleepers. Along with that, I found that the breathable cashmere cover helps the DreamCloud sleep cool throughout the night. Thanks to its medium-firm to firm support, I think the DreamCloud is a durable mattress. It balances support with plenty of pressure relief for back sleepers.” – Bridget Chapman, former Sleepopolis senior product editor
My Expert Opinion on the DreamCloud
For back sleepers already experiencing back pain, it’s imperative to match yourself with a mattress that helps you maintain a neutral spinal alignment. If you select an option that’s not compatible with your body type, you could end up worsening your pain. Luckily, the DreamCloud has back sleepers of all shapes and sizes covered. When I tested out their luxury hybrid mattress, I got a supportive lift and could feel my weight being evenly distributed. I also got some pressure relief at my lower back, thanks to the bed’s generous layer of soft memory foam. And if you’re a combination sleeper, the DreamCloud’s bouncy coils make it easy to change sleeping positions.
In terms of feel, I rated the DreamCloud a 7 out of 10 on our mattress firmness scale, which is pretty firm. Side sleepers likely won’t get the contouring they need at their shoulders and hips. On the other hand, stomach sleepers may need something more supportive.
How Did the DreamCloud Perform In Testing
Motion Isolation 3.5/5
One area where the DreamCloud didn’t excel in was motion isolation. If you’re a light sleeper and share the bed with a partner, I recommend you select something that’s better at trapping movement. I noticed a lot of vibratory spikes during our seismometer test.
Support 4.5/5
The sturdy coils give the DreamCloud a lot of support. I got a nice lift while lying on it, feeling more “on top” of the mattress than “in” it.
Cooling 4/5
I felt fairly cool while lying on the DreamCloud. It has a cashmere-blend cover that’s soft and breathable, plus its coils leave room for plenty of air to flow through the mattress. When measuring its temperature increase with our thermal gun, it rose less than 7 degrees after me lying on it for five minutes. This further indicates good cooling capabilities.
Edge Support 4.5/5
The coils of the DreamCloud give it a sturdy edge. I felt well-supported while both sitting and lying on the end of the bed.
Pressure Relief 4.5/5
While putting the DreamCloud through our pressure map test, I was impressed with the results for back sleeping, especially at the shoulders. And although I don’t recommend the mattress for side sleepers and stomach sleepers, I also didn’t see any pressure buildup while trying out the bed in those positions.
How Will the DreamCloud Mattress Help with Back Pain
The DreamCloud performed excellent on my pressure map test, as shown to the right. We see all blue and green, which means there is very low pressure buildup at the back.
I would recommend the DreamCloud to back sleepers. The supportive coils add a lot of lift to the mattress, creating an “on the bed” feel, rather than “in the bed” feel. Since there’s not a lot of sinkage, the spine is able to remain in a straight line when sleeping.
DreamCloud Mattress Specs
| Material | Hybrid |
| Price (Queen) | $1,483 (before discounts) |
| Firmness | Medium firm |
| Shipping | Free shipping |
| Sleep Trials | 365 nights |
| Warranty | Lifetime warranty |
| Height | 12″ |
| Adjustable Base Compatible? | Yes |
What our tester says: “The DreamCloud does a stellar job relieving tension around the lower back. As I sank into this bed, I could feel its top layers of foam filling in the space at my lumbar region for some pleasant pressure relief.” – Bridget Chapman, former senior product editor
What Customers Say
On a Reddit thread asking for thoughts on the DreamCloud mattress, one user shared an amusing anecdote about their back pain flaring up while building the mattress’s foundation. But after their first night sleeping on the DreamCloud, the pain was gone.
DreamCloud Company Information
Customer Service Information
- Phone: (833) 237-3269
- Email: support@dreamcloudsleep.com
- Live chat: Chat available on the website 7 days a week
- Visit showrooms: Store locator
Payment Options
DreamCloud accepts payments from Visa, Discover, American Express, Master Card, PayPal, and Amazon Pay. They also offer financing through the Affirm and Split It financing programs.
DreamCloud also offers an extra 5 percent off their best onsite offer for military members, healthcare professionals, and first responders.
Curious to learn more? Read our full DreamCloud mattress review, or check out our roundup for the best mattresses for back sleepers.
Helix Midnight Luxe – Best Mattress for Combination Sleepers with Back Pain
