Best Mattress for Back Sleepers

Our pressure map test revealed some extremely low-pressure buildup on our backs. The test results were primarily blue on our backs, indicating excellent pressure relief around this area. During my tests, I felt the firm and supportive memory foam work wonders on my lower back. The high-density foam at the base layer should also help prevent sleepers from sinking too far into the bed.

What Customers Say

Many customers note that the Nectar Classic is excellent for back pain and muscle soreness. Other reviewers are surprised at how much support the Nectar offers for an all-foam mattress, saying they barely leave an imprint in the foam after a good night’s sleep. However, some customers say it took them a long time to “break in” the Nectar, making it a little uncomfortable (or too firm) to sleep on initially.

Pros of the Nectar Classic Mattress

• Back sleepers will get plenty of support from the firm memory foam in the Nectar Classic, which should translate to great pressure relief and a good night’s sleep.
• The Nectar Classic sleeps surprisingly cool for an all-foam bed, meaning hot sleepers who have to have a memory foam mattress should have no trouble at all falling asleep.
• Combination back sleepers should have no issues rolling around and switching between different sleeping positions at night on this firm memory mattress.

Cons of the Nectar Classic Mattress

• The Nectar Classic doesn’t have the best motion isolation, so I wouldn’t recommend this mattress to couples who wake up easily at night or people with restless pets.

Think the Nectar Classic is the mattress for you? Click here for our best deal, or check out our full Nectar mattress review. Still not sold? Take a look at some of the other best memory foam mattresses.

On my pressure map test, Helix Midnight only showed blue, with just a little bit of green, while I was sleeping on my back. This further verifies that it’s a worthy choice for the best mattresses for back sleepers. Each Helix model has a different firmness, with the Midnight falling into the medium-firm category. So, if you’re looking for something just a touch firmer, I’d recommend checking out one of Helix’s firm models such as the Helix Dawn.

What Customers Say

The Helix Midnight has a little over 6,700 reviews on the Helix website and an average customer rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars. Many reviewers compliment the mattress on its ability to address back aches and pains.

Pros of the Helix Midnight Mattress

• On the pressure map, I saw little to no pressure around the shoulders and hips. This is where side sleepers put the most pressure, so they should also be comfortable on the Helix Midnight.
• The Helix Midnight has strong edge support, so couples can spread out and use the whole surface of the bed.
• With coils that promote airflow and a breathable cover, the Helix Midnight should have no problem keeping hot sleepers cool.

Cons of the Helix Midnight Mattress

• Stomach sleepers will likely want a mattress that’s firmer and more supportive than the Helix Midnight.
• Heavy people weighing over 250 pounds may want to check out one of our best mattresses for heavy people, or the Helix Plus — Helix’s model made especially for those over 250 pounds.

Take a look at our reviews of the Standard Helix and Helix Luxe lines, as well as the Helix Plus.  Think the Helix Midnight is the mattress for you? Click here for our best deal, or check out our full Helix Midnight mattress review. Still not sold? Take a look at some of the other best mattresses of 2025. 

Our pressure map test revealed some extremely low pressure buildup. Across the graphic in the back-sleeping position, I saw almost entirely blue. I felt the cashmere blend cover and layers of foam prevent pressure at the lower back. At the same time, tall pocketed coils keep sleepers from feeling stuck in the mattress’s materials, promoting a neutral alignment.

What Customers Say

Many customers note how the DreamCloud has helped alleviate their back and hip pain.

Pros of the DreamCloud Mattress

• The more responsive transition layer and the springy coils should keep combination sleepers lifted on top of the mattress.
• Because it tested well in edge support, responsiveness, and cooling, many couples should enjoy a sound sleep on the DreamCloud.
• Lightweight stomach sleepers will likely feel this mattress is firm enough for keeping the body properly lifted and in alignment.

Cons of the DreamCloud Mattress

• While the DreamCloud excels in many aspects, I felt it lacked in motion isolation. Couples who easily wake from their partner’s movements should consider one of the best mattress for couples.

Think the DreamCloud is the mattress for you? Click here for our best deal, or check out our full DreamCloud mattress review. Still not sold? Take a look at some of the other best mattresses for sciatica.

Expert Opinion

If you’re a back sleeper who happens to sleep hot, the Leesa Sapira Chill will likely be a welcome addition to your sleep setup. We thought the Medium-Firm model was the perfect hybrid mattress for back sleepers. Its foam layer and pocketed coils offered a strong balance of lift and zoned support. During testing, our reviewers loved how the Sapira Chill adjusted to their shoulders and hips, noting that it gave them ample pressure relief without any uncomfortable sinkage. Our testers gave it a 4.33 out of 5 for back pressure relief, making this hybrid bed a home run for these sleepers.

Our testers were also very impressed by the Leesa Sapira Chill’s cool-to-the-touch sensation. During testing, they gave it a near-perfect 4.5 out of 5 for cooling. This mattress lives up to its name with gel-infused foam, breathable pocketed coils, and a cooling fiber cover to help keep heat at bay. If you’re looking to knock out two sleep concerns with one mattress, look no further.

What Customers Say

The Leesa Sapira Chill has 132 reviews on the Leesa website and an average customer rating of 4.2 out of 5 stars. Many reviewers appreciate its cushioned top, firm support, and cool-to-the-touch feel. However, some complained about the Sapira Chill’s motion isolation and its longer off-gassing period.

Pros of the Leesa Sapira Chill

• Our testers think the Medium-Firm model is a great fit for all sleeping positions, especially back sleepers. The Leesa Sapira Chill provides a great balance of comfort and support for a wide range of sleepers.
• The Sapira Chill excels at regulating temperature and providing a cooling sleeping surface for hot sleepers.
• Couples looking for a good mattress for sex will appreciate the Sapira Chill’s bounce and responsiveness.

Cons of the Leesa Sapira Chill

• The Leesa Sapira Chill is a bit pricier than other comparable mattresses.
• The coils and springs keep you lifted up and out of the structure, so memory foam lovers will not get that traditional hugging feel.

Think this is the mattress for you? Check out our full Leesa Sapira Chill mattress review. Still not sold? Take a look at some of the other best hybrid mattresses. 

The EcoCloud also has a cover made from organic cotton and sustainable New Zealand wool. Plus, its construction includes zoned support, which means the coils vary in firmness across different parts of the mattress, with the springs being firmer by the hips and softer by the shoulders. This helps to promote proper spinal alignment, which studies suggest may prevent back pain and improve sleep quality over time.

What Customers Say

Being one of WinkBeds’ newer products, the EcoCloud has just a little less than 250 reviews on the company’s website, with an average rating of 4.8 out of 5 stars. But you can actually filter out the reviews by category and search for specific traits of the mattress. Many of the reviewers specifically call out the WinkBeds EcoCloud for providing a lot of pain relief at the lower back and sciatic nerve.

Pros of the WinkBeds EcoCloud Mattress

• Heavy sleepers who weigh 250 pounds or more may find that the EcoCloud provides a good level of support. It also features what the brand calls”ExtraEdge Anti-Sag Support” along the edges, which makes the bed more durable and helps prevent sinkage for heavy sleepers.
• Combination sleepers should appreciate how bouncy the EcoCloud is, thanks to the responsive latex and springy coils. This makes it easy for them to change sleeping positions at night.
• The latex and coil construction make the EcoCloud an exceptionally cooling mattress. This is good news for hot sleepers.

Cons of the WinkBeds EcoCloud Mattress

• This bed might feel too firm for strict side sleepers, unless they’re heavy side sleepers or really enjoy a firmer feel.
• Stomach sleepers will likely not find the proper support on the WinkBeds EcoCloud. 

Think the WinkBeds EcoCloud is the mattress for you? Click here for our best deal, or check out our full WinkBeds EcoCloud mattress review. Still not sold? Take a look at some of the other best organic mattresses. 

This mattress also pairs exceptionally well with back sleepers. The Saatva Classic is offered in multiple firmness options, but I tested out the Luxury Firm model. My pressure map test showed almost entirely blue on the graphic, indicating low pressure buildup at the hips and lower back. Still, its innerspring coils provide the lift needed to keep the spine aligned. I believe this model suits back sleepers of all body types, especially since shoppers can select their ideal firmness option, and therefore their preferred balance of comfort and support.

What Customers Say

There are over 3,000 customer reviews on Saatva’s website, and their original mattress has an average rating of 4.8 out of 5 stars. One feature that customers especially love is the brand’s free white glove delivery. If you buy a mattress from Saatva, they’ll send someone to your house to deliver it and set it up. Also, Saatva mattresses arrive uncompressed and don’t come in a box, which makes them stand out from other mattresses on this list.

Pros of the Saatva Mattress

• Back sleepers can find comfort in the Luxury Firm model, side sleepers can sleep soundly on the Plush Soft, and stomach sleepers can feel supported by the Firm model.
• Because of the Saatva’s springiness, combination sleepers can easily easily switch positions.
• Since the bulk of the mattress is made up of coils, there’s a ton of room for airflow in the Saatva. This is good news for hot sleepers who have a hard time staying cool at night.

Cons of the Saatva Mattress

• As is the case with many innerspring mattresses, there’s a lot of motion transfer on the Saatva, meaning that if you sleep with a partner, it’s easy for both of your movements to travel across the bed. So couples are likely to feel each other tossing and turning if they’re light sleepers.

Think this is the mattress for you? Click here for our best deal, or check out our full Saatva mattress review. Still not sold? Take a look at some of the other best luxury mattresses.

This hybrid mattress is available in three different firmnesses: Soft, Medium, and Firm. Most back sleepers should feel comfortable on the Medium or Firm models. I tested the Medium, and found that it had a really soft, cuddly top foam layer and rated it a 6.5 on our firmness scale. As the memory foam cushioned my body, it really did feel like I was sleeping in the lap of luxury. Two other foam layers added cushioning and eased me into the support layer of pocketed coils. Based on this, I’d place the Soft level around 5.5 or 6.

What Customers Say

On the Brooklyn Bedding website, the Aurora Luxe has an average customer rating of 4.7 out of 5 stars. 19 of these reviews are confirmed back sleepers, most of whom rated the mattress a perfect 5.

Pros of the Brooklyn Bedding Aurora Luxe Mattress

• Almost every layer of the mattress has cooling features, from a cover made of Phase Change Material to infusions of gel and copper in the foam and coils that leave space for airflow. These traits make the Aurora Luxe a great match for hot sleepers.
• The Aurora Luxe has decent motion isolation, excellent cooling capabilities, and good responsiveness, which makes it a good mattress for couples and sex.
• The various levels of firmness provided in the Aurora Luxe make it a great option for many sleepers, as you can pick what is most comfortable while still getting the necesary support.

Cons of the Brooklyn Bedding Aurora Luxe Mattress

• Even the Firm model probably isn’t going to be supportive enough for stomach sleepers.
• There might not be enough support for heavy sleepers (who weigh 250 pounds or more) , and the poor edge support may led to discomfort.

Think the Brooklyn Bedding Aurora Luxe is the mattress for you? Click here for our best deal, or check out our full Brooklyn Bedding Aurora Luxe mattress review. Still not sold? Take a look at some of the other best soft mattresses. 

We also put the Bear through my pressure-map test. When looking at the results, there was nothing but blue along my entire back while back sleeping. This confirms that the mattress is a fantastic pick for back sleepers.

What Customers Say

As the brand’s flagship mattress, the Bear has over 10,000 reviews on the company’s website, and an average rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars. Almost 200 of these reviews come from back sleepers. Most of these folks say that the mattress does wonders for their back pain and that they wake up every morning feeling refreshed.

Pros of the Bear Mattress

• One of the most unique features of the Bear is that it offers a cover made of Celliant. This is a material designed to absorb body heat, then redirect it back to sleepers as a means of promoting blood flow and recovery. So far, studies on Celliant are small but promising: A 2019 study that asked 24 participants to wear both a regular shirt and a Celliant shirt found that the participants experienced an increase in skin oxygenation after donning the latter. This helps to boost Bear’s claims that the material promotes recovery after exercising, and makes the mattress a sensible choice for athletes. However, before you purchase this mattress, it’s important to note that this cover does cost an extra $130, in addition to your mattress total.
• The foams in Bear are pretty responsive, so combination sleepers can easily switch positions.
• As a material, Celliant sleeps cool, and there are graphite infusions in the foam to help the Bear (and hot sleepers) keep a low temperature.

Cons of the Bear Mattress

• The Bear is probably a little too firm for side sleepers, who will want to seek out a softer mattress with more contouring.
• We don’t think stomach sleepers will find the proper support or firmness on this mattress.

Think the Bear is the mattress for you? Click here for our best deal, or check out our full Bear mattress review. Still not sold? Take a look at some of the other best mattresses for couples. 

We believe the hybrid Nolah Evolution does it all. There’s a layer of pressure-relieving foam underneath another thick layer of proprietary contouring foam and a plush cotton cover. I certainly think these layers were a huge factor in why it did so well on my pressure map in both the back- and side-sleeping positions. Additionally, at the bottom of the mattress, there’s a layer of coils that not only allows extra airflow, but creates some support to keep back sleepers’ spines neutrally aligned.

What Customers Say

On Nolah’s website, the Evolution has an average customer rating of 4.9 out of 5 stars. Many reviewers love how the foams feel soft while still being supportive. And you can actually see what each person’s age and sleeping position is, so you can get the opinion of someone similar to you.

Pros of the Nolah Evolution Mattress

• The Nolah Evolution hybrid is also available in three different firmness levels: Plush, Luxury Firm, and Firm — I tested the Luxury Firm. The soft foams and supportive coils create a balanced feel. For even more relief from joint pain, I recommend trying the Plush model.
• While the Nolah Evolution isn’t responsive enough to be one of the best mattresses for sex, it has solid motion isolation and strong edge support. So I think it’s a good choice for couples.
• If you’re a heavier sleeper over 250 pounds, the Nolah Evolution offers a Comfort+ version made specifically for your sleeping needs.

Cons of the Nolah Evolution Mattress

• Stomach sleepers will likely find comfort in a firmer and more supportive mattress.
• The Nolah Evolution offers a little bit of sinkage that, while comfortable, might make it hard for combo sleepers to switch positions.

Think the Nolah Evolution is the mattress for you? Click here for our best deal, or check out our full Nolah Evolution mattress review. Still not sold? Take a look at some of the other best mattresses for arthritis. 

While I certainly don’t recommend the Plank Firm to side sleepers (there were poor results on my pressure map test), back sleeping is a different story. Yes, the Plank Firm provides support and lift to the hips, but its comfort layer is also plush enough to properly contour the lumbar region and prevent back pain in this area. This resulted in my graphic showing mostly green and blue, indicating lower pressure.

What Customers Say

There are almost 3,000 reviews on the Plank Firm, and many are positive comments about how it’s a fantastic value buy for such a firm, supportive bed.

Pros of the Plank Firm Mattress 

• With good scores in motion isolation and responsiveness, I recommend this bed for couples who like a firmer feel.
• Combination sleepers should find this bed to have a bouncy feel that makes it easy to switch between back and stomach sleeping.
• Stomach sleepers should love the Plank Firm because its firmness should keep the hips lifted and in proper alignment.

Cons of the Plank Firm Mattress

• Folks struggling from joint pain, such as hip and/or shoulder pain, likely won’t find enough relief on this firm bed.

Think the Plank Firm is the mattress for you? Click here for our best deal, or check out our full Plank Firm mattress review. Still not sold? Take a look at some of the other best firm mattresses.