Best Mattress Topper for Back Pain (2025), 8 Options to Topple Tension

Back sleepers and those with back pain require a sleep surface that is supportive enough to keep their hips aligned with the rest of their body, but has enough cushioning to prevent tension from building up in their hips and shoulders. My pick for the best mattress topper for back pain, the Saatva Graphite Memory Foam Topper, does just that. Product tester Kate Meier gave it 4-star ratings across the board, including support, responsiveness, and motion isolation, making it one of our most well-rounded options on this list.

According to Kate, the Saatva Graphite Memory Foam Topper is ideal for back and side sleepers because its supportive surface offers just enough sinkage to cradle high-pressure areas, such as the lower back, hips, and shoulders. During testing, she gave it a strong 4 out of 5 in the support category.

“This is a great pick for back and side sleepers,” Kate said. “It provides firm support, but still contours your joints. That said, stomach sleepers may feel a little pressure in the lower back, especially heavier stomach sleepers, because their hips may sink into it too much, creating an anterior tilt.”

Kate also found that the Graphite Memory Foam Topper is surprisingly responsive, despite its pure memory foam construction. While this mattress topper offers sinkage around high-pressure areas, it does so without making you feel stuck. She gave it a 4 out of 5 and noted that combination sleepers, or those who toss and turn frequently, should have no trouble doing so on this topper.

“For a memory foam mattress topper, this is pretty responsive,” Kate said. “You won’t get stuck on this topper, but you’ll sink into it a little. However, if you’re accustomed to a firm and springy surface, you might have to put a little more effort into moving around.”

Kate gave it a final 4-star score in the motion isolation department. While a responsive surface that dampens motion sounds contradictory, it’s what you get with the Saatva Graphite Memory Foam Topper. Kate tested this mattress topper with a colleague to see if she could detect their movement from her side of the bed, and noticed that it did a fabulous job of isolating motion to one side of the mattress. It wasn’t perfect, as she could still feel some movement on her half of the bed, but she didn’t think it was enough to disturb her during sleep.

It is challenging to find anything to fault about the Saatva Graphite Memory Foam Topper; however, if I had to pick something, I would say that its lack of a cool-to-the-touch cover might be a deal-breaker for sleepers who overheat. Aside from that, this mattress topper should be at the top of your list if you’re someone with back pain.

There are many valid reasons to want an organic mattress topper beyond its environmental benefits. Aside from being green, organic materials are typically hypoallergenic and durable. These points are also true of the Silk & Snow Organic Mattress Topper, which I gave a 5 out of 5 for support, responsiveness, and materials during testing.

If you’re starting to experience some sagging around your hips and lower back on your mattress, a supportive mattress topper might be a viable quick fix if a brand-new bed isn’t attainable just yet. The Silk & Snow Organic Mattress Topper features supportive latex to give sleepers with back pain that extra boost. During testing, I was pleasantly surprised by how it filled in my lower lumbar area and elevated my hips just enough to keep my spine in a neutral position. For this reason, I gave it a 5 out of 5 in the support category.

Latex is also known for being buoyant and responsive. Unlike its many memory foam counterparts, the Silk & Snow Organic Mattress Topper feels springy and easy to move around on, despite not having any innerspring coils. Combination sleepers who frequently change positions at night should be able to do so without feeling trapped by the mattress topper. I gave this mattress topper another 5 out of 5 in the responsiveness category.

My last perfect score in this trifecta of fives was for durability. I gave this mattress topper another 5 out of 5 in this category because its high-quality, all-organic components should last a long time with proper use and care. It comes with GOTS and GOLS certifications, so it uses the highest quality organic latex and cotton. The machine-washable cover is also another key factor in extending the longevity of this item.

My only real gripe with the Silk & Snow Organic Mattress Topper was its lack of motion isolation, which is not surprising, considering how responsive and bouncy the latex is. I would not recommend using this mattress topper if you share your bed with a restless partner or pet. In that scenario, you might get rid of your back pain, but then you’ll have to get rid of your partner (or ask for a sleep divorce, at the very least).

If you or your partner suffers from back pain and can’t seem to agree on the ideal firmness to sleep on, then the Helix Dual Comfort Topper could be the perfect compromise. The Dual Comfort Topper features a soft side and a firm side, so when it’s time to stop snuggling and get some sleep, you and your partner can roll onto your preferred firmness. Better yet, both sides also have ample support to help with back pain. Our product testers gave this mattress topper perfect 5-star scores in support, motion transfer, and cooling.

I have good news for cranky couples with back pain: you might not hate each other; it might just be your mattress. If your mattress is beginning to sag and lacks the support you need, a high-quality topper can make up the difference and give you and your significant other a much-needed boost around your lower lumbar spine. Our in-house product tester was impressed by the Dual Comfort Topper’s support on either side of the topper, giving it a 5 out of 5 score in this category.

“I found plenty of support on both sides of this mattress topper,” she said. “I felt well aligned, but just had more support on the firm side. However, the soft side was enough to keep my hips elevated and spine aligned, despite the extra cushioning.”

The Helix Dual Comfort Topper is also my favorite mattress topper for couples with back pain because it excelled in two categories that are imperative for those who share a bed with another person: cooling and motion isolation. The tester awarded this mattress topper perfect 5-star scores in these categories as well.

While testing its temperature-regulating abilities, our topper tester was particularly impressed with its cool-to-the-touch feel. “The cooling fibers in its cover feel refreshing,” she said.

She also praised the memory foam’s ability to dampen motion and prevent it from traveling to the other side of the mattress topper. The tester evaluated this topper on a mattress with a colleague to see how much motion rippled across the surface with two people on it. During this test, they found they could hardly detect each other’s movements.

While the Helix Dual Comfort Topper is an excellent buy for couples for many reasons, my colleague noted two drawbacks. The first negative was price. At $498 before any discounts, this mattress topper isn’t the most budget friendly option on the market. She also pointed out that the softer side is less responsive than the firm side, meaning that combination sleepers who toss and turn frequently to get comfortable might find it challenging to do so on that side of the topper.

Sleepers with back pain who prefer the slow-sinking feel of memory foam often find themselves stuck between a rock and a hard place (well, not literally). Memory foam mattresses and toppers are not usually my go-to recommendations for sleepers in this category because they need something with enough support to prop up their hips and keep them aligned with the rest of their bodies. Fortunately, the Bear Pro Topper is an exception to this rule. During testing, we gave this mattress topper a 5 out of 5 for support and motion transfer.

If your bout with back pain has you longing for a memory foam mattress topper that provides enough support to take pressure off your lower back and keep it aligned with the rest of your body, then you’re in luck. My colleague and product expert gave this topper a perfect 5 out of 5 during testing because its high-density foams were enough to keep her spine in a neutral, healthy position on the mattress.

“This mattress topper provides plenty of support even though it is so plush,” she said. “The plushness allows enough sinkage for my hips and lower body to get some effective pressure relief. However, it never drops so far that I feel awkward or misaligned.”

Foam lovers will also likely be pleased to know that the Bear Pro Topper features superb motion isolation, a hallmark of high-quality memory foam. Our in-house team gave it another 5 out of 5 in this category because its slow-moving feel did a great job of preventing motion from rippling to the other side of the bed when we tested this topper with a colleague.

“I felt zero movement from my testing partner’s side of the bed with this topper,” she said. “There is almost no bounce or rippling of motion throughout the topper. I think its slow responsiveness helps with motion transfer.”

According to the topper tester, the only two faults about the Bear Pro Topper were its price and responsiveness. She gave the Bear Pro Topper a 2 and 3 in both categories, respectively. At $345 before any discounts, she felt that the price was a little steep compared to what you’re getting. Fortunately, it often goes on sale for around $225, which she felt was fair.

Like many other memory foam mattresses and toppers, the Bear Pro Topper has lackluster responsiveness. If you’re a combination sleeper who frequently changes positions to get comfortable throughout the night, you might want to avoid this one.

Sometimes, a softer sleep surface isn’t always the solution to chronic back pain, especially if a saggy or too-plush mattress is the cause. If you find that your mattress is too soft around your lower back and hips, you likely need something with responsive support to provide a much-needed boost. Brooklyn Bedding is here to answer the call with their 3-inch latex mattress topper. Our in-house product tester was impressed with its responsive and supportive surface, giving it a 4 out of 5 or higher in both categories.

Latex is naturally bouncy and responsive, so it was no surprise that this mattress topper made the bed easy to move around on. Before even lying on it, the tester noticed that it would snap right back into shape after pressing into it with her hand. She gave it a perfect 5 out of 5 for responsiveness after using this topper on a plush surface because it made it much easier to change between sleeping positions.

“The latex in this topper makes it extremely responsive,” she said. “It’s super easy to move around and change positions. I do not feel stuck or like it requires more effort to move around on it.”

Another reason this mattress topper is a home run for sleepers with back pain is its strong 4-star support. Using this Brooklyn Bedding mattress topper is like adding a 3-inch layer of firm, responsive latex to your bed. During testing, our product expert found that it provided the perfect amount of firm support to align her hips with the rest of her body. 

“My spine was in a neutral position, and I could feel the tension leaving my lower back,” she said.

The tester’s only initial concern about this mattress topper was motion isolation, and, unfortunately, she was right to worry. Like many other latex toppers and mattresses, its bounciness also contributes to its somewhat excessive motion transfer. 

While testing this topper with a colleague, the reviewer noticed their movements ripple across the surface of the mattress. While the shaking wasn’t as violent as she anticipated, it was still enough to cause a disturbance. Based on her experience, I would not recommend this mattress topper to people who sleep with restless pets or partners.

When recommending mattresses and toppers for back pain, I tend to steer sleepers toward firmer support that keeps their hips aligned with the rest of their body. However, some sleepers have the opposite problem. As Dr. Raj Dasgupta explains, “If a mattress is too firm, back sleepers could experience back or shoulder pain due to unnecessary tension throughout the night. A medium-firm mattress that falls in the middle of firm and soft is the best option for back sleepers with chronic pain.”

If you require more cushioning around your lower back (without sacrificing support), then the Plush version of the Avocado Eco Organic Mattress Topper could be the perfect match. With pure Talalay latex and a soft cotton cover, it strikes an ideal balance for sleepers with back pain who need a soft touch. Product tester Livvi DiCicco gave the Eco Organic mattress topper an impressive 4 out of 5 in the support and responsiveness categories.

While back sleepers certainly need cushioning around their lower backs to alleviate tension, a supportive surface is equally imperative. Having sturdy support around their hips prevents their lower lumbar area from dipping too far into the mattress layers, which could worsen aches and pains. Thanks to the springy natural latex in the Avocado Eco Organic topper, sleepers should have no trouble receiving both.

“The Plush version of this mattress topper is definitely on the softer side, but it still has that latex feel, so it feels very supportive,” Livvi said. “On my back, I sink in a bit, but I don’t feel like I’m out of alignment. If you have a too-firm bed, I think this combo would provide great pressure relief without sinking in too far. I would give it a 4 out of 5 for support.”

Perhaps unsurprisingly, Livvi was equally impressed with its responsiveness, giving it another 4 out of 5 in this category. She praised the springiness of the latex for making her already-responsive mattress even easier to move around on.

“This latex has a softer feel than what I’d expect, but it is definitely on the springier side,” Livvi said. “Moving around is easy, I can roll over and even ‘bounce’ a bit on this mattress topper.”

Livvi’s only critique of the Avocado Eco Organic Mattress Topper was its price. While it isn’t surprising, given the organic latex and high-quality materials Avocado uses, she felt that $500 for a 3-inch mattress topper was a bit steep. However, if it’s within your budget, this is a solid option for people with back pain who want a softer surface without sacrificing support.

The only thing worse than waking up with back pain is waking up sore and sweaty. Thankfully, for hot sleepers experiencing back pain, the ViscoSoft Active Cooling Copper Topper effectively solves both problems. Product tester Kate Meier rated the ViscoSoft mattress topper 4 stars or higher in cooling and support.

After testing mattresses and mattress accessories for some time, I’ve become skeptical when a brand drops words like “cooling” in their product names. Fortunately, that isn’t the case with the ViscoSoft Active Cooling Copper Topper, which earned a perfect 5 out of 5 in this category, thanks to its breathable, temperature-regulating materials.

Kate was impressed by its cool-to-the-touch feel and thermal gun test performance. During this test, Kate measured the surface temperature of the topper before and after resting on it for five minutes. After her five minutes of uninterrupted rest were over, she found that it had only increased by 4.3 degrees, rivaling some of the best cooling mattresses.

“The surface of the topper was cool to the touch for the entire 20 minutes I spent on it,” Kate said. “This is easily one of the coolest, most breathable toppers I’ve ever been on. If you want a comfortable, cooling topper, I highly recommend this one.”

Kate was almost equally impressed with its support. Despite the ViscoSoft Active Cooling Copper Topper being an incredibly soft mattress topper, she felt that it still offered enough support for most sleepers, including those with chronic back pain. She gave it a near-perfect 4.5 out of 5 because it wasn’t as supportive as some of the firmer foam toppers we’ve tested.

“This could potentially correct even the crappiest of beds,” Kate said. “It’s like having a new mattress on top of your current mattress. I love this for back, stomach, or side sleepers. I spent a lot of time in each position, and in each one, it felt like a dream. However, it’s not firm or bouncy. If you switch positions often, you’ll probably have to put more effort into those movements.”

That said, the ViscoSoft topper is not a good fit for everyone. Like Kate said, it’s not firm or responsive, so if you’re a combination sleeper who prefers a surface that’s easy to move around on, you won’t find that here.

I also wouldn’t recommend this mattress topper to sleepers with bigger bodies (over 230 pounds) who have back pain. These individuals will likely sink through the ViscoSoft’s plush memory foam and will not get the extra support they need to prevent back pain from flaring up.

A mattress topper shouldn’t cost as much as a brand-new mattress. However, a cheap, unsupportive mattress topper could worsen your back pain. Thankfully, the Peacock Alley Down Alternative Mattress Topper offers comfort and support at a reasonable price. At $225 before any discounts, this mattress topper punches above its weight, earning a 4 out of 5 or higher in our support, responsiveness, and motion isolation categories.

The problem we often encounter with less expensive mattress toppers is that they use cheap memory foam that is just as saggy as an old, worn-out mattress. We are pleased to report that this is not the case with this Peacock Alley mattress topper. During testing, Kate Meier gave it a 4.5 out of 5 in the support category. She found that it effectively cushioned her lower back while still being thick enough to keep her hips aligned with the rest of her body.

“This mattress topper feels a little pillowy, which makes it incredibly comfortable,” Kate said. “However, I don’t think it sinks enough to knock you out of alignment. It provides a lot of contouring, so if you need something softer to get rid of the tension in your lower back, this topper might help.”

Kate also praised its down alternative construction for its ability to dampen motion on the mattress surface, giving it a 4 out of 5 in the motion isolation category. While testing this mattress topper with a colleague, she noted that she could barely feel their movements, even as they tossed and turned on the opposite side of the bed.

“While a lot of its motion isolation might depend on your bed,” Kate said, “I couldn’t feel what my testing partner was doing on their side of the bed. What I noticed the most when my partner was moving was the sound of the topper. It has sort of a crinkly sound to it, but it isn’t overly disruptive.”

However, the biggest surprise, according to Kate, was how responsive this bed topper was. Despite the down alternative fill providing a plush, motion-dampening surface, she still found it easy to move around on during testing. Unlike all-foam models that trap you in their layers, this mattress topper stays buoyant enough for easy maneuverability. She gave it another 4 out of 5 in this category.

The only attribute that Kate found disappointing about this mattress topper was its cooling. Using a thermal gun to measure the increase in temperature after lying on it for five minutes, she recorded a 7-degree surge in temperature. While this result still indicates decent cooling, it might not be the best option for those who get really hot at night.