Best Mattress for Back Pain

Why These Mattresses Made the List  

Quality sleep is critical for restoring and repairing both our body and mind. The inverse is also true, with poor sleep known to contribute to countless health issues including fatigue, lack of concentration, depression, weight gain and even serious medical conditions. 

Lower back pain has been recognized as one of the main causes of poor sleep quality, and if you’re one of the millions of people waking up to aches and pains, your mattress may be to blame. 

After years of research linking back pain to subpar sleep surfaces, the mattress industry has woken up to the issue and started manufacturing mattress models that intentionally target lower back pain points, like overall comfort, spinal support, pressure relief and more. 

With new entries continuing to hit the market touting the latest and greatest sleep technology, our team of researchers has honed in on what experts say really matters when it comes to alleviating back pain to pull together this list of the best mattresses that deliver on their promise of true pain relief.  

How to Find the Best Mattress for Lower Back Pain

Based on the extensive research from our team of industry experts, here are a few of the areas we focused on when choosing our top mattress recommendations:

Comfort Level

The feel or firmness of a mattress has been shown to directly contribute to developing back pain. And contrary to popular belief that firm mattresses are best for back pain, the latest research suggests that a medium-firm mattress is actually better for reducing the risk of developing back pain as well as decreasing the level of back pain and stiffness people are already experiencing. Our list highlights medium-firm mattresses (five to seven out of 10) from some of the most trusted brands, as well as a few that offer customized firmness levels to suit different sleep positions so you can choose the feel that appeals to you. 

Zoned Support 

Proper posture is just as important while you sleep as when you’re awake. Keeping your spine aligned when you’re laying down at night can help prevent pain and discomfort, as well as promote better sleep quality. The mattresses on our list feature zoned support that provides varying levels of firmness in different sections to best support different parts of the body. This feature is critical for managing back pain as it helps to relieve pressure from key areas like the head, shoulders and hips, allowing those points to “sink” into the surface while providing added lumbar support for the lower back, promoting proper spinal alignment for a pain-free night’s sleep. 

Quality Materials

Choosing a mattress with a top-tier construction and materials is beneficial for anyone looking to promote better sleep. For people with back pain, our recommendations include hybrid mattresses that feature responsive, individually wrapped coils and extra dense memory foam that provide the best support and pressure relief combined. And our all-foam options are made up of multiple layers of superior foam to ensure you get the support your back needs. Premium  features like CertiPUR-US-certified foam and pocketed coils add to the safety and overall durability of your mattress to ensure superior sleep for years to come. 

Satisfaction Guarantee 

When it comes to relieving back pain, what works for some people may be a miss for others. Quality sleep is personal, and sometimes you simply won’t know if a mattress can help alleviate your back pain problems until you put it to the test. We made sure to prioritize mattresses that come complete with generous trial periods, including some you can even sleep on for a whole year before changing your mind, as well as long-term warranties for added purchase protection. 

True Reviews

Sure, finding the best mattress for back pain can be subjective, and while we’ve highlighted certain criteria that can help, hearing others’ experiences can sometimes provide the perspective you need to narrow down your choice. All of our top picks have received thousands of rave reviews from real customers who can attest to their effectiveness in helping to alleviate back pain, as well as high praise from popular industry critics and trusted third-party sites like the Better Business Bureau. 

The Bottom Line

When it comes to choosing the best mattress to help reduce or prevent back pain, there are certain things like firmness level and zoned lumbar support that can make a meaningful difference. But finding quality sleep is not a one-size-fits all solution, so we made sure to include a range of options in our top picks list that have earned high praise from both customers and critics for their pain-relieving properties. Considering these criteria in context with your personal sleep preferences and budget should help put you on the right path to finally finding the peaceful, pain-free night’s sleep you’ve always dreamed of. 

FAQs

How can I tell if my mattress is causing back pain?

If you’re one of the millions of people suffering from back pain, you may want to take a closer look at your mattress. Here are a few signs that where you sleep could be part of the problem: 

• Your pain is worse in the morning. Waking up with back pain is a telltale indicator that your spine and muscles were not getting the support they needed overnight, making them sore and stressed. 
• You toss and turn. If you can’t seem to find a comfortable position, your mattress may not be providing the right amount of pressure support you need to fall into a deep, restorative sleep.

• You notice signs of sagging or wear. Experts recommend replacing your mattress every seven to 10 years, but if you can see or feel it sagging then it’s definitely not providing the adequate spinal support your body needs. 

Which mattress is better for back pain, foam or spring? 

Hybrid mattresses tend to be highly recommended for people with back pain because they feature a mix of pressure relieving memory foam to cradle your joints and responsive coils for the firmer support your spine needs. All foam mattresses can still be a viable option for people with back pain because of their ability to contour to your body, but you’ll want to choose a model that includes firm layers of foam to help keep the spine aligned. 

Can your preferred sleep position cause back pain? 

Yes, whether you typically sleep on your side, back, stomach or all of the above, your preferred sleep position affects how your weight is distributed across your body, joints and mattress. Stomach sleeping is generally regarded as the most likely to cause back and neck pain since it tends to elevate the head and neck in awkward positions, while sleeping on your back is typically the best way to promote proper spinal alignment. While medium-firm mattresses are recommended to help alleviate back pain, you also should consider your sleep position when deciding what mattress might be the right fit for you.