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More than 30 million Americans suffer from back pain at some point in their lives, according to the American Chiropractic Association. It's the single leading cause of disability and one of the main causes of sleep disturbances. Aching backs can sabotage your sleep, and if you're sleeping on a mattress with inadequate support, you may be doing your back more harm than good. That's why we've rounded up the best mattresses for back pain, to help alleviate discomfort and promote better sleep.
The Best Mattresses for Back Pain - Our Top Picks
- Best Overall Mattress for Back Pain: Saatva Classic
- Best Cooling Mattress for Back Pain: Winkbed
- Best Luxury Mattress for Back Pain: Nolah Evolution 15"
- Best Mattress for Athletes with Back Pain: Bear Original
- Best Budget Mattress for Back Pain: Brooklyn Bedding Signature Hybrid
- Best Mattress for Back and Neck Pain: Avocado Green Mattress
- Best Mattress for Lower Back Pain: Leesa Legend Hybrid
- Best Firm Mattress for Back Pain: Amerisleep AS1
- Best Mattress for Side Sleepers with Back Pain: Leesa Original Hybrid
- Best Mattress for Back Pain for Back Sleepers: Layla Memory Foam Mattress
Sleeping on a designated mattress for back pain can help ease strain and tension in your back, helping you sleep better and wake up feeling more refreshed to tackle your daily workout. How do you find the best mattress for back pain? We teamed up with the Mattress Advisor review team to identify the best mattresses for back pain based on 14 criteria that mattress shoppers want to know about—from spinal alignment and pressure point relief to responsiveness, motion transfer, and more.
Why Trust Us?
ACTIVE.com's editorial team relies on the knowledge and experience of fitness and wellness experts including competitive athletes, coaches, physical therapists, nutritionists, and certified trainers. This helps us ensure the products we feature are of the highest standard. Collectively, the team has spent countless hours researching equipment, gear, and recovery tools in order to create the most accurate, authentic content for our readers. Customer satisfaction is also a key part of our review process, which is why we only feature products that are highly rated.
MA Score: The Mattress Advisor Score is a weighted score that takes into account 14 different factors related to the mattress' performance, function, and convenience, as well as the brand's social responsibility.
Best Overall Mattress for Back Pain - Saatva Classic
SPECS
- Mattress type: Hybrid
- Mattress Advisor score: 9/10
- Firmness: Plush soft, luxury firm, firm
- Sizes: Twin, twin XL, full, queen, king, Cal king, split king, split Cal king
- Trial period: 365-night
- Warranty: Lifetime Warranty
One thing that sets Saatva apart from most of its competitors is the free white glove delivery, meaning professionals will come to your home and set up your bed and haul away your old mattress at no extra cost. The Saatva Classic also comes with a full-year sleep trial, however if you choose to return the mattress, you'll have to pay a $99 transport fee.
What We Like
- Built-in lumbar support reinforces spinal alignment
- Free white glove delivery
- Full-year sleep trial
- 3 firmness levels to choose from
- 2 mattress height options: 11.5" and 14.5"
What We Don't Like
- With several firmness levels and thickness options, it may be hard to choose what's best for you
- $99 fee for returns
BUY: Saatva Classic
Best Cooling Mattress for Back Pain - Winkbed
SPECS
- Mattress type: Hybrid
- Mattress Advisor score: 8.6/10
- Firmness: Softer, luxury firm, firmer, plus for heavier people
- Sizes: Twin, Twin XL, full, queen, king, Cal king
- Trial period: 120-night
- Warranty: Lifetime
Winkbed comes with a 120-night sleep trial, but there's a catch: If you choose to return your mattress during the trial period, you'll have to pay a $49 shipping and recycling fee. If you choose to exchange your bed, you'll still have to pay the fee but you'll get a new 60-day sleep trial.
What We Like
- Several firmness levels to choose from
- Option for heavier sleepers
- Cooling properties
- White glove delivery available for an extra cost
What We Don't Like
- Heavy mattress makes for a more difficult setup
- Poor motion isolation
- Sleep trial returns have a fee for shipping and recycling
BUY: Winkbed
Best Luxury Mattress for Back Pain - Nolah Evolution 15"
SPECS
- Mattress type: Hybrid
- Mattress Advisor score: N/A
- Firmness: Plush, luxury firm, firm
- Sizes: Twin, Twin XL, full, queen, king, Cal king, split king
- Trial period: 120-night
- Warranty: Lifetime
The Nolah Evolution 15" is definitely a luxury mattress and it comes with a luxury price tag, as well. However, deep discounts and bonus products are available throughout the year. Plus, if you choose to skip on the 120-night sleep trial, Nolah will deduct $100 of your purchase price. If you decide to buy the Nolah Evolution 15", you can rest assured that the mattress is durable and built to last.
What We Like
- Ultrathick mattress
- Multiple cooling technologies
- White glove delivery for an extra charge
What We Don't Like
- Slight off-gassing odor upon unboxing
- Expensive without discounts
BUY: Nolah Evolution 15"
Best Mattress for Athletes with Back Pain - Bear Original
SPECS
- Mattress type: All foam
- Mattress Advisor score: 8.6/10
- Firmness: Medium-firm
- Sizes: Twin, Twin XL, full, queen, king, Cal king, split king
- Trial period: 120-night
- Warranty: Lifetime
If you're unsure about an all-foam bed, Bear now makes a hybrid version of the Bear Original, but you can expect to pay a few hundred dollars more for the innerspring addition. Can't decide which you prefer? Bear offers a 120-night sleep trial and a hassle-free return option.
What We Like
- Celliant technology that helps the body recover faster
- A hybrid option is available
- Cooling properties
- Affordable price tag
What We Don't Like
- Slight off-gassing when unboxed
- Fee for delivery to Alaska, Hawaii, or Canada
BUY: Bear Original
Best Budget Mattress for Back Pain - Brooklyn Bedding Signature Hybrid
SPECS
- Mattress type: Hybrid
- Mattress Advisor score: 8.8/10
- Firmness: Soft, medium, firm
- Sizes: Twin, Twin XL, full, short full, queen, short queen, Olympic queen, king, short king, Cal king, RV king (3 sizes)
- Trial period: 120-night
- Warranty: 10-year
Be aware that the Brooklyn Bedding Signature Hybrid is made to order, which means that once you place your order, it takes about 14 business days (up to 3 weeks) to produce and then an additional 3-7 days to be delivered to your door.
What We Like
- Very affordable
- Great pressure relieving qualities
- Plenty of mattress size options and firmness levels
- Optional cooling cover for an additional fee
What We Don't Like
- Slight off-gassing odor upon unboxing
- Can take up to a month for your mattress to arrive after ordering
BUY: Brooklyn Bedding Signature Hybrid
Best Mattress for Back and Neck Pain - Avocado Green Mattress
SPECS
- Mattress type: Hybrid
- Mattress Advisor score: 8.5/10
- Firmness: Medium-firm to firm
- Sizes: Twin, Twin XL, full, queen, king, Cal king
- Trial period: 1-year
- Warranty: 25-year
Natural latex is highly durable so your bed could last through its impressive 25-year warranty if you take care of it. The Avocado Green isn't the best at isolating motion, which is not great for couples or people who sleep with pets. But with a full-year sleep trial, you'll have plenty of time to test it out.
What We Like
- Organic mattress
- Almost all the mattress materials can be recycled
- Full-year sleep trial
- Very durable
- Pillow top add-on available
What We Don't Like
- Steep price tag
- Doesn't do a great job of isolating motion
BUY: Avocado Green
Best Mattress for Lower Back Pain - Leesa Legend Hybrid
SPECS
- Mattress type: Hybrid
- Mattress Advisor score: 9/10
- Firmness: Medium-firm
- Sizes: Twin XL, full, queen, king, Cal king
- Trial period: 100-night
- Warranty: 10-year
The Leesa Legend Hybrid is a luxury mattress with one of the heftier price tags on our list of best mattresses for back pain. But the bed is built to hold up well over time. You can also feel good about your purchase; the company is B Corp certified, and for every 10 Leesa mattresses sold, they donate a mattress to a child in need.
What We Like
- Leesa's positive social impact
- Eco-friendly mattress cover
- Easy returns
- Cooling properties
What We Don't Like
- Slight off-gassing odor after unboxing
- High price tag
BUY: Leesa Legend Hybrid
Best Firm Mattress for Back Pain - Amerisleep AS1
SPECS
- Mattress type: Memory foam
- Mattress Advisor score: 8.2/10
- Firmness: Firm
- Sizes: Twin, Twin XL, full, queen, king, Cal king, split king
- Trial period: 100-night
- Warranty: 20-year
Firm beds can help ease backaches, but with a firm bed you will sacrifice pressure relieving properties. This may be a deterrent for side sleepers, but is a dream for back and stomach sleepers. Amerisleep's 100-night sleep trial and free returns can give you confidence to see if the Amerisleep AS1 is the right bed for you.
What We Like
- Cooling properties
- Affordably priced
- Free returns
What We Don't Like
- No financing offered
- Limited pressure relieving qualities
BUY: Amerisleep AS1
Best Mattress for Side Sleepers with Back Pain - Leesa Original Hybrid
SPECS
- Mattress type: Hybrid
- Mattress Advisor score: 9.4/10
- Firmness: Medium-firm
- Sizes: Twin, Twin XL, full, queen, king, Cal king
- Trial period: 100-night
- Warranty: 10-year
All of Leesa's beds are made to order and ship within three to five business days through FedEx Ground to all 50 states and Canada. White glove delivery is also available for an additional fee. Should you have any issues with your purchase, you can rest assured you're in good hands, as Leesa's customer service is highly rated among customers.
What We Like
- Very responsive foam adapts quickly to movements
- Good motion isolation making it ideal for couples
- One of the most cooling beds tested by Mattress Advisor
- Modest price tag
What We Don't Like
- Slight off-gassing smell upon unboxing
- Sleep trial and warranty are voided if your mattress leaves the country from where it was purchased
Best Mattress for Back Pain for Back Sleepers - Layla Memory Foam Mattress
SPECS
- Mattress type: Memory foam
- Mattress Advisor score: 8.8/10
- Firmness: Medium-soft and medium-firm (flippable)
- Sizes: Twin, Twin XL, full, queen, king, Cal king
- Trial period: 120-night
- Warranty: Lifetime
Another great thing about the Layla Memory Foam Mattress is that the top foam layers are infused with copper gel, an element that can transfer heat, reduce inflammation, and repel bacteria. Even if you tend to toss and turn a bit at night, you'll still appreciate good pressure point relief and spine alignment in this highly responsive foam bed.
What We Like
- It's flippable: medium-soft on one side and medium-firm on the other
- Copper-infused foam
- Very responsive
What We Don't Like
- Slight off-gassing upon unboxing
- Sleeps hotter than most beds
BUY: Layla Memory Foam Mattress
What to Consider When Buying a Mattress for Back Pain
Type
Most mattresses are made with innerspring, memory foam, latex, or a combination of two or more materials:
- Innerspring: Traditional innerspring mattresses are bouncier but they have less cushioning than other mattress types. They also are not as comfortable as other mattress materials. However, innerspring promotes airflow which helps keep the mattresses cool.
- Memory Foam: Memory foam mattresses are known for their contouring comfort, and many provide good spine alignment and pressure relief. But memory foam can sleep hot if it doesn't incorporate some type of cooling technology.
- Latex: Latex mattresses promote air flow naturally, which helps them sleep cooler than memory foam. They're also bouncier and more buoyant than memory foam, so you feel like you're sleeping "on" the bed rather than "in" it, as with memory foam.
- Hybrid: Hybrid mattresses are made with two or more mattress materials, usually a thicker layer of foam over innerspring.
Firmness
Mattress firmness is a personal preference, but before you decide, you'll want to consider your sleeping position and body weight.
- Soft/plush: Soft mattresses are plush, cloud-like, and usually score about a 3-4/10 on the firmness scale.
- Medium: These mattresses will still feel cushioning but will have a little more support. Medium mattresses are best for side sleepers and usually score 4-6/10.
- Medium-firm: Medium firm mattresses are the most popular. They provide more resistance, are ideal for back and stomach sleepers, and usually score 6-7/10 on the firmness scale.
- Firm: Firm beds have minimal cushioning but plenty of support. They're best for stomach or back sleepers, and heavier individuals. They usually score 7/10 or more on the mattress firmness scale.
Sizes Available
Beds come in a variety of standard sizes including twin, full, queen, and king. Twin XL, a longer version of the twin bed, is often seen in college dorms, and California king beds are a slightly longer and narrower version of the standard king bed. Some mattress companies, such as Brooklyn Bedding on our list, offer specialty mattress sizes such as a short full, short queen, and short king. When it comes to bed size, the important things to ensure are that your bed fits in your room without overcrowding the space and that you can sleep comfortably in it.
Spine Alignment
A bed that helps keep the spine in alignment regardless of sleep position is paramount. A good mattress should help you maintain good posture through the night. That means it should keep the spine aligned with a natural curvature in the lower back. This helps prevent or reduce back pain not only when you're awake during the day, but also when you're sleeping at night. If your mattress is sagging and doesn't have adequate support in the lumbar region, it can knock your spine out of alignment, strain the muscles in your back, and contribute to or worsen lower back pain and neck pain.
FAQs About Mattresses for Back Pain
Which is the best type of mattress for back pain?
A medium-firm to firm mattress made with memory or latex foam or a hybrid of foam and innersprings generally provides the best support and pressure relief for back pain sufferers. Some mattresses provide extra lumbar support which may help ease back strain.
Is a memory foam or spring mattress better for back pain?
Innerspring mattresses alone don't usually provide enough support or comfort to relieve back pain. Memory foam, latex foam, or a hybrid that combines foam with innersprings are generally better options for back pain sufferers.
How should I sleep to relieve back pain?
Sleeping on your back is the best sleeping position for back pain sufferers. Side sleeping is OK if the mattress is designed to help keep the spine in alignment throughout the night. Stomach sleeping is not recommended for people with back pain because it strains the lower back and contributes to neck and/or jaw pain.
What level of firmness is best for your back?
What level of firmness is best for your back?