Having multiple mattresses of different types from various brands in the same room helped us pinpoint their key differences, such as design, build, overall feel, and pressure relief. We were able to determine how much plushness led to sinking into the bed and more back pain, as well as what level of firmness went beyond actually being comfortable for our joints and our sleep.
And of course we considered mattress return policies, trial periods, and warranties to determine if those buying a mattress for back pain could feel confident in their purchase in the event that their mattress came with a defect or in fact made their back pain worse.
For more information on how we test mattresses, check out our sleep product testing methodology.
What You Should Look for in a Mattress for Back Pain
The best mattress for back pain should come loaded with features that reduce pressure, promote proper spinal alignment, and cradle sensitive joints. Here’s what to look for when shopping around for mattresses for back pain that check off these items (and then some).
Firmness
Firmness tends to be subjective, as we often ran into during our mattress testing (there was much debate between mattresses being medium-soft or a true medium), but research often points to a medium-firm bed as the best choice for back pain and natural spine alignment. The medium firmness of the Helix Midnight Luxe kept us sleeping on top of the bed, while softer variations of the Brooklyn Bedding Aurora Luxe may not be firm enough for back pain relief. Still, if you just love a soft and plush bed and it keeps you comfortable, that’s okay too.
Keep in mind that body weight and shape can also change how a mattress feels from person to person. For example, individuals over 230 pounds may sink further into a mattress simply due to gravity, which can cause it to feel softer or less supportive.
Material
A hybrid or memory foam mattress will be best for contouring around your body and cradling the most sensitive of joints. Innerspring mattresses, meanwhile, may not be pressure-relieving enough for those with aches and pains who require a bed that won’t cause additional pressure buildup. (Innerspring mattresses often feel firmer due to their lack of comfort foam.) The hybrid Saatva Rx has a balanced blend of contouring and pressure relief, especially for those with serious back pain, while the Saatva Classic, which is innerspring, may feel firmer and therefore increase pressure.
Support
Support is one of the most important features you’ll want to look for in a mattress for back pain, as this is what makes or breaks pressure relief. Keep an eye out for words like “zoned” or “targeted” support; this type of support offers more or less pressure relief in certain areas of the bed where your joints will be located. Emma Hybrid Comfort has seven zones of pressure relief, while DreamCloud has a more traditional support system without as much zoning.
Pressure Relief
Pressure relief, pressure relief, pressure relief—you’ve probably read all about this throughout our best mattresses for back pain guide if you’ve made it down to this section of the article. Pressure relief is what helps relieve tension from your joints, such as your hips or shoulders. This can come in the form of individually encased coils that provide independent pressure relief, cradling memory foam, or transition layers that keep your spine in a natural curve. One of our favorite mattresses for pressure relief is the Nolah Evolution.
Motion Control
If you sleep independently, this feature may not matter to you, but motion control in a bed is essential for couples who sleep together. Essentially, motion control, or motion isolation, helps prevent bed partners from feeling the other partner get into or out of the bed or shift around to different sleeping positions. While motion control itself won’t cause or reduce back pain, a bed with poor motion control can leave one partner tossing or turning, which then can exacerbate pain. Our best mattress for couples with back pain is Emma Hybrid Comfort, whereas Brooklyn Bedding Aurora Luxe didn’t do a standout job of soaking up movement from bed partners.
Trial Period and Warranty
Trial period and warranty are both huge features to consider when shopping for the best bed for back pain. Since mattresses can take upwards of two-to-three months to break in, a longer trial period can help you see how a mattress performs over time. Ideally, you’ll want a trial period of 365 nights to test a mattress; this also lets you see how well a mattress stays cool in warmer months. A lengthy or lifetime warranty is important as well, as this helps protect you from manufacturer’s defects or other issues. For a lifetime warranty, consider Bear Elite Hybrid. Emma Hybrid Comfort, meanwhile, has a shorter warranty of only 10 years, which is still good since most people keep a mattress for about a decade (however, we’re just suckers for a lifetime warranty).
Price
Mattresses have a huge price range. You can purchase a more budget-friendly mattress on Amazon, many of which are available for a few hundred dollars, or a luxury buy like Saatva Rx that may cost upwards of $4,000 or more. More expensive isn’t necessarily always better, but a less expensive mattress may be made with less durable materials and might need to be replaced much sooner, which could end up costing you more money in the long run. Nectar is one of our most affordable mattresses for back pain, while Saatva Rx will be a more expensive high-end purchase.
Different Types of Back Pain
Back pain can originate in several places, but the right mattress features may help alleviate that pain. We talked with Dr. Saifullah about how to find the best bed for back pain depending on where the pain is located. We also looked at what current research says about choosing a mattress for back pain.
Lower-Back Pain
Lower-back pain is often due to an injury to the muscles or tendons in the back. This could be from lifting something too heavy, an accident or a fall, or even twisting the wrong way (such as while sleeping). Studies show that memory foam mattresses are best for alleviating back pain.
Mid-Back Pain
Mid-back pain is less common than lower-back pain, but can be the result of numerous causes, such as a pinched nerve, poor posture, and muscle injury. If your spine isn’t in neutral alignment while sleeping, you might experience mid-back pain. Luckily, this can be alleviated by sleeping on a medium-firm mattress with supportive pillows that keep your body properly aligned. In addition to head pillows, Dr. Saifullah suggests sleeping with a pillow between your knees while back or side-sleeping to help your body maintain its natural spinal curve.
Upper-Back Pain
Upper-back pain is generally caused by the same factors as mid-back pain and can include muscle tightness or stiffness. A supportive medium-firm mattress can help you maintain good posture while sleeping, while a contouring memory foam mattress can offer pressure relief.
Neck Pain
Common culprits of neck pain are sleeping with a pillow that’s too high or stiff or spending too much time stomach-sleeping, which can leave your neck turned in one direction for too long overnight. A mattress with targeted or zoned pressure relief may help prevent a sore neck the next day.
Signs Your Mattress Is Causing Back Pain
Back pain can be caused by a number of factors, including an accident, lifting something heavy, or structural problems in your spine, but sometimes the culprit is as simple as an unsupportive mattress. Perhaps your mattress is old and has started to sag, or it might be too plush and causing you to sink into the middle of it while sleeping. Whatever the reason may be, a few telltale signs can help you identify whether or not your mattress is causing you back pain.
Morning Back Pain
If you wake up with a stiff or achy back, your mattress might not be providing proper support anymore, Dr. Saifullah says. This is especially true if it happens frequently or over a long period of time, or if you find your back pain improves throughout the day (only to worsen again at night). You might also find yourself sleeping better on other mattresses, such as at a hotel, which can be a sign that yours is contributing to the pain.
Sagging
Noticing visible dips in your mattress, or finding yourself sinking into one particular spot? “Visible dips or unevenness indicate a loss of support and potential for misalignment,” Dr. Saifullah explains. If your mattress is sagging, it’s time to invest in a new one.
Tossing and Turning
Waking up often throughout the night or tossing and turning can indicate a problem with your mattress. Basically, this means your mattress just isn’t comfortable for you and could stand to be upgraded. Your mattress might be at the end of its lifespan or too firm or too soft for comfort.
Always Feeling Tired
Never feeling well-rested could be because of your mattress. Back pain might be keeping you up all night, or you could be having restless sleep due to pain without you even knowing. If you constantly wake up feeling tired, be sure to check your mattress quality and talk to your doctor about addressing the source of your back pain.
How Your Sleeping Position Affects Back Pain
It may come as a surprise, but your preferred sleeping position can play a big role in contributing to back pain. Dr. Saifullah says side- or back-sleeping are widely considered to be the best sleeping positions for back pain, since they keep the spine in natural alignment. “You can also place a pillow between your knees for added support,” he suggests. You can also invest in a high-quality mattress for side sleepers for targeted pressure relief.
