Sleep Experts Say These Are The Best Mattresses For Back Pain

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If you suffer from chronic back pain, you know that it can affect every aspect of your life. That includes activities that require more movement, like exercising or playing with your kids, nephews, or nieces, to ordinary activities like taking out the trash or even showering. So it’s no surprise you want to do everything possible to keep your back as strong, healthy, and pain-free as possible. One of the best ways to do that is to make sure you’re sleeping on the best mattress for back pain—for your back pain—that you can realistically afford.

Best mattresses for back pain

“We spend almost a third of our lives in bed, so it is important to sleep on something that is comfortable and meets your needs for good sleep,” says Santhosh A. Thomas, DO, medical director of the Center for Spine Health at the Avon-Richard E. Jacobs Medical Center. According to a 2022 study published in the Journal of Biology (Basel), medical experts found that sleeping on a mattress with the right firmness and thickness can be a total game changer for your spinal health.

The problem, however, is that mattresses and mattress shopping are confusing—it doesn't matter if you're shopping for the best mattresses on Amazon or looking for something in-store. Shopping for the most comfortable mattress can sometimes feel as complicated as shopping for a new car. There’s a long list of sleep science techno-jargon and buzzwords to make sense of, and honestly, who has the time to figure it all out?

Don’t worry, though. Just grab your magnesium supplement (if you're following all the latest health trends!) and your go-to sleep eye mask because we got you. Our professional sleep enthusiasts researched and compared dozens of top-rated mattresses to find the best of the best mattresses for back pain. We paid careful attention to firmness, build quality, design, comfort, price, and even warranties and delivery costs to round up the best deals and options worth spending your money on. Then, we consulted with a handful of chiropractors and sleep experts to get their takes. These are the best mattresses for back pain in 2024, tested and reviewed by sleep health pros, back experts, and Women's Health editors.

What to consider when shopping for the best mattress for back pain

There's a lot to keep in mind, but here's a cheat sheet of everything to look for when it's your turn to shop:

Material and mattress type

There is no one best mattress material or type that’s best for back pain. Ultimately, it comes down to what works for you—your body type, weight, size, and the nature of your back pain. But these are the three main mattress types:

• Memory foam mattress: If you’re shopping for the best memory foam mattress for back pain, Carleara Weiss, PhD, a sleep science advisor and a member of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, says to look for one that is medium-firm or firm. “A mattress exclusively made out of memory foam tends to deform and increase pressure in sensitive areas.”

• Innerspring mattress: These are the “old-school” mattresses filled with rows of coiled springs. “Their sturdy metal coils can be a good source of support, and when they're paired with a layer of foam, they can totally be comfortable,” says Weiss.
  

• Hybrid mattress: These combination construction mattresses offer the best features of both memory foam and innerspring mattresses. Weiss agrees: “Hybrid mattresses are growing in popularity as they promote excellent support with an innerspring core and comfort with top layers of foam, cotton, or other materials.”

Temperature regulation

Whether you’re buying a mattress specifically to help with back pain or not, we recommend shopping for a model with built-in temperature regulation. Memory foam tends to run “hot,” but many modern memory foam mattresses—especially premium options from TempurPedic and Casper—offer clever technology to help regulate your body temperature.

The best mattresses (like the Casper Snow) help draw and expel heat away from your body when it feels warmer and trap heat against your body in cooler months. So, no matter what, you stay cool, calm, and comfortable all night long.

Motion transfer / Isolation

Motion transfer can be an issue, particularly for couples, when one or both partners toss and turn at night. Cheaper mattresses often don’t isolate motion, meaning you might feel every flip, flop, turn, and vibration from your partner on your side of the mattress. That’s why it pays to invest in a mattress with good motion isolation. The best way to know for sure how well your future mattress handles this is to shop in person whenever possible or to choose a mattress with a great trial period.

Sleep trial / Warranty

Ideally, you’ll want to shop in person. Orthopedic spine surgeon Payam Farjoodi, MD, advises that you try out a mattress before you decide to keep it. That may mean testing it out in a store or simply getting one with a good warranty (Hint: all the mattresses we recommend here have great warranties of at least 10 years!).

How we selected the best mattresses for back pain in 2024

Over the last few years, our team carefully researched and personally reviewed dozens of mattresses designed to alleviate back pain. We vetted budget mattresses from budget-friendly, bed-in-a-box brands, premium models from the most recognized makers, like Tempur-Pedic and Saatva, and everything in between. We also consulted with chiropractors and sleep experts to get their professional advice on what to look for when shopping for back pain-relieving sleep surfaces. Ultimately, we agreed on these 11 models as our picks for the best mattresses for back pain in 2024.

Classic Mattress

We admit it. We’re a little Saatva-obsessed. Its premium mattresses combine multiple layers of foam and memory foam to make one of the most comfy and supportive mattresses we’ve ever tested. So, it’s no surprise that we’ve included them in many of our top bedding roundups, including the most comfortable mattresses of 2024. The Classic is the company’s best-selling mattress, which makes sense given its just-right firmness that works for both side and back sleepers. The latter will find this mattress provides excellent lumbar support and cradles the body’s pressure points like a champ.

This mattress is ideal for back pain sufferers looking for serious lumbar support (that’s most of them, of course). Saatva built the Classic with Lumbar Zone Support Technology, which provides extra support at the center of the mattress, where your lower back is most likely to rest. This also helps to better align your spine for maximum back pain relief.

Many of the best budget mattresses for back pain are available in only one firmness level. We love the ability to dial in our preferred comfort with one of the Classic’s three firmness levels, including Plush Soft, Luxury Firm, and Firm. The Plush Soft is best for side sleepers and anyone who likes a contouring mattress with a slight “sunken-in” feel. Luxury Firm is the company’s best-selling firmness and our favorite, too. It offers solid support (great for many back pain sufferers) comparable to what you’d expect at an upscale hotel. Firm is best for back sleepers, some side sleepers, and heavier sleepers who prefer to sleep on rather than in the mattress.

Women's Health tester Isis Briones especially loves Saatva’s Luxury Firm option. “It mimics a high-end hotel mattress that has a balance between strong support and cushiony comfort," she says. In fact, 82 percent of Saatva customers prefer it, according to the site, especially couples who can't agree on how soft or firm they want their mattress. "Trust us, this middle option speaks to any and all kinds of sleepers,” Briones says. That, of course, includes back pain sufferers.

RejuvenatePlus Mattress

Purple’s uber-premium RejuvenatePlus is the softest, most luxurious in our roundup of the best mattresses for back pain. The core combines multiple foam layers for a soft yet supportive cloud-like feel that gently envelops you while you sleep. It’s all topped with a soft, breathable cover that keeps you cool and comfortable in any season.

It's ideal for back pain sufferers who don’t like a traditional firm mattress but prefer something that’s plush enough to deliver a cozy, “sunken-in” feeling with extra support compared to a traditional plush sleep surface. For those willing to splurge or who will only sleep on “the very best,” this mattress delivers.

The GelFlex grid has more than 20 patents and has been used in the hospital beds of critical care patients for as many years. It’s designed to naturally flex and move to adapt to your body’s shape, size, weight, and sleep position, making it one of the most versatile and supportive mattresses in this year’s round-up.

"As editors, our jobs involve sitting at a laptop all day, and since we're working from home most of the time, I'm usually craning my neck to look down at my laptop from my kitchen table," said one WH editor. "I get really bad tech neck, but just two weeks of sleeping on my new mattress has made a world of a difference in my neck, shoulder, and upper back pain."

Evolution 15" Mattress

“Sleeping on a cloud” sounds heavenly, but softer mattresses often lack the back-relieving support of their firmer siblings. Nolah’s Evolution 15” is soft and mostly cloud-like but built to be plenty firm to support back pain sufferers who aren’t into that “sunken-in” feeling typical of many memory foam mattresses. It’s made with multiple layers designed to provide targeted back support and responsive pressure relief. While it retails for more than $2,000, it’s often on sale for much less.

For back pain sufferers seeking serious pressure relief and spinal alignment, this mattress lives up to the hype. Nolah’s clever cooling AirFoamICE and layer of zoned, individually wrapped coils offer plenty of support and reinforced edges.

Tiny air pockets built into this mattress help to comfortably redistribute body weight without putting too much pressure on sensitive points. Coils within the layers isolate motion to keep the mattress ultra-responsive, too. Our test editor, Jasmine Gomez, says she loves the way it contours to her body without causing her to sink in while she's sleeping on her stomach or side (a common problem with “ordinary” memory foam mattresses). Bonus: Lifetime warranty!

"I received the Nolah as a gift, and it came at the perfect time. The mattress I previously had was so soft I woke up with bad back pain nearly every day," says WH commerce editor Jasmine Gomez. "The [Evolution 15”] Luxury Firm Mattress has been perfect—it's plush but firm enough to withstand my body weight and keep my body in proper alignment. That has also translated to less tossing and turning for me. I honestly wake up feeling so much better than I did with my previous mattress, and for that, I'm grateful."

Read more: Best Mattresses on Amazon

Marley 10" Cooling Gel Memory Foam Mattress

Mattresses can be a serious investment, with some of the very best mattresses priced at more than $6,000 (and that’s before you start adding fancy bed frames and options). But they don’t have to be. If budget is your main concern, but you still want a mattress that’s supportive of your back issues, this wallet-friendly model from Sleep Innovations delivers. (While the 10-inch mattress is a great buy, you can save even more by opting for the 8-inch model, or you can upgrade to Sleep Innovations’ 12-inch flagship.)

For back pain sufferers who also sleep hot, this mattress offers most of the support you’d expect in a much pricier mattress with cool, comfy, temperature-regulating tech to boot. If you’re also looking for one of the best value options in back-supportive mattresses, you’ve found it here.

Gel memory foam is a unique material that’s designed with all the best features of memory foam, plus built-in cooling tech. The self-proclaimed “hot sleepers” on our test panel appreciated the easy, breezy cooling effect of this mattress. It’s thanks to a three-layer design—with a gel memory foam top layer supported by a breezy middle layer and a super supportive foam base. Plus, the bed-in-a-box style makes delivery, unboxing, and setup of this one so easy, even for just one person.

“I didn’t have high expectations for this mattress just based on its insanely low price (it retails for roughly $400!),” said writer Mike Richard. “But I was surprised to find that it competes with some of the best mattresses that I’ve personally tested that cost nearly twice as much. Plus, I’m a huge bed-in-a-box fan, so I love the easy delivery/setup of this one.”

Snow Cooling Hybrid Mattress

Did you know that sleeping on a colder mattress can actually improve your sleep (seriously, it’s science)? But if you’re a hot sleeper, you know the struggle is real. That’s why you need a mattress like the Casper Snow with built-in technology to keep you as cool as possible all night long.

For seriously hot sleepers who also suffer from back pain (our hearts go out to you, by the way), you want a supportive mattress that works hard to keep you cool, even in the hottest weather—that's a mattress like the Casper Snow. It’s a tall order, but if you’re willing to spend a little extra, we think the sub-$2,000 (on sale) price tag is worth it.

Each of the six layers in this hybrid mattress helps support your body, keep you cool, or both. The fourth layer features zoned-support memory foam to deliver maximum pressure relief and help align your spine. Pocketed flex coils in the fifth layer add a boost of support and also reduce motion transfer. We also especially love this mattress when paired with Casper’s Snow Pillow for maximum coolage.

“This mattress is the GOAT for a comfortable night of sleep, especially in hot or humid climates," says WH fitness editor Jennifer Nied. "It's so supportive yet plush, and it's incredible for back support. I don't have back pain, but my husband (who refuses to do stretches/warm-up for workouts) does and we both sleep so soundly on it. As a hot sleeper, this was an exciting new launch I jumped on and am so glad I did."

TEMPUR-Breeze LuxeBreeze Mattress

Tempur-Pedic's ultra-premium mattresses are about as good as it gets when it comes to sleep surfaces. The brand's proprietary memory foam is arguably the best money can buy, and every mattress, including the LuxeBreeze, offers best-in-class cooling tech to keep you comfortable in any weather.

At more than $5,500, there's no getting around the fact that the LuxeBreeze ain't cheap. But you get what you pay for with this luxe mattress. For back pain sufferers who want only the very best sleep solution that provides maximum relief, we think it's well worth the investment.

Like many Tempur-Pedic mattresses, the LuxeBreeze has a unique feel that's unlike almost any other sleep surface we've tested. WH Commerce Editor Jasmine Gomez likens it to "falling asleep on top of kinetic sand." It's soft yet supportive and malleable, so it contours to the exact shape and weight of your body. The memory foam works with you during the night, too, to adapt to ever-changing sleep positions.

"As someone with mild sleep apnea and who occasionally deals with night sweats, the TP LuxeBreeze feels like it was personally made for me," raves Gomez. "Not only is the mattress made with special cooling technology, but it can also be paired with a base that allows you to adjust the head and foot positions. It can also sense snoring to automatically adjust your head position, a game changer for people who need help clearing their airways in the middle of the night like me."

Read more: Most Comfortable Mattresses

Midnight Elite Mattress

Combo sleepers (those who switch between their side, stomach, and back) who struggle with back pain arguably have it the worst. It can be a real challenge to find a mattress with a firmness level that supports more than one or even all three sleeping positions. That’s why we love Helix’s Midnight Elite. It’s not too soft and not too firm, but rather juuust right with a medium-firm cushioning that’ll satisfy almost any brand of sleeper.

Back pain sufferers who tend to toss and turn in the night need a mattress that perfectly balances support with pressure point relief. The Midnight Elite is a premium (and pricey) mattress that does it all, but this one’s for buyers who don’t mind spending a little more. The queen-sized version retails for more than $3,700, although it’s frequently on sale for closer to $3,000.

With five distinct layers of high-density memory foam, it strikes the perfect balance of firmness. Together, the layers are soft yet supportive, alleviating pressure points on the shoulders and hips. It’s particularly great for side, stomach, and side/stomach combo sleepers looking for one mattress to do it all. Plus, two extra layers of individually wrapped microcoils add even more cushioning and reduce pressure on the back.

Lindsay Geller, Women’s Health lifestyle director, spent more than a month sleeping on the Midnight Elite and saw a huge improvement in her chronic lower back pain. “I've noticed my lower back pain disappear practically overnight. As a stomach/side sleeper who tends to change positions throughout the night, I always feel supported by this mattress, no matter what position I ultimately end up sleeping in.” Plus, Helix made it easy to find the most comfortable mattress for her online. “I love that I was able to take a quiz that determined the perfect mattress to suit my specific sleep needs because that's worked better for me than testing out a mattress at a traditional store."

Original Mattress

Side sleepers—and especially side sleepers with back pain—know that finding the right mattress can be especially hard. According to Weiss, that’s because side sleepers “want to buy a medium-firm mattress, as it supports your shoulders and hips.” It needs to be more plush than a traditional firm mattress to contour to your body’s unique shape, but not so soft that you sink into it or it doesn’t support you at all.

The Leesa is a great option for back pain sufferers who want a little more “give” than what a traditional firm mattress can provide—its medium firmness option is ideal. Leesa claims it’s great for contouring to your body while relieving hip, shoulder, and back pressure without that typical “sinking in” feeling of lesser memory foam mattresses—and we found that it delivers.

The medium firmness of this back-supporting mattress is versatile enough to work for almost any type of sleeper. It’s a “just right” feel that’s perfect for couples who might have different mattress firmness preferences. We especially love the memory foam recovery layer that adds even more pressure relief to the mix. It rounds out an already great mattress for back pain sufferers.

Women’s Health editorial assistant Addison Aloian spent several months recovering from a back injury and loved the Leesa Original. “As someone who's struggled with back pain, it's given me just the right amount of support as a side sleeper because it's firm, but also soft," she says. "Some days, I never want to leave it. Plus, it's held up well for years. I def recommend it."

10" Hybrid

Let's face it: Mattresses are expensive, and though some come with a lifetime warranty, you're probably not going to keep the same one for your entire life. So it's okay to make the purchase a budget-friendly one as long as you love what you'll be sleeping on. Tuft & Needle's Nod mattress strikes the perfect balance between comfort and affordability.

For back pain sufferers who want (or need) the support of a traditional innerspring mattress with the soft, “huggy” feeling of memory foam, Tuft & Needle’s Nod offers the best of both worlds.

The Nod is a perfect balance of price, value, and features. It’s a mid-range mattress that’s more affordable than many of Tuft & Needle’s more premium offerings but still punches above its weight class. It offers nearly all of the same comfort, quality, and features at a significantly lower price. With a hybrid design, the Nod combines adaptive foam with six-inch coils for a medium-firm firmness level that’s just right for almost any brand of sleeper, even back pain sufferers.

WH writer Mike Richard is a Tuft & Needle fan who’s owned this mattress for years. “I’ve had chronic back pain since I was young, so I like a medium-firm or even firm mattress. But, my girlfriend is a die-hard plush mattress lover," he says. "Somehow, the Nod Mattress is the perfect balance that works for both of us. Anytime we travel or stay overnight on a different non-T&N mattress away from home, one of the first things we say to each other is how much we miss our mattress at home!"

Read more: Best Mattress Toppers for Back Pain

The WinkBed

Weiss confirms that hybrid mattresses are the way to go for most sleepers, but especially for back pain sufferers. WinkBeds' appropriately named WinkBed features a "best of both worlds" construction that delivers great back support, cushioning, and pressure relief in all the right places.

"One of the top layers of this hybrid mattress is a Euro-pillow top with gel-infused foam that ensures your body gets superior cushioning in sensitive areas like your hips and shoulders," says Matthew J. Cavanaugh, DC, a chiropractor and owner of Cavanaugh Chiropractic. "This mattress also boasts a proprietary LumbarLayer which adds extra support where you need it most."

Our sleep testers found that, of the four available firmness levels, the Luxury Firm was just right. It's both supportive and cushioning, thanks largely to the Euro-pillow top mentioned above without that weird, "huggy" sinking-into-the-mattress feel we hate. We also found it to be a good fit for couples as it offers good edge support, and the innerspring coils are responsive.

Given its high-end construction and excellent support, it's also surprisingly well-priced compared to the competition. Plus, in addition to all of the above features, we love that WinkBeds provides a solid 120-night sleep trial and a full lifetime warranty—both better than most other brands we've tested.

Adjustable Bundle

The best memory foam is a miracle material for mattresses, as it can do wonders for alleviating back pain (and any pain, really). This all-in-one bundle pairs Nectar's popular Classic memory foam mattress with an adjustable bed frame that's perfect for back pain sufferers.

It scores Cavanauah's professional stamp of approval, too. "This is a true memory foam mattress that will contour to your spine’s unique curves and help alleviate pain," he says. "It's a great quality that can hold its own against its more expensive counterparts." He digs the adjustable base, which is great for anyone suffering from back and other chronic pain issues.

Our testers agree that the biggest thing this bundle has going for it is value. At this price point, we've found the brand's line-up of mattresses is a solid buy, and this bundle with the Nectar Classic mattress is no exception. It's not our top performer in this year's roundup, but our team found that it combines comfort and support well—both important things for back pain sufferers.

Meet the experts

• Santhosh A. Thomas, DO, is the medical director of the Center for Spine Health at the Avon-Richard E. Jacobs Medical Center.

• Payam Farjoodi, MD, is a spine surgeon in southern California.

• Carleara Weiss, PhD, is a sleep science advisor and a member of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine

• Matthew J. Cavanaugh, DC, is a chiropractor and owner of Cavanaugh Chiropractic.

What should you do if you can't shop in person?

We all love shopping online. But, there are some things—clothes and cars come to mind—that are best bought in person. So, too, with buying a mattress. Many of the best-selling mattresses for back pain are available for in-person sleep tests at retailers around the country. Even some online-centric brands have sleep centers in major cities around the country, and it can be worth the drive to test any mattress candidates out before you buy. Pro tip: Try to check out the mattress in person, and then shop online to take advantage of the best discounts and deals, or to get a better look at your options.

Sometimes, in-person shopping just isn’t possible. We get it. If you’re shopping for mattresses completely online, we recommend making sure you only consider companies with generous in-home sleep trials and rock-solid warranties with a minimum 10-year term (the best mattress brands offer lifetime warranties). Most mattress brands these days offer free delivery, but some require you to pay return shipping and may even add additional return fees. These vary between $50 to more than a couple hundred dollars. Even on a sub-$1,000 budget mattress, those extra charges can really add up.

Is a harder or soft mattress better for back pain?

The short answer is: It depends. There really is no one best mattress or mattress firmness for back pain. Ideally, you’ll want to look for mattresses that feel “medium-firm” to you, with the key being to you. In our experience, most brands are pretty accurate when listing their own mattress firmnesses. But one company’s “medium-firm” may feel “medium” to you, and vice-versa.

Shop more of our favorite mattresses and mattress accessories

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