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Back pain and sleep have a difficult relationship. If your pain is severe, you might be unable to get a restful night’s sleep, but lack of sleep can worsen pain. This cycle can be extremely frustrating, and it can take a serious toll on mental health.
The relationship between sleep and pain makes it crucial to find the best mattress for back pain. The right mattress depends greatly on your individual needs, but the right amount of comfort and support—whatever that may be for you—is imperative. To help improve your journey to quality sleep, we’ve selected the 10 best mattresses for back pain based on results from our own testing methods.
Best mattress for back pain overall
The Saatva Classic is our best mattress for back pain because its innerspring construction provides the support necessary to keep your spine aligned during sleep, while the soft cushioned topper offers enough give for the mattress to conform to your body.
Our pick of the best mattresses for back pain
- Saatva Classic: Best overall mattress for back pain
- Helix Plus: Best mattress for stomach sleepers
- Nectar Original: Best value mattress for back pain
- Puffy Lux Hybrid: Best mattress for back and hip pain
- Emma Original: Best mattress for neck and back pain
- DreamCloud Original: Best hybrid mattress for back pain
- WinkBed Original: Best mattress for lower back pain
- Nolah Original: Best mattress for side sleepers
- Bear Original: Best mattress for back sleepers
- Brooklyn Bedding Signature Hybrid: Best mattress for combination sleepers
Our testing experience
The Handbook Team hand-tests every mattress we review. We evaluate brands and models by recording our findings on a 42-question standardized testing form to identify standout features and services, document issues with each product, and describe our personal experience lying on each mattress. For example, we record:
- Firmness score and whether the mattress is best for back, side, or stomach sleepers.
- Starting temperature of the mattress and how much it heats up after two testers lie on the mattress for five minutes.
- How many times a 10-pound ball bounces on the mattress after dropping from a height of two feet in order to arrive at a mattress bounce score.
We paid close attention to specific considerations that sleepers of all ages seek, as identified by respondents in our survey of 600 mattress owners. This included price, features, and the set-up process. We also interviewed real people to better understand the motivations behind shopping for a new mattress as well as the benefits of purchasing one.
According to our survey
According to our survey, about 80 percent of all respondents said their new mattress helps them sleep better, and 65 percent reported improved mental health.
As our testers evaluated each brand and its features, we considered why many people choose a new mattress in the first place. Of our respondents, 42 percent decided to purchase a new mattress for “improved comfort and support for better sleep,” while only seven percent did so for “pain relief and targeted support.” The most common pain respondents wanted relieved was lower back pain.
Despite only 42 percent of respondents prioritizing comfort and support for better sleep when shopping for a new mattress, 68 percent reported they sleep longer on their new mattress and 49 percent and 45 percent, respectively, said their stress and anxiety had improved after switching to their new mattress. Almost all mattress owners we surveyed (95 percent) were at least somewhat satisfied with their new mattress. We consulted sleep experts, physical therapists, occupational therapists, and pain specialists to understand what mattresses offer that make an overwhelmingly positive impact.
In order to focus on the mattresses themselves, we structured our test designs to objectively rank each one based on a range of criteria. For example, we tested things like bounce, edge support (the sturdiness of your mattress edge), and cooling capabilities the same way on each mattress and compared the results. That way we can accurately compare each mattress’ score in an unbiased way while also sharing our subjective point of view as mattress testers and experts.
Lastly, we compared warranty lengths, trial periods, and white glove delivery (in-home delivery and setup) options. While most brands offer warranties, not all are comprehensive. And many brands on the market don’t have free white glove delivery. This could be a deal-breaker if you’re nervous to invest in a new mattress because you’re worried the bed won’t get set up properly or offer what you need.
From our tester
“During our research, we realized that the brand’s firmness scale and perceived firmness aren’t always the same. We decided to report how firm we thought the mattress felt so that you can gain a different perspective, but more importantly, feel confident about what you’re purchasing.”
A note on our testing
We acknowledge that every body is different, and what feels comfortable to one person may not feel comfortable to another. Throughout our reviews, we refer to weight categories as light (below 130 pounds), average (130 to 250 pounds), and heavy (above 250 pounds) to distinguish between body weights.
Typically, lighter sleepers perceive mattresses to feel firmer than they are, and higher-weight sleepers perceive mattresses to feel softer than they are. Keep in mind that most mattresses are designed for the average-weight person.
Why HelpGuide cares about a good night’s sleep
Quality sleep is a key part of mental health, physical health, and overall well-being. Sleep helps us reset our bodies, process our emotions, and ease daily stress. Without it, we are at an increased risk of developing anxiety and depression, according to research.
But there are medical conditions that can make sleep difficult. Chronic pain, acid reflux, loud snoring or sleep apnea, and insomnia are issues that can keep you up at night, tossing and turning.
Finding solutions for better sleep can be frustrating, but we’re here to help. The HelpGuide Handbook Team wants to empower you to make the right decision by providing the most honest information about sleep-related products, like mattresses.
In order to recommend the best options to fit your needs, we sought to better understand how sleep impacts overall health. We consulted with mental health experts, researchers, and industry leaders in sleep and ergonomics to connect the dots about what really matters in a mattress.
Ultimately, all of our research is directed at taking the stress out of finding the highest-quality products that can support your sleep health—and in turn, your overall mental well-being.
HelpGuide Handbook mattresses for back pain
Here are the five most important things to know about mattresses for back pain:
Compare the best mattresses for back pain in 2024
Price | $1,295–$2,372 | $812–$1,812 | $700–$2,156 | $2,195–$4,798 | $412–911 | $1,169–$2,998 | $1,149–$2,049 | $1,499–$3,918 | $665–$1,599 |
Firmness | 7/10 | 8/10 | 6.5/10 | 5.5/10 | 7/10 | 6.5/10 | 6.5/10 | 5/10 | 6/10 |
Material | Innerspring-hybrid | Hybrid | Memory Foam | Hybrid | Foam | Hybrid | Hybrid | Memory foam | Hybrid |
Warranty | Lifetime | 10 years | Lifetime | Lifetime | 10 years | Lifetime | Lifetime | 10 years | 10 years |
Trial period | 365 nights | 100 nights | 365 nights | 101 nights | 365 nights | 365 nights | 120 nights | 120 nights | 120 nights |
Best for | Sleepers with back pain who like responsive beds | Sleepers with back pain who are searching for a hybrid bed | Sleepers with back pain who want a value mattress | Sleepers with back pain and hip pain | Sleepers with back pain and neck pain | Sleepers with lower back pain | Sleepers with Back pain who are stomach sleepers | Sleepers with back pain who are side sleepers | Sleepers with back pain who switch sleeping positions |
The best mattresses for back pain reviews
Best mattress for back pain overall: Saatva Classic
Best mattress for stomach sleepers: Helix Plus
Best value mattress for back pain: Nectar Original
Best mattress for back and hip pain: Puffy Lux Hybrid
Best mattress for neck and back pain: Emma Original
Best hybrid mattress for back pain: The DreamCloud
Best mattress for lower back pain: WinkBed
Best mattress for side sleepers with back pain: Nolah Original
Best mattress for back sleepers with back pain: Bear Original
Best mattress for combination sleepers with back pain: Brooklyn Bedding Signature Hybrid
Frequently asked questions about mattresses for back pain
The best type of mattress for back pain is one that provides a balance of comfort and support. For average-weight sleepers, this is a true medium-firm mattress (a 6.5 out of 10 on the firmness scale). The bed should give you enough cushioning to fill in the lumbar region while back sleeping or cushion the joints while side sleeping. Still, it should be supportive enough to elevate the body into a neutral alignment.
Side sleepers with back pain should opt for a memory foam or a hybrid mattress. These beds provide good pressure relief to ease buildup at the hip and shoulder. There are sturdy coils in hybrid beds, but keep an eye out for high-density foams in all-foam mattresses for support—side sleepers still need their bodies lifted throughout the night.
Memory foam mattresses can be good for back pain, as long as they have supportive foundation foam to prevent the body from sinking too far into the mattress material. Look for high-density foam and high-quality materials to prevent sagging.
Yes, mattresses can cause back pain. If you have a mattress that doesn’t support you, or if your bed isn’t soft enough to cushion sensitive areas, it can lead to back pain or worsen it.
- Finan, P. H., Goodin, B. R., & Smith, M. T. (2013). The Association of Sleep and Pain: An update and a Path forward. The Journal of Pain, 14(12), 1539–1552. Link
- Haack, M., Simpson, N., Sethna, N. F., Kaur, S., & Mullington, J. (2019). Sleep deficiency and chronic pain: potential underlying mechanisms and clinical implications. Neuropsychopharmacology, 45(1), 205–216. Link
- Scott, A. J., Webb, T. L., Martyn-St James, M., Rowse, G., & Weich, S. (2021). Improving sleep quality leads to better mental health: A meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials. Sleep Medicine Reviews, 60, 101556. Link