Best Mattress for Back Pain: Reviews & Buyer’s Guide

Amerisleep’s AS2 is another great mattress for back pain, but it’s more comfortable for back and stomach sleepers than side sleepers. It contains Bio-Pur® memory foam and is equipped with the same HIVE® technology that makes the AS3 ideal for back pain relief.

The Amerisleep AS2 contains three layers: 2 inches of Bio-Pur®, 3 inches of Affinity with HIVE® technology, and 7 inches of durable foam base. Bio-Pur® foam relieves pressure and is sustainably produced, thanks to plant-based materials that go into its production.

The thinness of the Bio-Pur® layer makes this model more comfortable for stomach and back sleepers because it allows for some sinking and cushioning, but not too much that your torso feels “stuck” in the mattress.

HIVE® is a zoned support technology. It’s beneficial for side sleepers because it allows for extra cushion around major joints such as your hips and shoulders and extra support under your midsection, head, and feet. Base foam underneath reinforces the mattress’s overall support.

Like all Amerisleep mattresses, the AS2 comes with a soft, lightweight cover that is completely washable.

The Amerisleep AS2 also comes with a 100-night sleep trial and 20-year warranty.

If you like the idea of a bed that boosts recovery but also want some bounce in your mattress, the Zoma Hybrid might be the perfect choice. The bed has four layers that work in tandem to provide an uninterrupted night of sleep for more rejuvenation.

The first layer is 2 inches of gel memory foam to relieve pressure in your shoulders and legs while cushioning your back. Next is the 2-inch transition layer of Reactiv™ foam. The pushback from Reactiv™ foam maintains a neutral spine alignment and keeps you from ever feeling trapped in your mattress.

The mattress is supported by 7 inches of pocketed coils. The coils are encased in fabric to limit motion transfer; as a bonus, the design also muffles any squeaks or groans the coils may make. An inch of stiff base foam gives the coils a sturdy surface to push off from, preventing sagging.

There’s also the state-of-the-art and original Zoma Mattress to consider. Containing three layers, this memory foam bed is designed to foster neutral spinal alignment and prevent pain or pressure points from forming. The classic Zoma includes Triangulex™, which feels firmer under your midsection and softer under your hips and shoulders to promote proper posture.

The Zoma Hybrid comes with a 100-night sleep trial and a 10-year warranty.

The Vaya Mattress is another great option for back pain sufferers because it is medium in firmness and features responsive foams, so it offers plenty of cushion while still keeping your spine lifted in healthy alignment. Even better? The Vaya costs only $599 for a queen, so it’s one of the most inexpensive high-quality mattresses you can find.

Vaya Sleep is a rather new online mattress brand, so you can’t find their products in stores. However, they offer a 100-night sleep trial, free shipping, and free returns with every purchase, so they take the risk out of buying online. They even offer a 10-year warranty with their budget bed!

The Vaya Mattress is 12 inches thick so it works nicely in most bed frames, and it has two layers: a 3-inch comfort layer and a 9-inch base.

The first layer of the Vaya Mattress is 3 inches of Vaya Comfort Foam to contour to your body. This layer acts like memory foam to ease pressure points and maintain neutral alignment; however, it differs from memory foam in its responsiveness. Instead of cradling you, Vaya Foam keeps you suspended “on top of” the mattress, so you never sink or feel “stuck” in the bed. Plus, this foam is super breathable so you’ll never have to worry about night sweats.

The core of the Vaya is durable enough to resist sagging for at least a decade. The warranty with the mattress covers indentations greater than .75 inches thick, though.

Amerisleep uses eco-friendly memory foam and upcycled steel coils in their numbered mattress line. However, these sustainable efforts pale next to the efforts that went into designing their latex mattress, the Amerisleep Organica. The Organica possesses certified organic cotton and wool, natural latex, and springy coils.

The Organica’s cushioning top consists of 1 inch of wool and 3 inches of conforming Talalay latex, all under a soft, temperature-neutral cotton cover. The wool hugs the body while the latex contours to a person’s curves for pressure and pain relief.

The supportive layer of pocketed coils buoy a sleeper’s body and provide edge support. The coils retract and adapt as a person shifts throughout the night, leaving no part of the body unsupported.

The Amerisleep Organica comes with a 100-night sleep trial and a 20-year warranty.

Hybrid mattresses are an excellent way to relieve back pain, thanks to their supportive coils and thick tops of pressure-relieving foam. One of our top recommendations when it comes to hybrids is the GhostBed Flex, designed to provide a luxurious feel.

The GhostBed Flex has six layers underneath a quilted mattress cover that delivers a cool, plush surface. The first layer, an inch of cooling fibers, is sewn into the cover and provides an airy cushion. Next are two layers of gel memory foam, each an inch thick. The gel memory foam stays cool and comfy while hugging the body, promoting a weightless sensation and ideal spine alignment.

A unique material, Ghost Bounce, forms the bed’s responsive transition layer. GhostBed designed this foam to balance the buoyancy of latex with memory foam’s conforming abilities. Springy coils and high-density foam promote a durable structure. GhostBed’s exclusive Spirited Edge™ support makes it easy to slide out of bed in the morning, yet also keeps you from rolling over the side.

The other hybrid model offered by GhostBed is the GhostBed 3D Matrix®, which contains various sleep technologies. GhostBed also offers Luxe, their cooling memory foam mattress, and the original Classic.

The GhostBed Flex is backed by a 101-night sleep trial and a 25-year warranty.

The Purple mattress brand is innovative because they designed and used a whole new material for making mattresses— hyper-elastic polymer. The founders of Purple, one of which being an actual rocket scientist, decided to dabble in mattress making and designed this material into a grid shape to use as the top layer of their beds, the goal was to create the first-ever “No Pressure” mattress.

Purple’s Smart Comfort Grid™ is a bit of a paradox; when you lay on this mattress, the grid collapses under your weight to offer instant comfort and release pressure in your joints, however, it still maintains a level of support, as it holds your body in line and promotes a neutral spine.

The mattress with the thickest layer of the Purple Grid™ is the Purple Hybrid Premier. While the Hybrid Premier can come with a 3-inch comfort layer, we recommend the 4-inch model to maximize pressure relief.

Underneath the comfort layer is a layer of transition foam to minimize sinkage and bouncy pocketed coils. The StretchMax cover promotes a soft surface, with an airy weave along the sides to increase air circulation through coils.

Purple’s first and flagship mattress, the Original Purple, is also excellent for those who suffer from back pain because of its ability to closely conform to your body’s curves and relieve tension in your joints and pressure points. The dynamic support of the Smart Comfort Grid™ promotes your body’s natural shape and ensures you’re not sinking too far into the mattress and overextending your spine, a contributor to back pain.

Parents can also choose the Kid Mattress, a specialty bed that comes exclusively in a twin size. The Kid Mattress offers a soft feel that cradles a young, growing body in any position.

Some customer reviews have noted that sleeping on a Purple mattress has made it easier to cope with work injuries, disabilities, insomnia. Others are more lukewarm on the mattress, noting that while it does sleep cool it can feel too firm or be difficult to change position.

The Purple Hybrid Premier mattress includes a 100-night sleep trial and a 10-year warranty. If you’re unsatisfied with your mattress during the trial, Purple will work with you to issue a refund.

The WinkBed is a hybrid mattress with several cooling features, ensuring undisturbed sleep to help keep pain from developing. The buoyant pocketed coils promote adequate spine support, minimizing the chances of misalignment.

The key design feature is the Triple Layer Heat Disperse™ technology. As the name suggests, the mattress’s three layers work together to establish a cool surface.

A Tencel™ cover, made from eucalyptus material, creates a breathable and natural surface. The Tencel™ fibers efficiently absorb moisture for a consistently dry feeling.

The Euro-pillow top is quilted and contains gel-infused Hypersoft Foam, a material distinct from memory foam. Unlike traditional memory foam, Hypersoft Foam does not allow body heat to build up around the body.

Pocketed coils support the WinkBed, maximizing airflow and responsiveness while minimizing motion isolation. The Extra-Edge™ support system can make it easier to move out of bed in the morning.

The WinkBed includes several innovative technologies to increase its comfort. For example, there’s the SleepCalm™ technology for motion isolation, established by the mattress’s gel foam and pocket springs. The Extra-Edge™ support along the sides resists sagging. High-density foams and heat-wicking technology promote durable, cool comfort.

These features can be especially helpful for women who are pregnant, as the body’s center of gravity shifts during pregnancy. Pregnant women also have an increased amount of blood which causes them to feel warmer, so they would benefit from a cooling mattress.

The WinkBed includes a lengthy sleep trial and warranty: 120 nights to try the mattress at home risk-free, and the protection of a lifetime warranty.

Saatva has a reputation for releasing high-end, extremely comfortable innerspring and hybrid mattresses. When it comes to relieving back pain, we would recommend the Saatva Classic for its lumbar support and pressure relief features. The Classic comes in three firmnesses, providing a soft, luxury firm, or firm feel. Saatva states the luxury firm is the most popular option, providing a balance between support and cushion.

The Euro top is 3 inches thick and includes a botanical antimicrobial treatment, promoting a fresh smelling and pristine surface. Underneath the pillow top is a layer of pocketed coils, increasing the bed’s contouring feel and isolating motion.

The mattress’s spine support technology consists of memory foam and active wire under the pocketed coils. The combination of these materials boost back support and pressure relief in the mattress’s midsection.

A layer of tempered steel coils supports the Saatva Classic. The bed’s edge support comes from a perimeter of stiff, high-density foam. The foam also helps the mattress withstand nightly use, preventing sagging that can cause back pain and other discomfort.

The Saatva Classic has a 180-night sleep trial and a 15-year warranty. Saatva also offers free white glove delivery and will set up your new mattress inside your home. They will arrange a set-up appointment with you after you place your order.

Waking up with upper back pain often has some roots in poor shoulder or neck support. The Helix Midnight LUXE is our top recommendation for easing upper back pain because of its targeted support, creating a cushioning area for the shoulders and relieving pressure points.

As the name implies, the Midnight LUXE is an upgraded model of Helix’s original Midnight model, their medium option for side sleepers. The Helix Midnight LUXE model has a few features that the lower-cost Midnight model lacks, one being the previously mentioned targeted support.

Another added feature is the Tencel™ cover and a pillow top. The breathable fabric encourages airflow and moisture-wicking, while the quilted pillow top increases comfort. Lying on the pillow top provides a cool, soft experience that melts any tension out of your body.

Underneath the pillow top is a layer of Memory Plus Foam to establish the bed’s medium feel. Next is a layer of gel visco foam designed to offer a supportive cushion, followed by polyfoam transition foam for added contouring ability to help the mattress take on the body’s weight.

The Midnight LUXE has pocketed coils arranged in zones to offer a softer feel under the shoulders and support under the hips. These different zones of support help ensure a healthy spine alignment. The base of DuraDense foam helps the coils stand straight and provide years of support.

The mattress has a 4.7-star rating on the company’s website, averaged from 1500 reviews. Shoppers can filter by rating to see why someone might have rated the mattress as they did. Happy customers made a note of how the Midnight LUXE had relieved pain issues.

A few sleepers unsatisfied with the mattress mentioned they had taken Helix’s sleep quiz, which is offered on the website for a streamlined shopping experience. They said the mattress the quiz suggested had not been the right one for them after all.

Helix offers six mattress models, with a firm and a soft option for each sleeping position. The quiz can make it easier to decide what is right for you, but if you have questions or doubts about your recommendation, Helix offers ways to get in touch with customer service, including a helpful chat window.

The Helix Midnight LUXE includes a 100-night sleep trial and a 15-year warranty. The standard Helix Midnight model comes with a shorter 10-year warranty, the final difference between the two models.

Bear mattresses are designed specifically to help athletes get better and more reparative sleep so they can perform their best each day. On Bear’s website, they state their beds are designed to relieve back and muscle pains, which is exactly what sleepers who experience back pain are looking for!

They use Celliant® in their cover to boost circulation and recovery time, so your body and mind should feel energized and ready to take on the day when you rise.

Bear sells two beds, a memory foam model and a hybrid alternative— we recommend choosing their hybrid model to relieve back pain. The medium feel of the Bear Hybrid suits most sleeping styles.

Underneath the Celliant® cover is plush cooling gel foam features a cloud-like softness that hugs the body and bolsters the temperature-neutral surface. The second comfort layer is a premium comfort foam designed to be comfortable for various body types and positions.

A third layer of transition foam provides responsiveness, helping the bed adapt to movements. The mattress core is pocketed coils with edge support on top of high-density support foam.

Budget shoppers may prefer the basic Bear Original mattress, a simple gel memory foam mattress. The company also offers a more luxurious memory foam mattress, known as the Bear Pro. What separates the Bear Pro from the original mattress is an added top layer of copper-infused foam.

Like the graphite gels inside the original mattress, the copper infusion works to promote a cool-to-the-touch mattress surface. However, copper also keeps microbes that can make you sick or cause a stink from settling inside your bed. The Bear Pro is also classed as a medium-firm mattress, though it feels a touch softer than the original Bear.

The reviews for the original Bear mattress often called it just the right amount of firm, with a touch of softness for comfort. The supportive feel has helped many a sleeper wake up without aches or pains.

The Bear Hybrid comes with a 100-night sleep trial and a 20-year warranty. Shoppers can supplement their Bear mattress with a protector, pillows, a sheet set, and even a weighted blanket.

What Causes Back Pain?

As back pain sufferers know, the pain can come from many places, such as an injury, occupational strains, daily stress, sleeping on an uncomfortable mattress, or a combination of the above.

According to the Mayo Clinic’s research, the conditions most commonly linked to back pain are muscle or ligament strain, bulging or ruptured discs, arthritis, skeletal irregularities, and osteoporosis. It’s clear there is no singular cause, but there are common factors. Understanding these factors and using them to manage your discomfort is one of the most effective ways to alleviate back pain.

Many forms of back pain have one thing in common: they get worse after a bad night’s sleep. Whether it’s the result of a one-time injury, a chronic problem, or just the aches and pains of everyday life, back pain will only worsen on an uncomfortable mattress. Tossing and turning may aggravate the underlying cause. Too much pressure on the wrong part of the body can make you feel worse than when you went to bed.

While sleeping, pressure is gradually released from your vertebrae— because you’re lying down, your upper body is no longer applying pressure to your spine. When a person wakes up, they can be up to one inch taller than when they went to bed. As the day progresses, pressure returns with gravity, and various factors (like poor posture) compress your spine throughout the day.

The effects of poor sleep can be even worse depending on your sleeping position. Stomach sleeping, for example, places extra pressure and strain on the neck and spine. “In fact, I strongly discouraged my patients with back pain from sleep on their stomachs,” says physical therapist Dr. Jennifer Miller. “I educate them that sleeping on their back or side is best.”

In many cases, managing a chronic back problem comes down to finding the best mattress for back pain. Getting a good night’s sleep reduces stress, takes pressure off injured or strained areas of the body, and helps alleviate pain.

How Back Pain Impacts Sleep

How much of an impact can back pain have on sleep? The facts might surprise you:

• Lower back discomfort is the single leading cause of disability worldwide. It’s one of the most common reasons for missed work. Up to 80% of us will experience it at some point in our lives, says the American Chiropractic Association.
• Pain is a key factor keeping many Americans from getting the quality sleep they need. Sleep disturbance is a top complaint among patients dealing with a chronic back or joint problem.
• It has been reported by the National Sleep Foundation that those suffering chronic pain in their back or joints get around 42 fewer minutes of sleep per night.
• People with pain feel like they have less control over their sleep, and are more likely to worry about whether they’re snoozing enough.

Ease Pain with Healthy Sleep

The good news is, you do have control over your sleep quality. If back discomfort is a chronic issue, investing in the right mattress can significantly improve the quality of your sleep—as well as your well-being while awake. Even if an injury or chronic condition causes back pain, getting a peaceful night’s sleep with good support and alignment can be the difference between manageable pain and debilitating pain. Choosing a mattress with the right features can lead to several significant improvements including reducing pain, facilitating better rest, and preventing new aches.

Sleeping on a lumpy or unsupportive surface can lead to discomfort. Sinking too deeply into a mattress can throw your joints out of alignment, causing them to twist and become uncomfortable as the night goes on. On the other hand, sleeping on a too-firm surface can interfere with the spinal cord’s ability to reach its proper alignment. Years ago, doctors recommended a firm mattress for people with back pain. However, recent surveys suggest people who sleep on very hard mattresses (sometimes called orthopedic mattresses) have the poorest sleep quality.

Finding a mattress with the right level of support, while also encouraging a comfortable and uninterrupted night’s sleep, can take significant stress off those pressure points and help your spine relax.

Best Mattress Types for Back Pain

Memory foam and latex mattresses tend to rate the highest amongst customers with back pain, with innerspring beds performing poorly in reviews. In this section, we discuss memory foam, latex, hybrid, and innerspring beds, and how well they perform to reduce and prevent pains.

The ideal bed will be based on each person’s sleep style and preferences. Some people have a preference for the feel of memory foam, while others prefer the feel of latex. Things like materials, layer thickness, and firmness will depend on your body weight, sleep style, and other factors.

Memory Foam

Memory foam is thought to be the best for back pain relief because it’s the most contouring and cushioning. These mattresses mold and adapt to your body’s shape, allowing the wider parts of your body, like your hips and shoulders, to sink in while the narrower areas of your body, such as your waist and feet, lay atop the mattress.

Sleeping with straight, natural alignment relieves the pressures commonly associated with many back pains. A mattress with poor conformity or support forces the body to rest at an unnatural angle and prevents tense muscles from fully relaxing.

Choose a memory foam mattress that is made with natural, plant-based material to avoid harmful chemicals and overheating.

Latex

Latex is also great for back pain relief because it’s cushioning and contouring. While it’s not as contouring as memory foam, it is adaptable and will mold to your body to some degree. Latex is more responsive than memory foam; instead of “cradling” you in the mattress, latex keeps you lifted and offers a more “on top of the bed” feeling in terms of firmness.

Because many sleepers report latex beds feeling firmer than they expected, we’re weary to recommend them as the best for back pain relief— as you do need some softness and adequate contouring to eliminate and prevent discomfort.

Hybrid

High-quality hybrid mattresses are also great for pain relief because they combine pressure-relieving foam layers with zoned pocketed coils to create a responsive but cushioning bed. If you prefer the bounciness of an innerspring mattress, but need the comfort of foam layers for pain relief, hybrids are perfect for you.

When shopping for a hybrid, check for zoned support technologies and the thickness of the foam layers— you want to ensure there are enough cushioning technologies at play to relieve pain.

Innerspring

Traditional innerspring mattresses are often flat and plank-like, providing uneven support. These beds don’t conform to your body, and aren’t all that cushioning, either. For back sleepers, flat surfaces force the spine to arch and leave the inner knee unsupported; this prevents the lower back from decompressing, which can cause several types of strains and pains.

When comparing these mattress types, medium-firm memory foam, or even latex, mattresses are better choices. These sleep surfaces perform well because they don’t force the spine to curve into unnatural positions while you sleep. Instead, they allow the parts of your body that need to sink to do so, while still giving support in the places that require it. Hips and shoulders are cushioned, while the lower back is fully supported and able to relax.

Concerns With Memory Foam

Memory foam is designed to fully conform to your body’s natural curves, to provide support exactly where you need it. But does that benefit come with a downside?

As memory foam beds have become more popular, there has been a growing concern with their tendency to trap heat. Meaning, even if the bed is soft and comfortable, you’ll still be uncomfortable at night because you’re sleeping on a hot mattress. Though it is true some memory foam mattresses are made from synthetic materials and extremely dense foams can trap heat, many mattress brands are taking extra steps to ensure their beds won’t trap heat. Mattress manufacturers have also found memory foam mattresses made from natural, plant-based materials tend to offer cooler and more comfortable sleep.

When it comes to getting a memory foam mattress, it’s important to consider where the product is coming from and how it is made. This can be harder than you’d think. For example, Nectar mattresses settled FTC charges that claims of their product being ‘assembled in the USA’ were false. When looking at a company, read its reviews and read its website to find out as much as you can about the product quality.

Choosing Your Ideal Mattress Firmness

Now that we’ve sorted through the different types of mattresses, it’s time to answer another essential question for sufferers of back pain— how firm should my mattress be?

Is it better to go with a soft and cloud-like sleep, or should you take the old advice that the firmest bed is best? The answer may be neither, or possibly a combination of both options.

It has long been believed that a firm bed is the best choice for people who suffer from a bad back. But in reality, firm mattresses remain a hotly contested debate between orthopedic doctors and chiropractors.

Recent surveys have shown hard mattresses might not be the best choice. The majority of chiropractors were probably right in recommending their patients sleep on medium-firm mattresses. See our guide to mattresses recommended by chiropractors.

Picking the best mattress firmness usually comes down to a person’s body type and their favorite sleep position, along with comfort preferences. For example, a heavyweight back sleeper likely needs a different mattress than a lightweight side sleeper.

Sleep Position and Suitable Mattress Firmness

Often, the firmness that will feel most comfortable to you is dependent on your favorite sleeping position. Your sleeping position affects how your body weight is distributed and where pressure builds up in your body, which determines what areas might need extra support and cushion to avoid waking up in pain.

Side Sleeping

Side sleepers outnumber sleepers of other styles by a wide margin. To sleep comfortably, a good mattress for side sleeping should feature a soft to medium feel. Many side sleepers enjoy mattresses with extra cushion in the shoulders and hips, to prevent pressure build-up and misalignment.

Most mattress types are suitable for side sleepers, though we recommend staying away from traditional innerspring mattresses. Innerspring mattresses often cannot conform well enough to the shoulders and hips to relieve pressure, causing aches and possibly back pain.

Back Sleeping

Back sleepers require a mattress that can support their torsos, leaving minimal space for their spines to bow too far into the bed. Medium-firm to firm mattresses for back sleeping are recommended, though medium mattresses are acceptable if they feature responsive back support.

Stomach Sleeping

Stomach sleepers usually wake up with back pain because their bellies sink into a too-soft mattress, shifting their spine out of a healthy alignment. Firm mattresses for stomach sleeping limit this sinkage, although many stomach sleepers find greater pain relief by switching to another position.

Combination Sleeping

Combination sleepers switch between these positions in the night, so they need a mattress that can suit all three and that offers a responsive surface. Many combination sleepers enjoy a medium feel mattress that features some bounce, either from adaptable coils or buoyant foams.

Body Type

A person’s body type determines how much pressure is placed on a mattress, which affects how the mattress feels to their body. If a plus-size person and a petite person lie down on the same mattress, it would feel very different to each person.

Often, plus-size people find a mattress on the firmer end of their recommended range more comfortable. For example, a medium mattress may feel more supportive to a larger side sleeper than a soft mattress.

Petite sleepers usually find softer mattresses in their recommended range more comfortable because they’re quick to conform to the body and relieve pressure points.

Expert Opinions

In two separate studies, Oklahoma State University researchers found medium-firm mattresses are the most effective at reducing clinically diagnosed back pain, shoulder pain, and spine stiffness. Subjects who slept on medium-firm mattresses experienced better sleep quality overall and fewer sleep disturbances throughout the night.

A review of trial studies concluded that medium-firm mattresses are the best options for back pain. They are a good choice for many, especially for back sleepers. However, many side sleepers will find the feel too firm, so we can’t make a blanket statement that medium-firm mattresses are suited for everyone.

People with pre-existing conditions sometimes require a moderately firm sleeping surface to heal properly from strains and other injuries. Side sleepers might prefer options in the medium range to better cushion their hips and shoulder.

Are you not convinced a medium-firm mattress is a better choice than one that’s rock-hard? Here’s an easy way to see how it might feel to sleep on a very firm mattress— place a plywood board under your mattress, or put your mattress on the floor for the night. Doing this will make your bed less cushy, giving you a good approximation of how a very firm mattress might feel.

Still want to do some more research? Check out other mattress reviews to learn about other types of mattresses, the materials they’re made from, and their firmness.

In the end, it comes down to what works best for your body and the way you sleep. If back pain is a recurring issue, medium-firm mattresses are often a good way to alleviate some of that pain. You may need to try a few different options to find the best bed for your back pain, though; that’s why it’s a good idea to buy from a mattress brand that lets you try the mattress risk-free at home.

How Temperature Can Impact Pain

Cooler sleeping experiences often facilitate deeper sleep than hotter ones. A good night’s sleep requires a 1°C loss of core body temperature. Deep sleep is synonymous with more restful sleep, so seeking ways to cool your sleeping experience makes sense. Think of it this way: even if the support is perfect and your spine’s pressure points are alleviated, what happens if you’re hot all night? You’ll likely toss and turn because you’re warm and sweaty, only making your pain worse.

Comfort is a complicated thing. Finding the best mattress for back pain means considering all the factors, from comfort and support to keeping cool. Gel infusions and added air channels are a couple of features that can increase a mattress’s cooling abilities.

Consider an Adjustable Bed

Adjustable beds are no longer confined to the insides of hospital rooms. Today, they’re found in homes across the world helping people improve their night’s rest— and for sufferers of back pain, these sleep-promoting bed frames can be the key to sound, pain-free sleep.

The main feature in all adjustable beds is head and foot articulation; this allows you to adjust the angle of your head and feet to find the most comfortable position for sleep. These beds also allow you to sleep in the Zero-Gravity position. In this position, you’re lying flat, but your feet are angled ever so slightly above your head, creating a weightless feel. The Zero-Gravity position is recommended for those with back pain because it virtually eliminates pressure.

Those with back pain may find relief from sleeping on an adjustable bed with their legs raised, too. Doing this takes pressure off the spine and alleviates discomfort in your lower back.

Many adjustable beds come with fun features such as body massagers, which are excellent for those with pain and discomfort. You can use these massagers to help you fall asleep at night, and you can also set them to turn on at a certain time in the morning to help you wake up. The bells and whistles are going to change from base to base, so double-check to ensure the one you’re buying comes with the features you need.

Adjustable beds can be costly, and some sleepers with back pain may not be able to afford one. For similar results on a budget, we recommend wedge pillows. Wedge pillows can prop the knees up, relieving pressure on the lower back and preventing morning cases of back pain.

Fighting Back Pain on a Budget

Of course, buying a new mattress is a big investment. Even if you’re not in the market to spend a lot of money, there are still budget-friendly ways to improve your night’s sleep.

Consider a Mattress-in-a-Box

Everybody knows a mattress from a traditional retailer can cost hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars. However, you can save yourself quite a bit of money by shopping with an online or mattress in a box brand. By selling their beds direct-to-consumer, these brands are able to price their high-quality beds more affordably. Meaning, a bed you may pay over $1,500 for in a store can cost you less than $1,000 online.

If you need a new bed but have a tight budget, we recommend starting your search online. There are over 175 different online mattress brands, and many brands sell their beds through Amazon. Just be wary of cheap beds or beds sold through unauthorized sellers.

When shopping on a marketplace such as Amazon, always check to make sure you’re buying through a brand’s verified storefront, and not from a third-party seller. You can usually easily detect third-party sellers because they price their beds much cheaper than others. If it seems too good to be true, it likely is.

Before clicking purchase on any new mattress, make sure it comes with a sleep trial and warranty, too. These protect you from getting stuck with an uncomfortable or defective bed.

Mattress Toppers

Many chiropractors believe if the sleeper does not own a memory foam bed or if their bed is too firm, the best thing to do is to lay a 1½ to 2½-inch thick mattress topper on their sleep surface.

It’s best to think of a memory foam topper as a small step towards an improved sleeping experience or increasing mattress thickness. Even this small step can have a big impact on back pain, especially if you decide to invest in a high-quality memory foam topper.

High-quality toppers are considerably less expensive than a new mattress, and with proper care, they can last for years. By adding a topper, you can get more use out of the mattress you already have—while boosting your comfort level in bed and keeping your back pain at bay.

Drawbacks to Mattress Toppers

Of course, foam toppers are not a foolproof solution. While a mattress pad aids comfort and can help with support, its thin profile doesn’t give the sleeper the deep advantages a memory foam or latex mattress does.

Compared with foam toppers, foam mattresses offer more pressure relief, mold and dust mite resistance, and longevity. The breathability and advantages of memory foam make it an overall good choice for pain, and it’s likely to be comfortable for most people.

In short, a mattress topper can help make your sleep surface more comfortable, but it won’t be as effective as a new memory foam mattress.

If you’re hesitant to purchase a new mattress outright, a memory foam mattress topper can be a good stepping stone. Knowing how your body responds to memory foam can inform your mattress decision when the time comes.

One thing to keep in mind— if you choose to use a mattress topper, make sure your current mattress isn’t already sagging. If your current mattress bows inward, the topper will likely do the same, so it won’t be able to provide you with the support to wake up pain-free.

Sleeping Positions and Back Pain

How you sleep at night greatly impacts your severity and frequency of pain; and simply changing your sleep position can make a huge difference in combating discomfort. People who sleep on their backs are less likely to experience these discomforts, while stomach sleepers are prone to nagging backaches. Below, we discuss these differences a bit further.

Side Sleepers

Side and back sleeping are both thought to be the “healthiest” sleep position. It’s impossible to discern one singular “best,” as everybody has unique sleep needs; but most doctors, physical therapists, and sleep specialists can agree that stomach sleeping is quite unhealthy.

Side sleepers may experience pain in their lower backs if their mattress is not firm enough to reinforce healthy posture. The best mattresses for side sleepers are medium to medium-firm, as beds of medium firmness are soft enough to alleviate pressure points and supportive enough to maintain healthy spinal alignment.

To kick pesky pains, the Mayo Clinic recommends side sleepers draw up their legs slightly toward their chest, and place a pillow between their knees. Another option is using a body pillow between your knees and to support your arm.

Back Sleepers

Back sleeping has many benefits— it keeps your spine aligned, reduces headaches, relieves sinus pressure, and reduces your risk of developing certain chronic conditions by easing pressure on your body.

Because sleeping this way keeps your spine in its natural alignment, back sleepers already have a leg up in the fight against back pain. However, though this position is very healthy, its rare— only 8% of people choose to sleep this way.

If you’re currently a back sleeper, don’t change sleeping positions! Instead, combat pain by placing a pillow beneath your knees and supporting your neck with a flat pillow (rather than a thick one).

Stomach Sleepers

Stomach sleepers have the hardest time fighting back pain because sleeping on the stomach naturally stresses the spine. However, placing a pillow beneath the lower abdomen and using a thin pillow (or none at all) under the head can help reduce the negative impact of sleeping on your stomach.

However, as we mentioned earlier, stomach sleeping is not healthy, especially for your back. If you’re a stomach sleeper, we urge you to (at least) try to change your sleeping position. While it may feel unnatural or uncomfortable to sleep on your side or back, it’s worth it in the long run to make the change.

Changing how you sleep can make a big difference in your aches and pains, especially when you combine these changes with a new, comfortable mattress. Making this change is easier said than done, though. During the adjustment period, you might naturally toss pillows away and roll back into your old position. Dr. Miller suggests, “A way to avoid rolling onto your stomach is by placing pillows around you if you’re on your back or behind you if sleeping on your side.”

There is no single best position for back pain because there is no single source of back pain. It’s up to you to assess your situation and determine what changes are the most effective towards getting pain-free sleep.

Saving on Mattresses for Back Pain

• Best Presidents Day Mattress Sales
• Best Memorial Day Mattress Sales
• Best 4th of July Mattress Sales
• Best Labor Day Mattress Sales
• Best Black Friday Mattress Sales
• Best Cyber Monday Mattress Sales

Common Questions

What mattress firmness is best for lower back pain?

Studies have found medium-firm mattresses are the best for alleviating back pain and promoting healthy sleeping positions. That said, medium mattresses are usually better for side sleepers with back pain because they offer better pressure relief for the shoulders and hips. Ultra-firm and too-soft mattresses may exacerbate pain.

What sleeping position is best for back pain?

Many people experience back pain relief by lying on their backs with their knees propped up. Raising the knees reduces on the lower back, alleviating pain. A wedge pillow is an inexpensive way to elevate your knees, although an adjustable bed offers greater freedom of elevation.

What’s the best mattress for side sleepers with back pain?

Side sleepers often experience back pain because their mattress is too firm or too soft. When it’s too firm, the hips and shoulders can’t sink in far enough to relieve pressure on the joints. Too soft and the sleeper sinks in too far, misaligning their spine.

Medium mattresses are a good choice for side sleepers, particularly if they offer multiple support zones that focus on the shoulders and hips.

What mattress type is best for back pain?

This will ultimately depend upon your specific needs and how much you can afford to spend. The surface should balance conforming to the body’s curves with supporting the spine’s neutral position. Memory foam, latex, and hybrid mattresses are all good choices. Just as important as mattress type is choosing a mattress firmness that complements your sleeping style.

If you’re struggling to find a comfortable bed, we suggest talking with your doctor about your current mattress and the frequency and severity of your pains. With that, they’ll be able to recommend a mattress for you.

What is the best mattress for lower back and hip pain?

If you have hip pain in addition to your back pain, it may be a sign that your mattress is too firm. Mattresses of medium firmness are usually the best for cushioning the hips while preventing them from sinking too far, however, ideal firmness also depends on body weight. If you’re experiencing hip pain, find a mattress that will hold your body in a neutral position while still offering cushion for the hips and shoulders.

Can a mattress cause back pain?

Yes, if your mattress does not hold you in a neutral position, it can cause you to sleep in wonky positions and lead to chronic back pain. Lumpy, worn down, and unsupportive mattresses just can’t promote healthy sleep, and many wake up with back pains and discomfort as a result of sleeping on an uncomfortable bed. Give your spine the support it needs and invest in a mattress to facilitate healthy sleeping positions.

Research and Resources

In making this article, we:

• Researched the leading contributors of back pain and how your mattress can play a part in the frequency of your aches and pains.
• Compared over 25 different beds looking specifically for features that promote healthy spinal alignment and proper sleep positions.
• Spent 20 hours writing and revising the article to deliver the most valuable information to those suffering from chronic back pain.

Did You Find Your Next Bed?

Pain and stress feed on each other. When sleep gets interrupted, especially if it’s because the body is too hot, it can cause discomfort, making chronic back pain even worse. Pain causes your body to be stressed, which in turn can lead to even poorer sleep, which will worsen the pain. It’s a vicious cycle, but it can be broken.

A healthy and comfortable night’s sleep can be one of the best ways to reduce stress and combat chronic pain. Meaning, finding the best bed for back pain is critical.

Remember the key mattress features for back pain: comfort, pressure relief, and temperature control. A good night’s sleep can be a hard thing to find, so take proper time to choose a solution that’s right for you. The perfect mattress will have you sleeping soundly through the night, instead of tossing and turning or waking up in a sweat. Medium-firm memory foam mattresses assist vertebrae alignment, reduce muscle tension, as well as soothe and prevent aches. These factors, along with affordability, make memory foam the best mattress for a bad back.

You spend nearly a third of your life sleeping, so it’s important you don’t cut corners. Now that you have the facts about the type of mattress will help your back stay comfortable, it’s time to make your pick. Of course, you should factor in your own preferences as well as your budget by doing research on the best mattress for your lifestyle. But our top pick is Amerisleep’s AS2. It’s made of high-quality medium-firm memory foam that conforms to your spine’s natural curves to keep it properly aligned. So you’ll sleep more soundly now—and for years to come.