1. Quick list
2. Best overall
3. Best budget
4. Best affordable hybrid
5. Best for cooling
6. Best for bigger bodies
7. Best memory foam
8. Best for joint pain
9. Best latex
10. Best premium
11. FAQs
Back pain sufferers will know all too well how crucial a supportive mattress can be to their overall comfort. The best mattress for back pain will offer a keen balance of pressure relief and spinal alignment, while our extensive research and experience indicates that a medium-firm mattress is often more effective at soothing back pain than a firm mattress.
The Saatva Rx, a speciality memory foam bed, remains our top mattress choice for back pain sufferers. Our lead mattress tester, who has longterm lower back pain and mild scoliosis, loved the RX from the first night and awarded it a very high review score overall. But the Saatva RX is expensive, so thankfully there are budget friendly mattresses for back pain in this guide too. Timing your purchase to coincide with the Memorial Day mattress sales in May will also help keep prices low.
Every back ailment is different, so it’s always a good idea to get advice from your doctor surrounding which specific type of mattress might be best for your back pain. It’s also worth keeping in mind your sleeping position, body type and sleep needs while shopping. To help, we asked experts in the field of chiropractic medicine to weigh in and, using their guidance alongside our own mattress testing expertise, we've created this guide to the top mattresses for lumbar support. Here are our top recommendations for this year's best-rated mattresses for back pain…
The quick list
Type: Premium memory foam
Feel: Medium firm
Price: From $1,995
The Saatva RX is the newest addition to the brand's range of luxury handcrafted mattresses and the company's dedicated mattress for chronic back pain and joint disorders. Our main mattress tester, who has longterm lower back pain and mild scoliosis, slept comfortably on the RX from the first night. This is the best mattress for back pain for most people right now, with a medium-firm feels that strikes a great balance between comfort, pressure relief and spinal support.
Type: Memory foam
Feel: Medium firm
Price: From $399 (on sale)
If you're looking for a budget mattress for back pain that sleeps cool and offers a small amount of contouring, the Cocoon by Sealy Chill is a good choice. A queen is usually on sale for $699 (and you get $199 of free sheets too), making it a rare breed in terms of value among expensive back pain mattresses.
Type: Hybrid
Feel: Medium-firm
Price: From $839
While it has only one mattress firmness option, we loved the DreamCloud hybrid's foam and spring support, especially in the lumbar regions. It comes with a one-year trial and a lifetime warranty – all at a mid-range cost.
Type: Hybrid
Feel: Soft to firm
Price: From $999
If you suffer from back pain and get warm at night, the Brooklyn Bedding Aurora Luxe is the mattress for you, thanks to its special cooling layer. Plus, you can choose from several firmness options and sizes (including RV beds). If you need a cheaper cooling mattress for back pain, choose the Cocoon by Sealy Chill instead.
Type: Hybrid
Feel: Soft to 'Plus'
Price: From $1,149
Not only can you choose your ideal firmness, but of all the mattresses we tested, the Winkbed is the only model that includes a Plus option for individuals over 250lbs. You'll also benefit from its zoned support.
Type: Memory foam
Feel: Relaxed firm or firm
Price: From $1,295
Like the Saatva RX, the Loom & Leaf has specialized lumbar support as well as body-contouring foam that works together to relieve pressure in your lower back and keep everything aligned. However, hot sleepers will want to avoid this one since it traps heat and should pick the Brooklyn Bedding or Cocoon by Sealy cooling mattresses for back pain instead.
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Type: GelFlex Hybrid
Feel: Medium-firm
Price: From $1,495
The Purple Plus mattress uses GelFlex — a springy, elastic gel that melds to your shape and cradles you comfortably in place — to offer firm, yet cushioned support. It may feel unusual at first but once you settle in, you'll enjoy loads of pressure relief.
Type: Latex hybrid
Feel: Firm
Price: From $1,299
The Awara Natural Hybrid has 2 inches of all-natural latex foam, which gives you a weightless feel, yet is very durable. There's only one comfort level (firm) and it's a bit bouncy – but it's always on sale and comes with a whole year's trial.
Type: Hybrid
Feel: Medium-firm
Price: From $3,095
The loaded Casper Wave Hybrid Snow mattress has every feature you could want: cooling technology, ergonomic zones, and gel pods, to name a few. But, it has a loaded price to match.
Best mattress for back pain overall
✅ You want a perfect blend of comfort and support: The Saatva RX comes in a medium-firm feel, and chiropractors now recommend this as the best mattress firmness for back pain. During testing, we felt it delivered a magic combination of pressure relief, support and full body comfort.
✅ You want to take your time trying it out: A 365-night mattress trial gives you plenty of time to make sure the RX is the right fit for you. If it isn't, you can exchange or return it but you'll have to pay a $99 fee to do so.
✅ You want help with setup: Free white glove delivery is included with the Saatva RX, as is optional removal of your old mattress and bed base. This is great value for money.
❌ You sleep very hot: Our testers found the Saatva RX breathable, but all-memory foam beds will trap more heat compared to a mattress made of coils and foam.
❌ You like hard beds: While the Saatva RX is on the firmer side of medium-firm, we would not describe this as a firm mattress. Try the WinkBed Firm instead.
❌ You can't stretch your budget: Though it's competitively priced and always on sale, the Saatva RX is very expensive. For smaller budgets, try the Cocoon by Sealy Chill or the DreamCloud Hybrid.
🔎 The Saatva RX is now our top-rated mattress for back pain, achieving high test scores with our main tester (and wider review panel) who has longterm back pain and mild scoliosis. It's comfortable yet capable of fantastic lumbar support, with Saatva's Therapeutic Support Core to vastly reduce pressure points and constantly adjust to your body in bed whenever you change position. You'll get a year to trial it yourself, plus free mattress installation, old bed removal and a lifetime warranty.
The best mattress for back pain is the Saatva RX. This luxury handcrafted mattress is designed specifically to ease chronic back pain and painful joint conditions such as sciatica, arthritis and scoliosis. Our lead tester for the RX has mild scoliosis and longterm lower back pain, so she is perfectly placed to advise on how effective the Saatva RX is at easing back pain in bed and during sleep.
This is a premium memory foam bed made of non-toxic foam, and it stands 15" tall, making it quite the imposing figure in the bedroom – keep this in mind if you like lower profile beds. The RX features Saatva's Unique Therapeutic Support Core, which constantly adjusts itself to the shape of your body as you change positions in bed – or remain in the same spot. The Saatva RX also has a patented Lumbar Zone Quilting and gel-infused memory foam to protect your spine and keep it aligned correctly in bed.
During our testing period, we were impressed with the RX's deep pressure relief, full body support and pain-reducing comfort. It also performed well when testing for temperature regulation. What does that have to do with back pain? You want to eradicate anything that is going to cause you to have to shift positions, or risk incurring further injury.
We found that the Saatva RX also had sturdy edge support, which means that you can comfortably sleep close to the edge without the mattress collapsing. It also means that you can sit safely and securely on the edge of the bed, before gathering yourself up into a standing position (as many people with back pain do).
While your weight and sleeping position will influence what firmness level suits your best, the Saatva RX comes in just one firmness, which our testers found very comfortable. The Saatva RX is a mattress that you sleep on top of as opposed to sinking in too deeply, striking the perfect balance of cushioning for pressure points and support for the spine. It also makes rolling over much less arduous (or painful) than it needs to be.
Saatva has also earned a seal of approval from the Congress of Chiropractic State Associations for its lumbar zone technology. You'll get a full year to test it out, although you'll have to pay $99 for return shipping. Free white glove delivery is standard with all orders so you won't have to worry about setting this over 100lb. mattress on your bed – a huge benefit for anyone with back pain.
Like most brands, Saatva is feeling the effects of inflation, and MSRPs have risen steadily over the past 12 months or so. It's not quite as good value as it once was, but it's still a competitively-priced luxury mattress option – especially if you buy when a deal is on. However, if it's still out of your budget, the DreamCloud (#2) and Brooklyn Bedding Aurora (#3) are cheaper.
- Read more: Saatva RX mattress review
Best budget mattress for back pain
✅ You sleep warm: The Cocoon Chill boasts impressive temperature regulation for an all-foam mattress. The phase-change material in its top cover does an effective job of wicking away heat and moisture.
✅ You’re on a tight budget: An evergreen 35% off sale drives this mattress down to the lower end of the mid-range price bracket. It also comes with free sheets and pillows.
✅ You share a bed: We found that the Cocoon Chill is very good at absorbing movement so if you or your partner move around a lot at night, you're unlikely to bother one another.
❌ You have severe night sweats: The Chill will be comfortable for most sleepers but its cooling prowess won't be enough for extreme overheating. The Aurora Luxe (#4) and Wave Hybrid Snow (#9) will be better equipped to handle that.
❌ You weigh over 230lbs: The three-layer Chill mattress won't provide enough support for heavier bodies. Opt for the hybrid version, or consider the WinkBed Plus (#5), which is specially made for larger sleepers.
❌ You want firmness options: While Sealy used to offer two firmness options, there is now only one (medium firm). Comfort is subjective, so you might prefer a mattress with more customizable features.
🔎 The Cocoon by Sealy Chill is a worthy option for warm sleepers with back pain who don't want to spend a fortune on a specialty mattress. (Upgrades for extra cooling or responsiveness don't cost all that much, either.) An evergreen 35% discount plus a free bedding bundle make it one of the best mattress values out there right now.
If you're a back pain sufferer on a tight budget, consider the Cocoon Chill. This all-foam mattress is the cheapest on our list, and we rate it amongst the best mattresses under $1,000. During our Cocoon Chill mattress review, we found that the Chill does an excellent job of distributing weight and alleviating pressure points.
It's also one of the most consistently cool all-foam mattresses we've tested. All-foam mattresses are prone to trapping in heat, but, as its name suggests, we found the Cocoon Chill to provide excellent temperature regulation (its hybrid counterpart highly in our best cooling mattress guide). Again, this is an important feature for back pain sufferers, as kicking the covers off in a bid for relief can leave you prone to further lumbar injury.
It has excellent motion isolation, so you shouldn’t feel any uncomfortable bounce if someone else in the bed shifts positions. As a medium-firm mattress (we rated it 6.5 out of 10 for firmness), the Chill is suitable for any sleeping position, although we'd especially recommend it to side sleepers. It’s soft, supportive, cushioning and, to an extent, contouring.
Its three layer design includes a top layer of memory foam, but doesn’t feature the body-hugging level of contouring that you would expect from memory foam. If that’s something you’re looking for, consider the similarly priced Nectar Memory Foam mattress. You won’t get the same cooling properties, but you will get that ‘sink-in’ feel that attracts some memory foam fans.
You are making some concessions for that lower price, however. While it provides good support for the price, we'd generally recommend a hybrid model (like all the others on our list) if you can afford it. Take note especially if you weigh more than 230 lbs, you will sink through the memory foam layers and onto the supportive layer. This means that if you weigh more than average, the Chill likely won't provide enough support for you.
Don’t worry about how you’ll get this mattress into your bedroom — the free white glove delivery service from Cocoon by Sealy includes the delivery and set up of your new mattress, plus the removal of your old mattress and box spring, which is excellent customer service for a mattress of this price. You’ll also get a 100 night free trial and a ten year warranty.
- Read more: Cocoon Chill mattress review
Best affordable hybrid mattress
✅ You have lower back pain: The DreamCloud's combo of adaptive foam and innersprings will cradle and support the lower lumbar and hips, which will be particularly helpful if you struggle with lower back pain.
✅ You share a bed: Couples, rejoice – we found the DreamCloud has low motion transfer, meaning you're less likely to be disturbed by any tossing and turning by your restless bedfellow (and likewise).
✅ You can't afford the Saatva RX You'll be making some concessions by choosing the mid-range DreamCloud over the luxury Saatva but you'll still enjoy a similar level of comfort as well as a 365-night trial and a forever warranty.
❌ You're a petite and/or a side sleeper: For sleepers under 130lbs, the DreamCloud may be too firm to offer any meaningful cradling or support. Some side sleepers might have a hard time adjusting to it, too.
❌ You use the entirety of your bed: The DreamCloud's edge support was underwhelming during our test. Those who sprawl out or like to sleep right up to the edge might want to look at the WinkBed (#5) or Awara (#8).
❌ You need something shorter: The DreamCloud is 14" tall. Combined with its weak edge support, this could make it difficult for sleepers with mobility problems to get in or out of bed comfortably.
🔎 The DreamCloud provides excellent support for sleepers with lower back pain in particular, and couples will be able to sleep in peace thanks to minimal motion transfer. It's a sound alternative to the Saatva RX at the top of our list, offering a hotel-like feel, a one-year trial, and a lifetime warranty at a consistently low price.
Whether you or your sleeping partner (or both) suffer from back pain, the DreamCloud mattress will offer loads of relief. During our DreamCloud mattress review, our testers were impressed by the layers of adaptive foam and innersprings that immediately contoured their hips and lower lumbar, resulting in much less pain in those areas. The coils provide the support and correct spinal alignment, while the gel-infused memory foam gives the contouring hug that will appeal to memory foam fans.
Another area where the DreamCloud mattress shines is its excellent motion isolation. There's little chance your partner's movements will disrupt your sleep (or vice versa). If either of you tosses and turns due to back pain, the relief that comes from the subtle hug of the DreamCloud will help solve that problem anyway.
Unlike the pricier Saatva and Brooklyn models, there's only one firmness option here: an 8 out of 10 on the firmness scale. That firmer feel is generally what's recommended for back pain sufferers, but be aware it still might feel a bit too firm – particularly if you're petite.
As an average-sez side sleeper, it took our lead mattress tester a little time to settle in, but once she did, was exceptionally comfortable sleeping on her front and back. However, other heavier testers in our group found immediate relief. Our mattress testers who suffered from back pain found that sleeping on the DreamCloud Hybrid made a marked improvement to their back pain, while they also appreciated the additional support in the lower lumbar, which alleviated pain that they normally have in that area.
This is a mid-range hybrid that has the feel of a much pricier model, thanks to luxe finishes like the quilted, cashmere blend cover. There is only one firmness option that, we think, will appeal to back pain sufferers. However, Sleepers who want a plusher bed may find what they're looking for by upgrading to the DreamCloud Premier.
If you aren’t sure which model would be best for you, DreamCloud fortunately offers a 1-year trial, which matches the best you'll find anywhere – and unlike Saatva, returns are free if you decide it's not quite right. Although free white glove service isn’t included, you can arrange it for a $149 fee. This includes set-up of your new DreamCloud Luxury Hybrid, and for an additional $20 fee the brand will remove your old mattress too — you back will thank you for it.
- Read more: DreamCloud Mattress review
Best for cooling
✅ You want firmness options (for less): The Aurora Luxe isn't the only mattress on this list to offer customizable firmness but it's the most affordable one to do so. Opt for something plush, firm, or in-between.
✅ You’re a hot sleeper: Our tester found the GlacioTex cooling cover offered excellent temperature regulation, even if it was a bit slippery. The infused foams and coils also play their roles in promoting proper airflow.
✅ Your bed has unusual dimensions: In addition to standard sizing, the Aurora Luxe is available in short queen, split California king, and two RV bed sizes (RV king and RV bunk).
❌ You share a bed: While not incredibly pronounced, we found there was a certain amount of motion transfer here. Couples should look at the DreamCloud (#3) instead. as it excels at absorbing movement.
❌ If you'd prefer a non-slip surface: Although the cooling cover provides excellent temperature regulation, we found that the cover made the sleep surface slightly slippery – not ideal for keeping your fitted sheet in place.
❌ You’re sensitive to smell: Your mileage may vary here, but during our review, we found that a noxious off-gassing smell lingered for hours after the unboxing. That's typical of most boxed mattresses.
🔎 The Brooklyn Aurora Luxe promotes excellent spinal alignment and boasts exceptional temperature regulation. Not only can you tailor the firmness to your liking but you can also kit out your RV with a mattress that's comfortable and supportive thanks to the non-traditional sizes on offer.
The Brooklyn Bedding Aurora Luxe mattress combines a luxurious look and feel with excellent spinal support. During our Brooklyn Bedding Aurora Luxe mattress review, our self-confessed picky reviewer found this hybrid mattress amongst the most comfortable they'd ever slept on. The coils provide plenty of support to the spine, while the memory foam layers deliver comfortable cushioning without being overwhelming or making the sleep surface feel unstable.
Like a few other models on our list, you can choose your firmness level here. The middle option (rated 4-6/10 by Brooklyn) delivered the perfect balance of plushness and firmness for our petite tester, but there's also the option of going softer (2-4), or – perhaps more likely for back pain sufferers – firmer (7-8). Whatever sleep feel you go for, you can upgrade to a touch more luxurious by adding the Cloud Pillow Top (on the version pictured here).
There's more good news if you're a hot sleeper, because this mattress has a special GlacioTex cooling cover that we found worked very effectively to prevent overheating during our testing period (even if it did make the sleep surface slightly too slippery for our liking).
We also love the wide range of sizes that the Brooklyn Bedding Aurora Luxe is available in — including RV sizes, which means that you can sleep on a cooling, luxurious sleep surface and alleviate your back pain even while on the road. With a mattress like that, who needs a hotel?
One area in which this mattress fell down slightly was on motion transfer – it's perhaps not the best option for very light sleepers or anyone sharing a bed with someone on a different sleep schedule, as movements can reverberate across the sleep surface rather. If that's you, consider the DreamCloud instead.
Price-wise, the Aurora sits between the Saatva and DreamCloud. An evergreen sale means you can expect to pay 30% less than MSRP, putting it in the upper mid-range price bracket (or premium, if you want to splash out on the Cloud Pillow Top). Of course, even when discounted the Aurora is still a lot of money, but we think it's a worthy investment for a mattress this well crafted and thoughtfully constructed.
- Read more: Brooklyn Bedding Aurora Luxe mattress review
Best for bigger bodies
✅ You want targeted support: The WinkBed's individually wrapped coils are zoned to deliver targeted support and pushback in specific areas, so the pressure will feel firmer in some spots and lighter in others.
✅ You need a heavy-duty mattress: This is the only model on our list that offers four firmness options: soft, luxury firm, firm, and Plus – the latter being specifically aimed at those weighing over 250lbs and over.
✅ You have severe mobility issues: WinkBed’s excellent edge support means that heavier people with mobility issues will find that the mattress will safely support them even as they sit on the edge of the bed before standing or laying down.
❌You're a very hot sleeper: Most people should find the temperature regulation for WinkBed adequate but if you’re often prone to overheating at night, opt for something like the Casper Wave Hybrid Snow (#9).
❌ You can afford the Saatva RX: Unless you're a heavyweight sleeper (over 250lbs), the Saatva RX(#1) will provide a better value and overall sleep experience so if you have the extra money to spare, we say go for it.
❌ You have no one to help set up: There's no white glove delivery so setting up this incredibly heavy mattress will be taxing, especially if you're already dealing with back pain and can't find anyone to help you out.
🔎 The WinkBed is a hybrid that gives the Saatva RX (#1) a run for its money in terms of support and all-round function thanks to its individually zoned coils and gel-infused foam. For overweight sleepers with back pain, the WinkBed Plus is your best bet for ample relief.
As a customizable luxury mattress that provides outstanding pressure relief for back pain sufferers, the WinkBed Plus is a close rival to the Saatva Classic. Like a few models on our list, you can choose your firmness preference, but what sets this mattress apart is that it’s the only model that includes a Plus option for individuals over 250 pounds (it's one of the best mattresses for heavy people).
During our WinkBed mattress review, we were impressed with its excellent edge support, which bodes well for heavier people with mobility issues who must sit on the edge of their bed in order to get up or lie down, since it won't compress too much. At 13.5 inches thick, it's one of the tallest options on our list, and unlike the Saatva (#1) there's only one height option – consider a different option if you prefer to be lower to the ground.
Although nobody on our testing panel on this mattress grapples with regular back pain, we still felt well-aligned thanks to its Back Relief System. Hundreds of WinkBed 5-star customer reviews noted reduced back pain and improved sleep quality. This is likely thanks to WinkBed’s individually wrapped, zoned coils and gel-infused foam, which is designed to offer the right balance of targeted support and cushioning to anyone suffering with back, hip or shoulder pain.
It manages motion isolation well, which is great news for couples or restless sleepers with different sleep schedules (not to mention back pain sufferers who may grit their teeth through every bounce of the bed). However, one potential drawback of the WinkBed is its temperature regulation. Although it provides enough cooling properties to keep most sleepers cool, very hot sleepers may need to think about adding a cooling mattress topper to avoid overheating. Not only is overheating a major sleep disruptor, shifting and twisting around to find relief from the heat can leave you prone to further back injury.
Price-wise, regular WinkBed mattress sales feature hundreds of dollars in savings for this award-winning mattress. You get 120 nights to test it at home, but you'll have to pay $49 to send it back. It's also quite heavy, weighing as much as 145 pounds, so you'll want to ask someone to help set up your new WinkBed mattress. (In-home delivery is not provided as a service.)
- Read more: WinkBed mattress review
Best memory foam mattress for back pain
✅ You suffer from lower back pain: The Loom & Leaf's concentrated lumbar support and 5lb body-hugging memory foam core helped alleviate our tester's nagging lower back pain.
✅ You're a combi sleeper: If you tend to shift during the night (or your partner has a different sleep style to you) this mattress could be an attractive option since we found it comfortable in any position.
✅ You share a bed: We detected very little motion transfer during our review. This is good news for those who share a bed with a light or restless sleeper, or a partner who operates on an opposing sleep schedule.
❌ You tend to overheat: The Loom & Leaf traps heat so it's not a good choice if you hail from a hotter part of the world or are prone to night flashes. The Saatva RX (#1) sleeps cooler.
❌ You don't want to sink while you sleep: A memory foam mattress isn’t to everyone’s preference and although this one ticks lots of boxes when it comes to alleviating back pain, don’t go for this one if you don’t enjoy that ‘sink-in’ feeling.
❌ You need sturdy edges: Whether you like to sleep right up to the edge of the mattress, or you need to sit on the edge of the mattress before standing up or laying down, we felt as though the edge support here was lacking.
🔎 The Saatva Loom & Leaf comes in two firmness levels so it'll suit just about any type of sleeper. Specialized lumbar support plus layers of high-density memory foam will be a boon for anyone with lower back issues. Top-notch motion isolation will help couples avoid sleep divorce, as well.
Saatva makes our list once again – this time for its Loom & Leaf mattress. This handcrafted memory foam mattress comes in two firmness levels and features specialized lumbar support and body-contouring foam that work together to relieve pressure in your lower back and keep everything aligned. The upper and lower thirds of the mattress are slightly firmer but still soft enough to contour to your shoulders and knees. This is one of two all-foam mattresses on our list – if you're on a tighter budget, check out the Cocoon Chill (#4).
We tested out the relaxed firm model (you can read our Saatva Loom & Leaf review here) and our lead reviewer noticed a marked improvement in her lower back pain after three weeks of sleeping on it and eradicated her early morning stiffness across her back. The rest of our testing panel was also comfortable regardless of their position or stature, and noticed how quickly the Loom & Leaf contoured their bodies while keeping them properly aligned — which is hugely important for countering back pain. There’s benefits to be found for side sleepers, too, with just the right amount of sinkage to provide pressure relief across the shoulders, hips, and knees.
Unfortunately, despite the presence of cooling tech, we found the Loom & Leaf is still prone to trapping heat so chronically hot sleepers may want to check out a hybrid model. Or if you're a Saatva fan, a good alternative would be the Saatva Memory Foam Hybrid, which offers better temperature regulation. Otherwise, we recommend the Loom & Leaf for sleepers with back pain who like the hug of memory foam and want something durable that they won't have to replace too often.
The pillow top was hit-or-miss among our panel. Opinions ranged from 'luxurious' to 'too cushiony,' so this will likely come down to your own sleep preferences.
It will come as no surprise that a premium mattress of this quality also comes with a premium price (prices start at $1,295), putting it more in line with Tempur-Pedic, which is the Loom & Leaf’s direct competitor. However, the perks from Saatva are better than Tempur-Pedic’s, with 1-year free trial, lifetime warranty, plus complementary while-glove delivery. This includes the set up of your new mattress in any room of your choice, plus the removal of your old mattress, too.
- Read more: Loom & Leaf mattress review
Best for joint pain
✅ You want support in all the right places: The Purple Plus offers ‘adaptive’ support, which means it’s firmer along the spine and lumbar but slightly softer around your legs and arms. This makes it effective at relieving pressure points without sacrificing alignment.
✅ You overheat at night: The GelFlex Grid does an outstanding job of promoting airflow so hot sleepers who toss and turn will find plenty of relief (and avoid further hurting their backs).
✅ You're a restless sleeper (or your partner is): The Purple Plus boasts excellent motion isolation so you're unlikely to feel your partner fidgeting (and they'll hardly notice your movements, too).
❌ You’re on a tight budget: Costing $400-$500 more than the Purple Original, the Purple Plus sits in the premium price bracket. If you don't need anything too sophisticated but want to experience the GelFlex Grid, consider the Original Purple mattress instead.
❌ Edge support is important: Edge support is lacking slightly, which means that sitting or laying towards the edge of the mattress may cause dipping.
❌ You want to choose your firmness: Although there is only one firmness option available, the unique blend of firmness and softness will suit a wide range of firmness preferences. However, this might not be the mattress for you if you want firm support throughout.
🔎 The Purple Plus is firmer where it counts, offering targeted lumbar support while alleviating any joint pain. Other key points include outstanding cooling technology and low motion transfer. You may need time to adjust to the feel of the GelFlex Grid, but once you settle in, you'll thank yourself for being patient.
Purple's mattresses have a slightly unusual sleep feel, thanks to a unique GelFlex grid – a springy, elastic gel grid that melds to your shape and cradles you comfortably in place, then springs back instantly when pressure is removed. This makes the Purple Plus a great choice for those with aching joints who need cushioning without sacrificing support.
When we tested the Purple Plus out (you can read our Purple Plus mattress review here), we ended up giving it two separate firmness ratings out of 10. We found it's softer underneath the arms and legs (6/10) yet firmer along the spine and lumbar (7.5/10). It's softer around the periphery of the body and firmer under pressure points like the lumbar spine and hips, aiding in even weight distribution. What this means for back pain sufferers is that you'll have support in all of the right places and not wake up feeling misaligned.
The Purple Plus also feels a little like you float on top of the mattress while sinking in slightly. It’s also deceptively firmer than it first appears, which makes for a comfy and cushioned sleep surface.
There's another big benefit of the GelFlex Grid – the open structure means it sleeps nice and cool, thanks to an additional two inches of breathable foam in the Plus compared to its Purple Original counterpart — but costs $500 more. This will be money well spent for hot sleepers with back pain, as tossing and turning to get comfortable can wind up contorting their spine in painful and unpleasant ways.
Edge support could be better, which may be a deal breaker for those who need a stable edge to sit on before standing (one reviewer described a ‘downward’ feeling as they sat on the edge of the bed). However, the low motion transfer makes the Purple Plus a fine choice for couples — not only can being disturbed by every toss and turn disrupt your sleep, the familiar ‘bounce’ feeling of someone moving in bed can be painful for back sufferers. So strong motion isolation is a big drawcard here.
The Purple Plus mattress weighs up to 140lb, so ask someone to help move it if you're dealing with back pain. in-home delivery and setup is available from Purple, but it costs an extra $200. Shipping is free otherwise, and you'll have 100 nights to trial the mattress.
- Read more: Purple Plus Mattress review
Best latex mattress for back pain
✅ A firm bed is comfortable for you: The Awara has a firmer feel than advertised, as our reviewers collectively rated it an 8 out of 10 on the firmness scale. There is plenty of pressure relief, though, albeit subtle.
✅ You want an eco-friendly mattress: The Awara swaps synthetic foam for natural Dunlop latex, while the top cover is a blend of organic cotton and New Zealand wool. It meets a number of regarded third-party certifications for safety and sustainability.
✅ You're a combi sleeper: This mattress is suitable for a wide range of sleeping styles, and its buoyant surface makes it easy for combi sleepers to shift from one position to the next.
❌ You share a bed: If you share your bed and are prone to being disturbed by your partner’s movements, the bounciness of the Awara will do little to mitigate that. Couples should opt for a full-foam bed or the hybrid DreamCloud (#3).
❌ You're allergic to latex: Although the natural properties of latex lends itself to being sustainable, durable and even hypoallergenic, those with a latex allergy should steer clear.
❌ You're lightweight: While the Awara offers sufficient spinal support for most, lighter weight individuals (130lbs or less) may find it unyielding.
🔎 The Awara Natural Hybrid Mattress is an excellent choice for sleepers with back pain who want to go a more eco-friendly route, with natural Dunlop latex and organic fibers. It's firm yet contouring enough to provide a just-right level of pressure relief. It shines when it comes to edge support and cooling, too.
The Awara Natural Hybrid is the only mattress in our ranking to use latex rather than synthetic foam (we rate this amongst the best organic mattresses you can buy). As well as being a natural option, latex foam delivers a weightless sleep feel and is known for being one of the most durable mattress materials. Here, it's combined with individually wrapped innersprings. The 2-inch layer of Dunlop latex foam quickly adapts to the shape of your body so you feel immediate support, delivering excellent pressure relief, as well as keeping your spine properly aligned.
During our Awara Natural Hybrid mattress review, our testing panel featured reviewers of varying sleep styles – and all of them felt well-supported in their shoulders (side sleepers), lumbar (back sleepers), and hips (stomach sleepers). We gave it an 8 out 10 rating for firmness, which places it in the firm category. Some of our testers thought it was too firm, before the Dunlop latex layer quickly contoured to their body, resulting in a unique floating yet grounded sleep-feel.
Edge support here is very good (among the best we’ve seen) so sitting on the perimeter of the bed is perfectly safe, and you'll be able to sleep right up to the edge without fear of falling. The Awara is also a good choice for hot sleepers, partly thanks to the New Zealand wool cover on top, which helps regulate temperature. However, one potential down-side is that motion isolation is a little lackluster. Thi means that the mattress is rather bouncy, which may be off-putting (not to mention painful) for couples seeking something with low motion transfer.
In terms of cost, the Awara is one of the most affordable organic mattresses on the market, with a starting price of $1,099 for a twin. However, regular sales drives the price down further, making it an excellent value buy for sleepers with back pain.
If you feel apprehensive about buying a mattress online, Awara’s incredibly generous 365 night free sleep trial should go some way to reassure you. This trial period will allow you to sleep on the mattress throughout the seasons and take your time in making the right decision. If you decide that it isn’t for you, Awara will issue a full refund and assist in either disposing the mattress or donating it to charity. If you decide to keep it, it'll be covered by a forever warranty.
- Read more: Awara Mattress review
Best luxury cooling mattress for back pain
✅ You really overheat at night: The Casper Wave Hybrid Snow is packed with cutting-edge cooling tech that promises to regulate temperature for up to 12 hours. It's worth the investment for anyone who has trouble cooling off at night.
✅ You have lower back or hip pain: The Wave Hybrid Snow features 78 gel pods in the center of the mattress to promote correct spinal alignment and alleviate pressure in the lumbar or hips.
✅ Your partner keeps you awake: Cancel the sleep divorce – this mattress has excellent motion isolation, which means that any tossing and turning from your partner (or you) is kept to a minimum.
❌ You're lightweight and/or sleep on your side: This is another mattress that doesn’t quite deliver when providing ample support for lighter individuals or those who prefer to sleep on their sides. With only one firmness option available, you might prefer the Saatva RX (#1) or WinkBed (#5) instead.
❌ You don't sleep hot at all: The Casper Wave Hybrid Snow is an expensive mattress so unless you really struggle with hot flashes and night sweats, go with the cheaper Casper Wave Hybrid mattress, which maintains the ergonomic support.
❌ You need a twin size: Although our test model was a twin, Casper seems to have phased out this size in its top-of-the-line series. The smallest size available now is a twin XL.
🔎 The Casper Wave Hybrid Snow is the most expensive mattress on our list, but it's a worthwhile investment for sleepers with back pain to just can't seem to cool down at night. If you have lower back or hip pain in particular, you'll find loads of relief from the gel pods situated at the center of the mattress.
The Casper Wave Hybrid Snow has been discontinued in a huge brand relaunch and has been replaced with a new cooling mattress, the Snow Max Hybrid mattress. We’re in the process of reviewing the Snow Wave Hybrid to see if its new cooling credentials stand up to the original. In the meantime, there's still time to buy the Casper Wave Hybrid Snow in a massive 50% off clearance sale.
The premium Casper Wave Hybrid Snow mattress is imbued with specialized 'Snow' technology that offers a 24% cooler-to-the-touch feeling than the original Casper Wave Hybrid. It also has HeatDelete Bands designed to remove 34% more body heat while sustaining temperature regulation for up to 12 hours. This bodes well for hot sleepers with back pain as they'll be less inclined to toss and turn in order to feel comfortable, thereby reducing the risk of torquing their spine.
Among the testers who slept on this bed for our Casper Wave Hybrid Snow mattress review, it was our back sleepers who found the most relief. It has continuous ergonomic zones so it's firmer along the hips, waist, and lower back yet softer around the shoulders. Meanwhile, up to 78 gel pods placed in the center of the mattress help alleviate lumbar pressure and promote proper alignment.
What does this mean for your sleep? It’s extremely supportive, so both back and neck pain sufferers should find that their discomfort is eased. We gave it a firmness rating of 7 out of 10, which places it in the medium-firm category. However, if you’re looking for a mattress with that classic memory foam feel — this isn’t it. This is a mattress that you sleep on top of, as opposed to sinking in. Whether or not this suits your sleeping style will come down to preference, but it will make shifting positions a little smoother. Being on the firmer side of the scale, side sleepers and lightweight individuals may need time to break it in (unlike a few models on this list, you've only got one firmness option).
One potential drawback is its edge support. We found that it was a little weak, so be warned — you might experience a little roll if you sit or sleep too close to the edge. Another drawback could be the price. As you might expect for one of the most innovative cooling mattresses on the market, the Casper Wave Hybrid Snow is pricey, starting at $3,095 for a twin XL at full MSRP.
However, if the Casper falls within your budget (it costs much less than the Tempur-Pedic Pro Breeze), you’ll be buying a mattress with outstanding cooling properties and ergonomic zones that promote lumbar support and correct spinal alignment - so it's a solid option for your back, too. Purchase includes 100 nights to trial it at home with free returns and a full refund if you're not satisfied. The Casper Wave Hybrid Snow is also the priciest option on our list – keep an eye out for a Casper mattress sale if you want to save.
- Read more: Casper Wave Hybrid Snow mattress review
How we test mattresses for back pain
Testing mattresses for back pain involves many of the same steps outlined in our our mattress methodology, however we always strive to find reviewers who are experiencing back pain. This is because we want to get a realistic picture of the performance of these speciality mattresses. After all, if a manufacturer claims to have created a mattress capable of easing back pain during sleep, we definitely want to put that to the test.
Our testing process begins by selecting the mattress for back pain we want to review. Compared to standard mattresses, back pain beds aren't that common so we don't get as many of them through for testing. However we when we do choose a mattress, we contact the brand directly and ask for a review sample under the strict agreement that we retain complete editorial control over the review and testing data.
Once the review has been agreed, we appoint a mattress tester who is experiencing back pain – or at the very least has had back pain and knows how that impacts sleep when lying on the wrong mattress.
We then go through our full testing process, documenting each step of the way from unboxing the mattress for back pain, through to our performance tests including motion isolation and edge support. We test back pain mattresses across all key areas including temperature regulation, firmness, comfort, support and pressure relief.
We score each area out of 5, then use those combined scores to devise the overall score for the mattress we have reviewed. Not every mattress for back pain we review makes it into this guide – only the best as recommended by our expert reviewers.
Frequently asked questions
What's the best type of mattress for back pain?
Broadly speaking, the best type of mattress to look for is medium-firm to firm with adaptive layers of foam, springs, and/or latex providing contoured support along the back, hips, and shoulders. Such mattresses are also made with breathable materials to regulate temperature and wick away sweat, reducing any tossing and turning that'll torque the back even worse.
You'll also want to consider the position you're lying in. Sleeping on your side or sleeping on your back are typically better for spinal support, while stomach sleeping is a big no-no.
Searching for an orthopedic option may help; see our guide to what is an orthopedic mattress for more details. Also, if you're in the US, you could qualify for Medicare assistance should you require a specialist mattress. For more details see our guide: What types of mattresses are covered by Medicare?
Is a soft or firm mattress better for back pain?
A medium or firm mattress is typically best for back pain. Generally speaking, a soft mattress won't provide enough support, especially if you're prone to changing positions at night and/or have mobility issues. However, the exact firmness to go for depends on the individual. Our best firm mattress guide rounds up ultra-sturdy options. Many find that traditional sprung mattresses provide a more supportive sleep experience; see our article on what is a pocket sprung mattress for more details.
There's no catchall solution as everyone is different. Dr. Lev Kalika, clinic director and founder of NYDN Rehab in New York City, says the type of back issue someone has will influence whether they should opt for a soft or firm mattress. "For patients with hypermobility or spondylosis [spine degeneration], I recommend hard mattresses. For people who are super stiff with fixed spine deformities, I recommend soft mattresses," says Dr. Kalika, who adds that people with less severe back ailments will benefit from something in between.
You'll also want to consider your dominant sleep position. If you often drop onto your side, take a look at the best mattresses for side sleepers, most of which are smack in the middle of the firmness scale.
Remember that firmness is subjective. You won't get a true feel for a mattress until you sleep on it yourself. Fortunately, the best mattress-in-a-box brands come with trial periods of at least 100 nights, which is more than enough time to determine whether or not a mattress is improving (or worsening) your back pain.
Is memory foam good for back pain?
Why you can trust Tom's Guide Our writers and editors spend hours analyzing and reviewing products, services, and apps to help find what's best for you. Find out more about how we test, analyze, and rate.
Are memory foam mattresses good for back pain? According to Dr. Grant Radermacher, owner of Ascent Chiropractic in Brookfield, WI, they are for most people.
"Memory foam evenly distributes weight across its surface as it compresses. It can automatically adjust to your body’s shape, contouring itself around your shoulders, back, and hips for a more pain-free sleeping experience," explains Dr. Radermacher.
The majority of our best mattresses for back pain picks are hybrids – a blend of foam and springs. When choosing between memory foam vs hybrid mattresses, you'll need to take into consideration what else you'll need in order to sleep comfortably.
Full memory foam mattresses have a 'hugging' feeling that'll help alleviate any pressure, but they tend to sleep warm if they're designed without any additional cooling tech (like gel or charcoal). Hybrids sleep cooler and tend to be firmer and more supportive; however, they don't isolate motion as well as foam beds, which can be tricky if you're a light sleeper or share a bed with a fidgety partner.
Remember that it takes more than the right mattress to unlock quality sleep. The best pillows will work in harmony with your mattress to ensure you're properly aligned each night so you wake up pain-free and refreshed. For more advice on what to look for in the best mattress for back pain, you'll find expert tips here.
Can a mattress cause back pain?
A mattress can create back pain or amplify an existing injury. But how can you tell? If your back pain is much worse right after waking up, chances are your mattress is to blame.
More obvious signs include visible sagging and sleeping on a mattress that's too hard or soft to properly support you. If firmness (or lack thereof) is the issue, adding a mattress topper can provide an instant upgrade if your current mattress is in otherwise fine shape.
We go into more detail in our feature explaining why some mattresses can cause aches and pains, which also provides additional tips for finding a new bed with proper spinal support so you can avoid nights of uncomfortable sleep.
