Memory foam mattresses are excellent for people with aches and pains — after rigorous testing, these are the 3 we'd buy in Labor Day sales

A woman sits on the edge of the Nectar Premier memory foam mattress in our sleep testing studio, checking the edge support and pressure relief. In the right hand corner, a close up of her hand pressing into the surface of the Nectar Premier Memory Foam Mattress

(Image credit: Future)

If you're looking for a memory foam mattress for back and hip pain, this weekend is the time to shop. Labor Day ushers in some of the year's strongest deals we'll see for the best memory foam mattresses ahead of Black Friday — and you can get ahead of potential price increases due to tariffs.

Several members of our expert sleep team struggle with back, hip, or joint discomfort. After testing over 40 memory foam beds, some of which you'll find in our overall best mattress of the year guide, here we're highlighting three that we believe are comfy, soothing and cradling for people with aches and pains.

However, you want to do your homework before diving into this year's Labor Day mattress sales and deals, which is why we're also offering some quick tips to help you find a memory foam mattress for back and hip pain that suits your needs and budget. After all, no two sleepers are the same!

Why memory foam?

Memory foam is a dense, slow-moving material that molds to your body, cradling your touch points (shoulders, hips, knees) while evenly distributing your body weight. In turn, this reduces pressure on your joints and promotes neutral spine alignment for comfortable, pain-free sleep.

Just be careful if you tend to sleep warm at night, as memory foam is prone to trapping heat. (That said, some of the best cooling mattresses are made entirely of foam and contain specialized materials to wick away heat.)

Image shows two of our sleep staff writers sat on the Nectar Premier Memory Foam Mattress in our sleep lab during testing — (Image credit: Future)

Our top 3 foam mattresses for aches and pains

From all the memory foam mattresses our expert team has tested, these are the three models we recommend browsing during this year's Labor Day sales if back or joint pain is keeping you awake at night...

1. Nectar Premier Memory Foam (queen): now $949 at Nectar
Our top-rated memory foam mattress overall, our testers sang the praises of its comforting hug for relieving achy joints in our Nectar Premier Memory Foam Mattress review. We found it a true medium-firm mattress that's excellent for side and back sleeping (but too plush for front sleeping). With stable edges, minimal motion transfer, and good temperature control, this all-rounder is a near-steal at $949 in a queen-size. Sure, this is the standard Nectar mattress sale, but you'll also get a one-year trial and a forever warranty, and that's a hard value to beat at any time of the year.

2. Siena Signature Memory Foam (queen): now $359 at Siena
Crowned our best cheap mattress overall, the Siena punches well above its budget price tag. It's among the firmest mattresses we've ever tested, but if you're a back or stomach sleeper with aches and pains, you'll find it just right in terms of support and relief. No sinkage means your spine stays lifted, to reduce lumbar pain. Another thing that impressed our testers in our Siena Memory Foam Mattress review was how cool it slept — but we credit the lack of profound sinkage for that. This is Siena's evergreen offer, but it's still worth spotlighting during the Labor Day sales, especially since it comes with a 180-night trial, which is unheard of for a mattress in this price bracket.

3. Tempur Pedic Tempur Adapt (queen): was $2,199 now $1,999 at Tempur-Pedic
Our testing panel gave this bed high marks for pressure relief and lower back support in our Tempur-Pedic Tempur-Adapt Mattress review. If you're a side sleeper, you'll need some time to break this one in — but back and front sleepers will feel well-supported almost immediately. Motion isolation is also top-notch; just beware of the heat retention. Tempur-Pedic sales don't occur frequently, so $200 off its entry-level Adapt series is as good as it'll get ahead of Black Friday. Keep an eye out for $300 worth of free gifts, a flash offer that tends to appear over weekends. The Tempur-Adapt mattress also comes with free White Glove Delivery, a 10-year warranty, and a 90-night sleep trial.

5 things to look for when choosing a memory foam mattress if you have aches and pains

Whether you have an achy back or creaky joints, these are the top five qualities to look for when buying a memory foam mattress for pain relief...

1. Sufficient pressure relief

Think about the areas where your body presses into the mattress — shoulders, hips, knees, and back. To alleviate stress from these pain-prone areas, choose a memory foam mattress with an appropriate level of give for your sleep style and body type.

A less common feature in all-foam mattresses (but a signature of the best mattresses for back pain) is zoned relief and support, which provides tailored comfort to all areas of your body. That typically results in softer relief at the shoulders and legs, with firmer support across the central third.

2. Full-body support

A supportive mattress will help you maintain a neutral spine — no unwanted dipping or bending — when in your desired sleep position.

A person lies in a side sleeping position on the Firm side of the Plank Firm mattress — (Image credit: Future)

While memory foam is known for being 'squishy' and soft, you don't want your body to sink too much, as this will throw your back out of alignment and cause pain. Alternatively, anything too firm will cause your hips or shoulders to rise too high.

3. Stable edge support

Edge support is an area in which many memory foam mattresses struggle but it's not impossible to find an all-foam model with sturdy sides you can sit on comfortably.

If you have mobility issues and need to take your time getting in and out of bed, you'll certainly want a mattress with supportive edges. The Plank Firm Mattress, for example, is an all-foam bed we rate highly for edge support.

4. Above-average cooling

Temperature regulation is another category where memory foam mattresses can fall short. If you're prone to overheating and also deal with pain, you don't want to exacerbate aches by thrashing in an attempt to cool down. Cooling mattresses incorporate infused or perforated foams along with breathable, heat-wicking covers to increase airflow.

A woman sits on the edge of the Siena Memory Foam Mattress in a bedroom — (Image credit: Future)

While all-foam beds might not be known for their breathability, cooling memory foam beds like the Cocoon by Sealy Chill mattress and the GhostBed Luxe mattress impressed our testers with their chill feel.

5. Adequate at-home trial period

Mattress trials are standard, giving you time to break in your new bed and determine whether it's the right fit for your needs. Generally speaking, it takes about a month for your body to adapt to a new sleep surface.

The average trial period is 100 nights, but look out for closeouts (which are final sale) or certain third-party retailers (including Amazon and Walmart) that may not accept returns on used mattresses.

What to avoid

As tempting as the latest Labor Day mattress sale prices may be, don't purchase a mattress based on price alone — and don't rely solely on brand name recognition, either.

The best mattress for your needs will be a good fit for your sleep position, body type, bedroom space and budget. Before you go shopping, consider what those qualities are, then narrow your search from there.

It also helps to read the reviews — not only from our panel of expert sleep testers, but also from everyday shoppers who have the same preferences and pain points you do. Doing your homework before buying a mattress goes a long way in preventing buyer's remorse.

Based in Philadelphia, USA, freelance writer and editor Alison Barretta has been sharing buying advice and retail news for over 15 years. Since 2020 she's been helping Tom's Guide expand its robust library of sleep content by researching the latest trends, speaking with renowned experts, and going behind the scenes at Saatva, Casper, Sleep Number, Tempur-Pedic, and 3Z Brands. Alison has reviewed everything from budget memory foam mattresses and luxurious innerspring beds to immersive sound pods and $7,000 smart beds that automatically adjust to your every move. When she isn't reviewing mattresses or searching for great deals to save you money, Alison can be found practicing yoga and martial arts, experimenting with recipes, getting too invested in the Philadelphia Flyers, and snoozing with her cat / assistant mattress tester Alex.

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