Suffering from back pain is a very unpleasant experience. It can affect the overall quality of your life and even your sleep. When we don’t get good sleep it can enhance the pain in our back causing us to feel irritable and even affect our recovery rate.
If you’re suffering from back pain then getting a good night’s sleep is one of the most important things you can do to help your recovery.
If you want to find the best mattress for you, then this article will give you a good insight into the type of mattress that may suit you best.
The information in this article has been compiled through our own extensive research of different mattress brands that are also noted in some way to be good for back pain and or pressure relief.
While we have taken our time to do our research, and have also contacted a few of the listed brands for more information regarding back pain support, you should also take the time to research the best solution for your specific condition.
It is also a good idea to speak to a mattress advisor from your chosen brand before making your purchase. Often, you can do this via live chat on the company website. We have listed each of our recommended companies websites for you in this article.
This article does not in any way serve as medical advice. We recommend you consult your doctor regarding your back pain and let them know you are considering changing your mattress. If in doubt, always follow the advice of your doctor or personal health care advisor.
Best Mattress For Lower Back Pain
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If you’re buying with back pain in mind then there are a few important things you should consider. Of course, you want to make sure you are buying a trusted brand. However, it is also very important to shop for a mattress depending on your weight, sleeping position, and the location of your back pain.
Does The Wrong Mattress Cause Back pain?
Yes, if you have the wrong mattress for your weight and sleeping position then it can sometimes cause or contribute to back pain.
This most likely occurs if your mattress is too soft and, as a result, starts to sag in the middle. This can also happen in an old mattress that needs replacing.
If the mattress is sagging then, it can distort your spine and give you pain, or make existing back pain much worse.
What Mattress Firmness Level Is Recommended For Back Pain?
This is a good question. Some people think that if they have back pain then they need a soft mattress for extra cushioning, while others think they should buy a hard mattress for extra support.
However, if the mattress is too soft then it will likely not provide enough support for the spine. If it is too hard, on the other hand, then the mattress will not be able to hold the natural curvature of the spine.
According to WebMD, if you’re in doubt then go for a medium-firm mattress. They reported that a study involving two groups of back pain sufferers were monitored over a 90 day period. One group was given a medium-firm mattress while the other group a firm mattress.
After the 90 days, the people in the medium-firm group reported the least amount of discomfort.
So, if in doubt, a medium-firm mattress will likely be your best bet. Fortunately, all good mattress brands offer a generous sleep trial so you can have plenty of time to test out your mattress. If it’s not right for you then they’ll exchange it for a new one.
What Materials Are Best For Back Pain?
The material and, of course, the build quality of the mattress can often make a huge difference to back pain.
Naturally, you will likely want to keep a close eye on your budget when buying a new mattress. However, when it comes to back pain, it is advisable not to go too cheap or the mattress may just not be good enough for your needs.
Having said that, it’s most likely not necessary to buy the most expensive mattress you can find, in most cases.
Expensive doesn’t always equal better! What’s more important is that you find the best mattress for your specific needs.
If budget is a priority for you, then we have listed three options for you in the budget section of this article.
Regarding mattress materials, for general back pain including the lower back and hip pain, some sources state that mattresses made from high-quality latex are the best.
Memory foam mattresses are also often recommended for back pain and can provide a good level of support and comfort.
Pocket-sprung mattresses are not regarded to be as good as a latex or foam mattress for back pain.
Our Recommended Latex Mattress – Idle Sleep Latex
Our top-rated high-quality latex mattress is the Idle Sleep Latex mattress.
If you decide to buy the Idle Sleep Latex mattress then you also get a choice of Dunlop latex or the more expensive Talalay latex.
The Idle Sleep Latex mattress comes in 2 firmness levels: medium and luxury firm.
The medium firmness level is 6-6.5 out of 10 on the firmness scale. The luxury firm is classified as 8.5-9 out of 10, which if quite a firm mattress.
If you are suffering from back pain then, in most cases, you will likely do better choosing the medium firmness Idle Sleep Latex mattress.
All Idle Sleep mattresses are also compatible with adjustable bed frames. If you in need of an adjustable base for your mattress then Idle Sleep currently have a great offer, which you can see here.
Check the Idle Sleep Latex mattress price here >>
Our Recommended Foam Mattress – Haven Premier
If you would prefer a foam mattress then our top choice for back pain is the Haven Premier.
Why Haven Premier?
The 12 inch Haven Premier mattress is at least one inch longer than other brands on the market. It contains 5 levels of moulded support and adaptive gel fused layers. Super comfortable and cool at the same time.
The mattress is made with Haven’s special cooling buoyancy foam. This layer is where the true magic happens. Haven’s custom blended foam with gel infusion, responds faster than traditional memory foam and provides better support for enhanced pressure relief. It does all this while helping you to sleep cooler.
The Supportive transition foam layer is a 2 inch thick layer with strategically perforated holes. These holes enable the mattress to breath more efficiently and provide additional responsiveness.
The Haven Premier is 5.5 to 7 on the firmness rating. It is especially comfortable for those who enjoy sleeping on their back and like a little extra firmness.
Considering this is a luxury mattress, it is also very affordable.
If you sleep on your stomach then take a look at the Amerisleep A2 mattress, also below.
Check the Haven Premier Mattress price here >>
Best For Lighter Weighted People With Back Pain – Layla
If you’re a lighter weighted person then a mattress that is made for a heavier person will not be good for you. Therefore, it is important to get a mattress that is right for your weight. This is especially true if you are also suffering from back pain.
Generally speaking, most lighter weighted people prefer mattresses that are medium-soft. Foam mattresses can generally feel too hard and result in an uncomfortable night’s sleep.
If you’re a light-weight sleeper then here in our mattress for back pain review, we have found a great solution for you.
The Layla mattress is a flippable mattress with two degrees of firmness. One side has been crafted to be soft, while the other side is medium-firm.
The softer side is constructed of a three-inch comfort layer and is great if you sleep on your side or back. This softer side measures at a 4 out of 10, which makes it a medium-soft sided mattress.
While the firmer side has a one-inch comfort layer and is generally good for those who sleep on their stomach, if you’re currently suffering from back pain then this firmer side may provide you with better support. This side measures around 7-8 out of 10 on the firmness scale, making it medium-firm.
One of the great things about choosing a Layla mattress if you’re a light weighted person is that once your back pain has gone you can try flipping over to the softer side to see if that’s better for you.
Check the Layla Mattress price here >>
Best For Large People With Back Pain – Haven Premier Mattress
Back sleepers usually do best with a mattress that is on the upper end of medium-firm, and typically in the 7-8 firmness range.
Mattresses that provide an even surface with whole-body support are what you should go for if you’re a back sleeper.
If you have back pain then this is especially important and you will also want to choose a mattress that maintains correct spinal alignment and is not prone to sagging.
For back sleepers with back pain, we recommend choosing the Haven Premier mattress.
These mattresses are made from 5 layers of high-quality foam with an impressive 450GSM (Grams per Square Meter).
GSM is a measurement of thickness and comfort. The higher the GSM of your mattress, the more comfortable and supportive you should find your mattress.
Most other brands have a max of 400GSM. Haven mattresses go one better with the Haven Premier at 450 and the Haven Boutique mattress at 500GSM!
The Haven Premier is ideal for back sleepers and those who prefer a firmer mattress. Therefore, it can give you additional support.
Check the Haven Premier mattress price here >>
Best For Side and Combination Sleepers With Back Pain – Puffy Mattress
As I briefly mentioned above, the Puffy is a good mattress for side sleepers. However, it is also a versatile mattress so combination sleepers often do well with this mattress too.
Side Sleepers
Generally speaking, softer mattresses are usually recommended for people who sleep on their side. However, if you are suffering from back pain then you may benefit from some extra support.
In this case, you may do better with a medium or medium-firm mattress, and in particular, one that is made from memory foam.
From our research, the Puffy mattress shows to be good for side sleepers with back pain. Puffy mattresses are built with several layers of different foams, each of which has unique densities and features.
This combination makes for a highly supportive mattress but with a good degree of softness to make it exceedingly comfortable.
Puffy’s unique composition is excellent for maintaining correct spinal alignment as you sleep and, therefore, reducing back pain.
Combination Sleepers
If you are a combination sleeper then you’re a person who sleeps in more than one position during the night.
Combo sleepers should choose a mattress that allows for excess movement in the bed. Typically, high-quality memory foam mattresses with motion insolation are best.
Due to the multiple sleeping position requirements, combination sleepers generally do better with a medium-firm mattress.
If back pain is present then it is especially important not to choose a mattress that is too soft.
We particularly like the Puffy mattress for side and combinations sleepers because it also provides a great level of pressure relief throughout the whole body and also supports the head, neck, shoulders, hips, and legs.
An additional benefit of choosing the Puffy mattress is its unique CoolingCloud and ClimateComfort technology.
These features help to keep a good amount of airflow through the mattress and prevent you from overheating in the night.
Check the Puffy Mattress price here >>
Best Mattress For Stomach Sleepers With Back Pain – Amerisleep AS2
If you are a stomach sleeper with back pain then you will most likely benefit from a medium-firm foam mattress.
Rated by Business Insider as the best mattress for back pain, the AS2 Amerisleep mattress has been designed to enable the healthy alignment of your spine as you sleep.
It is a great mattress for both stomach and back sleepers.
The Bio-Pur® comfort layer adjusts itself to the shape of your body and alleviates pain across your pressure points.
What’s unique about this feature is that it also has a fast bounce-back, which means you will not feel stuck in one position when you move around in the bed.
The Bio-Pur® foam is also designed with open cells to allow more air to escape and keep you cool throughout the night.
While the AS2 offers great support for general back pain, if you are suffering with a herniated disc then our research shows that the AS3 might be a better choice for you.
Check the Amerisleep AS2 Price here >>
Best For Back Sleepers With Back Pain – Zoma
Sleeping on your back can bring about its own problems if you’re suffering from back pain.
Most back sleepers do best with a medium-firm mattress. This its because if the mattress is too hard then it will apply pressure on your spine and not support the natural curvature of your lower back.
If you choose a mattress that is too soft then it can cause you to sink into the mattress at the hip area and place additional pressure on your lower back.
If you’re currently suffering from back pain and you sleep on your back then you may also find additional comfort by placing a pillow under your knees to take off any extra pressure that is being applied to your lower back area.
You would also likely benefit from a flatter pillow as to not create unnecessary lift in your head and neck, which, in turn, can put more pressure on your spine.
The Zoma mattress is specially designed for athletes and busy people who put extra demands on their bodies.
The layers in the Zoma mattress help you to sleep deeply, provide exceptional support, and assisted recovery from muscular aches and pains.
These mattresses provide great support with targeted firmness to give additional abutment in the areas where you need it most.
The top layer of the mattress is 2 inches of exceptional comfort and is a softer layer to give direct pressure relief on the aching areas that make contact with the mattress.
The Zoma mattress is made from gel memory foam that contours your body. The gel in this layer enables you to stay cool throughout the night while the foam provides pressure relief. This top layer also houses Zoma’s unique Triangulex™ material.
This is the triangular-shaped sections that are positioned around the shoulders and legs portion of the mattress to provide additional comfort.
The second layer of the mattress contains a foam called Reactiv™. This layer functions in a similar way to latex and promotes the recovery of aching muscles.
The third layer is the foundation of the mattress. It is seven inches of Support+ foam material and provides the overall structure of the mattress.
Check the Zoma Mattress price here >>
Best Budget Mattress For Back Pain – Sweetnight
While researching mattresses for back pain we also realized that some folks are also looking for a lower-priced alternative to some of the other brands mentioned in this article.
After looking at a few different brands, we came across a company called Sweetnight.
They offer 5 different types of mattresses. However, what caught our eye is that 3 of their mattresses are marketed as being good for back pain.
All 3 mattresses are made from gel-infused memory foam and built with motion isolation.
These Sweetnight mattress models are:
- Sunkiss
- Breeze
- Twilight
Sweetnight Sunkiss
Sunkiss is Sweetnight’s most popular memory foam mattress and also has a gel-infused layer to help keep you cool at night. However, the Sunkiss mattress does not stay as cool as the Breeze or Twilight model.
What we particularly like about this mattress is that it is flippable with different firmness levels on each side.
The softer side measures at 6 out of 10 on the firmness scale, whereas the firmer side is 7.5, which would be at the lower end of medium-firm.
This mattress may be good for lighter-weighted people, but it is not recommended for people weighing more than 230 lbs.
Check out the Sweetnight Sunkiss price here >>
Sweetnight Breeze
The Sweetnight Breeze mattress, also marketed as a good mattress for body pressure and back pain relief, is the coolest of the Sweetnight range.
If you’re a hot sleeper or if you struggle to get a good night in the summer months then the Breeze may be a better choice for you.
Besides the gel-infused memory foam layers, the Breeze is also built with high-density foam to support you throughout the night.
The Breeze measures at a 6 out of 10 on the firmness scale and is said to also be good for heavier people. This mattress is not flippable.
Check out the Sweetnight Breeze price here >>
Sweetnight Twilight
The Twilight model is Sweetnight’s hybrid mattress.
Although it is a little more expensive than the Sunkiss and the Breeze, it is still extremely affordable for a hybrid mattress.
The Twilight is built with an additional soft cotton plush layer for extra comfort.
Like the other 2 models, the Twilight also has gel-infused memory foam and is well ventilated to keep you cool at night.
When it comes to firmness, the Twilight is a 6.5 on the firmness scale. This mattress is not flippable.
All Sweetnight mattresses come with a 100-day sleep trial, 10-year warranty, and free delivery anywhere in the USA.
Check out the Sweetnight Twilight price here >>
Final Thoughts
If you’re suffering from back pain then it may be time to upgrade your mattress.
Since your choice of mattress will largely depend on your weight, sleeping position, the location of your back pain, and, of course, your budget, there is quite a bit to consider.
Take your time to assess the above brands and check out the product specs of the mattresses you are interested in.
Below is an interesting video from physical therapist, Jared Beckstrand, PT, DPT on his recommended sleeping position for back pain.
Disclaimer: Keep in mind that we may receive commissions when you click our links and make purchases. However, this does not impact our reviews and comparisons. We try our best to keep things fair and balanced, in order to help you make the best choice for you.
