You might be wondering, how did we come up with this list of the best beds for back pain? Good question! Our Slumber Yard team has been testing out mattresses for so long. We have over 150 reviews under our belt and have seen many different beds come through our office’s double doors. We hand-test each one of them, cut them open, and truly dissect the beds we’re sent to gain a solid understanding of who they would work best for. As such, when we make our best lists (like this one), we look back on our reviews and meticulously decide which ones offer a combination of quality constructions, accommodating features, and great money values. In this case, each bed below can offer ample pain relief for those who suffer from a bad back.
Top 8 Mattresses For Back Pain
- Best Firm Mattress – Saatva Classic
- Best Innerspring Mattress – WinkBeds Classic
- Best Affordable Mattress – Brooklyn Bedding Signature
- Best Mattress For Upper Back Pain – Casper Wave Hybrid
- Best Memory Foam Mattress – Loom & Leaf
- Best Mattress for Pressure Relief – Helix Moonlight
Compare Best Mattresses for Bad Backs
BEST FIRM MATTRESS FOR BACK PAIN
Why Saatva wins as the best firm mattress for back pain
There’s no way around it. Saatva is one of the top mattress brands for back pain sufferers—that is, regardless of where your pain shows up. Interestingly, Saatva has a medium-firm and firm mattress and a softer option that could compete for the best mattress for side sleepers with lower back pain.
But it’s not just about the back support that Saatva offers; it’s also a highly comfortable mattress. The bed has two layers of coils—including traditional innerspring at the bottom—and a luxurious fluffy cover made, in part, of organic cotton. Additionally, they offer two height options, 11.5″ and 14.5″, so you can choose how thick and supportive you want it to be.
Saatva’s best features
- Saatva has several firmness levels including a medium and medium-firm option which we think work the best for back pain sufferers. In addition to the two height options, you get a lot of flexibility to meet your preferences.
- Saatva is a premium, top-quality luxury mattress that’s made to be extra durable. It features two back-to-back layers of innersprings for maximum support, and boasts a comfy pillow top for added coziness.
- As far as pricing goes, Saatva costs less than you’d expect. Guess what a queen size bed retails for. You’d be wrong. Saatva is one of the best mattresses under $2,000. It’s actually about $1,575 for the queen size. Clearly, this is not a cheap mattress, but it sure is affordable for what it offers.
Why we picked this bed
The bottom line with Saatva is that you have two firm mattresses from which to choose and extra supportive mattress construction—and we consider both of them to be great picks for people in the market for the best beds for back pain. We also love its premium materials, including the eco-friendly organic cotton cover!
Best Innerspring Mattress For Back Support
Why WinkBeds wins as best innerspring for back support
WinkBed is a hefty 15” innerspring mattress that looks and feels like it belongs in a five-star hotel—it’s one of the best-rated mattresses, period. It comes in three different firmness levels (Softer, Luxury Firm, and Firmer), which allows you to pick one based on your sleep position (side, back, stomach).
WinkBeds’s best features
- Since it is 15” thick with a layer of zoned support pocketed coils, it will be a great bed for back pain sufferers and supportive enough for larger individuals. They even offer a Plus version for extra heavier folks.
- Possibly the best part about this mattress is the price. Depending on discounts, you can usually find a queen size for around $1,500, which we consider a very fair price for what you’re getting.
- In terms of feel, it feels like exactly what it is: a thick and supportive innerspring bed with a soft quilted cover.
Why we picked this bed
It’s a very nice, reasonably priced luxurious mattress. It offers maximum support for those who suffer from a bad back thanks to its dual-coil/innerspring construction without compromising comfort. We think the softer version will be ideal for anyone with upper back pain and the Luxury Firm and Firm mattress versions will be suitable for individuals with low back pain.
Best Affordable Mattress for Back Pain
Why Brooklyn Bedding Signature Hybrid wins as best affordable mattress for back pain
In terms of construction, The Brooklyn Bedding Signature Hybrid bed is a spring mattress with 6” pocketed coils for back support. The comfort layers are composed of “Energex” and “TitanFlex” foam, which offer a “soft foam” feel. They are truly really comfy. Anyone with back issues should likely start with the firm mattress model, which they call “Firm.” That said, we could see side sleepers with back pain preferring the “Medium” model.
Of course, there’s no guarantee that even the best mattresses on this will cure your back issues, but at least the Brooklyn Bedding Signature Hybrid mattress allows you to save money while sleeping on a very quality bed. The king mattress is under $1,400, and the queen mattress is around $1,100.
Brooklyn Bedding’s best features
- Brooklyn Beddings Signature Hybrid mattress is one of the most affordable luxury mattresses on the market. You can get a queen mattress for only around $1,100.
- It’s offered in multiple different firmness levels, making it suitable for all different sleeping positions.
- Its hybrid construction makes it ideal for back pain, and all body types (especially folks over 230 lbs).
Why we picked this bed
The Brooklyn Signature Hybrid mattress is our top pick for the best affordable mattress for back pain; however, it’s much more than that. It’s also one of our favorite bed in a box mattresses, considering it’s a really nice bed and the price point is very reasonable. The Brooklyn Bedding brand manufactures their beds in-house at their own factory, making this hybrid bed more affordable than other quality hybrid mattresses.
Best Mattress For Upper Back Pain
Why Casper wins as the best mattress for upper back issues
Casper Wave is our top pick for the best foam mattress for upper back pain, though, we should clarify that it’s available in an all-foam version and a hybrid version. What makes this mattress interesting, though, is that it has what Casper mattress calls its Hyper-Targeted Support System.
This means that the bed offers more back support in the center third (where the bulk of your weight will be) and more pressure relief in the top third (where your upper back will be). It’s a novel concept that makes the Wave stand out from the rest of the other hybrid beds out there, and we think it’s incredibly accommodating.
Casper’s best features
- We think that the whole Hyper-Targeted Support System makes a lot of sense for individuals with chronic back pain. If you’re suffering from upper back pain, you should get the required pressure relief and ample spinal support with the Wave.
- It’s accommodating for all body types and sleeper styles.
- It utilizes multiple different foams, making it feel neutral and bouncy, as well as pressure relieving and comfortable.
Why we picked this bed
All body and sleeper types who experience back should really enjoy Casper Wave if you can get past the price tag. It has a soft foam feel, and we think it can be a solution for sleepers who want additional support or pressure relief for their upper back, as it’s designed to target those common problem areas. It was even endorsed by the American Chiropractic Association.
Best Memory Foam Mattress For Back Pain
Why Loom & Leaf wins as best memory foam mattress for bad backs
Loom & Leaf is flat-out one of the nicest beds you can find online, particularly if you’re searching for a memory foam bed. And it doesn’t just look nice. It’s supportive, comfortable, and has a very clever design. As opposed to other memory foam beds, this one contains a special cooling layer to help regulate temperature.
Loom & Leaf’s best features
- Given this is a thick, all-foam bed, Loom & Leaf is a nice option for heavier folks who don’t like the bounce most hybrid and innerspring beds provide (we know a lot of people out there prefer the hugging, slow-responding characteristics of foam).
- Loom & Leaf is also available in a “Relaxed Firm” and “Firm” model, so you can choose whichever seems to best suit your sleeping preferences. Remember that support is key here for back pain.
- It’s one of the thicker all-foam mattresses we’ve tested, measuring out to 12” thick. This makes it more supportive and durable than competing foam mattresses.
- But wait, there’s more! Under the center, third of the bed (just under the cover) is a gel cooling panel made from a material used in hospital burn units. This won’t make you feel “cold” necessarily, but it will help regulate your overall temperature
Why we picked this bed
Overall, this is just a luxurious, supportive, and versatile bad back mattress because it offers firm mattress profiles that promote a neutrally aligned spine. It’s clearly built to a different standard than your average run-of-the-mill memory foam bed and can even help those who tend to sleep hot at night.
Best Mattress for Pressure Relief
The Helix Moonlight is a medium-firm hybrid mattress with zoned support and an ultra-soft pillow top. It’s available in both a standard and a luxe model.
Why Helix Moonlight wins as best for pressure relief
The Helix Moonlight is a medium hybrid mattress that’s still soft and responsive with both foam and coil layers. The Moonlight is available in both a standard and luxe model. The Helix Moonlight Luxe has a few features that set it apart from the standard –– zoned support and a soft pillow top for added comfort.
Helix Moonlight’s best features
- Both the standard and the luxe options are a great choice for side sleepers because of their plush feel that relieves the pressure points for your hips and shoulders.
- It has a nice, bouncy feel, which will make changing sleeping positions easier if you tend to move during the night.
- The plush feel of this mattress is pressure relieving enough to help cradle and relieve pain points, but it offers more support than the popular Midnight model.
Why we picked this bed
If you look at the construction, it has a memory foam transition layer and a neutral foam comfort layer, which will help the pressure relief department. As such, Helix Moonlight will be soft but have an overall neutral feel to it. This is a very nice option for side sleepers and lighter back/stomach sleepers.
How to Select A Mattress If You Have Back Pain
Consider The Type Of Mattress
If we could only pick one kind of mattress for people with back problems, it would most likely be an innerspring bed, whether it has traditional coils or pocketed coils. Though, there isn’t one single best kind of mattress for individuals suffering from back problems. Instead, it all comes down to what you need from your mattress. Here are the things you should keep in mind when shopping for the best mattress for bad backs.
Type Of Back Pain
Lower back pain:
- Lower back pain is felt in the lumbar and sacral areas of the spine.
- Back and stomach sleepers with this issue typically want a firm mattress.
- However, side sleepers with lower back pain have to strike an interesting balance between support and cushioning.
Upper back pain:
- Upper back pain is generally felt in the upper thoracic and lower cervical areas of the spine. Interestingly, upper back issues can also manifest outside the spine, even perhaps in your shoulders.
Middle back pain:
- Middle back pain is somewhat uncommon even if it involves the largest part of your spine (i.e., the thoracic region).
- The best kind of mattress for you is completely up in the air, though we know you need a lot of back support.
- You should reach out to your doctor for more specific advice.
Best Mattresses For Back Pain By Sleeper Type
Should You Get a Mattress Topper?
If you’re not ready to upgrade your mattress just yet, you might consider a mattress topper. In many cases—especially for petite individuals—adding a new layer of foam can be a cost-effective way to help with back issues. Read our best mattress toppers guide to see our selection for individuals with back pain.
We would rather people consider a new mattress entirely, but if you simply cannot afford it, perhaps a mattress topper can help for a little while. At the very minimum, you know that the mattress topper’s added layer can help alleviate some pressure points. You probably won’t want to end up with a soft mattress, but the extra layer could help.
Should You Buy a Mattress Online?
If you should buy your next mattress online really comes down to your preferences. We can’t deny the convenience of online shopping –– you can do it right from your couch. We also don’t discount the benefits of buying in-store. Some people favor the relationship with their salesperson and the ability to test the beds. Though we’d like to point out that most companies have extended trial periods with free returns, so you have the opportunity to try your new mattress with no pressure in your normal sleeping environment. At the end of the day, there’s no right or wrong way to shop.
Yes, memory foam can be both supportive and gentle enough to accommodate your back pain. The flexibility of memory foam allows it to contour to your exact shape. We recommend you stray away from memory foam beds with softer profiles.
Firm mattresses tend to be better for back pain than super soft mattresses because they help maintain proper spine alignment, but if you’re a strict side sleeper, you probably won’t love a firm bed. Instead, side sleepers can opt for a hybrid bed if they’re looking for more support.
Purple mattresses use a proprietary material designed to be ultra supportive, which helps those who suffer from back and neck pain. Combined with a Purple Pillow, this mattress is one of the most versatile mattresses for conquering back pain and neck pain.
The Tempur-LuxeAdapt is made to be ultra conforming and has a firm option with 30% more support than other models.
Loom & Leaf mattresses feature a comfortable pillow-top that can be soothing to aches and pains, yet they offer an ample amount of support. These mattresses also have a gel cooling panel that helps keep sleepers more comfortable throughout the night.
If you have a bad back, you’ll want a medium-firm mattress. Anything too plush or too firm can result in even more pain. Medium-firm is the perfect middle ground –– it’s not too firm and not too soft.
Yes! Much of the pain you feel while sleeping is because you’re not getting enough support or spine alignment from your mattress. A new mattress or pillow topper can help you feel rested and restored.
If your mattress is too soft, your spine might fall out of alignment. At the same time, a mattress that is too firm can result in joint pressure points. If you wake up feeling tired and tense, it’s a good sign that you might want to start shopping for a new mattress.
Why Trust Us
Get the kind of sleep you’ve only dreamed of with some help from our team of mattress experts. We personally test more than 175 of the best sleep solutions from over 60 leading brands on site, so you can be sure you’re getting unbiased reviews, fair comparisons and personalized recommendations.
