Best Mattress for Back Pain Relief

The wrong mattress can amplify or even cause back pain. If you are waking up with a stiff back that is a glaring sign your mattress is wrong for you. Finding the right mattress to support your back and keep your spine in alignment will do wonders for your quality of sleep and life. In this guide we will discuss the best mattress for back pain relief.

How Does Your Mattress Impact Back Pain?

The spine is the central support structure of the body that runs from the base of the skull to the tailbone. When something along the column causes misalignment that is a recipe for back pain and poor spinal health. A shoulder or hip that dips in too far, can cause pain somewhere else along the spinal column. It is important your mattress supports your entire body to keep your spine in alignment and make sure you wake up feeling refreshed and pain free.

What Type of Mattress Is Best for Back Pain?

Ideally a mattress will make contact with all parts of your body, to cradle your spine and help it stay in its natural alignment. Different styles of mattresses will accomplish this goal in different ways, and you will need to evaluate your needs to find the one that will work best for you.

• Memory Foam: This is the best man-made material for conformability. Memory foam contours to the lighter parts of our body, while letting the heavier parts sink in and relieve pressure. This is an ideal material for spinal alignment and pressure relief.
• Latex: This is the best natural material for conformability. Latex is extremely durable and while it has a bit more push back feeling than memory foam, it feels light and airy, and is excellent at reliving pressure on your hips/shoulders/etc.
• Hybrid: Hybrids typically have a thick layer of memory foam or latex to contour well to the lighter areas of our bodies such as the low back and behind the knees. The coil support down below does a good job of relieving pressure on our heavier spots such as the hips and shoulders. This combination of coils and foam works well for spinal alignment for many sleepers.
• Innerspring: This is the most traditional of mattress styles and considered the least optimal option for back pain relief. With less foam between you and the springs, and the springs all tied together working as one unit, these styles of mattresses tend to contour less to the body, leaving gaps in support in our lower backs and putting too much pressure on our hips and shoulders.

Best Mattress Firmness for Back Pain Relief

The firmness of the mattress you choose will also play a key role in how well that mattress alleviates your back pain. If the mattress is too firm to allow you to sink in, this pushes your back out of alignment and leads to waking up stiff and sore. If the mattress is too soft and sinks in too far, this will also cause your back to become out of its natural alignment. A medium firm is usually the best option for back pain relief, as it will have just enough give to allow conformability, and enough firm support to keep your spine in alignment.

What Sleeping Positions Are Best for Back Pain?

Your sleeping position can also be a reason you are waking up with back pain. Sleeping on your back on the right mattress will be the best position to keep back pain at bay. Sleeping on your back allows for the most contact of the mattress with your spine and distributes pressure over a larger surface area.

The next best position for sleeping is on your side. Combined with the right pillow and mattress, side sleeping will keep your back in the right spinal alignment. Stomach sleeping will typically cause an unnatural arch in your lower back and lead to pain upon waking. The use of an adjustable base with your mattress can help keep you sleeping on your back and prevent tossing and turning through the night.

Top-Rated Mattresses for Back Pain (2025)

The best mattress for back pain depends on your unique sleeping style and preferences. While there is innovative mattress technologies designed to alleviate back pain, we typically recommend medium-firm mattresses for their excellent balance of comfort and support. Below we have provided a list of our top-rated recommendations for mattresses that can ease back pain.

Twilight 2.0 Plush

• Materials: Bamboo cover, 3-zone support system, pocketed coils.
• Firmness: Medium-soft, perfect for side and combination sleepers.
• Back Pain Relief: The 3-zone support system promotes postural alignment, and pocketed coils reduce motion transfer, ensuring uninterrupted sleep.

Daybreak 500 Plush

• Materials: Tencel cover, Joma wool, Talalay latex, and foam.
• Firmness: Plush, providing luxurious softness and pressure relief.
• Back Pain Relief: Zoned graphite-infused latex keeps the spine aligned while offering cooling and durability.

TEMPUR LuxeAdapt MEDIUM HYBRID

• Materials: TEMPUR-Material™, ventilated layers, hybrid technology.
• Firmness: Medium, versatile for a wide range of sleeping positions.
• Back Pain Relief: Advanced pressure relief and lumbar support from the TEMPUR-Material™, with hybrid coils for balanced alignment.

High Point Firm Hybrid Mattress

• Materials: Posturepedic Technology™ and enhanced coil support.
• Firmness: Medium-firm, adaptable for all sleepers.
• Back Pain Relief: Reinforced lumbar support targets the lower back, while coils offer motion isolation and stability.

smartMATCH 2.0 Blue

• Materials: Cooling Tencel cover, copper and gel-infused memory foam, high coil count.
• Firmness: Medium, suitable for most sleepers.
• Back Pain Relief: Zoned memory foam aligns the spine, while copper foam provides cooling and antimicrobial benefits.

Hawthorne Plush

• Materials: Tencel cover, gel memory foam, Talalay latex.
• Firmness: Medium-soft, excellent for side and combination sleepers.
• Back Pain Relief: A 5-zone support system ensures targeted pressure relief and spinal alignment, aided by durable Talalay latex.

How to Choose the Right Mattress for Back Pain

Your Weight Matters

Your body weight affects how much you sink into a mattress. Heavier sleepers might feel more supported on a firmer option, while lighter folks might prefer something softer for that cozy, cradling feel.

What Feels Best to You

Comfort isn’t one-size-fits-all. Some people love the way memory foam hugs them, while others swear by the bounce and support of a hybrid or innerspring mattress. Think about what has worked for you in the past—or what hasn’t.

How You Sleep

Back sleepers: Medium-firm mattresses can help support your lower back.
Side sleepers: Softer mattresses can cushion your hips and shoulders.
Stomach sleepers: A firmer mattress helps keep your midsection from sinking too much, which can mess with your alignment.

How Long It Lasts

Nobody wants to replace a mattress after just a few years, especially if back pain is an issue. Look for high-quality materials and read reviews to see how well it holds up over time.

Test in Stores

Don’t just sit on the edge, lie down! Spend 10-15 minutes in your usual sleep position to get a feel for the mattress. And don’t feel rushed; this is your back we’re talking about.

Home Trial Periods

BedMart offers a 120-Day comfort exchange period, but we recommend using your new mattress for up to 30 days (about 4 and a half weeks) to help break it in. Sometimes it takes a few weeks to know if a mattress is really helping your back pain.

Common Mattress Myths About Back Pain

“A firmer mattress is always better for back pain.”
Not necessarily! While firm mattresses can provide support, they might not offer enough cushioning for side sleepers or those with sensitive pressure points. The best option depends on your sleep position and body type.

“The more expensive the mattress, the better the support.”
Price doesn’t always equal comfort or quality. Many affordable mattresses offer excellent support and durability. Focus on materials and construction instead of just the price tag.