The 6 Best Mattresses for Solving Back Pain
If you buy something using links in our stories, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
Nearly a decade ago, I started waking up with back pain, or even full on throwing my back out at night. It turns out I have two permanent conditions in my spine: scoliosis, a sideways curvature in my spine that developed in my mid-twenties (usually teens develop it, but I'm just special), and spondylosis in my lower back, which is abnormal wear and tear on the cartilage in the spine. Both were causing me serious pain overnight and in the morning, but it turned out my flimsy mattress was the secondary culprit. It didn't offer the support I needed.
I tried everything: a mattress pad, knee pillows, and mattresses that ranged from super soft foam to firm planks. Some of these things worked, some didn't. I, or another WIRED reviewer, slept on the mattresses below for at least seven nights each, and monitored how they affected our back pain during the night and following morning. My husband also gave me his feedback, even though he isn't plagued with chronic back problems.
After all these nights of sleeping on the job, I've found which mattresses left my back aches and pressure pains in the past. Below are our favorites to sleep on if you have back pain, plus advice for how to navigate back pain and sleep overall. While you're here, don't miss our related buying guides, including the Best Mattresses, Best Pillows, and Best Sheets, for an all-around best sleeping experience. All of the prices shown below are for queen-size models.
Power up with unlimited access to WIRED. Get best-in-class reporting that's too important to ignore for just $2.50 $1 per month for 1 year. Includes unlimited digital access and exclusive subscriber-only content. Subscribe Today.
- Photograph: Nena Farrell
Best Overall Mattress for Back Pain
Charles P. Rogers Estate Tradition MattressThe Tradition Estate is the newest mattress in Charles P. Rogers' lineup and an upgrade to the existing Estate mattress. This 13-inch mattress has seven layers of gel, foam, and springs, with an Oeko-Tex-certified quilted top and foam edge support. The spring layer is called Powercore, with each coil moving individually for targeted support. You can feel the firm support of the Powercore and other layers within it, but the top still has enough softness and give that I'm plenty comfortable sleeping on it with my side sleeper ways. It only has one firmness level, which Charles P. Rogers describes as “gentle firm,” and I'd agree with that. I'd guesstimate it's a 7.5/10 in firmness, but with the soft top and very firm interior layers, it's hard to assign a number to it.
My achy back feels nicely supported throughout the night with the firm base, and I woke up usually without an ache to be found in my lower back. It took a couple nights to break in the top softer cushion—the first night or two it felt a little too firm on my side and back—but after that, the top layers felt soft and forgiving on my side sleeper position while the lower layers supported my spine. I woke up without any pressure pain, thanks to that softer top.
My husband liked this mattress a lot too, even though he's a back sleeper who prefers a firmer mattress. It was a great middle ground for our different needs, and it did a fantastic job supporting my back and erasing my pressure pain. I'd recommend it for just about anyone to sleep on. If it doesn't end up working for you, Charles P. Rogers allows returns and exchanges within 100 days of delivery. The Tradition Estate also has a 5/15-year warranty, with five years of complete coverage against manufacturing issues and another 10 years of prorated coverage. It comes shrink-wrapped and rolled up, making it easy to get into your house, and then you can throw away the layers of material instead of a big ol' box.
Composition Seven layers of latex, gel, and coils Firmness One option, gentle firm is around a 7.5/10 Height 13 inches Cooling No Trial period 100 days of delivery - Photograph: Nena Farrell
Best for Pressure Relief
Saatva RxMy right side almost always hurts. My scoliosis puts more weight on that side, creating a painful pressure point overnight. Fun combo! But the Saatva Rx let me sleep on my right side and wake up without a single pain. There's a lot going on that makes this possible. There are seven layers, including a half-inch memory foam layer placed for lumbar support, a high-density foam layer encasing a micro-coil layer, and a layer Saatva calls the “Therapeutic Support Core” with a foam module on top of individually pocketed coils and phase change material, which can help regulate temperature overnight. It feels nice and soft, but not so soft that I'm sinking into it.
It totally erases my pressure points and muscle pain overnight. I let my sister sleep on it after she strained a muscle in her upper back, and the next morning she said it felt seriously improved and noted how easy it was to spring up. It's a little too soft to support my spine's spondylosis damage, and I woke up with a twinge of discomfort in my lower back where that damage is, even with the extra lumbar support.
But if you have more pressure point pain or overused-muscle aches rather than spine damage, the Saatva Rx is a fantastic choice. Saatva also offers a 365-night trial and a lifetime warranty, and it delivers the mattress in a truck and fully formed—no shrink-wrapped mattress-in-a-box here. You'll get a heads-up about the delivery and can ask for it to be placed in your room of choice.
Composition Seven layers of foam and coils Firmness One option, supportive plush is about 5/10 Height 15 inches Cooling No, but has phase change material Trial period 365-night home trial
- Photograph: Nena Farrell
Best for Back or Mixed Sleepers
Plank Firm NaturalI didn't expect to love the Plank Firm Natural, as it sounded a little too firm for side sleeping. But consider me a changed woman. It's a dual-sided hybrid mattress, with a medium-firm side and a firm side. There are individually encased coils in the middle of the mattress, and a 1.5-inch layer of latex on either side with different densities to create the medium versus medium-firm experience. I started with a week on the medium-firm side and in the mornings noticed an immediate erasure of the tight, painful feeling in my spine where I've eroded away the cartilage. It also relieved some of the pressure pain I get on my right side.
But the real magic, it turned out, was on the other, firmer side. I expected it to flare up my pressure point pain at the very least, but I woke up pain-free after sleeping on the Plank Firm Natural's firm side. I was shocked, to say the least. The firmer latex density provided great support for my back, but it also erased the pressure pain that usually radiates through my right side. The only downside was, being a side sleeper, it did make my shoulders feel stiff after sleeping on it for several nights. But hey, I'll take a little stiffness over true pain. Still, this mattress would be best for back sleepers, or mixed sleepers who aren't always on their side like I am.
The Plank Firm Natural is also an organic mattress—thus the “natural” in its name—and claims to have temperature-regulating properties. I did find this mattress to feel more breathable than others I tried, and I stayed a little cooler at night when sleeping on it. It has a 120-night trial and a 10-year warranty, and comes in a box.
Composition Five layers of foam and coils Firmness Two options, firm is 8/10 Height 10 inches Cooling No, but promises temperature regulating Trial period 120-night home trial - Photograph: Saatva
Great for Lumbar Support
Saatva Classic MattressThis isn't the first time we've recommended the Saatva Classic for back pain: It's one of our picks in our Best Mattresses guide.
The Saatva Classic, specifically in the “Luxury” firmness level, is one of our favorites for those who need lumbar support to help battle back pain. That's because it has both an organic cotton pillowtop with quilted zones and a high-density foam layer in the middle of the mattress to promote lumbar support and spinal alignment while you sleep. The design helps relieve pressure points, too, if that's another worry of yours.
The Saatva Classic has an innerspring design, with a layer of pocketed coils made with 14.5-gauge steel and a separate base layer made with heavier 13-gauge steel coils. All of those springs make it a bit bouncy, but I like sleeping on a slightly bouncy mattress, as it helps me get out of bed without pulling my back before the day even starts. There's edge support too, thanks to more high-density foam surrounding the edges of this mattress. Just like the Rx above, Saatva also offers a 365-night trial and a lifetime warranty for the Classic mattress, and it is delivered as a full-size mattress rather than compressed and rolled up.
Composition Five layers of foam and coils Firmness Three options, firm is 7.5/10 Height 11.5 inches or 14.5 inches Cooling No Trial period 365-night home trial
- Photograph: Martin Cizmar
Cooling, Plus Pain Relief in One
Leesa Sapira ChillIf you're grappling with whether you want a cooling mattress or a pain-relieving mattress, Leesa's Sapira Chill can do it all. The Sapira Chill is our runner-up in the Best Mattresses guide, thanks to its problem-solving capabilities.
The Sapira Chill is a hybrid mattress with four foam layers (including a responsive foam layer and copper-infused memory foam), three different types of coil, and a fabric cover that pulls heat away from your body. There's also a plush quilted pillowtop and three available firmness levels. Reviewer Martin Cizmar found that this mattress eliminated his periodic lower-back pain while he slept on it. That responsive foam layer, plus the three different coils, give this mattress a nice springiness, so you can hop out of bed in the morning (something I love, to avoid any back strain as I start my day!). There's an outer ring of springs for excellent edge support, too, which is nice.
But even nicer is that this mattress will also keep you a little cooler than others, thanks to the fabric cover that pulls body heat away from you while you sleep. One of the foam layers is high-airflow foam that help keeps you cool too. There's a 100-night at-home sleep trial with free shipping and free returns.
Composition Seven layers of foam and coils Firmness Three options, firm is 7.5/10 Height 14 inches Cooling Yes Trial period 100-night trial - Photograph: Nectar
More Affordable Pressure Relief
Nectar Sleep MattressesLook, being a side sleeper while trying to support your spine isn't easy. But we've loved Nectar's mattresses for years for pressure relief, and the latest favorite among our testers is the Nectar Premier Hybrid. Reviewer Martin Cizmar is a side sleeper who suffers from sciatica back pain from time to time, and he says that this hybrid mattress is a great choice for anyone who wants a softer mattress to sink into while getting plenty of pressure relief and excellent contouring while you sleep.
The Nectar Premier Hybrid is 13 inches thick with five layers of foam and gel, plus a layer of 8-inch innerspring coils. The top layer is a cooling cover that can help out hot sleepers, and the large amount of foam is great for motion isolation if you sleep with a partner. If you're a combo sleeper, rather than a side-only sleeper, you might want something a little less soft, though. If you're unsure, Nectar offers a full year of trial and a forever warranty, so it's safe to give it a try and see if it works for you.
Composition Seven layers of foam and coils Firmness One option, medium firm is 6.5/10 Height 13 inches Cooling Yes Trial period 100-night trial
Photograph: Nena FarrellTry a Knee Pillow
Some Great Knee PillowsIf you're hesitant about investing in a new mattress, there's an easy place to start: a knee pillow. It was one of the first recommendations that Sean Mackey, doctor of neurology, chief of the Division of Stanford Pain Medicine, and past president of the American Academy of Pain Medicine (AAPM), gave me when I asked him about how to reduce pain while you sleep. He explained that one of the sources of pain can be a lack of rachis alignment, or the alignment of your spine. “Generally, you should either be sleeping on your back or putting a pillow or support underneath your knees for spinal alignment,” says Mackey.
As a side sleeper, I went out and tried a few knee pillows designed for side sleepers with my original, crappy foam mattress I've been sleeping on for the past five years. Mackey wasn't kidding—it did help. I was more comfortable and fell asleep faster. I liked both the Pillow Cube Knee Cube ($50) and the Everlasting Comfort Knee Pillow ($28) for different reasons. The Everlasting has a strap to keep it in place, but it's nice and small if you don't want something as bulky as the Pillow Cube in your bed. I did find that the smaller Everlasting was more likely to end up on the floor, though, versus the Pillow Cube's being easier to relocate and tuck back into my knees in the middle of the night. Both helped with my spinal alignment and reduced my back pain a bit, but I still found switching to a more supportive mattress to be a bigger improvement.
Photograph: Brooklyn BeddingHonorable Mentions
Other Supportive Mattresses We Tried- Brooklyn Bedding Aurora Luxe Cooling Mattress for $1,699: If you're looking for something akin to the Plank Natural that's firm without being too firm, this is another good pick. It has cooling features, too, which is a nice bonus.
- DreamCloud Premiere Hybrid for $949: This soft mattress was still supportive. I liked sleeping on it, but it didn’t erase my back pain as much as other mattresses we recommend. Still, it was a nice option if you want support without too much firmness as a side sleeper.
- Purple Restore Cool Touch for $2,795: Reviewer Nicole Kinning says this is the absolute best cooling mattress by a long shot. It's also got a gridlike gel layer, called GelFlex, that adds extra support and makes it easy to get out of bed in the morning.
- WinkBeds The WinkBed for $1,499: WIRED reviewer Julian Chokkattu recommends this mattress for his fellow stomach and back sleepers. There are three levels of firmness. He tried the Luxury Firm and liked that the plush pillowtop also adds a luxe, hotel-like feel to a relatively firm bed.
- Saatva Memory Foam Hybrid for $1,645: The Saatva Memory Foam Hybrid is marketed as firm, and is designed to support your lower back with cushioning in the center. Reviewer Nicole Kinning was a little too short at 5'2" for the lumbar support, but it could be a good fit for more average-sized folks. There are also cooling properties, but they didn't stand out compared to other cooling mattresses.
Photograph: Mattress FirmMattresses to Avoid
Spare Your Achey BackWhile the horrible futon mattress that started my hunt doesn't exist anymore—hallelujah for that!—there are plenty of other mattresses that have flared up my or other WIRED reviewers' back pain.
- Tempur-Pedic Tempur-Adapt for $2,199: This mattress was super soft and conforming, but it wasn't supportive whatsoever and had more of a sinking sensation when you laid on it. My right side's muscle pain was worse after nights on this mattress, and my damaged spine felt distinctly unhappy. My sister also tried sleeping on it, and she described it as “sleeping on an air mattress that is losing air throughout the night.”
- Magniflex Magnistretch 12 for $3,199: This Italian-made mattress advertises itself as stretching the spine. It’s endorsed by retired Italian soccer player Giorgio Chiellini and current pro basketballer Stefano Tonut, who plays for the Italian equivalent of the Boston Celtics. Well, the Magniflex definitely does something to the spine, though WIRED reviewer Martin Cizmar found it very unwelcome. He lasted only two nights on the Magnistretch before crying uncle and limping over to my next test mattress. He describes the morning-after sensation as similar to sleeping on a hammock made of chainlink fence.
Photograph: Charles P. RogersHow Does a Mattress Fix Back Pain?
Back Pain Mattress Shopping TipsWhat makes a mattress ideal for solving back pain? A common rule of thumb is to aim for a medium-firm mattress. “A mattress that is medium-firm may be better for people with back pain instead of one that's soft or firm," but these are based on low-quality studies, says Sean Mackey. Harvard Health also recommends avoiding both very soft and very hard mattresses if you have back pain.
You’re looking for something that can provide spinal support if your pain originates in your spine, or pressure relief if your pain comes from pressure points you’re sleeping on. Mattress firmness plays a big role, but so does the overall design of the coils, foam layers, and any additional support measures added.
During my testing, I was impressed to find that a firmer mattress really did lead to big improvements in my back pain. I expected a harder surface to cause flare-ups of pain or to even throw my back out of place, which has happened on cheap, hard mattresses before. However, I slept well and woke up without any aches or soreness. While a softer sleep surface was my go-to since I’m a side sleeper, choosing a firmer style of mattress immediately supported my spine better and kept pain away, rather than flaring it up like I assumed.
Mackey also recommends checking in with your own doctor or an occupational therapist. “With chronic conditions, we don’t have a ‘This is the best thing for you,’” he says. He also recommends trialing out a few things while you sleep, whether that's different pillows or mattresses of different firmnesses. You might also try physical therapy or stretching before bed: Mattress maker Charles P. Rogers has an entire area of its site dedicated to sleeping pain-free. It's not just about what you're sleeping on, but how well you're taking care of yourself before you go to bed too.
I will probably always live with my spine conditions, and there are things that help, like stretching before bed and staying super active during the day. But sleeping on a better mattress is a good first step to staying active and pain-free—at least for the morning.
Dyson Airwrap deal: Free $60 Case + $40 Gift
Get Up To An Extra 45% Off September Sale
Vista Print Coupon Code: 20% Off Select Signage
Newegg Coupon 10% Off
Peacock Student Discount For $1.99/Mo For 12 Months
Explore DJI's Student Discounts & Educational Offers For 2024