Best Mattress for Back Pain: Reviews and Buyer’s Guide

Everyone wants the best value when shopping. But some may consider finding the best mattress for back pain priceless.

Here, we look at academic studies and a high volume of customer surveys. These will show the connection between sleeping surfaces and the alleviation of back pain.

Back problems prove highly personal. So you might want to discuss your specific issues with a medical professional first.

In this article, we considered over 15 leading brands, researched dozens of reviews and articles, and spent 15 hours on research, writing, and revision.

The Best Mattresses for Back Pain

	Mattress	Type	Price	Sleep Trial
	Amerisleep AS3	Memory Foam	$1399	100 Nights
	Zoma Mattress	Memory Foam	$699	100 Nights
	Amerisleep AS2 Hybrid	Hybrid	$1349	100 Nights
	Zoma Hybrid	Hybrid	$999	100 Nights
	Vaya Mattress	All-Foam	$599	100 Nights

Our top recommendation for back pain relief is Amerisleep’s AS3. The Amerisleep AS3 is built for medium firmness, so it offers an even balance of comfort and support.

The AS3 is especially comfortable for side sleepers. The 3 inches of pressure-relieving Bio-Pur® allows for adequate cushioning under your shoulders and hips. It’s an eco-friendly material that is partly plant-based, with a few traditional ingredients substituted with plant oils.

When you lay on the AS3, the breathable and responsive Bio-Pur® comfort layer contours to your body to alleviate pains and distribute your weight evenly. Because it’s 3 inches thick, it allows for adequate pressure relief under major joints such as your shoulders and hips.

“Around 80% of people will experience low back pain at some point in their lives,” says Dr. Jordan Burns. “The memory foam Amerisleep AS3 mattress evenly distributes body weight across the surface of the mattress to help with the reduction of low back pain.” 

HIVE® technology reinforces the Bio-Pur® foam to further promote proper spinal alignment and pain relief. HIVE® is a zoned support layer in place to facilitate a neutral posture and prevent discomfort. HIVE® offers extra comfort under your shoulders and hips while supporting your midsection, head, and feet.

Side sleepers are prone to lower back pain, so it’s important to find a bed with a good balance of comfort and support, which is why we recommend the AS3. However, the AS3 can also be good for back sleepers who prefer a softer mattress. Amerisleep’s AS3 comes with a 100-night sleep trial, allowing you to try your new bed at home and assess whether or not it’s the right fit. Plus, the AS3 is also backed by a 20-year warranty.

Both sleepers looking for more bounce, the AS3 now comes in a hybrid version. The hybrid mattress has the same soft, breathable cover and Bio-Pur® comfort layer. However, the Bio-Core® base is replaced by an innerspring coil system in the hybrid. The base is designed to offer targeted support similar to the HIVE® layer. The hybrid is reinforced with edge support to make it easier to get in and out of bed.

Learn more at Amerisleep and see which mattress is best for your back pain.

Next on our list is the Zoma Mattress, a memory foam mattress for athletes. Even though it’s engineered for athletes, we recommend the Zoma to those with back pain because it contains pain-relieving Triangulex™ technology to nurture a healthy spine.

Zoma is designed to facilitate deeper sleep and faster muscle recovery to leave you feeling refreshed every morning. It does so with a cooling design that can limit sleep interruptions.

“Research has shown that cooler body temperatures provide better overall quality of sleep and comfort,” says Dr. Burns.  

Zoma has a medium firmness and offers an even balance of comfort and support. While it’s a comfortable option for back and side sleeping, Zoma isn’t firm enough to properly support stomach sleeping.

This leads us to mention, lower back pain is more common amongst stomach sleepers than any other sleeping position. Stomach sleeping alone can lead to chronic discomfort because it puts extra stress on your spine. To get the most pain-free sleep, we recommend switching to side or back sleeping as it is a lot easier on your back.

Zoma has only three layers. The top layer of gel-infused memory foam with Triangulex™ technology, responsive Reactiv™, and a base of Support+ foam.

When you lay down on Zoma, the top layer of contouring memory foam molds to your curves and offers immediate comfort. The gel within the foam combats body heat to keep you at a comfortable temperature.

Triangulex™ technology offers your back dynamic support. Under your midsection, Triangulex™ is firmer to provide extra lumbar support. Under your shoulders and hips, this technology offers deeper compression. This design keeps your spine in line with the rest of your body while still offering cushioning comfort for pain points.

The second layer of Zoma is proprietary Reactiv™, a latex-like poly-foam. Designed to be more responsive than memory foam, Reactiv™ gives Zoma a bit of bounce. It’s increased responsiveness prevents you from feeling “stuck” in the mattress and makes it easier to climb in or out of bed.

Last but not least, Support+ foam at the base of the mattress reinforces the two layers above and prevents sagging.

Zoma backs their mattress with a 10-year warranty. Plus, every Zoma comes with a 100-night sleep trial period. Plus, it is easy and convenient to Zoma online line. Their mattresses arrive at your doorstep package in a box and ready for use.

Another great mattress for back pain is Amerisleep’s AS2. It features a similar design to the AS3, delivering targeted support to your back and other pressure-sensitive areas.

“Research has shown that firmer mattresses like the Amerisleep AS2 provide pressure-relief support and help to reduce pain,” says Dr. Burns.

Let’s touch on why the AS2 is excellent at pain relief. For starters, it has a medium-firm feel. Sleep specialists agree firmer beds are ideal for helping to maintain a healthy spine and minimize aches and pains.

Next, the top layer is 2 inches of their Bio-Pur® foam, which molds to your body and provides instant pressure relief for your muscles and joints. However, their most pain-relieving technology—HIVE® lies below the layer of memory foam.

HIVE® is a foam layer with hexagonal-shaped cut-outs. These are placed in five separate comfort and support zones to nurture your spine’s natural curvature and offer you healthy body support.

Beneath the HIVE® layer sits a base foam layer that reinforces the bed’s stability and keeps your spine supported.

Just like the AS3, the Amerisleep AS2 comes with a 100-night sleep trial and a 20-year warranty.

The Zoma Hybrid combines their gel-memory foam and Reactiv™ layer of the all-foam model with a zoned coil support layer, bringing you a perfect balance of softness, contouring, and support.

The comfort layer of the Zoma Hybrid will be familiar to those who know the all-foam model well. The gel memory foam layer also has segmented cutouts for pressure relief near the most sensitive areas. Since the center of this foam layer is solid, it provides more support to the lumbar spine.

Beneath the gel memory foam comfort layer sits a transition layer known as Reactiv™. This layer bounces back quickly while you move around in bed, preventing sags, soft spots, as well as that all too familiar “stuck” feeling. Reactiv™ acts as a shock absorber, preventing motion transfer and letting you sleep soundly all night.

Finally, the pocketed coils in the base respond individually to movements, further deterring sag and isolating motion. Since each coil is wrapped in fabric, your sleep won’t be disrupted by squeaky coils or movements from your partner. Added edge support surrounding the bed keeps you from falling out and gives the bed an even more secure feel.

The Zoma Hybrid ships free to your door and comes with a 100-night sleep trial, plus free returns and a 10-year warranty.

The Vaya Mattress has two simple but effective layers that offer a balance of support and cushioning to the body. Unlike other memory foams, the foam in the Vaya Mattress bounces back quickly, so you won’t feel trapped (potentially causing back pain). Plus, all foams in the Vaya are CertiPUR-US® certified. Let’s take a closer took at each layer.

“The Vaya Mattress promotes a healthy spinal alignment whether you are a back, side or stomach sleeper,” notes Dr. Burns.

First, the comfort layer of the Vaya sits beneath a soft, stretchy cover engineered for optimal breathability. This open-cell foam circulates air through the mattress easily, so instead of trapping heat and making you sweat, it allows you to sleep cool and comfortable all night. The Vaya Comfort Foam also bounces back fast, so you’ll never feel stuck.

Next, the Vaya Base Foam supports you and keeps your spine aligned no matter the position you’re in, helping you wake up pain-free. The sturdy foam keeps the soft layer above it even and prevents sags.

Each Vaya Mattress ships free and comes with a 100-night sleep trial, plus free returns and a 10-year warranty.

Most Versatile Mattress for Back Pain: Bear

Bear mattresses are designed to help athletes get more reparative sleep, so they can recover quicker and perform better. Knowing that, it’s safe to say these beds are great at supporting your body, relieving muscle soreness, and eliminating aches and pains.

The Bear mattress contains only three layers. They use Celliant® fabric in their quilted cover and graphite-infused gel memory foam to help you get restorative sleep. Celliant® fabric has been FDA-determined to recycle the body heat you emit while you sleep into infrared energy. Infrared energy penetrates muscles to increase circulation and help you recover faster.

The design of the Bear bed is simple, the top layer is 1.5 inches of graphite-infused memory foam. This layer molds to your body to relieve tension in your joints and pressure points. The graphite-infused inside helps regulate your temperature, allowing you to sleep more soundly.

Then, we’ve got two 1-inch layers of poly-foam designed to be responsive and keep you lifted in the bed. These layers keep you suspended in the mattress, preventing you from over-extending your spine.

Best Latex Mattress for Back Pain: Avocado Green

Our favorite latex mattress brand for pain relief is Avocado. Not only are these beds comfortable, but they’re eco-friendly, too! If you prefer to shop green, look no further than the Avocado Green.

Avocado uses only four materials in their mattresses. It features 100% GOLS organic latex, GOTS organic certified cotton and wool, and a pocketed coil system. They also make a Vegan mattress without wool.

Avocado uses 1,414 wrapped coils, arranged in five comfort and support zones, to offer their sleepers targeted support. Their coil system offers extra support to your feet, torso, and neck to maintain your body’s natural alignment. Oppositely, these coils have more give under your shoulders and hips to allow them to compress in the mattress.

The latex they use as the top layer of their mattress is supportive and lifting too, so it helps you sleep more on top of the bed.

Avocado has also offers a latex foam topper. With the pillow top, the mattress has a total of 13 inches of plush latex foam, giving it a luxury firm feel. The addition of the topper is great for side sleepers who want extra cradling around hips and shoulders.

Finding Your Best Mattress for Back Pain

For relief of back pain, the mattress types that rank the highest amongst consumers are memory foam and high-quality latex. These mattresses function the best to limit sagging and loss of back support. This is especially true when constructed of quality materials and foams.

Owner Satisfaction for Bed Types

*Data from Sleep Like The Dead research

Types of Mattresses

The type of mattress that works best for you will depend on your sleeping position. Below, we break down the most common types so you can find the right mattress for you.

Memory Foam

High-quality memory foam makes the perfect mattress for back and neck pain based on reviews. The material also helps properly support healthy sleep styles. It conforms to the sleeper’s shape allowing wider parts of the body, such as hips and shoulders, to sink and be supported. On the other hand, lighter areas, such as the waist and neck, lay atop the foam. Memory foam cradles the body’s curves while supporting the back’s muscular and bony structures, allowing it to relax.

Comfort, breathability, and longevity should also be considered when buying a memory foam mattress. Quality memory foams are hypoallergenic. Low-VOC or plant-based memory foams drastically reduce chemical exposure.

Latex Foam

Latex beds prove similar to memory foam in terms of benefits. This type of foam has a bit more bounce and responsiveness, which some people prefer. Natural all-latex beds offer a slight durability advantage as well. Excessive firmness was a specific complaint about latex beds. Now, retailers offer extensive customization options in all firmness levels.

Innersprings

Innerspring mattresses have only a 64% consumer satisfaction rating compared to 81% of memory foam owners. Springs may feel stiff and uneven, causing arching of the spine and a lack of support for other body parts. The spine is unable to properly decompress through the night, making back strains and sprains more likely.

Back Pain Basics

Back pain affects millions of people every day, with about 80% of adults suffering from it at some point in their life. It is the number one cause of workplace disability and missed workdays for people under 45. It also remains one of the hardest medical conditions to treat and cure.

Back pain may show up suddenly, or build over the years. It can be acute, lasting only a few days or weeks, or it can be chronic pain, lasting years. Causes include accidents, injuries, poor posture, heavy or incorrect lifting. A lack of core strength, occupational strain, or poor sleep surfaces, pregnancy, or disease can also contribute. It can appear in many forms, such as a strain, inflammation, pinched nerve or disc problem.

As such, finding the best mattress for back pain means understanding your body, and a little bit about beds, too. Let’s dive in.

Your Spine While You Sleep

The key to an ergonomically correct sleep is the natural alignment of all three spinal sections.

The spine comprises three gentle curves. The best mattress for back pain takes all of these needs into consideration.

• The cervical spine at the top supports the head.
• The central thoracic spine supports the upper body.
• The lower lumbar spine acts as the back’s foundation.

The key to an ergonomically correct sleep is the natural alignment of all three spinal sections. The best mattress for back pain supports good sleeping posture helps relax muscles, allowing tension to be released.

During sleep, your spine takes a break from supporting your upper body. This allows your vertebrae to release pressure gradually throughout the night.

If you toss and turn throughout the night or rest at an odd angle, your spine doesn’t get a chance to relax and release pressure. This can create or worsen back pain.

The relationship between sleep and back pain is two-fold: poor sleep may worsen back pain, and back pain may make it difficult to sleep. Two-thirds of people chronic back pain sufferers also suffer from sleep disorders.

The Best Mattress for Back Pain: A Look at the Facts

A comfortable and ergonomic mattress eases soreness, reduces pain, and facilitates better rest. The most important factors in a mattress for lower back pain are support, conformability and firmness.

Factor 1: Support

Support is the ability of the mattress to keep the sleeper’s body level. If a mattress is excessively soft or hard, has unresponsive materials or sags, it may create an unnatural sleeping position.

In a survey of 21,000+ mattress owners by Sleep Like The Dead, proper support was reported as a key factor in preventing and alleviating pain. 20% of owners noted excessive softness or sagging was exasperating back pain, making it one of the top consumer complaints.

Sagging occurs when part of the mattress becomes compressed and lowers, usually in the middle. Mattresses have a limited lifespan, and sagging occurs often with older mattresses. Lower quality mattresses tend to sag sooner than well-constructed mattresses.

Factor 2: Conformability

Conformability is the ability of a mattress to conform to the contours of a person’s body, supporting a natural sleeping position.

A lack of conformability refers to gaps in support. When part of the body rests in an unsupported, unnatural, stressed position, pain results. Unequal support causes larger body parts, such as hips and shoulders, to feel more pressure through the night, which in turn strains the back. Sleeping with a straight, natural spinal alignment helps relieve pressure associated with lower back pain.

The best mattress for lower back pain offers good conformability, aligning and supporting the spine while absorbing wider body parts such as hips and shoulders for side sleepers; buttocks and heels for back sleepers; and knees, chest or stomach for front sleepers.

Factor 3: Firmness

Firmness refers to how hard or soft a mattress feels. It was long thought that firm mattresses were the best for back pain, however numerous studies and customer surveys have concluded that the best mattress for back pain is medium-firm. A medium-firm mattress provides a good balance between support and conformability while relieving pressure points.

In a randomized, double-blind study conducted of 313 adults with chronic lower low-back pain, patients with medium-firm mattresses reported less pain in bed, upon rising, and throughout the day. After sagging, excessive firmness is a top complaint of mattress consumers.

Soft mattresses may offer good conformability and pressure point relief but might lack the support that would keep the spinal column aligned correctly. Comfort layers ideally offer enough plushness to prevent pressure points, but not too much that your heavier areas sink too far in.

Firm mattresses provide support but lack conformability. This causes the lumbar region to arch, creating a noticeable space between the lower back and the bed. In side sleepers, firm beds can make the spine arch in a U shape, contributing to upper back, hip and shoulder pain.

Sleep Position and Reducing Pain

Medium-firm mattresses are still your best bet for easing lower back.

Most people sleep in multiple positions during the night, so medium-firm mattresses are still your best bet for easing lower back pain overall.

Back sleepers tend to prefer medium to firm mattresses. The pressure on their body is already more evenly distributed than with other sleep positions. Back sleepers also require less contouring compared to side sleepers.

Stomach sleepers prefer medium mattresses. Too firm of a mattress puts pressure on the knees and hips, while too soft causes them to sink into the mattress and may hinder breathing. The best mattress for stomach sleepers keeps them afloat on the bed while reducing pressure points.

Side sleepers prefer medium to soft mattresses because of the pressure points focused on the hips and shoulders. Beds with medium-firm support but thicker soft comfort layers contour around these parts better than a firm or shallow mattress.

People with pre-existing conditions or are healing from sprains may find firmer mattresses more desirable, especially if they are back sleepers.

Price, Durability, and Value

Even the most comfortable mattresses do not last forever. Their materials break down, creating lumpy, unsupportive surfaces and eventually losing adequate support. When selecting a mattress for longevity in easing back pain, look for high-quality materials. Compare layer thicknesses and select a firmness that supports your sleep styles and body weight.

Premium, high-priced mattresses often have quality, durability, and warranties that make up for the high-prices, but budget and value also needs to be considered. Inexpensive beds, such as innersprings and cheap memory foam, tend to have poor long-term satisfaction. There are several decent options available in the mid-price range that offer quality, support, and longevity without breaking the bank.

When seeking back pain relief that works for you, look for a mattress with an in-home trial. Many companies, especially online distributors, offer in-home trials of around three months. This allows you to test the bed out over a long time. One thing to note — if you have back pain or it’s been a while since you’ve slept on a good bed, it can take a month or more to adjust.

If you want to save hundreds of dollars, we suggest taking advantage of mattress sales:

• Memorial Day Mattress Sales
• 4th of July Mattress Sales
• Labor Day Mattress Sales
• Columbus Day Mattress Sales
• Black Friday Mattress Sales
• Cyber Monday Mattress Sales

Frequently Asked Questions

What type of mattress is best for back pain?

If you need to relieve a sore back, you should look for a bed with a foam top. A top layer of foam, particularly a memory foam, can conform to your back’s curves to ease pressure and reduce pain. Try a memory foam mattress or hybrid, or a natural latex bed.

What’s the best mattress for lower back pain?

In most cases, the best mattresses for lower back pain are medium to medium-firm. These two matress firmnesses are soft enough to contour to the joints but firm enough to support the lumbar spine and promote a safe, neutral spine.

What’s the best mattress for side sleepers with back pain?

The best mattress for side sleepers with back pain is one with a  medium feel. Side sleepers need a mattress that will cradle and protect the joints from pressure points, but one that will also protect and support the lumbar spine. A medium mattress provides the ideal balance of support and comfort for side sleepers with back pain.

What’s the best sleeping position for upper back pain?

The best sleeping position for upper back pain is back sleeping. This position ensures the spine is kept in a safe, neutral position and that the muscles in the back can fully relax and heal. Those with upper back pain should also rest on a pillow with enough contouring and support to cradle the head and neck without pushing it too far forward or causing it to drop below the spine.

What mattress firmness is best for back pain?

In most cases, the best matress firmness for back pain is medium-firm. This mattress firmness provides adequate support to the lumbar spine and ensures a safe, neutral sleep position. However, this firmness is also responsive enough to cradles and protect the joints from pressure points.

Have You Found Your Next Bed?

When seeking the best mattress for lower back pain, it is wise to research the best mattress for your lifestyle and invest in a sleeping surface helps ease pain and provide you with a good night’s sleep.

Medium-firm memory foam mattresses rank among at the top for back problems in reviews. They offer good support and conformability, which assists spinal alignment and reduces muscle tension, allowing spinal pressure and stress of the day to melt away into the night.

Medium and high-density foams in the support and comfort layers provide durability, so look for these traits. Best of all, quite a few good options exist in the middle price range.