Best Mattresses For Back Pain to Help You Ease the Condition!

Back pain is one disheartening condition that, sadly, most people have to live with at some point in time.  We all know that sleeping on the wrong bed is one contributor to getting back pain, but if you are already suffering from the condition, sleeping on the wrong mattress will only make things worse. Buying the firmest mattress in the market may not quite solve your predicament. You need something that’s specifically designed for back pain. 

Mattresses for back pain are made such that they work with your body and posture. With ergonomics at play, they are able to keep your muscles more relaxed and ensure that the natural alignment of your spine is maintained while you sleep. In turn, you get a more wholesome sleep. They are also semi-firm, feeling like a foam mattress, but a bit firmer, which is the state most recommended for people with back-related disabilities. With this, you can forget about all the twists and turns and finally get to enjoy your precious sleep time.

Since there’s no one mattress that is ideal for everyone, it is important that you choose one that suits your natural sleeping posture best. To save you from the extra frustration of searching, we’ve rounded up the best mattresses for back pain out there. Now all you have to do is to choose one from our shorter list.

Top 9 Mattresses For Back Pain Of 2020 Reviewed

1. Tuft & Needle Mattress

Mattress For Back Pain Stomach Sleeper

This premium quality mattress is a memory foam mattress that features two layers of high-density CertiPUR-US polyurethane foam. The top layer is 3 inches of graphite and gel-infused memory foam, the Tuft & Needle Adaptive Foam, that contours to your body shape when you lie down on the bed. It provides the comfort and pressure-point relief you require so that your spine and muscles can stay in a relaxed state while you sleep, reducing the chance of experiencing back pain when you wake up. The 7-inch high-density support layer gives the mattress its shape and lengthens its durability.

Now, you might notice that there isn’t a transition layer between the comfort layer and the base layer. For back sleepers, the medium-firm feel of the mattress works great in keeping the natural alignment of their spine because you get even weight distribution when lying down on this bed. However, heavier individuals who like to sleep on their side may suddenly feel that “wall” of support. Lightweight side sleepers, on the other hand, may find that the bed is a bit firmer than what they need.

2. Leesa Mattress

Mattress For Back Pain For The Money

The Leesa is great for preventing back pain while sleeping for many reasons. First, as experts have already stated in one study, a medium-firm mattress is the best choice which is the typical firmness rating that this mattress gets from different individuals. Second, it provides the comfort and support we look for in the perfect bed and features temperature regulating properties. All of these are possible because of the different types of foam and the particular design of the foam.

The mattress has 2 inches of Avena foam on top which is quite similar to Latex, giving you that bounce. At the same time, this layer features an egg crate design as well as holes, both of which are there to keep your body cool while you sleep. Sleeping cool during the night improves blood flow and cell regeneration which, in turn, helps lessen the lower back pain.

After the Avena foam, you get 2 inches of memory foam which gives pressure-point relief and deep compression support. Again, keeping the natural alignment of your spine. Even side sleepers won’t feel too much pressure on their shoulders and hip, except perhaps light individuals. If you want serious lumbar support, the Leesa is definitely the best option for most sleepers.

3. Queen Mattress – Sweetnight 10-Inch Queen Size Mattress

Queen Size Infused Gel Memory Foam Mattress

The Sweetnight 10-Inch Queen Size Mattress is designed to give you a good night’s sleep without the pesky back pain. It is a three-zone layered mattress that ensures that your body is comfortable and well-aligned from head to toe. The mattress has the ability to automatically regulate temperature keep you cool throughout the night. That is why you can be sure that you are going to get a good night’s sleep on this mattress.

But how is this mattress able to relieve back pain. It is composed of gel memory foam, which moderately firm, thus relieving back pain as you sleep. This kind of firmness is great for all kinds of sleeping positions. It supports the whole body, thus relieving pressure. Thus, you will be able to relax throughout the night and to recharge for a new day. The foam doesn’t include any harmful substances and is friendly to the skin.

Another great feature of this mattress is the rayon cotton cover, which is breathable. It covers a foam top layer which is designed to adjust to your body temperature and weight. In terms of the middle layer, the mattress has a ventilated comfort foam which ensures balanced support and gets rid of disturbance motion. The base is made from high-density foam to provide support and prevent sagging. It comes with a 10-year no risk support. Where would you find a better deal?

4. The Purple Bed

Mattress For Heavy Person With Back Pain

The Purple mattress stands out as one of the best mattresses for back pain not just because of its color. It’s also because of a unique comfort layer inside the mattress. The hyper-elastic polymer is 2 inches thick and designed like a grid. Now, the material itself is quick to respond and has more bounce than your average memory foam but that’s not all. The grid structure helps distribute weight evenly across the bed, ensuring that there are no pressure points created when you lie down on the bed. At the same time, these “channels” created in the grid structure of the material allows for increased airflow so you stay cool while sleeping.

To make you feel even cooler, the cover is a blend of polyester, viscose, and lycra – soft and thin for increased airflow while the addition of lycra helps to wick away any sweat from your body. The transitional layer is 3.25 inches of poly-foam that gives you that deep compression support and prevents the sleeper from feeling the abrupt wall of support provided by the base of the mattress (4 inches of high-density polyfoam).

In terms of firmness, this bed is dead center in the medium firmness level with most individuals of varying sizes and weights rating it at 6.5 on a scale of 1-10 with 10 being the firmest.  Now, back sleepers and stomach sleepers won’t have a problem with this level of firmness because the bed really gives you the support you need without creating any pressure points. Side sleepers will be happy to know that they’ll get the same amount of support and the pressure relief that the other two sleepers enjoy.

5. Live and Sleep Resort Ultra

Mattress For Back Pain On A Budget

For those who are struggling with back pain but would prefer a bit of plushness added to their medium-firm mattress, the Live and Sleep Resort Ultra may just be the bed you are looking for. This top-rated mattress was designed specifically to mimic a mattress you’d find at your favorite resort/hotel. It features 2.5 inches of premium airflow memory foam on top, a layer of gel-infused Visco elastic memory foam (over 1 inch thick), and a high-density support base that’s 8.5 inches thick.

So, what do all these layers mean? First off, the extra thickness of this bed already screams luxury resort to us. Secondly, the two top layers definitely work together to cradle your body, preventing any pressure points from occurring, while maintaining the natural alignment of your spine.

Because of the cooling technology used in the foams (the infusion of gel and the airflow visco foam), you’ll sleep cool throughout the night. The bed rates a medium-firm on the firmness chart so it strikes the right balance of support and comfort. The stretch knit cover bears mentioning because it is incredibly soft and comfortable to lie on. Plus, it can be removed for washing. All the materials used by the manufacturer are the US certified with hypoallergenic, antibacterial and dust mite resistant properties. Keep in mind that it may take a few nights for your body to adjust to sleeping on this bed.

6. Perfect Cloud 12 Inch Visco Gel-Pro Double Layer Full Memory Foam Mattress

Mattress For Heavy Person With Back Pain

The Perfect Cloud Elegance Gel-Pro Memory Foam Mattress certainly looks like a luxury bed. Does it feel as good as it looks? Yes, yes it does. It comes with 4 layers of high quality, durable foam. The top layer is a 1-inch high-density air-infused memory foam and below it is 1.5 inches of air-infused memory foam. The first layer already provides you with a lot of the support you’ll need when lying down, especially with a bad back, with its high density. The second layer provides you with even more support, cradling your body without creating pressure points. The third layer is another memory foam which, again, provides pressure point relief. But this one, 2 inches of thick gel pro memory foam, also ensures that any heat or moisture that reaches this layer is absorbed or wicked away.

In short, the three layers work together to ensure that air isn’t trapped inside and the mattress stays cool while you’re pressing down on it. The base of the bed is 7.5 inches of high-density base support foam, providing the foundation of the bed lending durability to the entire mattress, and helping the foams retain their shape.

For sleepers with back pain, you’ll be glad to know that this bed is rated as medium firm (at 5.5) which strikes the right balance between soft and firm. Aside from comfort, weight distribution is pretty even for individuals weighing up to 400 pounds. This means that you also get very good the deep compression support and pressure point relief, a necessity since you already have enough pain to deal with, right? The only downside is that it is exclusively sold online through Amazon. There isn’t anywhere you can go to test this bed. You’ll have to rely on reviews and the 30-day trial which, some people believe, is too short to tell if the bed really is for you.

7. Modway Aveline 6-Inch Gel Infused Memory Foam Twin Mattress

Best Gel Infused Memory Foam Twin Mattress

Quality sleep is one of the things that define wellbeing. The best way to ensure that you are able to sleep soundly is to have a high-quality mattress. The Modway Aveline 6-Inch Mattress is made from high-quality memory foam that is capable of reducing pressure on the spine, neck, and head. It is not like other regular mattresses. Rather, it is composed of twin foam layers with the highest rating. It also reduces pressure on the shoulders, lower back, and the hips.

The top layer of the mattress is infused with gel. This settles right into the open cells and ventilations of the top layer. Because of that, it cools you down as you sleep and ensures that you sweat less in hot and humid weather. Think about how that can help you sleep well and prevent you from waking up with a headache just because you are dehydrated.

Another thing we must say about this mattress is that it comes at a very affordable price. It is not easy to find a mattress of similar quality that is sold at such as low price. The fact that it is of high quality is not just a claim by the manufacturers. Rather, the mattress has been tested and given CertiPUR-US certification. With that, you have no reason to doubt that it is free from TCEP, TDCPP, PBDEs, heavy metals, and formaldehyde. Thus, it is safe to use. It comes with a 10-year warranty, which assures you of great service within that period.

8. Casper Sleep Mattress

Mattress For Heavy Person With Back Pain

The Casper is one of the best memory foam mattresses we’ve ever laid down on. But is it good enough for people struggling with bad backs? Well, the bed has 4 layers – 1.5 inches of open-cell foam, 1.5 inches of responsive memory foam, 1.5 inches of adaptive transition foam, and 5 inches of polyfoam. What we love about this bed is the fact that the first three layers work so well together to provide you with bounce, compression support, pressure-point relief, and comfort. Plus, it doesn’t allow you to get hot and has a quick response rate. It means you won’t be feeling stuck in one position all night long.

Rated as a medium-firm mattress, the Casper definitely falls squarely within the range of firmness that is recommended by experts for those dealing with back pain. What stands out about the Casper is that it can provide the same pressure-point relief and support it provides to back and stomach sleepers to side sleepers as well. Moreover, light and heavy individuals alike seem to enjoy sleeping on this bed. So, what don’t we like? Similar to a lot of memory foam mattresses, edge support is a bit lacking and there is an initial chemical smell that takes a bit of time to fully dissipate. Other than that, you and your back should be fine.

9. GhostBed Mattress

Mattress For Heavy Person With Back Pain

The GhostBed is actually a hybrid mattress that features latex and memory foam to provide comfort, support, and bounce to every sleeper. The top layer is 1.5 inches of latex foam which is quick to respond, has a bit of a bounce, and is great for minimizing heat retention. The second layer is 2 inches of gel memory foam where the contouring happens. Side sleepers will love the fact that as they “sink” into the bed, this layer will be providing them with the comfort and support they need without getting too hot or feeling pressure on certain parts of their body. The high-density poly foam at the base of the bed helps provide support for the first two layers, gives the mattress its shape, and ensures its durability.

The firmness of the mattress is around 6.5 which is a medium-firm, providing solid support and comfort to those with backaches. There is little interference when you move around the bed due to the latex. At the same time, while the memory foam contours around your body, you don’t feel stuck. As an added bonus, any “sensual pounding” will definitely be aided by that bounce.

Choosing The Best Mattress For Sleepers With Back Pain – The Ultimate Buying Guide

Mattress shopping is already a pain in the ass to do. Shopping for a mattress to deal with back pain? That’s a whole ‘another level. So many beds to choose from but the wrong choice could make your present aches worse. This is why you’ll need to arm yourself first with a lot of information on what matters most in your mattress.

Everyone has their own preferences, right? But for back sleepers and those who experience back problems, there are specific requirements that need to be met. Specifically, your bed will need to provide you with the support and comfort you need to sleep well for an entire night and not feel any pain when you get out of bed.

Do We Have Other Types Of Mattresses Apart From Memory Foam?

Yes. Memory foam is great for mattresses and pillows, but there are other types of materials from which the best mattresses for back pain are made. They include latex, innerspring, as well as hybrid mattresses. Because of its ability to contour and cushion, latex is recommended for pain relief. It molds to the body and responds better than memory foam.

Latex is also firmer than other types of materials. While they are a bit bouncy, innerspring mattresses are not conforming as you would expect. They have a flat surface, which may make back pain worse. The alternative is a hybrid that has the best of both foam and innerspring mattresses.

Support

Obviously, your bed needs to provide you with good support. But what does that really mean? Whether you have or do not have back pain, a good mattress is one that is able to keep your spine in its natural alignment in your preferred sleeping position. Please take note that support and firmness are nothing alike.

A soft mattress can just as easily provide your body with adequate support as a firm one. Firmness is a matter of comfort which we’ll get to later. So, put more simply, your bed needs to make sure that you maintain good posture while you sleep which allows the muscles and ligaments in your back to relax and recover.

Conforming Ability

According to SleepLikeTheDead, the conforming ability of a mattress (how well it molds to the body shape of the sleeper) is another feature that must be considered when checking the support provided by a bed.

If a mattress does not have enough confirming ability, this means that not all parts of the body will be supported equally by the bed, creating pressure points and causing the body to stay in a misaligned position. This is why a lot of mattresses that work great in relieving back pain are memory foam mattresses that have great body contouring properties.

Does Temperature Impact Back Pain?

Now to some facts. It is better to have a cooler temperature than a hot one while sleeping. If anything, cooler temperatures ensure better sleep. In fact, the core body temperature needs to be at least 1°C lower for you to have a good night’s sleep.

When you have deep sleep, you will definitely experience a restful night. That is why a mattress that regulates or cools the body temperature should be preferred. If you feel hot at night, you will have to go through endless tossing and turning, thus worsening back pain.

Firmness

Firmness is a very tricking thing to rate since it is very subjective. When people talk about firmness, they are indicating how the mattress felt to them when they laid down on it. Now, how they perceive the mattress’s softness or firmness will be affected by their age, gender, weight, and a lot of other factors.

According to one study, people with lower back pain felt the least amount of discomfort on a medium-firm mattress.  On the firmness scale, a medium-firm feel is around 5-7, where 10 is the most firm. This level of firmness is also known as the universal comfort feel, meeting the needs of the majority of sleepers by striking the delicate balance between support and comfort. Most of our picks such as the Leesa Mattress are medium-firm on the firmness scale. That being said, lighter individuals may require softer mattresses to get that push-back type of support that keeps the spine aligned.

The same goes for side sleepers who need to sink more into the bed to get pressure relief on major joints. Average-sized (130 to 230 lbs) back and stomach sleepers will enjoy a medium-firm mattress because it provides ample support and relieves pressure on various parts of the body. Larger individuals (weighing more than 230 lbs) may require a firm mattress because they need more push-back type support to keep their spine aligned.

Other Factors

Aside from support and comfort, there are other things you might want to check out. First, memory foam mattresses tend to sleep hot. However, sleeping cool or, at least, good internal temperature regulation is best if you want to reduce back pain. This means that you may have to find a mattress that has good temperature regulation such as the Tuft & Needle Mattress and the GhostBed Mattress.

Also, aside from the right mattress, some back sleepers struggling with back pain may require an adjustable foundation to ensure that pressure points are relieved along their back. If you are one of those people, this means that your mattress will need to be able to work with such a foundation.

Conclusion

Of course, the same considerations for buying a regular mattress apply. Make sure you get to try the bed for at least 30 nights. Some beds such as the Casper Sleep Mattress require some time to break in before it starts becoming comfortable.

You also need to check the return policy and warranty of the manufacturer. Do they have a history of not making good on their promise? If you find yourself dissatisfied, you’ll need to make sure that the only pain you feel when returning your mattress or getting it fixed/exchanged for another is due to your back and nothing else.