Anyone with back pain understands what a major difference a restful night’s sleep can make—and, on the flip side, how disruptive it is to wake up in pain. There are many causes of back pain (and many ways to alleviate it), but sleeping on a good mattress is one way to help—so if you frequently wake up with back pain, or notice it during the day, it’s time to evaluate if your mattress meets your needs. While a mattress may seem expensive at the outset, its value to your overall health is almost priceless. Tyler Bigenho, DC, a chiropractor at Clean Spine in California, says it’s not debatable how important a healthy mattress is—by improving your sleep, the right one can reduce pain, boost energy levels, and even help your mood. Put simply, choosing the right mattress can improve your quality of life. To choose these options, we tested more than 60 popular mattresses from top brands, consulted with experts, and spent thousands of hours testing mattresses over four weeks. The type of mattress you choose largely depends on your main sleeping position and the materials it features, though the experts agree that medium-firm to firm is generally best for people with back pain. While firmness level mainly comes down to personal preference, if you’re a stomach sleeper, you’ll do well with a firm mattress designed for hip support like the Saatva Classic Mattress. Firm mattresses help to avoid concaving of the spine, which can strain muscles. Meanwhile, side sleepers will need an option with good spinal alignment and a memory foam or hybrid like this Helix Midnight Luxe, which provides personalized contouring. If your back hurts, there are a few key ways in which a good-quality mattress can help. To start, a quality mattress will help maintain the natural alignment of your spine and reduce muscle strain—especially important because you spend so much time sleeping. With proper support, it’ll distribute your weight evenly and relieve uncomfortable pressure points. More generally, it’ll allow you to sleep undisturbed by limiting motion from your partner, and keep you cool and comfortable through the night with proper airflow. This will allow you to sleep more deeply and wake up feeling refreshed, which improves how you feel overall—though it certainly helps your back too. Our Top Picks Best Overall: Best Cooling: Best Budget: Best for Stomach Sleepers: Best for Side Sleepers: Best for Lower Back Pain: Best Firm Mattress: Best for Back Sleepers: Best for Tossing and Turning: In This Article Our Picks We Also Tested How We Tested Does Sleeping Position Affect Back Pain? What to Look For FAQ Why Trust Verywell Health Key Specs: Suitable for side, back and stomach sleepers, thanks to the dual-sided design. This mattress won our Best Overall spot because it’s suitable for almost anyone, including side, stomach, and back sleepers. Beyond that, the fact that it’s dual-sided (with a firmer and a softer side) means that Saatva has even more options for back health and support. The mattress doesn’t come rolled or boxed up like some other designs, so it is ready for use once a very faint smell dissipates within a few minutes. In testing, the “luxury plush” side was soft but supportive enough to offer a great night’s sleep. The “gentle firm” side provided a bit more support without feeling too hard. The bed was comfortable enough for a side sleeper to rest on her back, and overall, she reported no neck, back, or hip pain on either side of the mattress. She also had noticeably more restful sleep, with less tossing and turning. According to Dr. Raj, a medium-firm mattress is ideal, particularly if constructed from something like premium latex, as it provides the right mix of support and contouring. This mattress fits that profile: It’s built from five layers of natural latex and breathable organic cotton, so it will support and contour to your body. While latex can run hot, the cotton allows for airflow, so our tester felt comfortable. This mattress performed consistently well throughout the initial four-week testing period and is undiminished nearly a year later. We found that it contributed to deeper sleep overall, with less tossing and turning. What’s more, the editor who tested it had a greater feeling of refreshment without any back, neck, or hip pain. When flipped to the firm side, this mattress was even able to turn a side-only sleeper into a back sleeper as well. Our Ratings Comfort 5/5 Support 5/5 Sleep Quality 5/5 Value 5/5 Key Specs: Hot sleepers will appreciate the cooling, breathable qualities. Casper is a well-known brand for high-quality, supportive mattresses. Our tests revealed this mattress as the best cooling option because it features several layers of a type of mesh to ventilate while you sleep, as well as soft, yet supportive comfort. When it comes to cooling mattresses, Dr. Raj suggests looking for a hybrid mattress, which balances comfort and cooling with a blend of coils and foam or gel. The Nova Hybrid offers exactly that, with a foundation layer of coils and three layers of different types of foam to encourage a deeper sleep. This is a hybrid mattress, which means it has both coils and foam. Coil bottom layers and specialized foam top layers encourage airflow from the top and bottom of the mattress. The top knit cover is breathable and stretches well, so the mattress will easily contour to your body. Beyond that, there are two layers of what Casper calls their AirScape® Technology, which is a type of mesh foam that includes more than 2,000 perforation holes, according to the brand. The mattress also features memory foam to create ergonomic zones that support your hips, waist, and lower back. We tested the Twin XL size of this mattress, which sits about an inch longer than regular twin mattresses—but standard twin sheets will still fit comfortably. It also means that it should fit on a standard base without compromising too much. The mattress fully expanded within five minutes, as the instructions promised, without any kind of chemical smell. The Nova received top marks in every category, including comfort, support, value for money, and sleep quality. In our tests, we found that it improved sleep quality over the course of four weeks. Just in the first two nights of testing, our editor slept hours longer. In terms of comfort, we noted that this bed is on the softer side, but not to its detriment because we sank into the bed just enough without compromising on support. Our tests also showed that it’s comfortable for those who sleep on their stomach, back, and side—and that it’s indeed cooling. The airflow was especially noticeable on the first few nights of the trial period. It’s easy to move the Twin XL by oneself, but requires two people if you buy a bigger size. Key Specs: Our Best Budget pick features three layers of high-quality foam to support and contour your body—for less than $1,000 for a Queen size. Stomach, back, and side sleepers will all benefit from this medium-firm mattress. The knit cover, gel-infused foam, and open-cell foam structure all maximize airflow and ventilation, making it especially comfortable for hot sleepers. The fact that it comes with a lifetime warranty, free delivery, and free returns adds a bonus sense of peace of mind. From a sustainability perspective, this brand receives top marks for using materials that are safer for the environment and your health. Bear has a GreenGuard certification for this mattress: The third-party testing body ensures the mattress is made with low-emissions technology and is free from formaldehyde, heavy metals, phthalates, and ozone depleters. From a comfort perspective, the Bear Original has a top layer of gel-infused foam, followed by memory foam designed to hug and contour your body no matter which position you choose. This mattress initially impressed us in every aspect of our testing process across the board, and then again when we checked in after nine months. This means it improved our sleep quality and reduced the recurrence of previous joint pain. It also did an excellent job of minimizing motion transfer, which means that two people—and some pets—could sleep on the mattress with minimal disturbance throughout the night. The mattress arrives wrapped in a type of plastic which leaves a very slight smell upon unwrapping it; however, the scent dissipated very quickly. Our Ratings Comfort 5/5 Support 4.5/5 Sleep Quality 5/5 Value 4.5/5 Unboxing 5/5 Key Specs: Stomach sleepers (but really, all sleepers) will benefit from the combination of high-density memory foam and innerspring construction for hip support and minimizing lower back pain. This mattress is available in three firmness levels: plush soft, luxury firm, and firm. Stomach sleepers will benefit the most from the firm level with a low or no pillow, as advised by Dr Raj. A firm mattress is important for stomach sleepers so that it can support the natural curvature of your spine, rather than let your hips sink. In the queen size of this mattress, Saatva has pocketed coils in the center third of the mattress to create added support in the areas where you need it the most—around the hips. From the top down, this mattress is designed to create a comfortable night’s sleep—starting with the organic cotton cover, which creates a breathable surface. Beyond that, high-density memory foam and coils offer increased lower back support as well as increased durability. Saatva has also included high-density foam around the edge of the mattress to ensure the edges hold up well over time. This mattress is our top pick for stomach sleepers: It offers the necessary firm support with a plush pillow top, so you don’t feel like you’re sleeping on a board. The reinforced edge support was noticeable when we tested it, especially when sitting on the edge of the mattress. Importantly, the mattress helped us wake up feeling better, more refreshed, and with less lower back pain than we experienced before sleeping on the mattress. When two people slept in the bed, we noticed minimal motion transfer, and our tests showed that, after about a month, the pillow top broke in and softened a little, which helped make this even more comfortable for side and back sleepers. We noticed this mattress had a slight smell upon delivery—although this wasn’t noticeable past the first night or two. It takes a little time to fully soften up, so it might feel firm at first. However, the mattress has retained its quality over the nine months we’ve tested it. Our Ratings Comfort 5/5 Support 5/5 Sleep Quality 5/5 Value 4.8/5 Unboxing 3/5 Key Specs: People who switch positions as they sleep will appreciate this mattress’s versatility and comfort. This mattress takes our top spot for side sleepers because it provides incredible comfort and support. Dr. Raj says that side sleepers will do best with a mattress that is medium-firm: Something that’s cushioned enough to provide comfort on pressure points, but firm enough so that you don’t sink. This hybrid mattress fits that description, because the memory foam allows for proper spinal alignment, while the coils add durability and support. Memory foam is great for personalized support because it contours to your specific sleeping shape. In this mattress, individually wrapped coils are sandwiched between layers of different kinds of foam (one on the bottom, and three on the top). You can add an optional cooling cover to the mattress, but even without it, we found it to be cool and comfortable enough. Our tests showed that side sleepers will feel especially comfortable in this supportive, yet plush mattress. The editor who tried it likened it to the mattress she experienced at a luxury resort, and she was so comfortable that she would wake up in the same position she fell asleep in, which is unusual for her. The body contours nicely into it without sinking too far down, and its support level doesn't diminish over time. There was very little motion transference, and it had good edge support too. It only took a few minutes to expand out of the box, and we didn’t notice any offgassing as it expanded. As a bonus, the pillows it came with were equally comfortable. This mattress is like something you might find at a luxury hotel—with a correspondingly high price, which might put it out of reach for some. Our Ratings Comfort 5/5 Support 5/5 Sleep Quality 5/5 Value 4.8/5 Key Specs: Athletes who experience soreness and people with all sleeping positions will love how supportive this mattress is. The firmness of this mattress is what makes it the best for lower back pain. Firm support is key so that you can relieve pressure, reduce tossing and turning, and have a better night’s sleep overall. This mattress offers zoned comfort to reduce motion transfer, so you won’t feel as much movement if you share a bed with somebody. This bed is made from four layers of foam, ranging from a top layer of perforated foam for cooling, to a lower layer that includes pads of gel for additional support under the waist and lower back. The coils at the base provide airflow and make the mattress a little more durable. The edge is reinforced to allow for more support when you’re sitting up. The editor who tested this mattress is a runner who experiences lower back pain after long runs. However, she noticed a difference after switching to this mattress: She felt better aligned and experienced less pain. She tends to switch positions during the night and was happy to note that she felt supported no matter how she slept. She also found the top to be plush and soft to sleep on. The mattress took only a few minutes to expand, with no unpleasant plasticky smell, but she waited the recommended 24 hours before sleeping on it. While we like the firmness of this mattress, it may take some getting used to for those who are used to something with a little more “give.” Our Ratings Comfort 5/5 Support 5/5 Sleep Quality 5/5 Value 5/5 Key Specs: A firm mattress shouldn't be a hard mattress. Sleeping on an overly hard mattress might keep your spine from contorting, but you’re liable to still wake up stiff and achy at bony points of contact between your body and the mattress. Beautyrest has thought carefully about this. Its mattress is well suited to any type of sleeper, thanks to the firm support of its innerspring coils, which will keep your body well aligned, whether you want to sleep on your back, stomach, or side. It’s padded by layers of foam to gently contour to your shape or let a side sleeper’s hip nestle in just far enough to keep their spine straight. It’s also made with cooling fibers to keep you from overheating in the night, further ensuring a peaceful, uninterrupted sleep. This eco-conscious mattress has four layers, including a sleep surface made from recycled plastic bottles salvaged from the ocean. Beneath this dense but cushioning surface is a layer of the company’s InfiniCool Lux material, made with plant-based materials for a cooling effect. Next is a layer of contouring memory foam to cushion your body and bring relief to achy pressure points. Finally, the bedrock of the mattress is a layer of sturdy coils that isolate motion while providing a firm but responsive surface for you to rest on. It even held its shape when we sat on the edges—a common weak point in mattresses. We loved sleeping on a mattress that felt both supportive and soft. Lying on the firm version of this mattress feels like floating. It helped us sleep through the night and wake feeling more refreshed and less sore than older, softer models. There was a gentle springiness to the mattress, but no excess give when we put our full weight on it. There was nothing we wanted to change about the mattress itself. The only warning we wish we’d received is that traditional sized sheets might not fit this thick, luxurious mattress. You may need to buy a set with deep pockets to accommodate it. Key Specs: Mattress Type: Hybrid | Firmness: Medium-firm (6) | Available Sizes: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, California King | Trial Period: 100 days | Warranty: 15 years | Shipping and Returns: Free, no-contact delivery, free mattress and foundation removal within 100 days According to our experts, back sleepers generally benefit from a medium-firm mattress for spinal alignment. Pressure relief is particularly important, especially in the lumbar area. It’s important to look for zone support, motion isolation, and strong edge support to up the ante on comfort. Helix’s hybrid mattress has layers of foam that cushion hips and bony areas while its inner springs give this mattress enough rigidity to keep your back stable all night. With a price tag a bit higher than others on our list, it's certainly an investment. But after dozens of nights of good sleep, we feel it’s worth it. We love that this mattress’s balance of plush and firm materials supports good alignment, and cradles you without letting you sink in too far. The mattress itself is composed of five layers of foam, with two layers of the company’s signature “microcoil” springs sandwiched between them. Like other mattresses in Helix’s in Elite line, the Dawn comes with cooling GlacioTex™ Elite Technology in its pillow top to ensure a cool, well-cushioned sleep. We were delighted by how well-rested this mattress left us after a night of sleep. The Dawn Elite felt firm and solid without being overly stiff (or leaving us feeling that way). The pillowtop provided that feeling of gently settling into bed without leaving us feeling like we’d sunk into something unsupportive. The mattress expanded almost immediately once we unwrapped it and, once the plastic was disposed of, there was no chemical smell. We not only slept better during our trial of this mattress but fell easily back to sleep anytime we had to get up in the night. The Dawn Elite comes with a “comfort insert” that has to be slid in between the main portion of the mattress and the pillow top. In our tests, this component arrived separately, and we didn’t like that we had to unzip the pillow top and add this layer later. Other than that, we had no complaints and are confident this mattress will work well for side and back sleepers, though it may be less ideal for stomach sleepers. Key Specs: People with allergies will love the hypoallergenic, antimicrobial, non-toxic features. This is a great hybrid mattress because it offers you the choice of a soft or a firm option. It features edge-to-edge coil support which means it has sturdy edges and great support across the mattress’ entire surface area. It’s made in the USA from nontoxic materials. This, coupled with high-quality materials, means that the mattress is one of the more expensive ones on the list, but it is an investment in your health and well-being. Dr. Ram says that hybrid mattresses blend foam and coils for balanced comfort and cooling. This one has a mix of coils and what the brand calls a GelFlex® Grid, which is a cooling gel/memory foam combination to both contour your body and provide cooling properties for a more comfortable night’s sleep—something we found to be true in testing. This mattress proved to be a top choice for many reasons. In our tests, it effectively minimized motion transfer, which made for better sleep without disturbance from sleeping partners. It was also easy and quick to set up as the mattress fully expanded in approximately one minute, which was less time than the instructions suggested. We found this mattress to be responsive and provided proper support and shock absorption, even for our editor who tosses and turns constantly—courtesy of an old slipped disc in her neck and constant discomfort in her lats and shoulders. This mattress comfortably contours to your body without sinking in too much and eases pressure on pain points. For someone with back pain, this mattress should support the curve of your back without having to put a pillow between your legs as you lay on your side. Notably, this mattress eased our editor’s lower back pain and stiffness across her back and shoulders upon waking up. You may notice a faint plastic smell upon unwrapping the packaging, however, this should quickly dissipate. This mattress has a lower profile—which may be to your taste or not. Our Ratings Comfort 5/5 Support 5/5 Sleep Quality 5/5 Value 4.8/5 Key Specs: Mattress Type: Hybrid | Firmness: Medium plush (4) | Available Sizes: Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, California King | Trial Period: 100 days | Warranty: 10 years | Shipping and Returns: Free, no-contact delivery, in-home setup and removal available for a fee; free returns between 31 and 100 days after purchase Leesa’s Legend medium-plush hybrid mattress has lots of give, preventing painful or disturbing impacts in the night. But, beneath the plush top, micro-springs in the mattress’s core give the Leesa Legend the strength and stability to alleviate back pain and maintain your spinal alignment. The cradling effect of its foam will help to prevent you from rolling around as you sleep and prevent motion transference from disturbing your partner or further disrupting your own sleep. Underlying the whole mattress is a high-density foam layer acting as a stable, durable base. Next, a bedrock of more than 1,041 individually wrapped inner springs gives the mattress structure and helps to minimize motion transfer for a more peaceful night. Then, a transitional layer of less dense foam is sandwiched between the thick lower layer of coils, and the next layer of more than 756 micro-springs for added stability and pressure absorption. Next, moving upward is a layer of memory foam, followed by another foam layer dotted with air channels to help keep you cool and prevent the foam layers from trapping heat. Finally, the mattress's cover is woven from a blend of organic cotton, Merino wool, and recycled material. We could really feel the hybrid nature of this mattress after a month—it was a perfect blend of supportive and soft. Its plush feel let us sink in enough to feel cozy and keep harder, heavier areas like the hips in alignment with our backs, which were well supported by the mattress’s tucked away coils. While Leesa calls the Legend Hybrid a medium plush mattress, we'd describe it as a little firmer. In fact, it felt firmer than some competitors’ hybrid mattresses but didn’t feel hard like some innerspring-only mattresses we’ve tried. It softened a little bit over the month of testing, but that was a good thing in our experience. The mattress expanded within seconds of opening it, and only a faint, new-plasticky smell was evident if we put our nose directly to the bare top. The Leesa mattress came with zero instructions for set up, which felt like an oversight because its design means that it does matter which end is the head and which is the foot. We admit to a bit of sticker shock since it’s significantly more expensive than the average mattress, but, with a near-perfect performance, it's an investment that pays off. Key Specs: Mattress Type: Foam | Firmness: Dual extra Firm (10) and medium-firm (8) | Available Sizes: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Full XL, Queen, Short Queen Olympic Queen, King, Short King, California King, 3 sizes of RV King | Trial Period: 120 days | Warranty: 10 years | Shipping and Returns: Free shipping, $99 returns between 31 and 120 days after purchase A firm mattress is a good choice for people with back pain. But, if you’re new to this type of mattress, you may be unsure just how firm you can go without sacrificing comfort. With the Plank mattress, you get two firmness options in one mattress. One side of this foam mattress is an 8 on the firmness scale, while the other is an extra firm 10. Each of the Plank’s layers is thoughtfully chosen and arranged to ensure that your back stability is never compromised. Generally speaking, foam mattresses are often softer than those with innerspring, but Plank’s foam-only mattress is a remarkable exception. The firmer side is very firm, for those who need the utmost support, while the softer side lets your body settle in just a touch, for that cozy feeling, while the core provides plenty of solid support. Some competitors offer fully adjustable firmness settings for the entire mattress but, at a fraction of the price of those mattresses, we think Plank’s is hard to beat if you already know you need a pretty firm mattress. The Plank mattress is made entirely of layers of foam. At its core is a six-inch layer of Plank’s super-dense support foam. The outermost layer on each side is a quilted top, designed to have zero loft on the extra firm side and a very slight loft on the softer side. Beneath this top on the mattress’s softer side is a two-inch comfort foam layer, designed to have just enough give to contour your body a bit. If you sleep hot, you can also purchase a cooling GlacioTex cover from Plank. We were very impressed with just how firm this foam mattress is. We tested both sides and particularly loved the slightly softer side. We slept through the night and woke up feeling refreshed, thanks to the Plank’s ability to keep us aligned, especially while sleeping on our side or stomach. Its softer cushioning layer was just enough to relieve any pressure on our joints, while the dense foam minimized lower back pain. We chose to add on the cooling GlacioTex cover, which was well worth it, to keep us from having to toss off covers in the night. Plank instructed us to allow several hours for the mattress to fully expand, but it seemed to reach full volume in a matter of minutes. We felt that our preferred medium-firm side of the mattress was perfect for just about any kind of sleeper, while the extra firm side would be best suited to back or stomach sleepers. Typically, foam mattresses lose density and start to sag more quickly than innerspring or hybrid mattresses. One way to extend the lifespan of a mattress is to flip it, but that’s a little more complicated with the Plank. Perhaps not something we would change, because it’s also one of the mattress’s strengths, but it's potentially one downside of having two firmness options: If you eventually flip it, you'll be sleeping on a different firmness level. Our Ratings Comfort 5/5 Support 4.5/5 Sleep Quality 5/5 Value 4.5/5 Key Specs: Mattress Type: Hybrid | Firmness: Dual Extra Firm (10) and Firm (10) | Available Sizes: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Full XL, Queen, Short Queen Olympic Queen, King, Short King, California King, 3 sizes of RV King | Trial Period: 120 days | Warranty: 10 years | Shipping and Returns: Free shipping, $99 returns between 31 and 120 days after purchase Hip pain may be caused by a variety of issues, including arthritis, tendinitis, or gynecological issues like endometriosis. Both spinal alignment and cushion for pressure points are important to ease this type of pain, making a firm mattress with some cushion ideal. Enter: The Plank Firm Luxe. Plank’s mattresses are known for being some of the firmest on the market. This hybrid mattress from its lineup is underpinned by a thick layer of coils that isolates movement and helps the mattress maintain its rigidity under your weight so your hips stay aligned all night. But the mattress’s dense, foam outer layers give bony areas like the hips a soft yet firm place to land, bringing relief to pressure points. Plus, one side is extra firm (10) while the other is firm (8), so you can try out two different feels without purchasing two mattresses. That’s particularly beneficial for hip pain, which is often worsened by either a mattress that’s too hard or too soft. Unlike the company’s other highly-rated foam mattresses, the Plank Hybrid Luxe is composed of both metal innersprings as well as foam. To be exact, the 6-inch central layer of the mattress is made up of nearly 1,000 coils, individually wrapped in soft material. On the mattress’s firmer side, the coil layer is topped by a 2-inch layer of high-density foam. On its slightly softer side, a 1-inch thick layer of slightly more cushioning comfort foam is sandwiched between two layers of the company’s signature, polyurethane high-density foam. The mattress is latex-free, though its poly foam is designed to behave like latex. This mattress improved every element of our sleep. The foam layers of the mattress did a great job of contouring to our bodies, putting us to sleep with that pleasant hugging feeling and without any sinkage. We tested both the firm and extra firm sides of the mattress and found the firm side to be perfect for easing back pain and hip pain alike. The Plank Firm Luxe isolated movement well and, thanks in part to the innerspring coils, was nice and cool to sleep on. On the firm side of the mattress, we fell asleep faster, stayed asleep longer, and woke less frequently to reposition. While a mattress alone is unlikely to eliminate chronic back or hip pain, we felt far less achy after a month of testing this mattress. Plank’s instructions warned that the mattress could take up to 24 hours to fully expand, but it looked to be ready after just a few minutes. Foam mattresses are notorious for off-gassing after they’re first unpackaged, but we didn’t notice any chemical smell with this one. The extra firm side of this mattress is really very firm. When we first tested this side of the Plank Firm Luxe, we did wake up feeling sore and stiff. This side was less suitable for hip pain, raising concerns about the mattress’s longevity because, if our preferred side started to sag, we might be stuck with the side we liked less if we flipped the mattress Our Ratings Comfort 5/5 Support 4.3/5 Sleep Quality 5/5 Value 4/5 Key Specs: Mattress Type: Hybrid | Firmness: Customizable (Ultra-Plush, Plush, Medium, Cushion-Firm, Firm) | Available Sizes: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, California King | Trial Period: 100 days | Warranty: 25 years | Shipping and Returns: Free shipping in the continental U.S., free returns between 31 and 100 days of delivery, free layer swap program for 100 nights If you have back pain, your mattress must be well constructed so that your back will remain straight throughout the night, but a mattress that’s too hard can leave you sore and achy. A soft pillow top can help to alleviate pressure from your joints on the surface of your mattress, without compromising the supportive layers below. Naturepedic’s pillow top boasts six inches of cloud-like latex foam on top of its denser innerspring core. It’s also one of the most highly customizable mattresses on our list; beneath the pillow top, each side (left and right) of the mattress has its own interchangeable second foam layer, which can be ordered in ultra-plush, plus, medium, cushion-firm or firm. If you or your partner aren’t happy with your chosen firmness, you can swap out your foam layers for different firmnesses anytime during the 100-day trial. We especially love that this mattress is made entirely of organic materials. All the fabrics are spun from organic cotton or wool, and even the latex is certified organic (made from a form of latex found in rubber trees). These organic materials provide a cooler sleep and are better at wicking moisture than their synthetic counterparts. Below the foam pillow top and latex layers, the mattress is anchored by an eight-inch layer of coils, each of which is wrapped in cotton. There’s also a latex-free version of the mattress for those who have an allergy. Naturepedic’s mattress provided a dreamy luxurious sleep. The mattress greatly improved our comfort level throughout the night, helping to reduce our tossing and turning. Though the pillow top is certainly plush, we didn’t sink too far into this mattress. Instead, it gently contoured to the body, while providing enough support that we didn't wake up with any aches or pains. In fact, throughout our month-long trial with this mattress, we found ourselves more excited than ever to hop into bed. The assembly process took a couple of hours, by which point any plastic-wrapping smell had dissipated, though it took about a day for the mattress to fully expand. The assembly process for this clever layered design is quite a bit more involved than the setup for competitor mattresses. You’ll definitely want a second person to help, which isn’t ideal for everyone. We were also disappointed to find that, even with the thick layer of coils, the mattress is lacking in edge support. Lying on it certainly provides a luxurious experience to match the price tag, but we would have expected a little better structural soundness at the edges. We consulted Dr. Mascarinas before we chose our mattresses for testing. Overall, she recommended a medium-firm mattress, which is sturdy enough so you don’t sink in, but soft enough so it cradles your hips and shoulders. We researched top mattresses across various brands, and compiled a list of popular, well-reviewed mattresses across various levels of firmness, and at different price points. Our team then reported on the comfort and feel of the mattresses after a two-week break-in period, and then again after four weeks. We also checked in at the three-month and nine-month points to see if there was any alteration in quality and tweaked this list accordingly. For this roundup, we consulted many experts, who shared information on how sleeping position affects back pain, what sort of materials are best to support your back, and how to evaluate a quality mattress, among other useful details. Your sleeping position can affect your back pain. In general, you want to have a neutral spine, meaning it’s not bending or flexing, says Dr. Marko. Depending on how you sleep, you might need to position pillows (or buy a body pillow) to keep your spine relaxed. We’ve spelled out which mattresses are best for people who sleep in certain positions, including our picks for back sleepers, stomach sleepers, and side sleepers. In general, people with back pain will benefit from a mattress with medium-firm support, which walks the line between comfort and strength. Are firm mattresses better for back pain? The advice that extra firm mattresses are better for back support is outdated. Instead, it’s important to look for a mattress that supports the natural curvature of your spine when you’re lying flat and on your side. You’ll likely prefer a firmer mattress if you have a flatter spine and less curvature. If you have more curvature you should look for something a little more plush. Those with back pain tend to opt for firm mattresses, but it can be a deceiving choice because it can lead to unnecessary pressure and pain in your neck, shoulders, and pelvic area. How often should you replace your mattress? This depends on the mattress you have—but a good rule of thumb is every 8-10 years. Consider replacing your mattress as soon as possible if your mattress looks worn out, is sagging, or if you wake up with back pain. Note that many things can contribute to back pain, so consider a range of lifestyle factors before going down this path. If you consistently wake up with back pain, then this could be a sign that it’s time to replace the mattress. To figure out if your mattress is working for you, try and get into the habit of analyzing your sleep every six months and asking yourself: Is my mattress showing signs of wear and tear? Has my quality of sleep declined recently? Do I wake up with any recurring pains? When I sleep on another bed outside my home, how does my sleep change? How do I maintain the lifespan of my mattress? A good mattress should last you 7-10 years. Maximize that lifespan by: Isabella Ubaldi regularly contributes to Verywell Health’s sister site, Health.com. She’s a freelance writer with a keen personal interest and curiosity about sleep hygiene. She has spent more than 15 years managing a slipped disc in her lumbar spine through regular movement, Pilates, proper seated posture, and a high-quality mattress, of course. She is a reluctant stomach sleeper which no doubt adds to the pain of the injury.:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/VWH-best-mattresses-for-back-pain-4172685-dd5061e285164b14865771ec24fcf3e7.jpg "We Tested More Than 60 Mattresses To Find the Best Options to Help Back Pain (1)")
What Type of Mattress Is Best for Back Pain?
How Your Mattress Can Affect Back Pain
Mattress Type: Latex | Firmness: Dual-sided. Luxury Plush (6) or Gentle Firm (8) | Available Sizes: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, Split King, Cal King | Trial Period: 365 nights | Warranty: Lifetime | Shipping and Returns: Free in-room delivery and setup, free mattress and foundation removal Who It’s For
Why It’s the Best Overall Mattress
What It’s Made Of
How It Performed During Testing
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Best Cooling
Casper Nova Hybrid Mattress
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Mattress Type: Hybrid coil/foam | Firmness: 7, medium-firm | Available Sizes: Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, California King | Trial Period: 100 nights | Warranty: 10 years | Shipping and Returns: Free, no-contact delivery Who It’s For
Why It’s the Best Cooling Mattress
What It’s Made Of
How It Performed During Testing
What We Would Change
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/vwh-casper-mattress-test-nova-hybrid-sarah-felbin-01-4cd8e1b494cd4d5a9c32b748dd6630ad.jpg "We Tested More Than 60 Mattresses To Find the Best Options to Help Back Pain (6)")
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Mattress Type: Foam| Firmness: 8, medium firm | Available Sizes: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, California King, Split King | Trial Period: 120 nights | Warranty: Lifetime warranty | Shipping and Returns: Free shipping, free returns Who It’s For
Side, back and stomach sleepers will all find back pain relief with this mattress.
Hot sleepers will appreciate the cooling, breathable qualities. Why It’s the Best Budget Mattress
What It’s Made Of
How It Performed During Testing
What We Would Change
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Best for Stomach Sleepers
Saatva Classic Mattress
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Mattress Type: Hybrid Innerspring | Firmness: 6 (Plush Soft), 8 (Luxury Firm), 9 (Firm) | Available Sizes: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, Split King, California King, Split California King | Trial Period: 365-night home trial | Warranty: Lifetime Warranty | Shipping and Returns: Free delivery & set up, free mattress & foundation removal Who It’s For
Why It’s the Best Mattress for Stomach Sleepers
What It’s Made Of
How It Performed During Testing
What We Would Change
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/vwh-mattresses-bad-back-test-saatva-classic-ashleigh-morley-01-8fbda403a1ad4d5aa97a792ba27ee340.jpg "We Tested More Than 60 Mattresses To Find the Best Options to Help Back Pain (13)")
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Best for Side Sleepers
Helix Midnight Luxe Mattress
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Mattress Type: Hybrid | Firmness: 7, medium-firm | Available Sizes: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, California King | Trial Period: 100 days | Warranty: 15 year limited | Shipping and Returns: Free delivery, free returns within 100 days Who It’s For
Why It’s the Best Mattress for Side Sleepers
What It’s Made Of
How It Performed During Testing
What We Would Change
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Best for Lower Back Pain
Casper Wave Hybrid Mattress
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Mattress Type: Hybrid | Firmness: 8, medium-firm | Available Sizes: Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, California King | Trial Period: 100 days | Warranty: 10 years limited | Shipping and Returns: Free delivery and setup Who It’s For
Why It’s the Best Mattress for Lower Back Pain
What It’s Made Of
How It Performed During Testing
What We Would Change
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Best Firm Mattress
Beautyrest Harmony Lux Mattress
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Mattress Type: Hybrid | Firmness: Available in Extra Firm, Firm, Firm Pillow Top, Medium, Medium Pillow Top, Plush and Plush Pillow Top (tested in Firm)| Available Sizes: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, California King | Trial Period: 100 days | Warranty: 10 years | Shipping and Returns: Free, white glove delivery and free returns within the trial period Why It's the Best Firm Mattress
What It's Made Of
How It Performed During Testing
What We Would Change
Why It's the Best Mattress for Back Sleepers
What It's Made Of
How It Performed During Testing
What We Would Change
Mattress Type: Foam and responsive coil system | Firmness: Soft (5), firm (8)| Available Sizes: Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, California King, Split King | Trial Period: 100-night | Warranty: 10 years | Shipping and Returns: Free shipping and returns Who It’s For
Why It’s the Best Hybrid Mattress
What It’s Made Of
How It Performed During Testing
What We Would Change
Best for Tossing and Turning
Leesa Legend Hybrid Mattress
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Why It's the Best Mattress for Tossing and Turning
What It's Made Of
How It Performed During Testing
What We Would Change
Why It’s the Best Mattress for Firmness Options
What It’s Made Of
How It Performed During Testing
What We Would Change
Best for Hip Pain
Plank Firm Luxe Hybrid Mattress
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Why It’s the Best Mattress for Hip Pain
What It’s Made Of
How It Performed During Testing
What We Would Change
Best Pillow Top
Naturepedic EOS Organic Pillow Top Mattress
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Why It's the Best Pillow Top Mattress
What It's Made Of
How It Performed During Testing
What We Would Change
We Also Tested
How We Tested
Does Sleeping Position Affect Back Pain?
What to Look For
Mattress Type
Frequently Asked Questions
Why Trust Verywell Health
Jump to Review
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See Also
The Best Mattresses for Back PainThe best mattress for back pain 2024: With expert advice from chiropractors10 Best Mattresses for Back Pain in 2024 | Tested by ExpertsThe best mattress for back pain in 2024, recommended by an osteopath:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/Bear-Original-Mattress-6bfd3f60243a4a0598695e19c8af49fc.jpg "We Tested More Than 60 Mattresses To Find the Best Options to Help Back Pain (8)")
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/helix-dawn-elite-5110d17b301c4d74b50c428b7a1a1635.jpg "We Tested More Than 60 Mattresses To Find the Best Options to Help Back Pain (24)")
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/purple-restore-mattress-e2059f07c738455e9a5a26622c26d41a.jpg "We Tested More Than 60 Mattresses To Find the Best Options to Help Back Pain (25)")
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/PlankFirmMattress-becaa9dc3d2b4929a6eefc8ba6fdf174.jpg "We Tested More Than 60 Mattresses To Find the Best Options to Help Back Pain (27)")
