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Back pain can range from annoying achiness to debilitating pain. Research shows that up to 84% of the population experiences back pain at some point in their lives, with roughly 23% experiencing chronic lower back pain. [1] Coulter I, et al. Manipulation and Mobilization for Treating Chronic Low Back Pain: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. The Spine Journal. May 2018.
Pain like this can significantly affect daily life and sleep quality, so it’s crucial to talk to a health care professional to develop a treatment plan. Everyone’s symptoms are different and require a tailored approach, but addressing sleep quality is one of the most important aspects of recovery, in addition to managing nutrition, stress, and activity levels.
When we don’t sleep well, the nervous system operates in fight or flight. This activates a ‘danger’ pattern in the brain, tissues, organs, and chemistry of the body, creating more muscle tension and increased pain hypersensitivity. Our body’s healing mechanisms are also compromised, and we are less able to recover. But when we are well rested, the response is the opposite.
Lindy Royer, physical therapist and educator at Balanced Body
Caggiari, Gianfilippo, et al. Journal of Orthopaedics and Traumatology. Dec. 8, 2021. What Type of Mattress Should be Chosen to Avoid Back Pain and Improve Sleep Quality? Review of the Literature. Found on the internet at https://jorthoptraumatol.springeropen.com/articles/10.1186/s10195-021-00616-5If you’re working with a medical professional who suggests changing your mattress to improve sleep quality due to back pain, our Reviews Team developed a comprehensive list of options. Each one meets or exceeds the industry standard for trial periods (100 nights), so you can try a mattress for a long time knowing you can return or exchange it if it doesn’t work.
Most clinicians agree that mattresses are not typically the first line of treatment for any condition, including back pain. When you talk to your doctor, they may have you try other approaches first, like fixing your sleep hygiene by adding more activity during the day or reducing light in your bedroom. They will also work with you to reach the root cause of your condition for long-term relief.
The Helix Midnight Luxe is a hybrid mattress with a medium feel, zoned lumbar support, and great pressure relief. Its responsive coils give you a mobility boost as you reposition or get out of bed, which is an important consideration if your lower back pain is associated with body weakness or morning stiffness.
| Mattress type | Hybrid | Innerspring | Foam | Hybrid | Hybrid | Hybrid | Hybrid | Hybrid | Latex hybrid |
| Firmness | Medium | Plush soft, luxury firm, firm | Soft | Softer, luxury firm, firmer, plus | Firm | Plush, luxury firm, firm, comfort plus | Firm | Soft, medium, firm | Medium |
| Trial period | 100 nights | 365 nights | 365 nights | 120 nights | 120 nights | 120 nights | 120 nights | 120 nights | 100 nights |
| Warranty | 15 years | Limited lifetime | Limited lifetime | Limited lifetime | 10 years | Limited lifetime | 10 years | 10 years | 25 years |
| White-glove delivery* | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
*Free shipping and installation of new mattress and removal of old mattress
The Helix Midnight Luxe is our best overall pick because of its well-rounded composition, which can potentially fit most sleepers’ needs. This hybridⓘ Hybrid mattresses combine the features of both innerspring and foam mattresses, with springs surrounded by a thick comfort layer of foam or latex. mattress has a medium firmnessⓘ Brands rate firmness on a scale from one to 10. One is the softest, and 10 is the firmest. It’s generally accepted that 6.5 is considered medium on this scale. level and is most comfortable for light- and average-weight sleepers (less than 250 pounds) in any position. Research supports this mattress’s level of firmness as the most helpful for general lower back pain. [2] Caggiari G, et al. What Type of Mattress Should Be Chosen to Avoid Back Pain and Improve Sleep Quality? Review of The Literature. Journal of Orthopaedics and Traumatology. Dec. 8, 2021
We gently sank into the pillow top surface during testing, but a coil layer provided great support at the lumbar region of our lower back. This zoned lumbar support filled the lower back’s natural curve to keep the spine in a neutral position. Meanwhile, the coils at the shoulder and hip provided more give to reduce uncomfortable pressure points. According to research, many people with lower back pain find zoned lumbar support comfortable, particularly side sleepers.
Our testers found that the transition layer and coils in the Midnight Luxe were responsive and adapted quickly to changes in pressure, which bolstered its functional support score. This means moving around, changing positions, and getting in and out of bed was relatively easy. Our testers also noticed reinforcement around the edges of the mattress—without good edge supportⓘ Refers to the bed’s stability along the edges. , the mattress will collapse under your weight, which may increase your risk of falls.
Unfortunately, bouncy coils tend to negatively affect
motion isolationⓘ
The ability of a mattress to keep movement on one side of the bed from affecting the other side.
. People who sleep with a restless partner will likely feel their movements. If this is a deal-breaker, check out The WinkBed hybrid mattress instead, which does a better job of dampening motion across its surface.
Helix doesn’t currently offer in-home set-up (also known as white-glove delivery). We recommend recruiting help from family, friends, or a local moving service to haul the mattress to your bedroom safely, especially if you’re recovering from a lower back injury. But you do get a 100-night trial period and a 15-year warranty.
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You can contact Helix Sleep customer service by:
Credit card payment options include Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover. Other options include Shop Pay, Amazon Pay, PayPal, and Google Pay. Helix offers financing through Affirm and Katapult.
Helix currently offers up to 30% off (the discount changes frequently) for military members, first responders, students, and teachers. The discount code can’t be combined with other promotional codes.
The Saatva Classic is one of the most supportive mattresses our team has tested. It’s an innerspring mattress with a targeted layer of memory foam across the center for added lumbar support. It also offers two layers of coil to provide extra lower-back reinforcement and a responsive surface, which makes movement less effortful. If your health care provider recommends purchasing a mattress with a large amount of support for your back pain, this is a great option.
Our team also likes how Saatva provides options to customize this mattress to the firmness level you prefer. We tested the luxury firm version, which we found slightly firmer than medium at seven out of 10 on the firmness scale, with 6.5 being the true medium per the industry standard. But you can opt for a softer or firmer feel. We think the luxury firm feel is best for back, stomach, and combination sleepersⓘ People who sleep in more than one position throughout the night. . But side sleepers may need the softer version to avoid sharp pressure points at the shoulder and hip while still supporting the midsection in a more comfortable, neutral position for the back. [3] Bolton R, et al. Effects of Mattress Support on Sleeping Position and Low-Back Pain. Sleep Science and Practice. May 10, 2022.
The Saatva Classic also offers a good amount of functional support, so we found it quite easy to move on this responsive and bouncy mattress. Our testers loved how it has protective edge support that acts as a boundary around the perimeter of the mattress to help prevent rolling off the bed. This is an important consideration for those with back pain and coinciding mobility issues who feel unsafe repositioning toward the edge of the bed.
Lastly, Saatva offers unparalleled customer support. The brand offers free-white glove delivery with the mattress, so you don’t have to lift anything and risk reinjuring your back. You also have one year to try your mattress at home, and if you decide to keep it, you receive a limited lifetime warranty.
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You can contact Saatva customer service by:
Payment options include Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express, Google Pay, and PayPal. Saatva offers financing options through Affirm.
Note that Saatva offers $225 off a purchase of $1,000 or more to adults 65 and older, military members and their families, health care professionals, government employees, and more. Discounts cannot be combined with other offers.
Research shows that just one night of sleep disturbance can increase your perception of pain, negatively impacting your recovery. [4] Staffe A, et al. Total Sleep Deprivation Increases Pain Sensitivity, Impairs Conditioned Pain Modulation, and Facilitates Temporal Summation of Pain in Healthy Participants. PLOS ONE. Dec. 4, 2019 If you want to limit how often your partner’s movement disrupts your sleep during the night, you may need a motion-isolating mattress, like the Nectar Premier.
“Sleep is the brain’s reset button! The brain processes pain. When the brain is well-fed, hydrated, and allowed to get the rest it needs (eight hours uninterrupted sleep) people can experience less pain. If people don’t sleep, they will perceive and experience pain magnified.” — Caryn McAllister, physical therapist at High Quality Home Therapy in Stamford, Connecticut and Rye, New York
This mattress has three layers of memory foam that contour the body and divert force away from areas that build up pressure, like the shoulder and hip, when lying on the side. It’s not as supportive as mattresses that incorporate coil layers or zoned support, but those who find relief from a conforming surface won’t miss it.
These memory foam layers are also responsible for the excellent motion dampening from side to side. To test this, one person on our team lay on one side while another got in bed and moved around. “If I were asleep, there is no way I would notice your movement,” said one of our testers. Our team was impressed.
But if you feel back pain while moving in bed, this bed may not be for you. When our testers dropped a 10-pound ball on the surface to test bounce and sinkage, we noticed the weight cradled into the surface with minimal rebound. Once it settled, there was a moderate amount of sinkage into the memory foam. Testers agreed that lying in the bed feels like you’re “in” the mattress, so repositioning is relatively more difficult than it is on a hybrid or innerspring mattress with responsive coils.
If you want to try this mattress, Nectar offers a one-year trial period, so you can test it out in the comfort of your own home before fully committing. If you keep it, you get a limited lifetime warranty. You can also opt for white-glove delivery at an extra cost ($199), but this offer changes often. Check with customer service at checkout to ensure it’s available with your purchase.
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You can reach Nectar customer service by:
Payment options for Nectar include American Express, MasterCard, Visa, Discover, PayPal, and Amazon Pay. Nectar offers financing through Affirm and Splitit and offers a lease-to-own option through Acima.
Military members, first responders, and health care professionals take note: You can get a 5% discount (not to be combined with other offers).
Our team tested the luxury firm version of The WinkBed and determined that it’s a well-rounded choice because of its balanced support and pressure relief, good functional support, and true medium-firmness level, which is recommended for those with general lower back pain. [2] Caggiari G, et al. What Type of Mattress Should Be Chosen to Avoid Back Pain and Improve Sleep Quality? Review of The Literature. Journal of Orthopaedics and Traumatology. Dec. 8, 2021.
“Moving around on this mattress is less stressful than normal. I don’t feel stuck in this mattress at all. When I push up to seating, the surface isn’t too bouncy under my hand, which makes it simpler. And when I stand up, it’s easy, because the mattress is taller than I’m used to.” — Testing assistant and member of the Northern Wake Senior Center in North Carolina
But one of the main reasons The WinkBed is on our list is its 120-night trial period terms, which include a unique exchange program for those who want to experiment with firmness levels at home. This brand offers four firmness levels (softer, luxury firm, firmer, plus), and if you don’t like the option you purchase, the company will send you a different firmness level for $49. You get to keep your original purchase and the potential replacement for up to 60 days before deciding to return one. To our knowledge, no other brand allows you to compare two mattresses simultaneously in the comfort of your own home.
All of the brands in our list have a trial period that meets or exceeds the industry standard of 100 nights because no one fully knows if a mattress will work for them unless they try it at home. Making a decision can be especially daunting when you’re unsure whether your mattress will help or exacerbate existing pain. “You want to try to make the right decision. It’s not always possible, but when you decide, you want to make sure that there’s a good return or exchange policy too,” said a focus group participant of eight recent mattress customers. Many participants agreed that clear and fair trial period terms provide peace of mind when it comes time to purchase.
The WinkBed mattress also comes with a lifetime warranty, but unfortunately, white-glove delivery is not yet available. Make sure you get help from a neighbor or local moving service.
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You can reach WinkBeds customer service by:
Credit card payment options include MasterCard, Visa, American Express, Discover, Shop Pay, Google Pay, and Apple Pay. WinkBeds offers financing through Bread Pay and Katapult.
The company currently offers an additional $50 off for military members and their families, first responders, law enforcement, and health care workers. Unlike other mattress companies, this discount can be combined with other offers.
The Titan Plus is our top choice for higher-weight sleepers (more than 250 pounds) looking for a firmer mattress that supports the body yet relieves pressure from joints. Our testers found its surface bouncy with above-average edge support, making this mattress relatively easy to move on. This is important to consider if your back pain is associated with repositioning or getting in and out of bed.
We also like that this mattress has a taller version (the Luxe) with an additional layer of foam padding for extra pressure relief. We recommend the Luxe for those who border on 250 pounds and may prefer more cushion around the shoulder and hip while sleeping on the side. This can also help maintain a more neutral spine position.
The Titan Plus is also surprisingly good at isolating motion. Despite its firm and bouncy surface, the memory foam layers and individually encased coils dampen motion relatively well. This makes it a good choice for light sleepers with restless partners. But it’s not as effective as The WinkBed (specifically, the plus version for heavier body weight), which could be a great alternative if motion isolation is non-negotiable.
Your mattress comes with a 120-night trial period and a 10-year warranty. Unfortunately, white glove delivery is not available for Titan mattresses, so make sure you recruit help from a neighbor or local moving service to avoid injury.
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You can reach Titan (a Brooklyn Bedding brand) customer service by:
Credit card payment options include Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover. Other options include Shop Pay, PayPal, Amazon Pay, and Google Pay. Titan offers financing through Affirm.
The company currently offers 30% off for military members, first responders, medical providers, students, and teachers. The discount code can’t be combined with other promotional codes.
The luxury firm version of the 15-inch-thick Nolah Evolution may be one of the best options for accommodating lower back pain. During testing, this medium-to-firm supportive mattress relieved pressure on the shoulder and hip, particularly in the side sleeping position. This mattress is also one of the best for edge support, so if you’re concerned about safety as you carefully move on your mattress, the Nolah Evolution 15″ is an excellent choice.
The standout feature of this mattress is its double-zoned support. Nolah uses its own type of foam called AirFoam, which is perforated more at the shoulder and hip to compress easily and relieve pressure. The foam at the center of the mattress is perforated less, making it more dense and supportive at the lower back. Its layer of zoned coils is reinforced toward the center of the mattress to support the lower back.
Our team also recommends this mattress to couples because it has good motion isolation, similar to the Titan Plus. Our testers only felt larger bouncing movements, like getting into bed. But smaller movements are subtle. Couples may also like this mattress because it’s comfortable for most body types and sleep positions. You and your partner will likely enjoy this mattress, even if you have different sleep preferences or injuries.
The Nolah Evolution 15″ has a 120-night trial period and a limited lifetime warranty. White-glove delivery is optional through a third-party site called Load Up and costs between $150–$300, depending on whether you need old mattress removal, set up, or both. If you’re confident you’ll love this mattress, you can remove the trial period and save up to $100.
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You can reach Nolah customer service by:
Nolah accepts MasterCard, Visa, American Express, Discover, Shop Pay, and PayPal. Financing is available through Affirm.
The brand currently offers $50 off for military members and their families, as well as health care workers. This discount can’t be combined with other promotional codes.
The medium-firm version of the Bear Elite Hybrid stands out as a great choice for side sleepers with back pain because it offers zoned coil support and excellent pressure relief. Plus, it truly feels like a medium-firm mattress should, which research shows is the best firmness level for people with general back pain. [3] Bolton R, et al. Effects of Mattress Support on Sleeping Position and Low-Back Pain. Sleep Science and Practice. May 10, 2022
In fact, one tester and her partner own this mattress and frequently sleep on their sides and can attest to its comfort. The only drawback they found was the off-gassingⓘ The chemical odor given off from a new mattress. The smell is harmless and is usually gone within the first few days. , which occurs with most hybrid or foam mattresses. The material’s smell took about three days to clear out of the bedroom (even with the windows cracked), so consider this if you purchase any mattress with foam.
The Bear Elite Hybrid is composed of a cushion cover, memory foam, and individually encased coil layers. The cushion cover and memory foam are key for side sleepers on this mattress. When our team tested the pressure relief of this mattress using a pressure mapping systemⓘ A mat with sensors that detects pressure buildup when someone lays across it. , we found almost no force buildup under prominent joints, like the hip and shoulder. This is a great sign for side sleepers because force buildup can be uncomfortable, leading to tossing and turning throughout the night to find a better position.
Our team also liked the zoned coil support in this mattress. The coils in the center are reinforced to maintain a spinal alignment while lying on your side. A neutral spine position may relieve back pain because it keeps the body from twisting or bending, potentially leading to discomfort and pain during the daytime. Our testers noticed how the coiled reinforcement felt gentler and less obvious, which some people might prefer, compared to a mattress like the Saatva Classic. Because each coil of the Bear Elite Hybrid is individually wrapped, motion doesn’t transfer as much as traditional interconnected coils, so you’re less likely to disturb a sleeping partner if you switch sides at night.
The Bear Elite Hybrid has a 120-night trial period and a limited lifetime warranty. White-glove delivery is available, but it will cost an extra $175 at checkout.
Check out our Best Mattresses for Side Sleepers roundup if you want more options.
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You can reach Bear customer service by:
Bear accepts MasterCard, Visa, American Express, Discover, PayPal, Google Pay, Meta Pay, and Venmo. Financing is available through Affirm and ShopPay.
The brand currently offers a 40% discount for military members, first responders, law enforcement, health care workers, and teachers. This discount can’t be combined with other promotional codes.
The Brooklyn Bedding Aurora Luxe is our best firm choice for lower back pain because of its solid feel while also offering great pressure relief.
Our team tested the medium-firm option, which felt firmer than anticipated (7.5 out of 10 on the firmness scale). This mattress did well during our pressure map testing, likely because it offers a combination of conforming and responsive foam layers. If your health care provider recommended a firm mattress to accommodate your back pain, try the Brooklyn Bedding Aurora Luxe. If you want to go even firmer, select the “firm” option at checkout.
This mattress is also a good choice for those with mobility issues associated with pain. Because this mattress is firmer with bouncy coils and great edge support, it earned a high functional support score. This means the surface is easy to navigate, so you won’t have to fight against the material to roll over or push yourself up to sitting.
Like the Bear Elite Hybrid, this mattress offers zoned support that gently fills and reinforces the gaps between the spine and sleeping surface to maintain a neutral position. But because this mattress is denser, curvy, petite body types may not find it conforming enough to hug the body and provide good enough midsection support.
Our team was also impressed by how cool this mattress felt to the touch compared to other mattresses. Based on our research, we believe the impressively cool feel is because the first foam layer is infused with phase-change material, which is designed to store or release heat and keep you cool all night.
The Brooklyn Bedding Aurora Luxe has a 120-night trial period and a 10-year warranty. Since white-glove delivery is unavailable, be sure to recruit help when you set up this mattress in your home.
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You can reach Brooklyn Bedding customer service by:
Accepted credit card payments include: MasterCard, Visa, American Express, Discover, Amazon Pay, Shop Pay, Google Pay, and PayPal. Financing through Brooklyn Bedding is available through Affirm.
The company currently offers 30% off for military members, first responders, medical providers, students, and teachers. The discount code can’t be combined with other promotional codes.
We think the Birch Natural is one of the best mattresses for people with mobility issues and back pain. During our testing, this mattress had a high functional support score, which means it required less effort to move on the surface compared to other options.
Our team noticed that this mattress had a notably bouncy and responsive surface to help us gain momentum as we got out of bed. Also, its edge support was protective, pushing us back toward the center of the mattress as we approached the lip. The only downside is the mattress’s 11-inch height, which is shorter than others on this list. If you find it easier to stand from a taller mattress, you can upgrade to the Luxe, which is 11.5 inches, for about $300 more. The Luxe also offers extra comfort layers and zoned coil support, which can come in handy for side sleepers who may find the Birch Natural too firm at the shoulder and hip.
Our testers agreed with the brand’s medium firmness rating (6.5 out of 10), which is the best firmness for those with back pain. But we think this mattress offers the best pressure relief and support for back sleepers and combination sleepers who weigh less than 250 pounds and often sleep on their stomachs.
The Birch Natural has a 100-night trial period and a generous 25-year warranty. White-glove delivery may be available in your area, but you’ll need to check on the product page by entering your ZIP code. This service starts at $129 for in-home set-up, but if you need additional services like old mattress removal or adjustable base set-up, it can cost up to $398.
Who may love it
Who may want to avoid it
You can reach Birch customer service by:
Accepted payments include MasterCard, Visa, American Express, Discover, Google Pay, Shop Pay, Amazon Pay, and PayPal. Financing through Birch is available through Affirm.
Birch currently offers 25% off for military members, first responders, students, and teachers. The discount code can’t be combined with other promotional codes. To get the code, you must verify your identity and status using a third party called VerifyPass.
| Mattress | Twin | Full | Queen | King |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Helix Midnight Luxe | $1,373.80 | $1,998.80 | $2,373.80 | $2,873.80 |
| Saatva Classic | $1,395 | $1,995 | $2,095 | $2,595 |
| Nectar Premier | $1,049 | $1,349 | $1,499 | $1,799 |
| The WinkBed | $1,149 | $1,499 | $1,799 | $1,999 |
| Titan Plus | $699 | $999 | $1,249 | $1,499 |
| Nolah Evolution | $1,499 | $2,299 | $2,499 | $2,699 |
| Bear Elite Hybrid | $1,893 | $2,108 | $2,305 | $2,762 |
| Brooklyn Bedding Aurora Luxe | $1,199 | $1,865 | $2,265 | $2,665 |
| Birch Natural | $1,373.80 | $1,686.30 | $1,873.80 | $2,248.80 |
Finding the right mattress for your back pain can feel daunting, but it’s important to talk to a health care professional to understand more about your unique needs from a pain management perspective. Once you have an idea of what to look for, you can more easily consider your personal preferences, including firmness and mattress type.
We love the Helix Midnight Luxe because it accommodates an array of sleep positions, boosts bed mobility to make movement less effortful (and potentially less painful), and offers a medium firmness known to best help manage generalized back pain. But every option in our list offers something slightly different, like extra support or more pressure relief, so you can find a mattress that works for you. If you still need help making a decision on the best mattress for your specific back pain, we encourage you to take advantage of trial periods—all models in this review exceed the industry standard of 100 nights—or opt for the exchange program from WinkBeds.
A one-size-fits-all mattress for back pain doesn’t exist. Although our team chose the Helix Midnight Luxe as the best overall mattress for its ability to accommodate most sleepers, it may not work for everyone. It’s best to talk to a health care professional first, like your doctor or a physical therapist, to determine what to look for when shopping for a mattress.
A mattress can provoke or exacerbate pain. This can happen if you choose a mattress that doesn’t suit your specific sleeping position. Those with chronic pain should consider other factors, such as nutrition, stress, activity level, and general sleep hygiene. It’s always best to talk to a health care professional to determine the root cause of your pain before you purchase a new mattress.
According to our testing results, the best mattress for side sleepers with back pain is the Bear Elite Hybrid because it offers gentle zoned support, great pressure relief at the shoulder and hip, and good functional support to make bed mobility less effortful.
Research shows that a medium-firm mattress is best for general back pain. [2] Caggiari G, et al. What Type of Mattress Should Be Chosen to Avoid Back Pain and Improve Sleep Quality? Review of The Literature. Journal of Orthopaedics and Traumatology. Dec. 8, 2021 If you’re a side sleeper, you may want to consider zoned support to maintain a neutral spine position, which many people find comfortable. [3] Bolton R, et al. Effects of Mattress Support on Sleeping Position and Low-Back Pain. Sleep Science and Practice. May 10, 2022
Memory foam could be good for those with back pain, depending on their sleep position, the amount of support they need, and the amount of support the foam provides. It’s best to talk to a health care professional about what to look for in a mattress, so you can accommodate your specific symptom when shopping for a mattress.
