- Price: $3,295 for a queen before discounts
- Material: Hybrid
- Brand’s firmness rating: Supportive plush
- Mattress height: 15 inches (″)
- Trial period: 365 nights
- Shipping: Free shipping and in-home delivery
- Warranty: Limited lifetime
- Offers financing: Yes
Best Mattress for Sciatica of 2024
Key Takeaways
- The Saatva Rx is our pick for “Best Mattress for Sciatica Overall” due to its adaptable design that suits most sleepers’ needs.
- People with sciatica benefit from a medium-firm bed with the right balance of support and pressure relief to encourage comfort and an easier time moving in bed.
- Mattresses in our review range between $699–$4,390, depending on the size and brand.
- Research estimates that five in 1,000 people experience sciatica in Western countries, like the United States.
- Before purchasing a mattress to address your sciatica symptoms, talk to a health care provider for a full evaluation and proper treatment plan.
Anyone with nerve pain knows it can significantly impact their day-to-day lives, including sleep quality. Sciatica, or irritation of the sciatic nerve, is no different.
Sciatica is a prevalent health issue, with research estimating that five in 1,000 people experience sciatica in Western countries, like the United States. When someone has symptoms of sciatica, they may experience pain, burning, numbness, or weakness along the lower back, hip, leg, or foot. Sometimes sciatic pain is aggravated when moving, sitting, or lying in certain positions. No matter the underlying condition causing your nerve pain, research says adequate sleep is important to reduce discomfort and overall recovery. If your current mattress is worn and isn’t providing the support and relief you need to sleep well, it may be time to replace it.We reviewed a variety of mattresses that may be able to help you find relief. While there is no one-size-fits-all option, we consulted with experts to understand what defines the best mattress for sciatica: a medium-firm bed with balanced cushion and support. Plus, each mattress meets or exceeds the industry standards for a trial period (100 nights), so you can try it out at home for more than three months before fully committing to the best mattress for you.
![Info icon](https://d1udq3vihwjgqu.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Info-Icon-2.png)
Be sure to talk to a health professional before you purchase a mattress to help manage any medical condition (like one that causes sciatica). A new mattress is likely not the first (or only) treatment approach, so get the proper guidance to treat the root cause of your symptoms. It’s also important to rule out more serious conditions that can cause sciatica-like symptoms.
Best mattress for sciatica in 2024
- Saatva Rx: Best Mattress for Sciatica Overall
- The WinkBed: Best Hybrid Mattress for Sciatica with Motion Isolation
- Helix Dusk Luxe: Most Comfortable Mattress for Sciatica
- Nolah Evolution 15″: Best Mattress for Sciatica with Spinal Alignment
- Birch Natural: Best Mobility-Boosting Mattress for Sciatica
- Plank Firm: Best Firm Mattress for Sciatica
- Brooklyn Bedding Aurora Luxe: Best Mattress for Sciatica with Pressure Relief
- Titan Plus: Best Mattress for Heavy People with Sciatica
- Bear Hybrid Elite: Best Mattress for Sciatica and Hip Pain
What we look for in a mattress for sciatica
We found several important factors when testing mattresses specifically for sciatica, including:
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Mattress firmness
Medium-firm mattresses are often recommended for conditions that can cause sciatica, so most beds in this review hover around this firmness rating.
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Functional support
Some people experience nerve pain associated with certain movements, so this review lists mattresses that allow easier position changes.
![](https://d1udq3vihwjgqu.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/25182123/NCOA-MattressIcons-InnerMattress-1.png)
Balanced comfort
A mattress with balanced cushion and support encourages spinal alignment and relieves pressure from sensitive areas.
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A long trial period
What works for one person with sciatica may not work for another. Longer trial periods (100 nights or more) offer peace of mind when ordering a new bed.
Video: Best mattress for lower back pain and sciatica
In this video, physical therapist and mattress reviewer Nicole Hernandez, DPT, discusses the importance of consulting your doctor if you are experiencing lower back pain or sciatica while highlighting the reasons the Saatva Rx mattress might be a good fit for you. See the video to learn how we tested mattresses to determine their usefulness in alleviating back pain and sciatica, along with what you’ll want to look for when choosing a mattress for your needs.
Saatva Rx: Best Mattress for Sciatica Overall
Our expert take on the Saatva Rx mattress
The Saatva Rx is our top mattress for people with sciatica because it’s supportive, pressure-relieving, and adaptable to most body types and sleep positions. Our team also loves how Saatva offers free in-home delivery (known as white-glove delivery) with your purchase, so you don’t have to worry about exacerbating symptoms by carrying and unboxing the mattress.
This 15-inch-thick medium-firmⓘ mattress has multiple layers designed to contour your unique body shape, support the lower back, and relieve pressure from sensitive areas. Its primary coil layer, with reinforced coils along the center of the mattress, provides targeted support to the lower back, which helps maintain the natural curve of the spine throughout the night. You also get a layer of memory foam specifically targeting the same area for added support.
Expert quote box
“For individuals suffering from nerve pain, a medium-firm mattress is often recommended, as it provides a balance of support and comfort, helping to maintain proper spinal alignment and reduce pressure on sensitive areas.” — Chelsie Rohrscheib, PhD, head sleep expert and neuroscientist at Wesper
Despite the supportive nature of the Saatva Rx, our testers were impressed by the level of pressure relief it provides. This is due to the foam caps on each spring and the additional micro-coil layer designed to adapt to movement and hug the body’s curves, regardless of your preferred position.
It also offers excellent functional support, which is our team’s measure of how easy it is to move around or get out of bed. The Saatva Rx is springy and responsive, making it easier to roll to the side and push up to sitting. We also noticed how safe the edge support feels, as pictured below.
![](https://d1udq3vihwjgqu.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/26192004/Saatva-Rx-edge-support.jpg)
Although the Rx mattress is an investment, our team believes it’s a solid pick because it’s adaptable and caters to most body types. If you’re unsure, you can try it for up to one year before fully committing to your purchase. And if you keep it, you receive a limited lifetime warranty.
The Saatva Rx is also a top pick for those with herniated discs, making it the best mattress for herniated discs and sciatica—two conditions often associated with each other.
![quote icon](https://d1udq3vihwjgqu.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/double-quotes-l-svgrepo-com-2.png)
Our tester on the Saatva Rx mattress:
“Flipping to my side, pushing up to sitting, and standing from the edge of the bed felt easy. But we noticed how the mattress’s edge compresses after sitting for a longer period of time (about a minute). It still offers great edge support due to the reinforced material along the perimeter, but you lose about 3 inches due to body weight on the plush material. Since this bed is about 15 inches, which is quite tall, it was still easy to get out of.”
Our mattress expert’s take
Who may love it
- Those who need the maximum amount of support they can get for comfort
- Sleepers looking for a pressure-relieving mattress to avoid force on sensitive spots
- People who appreciate a mobility boost for changing position easier
Who may want to avoid it
- Those sticking to a budget
- People with a tall bed frame may find it challenging to get on and off this 15-inch-high mattress
Customer reviews
The Saatva Rx has a 4.9-star rating out of five, with more than 75 reviews on the brand’s website. Many reviewers mentioned improved sciatic nerve pain after purchasing this mattress.
“I have a long history of orthopedic issues and have had 12 surgeries, four pelvic, four lumbar, nerve entrapment release, and hip buttock soft tissue repairs. I have had many mattresses over the years, but nothing compares to this […]”
— Deb R., verified reviewer on 1/13/2024
“Sciatica, lower back pain, and neck pain—I feel none of it with this Saatva Rx mattress. I can’t believe it. It’s like a miracle mattress.”
— Kellie L., verified reviewer on 11/26/2023
We didn’t find many negative reviews, but a few reported delayed delivery or faulty mattresses and adjustable bed setups. We also saw that some people liked the mattress overall but disliked how the plush top sank under body weight at the edges (as noted by our tester above).
Although many reviews mentioned the mattress’s positive impact on their back or nerve pain, one mattress does not accommodate each person’s unique circumstances or needs. Most people also benefit from clinical guidance in the long-term treatment of their condition.
Visit our Saatva mattress review to learn more.
The WinkBed: Best Hybrid Mattress for Sciatica with Motion Isolation
Our expert take on The WinkBed mattress
When our team tested the luxury firm version of The WinkBed, we were impressed by how well it limits motion transfer from one side of the mattress to the other. Despite having a bouncy innerspring layer, its coils are individually wrapped to prevent movement from rippling across the surface. Because of its impressive motion isolation, we think it’s a great choice if you’re sensitive to your partner’s movements throughout the night. Getting quality, undisturbed sleep is an important part of recovery.
![quote icon](https://d1udq3vihwjgqu.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/double-quotes-l-svgrepo-com.png)
“Inadequate or poor sleep can heighten the perception of pain and lower pain thresholds, making individuals more sensitive to discomfort or neuropathic pain.”
— Chelsie Rohrscheib, head sleep expert and neuroscientist at New York City-based Wesper
Unlike some softer all-foam mattresses, this bed’s hybrid build is responsive to movement and quickly adapts to your sleeping position. Our testers felt most comfortable lying on their backs and sides due to the mattress’s zoned coil support, which reinforced their spines’ neutral position.
Although the first layer of The WinkBed is a contouring Euro pillow top for pressure relief, testers thought this mattress was relatively easy to move around on. They didn’t fight the material as they rolled and switched positions. In fact, its springy feel, high-scoring surface support, and great edge support bolstered its above-average functional support score. This mattress should provide some boost when you move in bed.
![A tester using a temperature gun to measure the mattress’s temperature regulation.](https://d1udq3vihwjgqu.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/26193101/winkbed-012.jpg)
We tested the luxury firm version, which is a true medium firm (6.5 out of 10, according to industry standards). But you can also opt for a softer or firmer version if you prefer. The WinkBed also comes in a plus version, which is specifically designed for higher-weight people (more than 250 pounds).
If you’re unsure which version to choose, you have 120 nights to try your original choice. If you regret your pick, WinkBeds offers a unique exchange program for $49. The company will send you a different firmness option of your choice, and you can keep both for up to 60 days until you decide which option is best (or return them both).
Like many bed-in-a-box companies, WinkBeds doesn’t offer white-glove delivery. Be sure to arrange help carrying your mattress into your home and setting it up on your bed frame. Contact someone you know who can assist you, or speak to a local moving service for assistance.
Check out our best mattresses for back pain review, where The WinkBed is also featured.
![quote icon](https://d1udq3vihwjgqu.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/double-quotes-l-svgrepo-com-2.png)
Our tester on the The WinkBed mattress:
“It’s overall easy to move on this bed. Getting up from bed isn’t a problem, and standing up is easy because the mattress is taller. And when I move around, it doesn’t disturb the other side at all. This mattress’s motion isolation is impressive for being bouncy and responsive.”
Our mattress expert’s take
Who may love it
- Those who are easily disturbed by a restless partner
- Most stomach, side, and combination sleepers
- Those who aren’t sure which firmness is right for them
- People who appreciate a mobility boost for changing positions
Who may want to avoid it
- Higher-weight stomach sleepers may find this mattress too soft
- Those who can’t find help to set up the mattress themselves
Customer reviews
The WinkBed has a 4.8-star rating out of five, with more than 8,700 reviews on the brand’s website. Many customers were happy with their mattress and reported improved pain after transitioning away from a bed that didn’t work for them.
“[…] This bed is so comfortable, it’s really allowed me for the first time to get great sleep before and after waking up in the middle of the night. It’s very quiet when either of us move around. Couldn’t be happier with our purchase.”
— David T., verified buyer on 6/24/2024
“I was sleeping on a five-year-old well-known brand name foam mattress, and every night I’d wake up at least once with the pain of a charlie horse in my left leg. I had a back injury many years back, causing sciatic nerve issues. I thought I’d have to live with this forever or get an operation to relieve the pressure on my sciatic nerve. I replaced the old mattress with The Winkbed in Medium firmness. Since then, I have not had one charlie horse. My back and leg spasms have completely gone away.”
— Curt H., verified buyer on 4/25/2024
We also saw a few negative reviews mentioning that The WinkBed wasn’t for them. Some people perceived it as too soft or too firm. Others were expecting pain improvements but were disappointed. Although a mattress can influence pain or sleep, it shouldn’t be the only approach to managing back or nerve pain like sciatica. Luckily, many reviews praised the brand’s customer service. If you don’t like your bed, you can exchange it or return it.
Visit our WinkBeds mattress review to learn more.
Helix Dusk Luxe: Most Comfortable Mattress for Sciatica
Nolah Evolution 15″: Best for Spinal Alignment
Birch Natural: Best for Mobility
Plank Firm: Best Firm Mattress
Brooklyn Bedding Aurora Luxe: Best for Pressure Relief
Titan Plus: Best for Heavy People
Bear Elite Hybrid: Best for Hip Pain
Compare the best mattresses for sciatica, as of May 2024
Mattress type | Hybrid | Hybrid | Hybrid | Hybrid | Latex Hybrid | Foam | Hybrid | Hybrid | Hybrid |
Firmness | Medium | Medium | Firm | Firm | Medium | Flippable (firm and extra-firm sides) | Firm | Firm | Medium |
Trial period | 365 nights | 120 nights | 100 nights | 120 nights | 100 nights | 120 nights | 120 nights | 120 nights | 120 nights |
Warranty | Limited lifetime | Limited lifetime | 15 years | Limited lifetime | 25 years | 10 years | 10 years | 10 years | Limited lifetime |
White-glove delivery* | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | Yes |
Bottom line
At the end of the day, the best mattress for you is the one you find most comfortable. Knowing which mattress will deliver the most comfortable sleep is difficult even in a store. Always opt for brands that meet or exceed the industry standard for trial periods and warranties (100 nights and 10 years, respectively), so you can return your choice before committing. This is especially true when you’re shopping for a mattress to accommodate a health condition, like sciatica.
Our top pick is the Saatva Rx for catering to most sleepers, but we’ve tested and approved each mattress in this lineup as a great option for those with sciatica. If you prefer a firmer mattress, try the Plank Firm. But if you need as much pressure relief as possible, consider the Brooklyn Bedding Aurora Luxe or Bear Elite Hybrid.
As always, talk to your health care provider before purchasing any mattress to ensure it fits your treatment plan. And use our sleep tips to help you get a restful night’s sleep.
Frequently asked questions
Sciatica affects everyone differently, so there is no one-size-fits-all mattress. In fact, few clinicians would recommend changing your mattress as part of the first line of treatment unless it’s old and worn. It’s best to talk to a health care provider to determine the root cause of your sciatica before purchasing a mattress. A good temporary solution could be using pillows under or between the knees (depending on your preferred sleep position) to improve comfort.
Sciatica is the irritation of the sciatic nerve, which spans from your lower back down the leg. It can cause pain, numbness, or burning down one or both sides of the body from the hips down to the foot. Each person’s symptoms and intensity are unique, so every case requires a tailored approach from a skilled rehabilitation clinician.
Some people may experience sleep-disturbing sciatica symptoms that leave you tossing and turning as you seek relief. Depending on your symptoms, you may find certain positions more comfortable than others.
The best position is the one that provides the most relief, so you can get a good night’s sleep. Some people feel more comfortable in positions than others, so there is no best position across the board. It all depends on your symptoms. If you’re having difficulty finding relief, talk to a physical therapist, who can give recommendations based on your condition.
Have questions about this review? Email us at reviewsteam@ncoa.org.
Sources
- 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. Found on the internet at https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0225849
- Ostelo R. Physiotherapy Management of Sciatica. Journal of Physiotherapy. April 2020. Found on the internet at https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1836955320300229