Best Mattresses for Back Pain

For a balance between much-needed pressure relief and reliable support, Nolah's foam mattresses offer exactly what's recommended for neutral spinal alignment: a medium level of firmness. This model comes with high praise from our survey respondents and consumer testers, who swore it helped alleviate everything from tight shoulders to back and hip pain.

What it's made of: The simple foam model comes with three different components: a top layer made of comfort foam to take some tension off your joints, a supportive middle layer and a high-density base. Nolah also offers an all-foam "hybrid" variation, which features cutouts in the foam in order to replicate the responsiveness of coils.

Tester notes: While it may seem too good to be true, many users with back and hip pain have told us that this mattress made all the difference, helping notably ease discomfort. One tester noted that the bed "offers back support while still cradling pressure points," and another highlighted how the "foam bounces back to retain its support even when changing positions." On top of that, one user called it "significantly helpful in relieving back pain for [her] husband who has scoliosis."

But if you've never slept on an all-foam mattress before, allow for some time to adjust. One tester shared, "Although I was experiencing far less back, shoulder and neck pain from this mattress, it still took a few days for me to get used to."

If you're looking to save on your mattress, this bed-in-a-box costs much less than others, yet still gets glowing reviews from users. It only comes in one firmness option, but medium is a good choice for most people with back pain, according to multiple medical studies. Plus, the mattress arrives in a box for you to set up on your own, which many of our testers preferred because it's contactless and convenient.

What it's made of: Unlike some other boxed models that are all foam, this one is a hybrid with both foam and coils on the inside. It has 2 inches of memory foam on top, 1 inch of high-density foam for support in the middle and coils in the bottom for even more support and airflow.

Tester notes: This mattress earned high scores across the board, from ease of setup to support while sleeping. Some users even told us that it helped get rid of their back and neck pains and said it was absolutely worth the purchase. "It's great for my back," said one user, while another said, "This mattress gives much more support than my previous spring mattress." Several testers were surprised by the high-quality feel despite its low cost and compared it to a "high-end hotel bed." The caveat is that the edges sunk down more than other mattresses we've evaluated.

Tempur-Pedic's mattresses stand out for their signature, pressure-relieving feel. With superior motion isolation and contouring foam, our testers were blown away by just how comfortable they felt sleeping on this bed. And while the brand often comes at a high price, this model uses the same proprietary foam as the mattresses it sells in stores, but it's shipped directly to your door for DIY setup at a lower cost.

What's it made of: Users can choose between the popular all-foam model or pay a fee to upgrade to the hybrid version. The foam mattress uses three layers of foam, including soft, cushioning foam on top, firmer foam in the middle and a supportive bottom base. The hybrid style replaces some of the base foam with coils.

Tester notes: Our testers and survey panelists alike highlighted how the brand's foam fully cradled their hips and shoulders, especially when sleeping on their sides. They say it noticeably helped keep their spines in a relaxed, neutral alignment. This model earned especially high scores for comfort, support and perceived sleep quality. While the brand notes that the mattress may feel firm when you first lie down on it, our testers confirmed that it quickly molds to your body, providing personalized, contouring support. One tester reported, "I feel like my entire body is supported in a very gentle way."

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Purple stands out for its elastic grid layer at the surface which offers a combination of support and pressure relief that some users swear feels like the perfect balance of soft and firm. Aside from the unique feel, the grid structure offers excellent breathability, making this mattress a great option for those who tend to overheat at night.

What it's made of: There are two layers of foam under the elastic grid on top. The brand also has hybrid variations with a layer of foam and a layer of coils for added support and airflow. The hybrids are heavier and more expensive, but regardless, you get the standout pressure-relieving grid with all of Purple's mattresses.

Tester notes: Our panel raved about its ability to relieve their back pain with comments like, "This is the first mattress where we both woke with no pain," and, "It only took a couple of nights of sleeping on the Purple mattress for my back to feel much better!" Many have also highlighted the bed's noticeably cool feel and motion isolation, which means you're less likely to feel your sleeping partner move around at night.

This mattress is a top performer among our testers and survey panel, who consistently give it high scores for comfort, support and overall sleep quality year after year. Unlike memory foam mattresses that come compressed in a box for you to set up on your own, Saatva offers the same type of luxury mattress you'd find in stores and has a white glove delivery service set it up for you, free of charge.

What it's made of: The inside is a mix of supportive coils and pressure-relieving memory foam. The foam is specifically targeted around the middle of the bed so it supports your lower back. It comes in three firmness levels, but the Luxury Firm option is the most popular and the equivalent of medium-firm support.

Tester notes: Hundreds of our survey respondents swear by this mattress, giving it high praise and top scores across the board. One of our testers told us, "I tend to have chronic back pain, which has much improved since using this mattress." Another user said, "I wake up with no low back pain!" Others have called it "the best mattress ever," and many specifically highlighted the edge support, which makes it easier to get in and out of bed.

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Casper has several mattresses to choose from, but this top-of-the-line model is designed for promoting proper spinal alignment. Made with an ergonomic layout, the bed provides support where you need it the most, targeting zones like the lumbar region while cradling pressure points.

What it's made of: The mattress has unique gel pods that are placed under the hips and lower back, while softer foam contours to the shape of your shoulders. Beyond that, there are several layers of foam for full-body pressure relief, a thin layer of cooling gel and perforations in the foam for breathability. Coils at the base add support and airflow.

Tester notes: Users on our panel gave it perfect ratings for support and raved about its comfort, plus they highlighted Casper's stellar customer service. One specifically called out that it "was super easy to set up and it really helps with our aches and pains." Another described it as feeling like "sleeping on a cloud." Just note that our testers found the medium firmness ran a bit soft due to the contouring, pressure-relieving nature of the foam. While the bed has cooling features, some users noted it didn't feel cool to them. So if you're a hot sleeper, consider opting for the Wave Hybrid Snow instead.

While there isn't one mattress that can solve everyone's back pain, an adjustable mattress can provide true customizable comfort and support while automatically adapting to the shape of your body. Sleep Number's mattresses are filled with air chambers that let you customize your side of the bed to whatever firmness level you choose. It's pricey, but users told us that splurging on one was a great decision, and they wished they wouldn't have waited so long to buy it.

What it's made of: While the brand offers plenty of adjustable beds that all contain air chambers to change the firmness level, this specific model also has a 5-inch layer of foam for comfort and pressure relief. As an added bonus, there are built-in sleep tracking capabilities so you can get personalized feedback on your sleep performance sent directly to your smartphone.

Tester notes: It's definitely pricey, but Sleep Number consistently received high scores from both our testers and over 300 survey respondents. Users rated the mattress as comfortable and supportive, and especially like having personalized control over the feel of their bed. "I really feel like it gives me a custom sleep experience," noted one tester. Another told us he felt 30 years younger just days after sleeping on it. Plus, the bed is made to last. Not only has it earned the Good Housekeeping Seal, which means it's been heavily vetted by our Lab experts, but even those who've had this model for close to 10 years raved about the quality.

If you're not a fan of memory foam, this mattress uses organic materials (like cotton, wool and latex) and is certified by GOTS (Global Organic Textiles Standard) and GOLS (Global Organic Latex Standard) so you know the entire manufacturing process follows strict guidelines. It's on the firmer side, but you can add a plush pillowtop (starting from $400) for a softer feel. Plus, it has a full-year trial period, which is longer than most.

What it's made of: Unlike the other mattresses in this article, this one uses latex which is firmer and has more bounce than memory foam. Below the latex is a layer of ergonomically-designed coils to support proper alignment. It also uses cotton and wool near the outer layers for comfort and temperature regulation.

Tester notes: Latex foam is known for its ability to contour to the body with a springier, more resilient feel than memory foam, and this is one of the best latex mattresses we've ever tested. Users told us they loved sleeping on this mattress, and some highlighted how it helps keep their body weight evenly distributed. One described her experience by saying, "I like that it is supportive and I don't wait up in pain as I have with other mattresses." Several even noted that it has held up well over the years without any "dips" or indents.