What Are the Best Mattresses for Back Pain?

Man with back pain sitting on the edge of a mattress — Photo Courtesy: Adobe Images

About 23% of the world’s adult population lives with some level of low back pain. Back pain is one of the most frequent reasons people turn to emergency services, and it can be serious enough to make working or performing daily tasks impossible.

Each year, the United States spends between 100 and 200 billion dollars on the condition, including missed wages, lowered productivity, and treatment costs.

Various types of back pain exist, including axial, referred, and radicular pain. Axial pain is the kind that settles in one region of the back and can cause dull or sharp aching, while referred pain tends to be dull or achy and can shift locations. Radicular pain can cause searing or shock-like pain that follows the path of the spinal nerve as it leaves the spinal canal.

No matter what type of back pain you have, finding a position to sleep in that doesn’t cause you discomfort can be difficult. Although the position itself is crucial, another factor can play a huge role: your mattress.

Choosing a Mattress from Among the Top Options

If you have back pain that keeps you from sleeping, one of the following mattresses can offer the relief you need.

Best Option for Lumbar Support: Saatva Classic

The unique coil-on-coil design of the Saatva Classic mattress boosts support under the heaviest parts of the body. It features a memory foam pad right under the lumbar region, which can be perfect for those experiencing lower back pain.

The Saatva Classic is available in three levels of firmness to ensure you get the comfort you need.

Price: \$1,695 (Queen)

Average Customer Rating: 4.8 out of 5.0

Best Option for Spinal Alignment: Nolah Evolution 15

The Nolah Evolution 15 has a soft and plush top to offer maximum comfort, while its perfectly positioned coils offer added support where you need it most. If you keep waking up with sore spots on your back, hips, or shoulders, try this spine-aligning mattress.

The Nolah Evolution 15 has three firmness levels, with the medium one suiting side-sleepers best. For people who like to sleep on their stomachs or backs and who weigh about 130 pounds, the medium-firm design is a better option. The firm model is excellent for those who weigh more than 230 pounds.

Price: \$1,749 (Queen)

Average Customer Rating: 4.9 out of 5.0

Best Option for Couples: Bear Elite Hybrid

By combining memory foam and polyfoam layers, this mattress offers gentle body contouring for people who need some degree of cradling but still require a firm base. It also features:

Cooling components to reduce heat
A supportive coil system
Foam layers for pressure reduction

The mattress comes in three different firmness options. If you choose the King-sized version, you can choose two different firmness options so you and your partner each have the right firmness level.

Price: \$1,373 (Queen)

Average Customer Rating: 4.4 out of 5.0

Best Option for Smaller Budgets: DreamCloud Mattress

If you don’t have thousands of dollars to spend on a mattress, the DreamCloud mattress may be the right choice for you. It has foam layers that can help release pressure from areas of the body, like your joints, while keeping your back supported with a top-quality coil system.

If you choose the medium-firm version, you can get cushioning for your shoulders, lower back, and hips. It can even prevent dips in the midsection, which is a common cause of aches and pains along your back.

Price: \$799 (Queen)

Average Customer Rating: 4.7 out of 5.0

Best Option for Side Sleepers: Layla Hybrid

The strong coil core in the Layla Hybrid offers the support you want, while the plush foam layers cradle your hips and shoulders. This mattress pairs a copper-infused memory foam and polyfoam with supportive coils to provide the experience a side sleeper needs.

With this option, you essentially get two mattresses for the price of one because each side has a different firmness level.

Price: \$1,499 (Queen)

Average Customer Rating: 4.8 out of 5.0

Best Overall Option: WinkBed

The WinkBed mattress is balanced, offering light contouring from its quilted foam surface while providing firm support with its coil system. It can be an excellent choice if you carry some extra weight in your midsection. With its various firmness options, most people can find the exact mattress for their needs.

Price: \$1,499 (Queen)

Average Customer Rating: 4.8 out of 5.0

Helping to Prevent Back Pain with the Right Mattress

Not all back pain is preventable, of course, but you can help yourself by finding the right mattress. By having the exact degree of support and firmness your body needs, you can get a better night’s sleep and give any back issues or damage the chance to heal. Don’t just choose any mattress — go for the one that has your back.