The Best Mattresses for Back Sleepers

The 10 Best Mattresses for Back Sleepers

Do you lie on your back when you snuggle up under the covers at night? If so, you’ll want to get one of the best mattresses for back sleeping to ensure you’re maintaining a healthy posture and receiving proper pressure relief while you sleep. Back sleepers usually need a medium to medium-firm mattress, depending on their weight, size, and personal preferences. The best mattress for sleeping on your back is firm enough to provide optimal support for the spine and hips, but with ample cushioning to ensure the shoulders and hips are cradled and comfortable.

The mattress review testing team at Mattress Advisor has tested and analyzed hundreds of mattresses and used their in-house data to create this list of mattresses suitable for back sleepers, including the prices, firmnesses, sleep trials, warranties, and all the other information you’ll need when shopping for a new mattress. Read on to find out which one is best suited for your needs!

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Best Mattress for Back Sleepers – Our Top Picks

• Best Overall Mattress for Back Sleepers – Saatva Classic
• Best Mattress for Back Sleepers with Back Pain – Helix Dusk Luxe
• Best Hybrid Mattress for Back Sleepers – Helix Midnight
• Best Firm Mattress for Back Sleepers – Brooklyn Bedding Plank Firm
• Best Memory Foam Mattress for Back Sleepers – Saatva Loom & Leaf
• Best Budget Mattress for Back Sleepers – Nectar Original
• Best Cooling Mattress for Back Sleepers – Brooklyn Bedding Aurora Luxe
• Best Coil Mattress for Back Sleepers – WinkBed Original
• Best Latex Mattress for Back Sleepers – Saatva Zenhaven
• Best Luxury Mattress for Back Sleepers – DreamCloud Premier

Best Overall Mattress for Back Sleepers – Saatva Classic

• Material: Hybrid (foam and coils)
• Firmness: Soft (3/10), luxury-firm (6/10) and firm (8/10)
• Customer Rating: 4.8/5
• Free White Glove Delivery
• Trial Period: 365 Nights
• Warranty: Lifetime

Keeping your spine properly aligned while you sleep is essential to getting quality sleep in any sleep position, but it is especially important for back sleepers who want to avoid suffering from lower back pain. The Saatva Classic mattress earned itself a place at the top of our recommendations for back sleeping because of its ability to ensure the back is in a neutral and healthy position during sleep. Its remarkable durability (earning itself a perfect score in testing for this category) and the fact that it comes with free white glove delivery (meaning Saatva will remove your old mattress and set up your new one for you) doesn’t hurt either. To further assuage the hefty price tag of this luxury mattress, it comes in three firmness options, but we recommend the Luxury Firm or Firm feels for back sleepers. Each bed is also made to order in one of Saatva’s US factories.

Best Mattress for Back Sleepers with Back Pain – Helix Dusk Luxe

• Material: Hybrid (foam and coils)
• Firmness: Medium-firm (6.5/10)
• Customer Rating: 4.5/5
• Delivery: Free Shipping in 3-10 Business Days
• Trial Period: 100 Nights
• Warranty: 15 Years

Chronic back pain spoils more than just the quality of your rest, but the right mattress can help you manage your pain and potentially reduce it. The Helix Dusk Luxe is a luxury hybrid mattress that offers the right amount of support for the lower back to keep the spine in alignment, while ensuring the upper back is cushioned and cradled, making it a great option for sleepers with back pain. The mattress uses several foam layers to create that “just-right” balance of cushion and uplifting support-starting with a marshmallow-y pillow top that gives the mattress that hotel-like luxury, so you sink in just a bit when you get into bed.

A layer of responsive dynamic foam allows for easy movement on the surface of the mattress, while memory foam adds soft, plush comfort. Pocketed coils with zoned construction and a dense foam foundation make up the supportive base of this bed, providing that crucial spinal position for back sleepers. Customers have the choice to stick with the Tencel cover or add a GlacioTex cooling cover with extra temperature regulation for an additional fee.

Best Hybrid Mattress for Back Sleepers – Helix Midnight

• Material: Hybrid
• Firmness: Medium-firm (7/10)
• Customer Rating: 4.6/5
• Delivery: 1-4 weeks
• Trial Period: 100 nights
• Warranty: 10-year limited

Hybrid mattresses use a combination of foam and coils to achieve that perfect middle ground of gentle bolstering for the hips and lower back partnered with soft contouring for the shoulders and knees. The Helix Midnight is the quintessential example of a mattress that does it all. It keeps the spine in a healthy position, offers superb relief for pressure points, is responsive to movement on the bed, and isolates motion to prevent couples from resenting their partners’ nighttime tossing and turning. Breathable coils allow air to circulate throughout the mattress, keeping sleepers comfortable. Three foam layers give this bed the plush softness many of us recall fondly whilst daydreaming of our beds.

A comfort layer of memory foam is there to cushion the hips and shoulders, a polyfoam layer offers some additional support and contouring, and a DuraDense foam base supports the mattress’s entire structure. The multiple foam layers make it suitable for side sleepers and back sleepers, so couples with different preferences should be able to share. While there’s no such thing as a “one size fits all” in the mattress business, this bed comes pretty close.

Best Firm Mattress for Back Sleepers – Brooklyn Bedding Plank Firm

• Material: Polyfoam
• Firmness: Firm (7/10) and extra-firm (9/10)
• Customer Rating: 4.8/5
• Delivery: 3-4 business days
• Trial: 120 Nights
• Warranty: 10-year

Some stomach and back sleepers prefer a really firm surface to sleep on, much to the dismay of the side sleepers of the world who love a soft and cushiony mattress. If you find yourself among the former group, we recommend you give the Plank Firm mattress a go to see if it grants all of your firm bed wishes. This polyfoam mattress boasts a flippable design: One side is firm, while the other is extra firm. The firm side has a slightly more cushioned quilted top layer with a bit of loft, while the extra-firm side has a layer of ultra-firm TitanFlex foam, a latex alternative, and a quilted top with no loft.

But make no mistake, the foam construction still provides ample pressure relief for those sore spots, so it won’t feel like sleeping on the floor. Despite being foam, this mattress is highly responsive and allows for easy movement, so you won’t feel “sunk” into bed as you might with a memory foam mattress. While the Plank Firm does offer decent temperature regulation, customers have the option to add a cooling top panel made of phase-change material for an additional fee.

Best Memory Foam Mattress for Back Sleepers – Saatva Loom & Leaf

• Material: Gel memory foam
• Firmness: Relaxed-firm (6/10) and firm (8/10)
• Customer Rating: 4.9/5
• Free White Glove Delivery
• Trial Period: 365 nights
• Warranty: Lifetime

Memory foam beds provide sleepers with that trademark “sinking into the bed” feeling that some people can’t get enough of. While many memory foam mattresses tend to be softer and more geared toward side sleepers, the Saatva Loom & Leaf mattress offers a firmer model that’s perfect for back and stomach sleepers. The pressure-relieving layers of memory foam work wonderfully, gently lifting and cushioning the lumbar region and conforming to the shoulders, despite being a firmer mattress.

If all that’s standing between you and a good night’s sleep is a little extra support and comfort in areas that need it more, the Loom & Leaf is a great pick. The two different firmness levels (one with a medium-firm feel, the other with a firm feel) give customers a little flexibility in their choice, while still guaranteeing they’ll receive the hugging and contouring that’s the trademark of an all-foam mattress but with plenty of support for the back, ensuring the spine is aligned and back and neck pain is reduced.

Best Budget Mattress for Back Sleepers – Nectar Original

• ​​Material: Gel memory foam
• Firmness: Medium-firm (6/10)
• Customer Rating: 4.7/5
• Delivery: 2-5 Business Days
• Trial Period: 365 Nights
• Warranty: Lifetime

Adding a new mattress to your home doesn’t need to cost you an arm and a leg, especially if you opt for the Nectar mattress. This wallet-friendly memory foam mattress feels soft and cushioning, while still offering plenty of support for your lower back and hips. Sitting at a 6 out of 10 on the firmness scale, this medium-firm mattress is suitable for back and side sleepers of most body weights. Don’t let its modest price tag fool you, this is still a high-quality mattress with a highly durable build, backed by a lifetime warranty and a full-year sleep trial. The foam layers provide plenty of responsiveness and pressure relief, but they do tend to trap heat, so hot sleepers may find more comfort in a bed with a cooler, more breathable construction.

Best Cooling Mattress for Back Sleepers – Brooklyn Bedding Aurora Luxe

• ​​Material: Hybrid
• Firmness: Soft (3/10), medium (5/10), firm (7/10)
• Customer Rating: 4.6/5
• Delivery: 15-25 Business Days
• Trial Period: 120 Nights
• Warranty: 10 Years

Hot sleepers require plenty of airflow and temperature regulation to ensure a good night’s sleep, which is an area where the Brooklyn Bedding Aurora Luxe excels. Not only does it keep sleepers cool and comfortable, but customers can get this mattress in three firmnesses, so whether they prefer a softer mattress or something a bit firmer, the Aurora Luxe has an option for them.

The cooling capabilities start with the top layer of temperature-regulating phase-change material, followed by a foam infused with cooling gel beads. Multiple foam layers combined with individually encased coils ensure the body is cradled and comforted without experiencing too much sinkage in the hips and shoulders. If you (or your partner) are at your wit’s end with sleeping hot, dealing with night sweats, or struggling to find comfort underneath your sheets at night, we strongly recommend trying out a cooling mattress like the Brooklyn Aurora Luxe.

Best Coil Mattress for Back Sleepers – WinkBed Original

• Material: Hybrid
• Firmness: Soft (4.5/10), luxury-firm (6.5/10), firm (7.5/10), plus (8/10)
• Customer Rating: 4.5/5
• Delivery: Within 7-14 business days
• Trial: 120 nights
• Warranty: Lifetime

For back sleepers, an innerspring mattress is a great option for remaining cool and ensuring the spine is in a healthy position throughout the night, but what if you could have all the benefits of an innerspring mattress coupled with the comfort and motion isolation of foam? The WinkBed Original boasts two layers of coils – one of the pocketed coils and one of the micro-coils – that provide sleepers with good posture and ample airflow.

A lumbar support layer, gel-infused foam comfort layer, and Euro pillow top all aid in pressure relief and gentle contouring. If you get the impression there’s a lot going into this bed, you’re correct, but all these elements lend it superb durability, giving it a 900-pound weight capacity plus a lifetime warranty. Multiple firmnesses is the icing on this many-layered cake (or mattress): Customers can choose between four firmness options for optimal comfort.

Best Latex Mattress for Back Sleepers – Saatva Zenhaven

• Material: Latex
• Firmness: Soft (4.5/10) and firm (7.5/10)
• Customer Rating: 4.9/5
• Delivery: 9-21 Days, Free White Glove Delivery
• Trial Period: 365 Nights
• Warranty: Lifetime

Latex has a reputation for being incredibly buoyant and cooling, as well as having hypoallergenic properties that make latex mattresses resistant to dust mites and resistant to bacteria and other allergens. The Saatva Zenhaven is a dual-sided mattress with latex foam on both sides with a Talalay latex core. The firmer side has zoned comfort, meaning some areas receive firmer support than others to ensure even weight distribution and proper spine alignment. All body types and sleeping positions should find this mattress comfortable, including stomach and side sleepers, but back sleepers especially can expect top-notch comfort and healthy posture from this bed. Each Saatva mattress is made to order in the US and comes with complimentary white glove delivery, meaning you won’t need to lift a finger during the mattress replacement process.

Best Luxury Mattress for Back Sleepers – DreamCloud Premier

• Material: Hybrid (foam and coils)
• Firmness: Medium-firm (6.5/10)
• Customer Rating: 4.7/5
• Delivery: Within 18-21 business days
• Trial Period: 365 nights
• Warranty: Lifetime

It might not make sense to have luxury items for some aspects of your life, but investing in a luxury mattress – and the quality of your rest – is worth it. The DreamCloud Premier is a luxe hybrid mattress that isn’t as expensive as some of the other options on the market. With top scores from the testing team in pressure relief, motion transfer, durability, and responsiveness, this bed-in-a-box is built to deliver lasting comfort night after night, particularly so if you sleep on your back or with a partner. If all you crave at the end of a long day is an uber-comfortable mattress to welcome you in, look no further. With a luxury cashmere cover, plush Euro pillow top, memory foam layer, and encased micro-coils, the DreamCloud Premier doesn’t skimp on any of the details.

MA Score: The Mattress Advisor Score is a weighted score that takes into account 14 different factors related to the mattress’ performance, function, convenience, and the brand’s social responsibility.

What Makes a Mattress Good For Back Sleepers?

Back sleeping can be an incredibly healthy sleeping position if done on the right mattress: It can potentially reduce the development of breakouts and wrinkles, help alleviate lower back pain, and helps keep pressure and tension off the shoulders and chest. Back sleeping offers a bit more flexibility in the way of suitable mattress firmness compared to side or stomach sleeping – those positions require either a soft or firm mattress, whereas back sleepers can usually find something in the middle. We’ve outlined different factors to take into consideration while you’re browsing through mattresses, so you can make an informed decision when it comes time to invest in a mattress that will lend itself to better sleep and healthier posture.

Type of Mattress

Mattresses come in four primary builds, each with its own set of pros and cons and crafted with different materials that provide comfort to different types of sleepers and body types. Below, we outline the most popular mattress types and who they’re best suited for (and not well-suited for), and why that is.

Memory foam: Memory foam beds provide sleepers with tremendous amounts of pressure relief, though the slow-response foams aren’t always everyone’s cup of tea. For those who enjoy the feeling of being hugged by your mattress, or sinking into a cozy cocoon at night, memory foam is the right fit for you. If you’re a hot sleeper, or prefer lying atop your bed as opposed to lying in it, it may not be the best option.

Innerspring: The coil core of innerspring mattresses lends them plenty of bounce, which is ideal for those who tend to toss and turn, The lack of foam layers on this bed does help with breathability, but also means there won’t be much pressure relief. The lack of cushioning materials does make it good for back and stomach sleepers who want a firmer sleep surface, but may not be the best for those who want a bit of cradling for sore spots.

Latex: Hypoallergenic, responsive, and a blend of firm support and good pressure relief, there’s a lot to love about latex mattresses. Of course, they’re not for everyone. Latex beds may not offer the best motion isolation (compared to, say, hybrids or memory foam mattresses) due to their bouncier nature, which some couples may have qualms about. They’re also pricier than other models because of their natural construction. That said, they’re a great choice for sleepers with allergies, hot sleepers (latex sleeps very cool!), or those who want a good blend of support and pressure relief.

Hybrid: Hybrid beds, as the name suggests, are a combination of two or more mattress types in one. These usually consist of foam and coils or latex and coils, though some hybrids use all three materials in their construction. The best part about hybrid mattresses is their versatility; because they use different materials, they come in a variety of different firmnesses and feels, ranging from super firm beds to supremely soft and cushiony mattresses.

Performance Factors

The Mattress Advisor team based in Raleigh, North Carolina, has a lab where they test and rate mattresses based on a set of 14 criteria, which we’ve covered below. These testing factors are analyzed using tools specially designed to determine a mattress’s ability to perform in certain categories (such as pressure relief and motion isolation), and the scores are assigned based on a bed’s performance. This helps us provide readers with accurate reviews and unbiased recommendations for finding mattresses that will provide sleepers with better sleep!

Set-up: When you order a mattress in a box, you’ll likely have to be prepared to set it up yourself (unless you order from a company such as Saatva, which includes white glove delivery with all of their mattress purchases). This means carrying the box to your bedroom and unboxing it, which could either be fairly simple if the mattress is easy to unbox and lightweight or a bit difficult if the bed is overly heavy and hard to move.

Pressure relief: Pressure relief is a key element for all sleep positions, but especially so if you suffer from pain in your neck, shoulders, back, or hips. Beds with foam in their construction, be it latex foam, memory foam, or polyfoam, tend to offer ample pressure relief. We recommend memory foam mattresses or hybrids with a soft foam in their construction for the best tension relief.

Spine alignment: Perhaps the most crucial performance factor for back sleepers, spinal alignment is a measure of how well a bed maintains the natural curvature of your spine while you rest. This can vary based on body type and weight, so we suggest reading reviews or checking that a mattress provides good posture for sleepers if this is a concern for you. We kept spine alignment in mind when creating this roundup, so you can rest assured that the beds listed should provide back sleepers with good posture.

Durability: Some beds are built to last longer than others, and this is something our testing team looks for when putting mattresses through their paces in the sleep lab. Beds made with durable materials, such as steel coils, latex foams, or other long-lasting textiles (such as wool) tend to last longer than beds made more cheaply.

Motion transfer: Couples or those who share the bed with a child or pet should look for beds with good motion isolation, reducing the transference of movement when the other bed mates move around or get in and out of bed. Beds with foam layers (such as memory foam beds or hybrids) tend to be the best for this, with innerspring mattresses usually being less ideal.

Temperature regulation: Being warm and cozy while you sleep is one thing, but feeling overheated and sweaty is an entirely different animal. If it feels impossible to cool down at night, a cooling mattress may be just the ticket. Beds with coils in their construction or made with cooling foams (such as gel-infused memory foam, latex foam, or perforated foam) can make a difference in your body temperature while you sleep. Additionally, some beds have covers made with phase-change material. Adding a set of cooling sheets is a good idea, too.

Responsiveness: Responsiveness is more or less a measure of a mattress’s bounce and how easy it is to move around on the mattress. This is important for combination sleepers and those who like to toss and turn throughout the night. Beds with responsive foams and coil layers are usually a good pick for these sleeper types. Latex is excellent for responsiveness, as well.

Edge support: Having supportive edges can be important if you like to lie near the edge or sit on the edge to get ready in the morning. For those sharing a bed, good edge support can allow them to spread out a bit at night, too. Edge support varies based on a bed’s construction, but if this is something you know you’ll want in a bed, we suggest checking the reviews or reading more about the mattress you’re interested in

Price

The price of a mattress depends on the materials used to make it and whether the company is responsible for its own manufacturing process and costs. Latex mattresses tend to be the most expensive, with hybrids coming in at the second costliest due to their complex construction. Memory foam and innerspring beds are usually a bit more affordable. If you’re on a tight budget, we suggest taking a look at some of the best affordable mattresses around $1,000 or checking some of the deals that companies often run. This can reduce the price of a bed drastically.

Shipping and Delivery

All the online mattress brands we listed here come with free shipping to your house (unless you live in Alaska or Hawaii, then there’s the possibility of a shipping fee), though the delivery time varies from brand to brand. Some companies make each mattress to order, which increases the time you’ll have to wait to receive your mattress. Some companies can get the bed to your door in a week or less! If you’re in a time crunch, be sure to double-check the shipping and delivery times and look for those with shorter delivery times.

FAQ About the Best Mattress for Back Sleepers

Do back sleepers need a firm or soft mattress?

Back sleepers should be comfortable on a medium, medium-firm, or firm mattress, depending on their personal preferences. A soft mattress isn’t recommended for back sleepers, as it may cause their hips to sink in too much and lead to lower back pain, hip pain, or soreness.

Do you need a softer bed as you get older?

Not necessarily! While many people tend to require more pressure relief as they age, that doesn’t mean they need a softer bed. Many firmer mattresses still provide plenty of pressure relief thanks to denser foams or coils in the core. If you prefer a firmer mattress, just be sure to get one that offers a bit of pressure relief for the shoulders and hips, such as the Plank Firm.

Can a soft mattress cause joint pain?

For side sleepers, a soft mattress can actually reduce joint pain and stiffness. However, stomach and back sleepers will likely need more support to ensure their hips don’t dip and to maintain proper spinal alignment while they sleep. The best firmness level for your needs greatly depends on your preferred sleeping position, with side sleepers requiring softer beds, stomach sleepers needing a firmer surface, and back sleepers falling somewhere in between.

How do you know when a mattress is worn out?

The average lifespan of a mattress tends to be between seven and ten years, though there are obviously some variations depending on the mattress you buy, how often you use it, and the weight of the sleepers lying on the bed. Sagging or other construction-based issues are an easy way to tell if your mattress needs replacing. If you find you can no longer get comfortable on the bed, you’re waking up with soreness, or you have different sleep preferences than you used to, it’s also recommended that you look into a new mattress.

Summary of Our Top Picks for the Best Mattress for Back Sleepers

• Best Overall Mattress for Back Sleepers – Saatva Classic
• Best Mattress for Back Sleepers with Back Pain – Helix Dusk Luxe
• Best Hybrid Mattress for Back Sleepers – Helix Midnight
• Best Firm Mattress for Back Sleepers – Brooklyn Bedding Plank Firm
• Best Memory Foam Mattress for Back Sleepers – Saatva Loom & Leaf
• Best Budget Mattress for Back Sleepers – Nectar Original
• Best Cooling Mattress for Back Sleepers – Brooklyn Bedding Aurora Luxe
• Best Coil Mattress for Back Sleepers – WinkBed Original
• Best Latex Mattress for Back Sleepers – Saatva Zenhaven
• Best Luxury Mattress for Back Sleepers – DreamCloud Premier