Back pain is a common complaint with a variety of causes, including a poorly designed or unsupportive mattress. Avoid the mattress trap and choose a mattress that offers robust spinal support and pressure point relief. Here are our top picks for the best mattresses for back pain.
Back pain affects millions of Americans. In compiling this list we added extra emphasis on support, pressure relief, and firmness to our usual methodology.
Not only are these options excellent for those suffering from back pain, they are all organic, non-toxic, and sustainable.
Naturepedic EOS Organic Mattress
Highlights: An organic, non-toxic, eco-friendly hybrid coil and latex mattress made in Ohio. Fully customizable and ideal for heavier adults including side-sleepers with back pain. Can be made vegan and latex-free!
At a glance:
- Pricing (with Pillow-Top): $2,199 – $4,299 (Queen is $3,499)
- Materials: Organic cotton, organic latex (optional), organic wool (optional), pocket coils
- Certifications: GOTS, GOLS, Made Safe, GreenGuard Gold, Formaldehyde-Free (UL, Member of the Green Business Network in Green America, Organic Fraud Prevention Partner, 1% for the Planet, Rainforest Alliance, FSC
- Sleep Trial: 100-night sleep trial
- Firmness: Customizable (plush, medium, cushion-firm, firm extra-firm)
- Sizes: Twin, Twin XL, Double/Full, Queen, King, Cali King
- Depth: 15-inch, 12-inch, 10-inch
- Best for: Everyone! (Including vegans!)
- Fully customizable (can choose firmness on both sides!)
- Made in the U.S. with organic latex, wool, and cotton
- Can be made vegan or latex-free!
- MADE SAFE certified as truly non-toxic
- Can swap and replace layers at a later date
- Reinforced edge support
- Breathable and temperature-regulating
- Excellent pressure point relief with good underlying spine support
- Very heavy and has no handles
- On the higher end of the price scale
- Ships in a lot of plastic (that’s hard to recycle in most places)
Naturepedic’s EOS mattress is a top choice for adults with back pain. This highly customizable mattress offers enough depth for robust spinal support and pressure point relief and is available as a standard 12-inch model or a 15-inch Pillow-Top for even greater cushioning and support for larger bodies.
The EOS is available in five firmness levels from extra-firm to plush. If you have back pain, whether related to an old mattress or other factors, we recommend at least a firm design for proper spinal support for most adults.
If you’re a stomach-sleeper with back pain, an extra-firm mattress may be the best option (unless you’re considerably lighter than 130 lb., where a firm may be preferable). For anyone with wider hips or shoulders, a medium build may be most comfortable while still providing adequate spinal support.
Sleep partners with different sleep needs can choose a dual firmness design, and you can switch out layers years after your initial purchase, should your sleep needs change.
The EOS is available as a vegan, wool-free mattress, and in a latex-free (all coils) option!
The EOS also has full edge support, a high coil count, and zoned coils. This makes it a top choice for anyone with back pain that struggles to get in and out of bed. It also means less motion transfer and partner sleep disruption!
PlushBeds Luxury Bliss
Highlights: A ready-assembled latex hybrid mattress with a medium-firm option ideal for most people with back pain. Dual-firmness options available. Excellent edge support and reduced motion transfer. GOTS, GOLS, GreenGuard Gold, and Eco Institut certified.
At a glance:
- Pricing: $2,399 – $3,598 (Queen is $2,999 – $1,499.50 at time of writing!)
- Materials: GOTS cotton, GOTS wool, GOLS latex, steel coils
- Certifications: GOTS, GOLS, GreenGuard Gold, Eco Institut (latex), GreenGuard Gold
- Sleep Trial: 100-night sleep trial
- Firmness: Medium / Medium-Firm / dual firmness option
- Depth: 12-inch
- Sizes: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, Cal King, Split Queen, Split King, Split Cal King
- Best for: Heavier adults (med-firm), couples with different sleep needs
- Very firm mattress that can help with nerve pain
- Zoned lumbar support
- Excellent for heavier adults (combined weight of 600 lb.)
- Impressive edge support and reduced motion transfer
- Available in a split firmness design and in medium firmness
- Free shipping, free returns, and a free 100-night sleep trial
- Lifetime mattress warranty
- Lighter and easier to move than an all-latex mattress
- No chemical flame retardants or other toxic materials
- Much more expensive than Avocado
- Too firm for some side-sleepers
- No option to switch out comfort layers
I have been using this mattress for the last 2 years and I still congratulate myself for making a great purchase. I am a side sleeper and I used to have back problems. My partner is a back sleeper, tall and relatively heavy. The mattress is extremely comfortable for both, has the right balance of support and softness, and does not transfer movements from one person to another. It has excellent temperature and humidity regulation – latex does not feel hot, unlike the memory foam I had used before, plus it is natural). The quality and build are both excellent, we will be enjoying this mattress for a few good years.
Andra C., 2022
The Luxury Bliss is a top choice for anyone with back pain and nerve pain, for whom a firmer, supportive mattress is recommended. This dual firmness mattress-in-a-box is also a great choice for heavier adults, including those with a lighter sleep partner.
The Luxury Bliss medium-firm rates 8/10 for firmness, which is far more firm than most mattresses and a good choice for most people with back pain.
If you have a pronounced hourglass figure or just wide hips or shoulders, the Luxury Bliss may prove too firm for you and could actually lead to back pain. If this is true for you and you’ve already bought the Luxury Bliss, consider adding a soft latex mattress topper for more cushioning and pressure relief.
Thanks to zoned pocket coils and soft Talalay latex, the Luxury Bliss keeps your spine in alignment and offers pressure-point relief.
The Luxury Bliss has wider gauge coils at the mattress edge for full perimeter support. This makes it much easier to get in and out of bed if you have back pain.
The Luxury Bliss is ready-assembled, meaning no need to struggle moving latex layers into place.
The Luxury Bliss comes with a Lifetime Warranty and is made in the U.S. using organic, non-toxic materials. It costs more than the Birch or Avocado Green, but the extra cost means more customization options and better support thanks to the deeper build. We also love the handles on all PlushBeds mattresses!
Avocado Green Mattress
Highlights: A more affordable ready-made zoned mattress in medium-firm with excellent edge support. Sustainably made by hand in California by an industry-leading B Corp, with Made Safe non-toxic certification. Vegan mattress option available!
At a glance:
- Pricing: $1,399 – $2,599 (Queen is $1,999)
- Materials: Organic Fair Trade cotton, organic wool, organic Dunlop latex, upcycled steel coils
- Certifications: GOTS, GOLS, Made Safe, GreenGuard Gold, Climate Neutral certified, FSC, Responsible Wool Standard, Formaldehyde Free (UL), Eco Institut, Fair Trade, 1% for the Planet, B Corporation, Sustainable Furnishings Council
- Sleep Trial: 365-night sleep trial
- Firmness: Medium-firm (gentle-firm available with Pillow-Top)
- Depth: 11-inch (13-inch with Pillow-Top)
- Sizes: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, Cali King
- Best for: Sustainability!
- Latex hybrid mattress offering medium-firm support
- Made with all organic materials and upcycled steel coils
- Rare certification from Made Safe (free of toxic chemicals)
- 5-zoned support and reinforced edging
- Less motion transfer and partner sleep disruption
- Made in the U.S. by a carbon negative B Corp
- Affordable and durable with a 25-year warranty
- 365-night sleep trial
- Can be made vegan
- One firmness level (can’t flip for different firmness)
- Too firm for most heavier adult side-sleepers
- Can’t move comfort layers around
- Only two handles on long sides
- No split sizes (but can use two Twin XLs for a Split King)
The Avocado Green mattress is available with or without the Pillow-Top and is an affordable, sustainably made, eco-friendly mattress that works well for many folks with back pain. This organic mattress is one of very few with Made Safe certification as non-toxic and boasts an impressive number of individually wrapped pocket coils made with recycled steel.
The zoned coil unit has more and wider coils at the edges for full perimeter support, which makes getting in and out of bed easier if you have back pain. Avocado also adds coils in different gauges at the shoulders and hips for support of good spinal posture.
The medium-firm (7/10) is usually best for average weight to heavier adult back- and stomach-sleepers. Lighter adults may benefit most from the gentle-firm (5/10) Pillow-Top design, though, as might anyone with wide hips or shoulders.
Heavier adult side-sleepers who weigh more than 230 lb. may find the Avocado Green mattress bottoms out and doesn’t provide enough support for proper spinal posture.
Avocado is a Climate Neutral (climate negative, actually!) B Corporation and is both Fair Trade and a 1% for the Planet member. It is also working toward operating a zero-waste certified mattress factory and is the first to replace most of its plastic wrap with paper!
Obasan Organic 13-inch Deluxe
Highlights: Deluxe 13-inch all-latex layered mattress perfectly tailored to each sleeper’s needs. Ideal mattress for back pain, thanks to zoned support. Options for dual firmness and later reconfiguration. Made in a carbon-neutral factory in Canada.
At a glance:
- Pricing: $2,599 – $6,499+ (Queen from $4,299)
- Materials: Organic latex, organic cotton, organic wool
- Certifications: GOTS, GOLS
- Sleep Trial: 180-night sleep trial
- Firmness: Whatever you want!
- Sizes: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, Cali King
- Depth: 13-inch (recommended; 10-inch also available)
- Best for: Everyone!
- Totally customizable (on both sides)
- Re-customizable at a later date!
- Zoned for lumbar support and tailored comfort
- Free of any toxic chemicals and materials
- Organic and eco-friendly
- Made carbon-neutral in Ottawa, Canada
- 180-night sleep trial and 20-year warranty
- One-time free comfort exchange
- Very expensive compared to off-the-shelf mattresses
- No manual customization option (all through its automated system)
- No returns unless there’s a manufacturing defect or product is unopened
- Comfort exchange only applies after 180 days
Obasan mattresses are a great choice if you have back pain. These mattresses feature all latex layers in varying degrees of firmness, allowing for tailored comfort to keep your spine in alignment. That means you get all the support of a coil unit without any coils!
Obasan differs from most other all-latex mattresses because it has a mid-layer split into three sections. Each section can then be a custom firmness to support hips and shoulders and prevent too much sinkage (or too little!). You can also customze the firmness of both sides, making the Obasan a winning choice for couples with different sleep needs.
For most adults with back pain, we’d recommend the 13-inch Obasan Deluxe mattress, which offers deeper support and pressure point relief. The exact build of your mattress will depend on your body shape and size.
The Obasan Deluxe built-in pillow top features latex and wool, making for a firmer sleep surface that helps regulate body temperature and wick away moisture.
Obasan makes its mattresses in Canada in a carbon-neutral factory. The company has a reputation for incredibly customer service and quality craftsmanship, with a clear commitment to helping every customer sleep well.
We also love that the zipper design of an Obasan means you can switch out layers of latex whenever you need. This future-proofs your mattress for things like pregnancy, weight loss or gain, back pain, injury, and changes in sleep partner or sleep style.
Savvy Rest Serenity Spring
Highlights: Organic, non-toxic, eco-friendly, hybrid 12-inch latex and coil mattress available with firm coils for robust core support for spinal alignment. Customizable on both sides at the coil and latex layers. A fantastic mattress for back pain, older adults and heavier adults. White glove set-up available and a comfort layer exchange program!
Savvy Rest is offering LeafScore readers 20% off their purchase using coupon code LEAFSCORE at checkout.
At a glance:
- Pricing: $1,599 – $3,299 (Queen from $2,199)
- Materials: Organic latex, organic cotton, organic wool, recycled steel coils
- Certifications: GOTS, GOLS
- Sleep Trial: None
- Firmness: Whatever you want!
- Sizes: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, Cali King, Split-sizes
- Depth: 12-inch
- Best for: Everyone!
- Options include firm coil and latex layers
- The most customizable latex hybrid mattress available
- Can customize coil and latex layers on both sides
- Made with organic, non-toxic, recycled materials
- GOTS and GOLS certified
- Choice of Talalay and Dunlop latex in soft, medium, firm
- Reconfigurable to meet changing sleep needs
- Made by a Staff-owned B Corp in the U.S.
- 90-day comfort exchange
- 20-year warranty
- White glove delivery and set-up available
- No returns
- No handles
- Not suitable for adjustable or Murphy beds
- Upgrade fee for Talalay exchanges
- Shipping fees for latex exchanges
The Savvy Rest Serenity Spring mattress offers more scope for customization than any other hyrbid mattress we’ve seen. For most people with back pain, we recommend the Savvy Rest Serenity Spring with a firmer coil unit and firmer Talalay or Dunlop latex.
If you’re a lighter adult with back pain, a medium Talalay or Dunlop latex layer may feel more comfortable. Similarly, if you have wider hips or shoulders you may want to choose a medium or even soft latex layer for adequate pressure relief.
Home assembly can be a bit challenging for the Serenity Spring, especially if you already have back pain. The good news is that Savvy Rest offers a white glove delivery and set-up service to make things easier. The layered and zippered design also means you can reconfigure your mattress easily, instead of having to buy an entirely new mattress should sleep needs change.
The Serenity Spring is a 12-inch latex hybrid mattress, meaning it offers enough depth for full spinal support, something lacking in most 8-inch or 9-inch mattresses.
The Serenity Spring has a wool flame barrier that also helps to regulate body temperature, wick away moisture, and provides a slightly firmer surface feel that means easier movement across the bed. A firmer coil unit and firmer overall build will also mean stronger edge support.
PlushBeds Botanical Bliss 12-inch [Staff tried and tested]
Highlights: Fantastic organic, non-toxic, customizable mattress for adults with back pain. Choose a firmer 12-inch build for deeper core support and enjoy superior temperature regulation, moisture-wicking, and excellent pressure relief.
At a glance:
- Pricing: $2,799 – $3,798 (Queen $3,299 – $2,049 on sale at time of writing!)
- Materials: GOTS cotton, GOTS wool, GOLS latex
- Certifications: GOTS, GOLS, GreenGuard Gold, Eco Institut
- Sleep Trial: 100-night sleep trial
- Firmness: Medium / Medium-Firm / dual firmness option
- Depth: 12-inch (9-inch and 10-inch options also available)
- Sizes: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, Cal King, Split Queen, Split King, Split Cal King
- Best for: All adults of any sleep-style
- Available in medium-firm (recommended for most adults with back pain) and medium
- Made with denser Arpico latex that provides robust core support
- Can customize both sides
- Can adjust layers and flip for different firmness
- Free shipping, free returns, and a free 100 night sleep trial
- Free comfort exchange program (switch out layers!)
- 25-year warranty
- Can unzip to move a layer at a time
- Sturdy, well-placed handles
- Very heavy full latex mattress
- More expensive than hybrid latex/coil mattresses
- Too springy or bouncy for some adults
- Home assembly is more challenging than it looks
- Less edge support than mattresses with reinforcing coils
I followed the guidelines keeping in mind that I have a large butt and a bad lower back so contour is a problem. I sleep mostly on my back, occasionally on side. I am 230 pounds but chose the medium over medium firm. It seems soft when I sit on it but when I lay down I can feel a uniform support all the way from hips up my spin. Love it.
Linda J., 2020
The PlushBeds Botanical Bliss in a 12-inch medium-firm build is a great choice for many adults with back pain. This all-latex design provides excellent pressure-point relief and firm core support for proper spinal posture. Thanks to core layers of ultra-dense Arpico latex, the Botanical Bliss also resists sagging and indentation that can actually lead to back pain from other mattresses.
The Botanical Bliss is made in the U.S. in a GOTS certified factory and carries the most important green mattress certifications (though we’d love to see it certified Made Safe too).
The Botanical Bliss has heavy latex layers that you have to unwrap and move into place. If you have back pain, this can be a real struggle. Make sure to have help on hand or contact PlushBeds to ask about white glove delivery and set-up assistance.
Couples can order the Botanical Bliss in a split size as a dual-firmness mattress, meaning no one has to compromise their sleep needs and wake up with back pain.
Note that if you’re a larger adult or have wide hips or shoulders, a medium build may offer better relief from back pain, especially if you’re a side-sleeper.
Birch Luxe Natural Mattress
Highlights: Well-designed latex hybrid mattress with zoning to support shoulders, hips, and overall spinal posture. Excellent ege support and great for anyone with back pain who needs a slightly firmer mattress. Sustainably made in the U.S. with GOTS and Greenguard Gold certifications.
At a glance:
- Pricing: $1,449- $2,849 (Queen is $2,449)
- Materials: Organic Fair Trade cotton, organic wool, organic cashmere, Talalay latex, steel coils
- Certifications: GOTS, GreenGuard Gold, Eco Institut, Fair Trade
- Sleep Trial: 100-night sleep trial
- Firmness: Medium-firm
- Sizes: Twin, Twin XL, Double, Queen, King, Cali King
- Depth: 11.5-inch
- Best for: Adults with narrower hips and shoulders, stomach-sleepers, and some back-sleepers
- Made with certified organic materials
- Fully reinforced perimeter for edge support
- Zoned support at hips and shoulders
- Great for heavier adults needing more support
- Breathable design for fantastic temperature regulation
- Vacuum-packed for easy delivery and set-up
- 100-night sleep trial and 25-year warranty
- Free ground shipping in contiguous U.S. and free returns
- One-sided
- No choice of firmness
- Couples can’t customize firmness on each side
The Birch Living Luxe mattress is a top choice of ready-assembled mattress-in-a-box for adults with back pain. This mattress has smart zoning and edge support thanks to a hybrid latex and coil design.
The Luxe also boasts extra layers of wool and cashmere batting to create a sleep surface that feels a little firmer and is easier to move around on; both points in its favor for anyone with back pain. Overall, the Luxe rates 6/10 for firmness, which makes it less firm than the Luxury Bliss and on a par with the Avocado Green.
The Luxe Natural offers a beautiful balance of cushioning pressure-relief and strong spinal support, which makes it a good fit if you have back pain or nerve pain.
This mattress also helps support deeper REM sleep and body temperature regulation, and wicks away moisture. The additional comfort layers of wool and cashmere make the Luxe Natural a top choice for hot-sleepers and hot climates.
FAQs
While it might seem counterintuitive, a firmer mattress is often better for back pain sufferers. A mattress that is too soft lets you sink in too far, which puts your spine out of alignment and can actually cause back pain.
In contrast, a mattress with deep, robust underlying support and a softer surface layer offers the ideal combination of support for spinal posture and pressure point relief.
A variety of studies have investigated the effects of mattress firmness on lower back pain and overall sleep quality. The verdict? A medium-firm mattress is almost always better for relieving and preventing back pain. See this literature review for more insight.
A soft mattress can cause back pain by providing too little support for proper spinal alignment. That said, most adults with back pain will want to sink into the mattress at least a little, making really firm mattresses a bad choice too!
The best kind of mattress for back pain is, therefore, one with a firm core layer and a softer cushion layer that cradles the body just right. This helps to relieve pressure on the joints and spine, lets your muscles and ligaments relax while you sleep, and keeps your body’s natural posture in line.
No! It used to be thought that a very firm mattress was best for everyone with back pain, regardless of their shape, size, or sleep preferences.
Now, we know that side-sleepers often do better with a slightly softer (but not too soft!) mattress, as do adults with wider hips or shoulders. The softer surface allows the hips and shoulders to sink a little into the mattress while cradling the rest of the body. This helps maintain the spine’s natural curve and prevents strain on the ligaments and muscles while you sleep.
Yes! While it’s essential to choose the right kind of mattress for back pain, a good pillow choice can be just as important. A pillow that is too high (lofty) or too low can increase pressure on the cervical spine (neck), leading to back and neck pain, shoulder pain, and less restful sleep overall.
Read about how to choose the perfect pillow for your sleep style.
Yes! And almost any new mattress will help!
Research out of Oklahoma State University found that almost all volunteers who slept on a new mattress for 28 days started to sleep better and had less back pain than before, regardless of the kind of mattress they were randomly assigned. The volunteers’ mattresses had an average age of 9.5 years prior to the study, strongly suggesting that it’s wise to replace old mattresses with a more supportive model if you’re experiencing back pain.
While a cheaper mattress won’t necessary cause back pain, lower-cost builds do tend to have less features designed with robust spinal support in mind. For instance, you’re unlikely to find zoned hip and shoulder support in budget mattresses, meaning a stronger chance your spinal posture might suffer overnight.
Note, too, that the same study mentioned above, where volunteers slept on new mattresses for 28 days, found that cheaper mattresses were more often linked to lower back pain.
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