- Price: $1,395–$2,990
- Material: Innerspring
- Firmness: Plush soft, luxury firm, firm
- Trial period: 365 nights
- Shipping: Free white glove delivery
- Warranty: Limited lifetime
- Sizes: Twin, twin XL, full, queen, king, split king, California king, and split California king
- Mattress height: 11.5 or 14.5 inches
8 Best Mattresses for Back Sleepers in 2024: Expert Reviewed
A good night’s sleep helps you support your mental health, immune system, and other essential functions. But did you know that your sleeping position could impact the quality of your rest?
According to a small 2022 study, back sleepers had slightly worse sleep quality than people who sleep in other positions. The back sleepers in the study tended to wake more often than their side-sleeping counterparts. Additionally, sleeping on one’s back can negatively influence obstructive sleep apnea severity.
If that sounds like you, then choosing the best mattress for back sleepers might help you break the cycle and find more supportive, restorative sleep. Below, find our top mattresses for back sleepers, and get more expert-approved tips on choosing the best mattress for you.
Best Overall Mattress for Back Sleepers
Our Reviews Team chose the Saatva Classic mattress as our best overall pick of the best mattress for back sleepers. It has zoned lumber support and is available in three firmness levels, so you can customize it to your preferences and comfort.
Best mattress for back sleepers in 2024
- Saatva Classic: Best overall
- Emma Hybrid Comfort: Best overall
- Helix Midnight Luxe: Best overall
- Nolah Evolution: Best overall
- WinkBeds Original: Best overall
- Bear Elite Hybrid: Best overall
- Birch Natural: Best overall
- Brooklyn Bedding Signature Hybrid: Best overall
Best mattresses for back sleepers for 2024
Best overall: Saatva Classic
Best value for back sleepers: Emma Hybrid Comfort
Best mattress for back sleepers with hip pain: Helix Midnight Luxe
Best firm mattress for back sleepers: Nolah Evolution
Best mattress for back and side sleepers: WinkBeds Original
Best pressure relief: Bear Elite Hybrid
Best mattress for back sleepers with lower back pain: Birch Natural
Best hybrid for back sleepers: Brooklyn Bedding Signature Hybrid
Compare the best mattresses for back sleepers as of May 2024
Cost for a queen* | $2,095 | $1,319 | $2,373.80 | $2,499 | $1,799 | $2,305 | $1,873.80 | $1,332 |
Firmness | Plush soft, luxury firm, firm | Medium-firm | Medium | Plush, luxury firm, firm, comfort plus | Softer, luxury firm, firmer, plus | Soft, medium, firm | Medium | Soft, medium, firm |
Mattress type | Innerspring | Hybrid | Hybrid | Hybrid | Hybrid | Hybrid | Hybrid | Hybrid |
White glove delivery | Yes | No | No | Yes, for a fee through a third party | No | Yes, for a fee | Yes, for a fee | No |
* Without discounts or promotions
How to choose the best mattress for back sleepers
When shopping for a new mattress, the best mattress for you is the one you find most comfortable, allowing you to sleep deeply through the night. We tested and researched a wide variety of brands and models, choosing the Saatva Classic as the best mattress for back pain, but that doesn’t mean it is the best one for you and your unique preferences. Before making a choice, take a look at each of the mattresses we’ve included in this guide, keeping in mind our suggestions for choosing a mattress as a back sleeper.
Sleep Position
As a back sleeper, your sleep position may play an important role in selecting the right mattress for you. In general, back sleepers benefit from a supportive mattress that allows them to maintain spinal alignment while sleeping. [3] Yu E. What sleep positions are best for your back? Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. Oct. 4, 2018. Found on the internet at https://wexnermedical.osu.edu/blog/what-sleep-positions-are-best-for-your-back This is often accomplished in hybrid mattresses with a supportive coil core. Some sleepers may find they benefit from mattresses with support zones, with increased firmness in areas like the hips, allowing them to maintain a neutral spine.
Body Type
Body type is one reason why mattress shopping is such a personal experience, influencing what each person finds most comfortable and supportive. For example, we have found that people of lower weights will experience a mattress as firmer than someone of a higher weight. People of higher weight who are also back sleepers tend to require more firmness in order to maintain a neutral spine, with a hybrid mattress containing an innerspring core meeting their needs better than a memory foam mattress. If your body type requires more space, a king or cal king may be a better fit than a queen.
Sleep Partner
Sharing a bed with another person can have a big impact on your sleep experience. Starting with a larger model, with plenty of room for two, is a good first step when shopping for a mattress as a back sleeper. We typically suggest that partnered sleepers look at hybrid options, with a good amount of motion isolation, since these options tend to have a foam outer layer that contours to each person’s body.
Best mattress types for back sleepers
The design of the mattress, including the material used, can change how soft or firm it feels. No one type of mattress is guaranteed to be the best fit for a back sleeper, but the material used can certainly influence how suited each mattress is for your sleep position.
Innerspring
An innerspring mattress has a base that is made of metal coils. The base is then padded by a quilted cover, memory foam, or support foam for sleeper comfort. These mattresses tend to provide a good level of support, while still maintaining responsiveness, and they can be found in a variety of levels of firmness. Innerspring mattresses are often more cooling than other types because of airflow in the space between the coils. An innerspring mattress could be a great option for a back sleeper if purchased with medium to firm support.
Foam
Foam mattresses are constructed of layers of different types of foam to provide both support and comfort. Most foam mattresses will have a dense, foam core in the center, surrounded by a slightly less firm foam, and then a plush memory foam. These foams tend to be very responsive to pressure, contouring around your body, but some are firmer than others. Back sleepers may find foam mattresses aren’t firm enough to maintain a neutral spine, but many have found options that work with their sleep position and comfort preferences.
Hybrid
Hybrid mattresses combine both an innerspring core and memory foam to create a mattress that is supportive while providing pressure relief. Because of the support provided by the coils in the core, a hybrid mattress could be just right for a back sleeper who prefers the feel of memory foam but requires a level of firmness to maintain a neutral spine. Hybrid mattresses also work well for partnered sleepers, since memory foam tends to isolate movement and contour to individual sleepers.
Air Chamber
An air chamber mattress is highly customizable, using adjustable air pockets within the mattress to change the support levels based on personal preferences. Because of its technology, most sleepers can find an option that works well for them. The downside of air chamber mattresses is the cost since they tend to be the most expensive on the market.
Latex
Latex mattresses have a similar feel to foam mattresses but are considered eco-friendly because they are made from rubber trees. Many sustainability-conscious companies prioritize the care of this natural resource throughout the harvesting and manufacturing process, making them a good option for those who are concerned with the environmental impact of their mattress purchase.
Similar in look and feel to foam, Latex mattresses provide exceptional pressure relief and responsiveness. Because of how resilient latex mattresses are, they may provide back sleepers with more support than a memory foam mattress. These mattresses are also well known for longevity, in many cases lasting up to 20 years. The big drawback is their higher price point, as latex mattresses are expensive to manufacture.
Health considerations for back sleepers
Each sleeper is unique. Deciding if sleeping on your back is the healthiest choice for you depends on your specific preferences and comfort needs.
If you have lower back pain, you may find that sleeping flat on your back provides the most relief. However, this sleep position can also place added stress on your neck. Placing a pillow under your knees and head can help you to maintain a neutral spine.
Back sleeping can worsen the symptoms of sleep apnea. While side sleep doesn’t necessarily remove the need for CPAP, it has been found to be a better sleep position for those with this condition. [5] Srijithesh, P R et al. Positional therapy for obstructive sleep apnoea. The Cochrane database of systematic reviews vol. 5,5 CD010990. 1 May. 2019, Found on the internet at: 10.1002/14651858.CD010990.pub2 As mentioned above, back sleepers also tend to have lower-quality sleep and wake more frequently at night.
Bottom line
Whether you prefer a classical coiled mattress or a hybrid mattress with contouring memory foam in your search for the best mattress for back sleepers, all of the above mattresses have our Reviews Team’s stamp of approval for back sleepers. To get the most out of your new mattress, it’s a good idea to pair it with an ergonomic pillow that supports proper spinal alignment. You may also consider an adjustable frame to find the perfect angle for a restful night’s sleep on your back.
Frequently asked questions
If you’re a back sleeper, it’s important to choose a mattress that keeps the spine neutral and supports your body’s natural curvature. [3] Yu E. What sleep positions are best for your back? Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. October 4, 2018. Though most of our top picks are hybrid models, memory foam and traditional innerspring mattresses can also offer a supportive, comfortable experience for back sleepers, but it depends on your personal preferences.
We’re fond of mattresses that use coils arranged in “support zones,” which are designed to contour around your body. For instance, the mattress might be firmer around the hip region to support your lower back. Most of the mattresses on our roundup feature a zoned coil system in the base with the exception of the Brooklyn Bedding Signature Hybrid.
This may depend on your personal preference and your age. According to a 2020 conference paper, younger participants tended to prefer memory foam or latex mattresses for back sleeping. [4] Hou J, Zhang Y. The Influence of Mattress Material on Sleeping Comfort of Different Age. Man-Machine-Environment System Engineering. Sept. 29, 2020. At the same time, older participants preferred coil and pillow-top mattresses when lying on their backs.
Research suggests that a medium-firm mattress may minimize lower back pain. [2] Caggiari G, et al. What Type of Mattress Should be Chosen to Avoid Back Pain and Improve Sleep Quality? Review of the Literature. Journal of Orthopedics and Traumatology. Dec. 8, 2021 But some people may prefer a firmer or softer experience. Before purchasing, it can be a good idea to test some models first to get an idea of what you like. You can also take advantage of a brand’s trial period.
Sources
- Zhang Y, et al. The Relationship between Sleeping Position and Sleep Quality: A Flexible Sensor-Based Study. Sensors. July 7, 2022. Found on the internet at https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/22/16/6220?trk=public_post-text
- Caggiari G, et al. What Type of Mattress Should be Chosen to Avoid Back Pain and Improve Sleep Quality? Review of the Literature. Journal of Orthopedics and Traumatology. Dec. 8, 2021. Found on the internet at https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8655046/
- Yu E. What sleep positions are best for your back? Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. Oct. 4, 2018. Found on the internet at https://wexnermedical.osu.edu/blog/what-sleep-positions-are-best-for-your-back
- Hou J, Zhang Y. The Influence of Mattress Material on Sleeping Comfort of Different Age. Man-Machine-Environment System Engineering. Sept. 29, 2020. Found on the internet at https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-981-15-6978-4_71
- Srijithesh, P R et al. Positional therapy for obstructive sleep apnoea. The Cochrane database of systematic reviews vol. 5,5 CD010990. 1 May. 2019, Found on the internet at: 10.1002/14651858.CD010990.pub2