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While there are many great mattresses out there, there’s no best mattress for everyone. Your height, weight, age, sleeping position, and particular health conditions are factors that will determine what’s most comfortable for you.
Before deciding on a mattress, you may want to test out different styles, like hybrid or all foam, in a store to see what type you prefer. Then, you can start narrowing down brands and looking for particular features. If you choose to buy online, many companies offer home trials.
Read on to get a rundown of basic mattress features to look for, and what the research says about mattress types for back pain. We also provide our eight top mattress picks based on consumer reviews, sleep experts, and clinical studies.
Pricing guide
- $ = under $1,500
- $$ = $1,500–$2,000
- $$$ = over $2,000
The prices of mattresses vary by size and brand. We based our price equivalents above on a standard queen size. Many brands have both more affordable and more high-end models available.
Saatva Classic
The independent Consumer Mattress Report ranks the Saatva Classic as a unanimous all-around winner and No. 2 for back pain.
It’s made in the United States with eco-friendly materials, like recycled steel for the springs and organic cotton for the cover. The contoured CertiPUR-US foam pillow top is designed to support your back, hips, and shoulders.
Saatva mattresses are sold online only, but they offer a 120-night home trial period, and you can return or exchange the mattress for a $99 transportation fee. Financing is available, and they’ll take away your old mattress when they deliver your new one.
While this mattress generally has good reviews, some customers note that the mattress is heavy, and that there’s some off-gassing, a common concern for mattresses that include foam.
Buy Saatva Classic mattress online.
DreamCloud Luxury Hybrid
DreamCloud is ranked No. 3 for back pain according to Consumer Mattress Report.
This hybrid mattress is made of gel memory foam, a cashmere blend plush top, and individually wrapped innerspring coils. It’s designed to reduce motion transfer, though some reviewers complain it doesn’t have good edge support. It can be set on a box frame or box spring.
Though this mattress is sold online only, it comes with a full year trial and has a lifetime warranty. DreamCloud offers free shipping, delivery, setup, and returns. Financing is also available.
Buy DreamCloud Luxury Hybrid mattress online.
Sealy Posturepedic Hybrid Essentials
Sealy’s Hybrid Essentials mattress combines CertiPUR-US certified gel memory support foam in a top layer with a barrel-shaped coil base. The signature of Posturepedic products is that the center of the mattress is reinforced to support the heaviest parts of your body: your back and core.
The polyester cover is designed to draw moisture away from your body, helping you to keep cool while sleeping. It also has low motion transfer, meaning two people can sleep comfortably.
Sealy has been manufacturing mattresses for over 100 years and their mattresses are sold both online and in stores — so you can try before you buy. This product comes with a 10-year warranty.
Buy Sealy Posturepedic Hybrid Essentials mattress online.
King Koil Xtended Life Grayson Firm
The Xtended Life Grayson Firm from King Koil is a hybrid mattress that features a high-density foam layer and a graphite-infused latex layer for coolness, pressure relief, and durability. The steel coils are placed to support your body shape and alignment and reduce motion disturbance.
King Koil has the endorsement of the International Chiropractors Association. They sell in stores, so you can try before you buy, but they don’t offer a trial period or sell online. The mattress comes with a 25-year warranty.
Amerisleep AS2
Amerisleep uses mainly plant-based memory foam that the company claims is five times more breathable than other memory foam. The AS2 mattress is designed to support the hips and shoulders, and it bounces back, so you won’t have to worry about sinking into it.
With a unique Celliant cover, the mattress sleeps cool. Celliant is designed to increase your blood flow, and it’s recognized by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as a medical device.
The AS2 isn’t sold in stores but Amerisleep does offer a 100-day trial period and free return or exchange with scheduled pickup. Shipping and delivery are free.
It’s made with back sleepers in mind, so it may not be the best choice for side or stomach sleepers.
Buy Amerisleep AS2 mattress online.
Puffy Lux
The Puffy Lux is constructed with four layers of foam. The bottom layer provides a firm foundation, while the second and third layers offer balanced support to reduce pressure points. The top layer promotes cooling.
As added bonuses, the Puffy mattress works with any kind of bed base, and it comes with a machine washable cover. It’s designed for all sleepers: back, side, and stomach.
While reviews are mostly positive, some side sleepers found the mattress uncomfortable, and others felt that they were sinking into the mattress at night. Since this mattress is rated at a medium firmness, if you prefer a firmer option, this may not be the best choice for you.
While Puffy doesn’t sell in stores, shipping is free, and it offers a 101-night trial period with a lifetime warranty.
Buy Puffy Lux mattress online.
Nectar Memory Foam
The Nectar is a medium-firm mattress with almost no movement transfer. Four layers of CertiPUR-US certified foam are designed to support you at pressure points and keep you cool. The top cooling layer of cotton and Tencel molds to your body and the bottom layers give you firm support.
It’s designed to work with all types of bed platforms and sleepers. As with all foam mattresses, it may off-gas for a few days after shipment. Reviews are mostly positive, though some reviewers complain that the mattress didn’t expand properly after opening.
With a 365-day trial period, free shipping, free returns, and a lifetime guarantee, you can feel comfortable buying online.
Buy Nectar Memory Foam mattress online.
Eight Sleep’s The Pod
This mattress boasts four layers of high-density foam to provide cushioning and support. While it can be comfortable for back sleepers with back pain, some side or stomach sleepers may find it too soft. Since it’s not as firm as other options, it may be too soft for some.
A high-tech option, this “smart mattress” offers temperature regulation and sleep tracking. Small tubes filled with water are concealed in the removable knit mattress cover.
Dual controls allow you to heat or cool the water, setting the temperature on each side of the bed. Sensors can adjust the temperature levels as your body temperature changes during the night.
The mattress also tracks your sleep phases, heart rate, and pulse. With the 8+ program, you can get a regular analysis of your sleep data and trends. It requires a WiFi connection.
Eight Sleep offers a 100-night trial period, free shipping, and free returns. There’s a 10-year warranty on the mattress and a 1-year warranty on the technology and temperature mechanism.
Here are 10 factors to consider when you’re mattress shopping:
1. Support
What’s considered proper support?
- Your spine rests aligned. The International Chiropractors Association advises that the mattress should be firm enough to support you in a sleeping position, with your spine in a straight line.
- Your hips and shoulders are comfortable. At the same time, the mattress has to give enough support to keep your shoulders, hips, and lower back comfortable.
When you’re shopping in person, do the following:
- Lie on a mattress in your regular sleeping position and have someone check the position of your spine.
- Have the other person move on one side of the bed so you can see if motion transfers to you or if the mattress shifts under you.
- Make use of assessment software available in some stores.
Some retailers use a technology called BridgeIT, a scanning app that senses your body pressure points, or the areas where your body makes the most contact with a surface.
The app doesn’t recommend specific brands, but it can point you to three or four types of mattresses that best suit your needs.
Keep in mind that clinical studies show that a
2. Comfort
Comfort is highly individual. That’s why it’s important to shop in person, even if you’re buying online. That way, you can test out features firsthand before comparison shopping.
To ensure comfort:
- Shop in person. Try out different types and brands of mattresses in a mattress store or a department store and note the make and model of those that seem like they might meet your needs. Some mattresses that aren’t sold in stores may still offer showrooms where you can try them out.
- Narrow it down and take your time. Spend at least 15 minutes testing your favorite mattress. Move around on it to try different sleeping positions.
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One sleep expert recommended that whatever mattress you select, it’s a good idea to pair it with an adjustable bed base. This will allow you to raise the head, foot, or middle of the bed as needed.
3. Size
Would you sleep better on a larger bed? Consider increasing your mattress size to a queen or king size.
4. Cost and value
Mattresses can be pricey. Consider how much time you’ll be spending on it, and how a comfortable sleep will affect your performance in your waking hours.
As clinical sleep educator Terry Cralle, RN, advises, a comfortable mattress is “not the place to focus on dollars. Your investment will pay off in many ways.”
5. Brand name
You want to have a reputable brand mattress that’s well constructed and made of quality materials.
Be aware that many brands may be made by the same factory and with the same materials and similar construction. So some brands may not have significant differences among them.
6. Mattress construction
It’s estimated that
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7. Sleeping position
Your sleeping position can affect your back pain.
If you’re a side sleeper or a stomach sleeper, you may find a mattress with a softer top more comfortable. If you’re a back sleeper, you may find a mattress with more support to be more comfortable.
8. Allergens
If you have known allergies, such as to latex, check the mattress’s materials list. Some foams can contain toxins, so look for a certified foam.
9. Delivery options
Will the store deliver the new mattress, set it up, and dispose of your old mattress with or without an additional charge?
If you’re buying a mattress online, you may need a plan for disposing of the old mattress and installing the new one.
10. Warranties
Many companies allow you to try the new mattress at home for a month or more. If the mattress doesn’t work for you, you can return or exchange it for a relatively small fee.
Check what the instructions are for physically returning the mattress. What would you be responsible for doing, and what will the mattress company or store take care of?
If you buy a foam mattress that’s delivered shrink-wrapped, this could involve you rolling it back up and re-boxing it.
Mattresses are typically constructed with a support core and an upholstery layer around it. There are many varieties, each with its advantages. Here are nine:
1. Innerspring
Innerspring mattresses use a steel coil system for support. The number of coils and how they’re arranged matter. According to the International Chiropractors Association, these are the basic guidelines to look for:
- 300 or more coils for a twin mattress
- 375 or more coils for a queen mattress
- 450 or more for a king mattress
The coils are covered in various padding materials, which affect comfort and stability.
The particular coil configurations make a difference in how your movements transfer to your sleeping partner if you’re sharing the bed. It also affects how the mattress supports your body contours.
2. Memory foam
Memory foam mattresses use high-density polyurethane foam as the support system in the upholstery layer. This foam contours closely to the shape of the sleeper.
3. Latex foam
Latex mattresses have latex foam as the support system. The latex may come from plant- or petroleum-based materials.
4. Hybrid
Hybrid mattresses combine steel coils for support with foam or latex on top for comfort.
5. Pillow top
Pillow top mattresses have an extra layer of padding on top of other support layers. As the name indicates, it’s like having pillows on top of your mattress.
6. Gel
Gel mattresses combine gel and foam. This allows the mattress to dissipate heat better. It also gives the mattress a different feel.
7. Airbed
Airbed mattresses have an adjustable firmness. They fit into standard bed frames and are covered with various padding materials, such as foam. Airbeds can also be controlled separately on each side.
8. Waterbed
Waterbeds use water as the support system. They can be hard-sided with a wooden frame or soft-sided with a foam frame inside a zippered fabric cover. They’re made to fit conventional bed frames or platforms.
Some waterbeds have baffles inside that restrict the motion of the water.
9. Adjustable beds
These are made to look like conventional beds, but both the mattress and the base can move. You can raise your head or feet, and some have dual controls so that you and your sleeping partner can individually adjust your position.
You spend about a third of your life sleeping, so getting a mattress you like matters.
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The high cost of some mattresses can be a shock. Most brands have a range of mattresses, including more affordable models.
Consider all the factors above when you’re shopping for a mattress. Sleep experts point out that a good mattress is one of the most important investments you can make for your health.
