Best Mattresses for Back Sleepers
Written by Livvi DiCicco, Certified Sleep Science Coach
Back sleepers are among the rare breed of U.S. adults who sleep in the position considered most ideal by health professionals. When lying on your back, the body rests in a relatively natural posture with the spine, neck, and pelvis aligned. While this position helps minimize aches and pains, its benefits can become negligible if a mattress is too soft, too firm, or has other qualities that throw the spine out of alignment.
If the time has come for you to invest in a new mattress, you are smart to search for one that is tailored specifically to your dominant sleeping position. The sheer number of mattresses available can feel overwhelming, but we are here to help! In this guide, we have narrowed down the best mattress models for back sleepers and included additional specifications, the benefits of sleeping on your back, and other considerations.
Bottom Line: What’s the Best Mattress for Back Sleepers?
The best mattress for back sleepers is the Nectar mattress because of its balanced mix of support and softness, quality foam construction, and affordable price. This bed also earned praise for its motion isolation, responsiveness, and cooling, a sign of its well-rounded performance.
The Best Mattresses for Back Sleepers
- Nectar Classic Memory Foam Mattress – Nerd’s Pick
- DreamCloud Premier Hybrid Mattress – Best Luxury Mattress for Back Sleepers
- Saatva Zenhaven Mattress – Best Latex Mattress for Back Sleepers
- Helix Dusk Luxe Mattress – Best Cooling Mattress for Back Sleepers
- Brooklyn Bedding Plank Firm Mattress – Best Extra-Firm Mattress for Back Sleepers
- WinkBed Mattress – Best Hybrid for Back Sleepers
- Titan Plus Core – Best Mattress for Heavyweight Back Sleepers
- Bear Original Mattress – Best Memory Foam Mattress for Back Sleepers
- Brooklyn Bedding Aurora Luxe Mattress – Best Mattress for Back Sleepers with Back Pain
Current Top Deals
- Nectar Classic Memory Foam Mattress – Save Up to 50% on Mattresses + 66% on Bundles
- DreamCloud Premier Hybrid Mattress – Save Up to 60% Off Mattresses + 66% on Bundles
- Saatva Zenhaven Mattress – $300 Off Orders of $1,000 or More
- Helix Dusk Luxe Mattress – 27% Off Sitewide with Code NERD27
- Brooklyn Bedding Plank Firm Mattress – 25% Off Sitewide with Code LABORDAY25
Best Mattresses for Back Sleepers: Video Review
Chosen by Experts and Advocates
Our team of mattress testers consists of sleep science coaches with a wide range of personal preferences. From lightweight back sleepers to heavy side sleepers, our diverse set of sleep styles enables us to test mattresses with many types of sleepers in mind. We’ve signed off on these mattresses as providing the middle-of-the-road firmness and supportive comfort that back sleepers need. If you’d like to learn more, check out our review process.
Nectar – Nerd’s Pick
Nectar Classic Memory Foam Mattress
Product Details
Our Recommendation
Nectar offers good value for those looking for a memory foam mattress that supports back sleepers. The Nectar’s all-foam mattress gives back sleepers excellent comfort, cooling, motion isolation, and support.
The Nectar is an all-foam mattress that falls on the firmer side, but offers a smidge of contouring that should benefit lightweight and average-weight sleepers. The Nectar distributes pressure evenly across the body and fills the gap in the lower back, helping prevent pain.
During testing, the Nectar did a great job of cutting down on motion transfer. It even features a cooling cover, which surprisingly pulled its weight, lending it an icy-cold feel at the surface. The best part, though, is that this bed comes with a 365-night sleep trial period, so you get an entire year to decide whether it’s right for you. After that, it’s covered by the brand’s lifetime warranty.
What our testers say: “Sleepers on a budget will appreciate this quality mattress at an affordable price.” – Loren, Lead Mattress Tester
Who Might Like the Nectar
- Those who run hot — Hot sleepers who still want a memory foam mattress will appreciate how well the Nectar’s cover regulates temperature, providing a cool-to-the-touch feel right at the surface.
- Couples – Light sleepers won’t feel their partner’s movements as this bed’s foam layers will absorb anything before it can travel across the surface.
Who Might Not Like the Nectar
- Seniors – If you need a sturdy perimeter to provide stability when getting in and out of bed, I’d suggest a mattress with coils instead; we noticed quite a lot of sinkage when sitting on the edge of this bed.
- Side sleepers with hip or shoulder pain – While there’s plenty of pressure relief for back sleepers on the Nectar, side sleepers dealing with pain may need something with more contouring around the hips and shoulders.
What users say:
With thousands of reviews on Nectar’s website, the Nectar mattress has an average 4.7 out of 5 stars. The majority of negative reviews found the bed too firm, too soft, or thought it started to sink too quickly. But positive reviews praise its comfort and cushioning ability.
Read more in our Nectar mattress review.
DreamCloud Premier – Best Luxury Mattress for Back Sleepers
DreamCloud Premier Hybrid Mattress
Product Details
Our Recommendation
If you’re a back sleeper looking for a mattress with a bit more bells and whistles, then the DreamCloud Premier may be your ideal choice. This luxury hybrid boasts a thick, plush pillow top, cushioning, motion-isolating foams, and a cooling cover. Moreover, it has a middle-of-the-road firmness and well-rounded construction that caters not only to the average back sleeper but also to the average side and stomach sleeper.
The Premier also has great edge support, indicating a mattress with solid construction that will likely last you a long time. Speaking of a long time, DreamCloud offers a lifetime warranty on all their mattresses, so you can sleep well knowing that you and your Premier will have a long, lovely relationship.
What our testers say: “The DreamCloud Premier is a luxury hybrid mattress that delivers excellent edge support, pressure relief, and durability. Being a medium-firm bed, it should be comfortable for the majority of sleepers.” – Loren, Lead Mattress Tester
Who Might Like the DreamCloud Premier
- Back and side sleepers – The softer feel and excellent pressure relief from this mattress should also benefit back sleepers who frequently switch to their side.
- Couples that include a light sleeper – For a hybrid, this mattress provides exceptional motion isolation, thanks to the thicker foam layers in its pillow top.
Who Might Not Like the DreamCloud Premier
- Particularly hot sleepers – While it has cooling features, we didn’t think the Premier felt particularly cold. Sleepers who need a bed with active temperature regulation may find themselves overheating.
- Stomach sleepers – This bed is too soft to support stomach sleepers’ hips, which could cause back pain if they fall out of alignment.
What users say:
On the DreamCloud website, this mattress scored a 4.5 out of 5 stars, from thousands of reviews. Praise is given to the pressure relief and the relief of back pain. However, there were complaints that it was too firm and slept hot.
Read more in our DreamCloud Premier mattress review.
Saatva Zenhaven – Best Latex Mattress for Back Sleepers
Saatva Zenhaven Mattress
Product Details
Our Recommendation
Financing Options
Financing options are available for this mattress.
The Zenhaven by Saatva is a firm, luxury mattress for back sleepers, made of 100 percent Talalay latex for the eco-conscious shopper. Latex cradles hips and shoulders to provide pressure relief, but it’s also naturally buoyant so you won’t sink in. The mattress has a zoned support design in order to provide lift in the center where you need it most. The ZenHaven is a two-sided mattress, which offers two levels of firmness, both of which should work for back sleepers.
Average-weight back sleepers will likely feel supported enough on the Gentle Firm side, while heavier back sleepers may enjoy the firmer Luxury Plush side. This mattress is somewhat unrivaled in its ability to provide a responsive, body-contouring feel while also ensuring that an even surface is maintained. This also means you can move around and switch positions on the surface with ease without feeling “stuck.”
What our testers say: “Latex is one of the most durable mattress materials available. They’re supportive enough to keep most sleepers’ spines aligned, which helps with pain relief and encourages more comfortable sleep.” – Loren, Lead Mattress Tester
Who Might Like the Zenhaven
- Combination sleepers – Moving around on this mattress is fairly seamless, even with the gentle sinkage it provides, thanks to latex’s innately buoyant feel.
- Eco-conscious shoppers – Latex mattresses are a great choice for those who want an organic, environmentally friendly, sustainable bed that’s still comfortable and supportive.
Who Might Not Like the Zenhaven
- Light sleepers who share the bed – Our testers could feel each other’s movements on this bed, which could spell trouble for couples who want undisturbed sleep.
- Shoppers on a budget – Saatva is a luxury brand, and latex already comes at a higher price, so the Zenhaven will likely run you more than $2,000, even with sales or coupons.
What users say:
On Saatva’s website, the Zenhaven currently has a 4.9-star rating from thousands of customer reviews. The majority are overwhelmingly positive, enjoying the plush feel and support this bed brings. It appears that most enjoy the firmer side. Most negative reviews focus on issues involving the delivery process.
Read more in our Zenhaven mattress review.
Helix Dusk Luxe – Best Cooling Mattress for Back Sleepers
Helix Dusk Luxe Mattress
Product Details
Our Recommendation
Financing Options
Financing options are available for this mattress.
Back sleepers prone to overheating will need a mattress that properly supports them without trapping heat. Enter the Helix Dusk Luxe, a luxury hybrid that boasts a firmer feel and cooling pillow top. We were impressed with just how cold this bed remained throughout testing.
Despite its firmer feel, we also found that the Dusk Luxe cushioned sensitive areas of the body, including the hips and lower back, when back-sleeping. If you’re a back sleeper who likes to feel “on top” of the bed but still get plenty of pressure relief, this is the one for you.
What our testers say: “I love this on my back! It is the perfect combo of plush and contouring, giving excellent support and great around my lower back. It provides excellent lumbar support, and my shoulders feel fantastic. I don’t feel my body dipping anywhere or more than another area — it’s a very nice contouring feeling.” – Sosha Lewis, Editor & Sleep Science Coach
Who Might Like the Helix Dusk Luxe
- Stomach sleepers – Alongside back sleepers, many stomach sleepers should enjoy the lifted profile of the Dusk Luxe.
- Combination sleepers – Since there’s relatively little sinkage on this bed, it’s extremely responsive, meaning you can switch positions on the surface without feeling impeded by the pillow top.
Who Might Not Like the Helix Dusk Luxe
- Soft mattress fans – Don’t let its plush-looking pillow top fool you — we thought this bed was firmer than expected, around a 7.5/10 on our scale.
- Side sleepers with joint pain – This mattress may not offer the ideal amount of sinkage and pressure relief around the hips, shoulders, and other bony areas for this position.
What users say:
On Helix’s website, the Dusk Luxe has a rating of 4.6 stars based on thousands of reviews. The majority of negative reviews report that the firmness of the mattress isn’t the best for their sleeping position or preferences. Many positive reviews mention that the Dusk Luxe’s supportive feel has helped with back pain.
Read more in our Helix Luxe mattresses overview, or check out our review for the Helix Dusk mattress.
Plank Firm – Best Extra-Firm Mattress for Back Sleepers
Brooklyn Bedding Plank Firm Mattress
Product Details
Our Recommendation
Firm mattress lovers: this one’s for you. If you’re a back sleeper or have back pain, the Plank Firm is a great, supportive option. For versatility, the Plank has a flippable design with a firm side and an extra-firm side. On our 1–10 firmness scale, with 10 being the firmest, the firm side rates a 7.5/10 and the ultra-firm side a 9/10. This is one of the firmest mattresses we’ve tested.
As an all-foam mattress, the Plank feels dense and level. The lack of coils means there’s less bounce, but it’s still easy to move around due to the lack of sinkage at the surface. For those looking for an extra-firm option, the Plank is ideal.
What our testers say: “Because the Plank Firm has both a firm and ultra-firm side, it provides exceptional alignment and support, which should also help with pain relief for spinal conditions.” – Loren, Lead Mattress Tester
Who Might Like the Plank Firm
- Those over 230 pounds – Most of the firmness should be wiped out by a heavyweight sleeper’s weight as they sink deeper into the mattress, so they may enjoy more pressure relief.
- Stomach sleepers – An extra-firm mattress is usually a great pick for stomach sleepers, as it’ll keep the hips aloft and in line with the upper half of the body.
Who Might Not Like the Plank Firm
- Most side sleepers – We don’t see many side sleepers getting the pressure relief they need from this super-firm bed.
- Sleepers with arthritis or joint pain – In a similar vein, folks with sensitive joints or similar conditions will want a softer mattress with more contouring to help relieve tension and pain.
What users say:
On Plank’s website, the Plank Firm gets 4.7 out of 5 stars. Negative reviews often say the bed is either too firm or softer than expected. But, overall, many people seem satisfied and are finding relief from chronic pain.
Read our full Brooklyn Bedding Plank Firm Mattress Review to learn more.
WinkBed – Best Hybrid for Back Sleepers
WinkBed Mattress
Product Details
Our Recommendation
Financing Options
Financing options are available for this mattress.
The WinkBed is a hybrid mattress with a plush pillow top and two layers of coils. It’s engineered to provide spinal decompression support, enhanced ventilation for cool sleep, and pressure-point and pain relief. You can also personalize the feel of your bed by choosing between the four firmness options: Softer, Luxury Firm, Firmer, and the WinkBed Plus — designed for folks over 230 pounds.
The WinkBed has many properties that make it appealing to back sleepers. From a breathable cover to motion-isolating foams, anti-sag edge reinforcement, and supportive coils, it will prevent sinkage and keep you supported. Additionally, back sleepers should find that this mattress evenly distributes their weight, helping relieve pressure. The top layer is soft, but it won’t envelop you quite like an all-foam mattress might.
What our testers say: “WinkBed’s four firmness options mean everyone can find the right WinkBed for them!” – Becca, Mattress Tester
Who Might Like the WinkBed
- All body types – Because of its various firmness levels, including one made specifically for plus-size sleepers, everyone should be able to find an option that offers enough support or pressure relief for their weight.
- Folks who run hot – This hybrid has plenty of coils and breathable foams for airflow, so it felt temperature-neutral throughout testing, which should benefit hot sleepers who still want the dense, cushy feel of foam up top.
Who Might Not Like the WinkBed
- Budget shoppers – As a luxury mattress, the WinkBed costs a pretty penny, most often over $1,000, depending on which size you buy.
- Those looking for a bouncy mattress – We were surprised this hybrid mattress wasn’t very responsive, but it seems the thick pillow top muffles any recoil from the springs.
What users say:
On the WinkBeds site, the WinkBed earns a 4.8 out of 5 stars. Most negative reviews focus on problems with delivery and removal. Overall, people seem satisfied and find the bed supportive and sturdy.
Read more in our WinkBeds mattress review.
Titan Plus – Best Mattress for Heavyweight Back Sleepers
Titan Plus Core
Product Details
Our Recommendation
The Titan Plus Core is designed with heavier people in mind. The hybrid construction, consisting of memory foam and pocketed coils, gives this bed a firm, yet still contouring, feel that can keep sleepers over 230 pounds comfortably lifted on the surface.
This bed’s firmness does an especially good job of supporting heavyweight back sleepers due to its good weight distribution. With the Titan, the more body weight applied to the mattress, the better it performs. However, many average-weight and lightweight back sleepers will still feel good pressure relief and alignment in this position.
What our testers say: “Because the Titan mattress is designed specifically for plus-sized sleepers, the weight limit is quite high. The Titan can support up to 1,000 lbs., so you can sleep soundly knowing you’re well-supported.” – Loren, Lead Mattress Tester
Who Might Like the Titan Plus Core
- Stomach sleepers – The firmer feel of the Titan Plus Core will support stomach sleepers of any size and help them maintain proper alignment.
- Combination sleepers – It’s super easy to move around on this mattress, so switching between your preferred positions won’t feel cumbersome.
Who Might Not Like the Titan Plus Core
- Lightweight sleepers – Some sleepers under 130 pounds may not sink as far into this mattress as they’d like, which could cause pressure buildup.
- Side sleepers with hip or shoulder pain – The above is also true for some side sleepers, so those with especially sensitive hips or shoulders may fare better on a softer bed.
What users say:
Users on Titan by Brooklyn Bedding’s site have given the Titan Plus line a 4.5 out of 5 stars. Customers say that overall, the bed’s firmness holds up. A few complained about the lack of edge support and that their sheets sometimes slide off. Many negative reviews suggest not buying the bedframe that comes in some bundles, but the mattress itself works great for them.
Read more in our Titan Plus Core mattress review.
Bear Original – Best Memory Foam Mattress for Back Sleepers
Bear Original Mattress
Product Details
Our Recommendation
Memory foam mattresses have been around for a while, and for good reason. They’re popular picks for folks wanting an affordable yet supportive option — and this is precisely what the Bear Original provides for back sleepers. Its firmer-than-average feel provides the support and alignment these sleepers need, with a slight boost in the lumbar area.
The Bear Original also excels in areas many foam beds do not. For one, its specialty Celliant cover helps wick away extra heat, lending it a cooler feel. Plus, it scored well on our ease-of-movement test, meaning switching between positions should be a breeze.
What our testers say: “The Bear is a great mattress for back sleepers who are lightweight or average-weight. The relatively firm surface keeps their spines aligned and prevents excessive sinkage. Heavyweight back sleepers, on the other hand, may have some spinal alignment issues due to the lack of coil support.” – Rachael, Editor & Mattress Tester
Who Might Like the Bear Original
- Budget shoppers – You can purchase a queen-size Bear Original mattress for as low as $650 – perfect for shoppers looking for a great deal on a quality bed.
- Couples – This bed offers an enviable blend of both motion isolation and responsiveness, which should ensure couples sleep soundly beside one another and lends extra ease of movement for sex.
Who Might Not Like the Bear Original
- Sleepers over 230 pounds – This bed’s thinner profile and all-foam construction may lead some heavyweight sleepers to sink too far into the surface, bottoming out on the uncomfortable support layers.
- Those who want a traditional foam feel – However, most folks won’t sink very far into this surface and get the deep “hug” feeling you find with most memory foam mattresses.
What users say:
According to Bear’s website, the Bear Original scores about 4.7 out of 5 stars. The majority of reviewers praise the bed’s comfort and construction after upgrading from an old mattress. Negative reviews tend to focus on the bed being too firm or too soft, indicating personal preference issues.
Read more in our Bear Original mattress review.
Brooklyn Bedding Aurora Luxe Cooling – Best Mattress for Back Sleepers with Back Pain
Brooklyn Bedding Aurora Luxe Mattress
Product Details
Our Recommendation
Back sleepers dealing with back pain likely have a mattress that doesn’t offer the proper pressure relief or support — or both. Thankfully, the Aurora Luxe Cooling hybrid by Brooklyn Bedding provides ample amounts of each. Our pressure relief testers praised how the bed’s pillow top felt on their sides, contouring to the lower back, which should reduce the risk of pain.
The Aurora Luxe Cooling is available in three firmness levels (Soft, Medium, and Firm) to accommodate most sleepers and sleep positions. For back sleepers, the Medium or Firm options are your best bets for spinal support. As a bonus, this bed features a cool-to-the-touch cover and a responsive feel, as well as a 120-night sleep trial and lifetime warranty.
What our testers say: “The Aurora Luxe keeps side sleepers’ spines aligned, helping to prevent mattress-related back pain. Plus, it eases the pressure from the low back for back sleepers, which should relieve tension and pain in the area.” – Loren, Lead Mattress Tester
Who Might Like the Aurora Luxe Cooling
- Side sleepers – As well as back sleeping, our testers appreciated how comfortable the bed felt when they rested on their sides, providing contouring and pressure relief around their hips and shoulders.
- Hot sleepers – You’ll enjoy the crisp feel of this mattress when you first lie down, but it should also stay cool throughout the night.
Who Might Not Like the Aurora Luxe Cooling
- Light sleepers who share the bed – We thought the motion isolation for this mattress was just average, which could mean some couples waking up from each other’s tossing or turning.
- Fans of sturdy edge support – For a hybrid, this bed has just alright edge support. The pillow top sank quite a bit when our testers sat directly on the perimeter.
What users say:
On Brooklyn Bedding’s site, the Aurora Luxe has a rating of 4.7 out of 5 stars. Negative reviews seem to be focused on personal preference when it comes to whether the mattress was too firm or too soft. Overall, customers praise the cooling capabilities and comfortability of the bed.
Read more in our Brooklyn Bedding Aurora Luxe Cooling mattress review.
What to Look For in the Best Beds for Back Sleepers
This buyer’s guide will provide you, back sleepers, with a better understanding of what you should look for when shopping for a mattress—which materials work best, firmness level considerations, and other factors that contribute to a restful, healthy night’s sleep.
Mattress Type
There are four major groups that mattresses generally fall into when it comes to materials: latex, memory foam, innerspring, and hybrid. High-quality, comfortable mattresses can be found within each of these groups, so your ideal material will come down to sleeping situation and preference.
Since your preference is back sleeping, we’ve provided some insight into how each of these types of beds might be good or bad for that specific position.
Latex
Latex is known for its ability to quickly bounce back to its original shape, which helps it provide the slight contouring and cushioning feeling that back sleepers need. The material tends to conform to the body while alleviating pressure in all the right places.
As an added benefit, the best latex mattresses offer more responsiveness and sleep cooler than their foam counterparts. On the downside, they tend to be the most expensive options on the market.
Foam
Like latex, foam conforms well to the body, alleviates pressure, and does a good job minimizing motion transfer for couples. Additionally, it’s more widely available and comes in at a friendlier price point than latex.
Memory foam is well-known for its body-contouring properties. Traditional foam, while supportive, may give back sleepers the sensation that they’re “stuck” on the mattress.
Innerspring
Innerspring mattresses are constructed with a layer of sturdy coils that provides high levels of breathability—a warm sleeper’s delight! But whether or not an innerspring mattress is a good fit for a back sleeper really depends on what’s on top of the metal coils. Because of the sturdy coils, innerspring mattresses have an inherent firmness that can push back sleepers’ hips up too high, throwing their body out of alignment and causing back and hip pain.
This firmness, however, can be counteracted with a pillow top that can provide more comfort and pressure relief. You can find some options with appropriate cushioning on our best innerspring mattress list.
Hybrid
Hybrid mattresses combine a supportive innerspring system with two or more contouring memory foam or latex support layers on top. Back sleepers should look for hybrids with well-designed comfort layers; a thicker comfort layer will mean that the mattress can provide more body-contouring than traditional innerspring mattresses. Many styles also offer a light bounce that may suit some back sleepers’ preferences.
Firmness
For most sleepers, firmness is a quality only thought of in terms of preference: you either like a soft surface to sleep on or you like a firmer mattress. However, a mattress’ firmness plays a crucial role in getting high-quality sleep, especially for individuals dedicated to one sleeping position.
Back sleepers will likely find that a medium-firm mattress is soft enough for their hips to sink into alignment with their shoulders and back, but also has enough firmness to keep their hips from sinking too far. The resulting proper alignment can lead to less stress on sensitive areas like the lower back and pelvic region.
In order to help you identify firmness in mattresses, we rate each one on a scale on 1 to 10. Medium-firm is anything from 5 to 7. Lightweight to average back sleepers should be happiest around 5.5 or 6, while heavier back sleepers may want to consider a mattress closer to a firmness rating of 7. For more information, take a look at our mattress firmness guide.
Support System
The core of the mattress should be stable and resilient, providing a relatively flat surface on which the softer, more comfort-focused layers can rest. The strong core will help balance out the softness provided by the comfort layers, and create the medium-firm feel that works so well for back sleepers.
Look for innerspring support systems, pocketed coils, hyper-elastic polymer, and support polyfoam, which work in conjunction to create a supportive mattress core.
Contouring
While too much softness can lead to excessive sagging and exacerbate neck or chronic back pain, the ideal mattress for back sleepers will allow for contour in specific areas, like the hips. Foam and latex mattresses are usually the best at this.
Sleep Accessories for Back Sleeping
There are also some ways for you to optimize your back-sleeping experience by using the ideal sleep accessories and mattress foundations. We have outlined some factors to pay close attention to below.
Pillows
Back sleepers don’t typically require support pillows like stomach sleepers and side sleepers do. However, back sleepers who struggle with sleep apnea may want to choose a thicker pillow to reduce snoring. A contouring memory foam pillow that provides support for the cervical spine can help in these cases by propping the sleeper up.
Additionally, placing a pillow under your neck to fill in that space can result in optimal sleep. Take a look at our best pillows for back sleepers list for some great options.
Mattress Toppers
Mattress toppers are also a good option for back sleepers whose current mattress is too firm for comfort, but who don’t want to replace it entirely. A 2” to 3” thick topper can make a world of difference when it comes to your mattress’ softness.
For more information, check out our picks for the best mattress toppers.
Foundations and Frames
The foundation, or bed frame, is what holds your mattress up from the floor. While all bed frames share similar traits, it’s important that back sleepers select a foundation that offers substantial support for the mattress.
If opting for a standard metal frame, for example, you’ll want to ensure you’re using a box spring, since the metal frame has no additional supportive slats. Take a look at this article if you’re still unsure if you need a boxspring. For more information, take a look at our mattress foundation guide.
Pros and Cons of Sleeping on Your Back
If you are a back sleeper, you’re among the few people whose body has chosen the sleeping position with the most health benefits and the least amount of drawbacks. From allowing for even weight distribution and alleviating pressure points, to creating the ideal scenario for cervical spinal alignment and lessening stiffness in the neck, there are many benefits of this sleeping style.
While the position is a mostly positive one, there are some potential drawbacks. Finding a mattress that’s tailored to this sleep position and your body is crucial to ensure you are reaping the benefits, and not causing unnecessary pain. We explored some pros and cons of sleeping on your back, how you can make sure you are doing so in a safe and effective way, and some tips on switching sleep positions if it becomes necessary.
Benefits of Back Sleeping
- Sleeping on your back naturally encourages proper spinal alignment as long as your mattress has the right firmness (between 5 and 7 on the firmness scale).
- Back-sleeping puts less pressure on shoulders and hips than side sleepers experience.
- With the right pillow, you likely won’t have to worry about neck pain as much as stomach sleepers might.
Drawbacks of Back Sleeping
- Sleeping on your back can cause your tongue to relax and slip back into a position that obstructs your airways, which can cause you to snore. Take a look at our guide on understanding how snoring affects sleep.
- Sleep apnea can be heightened or caused by back-sleeping.
- Back-sleeping can lead to lower back pain.
Recap of the Top Rated Mattresses for Back Sleepers
| Mattress | Award |
| Nectar | Nerd’s Pick |
| DreamCloud Premier | Best Luxury Mattress for Back Sleepers |
| Saatva Zenhaven | Best Latex Mattress for Back Sleepers |
| Helix Dusk Luxe | Best Cooling Mattress for Back Sleepers |
| Plank Firm | Best Extra-Firm Mattress for Back Sleepers |
| WinkBed | Best Hybrid for Back Sleepers |
| Titan Plus Core | Best Mattress for Heavyweight Back Sleepers |
| Bear Original | Best Memory Foam Mattress for Back Sleepers |
| Brooklyn Bedding Aurora Luxe | Best Mattress for Back Sleepers with Back Pain |
Final Thoughts
Sleeping on your back is considered the ideal position because it encourages proper spine alignment and less pressure on the shoulders. However, the risks may outweigh the rewards if you aren’t sleeping on the best mattress for this position. A medium-firm mattress should provide the best support for back sleepers. We hope one of the mattresses on our list can help make a difference in your sleep comfort.
FAQs
Is a soft mattress good for back sleepers?
It comes down to your body type and personal comfort level. Generally, we recommend medium-firm mattresses to back sleepers because they provide both comfort and support. Medium-firm mattresses should keep the hips lifted while providing pressure relief for the lumbar region. However, keep in mind that a lightweight sleeper may need a soft mattress, and a heavy sleeper may need something firmer for adequate support.
What should back sleepers look for in a mattress?
Back sleepers should consider a medium-firm mattress that achieves a balanced feel. These sleepers will be most comfortable with something that”s contouring around the hips yet sturdy enough to keep the hips lifted.
What is the best mattress material for a back sleeper?
Back sleepers should do well with most mattress materials as long as they look out for durable options and an adequate comfort layer. Hybrid and innerspring beds both include coils, and back sleepers should search for one with a thick comfort layer to buffer the firmness of these models. If they”re wanting a foam mattress, they should consider one with a quality high-density base for support.
Is back sleeping good for back pain?
Back sleeping can be good for back pain, so long as your mattress and sleep setup is designed to accommodate this position. In order to reduce the risk of lower back pain while sleeping on your back, place a pillow below your knees. Doing so helps to keep your spine aligned to its natural curve, which is very important in reducing discomfort in your lower back.
If lower back pain continues to be an issue for you, consider switching to a side-sleeping position, as it has been found to be the best position for preventing back pain. If you want to continue sleeping on your back, check out our roundup of best mattresses for back pain.
