Best Mattresses for Back Sleepers

Mattress Nerd consulted Dr. Ravi Pandey, MD  to ensure that this article met our editorial standards

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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. 

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The Best Mattresses for Back Sleepers of 2023

• Nerd’s Pick – Helix Plus
• Best Pressure Point Relief for Back Sleepers – The WinkBed
• Best Luxury Mattress for Back Sleepers – DreamCloud Premier
• Best Value Mattress for Back Sleepers – Nectar Original 
• Best Mattress for Heavyweight Back Sleepers – Titan Plus
• Best Latex Mattress for Back Sleepers – Saatva Zenhaven
• Best Extra-Firm Mattress for Back Sleepers – Plank Firm 
• Best Cooling Mattress for Back Sleepers – Brooklyn Bedding Aurora Luxe 
• Best Flippable Mattress for Back Sleepers – Layla Hybrid 
• Best Mattress for Lightweight Back Sleepers – Bear Mattress

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. For the purposes of this article, our resident back sleeper and seasoned mattress tester, Becca Fair, has 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.

Best Mattresses for Back Sleepers Video Review

Nerd’s Pick: Helix Plus

The Helix Plus has a firm, foam-and-coil construction that has been designed to specifically suit heavier sleepers (over 230 lbs), particularly heavy back sleepers. Not only will larger back sleepers find comfort on the Helix Plus, but the mattress’s high durability score means that it will maintain its quality for a long time, even under a lot of weight.

While not cheap ($1,649 for a Queen), it also isn’t as expensive as some mattresses with comparable quality. Also, the Helix Plus comes with a 100-night sleep trial and 15-year warranty, so you’ll have plenty of time to make sure you’re happy, and if you are happy with it you’ll know that the company has your back for over a decade.

How We Chose Nerd’s Pick

Not only has the Helix Plus earned one of the highest Nerd Scores we ever awarded, it also happens to work particularly well for all types of back sleepers. In addition to these important factors, we also consider things like price, durability, and overall appeal when awarding a mattress Nerd’s Pick on our Best Mattress for Back Sleepers list; the Helix Plus impressed us in all of these fields.

Read our full Helix Plus Mattress Review for all the details. If you aren’t interested in the Helix Plus mattress, check out our list of the best mattresses for heavy sleepers for more great options.

Best Mattress for Pressure Relief: WinkBed

The Winkbed is a hybrid, innerspring mattress with a plush pillow top and two layers of coils. It’s engineered to provide decompression support for the spine, enhanced ventilation for a cool sleep, and pressure point and pain relief. 

The WinkBed has many properties that make it appealing to back sleepers. From a cool Tencel outer layer to motion isolation technology, anti-sag edge support, and a devoted “Lumbarlayer” for added lumbar support it will prevent sinkage and keep you supported. Additionally, back sleepers should find that this mattress evenly distributes their weight to help relieve pressure. The top layer is soft, but it won’t envelop you quite like an all-foam mattress might. 

Read our full WinkBed Review to learn more.

Best Luxury Mattress for Back Sleepers: DreamCloud Premier

If you’re a back sleeper who falls into the category of average weight (between 130 lbs and 230 lbs), then the DreamCloud Premier may be your ideal mattress. It has a middle-of-the-road firmness and well-rounded construction that caters to not only the average back sleeper, but the average side and stomach sleeper as well. 

The Premier also has great edge support (4.5/5) and durability (4.5/5), 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 of their mattresses, so you can sleep well knowing that you and your Premier will have a long, lovely relationship together.

Read our full DreamCloud Premier Mattress Review to learn more. If you aren’t interested in the DreamCloud Premier mattress, check out our list of the best luxury mattresses for more great options.

Best Value Mattress for Back Sleepers: Nectar Original

Nectar provides good value for those who are looking for a memory foam mattress that supports back sleepers. The Nectar mattress provides five layers of foam that give back sleepers excellent comfort, cooling, motion isolation, and support. 

The Nectar is an all-foam mattress and is on the firmer side to support many back sleepers, especially lightweight and average-weight sleepers. The Nectar distributes pressure evenly along the body and the lower back, helping to prevent pain. 

If you sleep with a partner who moves around a lot or even a wiggly pet, motion isolation is key to a good night’s rest. During testing, the Nectar did a great job of cutting down on motion transfer.

Read our full Nectar Review for more details. If you aren’t interested in the Nectar mattress, check out our list of the best affordable mattresses for more great options.

Best Mattress for Heavyweight Back Sleepers: Titan Plus

The Titan Plus mattress (formerly known as the Titan Hybrid) is designed with heavier people in mind. The hybrid construction, consisting of memory foam and pocketed coils, makes this mattress feel medium-firm on the firmness scale. 

The Titan Plus’ firmness does an especially great job supporting heavyweight side sleepers due to the good weight distribution. With this mattress, the more body weight applied to the mattress, the better it performs. Average-weight and lightweight side sleepers will still feel good pressure relief, but the spinal alignment will be best for those over 230 lbs.

Titan is made with breathable materials to enhance the cooling effects, including gel memory foam and a breathable pocketed coil system. Additional features are available including a cooling top panel.

Read our full Titan Mattress Review for more details. If you aren’t interested in the Titan mattress, check out our list of the best mattresses for heavy people for more great options.

Best Latex Mattress for Back Sleepers: Saatva Zenhaven

The Zenhaven by Saatva is a firm, luxury mattress for back sleepers, made of 100% 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 “5-zone” comfort design, in order to provide firmer support where you need it most. The ZenHaven is a two-sided mattress, which provides two levels of firmness. 

This mattress is somewhat unrivaled in its ability to provide a responsive, body-contouring feel while also ensuring that an even surface is maintained. 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. One upside to this bed is that it can accommodate a variety of sleeping positions. If you’re a back sleeper with a partner who sleeps on their side or stomach, this is a great choice.

Read our full Zenhaven Review for more details. If you aren’t interested in the ZenHaven mattress, check out our list of the best latex mattresses for more great latex options.

Best Extra-Firm Mattress for Back Sleepers: Plank Firm

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 most firm 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 support.

For those looking for an extra-firm option, the Plank is ideal. Both stomach and back sleepers who dislike softer mattresses should find a side that will work for their needs.

Read our full Plank Firm Review for more details. If you aren’t interested in the Plank Firm mattress, check out our list of the best firm mattresses for more great firm options.

Best Cooling Mattress for Back Sleepers: Brooklyn Bedding Aurora Luxe

Pure memory foam mattresses often sleep a little hotter than their hybrid counterparts. So this hybrid, the Brooklyn Bedding Aurora Luxe, gives sleepers lots of options for cooler sleep. 

The Aurora Luxe has features that add breathability and a cool touch for those who sleep hot. Even on first touch out of the box, it feels cool. The Aurora Luxe offers “thermal conductivity” technology that helps to push heat away from the body. The memory foam is infused with cooling gel while the innerspring coils offer both support and air flow.

The Aurora Luxe is available in three firmness levels to accommodate most sleepers and sleep positions. For back sleepers, the medium or firm options are your best bets for spine support.

Read our full Brooklyn Bedding Aurora Luxe Review for more details. If you aren’t interested in the Aurora Luxe mattress, check out our list of the best cooling mattresses for more great cooling options.

Best Flippable Mattress for Back Sleepers: Layla Hybrid

The Layla Hybrid is a flippable mattress, meaning that it has two sides with varying firmness levels. You can try out both sides to see which you prefer. 

In our scale of 1–10 for firmness, the softer side came in at 4/10, making it fall into our “soft” category. The firm side was rated at 6.5/10, which is more like a medium-firm feel. The more firm side is likely the best option for most back sleepers to better support the spine and prevent back pain.

The hybrid construction has coils for support and comfort layers of memory foam for a contouring effect. The firm side also closely contours to your body, but you don’t sink as far into the memory foam. 

Read our full Layla Hybrid Review for more details. 

Best Mattress for Lightweight Back Sleepers: Bear Mattress

Finding a mattress that suits your sleeping position is very important, but it’s equally important to find one that suits your body type as well. The Bear Mattress doesn’t work for every kind of sleeper, but it works exceptionally well for lightweight back sleepers (130 lbs or less). One of our mattress testers fits into this category and we found that when she rested on the mattress her spine remained in perfect alignment and her pressure points were supported.

If you also like to sleep on your side sometimes, we have good news! The Bear performs very well for lightweight side sleepers. Plus, it scored well on our ease-of-movement test, meaning switching from one position to another should be a breeze.

Read our full Bear Mattress Review to learn more. 

Mattress Buying Guide For Back Sleepers 

What’s the best sleeping position? If you’re a back sleeper, congratulations! Snoozing in a supine position can have many long-term benefits, such as sinus relief, reduced pain, less stress on internal organs, and, since your face doesn’t rub against your pillow, less skin irritation. On the flip side, sleeping on your back can result in snoring and even sleep apnea. 

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.

We’ll also share with you some helpful tips on dealing with the problems that might be caused by back sleeping, and even some suggestions on how to change your sleeping position if it becomes necessary.

What Is the Best Mattress Type for Back Sleepers?

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 Mattresses for Back Sleepers

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 motion isolation and sleep cooler than their foam counterparts. On the downside, they tend to be the most expensive options on the market.

Foam Mattresses for Back Sleepers

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. If you opt for foam, take a look at our best memory foam mattresses page. 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 Mattresses for Back Sleepers

Innerspring mattresses are constructed with a layer of sturdy coils that provides high levels of breathability—a warm sleepers 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 Mattresses for Back Sleepers

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. You can find many options that meet these criteria on our list of best hybrid mattresses.

Ideal Firmness Level for Back Sleepers

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.

Other Factors for Back Sleepers to Consider

In addition to the type of mattress you choose, there are various other qualities within a mattress that can either support the natural alignment of the body or indirectly disrupt it as you sleep. Due to a person’s individual preferences, size, height, medical history, etc., the most important aspects of a mattress will vary.

It is important to ensure the mattress will work with your body, allowing it to rest in a natural posture that alleviates pressure points on the neck, spine, and pelvis. 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. 

Construction of the 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. 

Pillows & Accessories for Back Sleepers

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 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 roundups for the best pillows and the best mattress toppers.

Foundations/Bed 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.

Is Sleeping on Your Back Good for You?  

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. 

Pros 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.

Related: Sleep and Neck Pain

Cons 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. Check out our understanding sleep apnea guide, which details possible symptoms and steps you can take in treating this disorder.
• Back-sleeping can lead to lower back pain.

Is Back Sleeping Good for Back Pain?

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. Take a look at our video on sleeping with lower back pain for more information.

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. 

How to Switch to Side Sleeping

Switching to a full-time side sleeper may not be as difficult as you think. After all, it’s only a 90 degree turn! Still, it may be challenging to get used to at first. Here are a couple of tricks that can help you train your body to adapt to the new sleeping style.

• The couch can be a great place to start. The narrow surface area encourages side sleeping and can be a useful tool in adapting to the new position.
• Try building a wall of pillows on either side of you. These will prevent you from rolling off your side and onto your back as you sleep.
• If you don’t have enough pillows for the walls, try putting a soft object in the back of your pajama shirt—a small stuffed animal, perhaps. The discomfort of it pushing into your back when you roll over will wake you up, at which point you can put yourself back on your side.

With enough practice, we’re confident you can become a world-class side sleeper in no time. And when you do, take a look at our best mattresses for side sleepers roundup!

Best Mattress for Back Sleepers FAQ’s

Recap: Top Rated Mattresses for Back Sleeping

Model	Award	Nerd Score
Helix Plus	Nerd’s Pick	3.8/5
WinkBeds	Best Pressure Point Relief	4.7/5
DreamCloud Premier	Best for Average Weight Sleepers	3.8/5
Nectar Original	Best Value Mattress for Back Sleepers	4.8/5
Titan Plus	Best Value	4.7/5
Zenhaven by Saatva	Best Firm Mattress for Back Sleepers	4.8/5
Plank Firm by Brooklyn Bedding	Best Extra-Firm Mattress for Back Sleepers	4.8/5
Brooklyn Bedding Aurora Luxe	Best Cooling Mattress for Back Sleepers	4.8/5
Layla Hybrid	Best Flippable Mattress for Back Sleepers	3.8/5
Bear	Best for Lightweight Sleepers	4.6/5

Dr. Ravi Pandey is part of our panel of medical expert contributors on the subject of sleep health. They provide important perspectives on the topics we discuss to help make our content as accurate and dependable as possible. They do not personally endorse any products, nor are they associated with any brands featured in our review content.