15 best mattresses for back pain 2024 to transform your posture

With its breathable open-cell structure, memory foam gives you important pressure relief, cleverly contouring to the shape of your body and distributing weight evenly across the entire mattress. This massively reduces any pressure points, which in turn alleviates stress on your spine, making it particularly good for back pain. But some disadvantages to consider include the initial adjustment period – some buyers report that it takes time to adapt to the feel of a memory foam mattress, and if you’re suffering acute back pain, you won’t want to wait. Memory foam mattresses can be particularly heavy, too, so if you’re already wincing in pain, you won’t want to give your back any more woes with the initial setting up, or any regular rotating that needs doing.

A hybrid mattress offers a supportive structure, combining foam layers with innerspring coils. Known for its excellent pressure relief and motion isolation, this type of mattress can be a godsend if you’ve been putting up with irritating back pain for far too long. Hybrid models tend to be great all-rounders, so if you’re struggling with your back but your partner isn’t, they’ll reap the sleep quality benefits, too, including preventative care. Due to their complex makeup and mix of materials, hybrid mattresses often come with a higher price tag, so if you’re looking to treat your back pain in the immediate, you may have to wait to save up your pennies.

Designed specifically for treating back pain, a traditional pocket sprung orthopaedic mattress is engineered to support the natural curvature of the spine. This type is known to provide much needed relief for targeted problems, such as the upper back, lumbar, or for lower back pain. Also known for their firmness, these mattresses prevent the body from sinking too deeply, ensuring the spine remains properly aligned. That said, a firmer mattress is not to everyone’s taste, and some may find it uncomfortable and a bit restrictive when it comes to moving around in bed.

“When looking at choosing a mattress to support with back pain, there’s no one type which performs better, as everyone has different shapes and sizes, and everyone requires different levels of support” says Silentnight’s Hannah Shore. It’s not only body size and weight that should determine the best mattress for our aching back, but our regular sleeping style, too. Front sleepers take note! “Back pain can be caused when your mattress fails to hold your spine in the proper alignment, leading to your back being put under undue pressure”, says Theresa Schnorbach at Emma. “Generally speaking, sleeping on your back or side are the best options as both of these positions are less taxing on your spine than sleeping on your stomach. However, your sleep position will have a big impact on which mattress type will best support you.”

As a general rule of thumb, mattresses on the firmer end of the scale tend to give the best support for those suffering with aching bones, while a softer mattress won’t give you enough
support. That said, most contemporary bed-in-a-box brands have hit the sweet spot with a
medium-firm mattress that gives you the best of both worlds, whether you’re an existing back
pain sufferer, or you’re after more preventative care. On mattress firmness, Hannah says, “It’s
important to have proper spinal alignment while you sleep, to keep your muscles relaxed and
to allow your spine to recover after the day. The wrong level of support can affect your spinal
alignment and cause aches and pains.”

Memory foam is known to perfectly adapt to your body shape as you sleep, it gently hugs you
in all the right places, giving you pressure point relief, which leads to correct spinal alignment
and of course soothing pressure relief. It’s little wonder it’s the go-to for many back pain
sufferers. Brands like Emma are always keen to show us the technology behind the mattress
makeup, often with multiple layers of smart, innovative, high-performance foam. “Memory
foam mattresses are a popular choice and are perfect for side sleepers as they offer maximum
support for proper spinal alignment”, says Theresa. “If you like a firm mattress with a high
level of support I would recommend a high-density foam mattress – this will prevent you from
getting that ‘sinking in’ feeling.”

On the subject of memory foam, Hannah says, “A mattress with a foam core can be zoned and moulds to the contours of your body. However, memory foam as a comfort layer, that sits on top of the spring or foam support unit, offers different benefits.” This of course, is where hybrid mattresses come in – it’s often the springs that are doing the hard work with tailored support while you’re giving it Z’s, but an additional memory foam layer can also relieve pressure and reduce motion transfer.

To take it back to its natural form for a moment, latex is a white milky substance derived from the sap of a rubber tree. But as a mattress component it works in much the same way as memory foam, boasting malleable properties, giving you a durable and supportive sleep surface. The material is also known for its motion isolation and is especially beneficial for pain relief. “Latex mattresses offer a balance of support and cushioning, and they are naturally hypoallergenic and resistant to dust mites and mould”, explains Carlos Cobiella from The Shoulder Practice. “Some hybrid mattresses have a layer of latex on top, which can provide pressure relief, while the coil system offers support and breathability.” It’s worth noting that while latex typically outperforms memory foam in the long run, latex mattresses can be significantly more expensive. After all, this coveted substance is known in some parts of the world as ‘white gold’.

Common back pain is one thing, but if you’re dealing with arthritis, a condition that affects the joints, finding a mattress to give you the best possible support and pressure relief is vital. “When it comes to choosing a mattress for arthritis, there are a few factors to consider”, says Carlos. “The best mattress for arthritis will provide proper support, pressure relief, and comfort. Memory foam mattresses are known for their ability to contour to the body’s shape, providing excellent support and pressure relief, and they can help alleviate joint pain associated with arthritis by reducing pressure points. Latex mattresses are another good option for arthritis sufferers. While the ideal firmness level varies depending on personal preference, most arthritis sufferers find medium-firm to firm mattresses more comfortable as these provide a balance of support and cushioning without sinking too much. You could also consider pairing your mattress with an adjustable bed frame.”

Fancy yourself a browse of our other bedding round ups? Check out our selections of the best bed sheets, the best bedding sets and the best cooling pillows. We've also got silk bedding, mattress protectors and linen bedding, plus body pillows, and pregnancy pillows to invest in if you're expecting, sleep masks to keep the morning light at bay and pillow spray to help you nod off. For more from GLAMOUR UK's Commerce Writer Mayola Fernandes, follow her on Instagram @mayolafernandess.