Best Mattress for Back Pain: Our Top Picks (2025)

Octave Vista is the best mattress for back pain, with the advanced mattress construction and customer feedback to prove it. The company states that 86% of surveyed owners suffering from back pain said Octave helped with their pain. Plus, 78% of Octave owners surveyed said they noticed better physical health, mental health, and overall well-being since they started sleeping on an Octave mattress.

Octave is recommended by doctors as the best mattress for back pain. In fact, our medical consultants specifically recommend Octave Horizon. As the most premium option in the Octave lineup, Octave Horizon provides the greatest comfort and pressure-point relief of all three mattresses, supporting your body’s natural overnight recovery.

• Dr. James Keung: “The Octave Horizon has elevated my sleep quality. I definitely noticed a difference in how my back and shoulders felt. This multi-layered setup keeps my spine well supported and eases tension on the shoulders and hips, which is ideal for back and side sleepers. For anyone looking to invest in better sleep, this mattress is an excellent choice.”
• Dr. Gregory Stoltz: “As a chiropractor committed to promoting health and wellness, I am quite happy to provide my personal endorsement to the Octave Horizon mattress as a valuable tool for enhancing sleep and overall quality of life. I confidently recommend it to my patients as a reliable option for achieving better sleep and overall well-being.”

LEARN MORE: Get more information about Dr. Keung and Dr. Stoltz

A medium-firm memory foam mattress (like Octave Vista) is the best mattress for low back pain and other types of back pain. Memory foam conforms to the shape of your body, helping to relieve pressure points and support the lower back.

A medium-firm mattress helps distribute pressure evenly across your body and keeps your spine aligned, making it ideal for nearly any sleeping position. Ultimately, the best mattress for lower back pain can vary from person to person, as individual preferences and body types play a significant role.

Octave Vista is the best mattress for lumbar pain. With its five-zoned support system, Vista provides consistent ergonomic support beneath your back, hips, and knees while you sleep.

Layers of high-density memory foam and responsive Elastex® foam are designed to cushion and contour around your body, relieving strain and tension, reducing pressure points, and supporting proper spinal alignment. This design effectively reduces discomfort and stiffness while aiding in your body’s natural overnight recovery.

In addition to these features, Octave comes with a 365-night sleep trial, a 15-year warranty, and a free bedding bundle. The combination of quality construction and excellent value is why Octave is our top pick for the best bed mattress for lower back pain.

A medium-firm latex mattress can provide comfort for people with upper back pain. Many mattresses with natural latex or Elastex® foam layers (such as Octave Vista, Octave Mirage, or Octave Horizon) help relieve specific pressure points in the upper back and shoulders. Zoned support creates an ideal balance of both pressure relief and support.

If you sleep on your side, choose a mattress that allows your shoulders to sink in while keeping your spine aligned. Using a pillow that isn’t too lofty and hugging a second pillow can help prevent shoulder slouching, reducing upper back pain during sleep.

As a side sleeper with back pain, you’ll most likely want a mattress with a medium-firm feel that contains memory foam or latex. We recommend Octave Vista, a memory foam mattress with layers of responsive Elastex® foam, which is a type of foam that mimics the properties of latex. If you’d like a mattress containing latex, you can upgrade to Octave Mirage or Octave Horizon for more pressure-point relief and overall comfort.

Actually, the best mattress for back pain is typically medium-firm. A mattress that’s too firm can cause pressure points on your body, while medium-firm mattresses distribute your body weight more evenly. When a mattress is too soft, your hips and shoulders may sink too deeply into the bed, causing your spine to curve unnaturally. A medium-firm mattress strikes a balance between these two extremes.

The best medium-firm mattresses come with additional comfort layers like memory foam or latex. These comfort layers provide some softness and contouring while maintaining ample support. They offer enough cushioning for side sleepers to ease pressure on their hips and shoulders while providing enough support for back and stomach sleepers.

(Still want a firm mattress? Get our ranked list of the best firm mattresses in Canada.)

It’s best to sleep in a way that keeps your head, back, and neck in a straight line. However, the best sleeping position for back pain can vary from person to person, based on body shape, weight, and pain levels.

Sleeping on your back is often considered the best position for back pain because it allows your spine to maintain its natural curve. Avoid using a tall pillow under your head for less strain on your neck. If you’re a back sleeper, try placing a pillow under your knees to keep your spine aligned and pelvis comfortable.

If you prefer to sleep on your side, try placing a pillow between your knees to help align your spine, pelvis, and hips, which reduces strain on your lower back. You can also place a small pillow or rolled-up towel under your waist for additional support.

Sleeping on your stomach is generally not recommended for back pain because it can strain your neck and lower back. If you must sleep in this position, place a thin pillow under your pelvis to reduce pressure on your lower back and try to use a flat pillow for your head.

READ MORE: What’s the best sleeping position for lower back pain?

Mattresses fall into many different categories. Each has different characteristics that are a good fit for a variety of sleep styles. Here are just a few types of mattresses:

• Hybrid: Hybrid mattresses like Logan & Cove combine innerspring layers with foam or latex for a perfect pairing of contour and support. They tend to have better edge support and lower temperatures than memory foam, but this comes with reduced motion isolation for a slightly less peaceful sleep. (Shopping for a hybrid? Check out our list of the best hybrid mattresses.)
• Cooling Gel Foam: Some sleepers find normal memory foam too hot, so cooling gel foam mattresses like Douglas can be a great alternative. This type of mattress combines memory foam with cooling gel to keep temperatures comfortable while you sleep.
• Innerspring: Innerspring mattresses support your weight with metal coils. This makes the mattress bouncy and provides good edge support, but you might find this type of mattress less comfortable if your body needs more contouring.
• Memory Foam: Memory foam mattresses like Octave “hug” your body to relieve pressure and keep your spine aligned. They often incorporate zoned support, which can help relieve sore joints and provide other health benefits. In fact, the brand states that 86% of customers suffering from back pain said Octave helped reduce their pain.
• Latex: Natural or synthetic latex mattresses can relieve pressure in any sleep position. They have a reputation for comfortable temperatures and can last longer than other types of mattresses. However, latex mattresses can also be more expensive and may not be ideal for some people with latex allergies.

When you’re choosing a mattress, it’s important to consider more than just how comfortable it is. There are a whole range of factors to keep in mind, which we list below. (And when you’re ready to buy, make sure you buy a mattress online vs. in store.)

• Budget: Set a budget for your new mattress and stick to it. You might even be able to make this budget go further by finding limited-time deals and promotions online.
• Construction: Figure out what type of mattress you want, whether it’s foam, hybrid, or innerspring. There are pros and cons for each construction style, and knowing what you want will help narrow down your options.
• Firmness: Choose a mattress with the right firmness level for your sleep style—that is, whether you sleep on your side, back, or stomach. For example, side sleepers often want a softer mattress, while back sleepers may prefer something firmer. (Did you know that a medium-firm feel is ideal for most sleep styles? Get our guide to the best medium-firm mattresses.)
• Pressure-Point Relief: Got achy joints? How about a sore back? If you do, look for a mattress with enhanced pressure-point relief so you sleep better at night. Octave Vista comes with five body-contouring support zones to aid in your body’s natural recovery and help you wake up pain-free the next day.
• Motion Isolation: Pay close attention to motion isolation if you share your bed with a partner, kids, or pets. The higher the isolation score, the less you’ll notice movement from the other side of the bed.
• Edge Support: Are you in the habit of sitting or sleeping near the edge of the bed? Look for a mattress with good edge support so you feel supported in any position.
• Bounce: If you have trouble getting out of bed in the morning, you might prefer a mattress with extra bounce. (Your inner child will enjoy it, too!)
• Contouring: Contouring materials like memory foam help support your body in all the right places. That said, too much “hug” can cause overheating and make it hard to move, so find the level of contouring that’s best for your body.
• Temperature: Speaking of overheating—if you’re a warm sleeper, look for a mattress that promotes airflow and reduces heat. Look for a mattress with cooling gel foam and other cooling technologies.
• Responsiveness: A responsive mattress allows you to change positions without feeling stuck. Often found in hybrid designs, a responsive mattress can help you enjoy certain activities in bed even more.
• Noise: Nobody likes a squeaky or crinkly mattress. Get a quiet night’s sleep with a mattress made from noise-quieting materials like foam or latex.
• Company Policies: Get details about the manufacturer’s sleep trial, return policy, and product warranty so you know what you’re getting into.