Conditions Back ConditionsDrugs & Supplements Back Drugs & SupplementsWell-Being Back Well-BeingMore Back More Privacy & More Subscribe Log In Search Subscribe GuideOverview SymptomsTests & DiagnosisTreatmentLiving With View Full Guide Best Mattress for Lower Back PainMedically Reviewed by Tyler Wheeler, MD on September 25, 2023Written by 3 min readIf you have a bad back, you should buy the firmest mattress you can find -- right? Not so fast. While that used to be the common wisdom, there's no solid research behind it. The latest thinking is that there isn't one type of mattress that's best for everyone, including people with chronic . Let personal preference guide you, and choose what feels most comfortable.But making the right choice can be tricky. So many products are on the market, and just because a mattress feels good when you lie down on it in a showroom doesn't mean you're going to be happy sleeping on it for the next several years.Here are a few tips to guide you:It Needs to Keep Your Spine AlignedYou may not realize it, but good posture is important when you . The muscles and ligaments (tissue that holds joints together) in your back need to relax and recover while you snooze. If a mattress is too firm -- or too squishy -- it won't support your at your neck or lower back the way it needs to. What's firm enough (but not too firm) is different for everyone: If you have wide hips, for instance, a slightly softer surface may be better. You need some more give in order to keep your in alignment. Someone with narrower hips might be better off with a firmer surface.When in Doubt, Go ‘Medium-Firm’Research is limited, but in one study, researchers assigned new mattresses to more than 300 people with . They used either "medium-firm" or "firm" mattresses for 90 days. Those in the medium group reported the least amount of discomfort.You might consider getting a memory foam mattress (instead of a traditional innerspring one). The foam molds to your body. The downside: Some memory foam mattresses keep in heat; and the material might have more chemicals.Take a Longer Test-DriveIf you have a great night's and wake up -free after staying at a hotel or in a friend's guest room, copy down that mattress's model number. Or choose a mattress that comes with a money-back guarantee: A growing number of companies will let you buy a mattress and use it for anywhere from 30 to 100 days and send it back for a refund if you're not happy with it.Just Buy SomethingWhen researchers from Oklahoma State University randomly assigned 62 people to in a variety of new beds for 28 days, they found that almost everyone started to sleep better. That was true regardless of which model they were given, though people who slept in the cheapest beds did report more than those in the medium- and higher-priced beds.The most important thing seemed to be that the beds were new. They noted that the average age of the participants' old beds was 9.5 years. And they concluded that "sleep quality may be dependent on timely replacement of bedding systems." The takeaway: If you've been sleeping on the same mattress for 9 or 10 years (or more), it's time to get a new one. Almost any new replacement is going to be better than the saggy foundation of an old mattress. But it may pay to spring for at least a mid-priced model.Pillows and Positions MatterEven if you have the right mattress, it’s not the only thing that counts when it comes to managing your as you rest. Sleep position is important, as are the kind of pillows you use and where you place them.SourcesUpdate HistorySharePrintSOURCES:Cleveland Clinic: "Is Your Sleep Position Causing You Back Pain?"Consumer Reports: "Mattress Buying Guide."Harvard Healthbeat: "What Type of Mattress is Best for People With Low Back Pain?"Jacobson, BH. "Grouped Comparisons of Sleep Quality for New and Personal Bedding Systems." Applied Ergonomics, 2008.Kovacs, FM. “Effect of firmness of mattress on chronic non-specific low-back pain." Lancet, November 2003.Mayo Clinic: "Slide show: Sleeping positions that reduce back pain."University of Utah Health Care: “Good Sleeping Posture Helps Your Back."SharePrintMore on Back Pain Recommended FEATURED Top doctors in , Find more top doctors on Search Related LinksPoliciesAboutFor Advertisers © 2005 - 2025 WebMD LLC, an company. All rights reserved. WebMD does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. , The latest thinking is that there isn't one type of mattress that's best for everyone, including people with chronic back pain. Let personal preference guide you, and choose what feels most, When it comes to the best mattresses for back pain, there are three important factors: pressure relief, support and spinal alignment. The right mattress will provide relief by cradling.