People who have chronic lower back pain experience higher rates of sleep disturbances than people who don’t. And if your mattress is too soft, it likely isn’t helping the problem. Designed to lie on top of your existing mattress, a mattress topper provides greater comfort, pressure relief, and support—all without having to fork over the funds for a whole new mattress. To learn more about how a mattress topper can help with back pain, we spoke with experts and scoured the selection. Below find our picks for the best mattress toppers for back pain, along with expert advice on how to choose which one is right for you. “Next it can help influence the body’s temperature. Some people with back pain respond positively to a cooler environment, while others respond positively to warmer environments. A mattress topper with temperature regulation can help these individuals sleep better and wake with less pain.” Finally, a mattress topper lets you test different firmness options before purchasing a different mattress. “Mattresses are expensive. As a physical therapist who is always asked for an opinion on which is the best mattress to purchase, I can only say you don’t know until you try it. A mattress topper can change the firmness of a mattress to be more firm or more soft without forcing you to buy a new mattress.” On the higher end of the firmness scale, this mattress topper delivers optimum spinal alignment and pressure relief. Corner straps help the topper stay tight across your mattress, and the cover (which is dust mite- and allergen-resistant) can be removed and machine-washed in cold water. For an additional $80, you can add the brand’s cooling technology to the cover, which hot sleepers tend to love. This topper is shipped to your door in a box. While there may be a slight off-gassing odor, reviews say it won’t last more than one to two weeks. The mattress topper has a 5-star overall rating on the brand’s website, with one person writing, “My husband and I both suffer from severe back pain. This topper on our mattress has made such a difference in our quality of sleep.” This is not the most sustainable option, as it’s made from memory foam—but for those who prefer the foam feel, it is a good choice at an affordable price. Memory foam contours well to your body, offering pressure relief that can help with back pain. The foam is infused with a cooling gel, which hot sleepers will enjoy. The topper arrives in a box, and any off-gassing odor should dissipate within 24 hours. With a 4.3 star rating overall, this mattress has many positive reviews. Most comment on how comfortable it is, the good night’s sleep they get with it, and of course, how affordable the topper is. This mattress topper will contour to your body’s natural curves to add extra cushioning and create a luxurious feel. The latex not only helps with pain relief, but it’s also resilient, durable, and temperature-regulating. The Avocado topper ships via FedEx and because of the natural materials, there won’t be any off-gassing odor. You may smell the latex scent, but it is not noticeable through sheets and bedding. Currently, the topper has an overall rating of 4.6 out of 5 stars on the brand’s website. “After sending back three other toppers, this Avocado Green is a keeper,” one buyer commented. “I’ve been sleeping well—finally no back pain. Definitely recommend.” This topper is also great for people who have allergies. The latex is odor-free, anti-microbial, and resists dust mites and mildew. The only downside? Plushbeds does not offer any trial period and you cannot return the topper. The natural latex topper will arrive in a box, and does not have any off-gassing smells. There are a ton of rave reviews on the brand’s website, granting this topper a 4.9 out of 5-star rating overall. One shopper who says they have struggled with back pain for years writes that “this topper was the perfect solution.” The same person writes, “In one night—literally, in one night!—it changed my life.” The mattress topper is hypoallergenic, highly breathable, and cool to the touch. The grip layer helps your mattress and topper stay aligned, so you don’t have to worry about the topper sliding around on top of your bed. The Puffy topper arrives in a box, and off-gassing takes about 12 hours. It has a five-star rating overall (which does make us raise an eyebrow), and comes highly recommended by both side sleepers and back pain. One person writes, “I laid down my Puffy Topper over my new mattress and I am so pleased. It’s like sleeping on a luxury hotel bed now! I have back, hip, and knee pain and this is a wonderful topper. The Puffy topper is better than the others I have tried because it brings that added three inches of softness to cushion this side sleeper.” Offering dual comfort and support, this topper takes stress off your joints and pressure points. It also promotes proper spinal alignment, which can improve back pain. The mattress topper ships for free and does not emit any smells upon arrival. Its current rating on the Nolah website is 4.9 stars. One reviewer says, “I love my mattress topper! It’s the perfect combination of cushiony comfort and support. It gives me the pressure point relief I need…and I don’t wake up in pain anymore.” Both the medium and firm options are great for back or stomach sleepers, and the material is pressure-relieving—great news for those who suffer from back pain. This topper arrives in a box and, thanks to its natural materials, has no off-gassing odor. According to customers, the firmness level is just right. “After a few days, we started to see a difference in sleeping. Less and less back pain. We are very satisfied with the topper,” reads one review. We also recommend carefully considering which material meets your needs and preferences. Mattress toppers are made from materials such as: Maritato says the position in which you sleep also makes a difference in the best mattress topper for back pain. “For a person with spinal stenosis who is also a side or back sleeper, a memory foam mattress top might be the perfect solution for a more comfortable sleep experience. Belly sleepers with back pain would benefit from a latex mattress topper [to] provide support to the pelvis and trunk. If the pain is localized to the neck, goose and duck feathers are the best choice.”
