If you have back pain when you sleep, you know it can be an absolute nightmare. More than just uncomfortable, back pain can keep you from getting a full night’s rest. Plus, unalleviated pain throughout the night can continue on as pain during the day, so the ache seemingly never goes away. Unfortunately, a mattress alone is not enough to eliminate back pain for many people. But a mattress topper, which is used to add firmness and cushioning to your mattress, can help significantly and keep your mattress from developing sags over time.
The best mattress topper for back pain has a few key features that set it apart from other mattress toppers. It will be thicker, denser, and offer more support and cushioning than your typical mattress topper. To help you find the mattress topper that can alleviate your back pain, we researched tons of mattress toppers and came away with only the best. Our research looked at mattress topper specifications and read through hundreds of customer and expert reviews, saving you the work and making it easy to find the best mattress topper for your back.
Our guide begins with a round-up of the nine best mattress toppers for back pain, summarized in the table below. Then we provide detailed reviews, complete with pros and cons based on customer reviews, for each mattress topper. Our buying guide then offers tons of essential information about how to choose the mattress topper that will work best for your back pain. Finally, we announce the overall best mattress topper for back pain on the market.
The only latex mattress topper in our roundup, this product from Sleep on Latex provides an impressive amount of comfort, support, and customization options. The mattress topper is made out of 100% natural latex, which has natural heat dissipation properties in stark contrast to hot and humid memory foam. Latex is also far more durable than memory foam and will not develop body imprints even after years of use, which is why Sleep on Latex is able to offer a multi-year warranty for the mattress topper.
The latex foam has a density of 5 pounds per cubic foot and is described as medium firm, making it a good addition for both relatively soft and relatively firm mattresses. In addition, the mattress topper is available in either 1-, 2-, or 3-inch thicknesses for different uses. The 1-inch thickness is best for adding comfort but will not significantly change the support from what your mattress provides. The 2-inch thickness add significantly more support and plushness and are a good option if you only want to mildly tweak the feel of your mattress. The 3-inch thick version is intended for adding support to an otherwise old mattress and will fundamentally change the feel of your sleeping foundation.
This topper is made from memory foam and is three inches thick. It is also dual-sided and comes in a wide array of sizes. The fabric is infused with a bamboo charcoal mixture, which helps to make it good for sensitive skin. The cover is also removable and machine washable for added convenience.
If you are on the lookout for a durable and long-lasting mattress topper, then this is a good pick. This topper is crafted from memory foam, which makes it exceptionally soft and supportive. Not only that, but it comes in a wide array of sizes, which makes it perfect for folks that have different size beds in their home. This topper can also be used on either side, which is great for budget-conscious buyers, as it will help to extend the life of the topper by quite a bit. This model is also great for anyone with sensitive skin, as it is infused with bamboo and charcoal, while the cover is easy to clean.
This memory foam mattress topper from Memory Foam Solutions is very firm thanks to its 5 pounds per cubic foot density. Users found that the firmness was comfortable and perfect for adding to a soft mattress to improve the back support. The high density also helps with durability – users report that the memory foam does not develop cracks or sags even after multiple years of use. However, the mattress topper is prone to ripping when you are moving it around, such as when you are turning the topper to even out wear.
The 3-inch thickness is on the lower end for back-supporting memory foam toppers, so it is best for lightweight people who don’t require extra thickness for float. The memory foam does tend to sleep very warm, since there is no gel layer or perforations to allow heat to move away from your body.
The mattress topper is available in nearly every size of bed, making it easy to fit it to your existing mattress. The manufacturing process is low on chemicals and environmentally friendly compared to other mattress toppers, earning this topper the PURGreen certification. Plus, the mattress topper comes with a 3-year warranty to insure your purchase.
Users rave about this mattress topper from ViscoSoft and about ViscoSoft as a company. The mattress topper consists of two parts: a 2.5-inch thick gel-infused memory foam pad wrapped in a 1.5-inch thick down-filled quilt. The quilt is securely wrapped around the memory foam pad using elastic straps, but which also make it easy to remove and machine wash the quilt when needed.
The memory foam is only 3 pounds per cubic foot density, so it is not as firm as other mattress toppers and tends to work better on firmer mattresses. The thin pad also means that you won’t sink into the foam, which gives you the sensation of floating while offering moderate back support. A very nice design feature of this mattress topper is the gel infusion in the memory foam, which keeps you cool throughout the night.
Users spoke as highly of ViscoSoft as they did of the mattress topper. ViscoSoft is unique in that they offer a 60-day full refund on the mattress topper if you try it and don’t like it, and users noted that the refund process was easy and ViscoSoft provided excellent customer service. Beyond the refund period, ViscoSoft continues to back their mattress topper with a 3-year warranty.
This memory foam mattress topper is another offering from Memory Foam Solutions, with the main difference from their other topper being the added inch of thickness. Like the 3-inch thick mattress topper, this topper has a density of 5 pounds per cubic foot for high firmness and solid back support.
The added inch of thickness makes this mattress topper a better choice for many people since it offers more padding before your body hits the mattress itself. However, that extra thickness comes at a price premium and significantly increases the heat build-up while you sleep since your body can be more engulfed by the memory foam. Despite the heat, users found the mattress topper to be very comfortable and excellent at alleviating back pain.
Just as for the thinner version of this topper, the mattress topper is available in six different sizes to fit your existing mattress. It is also very durable over years of use and will not develop sags, but it also comes with a 3-year limited warranty to protect your investment in the mattress topper.
This mattress topper from Snuggle-Pedic packs a ton of great features into a relatively inexpensive product, making it a tremendous choice for value. Snuggle-Pedic essentially turned the thickness consideration on its head when designing this mattress topper by using two layers of high-density memory foam with a total thickness of only two inches. The top layer is one inch of 4 pounds per cubic foot density foam, while the bottom layer is one inch of 5 pounds per cubic foot density foam. The idea is that the denser foam on the bottom prevents the mattress topper from bottoming out, and users found that the idea works well in practice – the mattress topper provides a feeling similar to that of 4-5-inch thick mattress toppers. The design also allows the mattress topper to be flipped over in order to customize the firmness to your liking.
The main issue that users had with this mattress topper is that the two memory foam layers are poorly glued together. Many users found that the two layers would begin separating within several months of use, leaving the mattress topper feeling awkward rather than comfortable.
Snuggle-Pedic does offer a 90-day refund period on this mattress topper, which gives you the freedom to try it out for a few months before fully committing. They also offer a 10-year warranty on the mattress topper, thanks to the fact that the high-density foam layers themselves are very durable and resistant to developing sags.
This mattress topper from Sleep Innovations is actually made up of two separate pieces: a 2-inch fiber-filled quilt and a 2-inch gel-infused memory foam pad. The quilt is designed to be soft and plush for comfort, but provides very little back support since it compresses under your weight. An advantage to this quilt, though, is that it is machine washable for quick cleaning.
The memory foam pad is gel-infused for dissipating heat, and users found that it slept cool enough for comfort. However, a common complaint about this mattress topper was that it would develop significant body imprints in the foam after only six months to one year of use. Many people found that whereas the mattress topper initially alleviated back pain, the support disappeared once the sags developed. This is likely a result of the low density of the memory foam, which is only 3 pounds per cubic foot – a quality that also makes it relatively soft if you plan on adding it to an already soft mattress.
That said, the mattress topper does come with a 10-year limited warranty, which is among the longest warranties available for mattress toppers. The mattress topper is available in a variety of sizes and is thin enough that most standard sheet sets will have no problems fitting over it.
This memory foam mattress topper from Langria is an excellent and inexpensive choice for adding firmness and back support to a soft mattress. The memory foam has a density of 4 pounds per cubic foot and users describe it as very firm, but not so hard as to be uncomfortable. The 3-inch thickness is on the thin side for memory foam mattress toppers, so beware that heavier sleepers may find that your body sinks all the way through to the mattress itself. However, users found that the mattress topper held its shape well and did not develop sags over time.
This mattress topper comes with a few additional features that make it perfect either for use in your own bed or for use in a guest bedroom. The bamboo cover is hypoallergenic and breathable and can also be removed to be machine washed between different guests. Plus, the mattress topper can be easily rolled up for space-efficient storage when it is not in use. Another thoughtful feature is the non-slip bottom on the mattress topper, which keeps it in place even if you tend to move around in your sleep.
One downside to this mattress topper is that it only comes with a one-year limited warranty, which is relatively short coverage compared to other mattress toppers.
This mattress topper from Best Price Mattress combines a thinner memory foam layer with a thicker high-density base foam layer to provide solid support at a fraction of the cost of fully memory foam mattress toppers. The high-density foam layer is extremely firm, while the 1.5-inch thick memory foam layer on top provides just enough cushion for comfort. However, side sleepers in particular may find this mattress topper to be too firm since they are likely to push through to the stiff high-density foam layer.
The design of this mattress topper is also unique in that it is a tri-fold rather than a single sheet of foam. It comes with a carry case and although it is quite large, it is possible to take this mattress with you when you are travelling by car. As a result, many users report bringing this mattress topper with them when they go on an RV trip or when they are staying in cabins with older, less comfortable beds. Another nice aspect of this mattress topper for travel is that the cover is enclosed with a zipper and is machine washable, making it easy to clean the topper after a trip.
The mattress topper comes with a 5-year warranty, although given that most of the topper is high-density foam it is extremely durable and will not develop sags over extended use.
Now that we’ve reviewed eight of the best mattress toppers on the market, it is important to know what features set mattress toppers apart from each other and from other mattress toppers on the market. Here, we’ll cover everything you need to know when choosing a mattress topper for back pain.
The material that a mattress topper is made of is extremely important since the material controls much about a topper’s comfort and support for your back. Although a mattress topper may feel soft to the touch or comfortable, the critical thing is to find one that provides enough support for your back to eliminate pain.
Memory foam is an extremely popular material for mattress toppers because of its supportive properties – memory foam will conform to your body and hold its shape throughout the night. This conformation alleviates pressure on your joints and sensitive areas of your back, which should help to reduce back pain. However, some people find memory foam to be too firm, and memory foam can often trap heat to the point that it becomes uncomfortable on warm nights. Gel-infused memory foam, which incorporates materials that distribute heat extremely well, alleviate the issues with temperature to a great degree.
Latex works similarly to memory foam in that it conforms to your body and reduces pressure on sensitive areas to eliminate pain. The primary difference between latex and memory foam is that latex bounces back more each night, rather than “remembering” your body’s shape as memory foam does. Latex is also better at keeping you cool throughout the night than even gel-infused memory foam.
Hybrid mattress toppers, which combine memory foam with a down-filled layer on the top, provide an excellent mix of comfort and firmness. The down layer will compress easily but keep your body against a nice soft surface rather than directly against the memory foam.
Check this video with the differences between natural latex foam and memory foam explained.
Mattress toppers for back pain are typically between 2–4 inches thick and 3–5 pounds per cubic foot density. Although you might think thicker mattress toppers would provide more support, the sinking that comes with them actually reduces their effect.
[wpsm_box type=”blue” float=”none” text_align=”left”]Therefore, average thicknesses are best rather than extremely thick mattress toppers. Similarly, for density, aiming for the middle ground is best. Higher density mattress toppers will prevent the pressurized areas of your body from sinking properly, while very low density mattress topper will not provide enough support.[/wpsm_box]
There are a number of different institutions and organizations that provide certifications for mattress toppers that meet health and manufacturing standards. The most common certification is from CertiPUR, which ensures that the foam in the mattress topper is made without harmful chemicals that you would normally want to keep out of your house and away from your body.
You expect your mattress topper to last for a while, just like your mattress. Most memory foam and latex mattress toppers will be quite durable, although some memory foam materials can develop sags over time. To be certain of your purchase, look for mattress toppers that offer a warranty.
Whether you need a very firm or a very plush mattress topper, or one that is in between, depends in large part on the mattress you will be putting it on. If you feel that your mattress is too soft, a firm mattress topper can help add more support, while a mattress that is too firm can be made more comfortable by adding a plush mattress topper. This choice is largely personal preference and may require some trial and error to find a mattress topper that matches well with your mattress. [wpsm_box type=”red” float=”none” text_align=”left”]Just remember that an extremely firm mattress topper is not always better for your back, especially if it leaves you feeling uncomfortable throughout the night.[/wpsm_box]
Heavyset people, typically people who are over 250 pounds, will need to consider their weight when choosing a mattress topper. In this case, thicker and denser mattress toppers are better, since thinner and less dense toppers can leave you compressing it all the way until your body hits the mattress, which defeats the purpose of the mattress topper and leaves your spine out of alignment.
Our guide provides detailed reviews of eight of the best mattress toppers for back pain on the market today, along with everything you need to know about how to choose a mattress topper. Adding a mattress topper to your sleep setup can go a long way towards reducing or even eliminating nighttime back pain. The best mattress topper for back pain will provide both comfort and support, cushioning your body to alleviate pressure on sensitive areas of your spine and leaving you with a better night’s sleep.
