April 1, 2020

Best Mattress Topper for Back Pain

Read more about Mattress

Got back pain? The right mattress topper can help. Here are the best mattress toppers for your lower back, hips, and more.

The right mattress topper won't cure your back pain, but it may help you get a better night's rest. Look for the following in a mattress topper for back pain:

  • Support
    Back pain suffers need support more than cushioning. A mattress topper can provide a level of plushness to your mattress, but what you really need is an extra layer of support. You want a topper that keeps your spine in alignment while relieving your pressure points. Most materials, including memory foam, latex, and even wool toppers, can be supportive.

  • Thickness
    The average mattress topper is 2 inches thick, but some go up to 4 inches. If your back pain is severe, you may need the extra cushioning to relieve the pain on your pressure points, which causes back pain. If you have average back pain, a 2-inch thick topper may suffice.

  • Firmness
    Consider what you don't like about your mattress now. Is it too firm? Too soft? The answers to these questions tell you what firmness level you need in a mattress topper. Typically, sleepers with back pain need a firmer surface that keeps the spine aligned and allows for enough contouring for ultimate comfort.

  • Temperature Regulation
    If you sleep hot, pay close attention to a mattress topper's materials. Memory foam can get hot, but when infused with gel beads, it is a great material for back pain sufferers. Wool mattress toppers are also great at helping with temperature regulation.

  • Allergies
    Your mattress topper is the closest thing to your skin and face, so pay close attention to the materials if you have allergies or worry about toxins. Many toppers are made with hypoallergenic materials, such as latex and wool toppers.

Do mattress toppers even work?
A mattress topper can add more cushion or even firmness to your mattress. As long as your existing mattress is in decent shape and can hold the mattress topper in place, you can receive pressure-point relief, more cushioning, and even a firmer surface by adding an inexpensive mattress topper to your bed.

Best Overall Mattress Topper for Back Pain: Ultimate Dreams Talalay Latex Topper

Mattresses sag and lose effectiveness over time. This can make your back feel even worse. The Ultimate Dreams Talalay Latex Topper provides enough support and a choice of three firmness levels to help ease your pain. Most people choose the firm option for optimal back support, but soft and medium firmness levels are also available.

Ultimate Dreams Talalay Latex Topper features:

  • Superior spinal alignment
  • 33% more pressure relief than memory foam
  • Perfect contouring for the body while keeping the spine aligned
  • Breathable construction for temperature regulation
  • Hypoallergenic and antibacterial materials
  • Free shipping

Are mattress toppers worth the money?
Mattress toppers enhance a mattress' comfort and support, which makes them well worth the money. They're also much cheaper than buying a new bed. If the mattress' base is in good condition, but its surface isn't ideal for you, a topper can be an inexpensive way to make your bed more comfortable.

Best Memory Foam Mattress Topper for Back Pain: Sleep Better 3-Inch Extra Firm Conventional Foam Mattress Topper

Memory foam has the reputation of feeling hot and making sleepers feel "trapped." The Sleep Better Extra Firm Foam Mattress Topper puts those worries to rest. It makes you feel like you're lying on top of the mattress rather than sinking in, like traditional memory foam.

While it's not traditional memory foam, the polyurethane foam provides the perfect firmness level, keeping your spine aligned and decreasing your back pain. It's also available in Firm if Extra Firm is too hard for your back.

Sleep Better 3-Inch Extra Firm Conventional Foam Mattress Topper features:

  • 3 inches of extra-firm foam for body contouring and spinal alignment
  • Enough weight to prevent the topper from slipping
  • Adequate motion transfer isolation
  • Free shipping

Can memory foam mattress toppers cause back pain?
Memory foam toppers that don't have adequate density or are too thick can cause back pain if you aren't careful. Back pain sufferers often need thinner mattress toppers, such as 2-inch toppers with superior density, to provide your back with the firmness it needs. Look for a design that will align your spine for the most comfort.

Best Latex Mattress Topper for Back Pain: Pure Green Latex Topper

Made with pure latex, the Pure Green Latex Topper provides a natural and supportive surface for back pain sufferers. You can choose the firmness level that makes your back feel most at ease: soft, medium, or firm. All levels provide the durability and comfort you need when suffering from back pain.

Pure Green Latex Topper features:

  • Pinpointed support that helps alleviate lower back pain
  • Adequate contouring without knocking your spine out of alignment
  • Open-cell structure to help regulate body temperature
  • Low risk of VOC or harmful substance materials used during construction
  • Generous 3-inch thickness for maximum support (option of 1- or 2-inch thickness too)
  • 30-day free trial and a 5-year warranty
  • Fast shipping

What's the best thickness for a mattress topper?
Thin mattress toppers help make your mattress firmer while thicker toppers provide more cushioning. A 2-inch topper is adequate support for most people. But, if you have excessive pressure-point issues or you sleep on your side, you may want to opt for a 3- or 4-inch mattress topper.

Best Feather Bed Mattress Topper for Back Pain: Parachute Down Mattress Topper

If memory foam and latex don't do anything for you, consider the benefits of the down mattress topper. Filled with 550 fill power feathers, the Parachute Down Mattress Topper offers the perfect combination of luxury, support, and comfort.

The Parachute Mattress has a dual-chamber design, giving you adequate support and comfort for an aching back. It's made in the USA and offers a 3-year warranty.

Parachute Down Mattress Topper features:

  • 3-inch height for maximum support and comfort
  • Reduced shifting due to the baffle box construction
  • Ethically obtained feather construction
  • 100% cotton shell

Best Down Alternative Mattress Topper for Back Pain: Lucid 4-Inch Down Alternative and Gel Memory Foam Topper

The Lucid Down Alternative and Gel Memory Foam Topper provides the best of all worlds. Relax in the comfort of the down alternative layer while reaping the benefits of gel-infused memory foam.

The gel-infused layer helps relieve your back pain, while the down alternative layer provides the plushness most people want out of a mattress topper. It even anchors onto your mattress like a fitted sheet for a secure fit.

Lucid 4-Inch Down Alternative and Gel Memory Foam Topper features:

  • 2 inches each of down alternative layers and gel-infused memory foam
  • Gel-infused memory foam to regulate your body's temperature
  • Hypoallergenic material
  • Good combination of body contouring and luxurious comfort
  • Free shipping

Is gel memory foam good for back pain?
Gel memory foam helps with weight distribution and alleviate pressure-point pain, which can help with back pain too. It's often chosen over traditional memory foam for specific issues, such as back pain. Gel memory foam also helps avoid the trapped feeling that traditional memory foam creates. As an added benefit, it can help you stay cool by dissipating the heat away from you.

Best Wool Mattress Topper for Back Pain: PlushBeds Luxury Wool Topper

You may not think of a wool mattress topper as your first choice, but it offers many benefits, especially for back pain sufferers. The PlushBeds Luxury Wool Topper helps regulate your body temperature while providing pressure-point relief where you need it most.

Back pain sufferers enjoy the versatility of this topper while ensuring proper support for their back.

PlushBeds Luxury Wool Topper features:

  • More contouring while still providing support
  • Wool to naturally wick body moisture away from you for a cooler sleep
  • Moisture and mold growth
  • No chemicals or animal cruelty
  • Hypoallergenic materials
  • Free shipping

Best Gel Memory Foam Mattress Topper for Back Pain: Lucid 2" Gel Infused Ventilated Topper

If you sleep hot or want a thin mattress topper that still provides support, consider the Lucid 2" Gel Infused Ventilated Topper. Ventilated for proper airflow, the gel-infused topper provides enough support for back pain sufferers without making you feel suffocated.

Made with 3 pounds of memory foam, this topper has the perfect density that provides support without making you feel trapped.

Lucid 2" Gel Infused Ventilated Topper features:

  • 2 inches of gel infusion for a cool and comfortable night's rest
  • 2-inch thickness for side and back sleepers who need firm but comfortable support
  • Open-cell construction to avoid permanent body indentations
  • Ventilated memory foam that increases the mattress' breathability
  • Evenly distributes weight to help alleviate back and pressure-point pain
  • 3-year warranty
  • Free shipping

Are memory foam mattress toppers bad for your health?
Many memory foam products are made with chemicals or toxic ingredients that could potentially be harmful. Look for memory foam toppers made in the U.S. with non-toxic ingredients. The CertiPUR-U logo ensures little to no toxin or chemical use.

Best Mattress Topper for Lower Back and Hip Pain: Sleep Innovations Gel Memory Foam 4-inch Dual Layer Mattress Topper

The combination of back and hip pain can make it impossible to sleep, but the Sleep Innovations Gel Memory Foam Dual Layer Mattress Topper helps. Ideal for any sleeping position, this mattress topper has a machine washable cover that snugly holds both layers of the gel memory foam topper in place.

Its gentle, but firm construction helps alleviate pain and helps you get a good night's rest.

Sleep Innovations Gel Memory Foam 4-inch Dual Layer Mattress Topper features:

  • Pillow-top surface for ultimate comfort
  • Cooling gel to help regulate your body temperature
  • Quilted fiber fill with gel-infused memory foam for ultimate comfort
  • Made in the USA
  • Gel-infused memory foam to align your spine and cushion your pressure points
  • 10-year warranty
  • Free shipping

Do mattress toppers help hip pain?
A too-firm mattress can make your hip pain worse. The right mattress topper with adequate body contouring and support can take the pressure off your hips while you sleep. Opt for a mattress topper of medium thickness (2 or 3 inches) with pressure-point relief, such as memory foam, wool, or down alternative toppers.

Best Mattress Topper for Lower Back Pain and Cooling: PlushBeds Cool Bliss

Finding the right mattress topper for back pain that doesn't make you overheat can seem difficult. The PlushBeds Cool Bliss Mattress Topper promises to keep you 30% cooler than standard memory foam toppers, helping you to get that good night's rest.

The gel-infused memory foam gives you the comfort your back needs while ensuring your body temperature stays regulated.

PlushBeds Cool Bliss features:

  • Perfect combination of memory foam and gel
  • Even distribution of weight for optimal pressure-point relief
  • Hypoallergenic cover that enhances the cooling effects
  • Lower back cushioning to alleviate pain
  • No fillers or toxic additives
  • 25-year warranty
  • Free shipping

Best Mattress Topper for Side Sleepers with Back Pain: Viscosoft Select High-Density Mattress Topper

Side sleepers need a cushioning surface that cradles the pressure points, but your back pain needs a firmness that keeps your spine aligned. The Viscosoft Select High-Density Mattress Topper offers both, giving you comfort for pressure points yet stability for your back pain.

Viscosoft Select High-Density Mattress Topper features:

  • Gel-infused memory foam to diffuse body heat
  • Heavyweight material to anchor the topper in place
  • Little motion transfer
  • Bamboo-rayon hypoallergenic cover
  • Pillow-top cover for ultimate comfort
  • 60-day trial period and 3-year warranty
  • Free shipping and returns

Best Mattress Topper for Stomach Sleepers with Back Pain: Sleep Innovations 2-Inch Memory Foam Mattress Topper

Stomach sleepers need a firm surface to keep the spine aligned. If you have back pain too, you need therapeutic comfort while enhancing your sleep. The Sleep Innovations 2-Inch Memory Foam Mattress Topper provides just enough thickness to support your back while providing the firm surface your body needs as a stomach sleeper.

Sleep Innovations 2-Inch Memory Foam Mattress Topper features:

  • Memory flow technology that contours your body's shape
  • Breathable material for temperature regulation
  • Even bodyweight distribution
  • Machine washable cover
  • Made in the USA
  • 5-year warranty
  • Free shipping

Best Mattress Topper for Back Sleepers with Back Pain: SleepJoy 3-inch ViscO2 Ventilated Memory Foam Mattress Topper

Back sleepers often opt for a firm mattress for proper spinal alignment. If you suffer from back pain too, though, you need a surface that cushions your pressure points and alleviates the back pain. The SleepJoy 3-inch ViscO2 Ventilated Memory Foam Mattress Topper provides 3 inches of comfort on top of your firm mattress, giving you the comfort that you need.

SleepJoy 3-inch ViscO2 Ventilated Memory Foam Mattress Topper features:

  • Superior memory foam that contours your body
  • Open-cell memory foam for maximum breathability
  • No off-gassing, making the topper available for use right away
  • The feeling of a pillow-top with the support of a firmer mattress
  • Plant-based materials
  • 2-year warranty
  • Free shipping

What firmness is best for back pain?
Back pain sufferers often need a medium firmness. This ensures that your body stays in alignment while providing your pressure points with the relief they need. A topper that is too firm doesn't give your back the relaxing comfort it needs, while a too-soft topper can knock your spine out of alignment.

Best Mattress Topper for Back Pain and Pressure-Point Relief: LinenSpa 3-Inch Gel Swirl Memory Foam Topper

Take the pressure off your body at night with the LinenSpa 3-Inch Gel Swirl Memory Foam Topper. Made with gel-infused memory foam, this topper cradles your body, providing pain relief the moment that you lie down.

It's made with Certified CertiPUR-U materials, which limits the number of chemicals and toxins used to construct the topper.

LinenSpa 3-Inch Gel Swirl Memory Foam Topper features:

  • Gel-infused particles to keep your body temperature down
  • 3 inches of support help cushion your pressure points
  • Open-cell construction for maximum breathability
  • Even bodyweight distribution
  • Proper spinal alignment to help alleviate back pain
  • 3-year warranty
  • Free shipping

Bottom Line

If you're tired of waking with an achy back, consider a mattress topper for back pain. You can improve your current mattress at a fraction of the price of a new. That's good for your body and your wallet. Consider the different materials and choose the right one based on your sleeping position and overall preferences.

Write to Kim P at feedback@creditdonkey.com. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook for our latest posts.

Not sure what mattress is right for you?

Answer a few short questions in our mattress quiz to receive tailored recommendations.

Take Mattress Quiz


Mattress

Stay informed with free money-saving tips, deals, and reviews from CreditDonkey.
Mattress Buying Guide

What to Look for in a Mattress

Better sleep is a new mattress away. But which type is best? And how much should it cost? Find out with this mattress buying guide.

About CreditDonkey
CreditDonkey is a mattress comparison website. We publish data-driven analysis to help you save money & make savvy decisions.

Editorial Note: Any opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed on this page are those of the author's alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any card issuer.

†Advertiser Disclosure: Many of the offers that appear on this site are from companies from which CreditDonkey receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). CreditDonkey does not include all companies or all offers that may be available in the marketplace.

*See the card issuer's online application for details about terms and conditions. Reasonable efforts are made to maintain accurate information. However, all information is presented without warranty. When you click on the "Apply Now" button you can review the terms and conditions on the card issuer's website.

CreditDonkey does not know your individual circumstances and provides information for general educational purposes only. CreditDonkey is not a substitute for, and should not be used as, professional legal, credit or financial advice. You should consult your own professional advisors for such advice.

About Us | Reviews | Deals | Tips | Privacy | Do Not Sell My Info | Terms | Contact Us
(888) 483-4925 | 680 East Colorado Blvd, 2nd Floor | Pasadena, CA 91101
© 2024 CreditDonkey Inc. All Rights Reserved.