Consumer Reports has updated our mattress Ratings, and the best we’ve tested provide plenty of support, resist bounciness, allow easy movement, and should last for many years before you need to replace it. You won’t find scores for comfort in our Ratings; that’s an individual judgment. But here’s a look at some mattresses that did especially well in back and side support. If you sleep on your back Our tests for back support graph the spine’s natural curves for a range of adults, and then we record how consistently mattresses maintain that curve. Charles P. Rogers Powercore Estate 5000, $1,500 This innerspring isn’t the best choice if you occasionally roll over to your side, but it delivered better back support than any other innerspring—or foam bed—in our tests. We tested its firmness as medium. Spring Air Back Supporter Natalie, $1,200 Sold at Costco, this memory foam bed also wasn’t notably good for side sleepers, but for the back, it was impressive.
The manufacturer claims the mattress is “ultra firm,” but we judged it as medium. Sleep Number i8 Bed, $3,000 Our testers judged this adjustable-air mattress, topped by foam, as soft. But this and its lower-price sibling were among the very best at back support. With these, you can adjust firmness one half of the bed at a time—helpful if two sleep partners like a different feel. Sleep Number c2 Bed, $700 This adjustable-air mattress fared almost as well but for more than $2,000 less. One primary difference is this bed’s firm feel, likely because of the considerably thinner foam topping. Roll over now and then? Both these Sleep Number beds were impressive for side sleepers as well. If you sleep on your side For our side-sleeping test, we check how well a mattress keeps the spine relatively horizontal when someone is lying on his or her side. All three of our top picks for side sleepers also fared above-average at back support. No mattress, however, received our top score in this test.
Serta Perfect Day iSeries Applause, $1,075 This innerspring has gotten a bit difficult to find, but it’s a winner if you can locate it. We judged it as medium, which apparently didn’t hurt in our tests; it’s the top-Rated innerspring. Beautyrest ReCharge Hybrid Jeffrey’s Bay, $1,800 While pricey, this Beautyrest was among our top innersprings, and we judged it as medium. One caveat: Couples might find it a bit bouncy if one partner gets up during the night. Casper The Casper 10”, $850 This online company produced a winner in this memory-foam bed, which we judged as medium. You might wish you could try it out—and if you're shopping in New York City you can—but we found its return policies to be very generous. Need a new mattress? Our online mattress Ratings now include almost 40 models, along with companion, survey-based Ratings of mattress stores and brands. Be sure to see our mattress buying guide before narrowing your choices. —Ed Perratore (@EdPerratore on Twitter)
As we've learned, many elements come into play when it comes to shopping for the right mattress. And as previously mentioned, while the construction of a mattress is highly important, your personal sleeping style, or position, is also a determining factor in what makes a good mattress for you personally. We take a closer look here at the mattresses that cater to your specific sleeping style. *NOTE: While "Sleep Number" adjustable beds and high-end memory foam mattresses can deftly fit any sleep style with focused support, we've found that these are not the most budget-friendly choices. So we're keeping our recommendations to conventional mattresses in this buying guide.The most common sleeping style, side sleepers require a mattress that doesn't put stress on their shoulders and hips and instead relieves pressure from those body parts. This usually means a mattress that is slightly softer is a good option because it allows the sleeper's body to sink just a little into the mattress.
A slightly softer mattress is also good because it accommodates the body's natural curve and keeps the spine aligned. Our mattress pick: Simmons Beautyrest Classic pocketed coil mattress.For people who sleep in this style, support for the lower back is crucial. Therefore, it's best to avoid very stiff spring mattresses since they have a tendency to push against the spine and not provide the correct curvy support. At the same time, a mattress that is too soft will not give enough support to the body and the back. A medium-firm mattress is a good choice. Our mattress pick: Laura Ashley Aurora Collection innerspring mattress.This sleeping style requires a firmer and stiffer mattress that keeps the body afloat instead of sunken. Many stomach sleepers may suffer from lower back pain, which has prompted them to this sleeping style where spine alignment is at its most minimal. Our mattress pick: Serta/Perfect Sleeper innerspring mattress. Combination of all Styles. Typically most people fall into this sleeping style category where it's a combination of all of the above, which means that there's a lot of movement in bed.
For this style, it's important to pick a mattress that is personally suitable to you for your comforts -- one that's not too stiff for your side sleeping and not too soft when you turn on your stomach. But in general, it's been said that combination sleepers have found mattresses with innerspring pocket coils or those made from latex foam to be highly comfortable. Our mattress pick: Sealy latex foam mattress. What have you found to be the mattress that works best for your sleeping style? Let us know in comments.Sleep experts consistently advocate for back sleeping, as it is believed to be the easiest on the spine and the least likely to lead to soreness or wrinkles. Despite consistent advocacy for back sleeping, this is by far the rarest sleep position, with the National Sleep Foundation reporting that just eight percent of adults sleep on their backs. There are few personal downsides to back sleeping, but it can be aggravating for others if you share your room — and if you happen to snore.
Unfortunately, back sleeping aggravates snoring, which can keep others awake. Some people believe that back sleeping is problematic for those with sleep apnea, but research actually indicates that the supine (stomach) position is more harmful for apnea sufferers. Back sleepers need a nice mix between stiff coils and soft foam — they’re the Goldilocks of mattress requirements. An overly soft mattress does not provide the support back sleepers need, thereby causing the body to sink too much into the bed. Overly firm mattresses put too much pressure on the shoulders and back, causing aches and pains in the morning. Many people alternate between sleeping on their side and back, and if the mattress is too firm, the quality of sleep while in the fetal position can be negatively impacted. Ultimately, mattress selection depends not only on sleep position, but also whether that position changes over time and whether the bed is shared with another person. The following are the best mattresses for back sleepers:
Purple is an excellent choice for anyone looking for a contouring mattress not constructed from memory foam. The no-pressure mattress features a polymer gel layer, which offers excellent pressure point relief and a unique floating sensation. A versatile mattress, it can accommodate all sleeping positions — including supine, which is notoriously difficult to shop for. Point elasticity is exceptional for the Purple, thereby making it perfect for sleeping with a partner (particularly a supine sleeping partner). The downside of Purple is that it is a one-size-fits-all mattress; adjustments can therefore only be made with toppers or mattress pads. If you primarily sleep on your back, you can expect fewer aches and pains each morning — especially if you invest in a high-quality mattress. For the best sleep possible, aim for medium firm mattresses that provide a mix of support and contouring. Keep your secondary sleep position in mind, as many back sleepers shift onto their sides or flip into a supine position.
A versatile mattress can provide the support you need while also accommodating your partner. Choose carefully — the quality of your mattress can have a direct impact on your general health and wellbeing. Get the full Purple Mattress Review Brentwood is one of my favorite brands. They are a vertically integrated company which means they make all their mattresses in the factory they own. If you are primarily a back sleeper, you will appreciate the support that the Sequioa mattress provides. It combines a latex and a gel foam layer to give you good pressure relief without a lot of sinking in. Because of the latex it is very responsive and will keep you cool. Here’s the full Sequioa Mattress Review Some back sleepers find it all but impossible to sleep on memory foam, as they feel as if they are sinking into the bed. Latex provides a far different feel; there is some contouring, but also a sensation of resting on top of the mattress, as opposed to sinking into it. Zen Haven mattresses can be flipped where one side is firmer and the other softer.
Back sleepers tend to prefer Zen Haven’s firm side. The soft side is best for side sleepers. This is one of the few natural latex mattresses with a money back trial period. If you’re new to latex and want to try it out without the risk. Zen Haven is an excellent choice. Get the full Zen Haven Review Specifically designed for the active individual, the Bear Mattress is intended to help athletes and exercise enthusiasts recover overnight so that they can get back up on their feet the next day. This means minimizing pressure points — the last thing active types need are lingering aches and pains from their overly firm mattresses. The medium firmness of the Bear accommodates most individuals, including back sleepers and combination back and side sleepers. The mattress has four layers of supportive foam, but its Celiant cover is most impressive, especially given Bear’s relatively low price point. Get the full Bear Mattress Review The Novosbed comes in three firmness ratings.
The medium and firm options (formerly known as the Aria and Classic) are best for back sleepers, as they minimize sinking. If, after ordering the Novosbed, you find that it isn’t as soft or firm as you desire, you can order a free kit that will help you adjust the mattress to your liking. This is a nice option for back sleepers, as it can be difficult to pinpoint the correct firmness. All of Novosbed’s firmness levels feature super soft top covers and elastic covers designed to protect the foam core. Get the full Novosbed Review Hybrid mattresses are excellent for back sleepers, who sometimes require greater firmness than standard memory foam can provide. Winkbeds combine spring technology with foam, thereby ensuring both comfort and support. Tempered support springs promote localized relief for pressure points, while hypersoft foam offers the buoyancy that memory foam sometimes lacks. Winkbeds are compatible with adjustable frames, which many back sleepers prefer.