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The Best Mattress for Back Sleepers

Last updated: February 2024

What’s the best mattress for back sleepers?

For those who sleep on their back, spine alignment is crucial and a firmer comfort grade is recommended to provide comfort, without letting your back curve into the mattress. Mattress types that can provide this support include traditional spring, pocket spring, memory foam or orthopaedic mattresses.

Recommended comfort grade for back sleepers

As a back sleeper, you will need the most support out of all of the sleeping positions to ensure you wake up without a sore back. That's why medium to very firm mattresses are ideal - they provide the alignment and support you need.

BODY TYPECOMFORT LEVEL
Lighter to Average buildsMedium to Firm
Heavier buildsFirm to Very Firm

The best comfort grade for your body type

If you’re unsure whether to opt for a medium or a firm mattress, this can largely be based off of your personal preference and whatever feels most comfortable for you. However other factors, such as your weight, should also be taken into consideration.

The heavier you are, the more you risk misaligning the spine. This is especially true for those who sleep on their back as the added weight can cause their spine to sink into the mattress further. To combat this, if you weigh above 14 stone, consider a firm or very firm mattress.

What is the best mattress type for back sleepers?

As mentioned for those who sleep on their back, spinal support is the main priority. There are a number of mattress types that can help with this, including traditional spring, pocket spring, memory foam and orthopaedic mattresses.

Pressure points for back sleepers

To understand which kind of mattress your sleeping position is best suited to, it helps if you're familiar with your pressure points, these are the areas which have contact with the mattress. For back sleepers, this includes your shoulders, your heels, your buttocks and most obviously, your back. This is why it’s essential to opt for mattresses specially designed to support the spine.

The best pillows for back sleepers

As well as getting the right mattress for your sleeping position, it’s also essential to get the right type of pillow. For back sleepers, pillows with a medium comfort grade are advised. Anything too firm will add too much height underneath the neck, whereas anything too thin won’t cushion the head adequately. Popular pillow types that offer enough bounce include hollowfibre or wool pillows.

SHOP BACK SLEEPER PILLOWS

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