CNET's Favorite Mattresses for Back Sleepers in 2024

You’ve just read our picks for the best mattresses for back sleepers. There were a few more that we considered that are worth mentioning. Though they didn’t make the cut for this list, we still think they’re really great mattresses. 

DreamCloud Premier: This is a 14-inch hybrid mattress that has layers of comfy foam and a plush pillow top. The DreamCloud Premier has a responsive memory foam feel. We found it to be between a medium to a medium-firm on our scale, making it good for back sleepers. The DreamCloud Premier is also available in an all-foam construction. 

Leesa Oasis Chill: The Oasis Chill is a new hybrid mattress from Leesa that we really liked while we tested it. We’d recommend the Cushion Firm model for back sleepers; it’s about a medium-firm on our scale. It has a responsive pillow top feel and a zoned support coil system that can help people with back pain. We would consider it an actively cooling mattress, though it’s not the coolest out there. 

DreamFoam Chill: If you’re looking for a budget foam mattress good for back sleeping, check out the DreamFoam Chill. After discounts, you can get the DreamFoam Chill bed for under $500. It’s available in five different height profiles, with the 10-inch being the most popular. That 10-inch model is a medium-firm to firm, about an 8 on our scale. We compare how it feels to the Plank mattress. 

Loom & Leaf: Saatva's Loom & Leaf mattress is an all-foam mattress with two different memory foams for comfort layers and a plush pillow top. It’s available in two firmness options: relaxed firm and firm. Either option is going to serve back sleepers well.  

Our team of sleep and mattress experts has tested over 200 mattresses collectively. During that time, we’ve established testing methods that assess each mattress for each key performance factor. 

We test all mattresses the same, though when selecting which beds make our best lists, we consider each option based on the topic. In this case, it’s back sleepers. There are several perfectly good mattresses that we rate highly, but won’t won’t make this back sleepers list because they are better suited for someone else.

Firmness: We’ve rated every mattress we’ve ever tested for firmness, comparing them to each other. This has allowed us to establish a firmness scale ranging from soft to extra firm. Mattress for back sleepers will fall on the firmer side of the scale -- medium to medium-firm and up. 

Feel: When testing and rating how a mattress feels, we touch and feel the bed while watching how the materials respond. Is it light and bouncy? Or does it take a while to snap back like traditional memory foam? 

Durability: We hypothesize a bed’s durability based on its construction. Beds with steel coil bases generally hold up better in the long run, though plenty of foam mattresses have a good lifespan. 

Best body type: Using the firmness and construction of each bed, we determine who is best suited for a bed. For example, heavier body types need the extra support of coils. Petite body types will find that mattresses feel firmer because they put less pressure on them.

Best sleeping position: We also consider sleeping position when testing mattresses. We lie on each mattress in every position -- back, stomach, side and combination -- taking extra care to note how it feels on our backs and pressure points. 

Motion isolation: We use a few tests for motion isolation. First, two people lie on the bed and bounce around to see if the other can feel their movements. This is essential if you have a partner who moves around often at night. We also place a glass of water on the edge of the mattress and roll and bounce around to see if it tips over. 

Edge support: Think of edge support as the strength of the bed’s perimeter. We sit and lie on the edge of each bed and rate how well it supports our weight. If we feel we might roll off it, the bed doesn’t have good edge support. 

Check out how we test mattresses for even more of the nitty-gritty of our process.

Back sleeping is the second most common sleeper style, providing several advantages including neutral spinal alignment and preventing back and neck pain. On top of the various personal preferences that will help determine which bed you should choose, how you sleep also factors in. 

Let’s discuss what factors will help you narrow down your ideal bed when comparing the top options for back sleepers. 

Firmness

Back sleepers need a firmer mattress for quality sleep. If a mattress is too soft, you’ll sink in unevenly, and your spine will be out of alignment. This can contribute to back pain.

Remember that firmness is a scale, and just because you’re a back sleeper doesn’t mean you have to opt for the firmest bed out there. You don’t have to sacrifice comfort to get the support you need. We recommend plenty of supportive beds for back sleepers that fall at around a medium to medium-firm level.

Body type 

Your body type will influence two main things when shopping for a mattress: firmness and construction. Depending on how much you weigh, you will put more or less pressure on a mattress, determining how you will experience the mattress. Petite body types will find that beds will feel firmer because they don’t put much pressure on them. Alternatively, heavier body types will find that beds feel softer, so they may want to opt for firmer options. 

Your body type will also influence which construction you should get. Generally, heavier body types should buy hybrid mattresses with steel coils for optimal support and comfort. They're a safer choice in the long run. 

Budget

Beds will cost you a decent chunk of change; there’s no way around it. Identifying your budget will help you filter out many options, making your search more manageable.

While the average mattress costs $800 to $1,200, several good options are outside this range. You can find budget mattresses as low as $300 and luxury options well over $2000.