Considerations When Looking for a Mattress for Back Pain Relief
A sign that the mattress you are sleeping on might be the cause of your sore back is waking up with a stiff lower back immediately. If this sounds familiar, it’s likely time to replace your current mattress with one that has features that are well-known for providing back pain relief. These qualities include back support, comfort, and pressure relief. Let’s look at the top considerations in more detail.
Superior Support
If your back pain is a constant struggle, getting a mattress with support specifically for the back is usually important. A lumbar support mattress, for example, is designed to support the lumbar or lower area of the back.
Mattresses differ in how they provide this benefit, both in their design and the combination of materials used. All three of our recommendations for the best mattresses for back pain are hybrids, meaning they combine an innerspring with another material, such as memory foam, for a supportive combination.

Great Pressure Relief
Pressure relief refers to taking the pressure off areas where you need it the most, such as the lower back. A mattress designed to do so will disperse the sleeper’s body weight evenly across its surface. This redistribution of body weight lowers pressure buildup, reducing the chances of waking up with back pain.
Attention to Comfort
Attention to comfort is an important feature to look for in the best mattresses for back pain. Of course, what you find comfortable is personal; what you find comfy might differ from someone else.
An excellent way to discuss comfort is using a firmness scale. We rate our three top mattress picks on this scale from 1 to 10 so you know what to expect regarding how they feel, from softest (1) to firmer (10). The goal is to help you find a sleep surface that relieves back pain and helps you get a better sleep.
Spinal Alignment
Some mattresses are designed to support the spine. By encouraging proper alignment of the spine, the body can rest more healthily to help combat back stiffness the next day. When a mattress contours the natural curve of the spine, that promotes alignment and may help relieve back pain.
Our Top 3 Picks for Best Mattresses for Back Pain Sufferers
Now that you know what to look for in a mattress for back pain relief, let’s look at our three top recommendations. Our team’s choices are based on our in-depth research and reviews of popular Canadian models.
Silk & Snow Hybrid Mattress: Our #1 Recommendation for Back Pain
In our opinion, Silk & Snow’s Hybrid Mattress is the leader in Canada in back pain relief. Its pocketed coil design and zoned lumbar support are two main reasons why.
Over 1200 Supportive Pocketed Coils
The 8-inch pocket coil base promotes proper spinal alignment to help combat back stiffness when waking up. It contains up to 1204 coils, showing Silk & Snow’s attention to supporting the spine’s natural curve. The Hybrid mattress can support the body well by optimizing the number of Canadian steel coils without potentially ineffective micro coils.
Zoned Lower Back Support
Another reason the Silk & Snow Hybrid is our top choice among the best mattresses for back pain is its zone design. The middle zone of coils is firmer to provide balanced support for the lumbar or lower area of the back in different sleep positions. Many people feel achiness in this part of the back.
Personalized Comfort
A comfortable yet supportive sleep is ideal for those who experience back discomfort. To help you get the feel you are looking for, Silk & Snow Hybrid offers two firmness choices.
Choose from Medium-Firm or Plush:
- Medium-Firm – Ideal for stomach, back, and combination sleepers; a 6 out of 10 on the firmness scale, where 10 is the firmest.
- Plush – Designed by side and combination sleepers; a 4.5 out of 10 on the firmness scale, where 1 is the softest.
We like that the brand offers two choices: a medium-soft cloud-like feel (Plush model) or a firmer feel (Medium-Firm model). Both mattress versions have zoned lumbar support and a pocket coil base.
All the Popular Sizes
The 12-inch thick Silk & Snow Hybrid mattress comes in the most popular sizes:
- Twin (600 pocket coils)
- Twin XL (621 pocket coils)
- Full/Double (800 pocket coils)
- Queen (1000 pocket coils)
- King (1200 pocket coils)
- Cal King (1204 pocket coils)
As the size increases, so too does the number of support coils. Each size is designed to contour the body well.
Excellent Contouring and Pressure Relief
To lessen pain in a range of sleep positions, the Silk & Snow Hybrid is the best of the best mattresses for back pain because of its contouring features, in our view. Both the Plush and Medium-Firm mattress options have a quilted layer for a comfy feel.
Below that is a 2-inch layer of highly dense memory foam. The foam cradles the body around the back, hips, and shoulders, providing cozy support where you need it the most to help ward off backaches.
Furthermore, the foam is designed for optimal pressure relief. Silk & Snow infuses cooling gel into the memory foam in the Medium-Firm version of the mattress for a cooler sleep experience.
Read our Silk & Snow Hybrid Mattress review to get more information and decide if it is right for you.
Emma Hybrid Premium Plus Mattress: Our Second Choice for Best Mattresses for Back Pain
Our team also recommends the Emma Hybrid Premium Plus for back pain relief. The special ergonomic support design is a big reason why.
7-Zone Support
If you move a lot due to back pain, your current mattress may not provide the proper support. Emma includes a layer of ergonomic 7-zone pocket springs in the Hybrid Premium Plus model to provide just the right comfort.
The individually wrapped coils provide edge-to-edge support over 7 ergonomic zones. This design improves airflow and is made strong enough for a range of sleepers’ bodies. The springs adapt to the spine to provide support where needed when turning during the night, which is great news for those who suffer from an achy back.
Supportive HRX Foam
Above the coils is a layer of HRX foam, which supports the body, including the back, without feeling like you are sinking into the mattress. The firmness level of the Hybrid Premium Plus mattress is 6, on a scale of 1-10, where 10 is the firmest.
It has a floating type of feel. The durable material does not sink or dip when the body is on it. That means the mattress supports the back, helping maintain proper spinal alignment. The combination of memory foam and pocket springs provides this benefit.
Many Sizes
Emma’s 14-inch Hybrid Premium Plus comes in the most common sizes:
- Twin — 39” x 75”
- Twin XL — 39” x 80”
- Full — 54” x 75”
- Queen — 60” x 80”
- King — 76” x 80”
- California King — 72” x 84”
Check out our complete Emma Hybrid Premium Plus mattress review to learn about all the features.
Another of the Best Mattresses for Back Pain: Endy Hybrid Mattress Canada
The Endy Hybrid Mattress is a mattress our team recommends learning more about if you suffer from back pains and aches. This mattress combines Endy foam with pocket coils for comfort and support, and it is Canadian-made.
Lumbar-Supporting Pocket Coils
A great feature of this mattress is the targeted lumbar support. Using steel individual-wrapped coils, the Endy Hybrid supports the sleeper’s lower back in a zoned, ergonomic design. The 6-inch layer provides special attention to the lower back, which may help a person relax into the mattress while still getting support in different sleep positions.
Proprietary Comfort Foam
Endy’s comfort foam layer gives the mattress a medium-firm feel. That means it cushions the body without a sinking feeling that some people find uncomfortable. The cushioned feel can encourage rest as the body relaxes.
The proprietary 100% polyurethane foam is highly responsive, meaning it cushions as the body changes sleep positions to provide comfort where needed, including for a sore back. The plush quilted cover adds to the comfy feel of one of the best mattresses for back pain.
Pressure-Relieving Transition Foam
A transition foam layer, the third layer in Endy’s Hybrid mattress, is designed to help take pressure off the back and other sensitive areas of the body, such as the hips. Transition foam may relieve back pain for some sleepers by encouraging the body to relax while feeling support from the medium firmness.
A Range of Sizes
The 13-inch high Endy Hybrid comes in the most common mattresses sizes in Canada:
- Twin — 39” x 75”
- Twin XL — 39” x 80”
- Full — 54” x 75”
- Queen — 60” x 80”
- King — 76” x 80”
- California King — 72” x 84”
To find out more about these features and others, read our Endy Hybrid Mattress Canada review.
Conclusion on the Best Mattresses for Back Pain Relief
Is your current mattress the reason your back hurts? If so, investing in a new one that gets positive reviews for back pain relief might be your next step.
The information above can be helpful as you narrow down which mattress to choose from, including our team’s three top choices for back pain sufferers. All are hybrid mattresses and have special features for the back. They also include a home trial (100 nights for Silk & Snow Hybrid and Endy Hybrid and 365 nights for Emma Hybrid Premium Plus) for your peace of mind. A sleep trial enables you to try out the mattress at home for a specific period to see if it is right for you.
Our research involved reviewing leading Canadian mattresses and their support for back pain. Find our choices for the Top 5 Mattresses for Back Pain here.
Note: Our recommendations are our opinion only. This article is for informational purposes and not intended as medical advice. Please see your doctor for any medical issues, including back pain, as the professional can determine the right course of action for you.