If you struggle with back pain, you’re not alone. What you sleep on has a huge impact on how your back feels during slumber time. But buying a new mattress is expensive. Go for a mattress topper instead. Mattress toppers are extra layers on top of your mattress that can significantly make the bed surface feel softer or firmer. In a way they’re like smaller mattresses that sit on top of your actual mattress. They are mostly made from similar materials as mattresses: foam, latex, feathers, and other materials that contour and cushion your body. And they often have varying levels of firmness and thickness.
So there’s lots to pick from, right? To make things easier for you, we’ve done the research and selected the best mattress toppers for back pain.
Jump to: Best Mattress Toppers for Back Pain | Full Mattress Topper Reviews | How to Choose a Mattress Topper
Best Mattress Toppers for Back Pain
- Best overall: Z-HOM Gel Memory Foam Mattress Topper
- Best value: Airensky Gel Memory Foam Mattress Topper
- Most comfortable: Take Ten Organic Latex Mattress Topper
- Best cooling: Fiberluxury Gel Infused Memory Foam Mattress Topper
- Best luxury: Sleepyhead Gel Infused Memory Foam Mattress Topper
- Best budget: Sweet Home Gel Infused Memory Foam Mattress Topper
- Best organic: Sleep On Latex Natural Latex Mattress Topper
- Best for side sleepers: Harny Gel Memory Foam Mattress Topper
Best Overall Mattress Topper for Back Pain: Z-HOM
Z-HOM 3-inch Memory Foam Mattress Topper (Queen)
$149.99
Material: Gel-infused memory foam | Height: 3 inches | Cover: Yes | Warranty: 5 years | Trial: 30 nights
This Z-HOM mattress topper takes the crown for the overall best topper for back pain. The memory foam conforms to your body and allows for even pressure distribution. On top of that, the cooling gel helps fight off extra warmth, so you won’t run too hot during the night. The zippered cover is made from cotton and makes it easy to freshen things up – it’s machine washable. We also love the straps on the cover, which help keep the mattress topper in place for you. The mattress and cover are both made with upmost care and they meet rigorous safety standards. The memory foam is CertiPUR-US certified and the cotton cover is OEKO-TEX certified. With the 5 year warranty and 30 night trial, it’s clear that this is our top pick for the best mattress topper.
Best Value Mattress Topper for Back Pain: Airensky
Airensky 2-inch Cooling Memory Foam Mattress Topper (Queen)
$99.99
Material: Gel-infused memory foam | Height: 2 inches | Cover: Yes | Warranty: 3 years | Trial: 120 days
If you want a decently priced mattress topper that still retains the quality, go with Airensky. Their memory foam mattress topper is infused with cooling gel and is 2-inches thick. It gives just the right amount of support and comfort, without being overly soft or sinky. The cooling gel and vented memory foam keep the mattress topper from running too hot. For this price, you’ll get a decent quality mattress topper.
Most Comfortable Mattress Topper for Back Pain: Take Ten
Take Ten 2-inch Organic 100% Natural Latex Mattress Topper (Queen)
$215
Material: 100% organic latex | Height: 2 inches | Cover: Yes | Warranty: 5 years | Trial: 30 days
Take Ten’s latex mattress topper is 100% organic. The latex is sap harvested from rubber trees and Take Ten has partnered with the only Certified Carbon Neutral manufacturer on the planet! Their mattress topper is medium firm – not too soft and not too firm. What this means that it will give you good support, without you sinking into the topper. This mattress topper is a great choice if you’re mostly a back or stomach sleeper, or if your mattress is too soft and you want to add some more support to it. The topper comes with an organic cotton cover with a zippered closure.
Best Cooling Mattress Topper for Back Pain: Fiberluxury
Fiberluxury 3-inch Gel Infused Memory Foam Mattress Topper (Queen)
$159.99
Material: Memory foam | Height: 3 inches | Cover: Yes | Warranty: 10 years | Trial: 30 nights
The Fiberluxury mattress topper is best for those of us who tend to run hot during the night. Their memory foam mattress topper is infused with cooling gel. And the cover is made from bamboo – one of the best cooling and skin friendly fabrics. With these cooling effects and the support memory foam provides for your spine, this is one of the best mattress toppers for back pain. With medium firmness, this topper gives you the mid-point between firm and soft, perhaps leaning a bit more on the soft side for that extra comfort.
Best Luxury Mattress Topper for Back Pain: Sleepyhead
Sleepyhead 3-inch Gel or Copper Infused Memory Foam Mattress Topper (Queen)
$469
Material: Memory foam | Height: 2 or 3 inches | Cover: Yes | Warranty: 5 years | Trial: None
Sleepyhead focuses on giving college students the best possible sleep. But to be honest, their memory foam mattress toppers are so good that anyone would be lucky to have one. You can choose between 2 and 3 inch mattress toppers. And between copper infused or gel infused memory foam. The first one dissipates heat thanks to the natural thermal conductivity of copper. The gel infused option draws heat away from the body, allowing for a cooler body temperature. Regardless of the memory foam you choose, you can sleep soundly, because Sleepyhead uses CertiPUR-US certified memory foam. The mattress topper comes with a removable and machine washable cover.
Best Budget Mattress Topper for Back Pain: Sweet Home
Sweet Home 2-inch Gel Infused Memory Foam Mattress Topper (Queen)
$56.32
Material: Memory foam | Height: 2 inches | Cover: No | Warranty: None | Trial: None
Sweet Home has a mattress topper that helps with back pain and is also budget friendly. The 2 inch topper will retain the qualities of your existing mattress, while giving you the needed spinal support. The cooling gel helps keep you cool during the night. Note that This mattress topper does not come with a cover. You can either use an existing one, or buy a new one, to make the topper last for longer. There is unfortunately no trial period or warranty with this mattress topper, but if you need a low cost option, it’s a great one.
Best Organic Mattress Topper for Back Pain: Sleep on Latex
Sleep on Latex 3-inch Natural Latex Mattress Topper (Queen)
$275
Material: Natural Latex | Height: 1, 2 or 3 inches | Cover: No | Warranty and Trial: Contact seller on Amazon for more info
For those of us who want to keep things as organic as possible, the 100% natural latex mattress topper is the best option. Sleep on Latex has numerous certifications that verify their commitment to a sustainable supply chain and a healthy mattress topper, including the GOLS (Global Organic Latex Standard) and Oeko-Tex Standard 100 Class 1 certifications. Their mattress toppers come in a variety of sizes and heights, so you can choose the one that fits you best. You can also pick between a mattress topper without a cover and with an organic cotton cover.
Best Mattress Topper for Back Pain for Side Sleepers: Harny
Harny 3-inch Gel Memory Foam Mattress Topper (Queen)
$119.95
Material: Memory Foam | Height: 3 inches | Cover: Yes | Warranty: 10 years | Trial: Contact seller on Amazon for more info
This high density mattress topper from Harny is great if you’re a side sleeper. The memory foam is CertiPUR-US certified and gives you the support you need for a restful night. It comes with a bamboo cover that improves the already cooling qualities of the gel infused memory foam. The cover has elastic bands and also anti slip beads, so you can rest assured that the topper will stay in place throughout the night.
How to Choose a Mattress Topper
In many ways, mattress toppers are similar to mattresses. There’s a lot of variety in terms of materials, sizes, thickness, firmness, and more. Every body is different and when it comes to picking the right mattress topper for yourself, only you will know what’s best. But it’s important to understand what makes up a mattress topper, so you know which direction to look into.
What to Consider when Buying a Mattress Topper for Back Pain
It can seem tricky navigating through the world of mattress toppers. But there are actually just some key things that you should look out for.
Size of Mattress Topper
Be sure to measure your mattress before you get a mattress topper. Naturally, the topper should should be the same size as your mattress. If you have a queen size mattress, get a queen size mattress topper. You don’t want the topper to flow over the edges of the mattress, nor should you see the mattress edges from under the topper. So be sure to properly check the sizes.
Material of Mattress Topper
If you suffer from back pain, you need a mattress topper that properly supports your spine. Two of the most popular materials for this are memory foam and latex. Both materials conform to your body and are able to give you proper support.
Softer mattress toppers, such as those made solely from wool, down or down alternative, do not support the spine that well.
Thickness of Mattress Topper
The thickness of mattress toppers can vary from 1 to 7 inches. Most toppers are in the 2-4″ range, for a good reason. Anything less is probably too thin and anything more will most likely ramp up the price, without giving you much extra benefit.
We can’t talk about thickness without knowing what the material is: A 3″ memory foam mattress topper has a very different feel than a 3″ wool mattress topper. As we already established, the best mattress topper for lower back pain is made from latex or memory foam. So let’s see what thickness you should go for:
➡ A 2″ mattress topper will best suit you if you have a smaller frame. This means you don’t need that much support to begin with.
➡ A 3″ topper is usually the sweet spot for most people. It’s the golden pathway that has the best of both worlds – comfort and support. It’s especially good for back sleepers.
➡ A 4″ mattress topper is your best bet if you’re plus size or prefer sleeping on your side. This thickness provides better pressure relief and the right support for your shape and sleeping position.
Firmness of Mattress Topper
Firmness is the feel of the mattress topper when you lie down. There are 3 main categories: soft, medium and firm. But you can find mattress toppers that fall in between these also. Many people who have back pain prefer a firm or medium mattress topper. However, some softer toppers might work perfectly for others – provided that the material conforms to the body and gives it the proper support.
Temperature Regulation of Mattress Topper
If you tend to sleep hot, you might also toss and turn more to find that nice cool spot on your sheet. But with back pain, this constant movement during the night can make your back worse. What you should look for is a mattress topper that allows air to move through it, like the classic latex mattress toppers that have ventilating holes in them. Or one that has additional cooling properties added, such as gel-infused memory foam. Alternatively, you can go with a mattress cover that has thermoregulating qualities.
When it comes to price, it does play a role as well. Cheaper mattress toppers are of course more budget friendly. But what you might risk is getting a low quality topper that won’t last for long. So if possible, go for a good quality mattress topper, even if it costs a bit more. Your sleep, and overall well-being is worth this investment.