9 Best Mattress Toppers for Back Pain 2023, Tested by Experts

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Wake up feeling relieved and rested with one of our top-performing picks.

If you find yourself waking up stiff and sore after a night's sleep, your bed may be to blame. And if you're not in the market for a new mattress to help alleviate pain, consider an easier, more cost-effective fix to improve the comfort of your bed: a mattress topper.

There's no one-size-fits-all miracle mattress topper to alleviate back pain, according to Amit Jain, M.D., M.B.A., Chief of Minimally-Invasive Spine Surgery and Associate Professor of Orthopedic Surgery at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. When asked about pain-relieving mattresses, he said it's really "a matter of individual preference. Medically one [material] is not superior to the other," and he simply recommends selecting something that adequately supports your back. So no matter what you prefer — a cooling topper, a memory foam topper, an organic topper, etc. — there are plenty of options out there that provide comfort and support that can help to reduce your aches and pains.

At the Good Housekeeping Institute, we regularly test bedding to help you determine what's worth it, and in recent years, we've put more than 45 mattress toppers and pads to the test. When evaluating mattress toppers, we review the materials and specifications before checking them out in Lab. We then share samples with consumer testers who are able to try the toppers out on their own beds. From our recent testing, we've collected more than 1,000 data points for analysis, spanning everything from ease of setup to overall comfort to temperature regulation. The following picks include top-rated mattress toppers that testers say alleviate neck, shoulder, hip and back pain and allow for restful sleep.

Keep reading to learn all about our testing procedures and for a helpful mattress topper shopping guide, but first, here are our favorite picks for back pain sufferers.

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Nolah's mattress topper is a tester favorite and has repeatedly earned top marks for overall comfort and support. With a 2-inch profile, the foam topper is thinner than some of our other picks, but it's a great option for those who don't want to add too much height to their bed. Built-in elastic straps stretch over the corners of your mattress for added security, and the majority of testers said the topper stayed in place without shifting around at night.

The topper is made with the same signature, pressure-relieving foams as Nolah's mattresses, which testers said eased their back pain, hip aches and sciatica. It's available in two firmness levels: Luxury Firm and Plush, so you can choose which degree of pressure relief you prefer. Our testers appreciated the cushioning comfort of the topper and said it offered relief, but one tester found it difficult to turn over during the night because the foam is on the softer side. Although it's not a cooling topper, testers were blown away by its ability to regulate temperature, and several remarked that sleeping on the topper prevented them from waking up with night sweats.

You can improve the feel of your bed and relieve pain without breaking the bank with the help of this hybrid mattress topper from Lucid. It's available on Amazon for a lower price than our other picks, and you can order it with quick and convenient Prime shipping. The lofty 4-inch model is sold as one topper, but it actually comes in two separate layers: a fiber-fill pillow top upper and a gel-infused memory foam base that you can combine or use individually. To keep everything secure on your mattress, the top layer covers the bottom and fits your bed like a fitted sheet.

During our recent mattress assessments, we surveyed thirty Lucid mattress owners who gave the brand's beds and materials high scores for being comfortable and a great value. The topper has a 4.4-star rating and over 3,000 five-star reviews on Amazon, including many from users who experienced an improvement in their knee, back and hip pain after sleeping on the topper. Despite the brand's cooling claims and use of gel-infused foam, some reviewers still found this topper to sleep warm.

Made with perforated foam to allow for airflow and encased in a cool-touch rayon cover, this mattress topper is ideal for sweaty sleepers. The topper received high marks for comfort from our testers who said the firmer sleeping surface was a welcomed upgrade to their too-soft beds. They noted that they didn't feel like they were sinking into the foam but instead felt supported. One tester was wowed by the relief she and her partner felt after sleeping on the medium-firm topper, explaining, "I now wake up free of aches and pains."

Testers noted that the mattress topper took some time to take shape and fully unroll upon opening, but they appreciated that the corner straps kept the topper in place on their beds in the meantime. They also warned that there was some off-gassing, and it took a few days for the chemical smell of the foam to dissipate. For easy cleaning and to help manage any unwanted odors, you can remove and launder the cover in the washing machine.

Side sleepers need extra pressure relief around their shoulders and hips, and this memory foam mattress topper from Tuft & Needle provides just that. Popular with our testers and survey panelists, the brand's foam material has a plush feel that one tester described as "comfortable from day one." The contouring foam cushions your body, and the brand says it has an open-cell design to improve breathability for more comfortable sleep.

One tester who tried the topper was surprised to experience less hip and back pain after sleeping on it, and online reviewers who suffer from back pain say they wake up feeling refreshed and rested — not sore. A soft knit cover encases the topper and helps prevent your fitted sheet from bunching up, but it can't be removed and is spot-clean only. On the bottom of the mattress topper, you'll find a non-skid backing that limits slipping so your topper stays in place on your bed.

If your bed is starting to sag or your innerspring mattress is a bit too bouncy, a memory foam mattress topper could be the fix you need. Tempur-Pedic uses the same iconic materials in its mattress toppers as it does in its popular mattresses. The luxurious 3-inch Tempur-Adapt topper is super plush and contours to your body for cushioning comfort without that sinking-in feeling. It also provides impressive pressure relief, which makes it ideal for pain sufferers. Many of our testers and survey panelists said the brand's comfy materials reduced their back and hip pain.

According to testers, this topper instantly improved the overall feel of their mattress. One shared, "This mattress topper made my bed significantly more comfortable." Plus, the memory foam material is motion-isolating, so you're less likely to feel your partner moving around in the middle of the night. Attached elastic straps stretch over the corner of your mattress and make it easier to place the topper on your bed, but some testers still noticed the topper shifting around at night. Our panelists said their high-quality Tempur-Pedic toppers have maintained their shape long-term, even after years of nightly use.

This mattress topper from My Green Mattress is made with GOLS-certified and GOTS-certified materials if you prefer organic bedding. Just like the brand's latex mattress, the latex topper has a plush feel but is more responsive than memory foam toppers, so you won't feel like you're sinking into it. Our testers described the feel as "comfortable yet supportive" but shared that it took a few days to get used to sleeping on the latex surface. Online reviewers say the latex topper provided the relief they were looking for, and our testers who experience back pain tend to enjoy the supportive feel of latex. If you're wary of committing to a latex topper, know that the brand offers a generous 365-day trial policy, so you have time to see if it's the solution to your pain.

All of our testers rated the topper highly for being easy to set up and place on a mattress, and one tester was pleased that it "did not take hours and hours to expand" unlike other toppers she's tried. Plus, there were no strong odors upon opening, and the topper received high ratings for being a comfortable temperature all night long. The super soft cotton cover features a zipper closure, so it's easy to remove for cleaning as well.

Amerisleep's mattress topper features an ergonomic design that provides support and pressure relief in all the right places. Targeted zones across the topper lend support to the head, back and feet and provide cushioning for the hips and shoulders. There are two firmness levels: Comfort (soft) and Support (medium-firm). We recommend the Comfort model for someone who prefers a plush sleeping surface and the Support version for back and stomach sleepers looking for a firmer feel. Our testers of both firmness levels were satisfied with their toppers and gave them high scores overall.

After just a few weeks of sleeping on the topper, one tester with a history of lower back pain noted an improvement in his pain levels, and online reviewers agree that the topper helps to ease aches and pains. The open-cell structure of the foam allows for ventilation, which can be relieving for hot sleepers, and our testers rated the topper highly for not feeling overly hot throughout the night. When you're first putting the topper on your bed, beware of the micro-grip backing. It prevents the topper from shifting in the night but can make it more difficult to set up.

Known for its high-quality, comfortable mattresses, Saatva also offers mattress toppers that are equally as nice. If your bed is lacking support and you find yourself sinking into your mattress just a little too much, consider Saatva's graphite topper. The 3-inch mattress topper has a firmer feel, so it's sturdy and supportive but still provides pressure relief while you sleep. One tester who is a side sleeper with ongoing hip and shoulder pain shared that the firm topper provided great relief around her pressure points, and she didn't feel sore when she woke up like with her mattress.

According to the brand, the topper is made with graphite-infused memory foam and is designed to pull excess heat away from the body for a cooling effect. Our testers remained a comfortable temperature throughout the night while sleeping on this topper, and they found it to be cooler than others they've tried. It also provides great motion isolation, which means you'll be less likely to feel your partner or pets moving around on the bed at night. To keep the topper securely in place, elastic straps in the corners attach to your mattress, and our testers said the topper doesn't shift or slide around at night. The topper has a soft cotton cover that is fully attached and cannot be removed for cleaning, so you'll need to spot-treat the mattress topper as needed.

This unique mattress topper from Woolroom is substantial and filled with wool and metal microcoils for a more traditional mattress feel. Testers say that this topper allows you to move around easily at night without sinking in, unlike memory foam, which contours to your body and can leave you feeling stuck. One tester raved that the topper softened her mattress just enough to "provide significant relief" from her ongoing hip pain, and reviewers agree that the mattress topper helps with aches.

Our testers said this topper didn't feel lumpy or bumpy, even though it's filled with wool, but it is heavy, and you might need a second set of hands to lift the topper into place. Because it's made with wool, the topper is temperature-regulating, which is ideal for hot sleepers, and one tester experiencing menopause shared that it helped her to stay comfortable during hot flashes.

In the Good Housekeeping Institute Textiles Lab, we use our extensive backgrounds in textiles and bedding to assess each mattress topper, considering the materials used and any unique features. We review mattress topper samples in our Lab, and we share mattress toppers with consumer testers who are able to use them on their own beds and share real-user feedback about their experiences. Here's everything we consider when evaluating mattress toppers for back pain:

✔️ Ordering and delivery: Testers tell us about the purchasing process, arrival time and if they experienced any delays or issues with shipping.

✔️ Setup: We ask testers to rate how easy it is to place the mattress toppers on their beds and how long it took for the toppers to fully expand and off-gas.

✔️ Comfort: Users rate the overall comfort and share if they enjoyed sleeping on the topper all night long. Many testers also share if they experienced any pain relief from the topper, highlighting if the topper helped to reduce any back, hip, shoulder or sciatica pain.

✔️ Temperature: Testers provide their thoughts on temperature regulation and any cooling features. They let us know if the toppers helped them to maintain a comfortable temperature while they slept or if they overheated.

✔️ Stay-in-place capabilities: Each tester reports any shifting or sliding experienced and lets us know if features like elastic straps or non-slip backings are effective.

✔️ Sound: Our testers assess the topper for noise and share if the topper remained quiet and undetectable while they were in bed.

✔️ Mattress enhancement: We ask testers to explain how the mattress topper changed the overall feel of their mattresses — if it provided support or cushioning or felt firmer or softer than their beds. They also let us know anything they specifically liked or disliked about the mattress topper and have the opportunity to share additional information about their experiences.

When you're shopping for a mattress topper in hopes to relieve your back pain, here are a few things to think about:

✔️ Material: Just like with mattresses, there are different types of mattress toppers that use a variety of materials including memory foam, latex and fiberfill.

✔️ Firmness level: Depending on what you prefer, you may want a super soft and plush topper to sink into or a firm, more resilient option. Many brands indicate the firmness level in their online product descriptions or on the product packaging, so you can see upfront just how firm or soft the mattress topper will be. The majority of our picks are medium or medium-firm, but there are some soft and firm options, as well.

✔️ Thickness: We recommend a mattress topper that's at least 2 inches thick, but thicker toppers with 3- or 4-inch profiles offer even more support. If you don't want to add too much height to your bed or are looking for just a small upgrade, a thinner mattress topper can still work well and will typically cost less than a more substantial style.

✔️ Temperature: Especially important to hot and sweaty sleepers, the temperature of a mattress topper can impact your overall sleep. If you sleep warm, consider a foam mattress topper that uses cooling technologies including gel, copper particles or graphite for a cooler feel, or opt for perforated foams that allow for extra airflow.

✔️ Price: A mattress topper isn't quite as expensive as a new bed, but it can still be an investment. Most good mattress toppers cost between $200 and $300 for a Queen model, but there are some available for a better value and there are more luxurious toppers that cost more.

There are many underlying factors that can contribute to back pain, and your bed could be one of them. According to Naimish Baxi, M.D., physiatrist at the Hospital for Special Surgery, back pain is quite complicated but "for someone with chronic lower back pain, mattress characteristics can contribute to reduced pain throughout the day." He added that some scientific studies have shown that the right bed can improve your overall pain by up to 60%. So adding a mattress topper that suits your specific needs could make a big difference in the quality of your sleep.

However, it's very likely that your pain can be attributed to more than just a bad bed. Dr. Singh shared, "It's mostly related to what we do during the day that dictates the impact on your spine." For example, sitting at a desk all day puts pressure on your back, which can result in lower back and neck pain. If you regularly wake up in pain or feeling stiff, we recommend consulting with a physician who can help you to better understand your pain and overall condition.

Amanda Constantine joined the Good Housekeeping Institute in 2022 as a home and apparel reviews analyst and has tested bedding products including sheets, mattress protectors and duvet covers in the Textiles Lab. She has also researched and evaluated mattresses from popular brands like Tempur-Pedic and Saatva and covered the best memory foam mattress toppers. For this article, she used her categorical expertise and data from years of mattress topper testing to choose the best mattress toppers for back pain.

Amanda also used information from interviews conducted by the Textiles Lab team to gain medical insight on mattresses for users with back pain. GH analyst Grace Wu spoke with Amit Jain, M.D., M.B.A., Chief of Minimally-Invasive Spine Surgery and Associate Professor of Orthopedic Surgery at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and executive director Lexie Sachs spoke with Jaspal R. Singh, M.D., co-director of the Center for Comprehensive Spine Care at Weill Cornell Medicine and New York-Presbyterian and Naimish Baxi, M.D., physiatrist at the Hospital for Special Surgery.

Amanda (she/her) researches and reports on products in the Good Housekeeping Institute's Textiles, Paper & Apparel Lab, ranging from clothing and accessories to home furnishings. She holds undergraduate degrees in apparel merchandising and product development and advertising and marketing communications, as well as a master of science degree in consumer sciences from The Ohio State University. Prior to joining Good Housekeeping in 2022, Amanda was a lecturer for the fashion and retail studies program at Ohio State, where she taught fashion and textiles courses.

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