Our Picks For The Best Mattress Topper for Back Pain

There are few things more annoying than lower back pain. Of course, one of the things that back pain affects the most is our sleep quality. It’s practically impossible to enjoy a good night’s sleep when any back pain flares up. Back pain has become more widespread particularly over the past few years due to the global pandemic and the work from home new normal. While many of us have been sitting at home at our desks, some likely without ergonomic chairs to support our backs during the long work days, it’s no surprise that back issues have flared up dramatically. The last thing you want is to relax in bed after a tiresome day, only to have your mattress worsen your back pain, rather than relieve it as it should.

As we all know, when our sleep cycles are negatively impacted, the fallout can affect every aspect of our lives. Thankfully, there are products out there designed specifically to help alleviate back pain throughout the night. If your sleep is usually interrupted because of lower back pain and you can’t fall asleep again for hours, there’s a solution to this. While back pain is unfortunately very common nowadays, it’s something you can fix with the right tools. Yes, laying down might feel like hell and you can’t seem to get enough rest during the night, but adding a mattress topper to your bed might be exactly what you need.

It sounds crazy, right? That something as small and seemingly insignificant as a mattress topper could make a huge impact on your entire life. Yet it’s true. With the right topper, your back pain that keeps you awake will seemingly vanish and you’ll find yourself enjoying satisfying sleep like a baby. You just have to make sure that you bring home the right topper, and that’s where The Sleep Judge comes in. We’re here to help you find the right topper that will allow you to sleep through your back pain and improve the overall quality of your sleep. Take a look below at our top 5 mattress toppers for back pain relief.

The Best Mattress Topper for Back Pain

Best Mattress Topper for Back Pain Reviews

While some mattress toppers may appear very thin, don’t be fooled by their size alone. These specially designed toppers make a huge difference, even though they may not look like a miracle cure to sleeping through back pain. However, you’ll notice a huge difference as soon as you place it on your bed.

If you have back pain and are shopping for a mattress topper to help alleviate your pain, it’s important to know the difference between mattress pads and mattress toppers.

As its name suggests, a mattress topper will sit on top of your mattress and its thick make-up creates an extra layer of support when placed on your mattress. While mattress pads also add additional comfort, they’re much thinner than toppers and mainly provide protection for your mattress, e.g. from spills and stains. Pads often have straps or zippers to firmly attach to your mattress so they won’t shift, while toppers may shift during the night. Most mattress toppers are dry-clean only, so factor this in while budgeting your costs.

After researching countless toppers, we tested over 13. Everyone suffers from back pain differently after all, so not all of these options will work for every sleeper. Here are the top mattress toppers that we personally tested: you won’t find a better topper to cure your back pain than these!

Choosing Your First Mattress Topper

If this is your first introduction to the mattress toppers, you should note that they are not full sized mini-mattresses. Instead, they are placed on top of your bed in order to give you more support and comfort during the night. Think of it as added support as opposed to sleep solution on its own. This is an item specifically designed to target your comfort goals that will augment and extend the lifespan of your mattress.

Mattress toppers are usually thin and light. They will arrive in small packaging and you’ll be able to unwrap and place them on your existing mattress. Mattress toppers are known for alleviating back pain and they are often recommended by doctors and physicians. These humble toppers can make a huge impact on improving your day-to-day life. They are simple but effective additions to your daily life that should improve your sleep and help you feel energized as soon as you wake up.

If you want to protect your investment, consider a waterproof cover or encasement as toppers can only be spot cleaned. Their designs are too delicately balanced to survive a trip through the washing machine.

What to Look for in a Topper for Back Pain

Mattress toppers differ in size and shape, so there are key features to note if you’re searching for a topper for back pain relief. Not all toppers are created equal, so be mindful of this to ensure you end up with the mattress topper to suit your specific needs.

Memory Foam or Latex

Memory foam should be your material of choice because it forms around your body and “memorizes“ your shape. This means you’ll have enough support on all key points such as joints and back, as long as your weight is distributed evenly. The density of the memory foam is also very important. Never select anything lower than 4-5 pounds per cubic foot for memory foam because it won’t help your back pain in the long run. Take these facts into account to better understand foam types:

Thickness

If the mattress topper is thick, this means the sleeping experience will usually be super comfortable. You want a nice and thick layer of foam to cushion and cradle your body throughout the night. The thickness varies and if the topper isn’t big enough, your back support will be almost non-existent. Since our goal is to help you get better sleep quality, we suggest going for a topper at least three inches thick. Anything less than this will likely leave you unsatisfied.

Sure, there are some thinner models that have excellent density which sets them apart from the rest, but if your pain is severe, these lighter toppers won’t be of much use to you. You’ll likely still have trouble falling asleep due to the constant pain, so the problem will remain. Make sure that when you choose your topper, its thickness is at least 2 inches.

Soft vs Firm

If your topper or mattress is too soft, it won’t be very kind to your back. Your spine alignment won’t be correct which might lead to even more chiropractic issues. While your bed will feel super comfortable, chances are that your back aches won’t be resolved. It’s important to find a topper that will be resilient and support you throughout the night.

The level of thickness or firmness you should choose also depends on the mattress itself. If your bed is fairly soft and offers little support, then a topper on the firm side would be best. If your bed is quite solid and firm and you tend to sleep on your side, then a thicker memory foam topper will help you out. We suggest you determine the main issue with your mattress first, then select a topper to remedy the issue and complement the mattress.

Avoid mattress toppers that are too firm as you don’t want to feel like you’re sleeping on the hardwood floor. That’s not going to help your sleep at all. Contrary to popular belief, firm surfaces won’t do wonders to your back pain unless you’re exclusively a back sleeper. For side sleepers, finding a middle ground is the way to go in this situation.

Size

Your memory foam topper should fit your mattress perfectly, so be sure to measure it before you make the purchase. Toppers do come in various sizes and you’ll likely find one that will cover your bed completely. Be aware that sometimes the information available on the manufacturer’s website might be misleading, so make sure you check the comments and reviews from other customers to determine the right fit for your bed. Research is vital in ensuring that you bring home the right mattress topper for your needs. Buying the first topper that you find is a recipe for disaster, even if you have a friend that swears by it. As we mentioned earlier, mattress toppers are definitely not a one-size-fits-all as everyone sleeps differently and will have varying degrees of back pain, if any at all.

Heat Retention

There’s a perfect temperature for sleeping, and memory foam mattresses and toppers do tend to get warm easily, while some lower-quality products will significantly raise your body temperature. This can be a huge issue that you simply shouldn’t deal with. After all, your primary goal is to rest well and start sleeping better on your new memory foam mattress topper.

Gel infused memory foam is capable of evenly dispersing your body heat and cooling down your sleep environment. Toppers will still feel warm underneath you, which is perfectly normal. On the other hand, toppers which are made of high quality memory foam can provide you with the exact same result.

If you’re still on the fence about it, we suggest you get a cooling pad that can be placed over your topper as a cover. These are particularly useful during summer months when the weather is unbearably hot, but they can also come in handy if your memory foam mattress is prone to overheating.

Conclusion

Mattress toppers can be helpful to people suffering from back pain, especially if you choose the product that has the right amount of support and density. Memory foam will conform to your body shape, creating a safe and comfortable environment in your bed. The Isolus Ventilated Gel Memory Foam Mattress Topper Sleep Better 3″ Foam topper is the obvious choice here as its thickness is just right and feels as soft as a cloud.

It’s a perfect blend of a soft and firm surface so you’ll fall asleep quicker and feel energized in the morning. As it’s infused with gel, it has excellent air flow which means you won’t overheat or sweat during the night. This topper will help to align your spine and improve your back pain in no time.

If you found these recommendations helpful, or have any additional questions, please feel free to share and comment below!

Recent Updates

May 31, 2021: SleepJoy 2″ ViscO2 Ventilated Memory Foam topper has been replaced by the Recci 2.5″ Mattress Topper Pressure Relief for Back Pain due to product unavailability. The Lucid 2″ Bamboo Charcoal Memory Foam Mattress Topper has been added due to product popularity. The difference between a mattress topper and mattress pad has been outlined prior to reviewing the products, as this was a commonly asked question.

November 3, 2021: Confirmed availability of all products listed and added a new product due to consumer popularity: the Tempur-Pedic TEMPUR Supreme 3-Inch Mattress Topper.