Best Mattress for Sciatica and Lower Back Pain in 2024

Sciatic nerve pain is most commonly caused by nerves being compressed in the middle of the low back. This condition can worsen when using an old, lumpy mattress. There are many different types of mattresses for sciatica sufferers to choose from, and the best mattresses for sciatic pain relief are compatible with adjustable bed bases, allowing users to adjust their position and achieve peaceful pressure relief.

The ideal mattress depends on a wide range of factors, including budgetary restrictions, mattress type preferences, warranty concerns, sleeping position, and mattress features. After all, a softer mattress may be attractive to side sleepers, but back and stomach sleepers require a firmer mattress to stay comfortable.

Sciatica can lead to soreness, aches, and pains. This is why we like the Amerisleep AS3 as the best mattress for sciatica. It has a versatile medium feel that cradles the body in most positions, enfolding sensitive areas to ease tension.

“Sciatica is a very common diagnosis that can result in shooting pain, numbness, or tingling into your lower extremities,” says Dr. Jordan Burns. “The Amerisleep AS3 is the highest quality mattress to help alleviate these symptoms and support spinal health.”

The AS3 uses three inches of pressure-relieving memory foam as the top layer, known as Bio-Pur® foam. This way your body is resting directly on material designed to reduce aches and pains. Plus, the foam is plant-based, with a few typical memory foam ingredients replaced with plant oils.

“Amerisleep’s AS3 memory foam mattress provides high quality, pressure-relieving support to help maintain a neutral spinal alignment for both side and back sleepers,” says Dr. Jordan Burns.

Amerisleep put Affinity, a transition layer, right below their top layer. This Affinity layer is a little firmer and works to offer you support as well as comfort. Zoned on top of the Affinity layer are 5 distinct areas for comfort and support.

To do this, Amerisleep uses hexagonal-shaped cutouts (called HIVE® by the company). These cutouts also give the mattress airways, helping the mattress sleep cool throughout the night.

The final layer of the AS3 is a solid, sturdy 7-inch core.

The Amerisleep AS3 comes with free shipping, a risk-free 100-night sleep trial, and a 20-year warranty.

For side sleepers and lightweight sleepers with sciatica need an ultra-soft mattress to cushion the joints so muscles can relax and heal. However, they also need a mattress that won’t cause excess sinking that could force the spine to bow. Amerisleep’s AS5 Hybrid provides both contouring and even weight distribution so sleepers are less likely to wake with aches and pains.

The comfort layer of the AS5 Hybrid features Amerisleep’s plant-based comfort foam, Bio-Pur®. This material provides instant pressure relief for deep relaxation. Plus, Bio-Pur® is eco-friendly, non-toxic, and comes with a CertiPUR-US® certification, guaranteeing this mattress is safe to bring indoors. 

To prevent excess sinking, Amerisleep includes their responsive transition layer, Active Flex. This foam has a natural elasticity to promote a neutral spine and reduce motion transfer. The coils in the base of the AS5 Hybrid are individually wrapped to increase comfort and durability. The combination of pressure-relieving foam and coils makes this mattress perfect for those who prefer a soft bed but also enjoy the slight bounce of a spring coil base.

Like all Amerisleep mattress, the AS5 hybrid comes with a 10-year warranty that covers indentations greater than .75 inches. You can try out the mattress for 100-nights with their risk-free sleep trial to make sure it’s right for you.

The Zoma Mattress is a budget-friendly memory foam mattress built to support athletes. Consisting of only three layers of memory foam, its simple design and flexible nature allows it to be used with a variety of frames and bed bases, without sacrificing support to vital pressure points.

A thick, high-density foam base anchors the Zoma Mattress, providing an excellent platform to build and rest upon. This bottom layer absorbs most of the body’s pressure, allowing the uppermost two layers to contour to the sleeper and provide comfort and relief to common pressure areas, such as the head, shoulders, and hips.

This mattress has a firmness level of medium, which is the ideal level for back and side sleepers. The dense, supportive layers of memory foam in the Zoma Mattress absorb pressure, reducing motion transfer between partners.

Interested customers should be aware that each Zoma Mattress comes with a 100-night sleep trial and a 10-year warranty.

The Zoma Hybrid is the company’s bouncy follow-up to its classic memory foam mattress. The 12-inch mattress has a simple four-layer design that does an excellent job of promoting body recovery. The bed’s cool sleep surface, quiet design, and motion isolation features promote an undisturbed night’s rest.

“The Zoma Hybrid mattress allows the body to relax and remain cool throughout the night which improves overall quality of sleep,” notes Dr. Burns.

The bed’s top layer of gel memory foam molds to your body for pressure and pain relief. Triangular cutouts under your head, shoulders, and legs increase the bed’s pressure-relieving capabilities, while the midsection is free of cutouts for better back support. Underneath the foam top is a layer of Reactiv™, a responsive material that promotes neutral spine alignment.

The hybrid’s pocketed coils deliver enough bounce to lift you but not so much that it’s jarring. Fabric packets encase every coil to prevent motion from rippling across the mattress, as your movements might on a traditional innerspring mattress.

You have 100 nights to try out a Zoma Hybrid, starting on the day of delivery. If you’re not satisfied with your hybrid after trying it out thoroughly, you can return it for a full refund. Every Zoma Hybrid also comes with a 10-year warranty.

The Vaya Mattress is another great bed for those with sciatica because it offers great temperature control and balances comfort and support to ease aches and pains while maintaining healthy spinal alignment.

“Studies show that medium-firm mattresses like the Vaya mattress are optimal for promoting better sleep comfort, quality and spinal alignment,” says Dr. Burns.

This medium to medium-firm mattress is recommended for side, back, and combination sleepers. While it’s designed for universal comfort, we suggest stomach sleepers avoid the Vaya and choose a firmer bed. The Vaya Mattress has a simple 2-layer design, featuring 3 inches of Vaya Comfort Foam and 9 inches of strong base foam.

We like the Vaya brand because they use proprietary foams in their beds. Instead of using memory foam or latex, Vaya designs their foam to offer the contouring, pressure-relieving benefits of memory foam and the bouncy, responsive feel of latex. That way, you can enjoy the benefits of both materials and avoid things like heat retention.

Vaya’s mattress is especially comfortable for sciatica-sufferers because it’s supportive enough to maintain a neutral position regardless of how much you toss and turn. You’ll never have to worry about sinking down out of alignment on this super-responsive bed.

Unlike Vaya’s original model, their hybrid mattress has a pocketed spring coil base. Each coil is triple wrapped in soft yet durable material for added comfort and pressure relief. Different than traditional innerspring coils, pocketed coils move independently of one another for more accurate contouring and less motion transfer.

Vaya’s comfort foam is soft and conforming, but it also has a slight bounce to gently lift the hips so the spine remains in alignment with the shoulders. This layer keeps those with sciatica comfortable and supported throughout the night.

The Vaya Hybrid comes with a 100-night sleep trial so you can test out the bed and make sure it’s right for you. It also comes with a 10-year warranty that covers manufacturing defects, such as sags and indents deeper than .75 inches.

Best Hybrid Mattress for Sciatica: Amore Luxury Hybrid Mattress

The Amore Luxury Hybrid Mattress is covered with organic cotton and organic wool and contains both an innerspring system and several memory foam layers. In addition to the natural fabrics used for the mattress cover and topping, the Amore Luxury Hybrid contains a layer of Dunlop latex for additional support and shape retention.

From the bottom up, this mattress is a true hybrid. Using some of the best components of modern mattress design, the Amore Luxury Hybrid could be a great option for sleepers of all types, a rare quality in a mattress.

The internal innerspring system offers bolstered edge support for users that prefer to sleep near the edge of the bed, while the springy latex layer above the innerspring provides proper spinal support and alignment for back and stomach sleepers.

There is a layer of contouring memory foam squeezed into this mattress, but it’s hidden beneath the latex layer, rendering it far less effective. This mattress was designed to work with adjustable bed bases, ensuring that it can bend and flex without tearing or sagging.

Customers who decide to invest in this mattress can take advantage of a 100-night sleep trial. Included with the purchase of each Amore Luxury Hybrid Mattress is a 20-year limited warranty that protects buyers against manufacturing flaws and mattress indentations greater than 1 inch in depth.

Best Luxury Mattress for Sciatica: Purple Hybrid Premier

The Purple Hybrid Premier is a combination of pocketed support coils, memory foam, and – the innovation that Purple is known best for – a purple, elastic support grid. With its open-air channels and motion-isolating design, this mattress can flex into nearly any position while continuing to provide well-ventilated support.

This mattress is medium-firm and is, therefore, better suited to the needs of back sleepers and stomach sleepers than side sleepers. However, should a customer choose to pay more and upgrade their Purple Hybrid Premier from the 3-inch grid model to the 4-inch grid model, they will find that the firmness rating drops to medium-soft, an ideal level for side sleepers.

Because this model features a great deal of built-in ventilation, it could be a great choice for hot sleepers that struggle with traditional memory foam mattresses. Purple tends to include nifty additional items with their mattresses, such as bedsheets, pillows, and sleeping masks. However, it’s important to note that many Purple mattresses do tend to fall in the higher price range.

The Purple Hybrid Premier is protected by a 10-year warranty that covers cracks, splits, and body indentations greater than 1 inch in depth. The warranty only covers mattresses that are used on flat surfaces, so installing this mattress onto an adjustable bed base would immediately void the warranty. Those who decide to take the leap with Purple can spend a 100-night trial period deciding if they’d like to keep or return their new mattress.

Best Medium-Firm Mattress for Sciatica: Bear Pro Mattress

With a traditional look but an innovative, contemporary design, the Bear Pro Mattress was created to keep sleepers clean, cool, and comfortable. Though it looks like a hybrid or an innerspring mattress, the Bear Pro is a four-layer memory foam mattress with a soft-to-the-touch, pillow-top-like covering.

The medium-firm feel of the Bear Pro Mattress makes it a possible option for both back and stomach sleepers. And though the bottom-most layer of the mattress is a whopping stack of high-density support foam, it can still flex and bend to meet the demands of an adjustable bed.

Rather than using a copper-infused gel layer to cool sweaty sleepers, the Bear Pro uses a layer of copper-infused memory foam in tandem with a layer of gel-infused memory foam, potentially increasing the strength and effectiveness of each layer. Almost the same width as the hefty support foam, the response layer provides the cushion necessary to feel relaxed enough to get a good night’s sleep.

The Bear Pro Mattress is protected by a 10-year warranty that ensures against any rips, tears, or significant sags. The mattress cover, however, is only protected for one year from the date of purchase. Interested customers can spend 100 nights with the Bear Pro Mattress before deciding whether to keep it or send it back to where it came from.

Mattress Types to Consider

Before making a final purchasing decision, it’s important to evaluate every aspect of a new mattress. Four common types of mattresses dominate the market today, and each has its advantages and disadvantages.

Memory Foam Mattresses

NASA has created many things that ended up in consumer’s hands, including dehydrated ice cream, the Zero Gravity Position, and memory foam.  Though the supportive, adaptive, cushioning stuff was created in the 1970s, it didn’t become a popular bedding component until the 1990s.

Initially, memory foam was advertised as a bedding extra, a way to add a little extra contouring to an old innerspring mattress. Prototypes and early models of memory foam mattresses absorbed and retained body heat, resulting in an uncomfortable slumber.

As innovation in mattress design blossomed, so did memory foam mattresses. Instead of being warm, foul-smelling, and riddled with rips and tears, they started to become self-cooling, hypoallergenic and bacteria-resistant, and even stronger.

Memory foam is created using several chemical processes. While these processes are an important part of ensuring that the foam is strong enough to withstand elongated usage, they also imbue the foam with a potent, chemical smell. Owners of brand-new memory foam mattresses often encounter this smell when they open and unpack their mattress for the first time. This smell may persist for a day or two days before dissipating and is the result of a process called off-gassing.

Memory foam mattresses come in a variety of firmness levels and are typically very flexible.

Latex Mattresses

Latex mattresses are very similar to memory foam mattresses, but they do differ in a few crucial ways.

Firstly, latex is a byproduct of the rubber tree and can be accessed by tapping into the internal chamber of the tree. Though it is often synthesized with other compounds and chemicals before ending up in a mattress, its natural origins make it an attractive option for those seeking an environmentally-conscious mattress option. In addition, latex mattresses don’t produce as strong of a chemical odor as memory foam mattresses do.

Secondly, latex mattresses tend to be more expensive than any other type of mattress. Though there are budget-friendly models, they still tend to fall into the higher areas of the mattress price range.

Latex naturally regains its original shape more easily than other materials, making for supportive, elastic mattresses that resist sagging, tearing, and general wear even after years of use.

Innerspring Mattresses

It’s been more than a century since the first innerspring mattress was invented, and though many other types of bedding have come and gone since that time, innerspring mattresses continue to a popular option for many.  Of course, they have changed quite a bit since their first iteration.

Modern innerspring mattresses often feature luxurious pillow-top surfaces, more reactive pocketed spring coil systems, and cooling fabric technologies. Out of all the different types of mattresses, innerspring mattresses and air beds tend to last the least amount of time.

However, it’s also important to note than innerspring mattresses also tend to be the most affordable option.

Hybrid Mattresses

A hybrid mattress is essentially an innerspring mattress with memory foam or latex components. Customers that enjoy the traditional feel of an innerspring mattress but seek the extra support of a memory foam mattress may want to consider this type of mattress.

Hybrid mattresses come in a wide variety of styles and models. Some have cooling, gel-infused memory foam layers while others contain latex layers for added firmness. Because there are many different types of hybrid beds and features from which to choose, this type of bed continues to be a popular option, even as technologically advanced smart beds begin to claim a foothold in the market.

Mattress Budget

Replacing an old mattress with a new, supportive one could improve mood, decision-making, and the ability to focus. But it can be difficult to determine the proper budget before getting started, which is why a price range can be helpful.

$100 – $500

Affordable options in this price range are typically innerspring mattresses, single or double-layered memory foam mattresses, or hybrid models. Mattresses within this range provide plenty of support, but they are frill-free, with not cooling gels and very few layers and components.

$500 – $1,000

Mattresses that fall into this price range are typically memory foam or hybrid models, though some luxury innerspring mattresses can also be found within this range. These mattresses provide a little extra support and comfort via unique features such as gel- or copper-infused foam, pillow top surfaces, or secret latex edge supports.

$1,000 – $1,500

Many mattresses available from online retailers fall within this price range. Typically, memory foam, hybrid mattresses, and some budget-friendly latex models can be found within this range. A mattress that costs between $1,000 and $1,500 may employ the latest innovative technology in addition to temperature-conscious design.

Over $1,500

Mattresses that belong to this price range typically feature luxurious components or materials, in addition to cutting-edge technology. Many smart beds begin at around this price and climb ever upward. Those looking for a unique sleeping experience may want to consider making the investment.

Sleeping Position

Most people unconsciously adopt one of three sleep positions while they slumber. The proper firmness level of a mattress should be somewhat dependent on preference, but mostly dependent on sleeping position.

Side Sleepers

Those who sleep on their sides require an extra comfort layer in order to achieve a contoured, cradled effect. A too-firm mattress would put undue strain on the spine, neck, and hips. That’s why side sleepers are best-suited to medium and medium-soft mattresses.

They allow the hips and shoulder to ‘sink’ into the mattress, while pushing upwards enough to keep the spine aligned and healthy.

Back Sleepers

Individuals that prefer to sleep on their backs can suffer from lower back pain due to a saggy or soft mattress. Medium-firm mattresses are a great option for back sleepers, as they provide a great amount of support while remaining comfortable enough to fall asleep on!

Soft mattresses may cause the spine to droop, resulting in shooting back pains in the morning. Overly firm mattresses may apply to much pressure to sensitive areas such as the spine and neck, resulting in a painful night’s rest.

Stomach Sleepers

Stomach sleepers require the firmest mattresses out of any other type of sleeper. Because their spine is facing upwards, a stomach sleeper must have additional support to keep the spine correctly positioned.

Sleeping Cool and Airflow

There are a handful of design techniques and novel technologies that work to keep modern mattresses cool and sweat-free.

Some memory foam mattresses use open-air internal chambers that allow air to flow through the mattress, keeping it dry and cool. Other use gel-infused foam layers to reduce bacterial growth and pull heat away from sleepers.

Organic mattresses use natural materials such as cotton and wool to regulate mattress temperature and keep the bed breathable.

Smart beds use electric grids and preset information to electronically lower a mattress’s temperature. Some models use this feature like an alarm mechanism, lowering the mattress’s temperature until the sleeper it too cold to continue sleeping.

Engineers and creative designers will likely continue to create and implement fantastic improvements upon the current cooling and airflow methods used in contemporary mattresses. The future of sleep keeps getting brighter.

Saving on a Mattress for Sciatica

The year’s best mattress sales are some of the best ways to get a high-quality mattress at a reduced price.

• Presidents Day Mattress Sales
• Memorial Day Mattress Sales
• 4th of July Mattress Sales
• Labor Day Mattress Sales
• Columbus Day Mattress Sales
• Black Friday Mattress Sales
• Cyber Monday Mattress Sales

Common Questions

Want to know more about mattresses for sciatica pain? Read our FAQ section.

What kind of mattress is best for sciatica pain?

The best type of mattress for sciatica pain could be either a memory foam mattress or a latex mattress. Both types can absorb pressure while reducing motion transfer, making for a stable experience in which pressure is lifted from the spine and absorbed or evenly dispersed across the surface of the mattress.

What is the best type of mattress for back pain?

Medium-firm memory foam mattresses tend to provide the best relief for back pain. Memory foam can adhere to and contour around a person’s body without allowing their spine, neck, or hips to twist and become unaligned.

How should I sleep with sciatica pain?

Sciatica sufferers should try to adopt a back sleeping position while slightly elevating their legs. An adjustable bed can be an extremely useful device in achieving a stable, restful position that eliminates nerve root pressure and provides immediate pressure point relief.

Can I sleep on my side with sciatica?

Absolutely. While many of the pain-relieving positions and poses recommended to sciatica sufferers emphasis the back sleeping position, sleeping on your side can also help to relieve pressure from the sciatic nerves, reducing inflammation and pain.

Those who choose to sleep on their sides to ease sciatic pain should remember to use a pillow between their knees. Doing so can help keep the spine properly aligned, preventing morning aches and pains.

Is memory foam bad for your back?

Overly soft and pliable memory foam can be bad for your back, which is why it’s typically best to invest in a medium-firm memory foam mattress, and not a medium-soft or soft model.

While dense support foam can withstand weight, pressure, and consistent usage, soft foams tend to sink and develop significant sags over time, creating misalignments along the spinal column.

Why is sciatica pain worse at night?

Sciatica pain can worsen during the night if an individual is prone to sleeping in the fetal position, or a misaligned side position. Using body pillows to prevent shifting into this position while asleep may be a good idea for some.

When an individual shifts into the fetal position, additional pressure is placed on the nerve endings in the lower spinal region, which could worsen the symptoms and pain associated with sciatica.

Conclusion

The best mattress for those with sciatica is one that is medium-firm, flexible, breathable, and affordable. Memory foam, hybrid, and some latex mattresses may fulfill these requirements.

Buyers seeking the right mattress to help ease their lower back pain should consider one that can be used in tandem with an adjustable bed, as an adjustable bed can help individuals achieve more effective, pain-relieving positions that a flat, static bed.

The final purchasing decision depends on the consumer’s personal preferences and budgetary limitations, but these guidelines can help direct individuals in the right direction.