Best Mattresses For Back Sleepers

Best Mattresses For Back Sleepers UK (2024)

Last updated: 31.10.2023 Reading time: 4 Min.

Although sleeping on your back is the healthiest position to sleep in, very few people actually choose to sleep in this position. This may be because people often sleep on a mattress that is unsuitable for their backs, and so tend to develop back pain quite quickly.

Finding the right mattress is very difficult. Most people would assume that people who sleep on their back require a very firm mattress to keep the back stable. But this isn’t necessarily true.

In this article, we’ll guide you through what you need to pay attention to when choosing the best mattress for your back.

Best Mattress for Back Sleepers

Our top back sleeper recommendations

Great For Couples

Emma Luxe Cooling Mattress

The Emma Luxe Cooling Mattress is made with temperature regulation technology.
  • ThermoSync foam, memory foam, & pocket springs
  • 25 cm (10 inches)
  • Medium-firm

Tell me more about the Emma Luxe Cooling Mattress

Emma Sleep's most advanced Luxe Cooling mattress combines six layers of foam and springs for medium-firm support.

It ensures optimal spinal alignment with targeted support and sufficient push-back to prevent excessive sinking.

The mattress offers exceptional edge support, a standout feature not common in bed-in-a-box options.

It features enhanced temperature regulation technologies, so you won't feel as hot and clammy on this mattress as you may feel on other Emma memory foam mattresses.

The machine-washable cover is ideal for allergy sufferers and hygiene maintenance.

Delivered compactly rolled in a box, though it is notably heavy for easy manoeuvring.

Reasons to buy

200-night trial 

10-year guarantee

Excellent edge support 

Reasons to avoid

The foams retain some heat and feel warmer than non-memory foam products

We experienced some delivery issues during testing 

EXTRA 5% OFF WITH
SLEEPHEROUK5Click to copy code

40% OFF EMMA LUXE COOLING

Luxury Option

Simba Hybrid Luxe

The Simba Hybrid Luxe is Simba's most advanced mattress with 11 premium layers.
  • Pocket springs, Simba-Pure foam, wool & bamboo
  • 31 cm (12 inches)
  • Medium-firm

Tell me more about the Simba Hybrid Luxe

The Simba Hybrid Luxe is Simba Sleep's most advanced luxury mattress.

This mattress features an impressive 11 layers, including conical pocket springs, Simba-Pure CertiPUR-certified foam, open-cell graphite-infused Simbatex foam, and a temperature-regulating wool layer. 

The Simba Hybrid Luxe remains supportive and adapts to your body perfectly. 

The knitted cover and bamboo wool layer allow for breathability and superior temperature regulation, keeping you cool and refreshed all night long.

This luxurious mattress is available in all standard UK mattress sizes. 

The Simba Hybrid Luxe comes with free delivery & returns, a 200-day risk-free trial period, and a 10-year guarantee. 

Reasons to buy

High-quality materials 

Machine-washable cover 

200-night trial period 

Reasons to avoid

Very expensive 

Will not fit regular sheets due to its thick depth

Value For Money

Hypnia Original Hybrid Mattress

The Hypnia Original Hybrid is as comfortable as top-rated competitors.
  • Pocket springs, Cloud-zoned foam layer & memory foam layer
  • 25 cm (10")
  • Medium-firm

Tell me more about the Hypnia Original Hybrid mattress

The standout feature of the Hypnia Original Hybrid mattress is its unique blend of layers, which provide excellent comfort and support.

The mattress is composed of pocket springs with 5 support zones, offering targeted support and effective motion absorption.

It also has a Cloud-zoned and memory foam layer for body-contouring support that adapts to pressure points.

The Hypnia Hybrid is comfortable in most sleeping positions, but particularly for side and back sleepers.

It also offers low-motion transfer, so we'd recommend it to couples and restless sleepers. 

One downside is the non-removable cover, though using a mattress protector can help extend its lifespan and cleanliness.

Reasons to buy

200-night trial period 

15-year guarantee

Just as comfy as pricier competitors 

Reasons to avoid

The cover is not removable 

Not the best delivery experience 

EXTRA 5% OFF WITH
SH5Click to copy code

60% OFF HYPNIA ORIGINAL HYBRID

Best Guarantee

DreamCloud Luxury Hybrid

The DreamCloud Luxury Hybrid mattress is a 5-layered premium mattress.
  • Memory foam & pocket springs
  • 28 cm (11 inches)
  • Medium-firm

Tell me more about the DreamCloud Luxury Hybrid

The DreamCloud Luxury Hybrid is a premium mattress from the same company that makes the Nectar memory foam mattress.

It combines high-quality memory foam with full-size pocket springs (called ActiveEdge coils), each measuring 15 cm (5.9 inches).

This is an orthopaedically designed mattress with medium-firm support to help eliminate back, neck, and shoulder pains.

The mattress offers enhanced breathability to help keep you cool and refreshed all night long. 

It also has low motion transfer and great edge support, making it an excellent choice for couples.

Reasons to buy

365-day trial period

Lifetime warranty

Excellent motion isolation for couples

Reasons to avoid

Extra deep sheets required 

Too firm for lightweight side sleepers

The cover is not removable 

Best Guarantee

Nectar Premier Hybrid

The Nectar Premier Hybrid combines pocket springs, micro springs, and memory foam.
  • Memory foam, micro springs & full-size pocket springs
  • 28 cm (11 inches)
  • Medium-firm support 

Tell me more about the Nectar Premier Hybrid

The Nectar Premier Hybrid mattress is one of Nectar's best-selling medium-firm mattresses, designed for superior comfort and support for all body types. 

This mattress has been designed with enhanced cooling in mind, wicking away moisture and allowing for greater air circulation. ❄️

This helps keep the mattress cooler and more comfortable, making it better suited to hot sleepers or those who sweat easily. 

The combination of up to 2,462  micro springs and full-size pocket springs also aids support and gives you a more stable sleeping surface.

It also comes with a risk-free 365-day trial, giving you the chance to try the product in the comfort of your own home.

Reasons to buy

365-day trial

Lifetime guarantee

Free named-day delivery

Reasons to avoid

Not the best edge support

Is sleeping on your back the healthiest position?

It is often said that sleeping on the back is the ideal position for good body health. Studies show that this sleeping position ensures peaceful sleep with little movement - you'll often wake up in the same position!

41% of people fall asleep in the foetal position [1]. While it is the most popular, this position is known to cause pain in the joints.

When you sleep on your back, your weight is naturally distributed in the right way, your joints are relaxed, and you avoid any pain. It is the ideal position to prevent neck and back pain. In addition, sleeping on your back also reduces gastric reflux.

One disadvantage is that sleeping on the back promotes snoring.

A quick tip: For ideal spinal alignment, place a pillow under your head or neck and another one under your knees. But avoid this position if you're pregnant - it decreases blood flow to the heart and the baby.

Stability is important

A mattress with excellent stability is crucial for people who like to sleep on their back. This ensures that your spine remains optimally aligned. A mattress with insufficient stability prevents ideal alignment, which can lead to back pain.

Stability does not necessarily equate to firmness. A firm mattress can have excellent stability, but so can a soft mattress. Stability is achieved through optimal body adaptation.

This is particularly important for people who sleep on their backs. Your perfect mattress should adapt well to your body and prevent your spine from being misaligned.

In order to achieve this, the mattress also requires high point elasticity. It should relieve and distribute the pressure that you exert on the sleeping surface. This means that no pressure points are created and that you do not sink into the mattress too much at any one point.

Ultimately, your ideal mattress needs to be two things. On the one hand, it needs to be stable enough so that your body is well-supported. On the other hand, it must be comfortable enough so you can enjoy a pleasant sleeping experience.

Mattresses in which firmer foams have been inserted as a base layer or a transition layer are particularly suitable for this.

However, you should also make sure that the mattress is made of high-quality foams in order to achieve a high degree of adaptability and allow for a comfortable night's sleep.

Choosing the right degree of firmness

It is often difficult to choose the right degree of firmness. The ideal mattress must be neither too firm nor too soft. A medium-firm mattress is often the best choice.

If you sleep on your back, then it is very important that you don’t sink into the mattress too deeply. If you sink in too deeply, then this will result in a hollow back, leading to back pain. But if the mattress is too firm and you don’t sink at all, then you’re also likely to suffer from back pain.

Optimally, the perfect mattress allows for a little bit of sinkage. We would recommend a mattress between 5 and 8 out of 10 on the Sleep Hero firmness scale. This medium degree of firmness guarantees that your spine will remain in an optimal position.

In addition to the firmness of the mattress, you also need to pay attention to your body weight and height. Heavier-weight sleepers, for example, would benefit from a slightly firmer mattress (6-8 on the firmness scale). Lighter-weight sleepers, in contrast, would benefit from a slightly softer mattress (5-6 on the firmness scale).

The ideal mattresses consist of a combination of a firmer foam and a softer, more adaptable foam in the upper layers. Latex or similar materials combined with memory foam or gel foam are ideal for this purpose. This offers you a stable but comfortable upper layer.

Firmness according to sleeping position

Conclusion

The top points to pay attention to when purchasing a mattress for back sleepers include:

  • Good stability
  • High point elasticity
  • Very good adaptability
  • Mattress must be neither too firm nor too soft (5-8 out of 10 on the Sleep Hero firmness scale)

Frequently asked questions

Nicky

Nicky

Editor & Certified Sleep Therapist

Nicky is an experienced writer and editor with numerous qualifications. As a certified sleep coach, her interests lie in understanding how sleep problems arise from hormonal and environmental issues, particularly as part of stress and anxiety management.

Was this article helpful?
Please fill out
Yes
No

Great! Do you have any questions or feedback? We'd love to hear from you.

What would have made it better?

Our favourite discounts:
You may also be interested in:

    Yes, please!
    No, thank you. Take me to the UK site.

    We have an affiliate relationship with some manufacturers, where we receive a commission on sales if you click over from our site. This does not affect the purchasing price. In contrast: By using our discount codes, you'll get the best deal possible.