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Best Mattresses For Back Sleepers

Best Mattresses For Back Sleepers UK (2023)

Last updated: 31.10.2023 Reading time: 5 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

Luxury Option

Simba Hybrid Luxe

The Simba Hybrid Luxe is Simba's most advanced mattress with three tiers of titanium Aerocoil® springs and a breathable bamboo wool top surface.

This mattress features 10 layers and has a height of 31 cm (12 inches) for superior comfort. 

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

Simba Hybrid Luxe

With a depth of 31 cm (12 inches), this mattress features an impressive 10 layers, which include:

  • Three layers of conical pocket springs 
  • Three layers of Simba-Pure CertiPUR-certified foam
  • One comfort layer of open-cell graphite-infused Simbatex foam
  • Temperature-regulating wool layer
  • Hypoallergenic knitted cover

Up to 6000 pocket springs with varying sizes ensure that the Simba Hybrid Luxe remains supportive and adapts to your body perfectly, allowing for the ultimate sleep experience. 😴

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

Note: Simba Sleep also offers a spring base with up to 1000 barrel springs instead of the standard Simba foam base. Double-check which option you have selected on the product page before completing your purchase. Find out more in our Simba Hybrid Luxe mattress review.

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. 

40% OFF SIMBA HYBRID LUXE

  Simba Hybrid Luxe
Composition: Pocket springs, Simba-Pure foam, Simbatex foam, wool, bamboo
Firmness level:  Medium-firm
Height: 31 cm (12 inches)
Trial period: 200 days
Guarantee: 10 years
What makes this mattress special? 10 layers of premium materials; temperature-regulating wool & bamboo layer
Great For Couples

Emma Luxe Cooling Mattress

The Emma Luxe Cooling Mattress is Emma Sleep UK's most advanced mattress with temperature regulation technology.

Conveniently, the Emma Luxe Cooling mattress is available in a range of both UK and EU mattress sizes to meet all your requirements. 

Emma's Luxe Cooling mattress is the latest - and most advanced - mattress by the award-winning Emma Sleep. 🏆

This medium-firm mattress features a total of six mattress layers, which include:

  • A temperature-regulating top cover that's removable and washable
  • A top layer of ThermoSync® foam, infused with graphite particles that capture excess heat to promote temperature regulation
  • A layer of Halo memory foam for body-hugging comfort
  • A transitional layer of supportive foam to reduce pressure points
  • A layer of 12 cm (4.8 inches) Aeroflex pocket springs for breathability, surrounded by foam for superior edge support
  • A base layer of High Resiliency Extra foam for additional support and durability 

This mattress has the perfect medium-firm feel. 🧸🧱

It allows for some sinkage to promote optimal spinal alignment and gives you very targeted support but the mattress still provides enough push-back so you won't feel like you're sinking into the foams.

emma luxe cooling mattress from the top
The Emma Luxe Cooling is a medium-firm hybrid mattress.

Conveniently, the mattress also has excellent edge support, which isn't always the case with bed-in-a-box mattresses.

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 Luxe Cooling mattress also comes with a removable cover that can be machine-washed at 60℃, which is great for people struggling with allergies or those with hygiene concerns. 💦

You can upgrade the Emma Luxe Cooling to the Emma Luxe Cooling Plus, which includes an advanced temperature-regulating Diamond Hybrid comfort cover. 

The Emma Luxe Cooling mattress is delivered rolled up in a compact box, making it relatively easy to manoeuvre, but be aware that this mattress is on the heavy side. 

emma luxe cooling mattress delivery
The mattress is delivered tightly rolled up in a cardboard box.

Delivery and returns are free, and the mattress also comes with a 200-night trial and a 10-year guarantee.

As an aside: The Luxe Cooling mattress we tested was damaged on delivery, but we had a positive experience with the Emma customer support team, who responded to our request within 48 hours.

55% OFF EMMA NEXTGEN LUXE + 5% OFF W/ "SLEEPHEROUK5"

  Emma Luxe Cooling Mattress
Composition: Multiple layers of foam, memory foam, and pocket springs
Firmness level: Medium-firm
Height: 25 cm (10 inches)
Trial period: 200 nights
Guarantee: 10 years
What makes this mattress special? Exceptional edge support with a comfortable medium-firm feel.
Best Trial Period

Nectar Memory Foam Mattress

The Nectar is a luxurious memory foam mattress suitable for most people and sleeping positions.

This bestselling mattress comes with a revolutionary 365-day trial period and a lifetime warranty.

The Nectar memory foam mattress is one of our favourite mattresses.

It features 3 layers of high-quality, high-density memory foam for optimal spinal alignment, pressure relief, and comfort.

The base layer also has 7 contour zones to enhance its ergonomic design and keep your body in a healthy sleeping position. 📏

This prevents a build-up of tension and allows for orthopaedic support.

Nectar mattress
The Nectar is a medium-firm mattress.

The Nectar mattress comes with a breathable cover that enhances airflow to allow for a cool and comfortable sleep. 💨

Unfortunately, the cover is not machine-washable.

We'd suggest using a mattress protector to safeguard your mattress against stains, spills, and bacteria.

The Nectar mattress comes with free delivery & returns, a revolutionary 365-day trial period, and a "forever warranty". 

45% OFF NECTAR 

  Nectar mattress
Composition: Memory foam with a 7-zone cold foam base
Firmness level: Medium-firm
Height: 25 cm (10 inches)
Trial period: 365 days
Guarantee: Lifetime warranty
What makes this mattress special? Exceptionally comfortable for average-weight & lighter sleepers; lifetime warranty & revolutionary one-year sleep trial.
Best Guarantee

DreamCloud Luxury Hybrid

The DreamCloud Luxury Hybrid mattress is a 5-layered premium mattress that combines memory foam with pocket springs.

This is a high-quality mattress designed for enhanced breathability, comfort, and support. 

The DreamCloud Luxury Hybrid is a premium mattress from the same company that's brought you 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).

DreamCloud luxury hybrid

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 a great choice for couples.

The DreamCloud Luxury Hybrid mattress is 28 cm (11 inches) thick and stands out as a key feature in any bedroom. 🏆

The mattress comes with free delivery & returns, a remarkable 365-night risk-free trial period, and a lifetime guarantee.

£540 OFF DREAMCLOUD + FREE BEDDING SET£ 408.07

  DreamCloud Luxury Hybrid
Composition: Memory foam, pocket springs
Firmness level:  Medium-firm
Height: 28 cm (11 inches)
Trial period: 365 days
Guarantee: Lifetime warranty
What makes this mattress special? Fantastic premium-choice option suitable for most; revolutionary trial period and a lifetime guarantee.
Value For Money

Hypnia Essential Hybrid Mattress

The Hypnia Essential Hybrid is new on the UK market and available at a phenomenal price - plus, it's as comfortable as top-rated competitors.

The Hypnia Hybrid mattress includes a combination of pocket springs and memory foam, providing optimal support and comfort.

The standout feature of the Hypnia Essential 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.
  • Cloud-zoned Foam: Promoting spinal alignment and body-contouring support.
  • Memory Foam: Adapting well to pressure points for enhanced comfort.
  • Air-wave Fabric Cover: Ensuring breathability and maintaining a cool sleeping temperature.

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

cat on mattress
The Hypnia Essential Hybrid is an excellent choice for side & back sleepers. 

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

The Hypnia Hybrid delivers a level of comfort and support that rivals more premium options, making it a no-brainer for those seeking luxury on a budget. 

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

It also includes an industry-leading 15-year guarantee, much longer than most competitors. 

The Hypnia Essential Hybrid offers fast shipping within 48 hours and a generous 200-night trial, providing ample time to ascertain if it's the perfect match for you.

Unfortunately, we did encounter some rudeness from the courier, but we're optimistic that this isn't the norm.

70% OFF HYPNIA ESSENTIAL HYBRID + 2 FREE PILLOWS W/ PILLOWS2

  Hypnia Essential Hybrid mattress
Composition: Pocket springs with 5 support zones, Cloud-zoned foam layer, memory foam layer, Air-wave fabric cover
Firmness level: Medium-firm
Height: 25 cm (10")
Trial period: 200-night trial
Guarantee: 15-year guarantee
What makes this mattress special? Exceptional comfort that rivals pricier options, Impressive warranty period that surpasses industry standards

How we test products

Our mission is to take the guesswork out of finding the perfect sleep products.

We've dedicated hundreds of hours to testing mattresses and sleep accessories, and rely on a team of testers of differing weights, temperature preferences, and sleeping positions to evaluate each product. 

Tested products are granted the Sleep Hero tested stamp of approval, a mark of our review's reliability.

To learn more about our testing process, check out our methodology page.

If we haven't personally tested a product, please be assured that we invest significant time and energy into scouring the UK market and researching the best recommendations, and we work with a team of sleep experts who review our articles, ensuring that the insights we provide are not only relatable but also reliable.

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. 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)

Nicky

Nicky

Content Director & Partner Relations

My mum calls me "bear" because I like to sleep so much. I never thought that, one day, I'd be a certified sleep coach and apply my skills more widely. Can you tell that I've found my calling? 

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