- We spent more than 1,000 hours researching and testing the top mattresses on the market and consulting with 21 sleep experts to compile our recommendations.
- Our testers evaluated roughly 130 models and recorded our findings on a 42-question standardized testing form to identify standout features and services, document issues with each product, and describe our personal experience lying on each mattress.
- We paid close attention to specific considerations that sleepers of all ages seek, as identified by respondents in our two surveys of 1,200 mattress owners total (one targeting general customers and one targeting higher-weight sleepers). This included price, features, and the setup process.
- We constantly update our reviews with additional research, interviews, and expert insights to help you understand each mattress’s unique features.
- We looked at the features that offer the most comfort and pain relief for this review.
- Learn more about how we tested the best mattresses for sciatica.
Key takeaways
- The Saatva Solaire is our pick for best overall mattress for sleepers with sciatica. The mattress’s latex layer provides lumbar support, while additional layers give stabilizing support to lessen movement. Sleepers can also adjust the mattress to their preferred firmness.
- Based on more than 1,000 hours of testing, surveys from mattress owners, and interviews with experts, we’ve learned that medium-firm mattresses that combine comfort with firm support may benefit sleepers who deal with chronic pain.
- The best mattresses for sciatica in this review range from $1,149–$6,590.
Research shows that people who get six hours or less of sleep each night are more than twice as likely to deal with mental health issues. Stress, worry, and illness can all keep you from sleeping well at night—as can pain from issues like sciatica.
“If you have sciatica, sleeping can be very challenging. Lying down in certain positions may make the pain worse, and finding a comfortable place is sometimes difficult. When not sleeping well, the body does not have time to fix and get energy back. This can make pain feel worse the next day,” says Kieran Sheridan, a physiotherapist and founder of GulfPhysio, an online physiotherapy store. “Not enough sleep can also trouble your mental well-being. You may feel more worried, tense, or even sad, which only complicates things because being stressed and anxious can make the pain seem worse.”
According to studies, the best mattress for chronic pain provides enough firm support to keep your spine aligned but enough contouring to provide comfort, usually found in medium-firm mattresses.
Read on to see which mattresses made our list as the best mattresses for sciatica.
7 best mattresses for sciatica of 2024
- Saatva Solaire: Best overall
- Nectar Premier Hybrid: Best for back sleepers
- Helix Dusk Luxe: Best for stomach sleepers
- The WinkBed: Best for couples
- Nolah Evolution: Best for lower back pain
- Leesa Sapira Chill: Best cooling
- Bear Elite Hybrid: Best for side sleepers
Saatva Solaire: Best overall
Why Saatva Solaire is our pick for best overall mattress
We chose the Saatva Solaire as best overall because it offers adjustable firmness for customization, great pressure relief to help with pain management, and good overall support to keep your spine aligned. Plus, Saatva offers great customer support with a one-year trial period and free white glove delivery.
Who may want to use Saatva Solaire: Side sleepers of all body types, lighter-weight (under 130 pounds) and average-weight back sleepers (130–250 pounds), and average-weight stomach sleepers.
Who may want to avoid Saatva Solaire: Higher-weight (over 250 pounds) back sleepers and lighter-weight and higher-weight stomach sleepers.
Saatva Solaire tester insights
This mattress has a Euro pillow top A kind of pillow top that’s sewn into the cover of the mattress, this style is flush with the edges of the mattress, providing better support than your typical pillow-top mattress while also offering a soft, plushy center. with a plush cushion, an ergonomic layer of latex with lumbar support, gel-infused memory foam Memory foam that contains small gel pods designed to draw heat away from the body. for cooling, and layers with moisture-barrier protection and stabilizing support. It also has air chambers that allow you to adjust its firmness by using a remote control. Our testers say that although the adjustability goes from zero to 50, they feel firmness ranges from 5.5–7 out of 10.
During testing, we’ve found that this mattress offers gentle sinkage and great support while back sleeping. The mattress offers an ideal level of contouring in the lumbar region, which can help people experiencing back pain find greater comfort. While sleeping on the side, our testers feel the same level of contour and comfort around the hip and shoulder. For pressure relief, we gave this mattress a 5 out of 5 for back sleeping and 4.25 out of 5 for side sleeping. For overall support, we gave this mattress a 4.5 out of 5.
While this mattress offers great motion isolation (4.5 out of 5), which is good for couples who don’t want to disturb one another at night, it also provides a responsive surface that allows us to move around with little effort. This is important so people with pain don’t have to strain to change positions. This mattress also has good edge support, which is ideal for people who need the edge of the bed for support when getting in and out.
From one of our Saatva Solaire testers:
“While I definitely feel more on top of the mattress overall and well-supported, it contours me in all the right places, so it feels nice and cozy.”
Read our in-depth Saatva mattress review for more information.
Nectar Premier Hybrid: Best for back sleepers
Why the Nectar Premier Hybrid is our pick for best for back sleepers
We chose the Nectar Premier Hybrid for back sleepers with sciatica because it offers great pressure relief and support. Our testers note that it feels like a pillow or cloud to lie on.
Who may want to use Nectar Premier: Back and stomach sleepers of all body types.
Who may want to avoid Nectar Premier: Side sleepers of all body types.
Nectar Premier Hybrid tester insights
Back sleeping is easy for our testers on this mattress. They love that their spines feel aligned and supported, and the contouring reminds them of sleeping on a pillow. For back sleeping, we gave this mattress a 5 out of 5 for pressure relief and a 4.5 out of 5 for overall support.
Stability is important for someone with sciatica, as movement can aggravate the leg and back area, causing pain. This mattress offers a high level of motion isolation (4.5 out of 5), so you’re less likely to feel your partner’s movements. It also offers great bounce (4 out of 5), making it easier to move around.
While the brand rates this mattress a 6.5 out of 10 on the firmness scale, we find it softer and rated it 5.5 out of 10. However, they’re both considered medium, which research has shown is the best mattress for chronic pain.
While this mattress is ideal for back sleepers and supportive enough for stomach sleepers, we don’t recommend it for side sleepers because our testers say they feel pressure in the shoulder while lying on their side.
From one of our Nectar Premier testers:
“I feel my lower back contoured on this mattress. I’m highly impressed because it feels soft, and I’m sinking in, yet it’s almost like the springs are pushing me up a little bit to offer some more support.”
Read our in-depth Nectar mattress review for more information about this brand.
Helix Dusk Luxe: Best mattress for stomach sleepers with sciatica
Why Helix Dusk Luxe is our pick for best for stomach sleepers
We chose the Helix Dusk Luxe as the best mattress for stomach sleepers with sciatica because it caters to stomach sleepers of all body types while providing great contour and cradle, which are all important for providing comfort and stability.
Who may want to use Helix Dusk Luxe: Back and stomach sleepers of all body types and average-weight (130–250 pounds) and higher-weight (over 250 pounds) side sleepers.
Who may want to avoid Helix Dusk Luxe: Lighter-weight (130 pounds or less) side sleepers.
Helix Dusk Luxe tester insights
This mattress has five layers, starting with the premium pillow top, which provides cushioned support. It also has a responsive foam layer and cradling foams designed to contour the body. The steel coil layer underneath the foam provides zoned lumbar support, which helps keep our testers’ hips elevated and spines aligned while on their stomachs.
Our testers like the Helix Dusk Luxe’s support, noting that the mattress’s firm surface immediately pops back into place. We gave the mattress a 4 out of 5 rating for support, with our testers noting that our spines feel neutral and aligned. The pillowtop cushion balances the firmness by providing contour, earning it a 4.5 out of 5 rating for overall pressure relief.
This mattress also has a responsive bounce, making it easy for people to switch positions.
From one of our Helix Dusk Luxe testers:
“Even though it has a plush surface, I find it easy to move around on.”
Read our in-depth Helix mattress review for more information.
The WinkBed: Best for couples
Why The WinkBed is our pick for best for couples
We chose The WinkBed (softer model) as the best mattress for couples with sciatica because it offers great motion isolation, cooling, edge support, and excellent overall support and pressure relief—all important features for couples and people who experience pain.
Who may want to use The WinkBed: Side sleepers of all body types, lighter-weight (under 130 pounds) and average-weight (130–250 pounds) back and stomach sleepers.
Who may want to avoid The WinkBed: Higher-weight (250 pounds or more) back and stomach sleepers.
The WinkBed tester insights
If you’re struggling with sciatica pain and find a comfortable position in bed, moving as little as possible can keep you from reaggravating that pain. Our testers love how well this hybrid mattress isolates motion, giving it a 5 out of 5. This means movement from your partner is less likely to disturb you while sleeping.
“When you share a bed, it is important to have a mattress that does not transfer motion. This helps so your partner’s movements do not wake you up or increase any pain you might feel,” says Kieran Sheridan, a physiotherapist and founder of GulfPhysio, an online physiotherapy store.
The WinkBed’s multipart construction helps minimize movement. The foundation has an extra-edge support system topped by individually wrapped pocketed coils. Both layers were designed to help minimize sagging while giving back support. They’re topped with a gel-infused foam layer and an eco-friendly Tencel A brand of sustainable cellulose fiber made from wood pulp, which is used in clothing, footwear, home linens, carpets, mattresses, and pillows because it’s highly breathable, hygienic, and comfortable. cover, which our testers find helps provide cushioning comfort. The innersprings help keep the spine aligned and provide lumbar support. Although the brand rates this as a soft mattress at 4.5 out of 10, we find it more medium and rate it a 5 out of 10.
The mattress also provides solid spinal support and pressure relief in key areas, earning a 4.5 out of 5 score for both overall pressure relief and support.
From one of our The WinkBed testers:
“I feel a bit of sinkage but still feel supported overall. It’s soft and provides a lot of contour, but I’m not sinking into it.”
Read more about The WinkBed in our best combination mattress review.
Nolah Evolution: Best for lower back pain
Why Nolah Evolution is our pick for best for lower back pain
We chose the Nolah Evolution as the best for lower back pain for people with sciatica because it’s designed with TriZone coils that provide great lumbar support that our testers say they love. Additionally, this mattress provides great back pressure relief and contour.
Who may want to use Nolah Evolution: All sleepers of all body types.
Who may want to avoid Nolah Evolution: Sleepers who need excellent cooling technology.
Nolah Evolution Luxury Firm tester insights
Our team loves the spinal alignment and support this mattress provides, with testers praising the support under their lower backs and the overall comfort. While this mattress is our pick for back pain, it also caters to all sleepers, providing great support (4 out of 5), pressure relief (4.75 out of 5), edge support (4.5 out of 5), and above-average motion isolation and bounce (3.5 out of 5 for both).
Sometimes, a firm, flat surface relieves tension in just the right way, and it might just give your sciatic nerve the break it needs. If you’ve been unknowingly sleeping on an old, slumped mattress for years, a nice, firm surface could provide a surprising amount of relief.
Thomas Pontinen, a physician and co-founder of Midwest Anesthesia and Pain Specialists in Chicago, Illinois
While on their backs, our testers say the mattress keeps their spines aligned, weight evenly distributed, and well-supported. They feel no pressure, and our pressure map A mat rolled across a mattress that uses color-coded thermal imaging to show how much pressure someone puts on the bed when they lie down on it. shows blues, indicating no pressure buildup.
From one of our Nolah Evolution Luxury Firm testers:
“I feel mostly on top, but I sink in a little in the top layer but not the second layer. I feel great support in my lower back area.”
Read our in-depth Nolah mattress review for more information.
Leesa Sapira Chill: Best cooling mattress
Why Leesa Sapira Chill is our pick for best cooling mattress
We chose the Leesa Sapira Chill as our pick for the best cooling mattress for sciatica because it excels at keeping our testers cool while sleeping and offers a high level of pressure relief and support, which are important for people with sciatica.
Who may want to use the Leesa Sapira Chill: Back and side sleepers of all body types and lighter-weight (under 130 pounds) stomach sleepers.
Who may want to avoid the Leesa Sapira Chill: Average-weight (130–250 pounds) and higher-weight (over 250 pounds) stomach sleepers.
Leesa Sapira Chill tester insights
A Gallup poll shows that sleep temperature is linked to the overall quality of your sleep. Fourteen percent of adults surveyed in the United States in 2023 say they are too hot most of the time they’re trying to sleep.
Tossing and turning because you’re too hot can potentially put pressure on the sciatic nerve, aggravating your symptoms. But the Leesa Sapira Chill mattress offers an ultra-cool cover with cooling fibers and a comfort layer that helps with airflow. Our testers say the cover is cool to the touch and well-ventilated, while the hybrid nature of the mattress helps with breathability. Our testers love that our back remains cool, earning it 5 out of 5 for cooling.
Our testers feel well-supported and like the contouring while on their backs. They also like how supported their hips are while on their stomachs and say they feel comfortable in the side-sleeping position. They did feel a small amount of pressure in the shoulder while on their side but say it was minimal. Overall, this mattress earned 5 out of 5 for support and 4.5 out of 5 for pressure relief. This mattress also has great motion isolation (4.5 out of 5) and bounce (5 out of 5), making it another good option for couples with sciatic pain
From one of our Leesa Sapira Chill testers:
“Laying closer to the surface as a lightweight sleeper, I was still sinking into the top layer and feeling the contouring around the back. I still feel on top of the mattress and very supported.”
Read our in-depth Leesa mattress review for more information.
Bear Elite Hybrid: Best for side sleepers
Why Bear Elite Hybrid is our pick for best for side sleepers
We chose the Bear Elite Hybrid as the best mattress for side sleepers with sciatica because it offers excellent pressure relief and gentle zoned support, making it ideal for most positions, especially side sleepers.
Who may want to use the Bear Elite Hybrid: Back and side sleepers of all body types and lighter-weight (under 130 pounds) and average-weight (130–250 pounds) stomach sleepers.
Who may want to avoid the Bear Elite Hybrid: Higher-weight (250 pounds or more) stomach sleepers.
Bear Elite Hybrid tester insights
Side sleepers need some sinkage to contour their curves and relieve pressure while still getting the support and firmness needed to keep the spine aligned. Our testers say the Bear Elite Hybrid (medium model) offers excellent pressure relief (a 5 out of 5 for both back and side sleeping) and provides gentle support in all necessary places, including the hips, shoulders, and back.
Stabilizing movement is key for sleepers with sciatica. It keeps you from bothering the sciatic nerve and aggravating pain points. While this mattress offers a lower motion isolation score (3.5 out of 5) than other mattresses in this review, it also has a lower bounce (3 out of 5), giving it a good balance of both. Our testers confirm that they find this mattress easy to move around on, which is helpful for people with pain who don’t want to strain to change positions.
From one of our Bear Elite Hybrid testers:
“My partner and I sleep all over the place. I sleep side and stomach, and he’s mostly side and back, but we move all night. We’re both quite comfy throughout the night.”
Read our in-depth Bear mattress review for more information.
How we test and choose the best mattresses for sciatica
The Handbook Team has researched many mattresses online and in person and hand-selected about 130 (and counting) of the best models to test. We’ve also surveyed 1,200 total shoppers (in two 600-people surveys) and interviewed recent mattress customers to understand the buying process and how their new bed has impacted their sleep quality, physical health, and mental wellness.
According to one survey
According to one survey of 600 mattress shoppers, about 80 percent of all respondents say their new mattress helps them sleep better, and 65 percent report improved mental health.
Purchase mattress as mystery shoppers.
Set up mattress in testing lab.
Lie on mattress and rank firmness.
Lie on back, side, and stomach to find the best sleeping position.
Place 10-pound ball in mattress center and measure sinkage.
Find biggest pressure points using pressure map reading.
Evaluate cooling capabilities by recording temperature differences.
Drop 10-pound ball onto mattress to measure bounce score.
Test motion isolation.
Test edge support.
Calculate composite scores.
First-hand testing experience
The Handbook Team hand-tests every mattress we review. We evaluate brands and models by recording our findings on a 42-question standardized testing form to identify standout features and services, document issues with each product, and describe our personal experience lying on each mattress.
For this review, we focused on test scores related to firmness, support, pressure relief, motion isolation, and responsiveness and bounce.
Mattress surveys and interviews
We pay close attention to specific considerations that sleepers of all ages seek, as identified by respondents in our surveys of 1,200 total people. These include price, features, and the setup process. We also interview real people to better understand the motivations behind shopping for a new mattress and the benefits of purchasing one.
Objective and honest ratings
We use information from our surveys, focus groups, and expert interviews to determine the most important features in our brand and mattress testing scorecards.
To make our list, every model in this review needs to score at least a 4 out of 5 for pressure relief and a 3.5 out of 5 for overall support. Our roundups cater to different needs, so we filter the best mattresses uniquely to fit each review.
We also weigh the following factors to determine an overall rating for each brand we recommend.
| Factor | Weight | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Customer Service | 15 percent | Customer care center hours, support options |
| Brand Reputation | 10 percent | Years in business, lawsuits, and class actions against this company |
| Features | 20 percent | Size options, firmness options, weight capacity, add-ons included (free sleep accessories) |
| User Experience | 35 percent | White glove delivery, CERTIPUR-US certifications, risk-free trials |
| Affordability | 20 percent | Price, warranty, promotions |
Learn more about our sciatica mattress testing and review methodology.
What is sciatica?
When the sciatic nerve is compressed or irritated, it causes pain, also known as sciatica. The sciatic nerve is the largest in the body, running through the lower back, butt, legs, and heels. Symptoms include pain, weakness, numbness, or tingling that radiates from the lower back down the leg. “Sciatic pain typically presents along one side of the body, but bilateral sciatica can also occur,” says Thomas Pontinen, a physician and co-founder of Midwest Anesthesia and Pain Specialists in Chicago, Illinois.
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Sleeping in certain positions or movements at night can aggravate the sciatic nerve and cause pain. “Sciatica has a number of different causes, with herniated discs, spinal stenosis, and bone spurs being among the most common,” he says.
Up to 40 percent of people deal with sciatica at some point in their lifetime. While many people can recover or learn to manage it properly, others experience long-term symptoms.
If you’re concerned that you might have sciatica, speak to your physician about treatment.
How to choose a mattress for sciatica
Research shows that a medium-firm mattress is ideal for chronic and back pain.
“[A mattress for sciatica] has to provide the right balance of support and cushion that will keep your spine aligned while you’re sleeping. This balance can fluctuate based on your body weight and preferred sleeping position,” says Pontinen.
You may also want to consider other important features, including:
- Lumbar support. Do you feel like your spine is properly aligned? Is your lower back sinking into the mattress, or does it feel supported?
- Cooling features. Being too hot in bed can cause tossing and turning. Does the mattress offer a cooling feature so you can sleep comfortably?
- Motion isolation. If you have a partner who tosses and turns all night or kids who jump on the bed in the morning, will your mattress help you minimize the movement you feel?
- Softness. Cushioning can feel like a gentle hug and bring comfort. Do you want a pillow top or mattress top that provides that feel?
Features, comfort, and price will help you narrow down the right mattress option for you.
“No matter what kind of mattress you pick, it is important that it keeps your spine straight and takes pressure off your lower back and hips. Together, with doing stretches, having a good pillow, and sleeping in the right way, using the correct mattress can help you sleep well at night and feel good during daytime,” says physiotherapist Sheridan.
What type of mattress is best for sciatica
Different mattress materials offer various levels of support, motion isolation, and pressure relief.
Innerspring
An innerspring mattress is primarily made up of springs. These types of mattresses aren’t as readily available in today’s market. Instead, hybrid mattresses with a good balance of coil support and memory foam have become more popular.
Hybrid
A hybrid mattress combines springs or coils with cushioning memory foam or latex. It’s a good choice for sleepers with sciatica because the springs help provide the support to keep the spine aligned. The foam typically provides comfort while relieving pressure in key areas.
Latex
Latex is derived from the sap of a rubber tree and typically provides a forgiving but more supportive surface than memory foam. Because it’s naturally bouncy, it helps people move around easier when switching positions. Latex is also a cooler material, which can help hot sleepers stay cool.
Memory foam
Squishy like a gentle hug, memory foam can offer the softest mattress feel. But it’s also prone to sagging, which is not good for spinal alignment. A hybrid mattress that uses coils and memory foam may be a more beneficial combination for sciatica.
Our final verdict
If you have sciatica, you may want to consider a medium-firm mattress with motion isolation, spinal support, pressure relief, and cooling features. The Saatva Solaire is our top pick for best overall mattress because it offers customized firmness, solid motion control, great pressure relief, and support. But all the mattresses on this list are ideal options for different reasons. The goal is to find the ideal fit for you that helps you get a good night’s sleep, benefitting your physical and mental health.
Compare mattresses for sciatica, as of November 2024
| Price | $3,295– $6,590 | $1,395– $3,559 | $1,374– $2,874 | $1,149– $2,049 | $1,499– $3,198 | $1,499– $2,399 | $1,893– $3,920 |
| Our firmness rating (out of 10)* | 5.5–7 | 5.5 | 7 | 5 | 7 | 6.5 | 6.5 |
| Material | Air chambers, memory foam, latex | Hybrid | Hybrid | Hybrid | Hybrid | Hybrid | Hybrid |
| Warranty | Lifetime | Lifetime | 15 years | Lifetime | Lifetime | 10 years | Lifetime |
| Trial period | 365 nights | 365 nights | 100 nights | 120 nights | 120 nights | 100 nights | 120 nights |
| Recommended for | Side sleepers of all body types, lighter-weight and average-weight back sleepers, and average-weight stomach sleepers | Back and stomach sleepers of all body types | Back and stomach sleepers of all body types and average-weight and higher-weight side sleepers | Side sleepers of all body types, lighter-weight and average-weight back and stomach sleepers | All sleepers of all body types | Back and side sleepers of all body types and lighter-weight stomach sleepers | Back and side sleepers of all body types and lighter-weight and average-weight stomach sleepers |
*Our firmness rating is based on hands-on testing
Frequently asked questions
To help with spinal alignment, you can change your sleep position or place a pillow between your knees. Make sure you have a pillow that properly aligns your neck and back. Our experts advise seeing a health care provider if your sciatic pain continues or worsens.
While sciatica is usually not caused by a bad mattress, a mattress that doesn’t provide the right amount of support and pressure relief can contribute to sciatic pain.
Research shows that a medium-firm mattress is best for chronic pain. A softer mattress may provide cushioning, but it also may sink more, making it harder to keep your spine aligned. A mattress that is too firm can put too much pressure on already-painful areas. However, it’s important to remember that comfort is subjective, and the mattress that works for someone else may not work for you. Remember to consider your sleeping position, body type, and personal preferences when shopping for a mattress.
- Blackwelder, A., Hoskins, M., & Huber, L. (2021, June). Effect of Inadequate Sleep on Frequent Mental Distress. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Link
- Harvey, A., Jones, C., & Schmidt, D. (2023, May). Sleep and posttraumatic stress disorder: a review. Link
- Witters, D. (2023, June). Sleep Temperature Linked to Overall Sleep Quality, Wellbeing. Link
- Morin, C., et al. (2021, November). Insomnia, anxiety, and depression during the COVID-19 pandemic: an international collaborative study. Link
- Davis, D., Maini, K., Taqi, M., & Vasudevan, A. (2024, January 4). Sciatica. StatPearls – NCBI Bookshelf. Link