Best Mattress for Neck Pain (2024)

Written by Julia Forbes, Lead Product Tester

Testing Process

Here at Sleep Advisor, our Sleep Certified experts use a refined mattress and product testing process to give you unbiased product suggestions… Read our full product review process.

In This Article

We review mattresses and then curate a list of the best for neck pain based on their functionality and features. Our suggestions are expert tested and reviewed to ensure you find the relief you’re looking for.

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When you’re living with neck pain, everyday tasks (and even movements) can become troublesome. Achieving a good night’s sleep might be its own gauntlet of discomfort, especially if your bed is contributing to the problem. 

In the interest of helping people find some measure of relief, we’ve compiled a list of the best mattresses for neck pain. We tested and reviewed these beds ourselves, and also sought out some advice from our medical experts. 

These beds encourage proper spinal alignment, provide sturdy support, and prevent pressure build-up around crucial areas of the body. They’re not necessarily a quick fix for all your neck issues, but hopefully they’re a step towards feeling less stiff and more well-rested.

Our Top Pick for the Best Bed for Neck Pain

We picked the Helix Midnight as our top pick because of its medium-firm, supportive feel that alleviates pressure points. It’s best suited to side sleepers, but versatile enough to accommodate a wide range of sleepers and preferences.

Find out more: Best Mattresses for Insomnia

What to Look for in a Mattress for Neck Pain

Unfortunately, there’s no one-size-fits-all mattress for neck pain. When it comes to choosing a bed for neck pain, you’ll have to consider factors and preferences unique to you, such as your body type and sleep position.

Overall, if you’re experiencing neck pain, you’ll want to look for a mattress that provides overall support and keeps your spine aligned. Categories such as durability, motion isolation, edge support, and more can also be considered when you are searching for a mattress that can help with your neck pain.

Type of Mattress 

Innerspring Mattresses 

Hybrid Mattresses 

Hybrid beds can be any combination of materials. Usually, they’re a blend of coil construction and latex or memory foam — or both. If you’re on the fence about whether you should get a foam mattress or an innerspring bed, one of the best hybrid mattresses could be a happy compromise.

No matter what your sleeping position is, look for a quality core construction made from top-notch coils and a soft, but supportive upper layer.

Memory Foam Mattresses 

If you’re a side sleeper or a back sleeper wanting a softer feel, you can start your search with a memory foam mattress. These may contour best to the shape of your body, preventing joint pain and promoting spinal alignment¹.

Latex Mattresses 

Latex has some of the same properties as memory foam, but instead of being made out of viscoelastic polyurethane foam, it’s derived from rubber tree sap. There are synthetic forms of latex that are less expensive, although they’re made of chemical components.

The best latex mattresses are known to provide a cooler sleeping experience than memory foam, but they can be more expensive. It also provides more responsiveness, or bounce, making it great for those who want more mobility. Natural latex can be a good pick for eco-conscious shoppers as well.

Things to Consider in a Mattress for Neck Pain

Sleeping Position

Different sleeping positions require different feels in a mattress to ensure the sleeper’s comfort. 

Side sleepers, for example, may want to invest in a softer mattress that contours around their shoulders and hips to prevent pressure relief. If you sleep on your stomach, a bed that is relatively firm will keep your hips elevated. Back sleepers usually need a bed that provides balanced support, and this can typically be achieved with mid-level firmness. 

Weight/Body Type of Sleepers

Like sleeping position, weight is also an important factor in choosing a mattress. 

Usually, lightweight sleepers find that softer beds are optimal for them because these mattresses should provide pressure relief. For average-weight sleepers, a bed with a medium firmness should strike the best balance between contouring and support.

Plus-size sleepers, on the other hand, will probably want a firmer mattress. This is because people who weigh more can push too far through a bed’s comfort layer, and they may not receive the amount of support needed.

Firmness 

Although mattress firmness is subjective since beds can feel different to different body types, researchershave found that sleeping on a medium-firm mattress is most beneficial for back pain.¹ While this data isn’t for the neck specifically, improved posture from a bed with the right feel may also help with neck pain, since poor posture² is a cause of neck pain. What’s most important when it comes to firmness, though, is that your bed feels comfortable and supportive to you. 

Support & Spine Alignment

Whether you sleep on your side, back, or stomach, it’s imperative that your spine stays in alignment. This proper sleeping posture often means that your shoulders, hips, and midsection don’t dig too far into the mattress, while your lower back also remains lifted.

If your bed doesn’t provide adequate support³, your spine could either buckle or sink, both of which increase your chance of feeling pain in your neck—alongside any other sensitive regions of your body as they fall out of alignment.

Pressure Relief 

Cooling

A bed’s ability to regulate your body temperature may not directly affect your neck pain, but it can be a big contributor to your quality of sleep. When you are in pain, you don’t want to exacerbate your discomfort by overheating during the night. Repeatedly tossing and turning to try and stave off heat buildup can also disrupt your spinal alignment, which may exacerbate neck pain.

Innerspring and hybrid mattresses tend to be cool because the coil design allows air to flow freely. Latex mattresses are also a good choice for temperature regulation. Although memory foam has a reputation for retaining heat, many manufacturers are now addressing this by adding cooling technologies to the foam. 

Motion Isolation

Sex 

If you are sexually active, you should look for a responsive mattress to help prevent additional neck injury and enjoy intimacy.

Latex, innerspring, and hybrid mattresses’ ability to regain their shape after weight is applied to them can be helpful for those who engage in sex. These beds can prevent you from feeling stuck when you are moving about and this may keep strain off your neck. Find the best mattress for sex picks here.

Edge Support 

Durability

Most beds feel sturdy and comfortable when you first buy them. However, fast forward 5 or 10 years, and you might have springs poking out, unraveling fabric, or indentations that won’t spring back into place.

When you’re buying a new mattress, it’s a smart idea to weigh the cost of the bed versus its longevity. Mattresses that are built to last may cost more initially, but they’ll last longer and provide more years of comfort. The average lifespan of a mattress is 10 years—but you can review the brand’s warranty to better estimate the bed’s longevity.

Budget 

Budgets, like mattress preferences, can be varied. Fortunately, there are many options available in a variety of price ranges.

It is important to establish your budget prior to beginning your new mattress search. By establishing the amount you’re willing to spend from the beginning, you will be able to narrow down the mattresses that are most appealing to you within your price range. 

Why Do I Wake Up with Neck Pain?

Starting your day with neck pain is not what anyone dreams of. However, some factors that may cause neck pain are within your control: such as your mattress. As Dr. Raj Dasgupta puts it, “Your mattress can make your neck pain worse if it isn’t supportive, isn’t the right firmness, or can’t relieve pressure points.” 

To decrease your chances of experiencing neck pain through the night, you will want to pay attention to your sleep position and make sure that you have a mattress and pillows that won’t contribute to neck pain at night⁴. 

How Can a Mattress Help with Neck Pain? 

A mattress can help with neck pain by fostering good posture through a combination of optimal support and contouring. Poor posture is a cause of neck pain.² Therefore, sleeping in a healthy alignment could help alleviate pain in the neck area.

Will a New Mattress Help Neck Pain?

If your old bed isn’t doing it for you anymore, it’s possible that a new mattress can help with neck pain. Either it’s gotten too worn out, was originally made of a lower quality, or simply doesn’t properly address your needs. Purchasing a new, high quality bed with features that complement your preferences can go a long way toward restoring your comfort.

What Is the Best Sleeping Position for Neck Pain?

Back Sleeping

People with neck pain often find relief by sleeping on their back⁵, which is considered the “correct” sleeping posture. It allows the neck to be at a neutral angle without twisting to the side. People who sleep on their backs should use a medium-loft pillow to prevent propping their heads up too much.

Learn more: How to Sleep on Your Back and Best Mattresses for Back Sleepers

Side Sleeping

Most people like sleeping on their side⁶< for at least some portion of the night. The most important thing to remember if you’re a side sleeper is to keep your neck and spine in proper alignment⁷

In general, you should sleep on a pillow that’s thicker than what a stomach or back sleeper would use, but not so high that your neck is strained. When you lie on your side, your spine, from the base of your skull down to your tailbone, should be in a straight line.

Learn more: How to Sleep on Your Side and Best Mattresses for Side Sleepers

Stomach Sleeping

If you’ve got neck challenges, try to avoid sleeping on your stomach. When you lie on your stomach, you have to turn your head to the side, and if your pillow is too high, this creates an even worse angle for your head and neck.

For those who are unable to sleep in any other position than their stomach, there are a couple of tips that you can try:

• Use a very thin pillow that keeps your neck relatively flat.
• Avoid using a pillow at all and sleep directly on the sheet.
• Use a good mattress for stomach sleeping.

The reason these tips can help is that they allow your neck to stay centered over your shoulders, and that’s one of the keys to preventing undue strain.

Wondering where to put your arms? Our recommendation is to raise them above your head, in either a field goal position, or cross them above your head with your hands touching opposite elbows.

Combination Sleeping

If you change positions during the night, you will want to find a mattress that is a good fit for all of your sleeping arrangements. This can be a little trickier than finding a suitable mattress if you sleep in one position throughout the night. However, a medium-firm bed is often a safe bet for those who turn throughout the night. 

If you want to reposition more easily, you may want to consider a latex, hybrid, or innerspring mattress.

Learn more: How to Sleep on Your Stomach

Looking to upgrade your mattress? Check out our Best Luxury Mattresses.

Tips for Better Sleeping with Neck Pain

A brand new mattress may not be in the cards for you right now, and we understand—it’s a pretty big investment. However, there are some other things you can do to enhance your current sleep experience and make it hopefully pain-free.

• Invest in a new pillow – Pillows can play a large role in preventing neck pain. Different types of pillows may work for different types of sleepers. Feather pillows will conform to the shape of the neck, but won’t offer much support. Memory foam pillows may be a good fit because they will contour and cradle your head and neck.⁴ Explore our picks for the best pillows for neck pain.
• Avoid tall and/or firm pillows – These types of pillows can add strain to your neck which may lead to additional pain or stiffness.⁷
• Add a mattress topper – Mattress toppers are a great way to add firmness to a mattress that is too soft or softens up an overly firm one. This can help those with neck pain find a more suitable firmness.  
• Try an adjustable base – Adjustable bed frames can be a great choice if you are experiencing neck pain. These bases allow you to modify the elevation of your upper back and head. Before purchasing an adjustable base, you will want to make sure that it is compatible with your mattress. 

Mattress	Best For	Price (Queen Size)	Review
Helix Midnight	Side Sleepers	$1,199	Helix Midnight Mattress Review
Saatva Classic	Innerspring	$1,995	Saatva Classic Mattress Review
Nectar	Cheap	$999	Nectar Mattress Review
WinkBed	Couples	$1,799	Winkbed Mattress Review
Nolah Signature	Pressure Relief	$1,599	Nolah Signature Mattress Review
Bear Original	Athletic People	$999	Bear Original Mattress Review
Brooklyn Bedding Signature Hybrid	Hybrid	$1,249	Brooklyn Bedding Signature Hybrid Mattress Review
Titan Plus Luxe	Heavy People	$1,599	Titan Plus Luxe Mattress Review
Plank Firm	Firm	$1,249	Plank Firm Mattress Review
Birch Natural	Organic	$1,799	Birch Natural Mattress Review