The short answer: The Nectar Premier (6.5 out of 10 by the maker) is the best memory foam mattress for most back pain, and the Nectar Classic (Firm) is its firmer, cheaper sibling; the Leesa Original is the medium pick for side sleepers; the Serta iComfort Elana Firm suits stomach and back sleepers; and the Zinus Green Tea 12-inch is the budget option, rated 7–8 by its maker.
Top memory foam mattresses
- 1Nectar Premier Memory Foam (13 in)Best memory foam mattress for back pain
- 2Nectar Classic Memory Foam (Firm)Best firm memory foam
- 3Leesa Original (10 in foam)Best for side sleepers
- 4Serta iComfort Elana (Firm, 11.5 in)Best firm zoned foam
- 5Tuft & Needle Original (10 in foam)Best for people who dislike sinking
- 6EGOHOME 14 in Memory FoamBest thick foam bed for the money
- 7Sweetnight CoolNest (14 in foam)Best zoned foam on a mid budget
- 8Casper Element (10 in foam)Best brand-name budget foam
- 9Siena Signature Memory Foam (12 in)Best budget foam with a long trial
- 10Zinus Green Tea Memory Foam (12 in)Best budget memory foam
Memory foam and back pain
Memory foam softens with body heat and pressure, so it molds to you. That closeness is good for pressure points and for keeping the lower back supported along its curve. The risk is depth: in a soft foam bed, the heaviest part of you, the pelvis, keeps sinking, and the spine bends. So the key decision with foam is firmness, more than brand.
Two other things to know. Foam holds heat more than coils; covers with gel, graphite or phase-change materials help, but they do not turn foam into a coil bed. And foam can feel "slow" to move on. If you change position a lot at night, a bouncier foam (Tuft & Needle's adaptive foam, Casper's open-cell foam) may suit you better than classic memory foam.
Nectar Premier Memory Foam (13 in) (Queen)
Nectar's step-up foam bed: thicker memory foam and a cooler cover than the Classic, rated 6.5 out of 10 by the maker.
Why it is here: Nectar's thicker model: 13 inches, an extra inch of contouring memory foam over the Classic, rated 6.5 out of 10 by the maker. Medium-firm is where the research points for most people with chronic back pain.
- Sold and shipped by Amazon.com
- 365-night home trial
- Forever warranty (as listed)
- Rated to 800 lb
Scale: maker's number.
- Side sleepers
- Back sleepers
- Stomach sleepers
- Combination sleepers
- Build
- All-foam, 13 in, five layers: quilted cooling cover, contouring memory foam (an inch more than the Classic), adaptive support foam
- Trial
- 365 nights
- Warranty
- Listed as a Forever Warranty
- Sold by
- Amazon.com
- Weight
- 800 lb listed limit
- Price band
- Mid-range
Good fit if
You like the slow, close feel of memory foam, sleep on your back or switch to your side, and want a year to decide with Amazon.com handling the order.Look elsewhere if
You sleep hot and have never got on with foam, or you need a firm bed for stomach sleeping; the firm Nectar Classic suits that better.
Nectar Classic Memory Foam (Firm) (Queen)
The firm-feeling version of Nectar's classic foam bed, priced well below most brand hybrids.
Why it is here: Firm memory foam is less common than soft. This one pairs it with a 365-night trial and an Amazon.com seller.
- Sold and shipped by Amazon.com
- 365-night home trial
- Forever warranty (as listed)
- Fiberglass-free
Scale: our reading of the maker's label.
- Side sleepers
- Back sleepers
- Stomach sleepers
- Combination sleepers
- Build
- All-foam, 12 in: cooling cover, contouring memory foam, support foam
- Trial
- 365 nights
- Warranty
- Listed as a Forever Warranty
- Sold by
- Amazon.com
- Weight
- 800 lb listed limit
- Price band
- Mid-range
Good fit if
You want memory foam's slow, hugging feel but your back does better on a firmer surface, and you sleep on your back or stomach.Look elsewhere if
You sleep hot and have never liked foam, or you sleep only on your side and have sharp shoulder pain.Other versions: King
Leesa Original (10 in foam) (Queen)
A medium foam bed that gives at the shoulder without letting the hips fall away.
Why it is here: 5–7 out of 10, made in the USA, balanced for shoulders and hips.
- Sold by the maker's own Amazon store
- 100-night home trial
- 10-year warranty
- CertiPUR-US foams
Scale: maker's number.
- Side sleepers
- Back sleepers
- Stomach sleepers
- Combination sleepers
- Build
- All-foam, 10 in, three layers
- Trial
- 100 nights
- Warranty
- 10 years
- Sold by
- 3Z Brands (the maker's Amazon storefront)
- Price band
- Mid-range
Good fit if
You sleep on your side or back, weigh under about 230 lb, and want foam that feels supportive rather than slow and sinking.Look elsewhere if
You weigh more or sleep on your stomach; ten inches of foam is on the thin side for that.
Serta iComfort Elana (Firm, 11.5 in) (Queen)
A firm, zoned memory-foam bed that Serta itself pitches at stomach and back sleepers.
Why it is here: Five-zone foam, graphite-infused memory foam, aimed at stomach and back sleepers.
- Sold and shipped by Amazon.com
- 100-night home trial
- 10-year warranty
- Zoned support
Scale: our reading of the maker's label.
- Side sleepers
- Back sleepers
- Stomach sleepers
- Combination sleepers
- Zoned support
- Build
- All-foam, 11.5 in, graphite-infused memory foam, 5 ZoneResponse design
- Trial
- 100 nights
- Warranty
- 10 years (limited)
- Sold by
- Amazon.com
- Zoning
- 5 ZoneResponse design (maker's wording)
- Price band
- Upper
Good fit if
You sleep on your stomach or back, want foam rather than coils, and like a cool-touch cover.Look elsewhere if
You want it to feel right on night one; Serta says to allow up to 60 days to adjust.
Tuft & Needle Original (10 in foam) (Queen)
A plain, bouncy medium-firm foam bed that does not have memory foam's slow sink.
Why it is here: Adaptive foam that is bouncier than classic memory foam, medium-firm.
- Sold and shipped by Amazon.com
- 100-night home trial
- 10-year warranty
- CertiPUR-US foams
Scale: our reading of the maker's label.
- Side sleepers
- Back sleepers
- Stomach sleepers
- Combination sleepers
- Build
- All-foam, 10 in, T&N Adaptive Foam with gel
- Trial
- 100 nights
- Warranty
- 10 years
- Sold by
- Amazon.com
- Price band
- Mid-range
Good fit if
You hate feeling stuck in foam, sleep on your back, and want a simple bed with a long track record.Look elsewhere if
You are a side sleeper with sharp shoulder pain; there is little deep cushioning.
EGOHOME 14 in Memory Foam (Queen)
A thick, budget-friendly foam bed sold directly by Amazon.com with real trial terms.
Why it is here: 14 inches, medium-firm, 100-night trial, 10-year warranty, Amazon.com seller.
- Sold and shipped by Amazon.com
- 100-night home trial
- 10-year warranty
- Fiberglass-free
Scale: our reading of the maker's label.
- Side sleepers
- Back sleepers
- Stomach sleepers
- Combination sleepers
- Build
- All-foam, 14 in, copper-gel memory foam, graphite cool-touch cover
- Trial
- 100 nights
- Warranty
- 10 years
- Sold by
- Amazon.com
- Price band
- Mid-range
Good fit if
You want more foam depth than the cheapest beds, plus a 100-night trial, for a mid-range budget.Look elsewhere if
You run hot and want coils.Other versions: King
Sweetnight CoolNest (14 in foam) (Queen)
A zoned foam bed with a cooling cover, for people who want foam's quiet feel without the heat.
Why it is here: Five-zone layout with phase-change foam for heat.
- Sold and shipped by Amazon.com
- 10-year warranty
- Zoned support
- CertiPUR-US foams
Scale: our reading of the maker's label.
- Side sleepers
- Back sleepers
- Stomach sleepers
- Combination sleepers
- Zoned support
- Build
- All-foam, 14 in, PCM foam and gel memory foam in a 5-zone layout
- Trial
- Not stated on listing
- Warranty
- 10 years
- Sold by
- Amazon.com
- Zoning
- 5-zone design (maker's wording)
- Price band
- Mid-range
Good fit if
You want zoning and foam at a mid-range price.Look elsewhere if
You want bounce; this is a slow, quiet foam feel.Other versions: King
Casper Element (10 in foam) (Queen)
Casper's simplest bed: one medium foam feel, no zoning, a lot cheaper than the Original.
Why it is here: Casper's open-cell foam in its simplest form, 100-night trial, Amazon.com seller.
- Sold and shipped by Amazon.com
- 100-night home trial
- 10-year warranty
- CertiPUR-US foams
Scale: our reading of the maker's label.
- Side sleepers
- Back sleepers
- Stomach sleepers
- Combination sleepers
- Build
- All-foam, 10 in, open-cell Flex Foam
- Trial
- 100 nights
- Warranty
- 10 years (limited)
- Sold by
- Amazon.com
- Price band
- Mid-range
Good fit if
You want a known brand and a 100-night trial without paying hybrid prices.Look elsewhere if
Lower back pain is your main complaint; the Original's zoning is the part that matters for that.
Siena Signature Memory Foam (12 in) (Queen)
Medium-firm foam with a 180-night trial and a 10-year warranty at a budget price.
Why it is here: Medium-firm foam, a 180-night trial and a 10-year warranty, sold by Amazon.com, for less than almost any other bed on this page.
- Sold and shipped by Amazon.com
- 180-night home trial
- 10-year warranty
- CertiPUR-US foams
Scale: our reading of the maker's label.
- Side sleepers
- Back sleepers
- Stomach sleepers
- Combination sleepers
- Build
- All-foam, 12 in, five layers of memory and support foam
- Trial
- 180 nights
- Warranty
- 10 years
- Sold by
- Amazon.com
- Weight
- 800 lb listed limit
- Price band
- Budget
Good fit if
You want to try medium-firm support on a tight budget without giving up a real trial or a stated warranty.Look elsewhere if
You weigh more than about 230 lb or sleep hot; dense foam with no coils is the weak spot for both.
Zinus Green Tea Memory Foam (12 in) (Queen)
The cheap memory-foam bed almost everyone has heard of, rated firmer than its 'medium firm' label suggests.
Why it is here: Rated 7–8 by the maker, zoned pressure relief, the most-reviewed bed in our collection.
- Sold and shipped by Amazon.com
- 10-year warranty
- Zoned support
- Fiberglass-free
Scale: maker's number.
- Side sleepers
- Back sleepers
- Stomach sleepers
- Combination sleepers
- Zoned support
- Build
- All-foam, 12 in, zoned pressure-relief foam, green-tea and charcoal infused
- Trial
- Not stated on listing
- Warranty
- 10 years (limited)
- Sold by
- Amazon.com
- Zoning
- Patented zoned pressure relief (maker's wording)
- Weight
- 500 lb listed limit
- Price band
- Budget
Good fit if
Budget is tight, you sleep on your back, and you want a firm foam bed to test whether firmness helps.Look elsewhere if
You weigh well over 230 lb or sleep hot.Other versions: King; Queen, 10 in; Full
Memory foam picks, spec by spec
| Model | Firmness | Build | Zoned | Trial | Warranty | Sold by |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nectar Premier Memory Foam (13 in) | 6–7/10 | All-foam 13 in | No | 365 nights | Listed as a Forever Warranty | Amazon.com |
| Nectar Classic Memory Foam (Firm) | 7–8/10 | All-foam 12 in | No | 365 nights | Listed as a Forever Warranty | Amazon.com |
| Leesa Original (10 in foam) | 5–7/10 | All-foam 10 in | No | 100 nights | 10 years | 3Z Brands |
| Serta iComfort Elana (Firm, 11.5 in) | 7–8/10 | All-foam 11.5 in | Yes | 100 nights | 10 years (limited) | Amazon.com |
| Tuft & Needle Original (10 in foam) | 6–7/10 | All-foam 10 in | No | 100 nights | 10 years | Amazon.com |
| EGOHOME 14 in Memory Foam | 6–7/10 | All-foam 14 in | No | 100 nights | 10 years | Amazon.com |
| Sweetnight CoolNest (14 in foam) | 5–6/10 | All-foam 14 in | Yes | Not stated on listing | 10 years | Amazon.com |
| Casper Element (10 in foam) | 5–6/10 | All-foam 10 in | No | 100 nights | 10 years (limited) | Amazon.com |
| Siena Signature Memory Foam (12 in) | 6–7/10 | All-foam 12 in | No | 180 nights | 10 years | Amazon.com |
| Zinus Green Tea Memory Foam (12 in) | 7–8/10 | All-foam 12 in | Yes | Not stated on listing | 10 years (limited) | Amazon.com |
"Not stated on listing" means the Amazon page we read did not say. Ask the seller before you rely on it.
Thickness: does it matter?
For lighter sleepers, 10 inches of good foam is plenty. For heavier sleepers, look for 12 inches or more with a dense base layer, or consider a hybrid. In this list the thinnest beds are the Leesa Original, Tuft & Needle Original and Casper Element at 10 inches; the thickest, the EGOHOME and Sweetnight CoolNest at 14.
Still deciding between foam and coils? Memory foam vs hybrid for back pain.
Before you order: reader questions
Is memory foam good for lower back pain?
Yes, if it is firm enough for your sleep position. Soft foam can let the hips sink. Medium-firm to firm foam supports the lower back well.
Does memory foam sleep hot?
More than coils, generally. Look for gel, graphite or phase-change covers if you run warm, or choose a hybrid.
How thick should a memory foam mattress be for back pain?
10–12 inches for most people, 12–14 inches for heavier sleepers.
Neutral Spine is not a medical provider. A mattress can make sleep more comfortable; it does not treat a spinal condition. Pain that follows an injury, spreads down a leg, or comes with numbness, weakness or fever needs a doctor first. Full disclaimer.