Last updated on November 19th, 2025 at 10:35 am
With up to 28% of Americans reporting chronic lower back pain, taking steps like getting a custom mattress can help protect your long-term health.
Choosing the best custom mattress is not always easy, especially if you’re not sure what you’re looking for. At Slumber Ease, we specialize in creating fully personalized mattresses that are comfortable and contribute to a good night’s sleep.
Below, we’ve put together an article to help you choose the best custom mattress for back pain.
How to Choose a Custom Mattress for Back Pain
There is no secret formula that will instantly give you the perfect mattress. Every body is unique, so it’s important to understand the different aspects of a mattress in order to find one that helps relieve your back pain.
Material and Overall Quality
The structure of custom mattresses can be made of foam, innerspring, or latex. Each one of these has different characteristics that impact how much support they provide and how comfortable you find them.
At the same time, the quality of the custom mattress will also impact its performance. Custom mattresses made with high-quality materials will have a better structure and maintain their shape for longer.
Firmness
The firmness of your mattress may very well influence back pain. In some cases, firm mattresses result in sore joints. In others, soft mattresses cause you to sink, imbalance the spine during sleep, and result in back stiffness.
Everyone is different, so you should note the current firmness of your mattress and speak with a custom provider to help you find the best option.
Durability and Comfort
The durability and comfort of your mattress will also influence whether or not it helps with your back pain.
Durable custom mattresses maintain their shape and support level, so they promote good back health for a long period of time. This is tricky to determine on new mattresses, so opting for a brand that has a good reputation can help ensure a durable mattress.
As for comfort, this depends on your preferences. If you like softer surfaces, you need to find one that is supportive yet cozy. With harder custom mattresses, buying a soft topper can help prevent joint soreness in the long run.
What About Orthopedic Mattresses?
If you’re looking for custom mattresses, you may be thinking about choosing an orthopedic mattress.
One of the biggest misconceptions is that orthopedic beds are medically recommended, when in fact there is no organization or certification that awards this status.
Instead of using the term orthopedic, Slumber Ease focuses on creating custom mattresses that are supportive, result in a good night’s sleep, and promote good spine health.
Determining the Best Mattress Firmness
The perfect custom mattress is tailored to your body, but firmness plays a key role in both comfort and spinal health.
Most manufacturers use their own firmness scale, so relying on this may not be a good way to find the best custom back pain relief mattress. Instead, you should analyze your current mattress and figure out if you need a softer or firmer bed.
Signs Your Mattress is Too Hard
Your mattress may be too hard if you experience symptoms like:
- Temporary joint soreness in the mornings
- Numbness or tingling as soon as you wake up
- Not sinking into your bed at all when you lie down
Signs Your Mattress is Too Soft
If you see the following signs, your mattress may be too soft.
- Wake up with stiff joints
- Difficulty getting comfortable before falling asleep
- Feeling like you’re sinking whenever you lie down
Types of Mattress-Related Back Pain
If your main goal is back pain relief, mattress selection is one of the best ways to reduce this discomfort. The type of back pain you’re experiencing can also help you choose the best mattress.
Generalized Back Pain
Generalized back pain may be caused, in part, by an old mattress that has lost its function. This is usually a result of mattresses that provide uneven support and produce generalized pain.
Upper Back Pain
Upper back pain may be linked to firm beds that don’t allow the torso and arm muscles to relax properly. If this occurs at the same time as sore joints, you should consider a softer mattress.
Lower Back Pain
Soft beds can sometimes contribute to lower back pain because the legs sink, which means that the hip and lower extremities are not aligned while resting.
To Wrap Up
Choosing the right custom mattress for back pain is all about understanding your body’s requirements. If you pay close attention to the material, firmness, and durability of your mattress, you should be able to find one that adapts to your body.
At Slumber Ease, our goal is to help you get the best possible rest with a custom mattress. After all, choosing the right custom-fit mattress can help reduce back pain and give you a good night’s sleep every night. Contact us to learn more about our custom mattresses today!