The Best Mattresses for Arthritis in 2026: Doctor Reviewed

Pros and cons

Pros

• Strong spinal alignment and pressure relief for back sleepers
• Cushioned, supportive feel
• Affordably priced

Cons

• Edges provide less support than other mattresses we tested
• So-so motion isolation

Features

• Firmness: Medium
• Trial period: 120 nights
• Warranty length: Limited lifetime

Key takeaways from our testing

Great for back sleepers. Allison rated the Helix Midnight a 4.5 out of 5 for pressure relief while on her back. Overall, she said the mattress was firm and supportive without causing her hips to feel misaligned. While she typically prefers a firmer mattress, firmer is not always ideal for arthritis. Dr. Vicky Nahra, a rheumatologist at University Hospitals in Cleveland, says medium-firm mattresses are often recommended over firm mattresses for people with arthritis since they may help reduce joint pain upon waking.

Reasonably priced. Back sleepers can expect to feel supported and cushioned on the Helix Midnight without overspending. In fact, it's one of the lowest-priced beds we tested.

Weak edge support and so-so motion isolation. Allison said the mattress's edges felt slippery while sitting. "I felt like I might slide off, and I had to use more effort in my legs when standing up, even when using my hands." Another tester, Donna, a 60-year-old side sleeper who is awoken easily, said she wished the Helix Midnight isolated motion better. "I could feel a decent amount of movement on this bed, which would probably wake me up," she said. If you need strong edges to get in and out of bed safely, the Saatva Classic may be a better option.

Best for Hip Arthritis: Nectar Luxe Memory Foam

Score: 8.5 out of 10

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Pros and cons

Pros

• Cushioned memory foam layers support the hips
• Excellent motion isolation
• Very good temperature regulation

Cons

• Limited bounce for repositioning
• May feel too firm for lighter-weight sleepers

Features

• Firmness: Medium firm
• Trial period: 365 nights
• Warranty length: Lifetime

Key takeaways from our testing

Excellent pressure relief for the hips. Toni, a 50-year-old side sleeper who has mild back pain, said the Nectar Luxe provided generous cushioning in the upper layers while still offering support underneath to prevent sagging. She said the mattress hugged her hips without letting her sink too deeply. Howell says mattresses that are too firm can create painful pressure points in the hips, and recommends medium to medium-firm mattresses with high-density memory foam for gentle contouring. "Memory foam cushions the shoulders, hips and knees, which is especially important for people with inflammatory arthritis," he says.

Surprisingly good temperature regulation. Traditional memory foam can trap heat, but the Nectar Luxe performed well in our cooling gun test. The mattress warmed by only 11 degrees after heat was applied, indicating strong temperature regulation.

Limited bounce. Testers reported very little bounce, which is typical for a memory foam mattress and can make it difficult to change positions in bed for people with arthritis or joint pain. That's because a dense mattress with no bounce can "suck" you into the material, requiring you to exert more effort and put more pressure on your joints when you move. When our lab team conducted a bounce test by dropping a 15-pound ball from 5 feet onto the surface, it rebounded only 13.5 inches, earning it a 1 out of 5 in that test. Being able to turn easily in bed is important for people with arthritis, particularly for their spine, says Dr. Pamela Mehta, an orthopedic surgeon and founder of Resilience Orthopedics in Los Gatos, California. "Look for a mattress that doesn't swallow you and make you feel trapped," she says.

Best Mattress for Back Arthritis: The Winkbed Luxury Firm

Score: 9 out of 10

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Pros and cons

Pros

• Works well with an adjustable base
• Sturdy edges for sitting and standing
• Good pressure relief for back sleepers

Cons

• Mediocre temperature regulation
• Lack of handles can make the mattress harder to move

Features

• Firmness: Luxury firm
• Trial period: 120 nights
• Warranty length: Limited lifetime

Key takeaways from our testing

Balanced comfort and support for back sleeping. The WinkBed earned a commendable 4 out of 5 rating for back sleeping in our lab tests. Dana, a 67-year-old tester, said she felt well-supported in this position. "I usually like a more plush topper, but with this mattress, the firmness was good for support," she said. If you have arthritis affecting your spine, Mehta says the goal is to support the spine's natural curves as soon as you lie down. "A medium-firm mattress usually offers the best balance - firm enough to prevent the lower back from sinking, but comfortable enough to keep muscles relaxed," she says.

Performs well with an adjustable base. This tall, 13-inch mattress conforms well on an adjustable base without noticeable gapping or fabric bunching. Smooth adjustments can make it easier to find comfortable positions that help relieve arthritis-related back pain.

Poor temperature regulation. Despite the mattress's TENCEL cover, which is designed to wick moisture and improve airflow, Taylor said the bed felt warmer than expected. Our cooling gun test reflected that shortcoming: The mattress's surface remained nearly 20 degrees warmer than its original temperature, suggesting it retains more heat than other options. People who tend to sleep hot may prefer a mattress with better temperature regulation, such as the Nolah Evolution Luxury Firm.

Best Hybrid for Arthritis: Nolah Evolution Luxury Firm

Score: 9.8 out of 10

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Pros and cons

Pros

• Strong edge support and temperature regulation
• Plenty of bounce for easier position changes
• Excellent spinal alignment in all sleeping positions

Cons

• Less cradling than memory foam mattresses
• Motion isolation is just average compared to other hybrids

Features

• Firmness: Luxury firm
• Trial period: 120 nights
• Warranty length: Limited lifetime

Key takeaways from our testing

Excellent bounce supports easier movement. Hybrid mattresses typically provide more bounce than memory foam due to their coil systems, which can help people with arthritis move more easily in bed. Our testers rated the Nolah Evolution Luxury Firm a perfect 5 out of 5 for bounce. Mehta says that when arthritis is severe, people often benefit from "structured softness - gentle on the joints, but supportive enough to help with movement during the night." If you prefer a more cradling, slow-moving feel, a memory foam option like the Nectar Luxe may be a better fit.

Performs well in all sleeping positions. Karin, a 54-year-old side sleeper who experiences nighttime aches and pains after exercising, said the mattress felt comfortable in all positions. "I felt no pressure buildup, and my body felt very supported. My back felt great on this mattress," she said. She also reported minimal pressure while side sleeping, though she noticed some shoulder pressure, which led her to rate the bed's side sleeping score slightly lower (4 out of 5) than its back and stomach sleeping scores (4.5 out of 5).

Fair motion isolation may affect couples. Because the Nolah Evolution Luxury Firm is so bouncy, it earned only an average (3.5 out of 5) score for motion isolation. To measure its motion isolation, we performed a ripple test where we placed a beaker of red liquid on one side of the bed. The glass and liquid moved a lot - but didn't spill - when a tester changed positions on the other side of the mattresses. Our lab testers rated the mattress a 3.5 out of 5 for motion isolation. That's not a bad score, but we've tested other hybrids that perform better.

How we tested the best mattresses for arthritis

We started our process by researching the market. What mattresses are popular and why? Who has the best customer reviews - and are the reviews legitimate? After talking with medical experts, we narrowed our list from 50 mattresses to the more than 30 we tested in our lab.

To identify their strengths and weaknesses, we used controlled tests to assess things like edge support, bounce and temperature regulation. Then we recruited more than 15 testers, ages 50 and older, to give us their unbiased feedback. None of the testers featured in this article have arthritis, but all experience regular back or joint pain.

These testers answered questions like: Did the mattresses provide good pressure relief on your sensitive joints? Are your joints supported in every sleeping position? Do your hips, spine and shoulders feel aligned? Beds that excelled in our tests made our list of the best mattresses for hip pain. For more details, see our mattress testing methodology.

How to choose the best mattress for arthritis for you

According to medical experts and our survey results, the most important factors to consider are the mattress type, firmness, pressure relief, cooling performance and purchase policies like sleep trials and warranties.

Symptoms

Arthritis pain can stem from stiffness, inflammation or pressure sensitivity. Understanding which symptoms affect you the most can help guide your mattress choice.

If swelling or inflammation makes your joints more sensitive to pressure, Howell says mattresses with cushioning materials, such as memory foam, may feel more comfortable by reducing direct pressure on painful areas. Meanwhile, some people with back pain or stiffness report greater comfort on mattresses layered with foam or latex, Nahra says.

Your sleeping position matters, too. Sleeping on your back, with your knees slightly elevated, can help reduce strain on your lower back, Howell says. You can do this by placing pillows under your knees or using an adjustable base.

People with rheumatoid arthritis - a type of arthritis that attacks the lining of the joints, causing swelling and inflammation - can be especially sensitive to pressure, research shows. As a result, overly firm mattresses may feel uncomfortable for them, particularly if they have very tender joints, Howell says.    

Mattress type

Although no mattress material has been shown to consistently outperform others for joint pain, mattresses that provide pressure redistribution - often foam or latex-based designs - may help alleviate arthritis symptoms and feel more comfortable for joints like the shoulders, hips and knees, Howell says.

For hip arthritis, Mehta says a mattress should cushion the joint without twisting the spine. For side sleepers with hip discomfort, mattresses with more cushioning, like memory foam, may feel more comfortable, while back sleepers may prefer designs that offer more support under the torso, such as extra-firm foam or springs in the middle-third of the bed.

Moreover, an adjustable base can help manage arthritis symptoms by elevating the head or feet, Howell says. Elevation has been shown to help reduce symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), which is more common among people with arthritis. Anyone who suspects they have sleep apnea should consult a health care provider.

Firmness

There is no one perfect mattress firmness for people with arthritis. The most important factor is how supportive and comfortable the mattress feels to the individual.

"A mattress that's too soft can let the hips or shoulders sink too far, which twists the spine and triggers pain," says Howell, "but a mattress that's overly firm creates sharp pressure points. The sweet spot is supportive, responsive and cushioned enough that the joints can relax."

Body type also plays a role. People with a higher body weight may need firmer support, while lighter-weight sleepers may prefer more cushioning, Nahra says.

Also, consider where your arthritis pain is located. Howell says firmer mattresses may help people with lower-back arthritis or spinal stenosis, while he recommends a medium or medium-soft firmness for those with hip or shoulder arthritis.

Pressure relief

Nahra says a mattress's pressure relief can help reduce stress on joints near bony areas such as the hips, shoulders and lower back.

A mattress with good pressure relief distributes body weight evenly, cushioning joints and reducing localized discomfort. This balance helps joints relax, rather than absorb concentrated pressure. Every mattress on this list offers very good pressure relief and spinal alignment.

Cooling features

Although cooling features don't directly treat arthritis pain, sleep disruptions from overheating can worsen discomfort.

Some cooling features to consider when shopping for a mattress for arthritis:

• Breathable fabrics like cotton, wool or bamboo
• Moisture-wicking materials
• Open-cell foam to increase airflow
• Gel-infused or copper-infused foams, which help absorb and redistribute heat away from you into other parts of the mattress
• Cooling covers like TENCEL

Sleep trials and warranties

A generous sleep trial provides time to see whether a mattress truly improves your comfort and helps you manage arthritis pain. Trial periods typically range from 100 to 365 nights.

A mattress's warranty is another factor to consider. All six models on our list offer lifetime or limited lifetime warranties that cover manufacturing defects and structural issues.

How much do the best mattresses for arthritis cost?

The best mattresses for arthritis in our tests range from about $1,300 to around $3,300 for a queen, depending on the brand and model.

Our most affordable option is the Brooklyn Bedding Signature Hybrid, at $1,332 for a queen, with the Helix Midnight a close second. The Nectar Luxe Memory Foam, which features dense cushioning foam, is the most expensive on our list - it costs $3,283 for a queen.

FAQs:

What is the best type of mattress for arthritis?

There's no one-size-fits-all - the best type of mattress for arthritis depends on your comfort needs, budget and symptoms. Memory foam mattresses typically provide strong pressure relief through dense, contouring layers that cushion sensitive joints. Hybrid mattresses - which have a combination of memory foam and springs - generally offer bounce that can make changing positions easier, which may help if you have joint pain or stiffness.

Is a firm mattress good for someone with arthritis?

Not necessarily. While firmer mattresses may help some people with lower-back arthritis, they may feel too hard for people with swollen or sensitive joints. Medium-firm mattresses often strike the best balance, offering support without creating sharp pressure points.

What is the best sleeping position for someone with arthritis?

It depends on which joints are affected. Side sleeping with a pillow between the knees can help reduce pressure on the hips and lower back. People with shoulder arthritis may benefit from additional cushioning, such as a plush mattress topper. For back arthritis, experts often recommend sleeping on your back with your knees slightly elevated to support your spine and reduce strain.

Questions or feedback? Email us at AARPSmartPicks@aarp.org.