Best Mattress for Arthritis

Written by Bridget Chapman, Senior Product Editor

Our Methodology

Our Certified Sleep Science Coaches have reviewed more than 300 mattresses in our lab, testing each one on its materials, comfort, cooling, support, and other categories.
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Just Updated

We’ve recently re-reviewed all of our top mattress picks for arthritis and added more feedback from the testers in our lab – so you can rest easy that if it’s on this list, we’ve personally tested it, slept on it, and stand by its recommendation.

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Often characterized by tenderness, pain, and swelling at the joints, arthritis can be a tricky condition with which to sleep, especially if you’re dozing on a mattress that doesn’t actively relieve pressure across the body. So, how do you find a bed that’s actually been built to alleviate this pain? Well, we’re so glad you asked!

In this guide, we’re going to introduce you to the best mattresses for arthritis. While they differ in terms of style, construction, and price, we made sure to include mattresses designed with pressure relief and support in mind. In fact, we tested pressure relief and support, along with a number of other areas, to ensure these beds are truly tailor-made for assuaging the worst effects of arthritis pain.

Our Top Pick for Arthritis

The Saatva mattress comes in three firmnesses, so you can select which model is best for your pain. We love the Plush Soft and Luxury Firm models because they focus more on comfort and pressure relief for joint pain, but they don’t sacrifice support.

Best Mattresses for Arthritis

• Best Overall – Saatva
• Best Mattress for Arthritis in the Hips – Helix Midnight
• Best Memory Foam Mattress for Arthritis – Puffy Cloud
• Best Mattress for Arthritis in the Shoulders – Nectar
• Best Latex Mattress for Arthritis – PlushBeds Botanical Bliss
• Best Hybrid Mattress for Arthritis – Nolah Evolution

Best Mattress for Arthritis: Video Review

Disclaimer: Please note that the content in this article is meant for informational purposes only and should not be construed as medical advice or serve as a substitute for seeing a medical professional regarding any sleep problems you may have. Please see your doctor regarding any urgent medical issues.

Compare the Best Mattresses for Arthritis

Best Overall – Saatva

Expert Opinion

A great mattress for arthritis is versatile and allows for plenty comfort and support. We love the Saatva because it boasts a thick and plush Euro top helps ease pressure of the joints, alleviating joint pain. We also appreciate its three firmness options, so depending on your body type where your joint pain is located, you can choose a softer or firmer mattress. For example, if you find that your arthritis pain is located primarily in the lower back, we think you’ll prefer to snag a mattress that’s firm, supportive, and bouncy. Not only will the Saatva’s Luxury Firm version help to alleviate tension at the lumbar region, but it could also work to lift the spine into a healthy line all the way from the shoulders to the hips.

We put mattress’ pressure relief to the test in our lab. Our Sleepopolis team utilizes a pressure map, which uses body temperature to determine areas of low (blue), moderate (green), or high pressure (yellow, orange, and red). We spread the pressure map across the mattress surface and lie on it in different sleeping positions to determine whether or not it’s a good match for pressure relief. On the Saatva’s Luxury Firm version, we found it should be a great option for back sleepers with back pain. Those wanting more pressure relief for arthritis at the shoulder and hip should opt for the Soft version of the Saatva.

What our tester says: “I think the Saatva is a great option for back sleepers, as the Luxury Firm model provides enough cushioning for their lumbar region, but also lots of support to keep their spine in a neutral alignment.” -Bridget Chapman, senior product editor

What Customers Say

One of the most common praises amongst Saatva shoppers is the customer service, from helpful phone calls to free white glove delivery.

Pros of the Saatva

• Built with a sturdy coil-on-coil construction, this bed evokes a traditional innerspring vibe, meaning it’s bouncy and ultra-supportive.
• There’s a lot of lift to this mattress, which means most sleepers will likely feel positioned squarely on top of the structure. This is great for alleviating back pain as it ensures that the spine will be set in a neutral alignment.
• The Saatva comes in three different firmnesses, which allows folks of many sleeping positions and body types to hone in on the comfort level that’s going to be right for them. 

Cons of the Saatva

• We tested this mattress and found it has a responsive feel, so those wanting a slow-moving memory foam bed will want to look elsewhere.

Think the Saatva is the mattress for you? Click here for our best deal or check out our full Saatva mattress review. Still not sold? Take a look at some of the other best mattresses. 

Best Mattress for Arthritis in the Hips – Helix Midnight

Expert Opinion

A balanced feel is especially crucial for hip pain sufferers because it ensures that the bed has enough lift to set the hips in line with the shoulders and enough give to cushion them as they press into the structure. During testing, we found the Helix Midnight achieves just this. When the coils and firmer poly foam (as well as a layer of DuraDense foam at the bottom) combine with the plush memory foam, it’s a one-stop destination for all things comfort. 

During our pressure map test, we found fantastic relief for back-sleeping (almost entirely blue on the chart). So, it should be a great option for back sleepers with hip pain, shoulder pain, and back pain. For side-sleeping, we saw a bit of green at the shoulders and a little yellow at the hips. Folks with pain in these areas should be alright for the most part, but if you’re really sensitive at the hip, we might steer you towards a softer Helix model, like the Helix Sunset.

What our tester says: “Back sleepers with hip pain should feel really comfortable on both models of the Midnight, as results showed barely any pressure in the area.” -Bridget Chapman, senior product editor

What Customers Say

If you’re someone who values a cushioning feel, you’ll like the amazing things Helix shoppers have to say about the “cloud-like” feel of the Midnight.

Pros of the Helix Midnight

• A balanced feel helps back sleepers feel both comfortable and supported, and all body types should feel fantastic on the medium-firm Helix Midnight.
• The Helix Midnight tested low for motion transfer, which is great news for couples who don’t want to feel each other tossing and turning. 
• This mattress has a more “on top of” feel, which is fantastic for combination sleepers who need the freedom to move from back sleeping to side sleeping and so on.

Cons of the Helix Midnight

• Stomach sleepers require a firm construction to prevent the hips bowing into the mattress material. The Helix Midnight will likely be too soft.

Think the Helix Midnight is the mattress for you? Click here for our best deal or check out our full Helix Midnight mattress review. Still not sold? Take a look at some of the other best mattresses for hip pain. 

Best Memory Foam Mattress for Arthritis – Puffy Cloud

Expert Opinion

Memory foam can be an excellent material for joint pain because its slow response to pressure allows it to contour to the curves of the body. This means that as you sink into the material, it’s likely to cushion the shoulders, hips, and lower back against any and all tension. With a soft cover and cozy comfort layer, we felt extremely comfortable on the Puffy Cloud.

During testing, we found that back sleepers should find this mattress to work especially well. Back sleepers with pain at the back, shoulders, or even hips should feel comfortable overall. We saw mostly blue and green across the body. For side sleepers, results looked good for back pain, and we found low pressure at the hips, but at the shoulders we saw a bit of yellow and red. This indicates that folks with shoulder pain may experience pressure buildup in this area.

What our tester says: “I also like that the Puffy uses an infusion of cooling gel to help defend against memory foam’s heat trapping tendencies.” -Bridget Chapman, senior product editor

What Customers Say

Customers who sleep with a partner mention the good motion isolation on this mattress. Because the Puffy traps movement, couples shouldn’t feel each other moving about the mattress.

Pros of the Puffy Cloud

• We like the Puffy Cloud for arthritis pain because it embodies all the great aspects of memory foam, namely its sinkage, body-contouring, and pressure relief. From the moment you hop aboard the Puffy Cloud, you’re likely to feel a gentle, cozy hug from its top layer of gel-infused memory foam, which should help alleviate tension at the joints.
• The gel infusion actively works to absorb and dissipate body heat, ensuring that the memory foam layer doesn’t make you sweat in the night. This could be a great feature for folks who have previously avoided memory foam because of its reputation for retaining heat. 
• This mattress tested exceptionally well for kids, or any lightweight sleepers (under 130 pounds), in all sleeping positions. Plus, the cover is stain-resistant.

Cons of the Puffy Cloud

• Those over 250 pounds won’t find the all-foam Puffy Cloud to be supportive enough.

Think the Puffy Cloud is the mattress for you? Click here for our best deal or check out our full Puffy Cloud mattress review. Still not sold? Take a look at some of the other best memory foam mattresses. 

Best Mattress for Arthritis in the Shoulder – Nectar

Expert Opinion

Arthritis is a tricky condition for many reasons, but especially when it comes to sleep. Untreated pain can lead to poorer sleep, and poorer sleep can worsen existing pain. Breaking this cycle can be achieved with a contouring, pressure-relieving mattress like the Nectar, and if you have arthritis at the shoulder in particular, you’re in luck.

Our pressure map test results showed fantastic results for alleviating shoulder pain in all sleeping positions. For back-sleeping, our map showed primarily blue on the map, indicating low pressure. Not surprisingly, side-sleeping showed some green, as weight is less evenly distributed to the hip and shoulder in this position. However, the map still shows little pressure on these areas, so side sleepers should be comfortable with the Nectar’s contouring memory foam construction.

What our tester says: “I especially like this feel for back and side sleepers, who should find their pressure points cushioned, and spines supported. The Nectar also has good motion isolation, so you shouldn’t feel your partner or pet moving around at night.” –Bridget Chapman, senior product editor

What Customers Say

Customers appreciate the lengthy year-long trial Nectar offers (365 nights, to be exact). This allows folks some peace of mind when determining whether or not they’d like to keep the mattress.

Pros of the Nectar

• Couples should like this mattress, as it tested pretty well in motion isolation, responsiveness, cooling, and edge support.
• Memory foam lovers should really appreciate the traditional, slow-moving feel of the Nectar.
• Lightweight stomach sleepers (under 130 pounds) should find the support they need.

Cons of the Nectar

• The Nectar isn’t intended for sleepers over 250 pounds, regardless of their favored sleeping position.

Think the Nectar is the mattress for you? Click here for our best deal or check out our full Nectar mattress review. Still not sold? Take a look at some of the other best mattresses for shoulder pain. 

Best Latex Mattress for Arthritis – PlushBeds Botanical Bliss

Expert Opinion

While not as immediately pressure-relieving as, say, memory foam, latex foam can still be a great option for those who deal with arthritis pain. Not only does it have a gentle, buoyant feel, but it’s also naturally cooling, which helps to soothe aches and pains. For a fantastic latex primer, we recommend the PlushBeds Botanical Bliss mattress. It includes three layers of Dunlop latex. Dunlop latex is a dense material that provides deep, cushiony support to the body as it presses into the structure.

Our pressure map test showed outstanding pressure relief (almost entirely blue) for back and side-sleeping positions. There wasn’t any added pressure while stomach-sleeping either, but we do feel the PlushBeds is going to be too soft for stomach sleepers over 130 pounds.

What our tester says: “The Botanical Bliss mattress exemplifies all the best qualities of latex. It’s bouncy, durable, and cooling. All these features are great for latex-lovers, so I’d highly recommend it to these sleepers.” -Bridget Chapman, senior product editor

What Customers Say

Shoppers do have a lot to say about the PlushBeds’s comfort level, but many say they sleep better knowing the materials it’s made out of are eco-friendly.

Pros of the PlushBeds Botanical Bliss

• It’s worth noting that the Botanical Bliss is a 100% certified organic mattress, which means all of its materials have been accredited by the Global Organic Latex Standard and the Global Organic Textile Standard.
• Because latex is a more responsive material, it also works to position the spine on top of the bed for optimal alignment from crown to foot. This makes it a solid option for back sleepers.
• Latex is a naturally cooling material and helps make some of the most cooling mattresses. So, hot sleepers shouldn’t find themselves overheating at night.

Cons of the PlushBeds Botanical Bliss

• Those wanting a cheaper mattress shouldn’t look into the Botanical Bliss; its incredible construction and quality materials definitely drive up the price.

Think the PlushBeds Botanical Bliss is the mattress for you? Click here for our best deal or check out our full PlushBeds Botanical Bliss mattress review. Still not sold? Take a look at some of the other best latex mattresses. 

Best Hybrid Mattress for Arthritis – Nolah Evolution

Expert Opinion

Hybrid mattresses can be awesome options for those who suffer from arthritis pain. These beds combine gentle foam layers with springy coils for a vibe that’s as bouncy and supportive as it is pressure-relieving. Nowadays, there are a ton of different hybrid mattresses available online, but one of our favorites is the Nolah Evolution. It offers multiple firmness options, but we loved the Luxury Firm for the ideal balance between pressure-relieving comfort and outstanding support. This is great for arthritis because it relieves the pain off of joints yet still lifts the hips into alignment.

During our pressure map, the Nolah Evolution showed almost all blue (low pressure) for back-sleeping, and blue and green for side-sleeping. This tells us that back sleepers with back pain or joint pain should be comfortable, but if you like a firmer feel, you might want a firmer mattress. Side sleepers should feel comfortable, even if they have back pain or shoulder pain. For super-sensitive hip pain, you might need a cushioning mattress topper or just a softer mattress. We did see a bit more green at this area, indicating a bit of pressure.

What our tester says: “I love how the Nolah Evolution comes in three different firmness models, so you can choose the best fit for you. For the Luxury Firm model, I really appreciate its medium-firm feel. This mattress provides good pressure relief and body contouring.” -Bridget Chapman, senior product editor

What Customers Say

Shoppers seem to rave about the Nolah Evolution’s pleasant balance of comfort and support, as well as its extremely luxurious feel.

Pros of the Nolah Evolution

• With great motion isolation, cooling abilities, and edge support, most couples should feel extremely comfortable on this mattress.
• Those wanting more than a simple construction should appreciate how the Nolah Evolution includes special cooling properties, reinforced edge support, zoned support, and a CertiPUR-US certification.
• This bed incorporates cooling properties in almost every layer of this mattress. There’s a cooling cover, graphite-infused foam, and breathable coils. 

Cons of the Nolah Evolution

• The Nolah Evolution is priced at $2,499, and while there are often discounts that bring this price down hundreds of dollars, it might still be a bit much for budget shoppers.

Think the Nolah Evolution is the mattress for you? Click here for our best deal or check out our full Nolah Evolution mattress review. Still not sold? Take a look at some of the other best hybrid mattresses. 

What is Arthritis?

Arthritis means inflammation or swelling of one or more joints. It describes more than 100 conditions that affect the joints, tissues around the joint, and other connective tissues. Specific symptoms vary depending on the type of arthritis, but usually include joint pain and stiffness. The most common types include osteoarthritis (OA) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Arthritis is incredibly common. Unfortunately, it’s not curable, but there are a lot of steps you can take to improve arthritis pain.

What Are The Most Common Arthritis Symptoms?

The most common arthritis symptoms are:

• Joint pain
• Swollen joints
• Stiffness
• Decreased range of motion

These symptoms tend to worsen with age.

How Do Mattresses Affect Arthritis?

In addition to doctor prescribed medications, physical therapy, and surgery, a simple thing you can do to alleviate arthritis pain is replace your mattress. As the Arthritis Foundation points out, many of those who suffer from arthritis also suffer from poor sleep, which makes sense — if your bed is unable to actively relieve pressure at the joints, you’re not likely to get the kind of restorative slumber you need. So, you may want to explore new mattress options that are designed with deep pressure relief and support in mind.

For a little inspiration on that front, let’s dive into all the things you’ll want to think about when shopping for a mattress to help deal with your arthritis pain.

How We Chose the Best Mattresses for Arthritis

Our pressure map test at Sleepopolis helps us determine whether or not the mattresses featured in this roundup are cushioning and pressure-relieving enough for arthritis. We roll a mat across the mattress surface, and it uses our body temperature to determine areas of low, moderate, and high pressure. Our device shows blue for low pressure, green for moderate pressure, and yellow, orange, and red for high pressure.

We then rest on the mattress in different sleeping positions. From the map results, we can see whether a mattress is pressure-relieving enough for arthritis, and if so, in what areas. Below you’ll see pressure map results for the Helix Midnight.

From these results, we can determine that the Helix Midnight is going to be a good choice for back sleepers with joint pain and/or back pain, as the map shows primarily blue (or low pressure). Side-sleeping is a bit of a different story; you can see that side sleepers with back and shoulder pain shouldn’t experience excess pressure, but there is a bit of yellow at the hip. With this in mind, we’d say that side sleepers with arthritis in the hips should choose a softer mattress.

The Best Mattress Materials for Arthritis

Mattress Material	Description	Good for Arthritis?
Memory foam	An all-foam mattress with a slow-moving, hug-like feel	Yes (especially those with a high-density foundation)
Hybrid	A combination of coils and foam that provides a balance of comfort and support	Yes (especially those with a comfort layer)
Latex	A natural mattress option that’s responsive and cooling	Yes (especially those using cushioning Dunlop latex)
Innerspring	A mattress with a thin comfort layer and thick coil foundation	No (usually too firm)

How We Picked The Best Mattresses For Arthritis

Now that we’ve gone over our mattress selections, let’s take a moment to discuss the methodology we used to pick them. You can think of this section as a round-up of all the major factors to consider when shopping for a new mattress.

Pressure Relief

Perhaps the most important consideration you’ll want to make is one for pressure relief. As we’ve discussed throughout this guide, high-quality pressure relief can do a lot to alleviate tension at sensitive spots like the shoulders, hips, and lower back. It can also reduce pressure at the joints and nerves, which could be especially beneficial for those who struggle with arthritis.

So, how can you figure out whether or not a bed is going to give you the pressure relief you need? Pay attention to the materials, particularly those in the top layers. If we want to land on a bed that’s deeply pressure-relieving, we look for mattresses built with either quilted pillow tops or thick top layers of memory foam. Either one of these materials should produce a gentle sleeping experience full of cuddly pressure relief.

More Mattresses For Stress Relief

• Best Pillow Top Mattresses
• Best Soft Mattress
• Best Memory Foam Mattress
• Best Mattress for Shoulder Pain
• Best Mattress for Hip Pain

We recommend trying out a new mattress for at least two weeks before committing to it. Thankfully, a lot of direct-to-consumer online brands have generous trial periods that allow folks to do just that. When testing out your new bed, pay attention to any pains that crop up in the night. If you’re experiencing the same sores night after night, your bed likely isn’t doing its job.

Support

Though definitions of support vary from expert to expert, we typically like to think of it as a measure of how well (or not well) a mattress is able to set the spine in a nice even line all the way from the neck to the lower back. If a bed is truly supportive, you should experience this neutral alignment regardless of your sleeping position.

To determine the support level of your mattress, pay extra close attention to the foundational core of the bed. In our experience, pocketed coils or steel springs are going to be the most supportive materials you can find. They lend their structures a ton of bounce, firmness, and support, working to position the sleeper squarely on top of the bed. In all-foam models, keep an eye out for high-density poly foam, which brings some nice stability and shape to those structures.

What’s Zoned Support?

We’re a big fan of mattresses that employ zoned support in their constructions. As we explored earlier, zoned support refers to any layer of foam that’s been subdivided into different firmnesses. Typically, these zoned sections feature firmer foam at the hips to prevent them from sinking out of alignment with the shoulders.

Firmness

Speaking of firmness, those who struggle with arthritis pain will want to be careful about how firm their mattress is. Too firm, and they may experience increased pressure and pain at the joints. Too soft, and they may not get the support they need at the hips and lower back. For that reason, we tend to recommend that arthritis pain sufferers stick to something in the soft to medium firm range.

For us, this means a bed that lands somewhere between 5-6.5/10 on the firmness scale, with 1 being super soft and 10 being ultra-firm. Medium firmness implies a balance between pressure relief and support, which should be ideal for those trying to assuage aches and pains. Most brands provide firmness information on their websites, so you should be able to discern whether or not a mattress is going to be too firm for your needs. And of course, when in doubt, test it out.

FAQs

What is the best mattress for arthritis?

The best mattress varies from person to person, since everyone has different body types and preferred sleeping positions. However, we had to choose, the Saatva would be at the top of our list (especially the softest model). It has a balance of comfort and support that can cushion the joints while also providing spinal alignment.

Is a soft or firm mattress better for arthritis?

Generally, softer mattresses are gentler on the joints, cushioning them to prevent pressure buildup However, depending on your body type and sleeping position, you might need a medium-firm mattress to provide more support (back sleepers especially).

Are memory foam mattresses good for joint pain?

Yes, memory foam mattresses can be great for joint pain. The slow-moving, sinking feel is really easy on sensitive areas and can help alleviate pain. However, we recommend selecting a memory foam mattress with a sturdy, high-density foam base. This will ensure that you’re not sinking into the layers to far.

How We Chose Our Mattresses

Here at Sleepopolis, we’ve reviewed more than 300 products in our mattress lab, running each one through tests such as pressure-mapping and measuring motion transfer with a seismometer. From there, we give every mattress an overall score based on materials, comfort, support, cooling, and edge support. We also factor in brand performance with categories such as value and warranty.

As we stated above, one of the best ways that a mattress can address arthritis is through pressure relief. When we test our products, pressure relief falls under comfort, so we only picked beds that scored at least a 4 out of 5 in this category.

For additional criteria, we also focused on mattresses that offer a lot of support. In fact, all of the beds scored at least a 4 out of 5 in support.

Click here to learn more about our methodology.

Summary: Best Mattress for Arthritis

Final Thoughts

Well folks, that does it for this guide to the best mattress for arthritis. When shopping for a bed of your own, remember to keep a tight focus on pressure relief, support, and firmness. That way, you’ll be able to figure out whether or not the mattress you want to buy is actually designed to help with your arthritis pain.