Best Mattresses for Neck Pain (2023)

Expert Insights from Dr. Navin Ramchandani, MD, a Medical Diagnostician and Owner of R&R Medical Centre in Barbados. He is also an Advanced Paediatric Life Support (APLS) International instructor with the Advanced Life Support Group (ALSG), and a Paediatric BASIC (Basic Assessment and Support in Intensive Care) international instructor.

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“If you’ve noticed you’re experiencing neck pain, you may be sleeping on an old mattress that no longer offers the proper support,” says Dr. Navin Ramchandani.

Mattresses aren’t built to last forever, and your body may signal that it’s time for a new one by registering pain in your neck, shoulders, or back. If you find yourself running to the chiropractor to eliminate pain, consider a new mattress.

The right mattress can reduce or entirely eliminate neck pain caused by strained muscles or misalignment. The key is to find a bed that offers the right kind of support. “Finding a supportive, yet soft mattress like the Zenhaven, built for reducing neck pain and soreness, can help improve and alleviate strained muscles,” says Dr. Ramchandani.

Our best mattresses for neck pain have been selected because they meet criteria for the kind of support and comfort that promises both reduced pain and better sleep. Compare our top picks and find out how to choose the right mattress for you in our buyer’s guide.

Best Mattress for Neck Pain: Our Top Picks

• Editor’s Pick – Zenhaven Natural Latex
• Best Mattress for Neck and Back Pain – Brooklyn Signature Hybrid
• Best Mattress for Seniors – DreamCloud
• Best Affordable Mattress – Layla
• Best Mattress for Side Sleepers – Casper Hybrid
• Best Mattress for Neck and Shoulder Pain – Purple

Why You Can Trust Mattress Advisor

We hold ourselves to the highest standards of integrity in our product reviews and other content by incorporating real customer feedback, empirical testing and objective evaluations. Our results and recommendations are never influenced by the commission we may receive from brands, and products we receive are never guaranteed a positive review.

Note: Our recommendations are not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice or treatment.

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Zenhaven Natural Latex

Why this is great mattress for neck pain:

The Zenhaven Natural Latex by Saatva is our Editor’s Pick because it is an absolutely exceptional mattress for mitigating neck pain and soreness at half the cost of comparable retail brands. The mattress is made from all-natural 100% Talalay latex combined with wool and cotton for a healthy, toxin-free mattress.

The Talalay latex and other natural and organic materials make for an eco-friendly bed with unparalleled contouring to keep the head, neck, shoulders and back aligned and pain free. The mattress is also flippable, so you have the choice of luxury plush or gentle firm, two slightly different firmness levels, depending on which side you decide to sleep on.

Pros:

• Dual sides: The mattress has two-in-one firmness, so you can sleep on the softer or more firm side to dial in just the right comfort level for you.
• Good pressure relief and spine alignment: We gave the mattress an 8/10 in both of these pain-related categories. The Natural Latex not only cradles your body and provides good relief from the buildup of tension, but it also helps your body maintain its natural curve.
• Highly responsive: If you like to change positions often throughout the night and feel like you’re sleeping “on top of” the mattress instead of sinking into it, you should consider this bed. We gave it a near-perfect score responsiveness.
• Good terms: The Zenhaven Natural Latex comes with a 365-night sleep trial, a lifetime warranty, and white glove delivery with free mattress removal.

Cons:

• Below-average motion isolation: If you sleep with a restless partner, this might not be the best mattress for you. In our testing it earned a 7/10 for motion transfer, which suggests you might feel any movements from the other side of the bed.

Read our full Zenhaven Natural Latex mattress review. You can compare similar beds in our roundup of best latex mattresses.

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Brooklyn Signature Hybrid

Why this is great mattress for neck pain:

The Signature Hybrid uses layered memory foam and pocketed coils. In our testing, we found that this combination offers exceptional contouring and spine alignment to support the neck and back, while reducing discomfort. It also has a nice balance of forgiving cushion and bounce, which can keep you feeling cradled but still able to easily move around.

The Signature Hybrid comes in three firmness options, soft, medium, and firm, so you can get the right one to support your sleep position and comfort preferences. We found that all provide excellent pressure relief, which helps allow for loosening of those tight neck and back muscles.

Pros:

• Good cooling: The mattress’s foam layers have a gel infusion for better cooling; its cover and innersprings enhance the overall breathability of airflow in the bed.
• Nice alignment and pressure relief: We gave the mattress high marks in two categories of interest to those with neck pain—spine alignment and pressure relief. The mattress provides good lumbar support and contouring to maintain your body’s natural curve and ease any tension.
• Discounts and terms: Other highlights of the Brooklyn Signature Hybrid include a 120-night sleep trial and 10-year warranty. The brand offers free shipping and returns, and discounts to college students, teachers, first responders, and those in the military.

Cons:

• So-so motion transfer: The mattress scored slightly below average for motion transfer. This suggests that any major movements on one side of the bed could awaken a partner sleeping on the other.

Read our full Brooklyn Signature Hybrid mattress review. To see similar beds, check out our roundup of best mattresses for back pain.

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DreamCloud

Why this is great mattress for neck pain:

The DreamCloud mattress is a great choice for seniors because it addresses their needs, including neck pain. It’s made from a memory foam blend that “ helps alleviate neck pain by providing support to relieve pressure and align the spine,” says Dr. Ramchandani. In our testing, we gave the mattress a 9/10 in both of these key test categories: pressure relief and spine alignment. It also simply excels across the board, earning above-average scores in all of our most important areas of assessment.

The mattress also has pocketed coils that are designed for better stability and to tamp down the transfer of movement, so you get a better night of sleep without being awakened by a restless partner’s tossing and turning. We found it to be above average in this regard, and gave the mattress an 8.5/10 for motion transfer.

Pros:

• Excellent cooling: The DreamCloud has gel-infused memory foam, so it sleeps cooler than a traditional memory foam mattress. Its innerspring layer helps maintain better air circulation.
• Near-perfect pressure relief and spine alignment: The mattress excels in both of these categories, which is further proof it’s a good one for pain sufferers.
• Ideal terms: The DreamCloud also comes with an unbeatable 365-night sleep trial and a lifetime warranty. This far exceeds industry standards.

Cons:

• Heavy: You might not want to move it by yourself—the queen-sized DreamCloud weighs nearly 100 lbs. Consider springing for the brand’s white-glove delivery when ordering so you don’t have to set it up yourself.

Read our full DreamCloud mattress review. Also, see our roundup of best mattresses for seniors.

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Layla

Why this is great mattress for neck pain:

The Layla mattress uses memory foam infused with therapeutic copper to help with pain. The flippable mattress is made with two different levels of firmness and is constructed so you can sleep on either side depending on what feels best, either medium soft or medium firm.

Medium firm is more generally accepted as the best support for neck and back pain, both upper back pain and lower back pain. In our testing, both sides proved to have excellent spine alignment and pressure relief, which indicates you’ll get a pain-free, well-supported night of sleep, no matter which side you try.

Pros:

• Good support: We gave Layla perfect scores for shipping, sleep trial, returns, and warranty—you get a lifetime warranty, a 120-night trial period, and free shipping and returns.
• Near-perfect pressure relief: Thanks to the mattress’s contouring foam layers, it provides excellent pressure relief so you can sleep on your side without your shoulders and hips accumulating too much tension.
• Highly responsive: Memory foam mattresses have a reputation for making you feel like you’re “stuck” in the foam. But the Layla earns high marks for responsiveness, so while it effectively contours to your body, you’ll still have no trouble moving around on it.

Cons:

• So-so cooling: If you’re a hot sleeper and you prioritize cooling in a mattress, you might want to look elsewhere. The Layla’s memory foam layers don’t do the best job at dispersing body heat.

Read our full Layla mattress review. Compare other budget-friendly beds in our roundup of best affordable mattresses.

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Casper Hybrid

Why this is great mattress for neck pain:

The Casper Hybrid takes the brand’s original high-quality mattress and adds a layer of coils to give it a little more bounce and support. The mattress has a middle layer of memory foam with zoned firmness—this means it incorporates different foams in the upper, middle, and lower parts of the mattress to provide tailored support to individual parts of the body.

Casper places a softer foam under the head and shoulder area for more cushion and support. They put a firmer foam under hips and core for stability, and a medium foam under the lower body for a customized fit.
The Casper Hybrid has great contouring to hold and support head and shoulders so neck muscles can relax. It also provides good pressure relief, which makes it an excellent option for those who sleep on their sides.

Pros:

• Very responsive: We gave it a 9.5/10 for responsiveness, which suggests it’s easy to move around and get in and out of this bed.
• Excellent spine alignment: This mattress is one of the best for helping you maintain good posture while you sleep to reduce aches and pains—in our testing, sleepers had near-perfect spine alignment when lying on the Casper Hybrid.
• Good motion isolation: This mattress is one of the best we’ve tested at isolating motion, so if you sleep with a restless partner, their nighttime movements won’t disrupt your sleep.

Cons:

• Not as suitable for heavier sleepers: Some plus-sized sleepers have found that this mattress doesn’t provide the support they need; if this is you, consider the Casper Wave Hybrid as an alternative.

Read our full Casper Hybrid mattress review. Compare similar beds in our roundup of best mattresses for side sleepers.

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Purple

Why this is great mattress for neck pain:

In order to relieve neck pain, a mattress must support the head and shoulders and provide good pressure relief. The Purple is a winner in this regard, thanks to a layered construction that includes a hyper-elastic polymer atop multiple layers of supportive foam. In our testing, the mattress earns a high score for pressure relief due to this cushioning combination, and an even higher score for spine alignment. Side sleepers in particular will note that the mattress holds their back in a nice neutral alignment, which helps prevent the buildup of tension.

The Purple’s trademark pliable grid system is one-of-a-kind and holds a reputation for helping alleviate pain. It’s often recommended for athletes due to the comfort and support it provides.

Pros:

• Good edge support: The Purple maintains its support all the way to the sides of the mattress, so if you sit or sleep at the edge of the mattress, you won’t feel like you’re about to slide off.
• Near-perfect spine alignment: Sleeping with your back and neck in a nice neutral position is key for those who wake up feeling cramped or achey. The Purple helps prevent this feeling by supporting your body’s natural curve.
• Durable: Purple’s grid is known to be long-lasting, so it can help lessen your neck pain for the long haul.

Cons:

• Might not be best for heavier sleepers: Some heavier sleepers have reported that the mattress’s gel grid system didn’t hold up beneath their body weight.

Read our full Purple mattress review. Also, see our roundup of best mattresses for shoulder pain.

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How to Choose the Best Mattress for Neck Pain

A new mattress that reduces your neck pain can work wonders, but what do you need to know to make an informed purchase? There are a number of variables and a plethora of choices. Let us walk you through the important things to consider such as

• Causes of Neck Pain
• Sleeping Position and Neck Pain
• Best Type of Mattress for Neck Pain
• What to Look for in a Mattress for Neck Pain
• How to Reduce Neck Pain While Sleeping
• FAQs

Causes of Neck Pain

Poor sleep doesn’t cause neck pain, it just makes you feel it more acutely. So, what causes neck soreness? The most common causes include psychological things like stress, and behavior therapy is often a first course of treatment. When we are stressed, we may unconsciously do things like gritting our teeth that can cause neck tightness and pain.

There are physical variables as well, like standing in the same position while working or tensing when doing a repetitive task like gardening. Poor posture can cause neck pain along with carrying a heavy shoulder bag or purse. Car accidents are a common cause, especially if you are hit from behind and get whiplash. Last, but not least, is a poor sleep position. If your head, neck, and shoulders are not supported, or your spine is out of alignment, tension can build up and cause neck pain.

Neck pain and sleep may be more related than you think. A substantial number of people with chronic neck pain also have a sleep disorder, often insomnia. Pain can cause poor sleep and poor sleep makes you more sensitive to pain. If you don’t intervene, this cycle can continue or even get worse.

One approach to solving insomnia and chronic neck soreness is relaxation therapy. Teaching the body to relax, and to let go of tension, can lessen pain and improve sleep. A mattress that helps you relax, one where you feel fully supported, can make a huge difference in your ability to relax while sleeping.

Sleeping Position and Neck Pain

Since a common cause of neck pain is sleeping in an unsupportive position, let’s take a look at different sleep positions and their effects on neck soreness.

Side Sleepers

Side sleeping is considered a good position for neck pain. With the right mattress for side sleepers, it’s easy to keep your spine aligned and get the support you need. Look for a contouring top layer of memory foam or latex that is designed to support side sleeping and take pressure off. Also, choose a medium firm mattress that helps keep your spine aligned.

Back Sleepers

Sleeping on your back is also considered a good position for neck pain. It puts your body in a neutral position and aligns your spine taking pressure off your head and neck. Use a low-profile pillow to keep your spine aligned and your neck relaxed. The best mattresses for back sleepers  are typically medium-firm or firm hybrids.

Stomach Sleepers

Sleeping on your stomach can throw your spine out of alignment and cause substantial neck pain. Poor sleep position is considered a cause of chronic neck pain, and stomach sleeping is specifically referenced. Consider changing sleep positions to reduce neck soreness, or at least consider a mattress for stomach sleepers with a firmness level of 7 or 8 and a hybrid foam/coil design.

Combination Sleepers

The main concern for combination sleepers with neck pain is tweaking your neck when you shift positions. The best mattresses for combination sleepers have excellent responsiveness so that they’re easy to move around on. A mattress with a medium to medium-firm feel can accommodate multiple sleeping positions.

What Type of Mattress is Best for Neck Pain?

Memory Foam

It’s no coincidence that our top picks include memory foam mattresses and memory foam/coil hybrids. Memory foam offers a unique type of cushion that molds closely to the body and offers proper support all the way up and down and deep into all of your curves. The neck is completely supported, so there is no tension that can lead to pain. Memory foam is a good mattress type if you are looking for a bed to reduce neck pain.

Innerspring

Innerspring mattresses do not have the kind of contouring materials that offer pressure point support or mold to the shape of your body. A good innerspring mattress with a plush pillow top and the right kind of pillow could be okay for some people with neck pain, but it would not be high on the list of recommendations.

Latex

Latex, like memory foam, is a softer mattress that has the ability to contour and mold to your body offering a superior kind of support. Natural latex mattresses can work very well to ease tension and support pain reduction. They have the advantage of being a natural material made from rubber trees that is non-toxic and eco-friendly.

Hybrid

We also profiled several hybrids in our top picks. This is because the best hybrid mattresses can be that perfect combination of innerspring and foam layers that create excellent support for neck pain. They are usually memory foam or latex in the upper layers and springs as a base. They offer great stability and edge support.

What to Look for in a Mattress for Neck Pain

If your mattress is going to help reduce neck pain, it needs to have certain characteristics. Things to look for might include good pressure relief and good spinal alignment. Other important considerations are sleep trial period and price.

Pressure Relief

Neck pain can originate in the neck (tight muscles), or it can be the result of your spine being out of alignment. Either way, you want a mattress that takes the pressure off, so your body can relax, and muscles can soften and let go of tension. Memory foam and natural latex are the two most supportive quality materials when it comes to really giving good pressure relief.

Read More: Why Pressure Relief Is Important

Spine Alignment

When your spine is in alignment, everything works better in your body. Your blood flows properly, your nerves are unencumbered, and you experience far less pain. Since neck pain can originate from a poor sleep position, people with neck pain need to pay attention to good spinal alignment in a mattress. This can help pain sufferers dramatically.

Read More: Why Spine Alignment Is Important

Firmness

An ultra-plush mattress isn’t necessarily the best remedy for neck pain. A too-soft mattress that doesn’t properly support the neck could allow your head to sink in too deeply, putting strain on tendons and joints. Consider a medium to medium-firm mattress, or something a little firmer if you’re a stomach sleeper or back sleeper.

Sleep Trial

If you have neck pain (or any other type of pain), getting a new mattress that doesn’t help the problem can be really discouraging. Fortunately, online mattress companies that ship directly to you typically offer a trial period. You can sleep on the mattress for at least 30 days and up to 1 year and still return it if it isn’t right. Many manufacturers also offer free returns.

How to Reduce Neck Pain While Sleeping

• Check your spine once you’re in bed: You want to keep your spine in a nice neutral position so it can maintain its natural curve. If your neck feels like it’s being pushed too far forward, back, or in any one particular direction, adjust your pillow or sleep position until you feel no strain.
• Change your pillow: Try a thinner pillow, or an orthopedic pillow with more contouring to take the pressure off your neck muscles. Latex and memory foam models tend to provide good neck-cradling support. The important thing is to find one that keeps your spine aligned for your preferred sleep position.
• Avoid sleeping on your stomach: Sleeping on your stomach causes you to wrench your neck and put tension on it. Sleeping on your back or your side will make it easier to maintain good spine alignment.
• Replace your mattress: We had to say it. If your mattress is worn out and contributing to your neck pain, it’s time to get a new one with the support you need.

FAQs

Can your sleep position cause neck pain?

A poor sleep position is listed as one of the primary causes of neck pain. This can result from an old or sagging mattress, a poor mattress and pillow combination, or the position you choose to sleep in.

Sometimes pain forces us into less than ideal sleep positions that can actually exacerbate pain. The solution is to have a mattress that supports a good sleep position, with all body parts supported, and good spinal alignment.

What if you have both neck and shoulder pain?

It is common to have pain in the neck and shoulders, or neck and back. The good news is that the kind of mattress that helps one, helps all. Memory foam and natural latex have a property called viscosity that allows it mold to any shape and support that shape.

Consequently, both neck and shoulders get the support they need, and this alleviates pain.

Related: Best Mattresses for Shoulder Pain

What is the best pillow for neck pain?

Not a simple question to answer, because it depends on your sleep position, your body weight, your body type, your firmness level preference, and the kind of pillow material you like. You may prefer down, memory foam, natural latex, or something else. There are a number of variables to be considered to get the right pillow to reduce neck pain. For example, if you sleep on your stomach, on a firmer mattress, you might do best with a low-profile latex pillow. For a deeper dive, check out our Best Pillows for Neck Pain.

Can your mattress cause neck pain?

In short, yes. A too-soft mattress, too-firm mattress, too-old mattress, or mattress that throws your spine out of alignment and doesn’t provide sufficient support can contribute to neck pain. Look for a mattress with good spine alignment, good pressure relief if you’re a side sleeper, and a suitable firmness for your sleep position to help alleviate neck pain and not add to it.

A Closer Look at Our Selections

In choosing our best mattresses for neck pain, we look at testing scores in two key categories and examine special features like support zones. Here’s how our top picks stack up:

MATTRESS	AVERAGE (OUT OF 10) FOR SPINE ALIGNMENT, PRESSURE RELIEF, AND SUPPORT FEATURES
Zenhaven Natural Latex	8.7
Brooklyn Signature Hybrid	8.6
DreamCloud	8.6
Layla	8.5
Casper Hybrid	8.6
Purple	8.5

Note: The testing categories we focus on in this chart don’t reflect overall performance. Depending on your needs and preferences, you might put more (or less) value on particular qualities.

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Summary

Pain in the neck? The right mattress can be a solution. It can greatly reduce or completely eliminate neck pain by supporting all parts of the body and allowing for deep relaxation and a good night’s sleep. Better sleep lessens the perception of pain and a relaxed body can let go of tension.

Check with your doctor or chiropractor about the cause of your neck pain and possible treatment options while considering a new mattress to relieve your pain.