Best Mattress for Hip Pain: Lab Tested Picks for Pain Relief

Sleep is a critical time for physical recuperation, but unfortunately, many sleepers find that their mattress contributes to pain in areas such as the hips. This often occurs with old mattresses that have worn out and no longer provide adequate support. If a bed’s firmness level isn’t well-suited to a sleeper’s body type or sleep position, it may create painful pressure points around the hips.

Our selection process for this list involved hands-on testing of many different mattresses to find the ones that are most suitable for addressing hip pain. A key criteria in our search was a bed’s ability to balance pressure relief and support, both of which are important for alleviating hip pain. We also considered factors such as firmness and quality of materials.

Best Mattress for Hip Pain Video

Watch the video below to get a closer look at some of our top mattress recommendations for sleepers with hip pain.

We awarded an accolade for each of our top picks based on criteria such as value, comfort, and other performance factors. If you’d like to learn more about finding an ideal mattress for hip pain, scroll down for our comprehensive buyer’s guide. We cover the specifics of how hip pain affects sleep, how mattresses can increase or decrease hip pain, and which types of mattresses are best for hip pain.

Our Recommendations

Why You Can Trust Us

Our team of experts consists of researchers and testers with years of experience in the sleep product industry. To evaluate each mattress, we rely on testers with different body types, primary sleep positions, and firmness preferences in order to create well-rounded product recommendations.

Methodology

How We Evaluated These Mattresses

To pick our best mattresses for hip pain, we used sensor-based technology that monitors pressure buildup in the hips. The mattresses listed above earned the highest ratings from our testing crew, but the picks aren’t set in stone. We’ll continue to reassess these mattresses and evaluate new models to ensure all of our guides are accurate and up to date.

If you would like to know more about how we rank our mattress picks, read about our product research methodology below:

Other Mattress Guides

For more help deciding which mattress is right for you, check out our guides broken down by mattresses that meet specific criteria.

How Hip Pain Affects Sleep

Hip pain can have a profound effect on a person’s life. The hip is one of the largest joints in the body, and hip problems can interfere with mobility and the ability to carry out day-to-day tasks.

Unfortunately, hip problems affect a significant number of Americans. In one study, nearly 20% of adults between the ages of 65 and 74 reported suffering from recent hip pain. Around 27% of adults over 45 have evidence of hip degeneration on imaging tests, making them more susceptible to hip pain. Athletes frequently deal with this issue as an estimated 30-40% of them have chronic hip pain.

One consequence of hip pain can be reduced overall sleep quality. Discomfort can make it harder to get settled in bed, and hip pain has been found to be associated with sleep fragmentation and difficulty sleeping on three or more nights per week. Stress and anxiety can be provoked by pain, further affecting sleep. To make matters worse, lack of sleep can make a person more inclined to perceive pain, contributing to a negative cycle of discomfort and sleeping problems.

All is not lost, though, because in many cases there are direct steps that can be taken to address both pain and poor sleep. However hip pain arises — acute or chronic, irregular or consistent — it’s helpful to learn more about what causes it and what can help relieve it.

Types and Causes of Hip Pain

Hip pain can occur as a result of a wide range of medical conditions. Some people experience hip pain as a short-term issue while others deal with it over an extended period of months or years.

The pain can be felt in the hip, which may be indicative of a problem inside the actual joint, or around the hip, such as in the buttock or thigh, which is more often associated with issues in the surrounding tissue. Some hip pain is also “referred” from other parts of the body, which means that the problem does not originate directly in or around the hip itself.

The following sections describe some of the most common causes for hip pain; however, this is not an exhaustive list. Because of its effects on quality of life and the possibility that it is connected to a larger health concern, it is important for anyone with hip pain to review their symptoms with a doctor.

Arthritis

Osteoarthritis (OA), commonly referred to as just arthritis, is the degradation of cartilage in a joint that leads to inflammation, pain, and deterioration of the bone. OA of the hip is a serious problem, especially among older adults, and it usually worsens slowly over time with additional wear-and-tear.

Cartilage cannot be regenerated, so treatment for OA is normally focused on managing pain and enhancing mobility through lifestyle changes, physical therapy, and medications. In more severe cases, it may be treated surgically with a procedure like hip replacement. People with OA of the hip are generally advised to avoid activities that can exacerbate pain or stiffness, so having a mattress that adequately cushions the joint and that contributes to stable, healthy alignment of the body can be beneficial.

Though less common, other types of arthritis, such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA), septic arthritis, and juvenile idiopathic arthritis, can also cause hip pain.

Physical Injuries

Direct physical harm to the joint can inflict pain on the hip. Bruising, dislocation, and fracture are examples of injuries that can occur from falls or other impacts. Older adults, who suffer more falls, are at a higher risk of these types of hip problems. People with a condition of thinning bones called osteoporosis are also more prone to hip fractures.

Other physical injuries that can affect the hip include strains and sprains of muscles like the hip flexor or hamstring; bursitis, which is inflammation of the fluid-filled sacs around the hip; tendonitis, which is inflammation of nearby tendons, including in many cases the iliotibial (IT) band that goes along the outer leg from near the hip to the knee; and labral tears, which affect the cartilage around the hip joint. Athletes are at an elevated risk of these types of hip problems because of repetitive use and/or overuse of the joint during training and competition.

With almost all of these physical injuries, it’s important not to aggravate the problem with excess pressure or poor posture. Sleeping on a mattress that is too soft may cause the body to sink out of alignment, straining the tissue around the hip. Sleeping on a mattress that is too firm may generate sharp impact at the joint itself.

Pinched Nerves

Nerves carry signals between the brain and the body, and if they become compressed or damaged, it can stimulate feelings of burning, numbness, and pain. Pinched nerves may cause a type of pain that radiates from one part of the body to another, such as sciatica, which radiates along the sciatic nerve that runs from the lower back into the upper legs.

In a condition called meralgia paresthetica, pressure on the nerve that runs to the skin of the thigh can lead to pain, including around the outer part of the hip. In sacroiliitis, the sacroiliac (SI) joints, which connect the pelvis and spine, are inflamed, which can induce radiating pain felt in multiple areas, including the hips.

Treatment for pinched nerves often involves medication and efforts to eliminate the nerve compression. This can require avoiding certain activities, postures, or positions, and a proper mattress that matches a patient’s body’s needs may play a part in preventing compression in areas with a pinched nerve.

Other

While less common than arthritis, physical injury, and pinched nerves, a handful of other conditions can cause hip pain.

• Some infections can take root in the bones and joints, causing pain in and around the hip.
• Different types of cancer can spread to the bones, including in the hip, causing pain and bone degeneration. Leukemia, a type of cancer affecting blood cells, can also be associated with pain, including hip pain in some cases.
• A lack of blood supply to the bones can cause decay of bone tissue, known as osteonecrosis or avascular necrosis, that results in tiny breaks in the bone and eventual bone collapse.

These issues tend to be related to broader health problems that are less likely to be tied to posture or sleeping position. Most hip pain is not caused by these serious problems, but it is important to review hip symptoms with a doctor who can best diagnose their most likely cause.

Can Sleeping Position Affect Hip Pain?

Sleeping position can affect whether a person experiences hip pain. Each sleeping position creates areas of vulnerability, and sleepers are wise to account for these when buying a mattress.

Side sleepers put the most pressure on their shoulders and hips, since these joints bear more weight and have direct impact with the mattress. If a mattress is too firm, it won’t accommodate these areas, potentially causing joint pain and throwing the spine out of alignment. If a mattress is too soft, these pressure points will sink in too deeply and fall out of line with the rest of the body.

Stomach sleepers tend to have the greatest vulnerability around the pelvis and lower back. Most people carry more weight around the abdomen, and on a soft mattress, that area can sink in deeply, contorting the lower back in a U-shape that can induce pain around the entire midsection. For this reason, stomach sleepers tend to do best with a firm mattress that has just enough contouring to cushion the pelvis.

Back sleepers are at risk of pain in the lumbar spine. A mattress that is too firm can’t account for the natural curvature of the lower back, but a mattress that is too soft will cause the spine to sink into a U-shape (similar to the risks for stomach sleepers). Improper positioning can cause muscle aches and nerve compression. Consequently, back sleepers generally prefer firmer mattresses with low-to-moderate contouring to cushion the pelvis and shoulders.

Body shape and weight should be considered along with sleeping position. People who carry more abdominal weight and sleep on their back or stomach are at an elevated risk of bad posture on a soft mattress. People who weigh under 130 pounds don’t sink as much into a mattress and can benefit from a plusher feel compared to people who have a higher body weight.

Can a Mattress Cause Hip Pain?

A mattress can contribute to hip pain if it doesn’t give your body the right amount of support. If you have sharp pressure points, it can cause irritation or even pinched nerves. In addition, if your alignment at night is out of whack, your muscles and other tissues can’t truly relax, generating stress and interrupting bodily recovery.

Many factors can contribute to pain, and it’s not always possible to pinpoint just one cause. As a result, it may be a challenge to know for sure if your hip pain is related to your mattress. If you find that the pain is worse when you get out of bed and gradually improves during the day, it may be a sign that your mattress is part of the problem.

Check out our video below to learn more about how a mattress with good pressure relief can minimize hip pain:

How to Tell if You Need a New Mattress

Sometimes, a worn-out mattress is a large contributor to hip pain and other types of pain. After years of use, mattresses will develop permanent impressions in the foam, sagging in the coils, and other signs of wear that can significantly diminish the amount of support a mattress provides. If you experience any of the following signs in addition to your hip pain, it’s likely time for a new bed:

• You notice impressions, lumps, sagging, rips and tears, or other signs of wear in your bed
• You tend to roll to the center of the mattress while sleeping
• You find the couch or other places to sleep more comfortable than your own bed
• It’s been more than 7 years since you’ve purchased a new mattress
• You can’t remember the last time you purchased a new mattress

The average mattress lasts from 6 to 8 years, but mattress lifespan varies depending on the quality and materials it’s made of. Cheap memory foam and innerspring mattresses can last as little as 4 years, while higher-quality hybrid and latex models can last as many as 9 or 10.

Whether your hip pain is a direct result of your mattress or not, an old mattress isn’t helping. Most online mattress companies offer sleep trials, which allow you to try the mattress for at least 100 days before committing to it. We recommend making use of this to help ease your hip pain.

Which Type of Mattress is Best for Hip Pain?

The type of support that you get from a mattress is determined largely by the type of mattress that you use. There are five main types of mattresses on the market, and each has pros and cons. The following sections introduce these mattress types, but it’s important to note that performance isn’t uniform within each category. While there are consistent features, the performance of any given mattress will depend on the specifics of its construction, which can vary even within a mattress type.

Hybrid

Definition: The construction of a hybrid starts with its support core, which is made from innerspring coils. In modern hybrids, these are usually pocketed coils. Above the coils is a thick comfort system built with one or more layers. Those layers can include microcoils, memory foam, polyfoam, latex, and other textile materials.
A Bit of Everything: The inclusion of distinct components allows a hybrid to offer some of the best characteristics of other mattress types. The coils improve responsiveness and protect against excess sagging, and the comfort layers provide conforming to relieve pressure and support the spine.

Innerspring

Definition: A coil-based layer is the central component of an innerspring mattress. In the past, innersprings were the most common type of mattress available. These offerings have either no comfort system at all or at most thin layers of materials like foam, cotton, or polyester.
An Economical Base to Build On: Most people with hip pain won’t get enough support from an innerspring alone, but by combining an innerspring and a mattress topper, they can essentially arrange their own hybrid-type mattress to fit their preferences. With the lower cost of innersprings and toppers, they may save money in the process.

Latex

Definition: The components of a latex mattress are made with its namesake material. Latex, a type of rubber, can be produced using sap cultivated from rubber trees (natural latex), or it can be made synthetically (SBR latex). For mattresses sold online, natural latex is much more common and is made with either the Talalay or Dunlop process.
Blending Contouring and Resilience: Latex is a bouncy material, which means that these mattresses are easier to move on and generally don’t permit excessive sink. At the same time, they have the ability to compress to suit the body’s weight, conforming to protect the hips and minimize impact at pressure points.

Airbed

Definition: An internal air chamber forms the support core of an airbed. Air is added or removed using a pump that is controlled by a remote or a smartphone app. The comfort system above the air chamber can be minimal or robust and may include foam, latex, and/or other textiles.
Max Adjustability: Airbeds offer the ability to easily adjust the firmness level, which means that a different feel for your bed is available in an instant. If hip pain flares up, you can make the bed softer to reduce impact, or if you need to sleep on your back or side, you can add air to make the bed firmer.

Foam

Definition: A bed is considered foam when all of its internal layers are made of memory foam or polyfoam, sometimes with thin layers of latex or a textile such as cotton, polyester, or wool. There are no innerspring coils in a foam mattress. Foams with more contouring and responsiveness tend to be used in the comfort system.
Outstanding Pressure Relief: Foam mattresses, especially those that utilize memory foam, typically provide excellent pressure relief because of the material’s ability to conform and give proportional cushioning based on how the body’s weight is distributed across the mattress. This reduces pain points and bolsters spinal alignment.

How to Get Relief on a Budget

If you’ve identified that your current mattress is contributing to hip pain, you’re likely ready to make a change. But at the end of the day, you have to be able to afford a mattress upgrade, and some people may worry that it’s just not in their budget.

Even if you aren’t able to splurge on a luxury mattress, you can still find relief. You can make the most of your spending with the following tips.

Consider Buying a Mattress Online

People who are looking for a mattress online are often surprised by how many affordable options are available. Buying a mattress online has become commonplace today and is consistently growing in popularity.

Part of the reason for this popularity is competitive pricing. Online direct-to-consumer mattresses are often less expensive since the manufacturer isn’t paying for showrooms and additional staff. These “mattress in a box” models are comparable to those sold in brick-and-mortar stores in terms of construction and performance. In addition, competition between sellers means that promotions and discounts are available to offer deals below the retail pricing.

Another benefit to shopping online is that you can take your time and fully research your options. In your living room, there’s no pushy salesperson looking over your shoulder, so it can be a much more pleasant and low-pressure shopping experience. In this context, it’s much easier to compare different options and seek out the best mattress for the money.

A common concern when buying online is that you can’t lie down on the bed before making a purchase. While it’s true that you can’t feel out a mattress through your computer, detailed descriptions and reviews online give a solid idea of what to expect for any given model.

Furthermore, virtually every online mattress comes with a sleep trial that lets you use the mattress at home with the option to return it for a full refund. These no-risk sleep trials usually last for 100 nights or more, and if you decide to make a return, most companies will even come and pick the mattress up from your home.

Shipping is almost always free and uses the “mattress-in-a-box” method. The mattress is compressed inside plastic packaging and mailed to your doorstep in a box. You simply need to move the box to your bedroom, cut away the packaging, and let the bed retake its original size. You can usually sleep on this new bed immediately or at the latest within a few hours.

Shipping the mattress in this way has no effect on its quality or durability, and it eliminates the cost and hassle associated with traditional mattress delivery and installation.

Dozens of brands have an online presence, and that includes many of the major mattress companies that originally built their reputation in brick-and-mortar stores. But no matter whether you’re intrigued by a new mattress brand or a long-time industry player, you can expect to find plenty of quality, affordable options online.

Mattress Toppers

Even if you conclude that a brand new mattress isn’t in your budget, that doesn’t mean you’re out of options. A mattress topper, which goes above your current bed, is another product that switches up the feel of your bed and often comes with a lower price tag.

As the name indicates, a mattress topper sits on top of your existing mattress and under your sheet. It is held in place by straps, an elastic band, or by your fitted sheet. Mattress topper thickness usually ranges from 1 to 4 inches, and most of the time they are made with only one type of material.

Memory foam is among the most popular materials in mattress toppers. It is known for its contouring, allowing the topper to cradle the hips and relieve other pressure points to improve spinal alignment. Polyfoam and latex toppers with slightly less contouring can also work to reduce hip and other pain.

While it’s more affordable, a topper won’t offer all the advantages of a new mattress. It won’t have the coordinated design and layers of a complete mattress, so you may not get all the benefits of materials like latex or memory foam. In addition, if your current mattress is sagging or suffering from other wear-and-tear, a topper won’t fix it; instead, the topper will just sag right along with your old bed.

Overall, a topper can be a useful stepping stone, letting you try out sleeping on a different material. It can also help with pressure relief in the short-term, buying time until your budget allows you to invest in a new mattress.

Try Changing Up Your Sleeping Position

Depending on the cause and nature of your hip pain, you can try to change your sleeping position. For example, if you’re a side sleeper dealing with a bruise or inflammation, sleeping on your back or side, or at the very least avoiding the injured side, may help fight pain.

If you’re a back or stomach sleeper with a soft mattress and can’t afford a new bed, you can try switching to side-sleeping. The softer mattress may be better at cushioning pressure points, including your hips, and keeping your lower back aligned.

Giving a new sleeping position a shot is worth a try, but it won’t always pan out. Many people involuntarily move back to their traditional sleeping position during the night, and in those cases, a long-term sleeping position change may fail to take hold.

Additional Sleeping Accessories for Sleepers With Hip Pain

Along with your mattress, a number of accessories, such as pillows and a bed frame, help shape your sleeping experience. If you don’t have the budget for a new mattress, you can invest in these lower-cost accessories to try to reduce hip pain. Or if you want to fully step up your bedroom, you can get a new bed frame and pillows along with a brand new mattress.

Pillows

By itself, the wrong pillow can throw off alignment and have a snowball effect on the rest of your spine, including on the lower back area that can radiate pain to the hips. Keeping your head and neck supported and in line with your body is an important part of getting deep, restorative sleep.

The ideal type and size of pillow depends in part on the feel of your mattress. For example, on a plush mattress, your body is likely to sink in more than your head, which means that your neck could hyperextend if the pillow is tall (high loft). General recommendations for the combination of firmness and pillow loft are listed in the table below

Mattress Firmness	Pillow Loft Recommended
Soft – Medium Soft	Low
Medium	Medium
Medium Firm – Firm	High

Sleeping position also plays into the best pillow for any given person. The width of the shoulders means that side sleepers have a greater gap between their head and the mattress, making a taller pillow a better fit. Back sleepers want less loft, but a pillow that is too thin may be insufficient for support and can contribute to snoring. Stomach sleepers generally need a very thin pillow to avoid hyperextending the neck.

Sleeping Position	Pillow Loft Recommended
Back	Medium
Side	Medium or High
Stomach	Low

Pillows can help provide comfort and support when used in other ways besides just to support the head. When dealing with a physical injury, a light, thin pillow may help cushion any sensitive areas including the hips. Side sleepers who pull their legs upward often benefit from the use of a pillow between their knees. Some side sleepers also like a body pillow that can keep their torso from twisting, which can strain the muscles around the lower back and hips.

Back sleepers can try putting a pillow underneath their knees to take some pressure off of the lumbar area. Depending on their mattress firmness, stomach sleepers may use thin pillows under the abdomen or chest to promote alignment.

Bed Platforms and Bases

The base that your mattress sits on can affect its overall performance. If the bed frame or base is weak or poorly designed, your mattress may start to sag prematurely, reducing the support you need to combat hip pain.

When choosing a new bed base, it is essential to check with the mattress manufacturer about recommended options. If you don’t use the proper foundation, it may detract from performance and void the mattress warranty.

An intriguing option for many people with hip and back pain is an adjustable base. These frames are equipped with motors and a remote that allow you to raise and lower the head and foot of the bed. Some adjustable bases offer heat and massage options as well.

The benefit of an adjustable base is that you can modify your body’s positioning to improve alignment and comfort. For example, back sleepers may slightly raise the head and the legs to decrease pressure on the lower back and hips. A pressure-relieving “zero gravity” setting is available on many adjustable bases.

Not all mattresses are compatible with an adjustable base. Some innersprings are vulnerable to damage if you try to bend them in this way, and some foam or latex mattresses may wear out more quickly if compressed by an adjustable frame. For this reason, it is vital to check with the mattress maker before buying and using this kind of bed base.

Mattress Features To Look For to Relieve Hip Pain

When you get started shopping for a new mattress, you may find yourself confronted with a dizzying array of brands, models, and marketing jargon. Sorting out what’s truly important can be a struggle, but failure to do so can lead you astray, causing you to wind up with a mattress that exacerbates your hip pain.

To keep things simple, focus on certain key factors when considering your options. These can narrow your list down to just a few models that you can investigate in detail to make a final purchase.

• Mattress Type: As we explained in a previous section, mattress type is a major indicator of likely performance. If you want more conforming to cushion your hips, more bounce to make it easy to move in bed, more firmness adjustability, or any other performance characteristic, look for the mattress category that best suits that preference.
• Zoned Support: Not all parts of the body need the same cushioning, and this principle drives zoned material construction. Coils or foams can be made to have more give under certain parts of the body, such as the shoulders and hips. Materials with lots of conforming, like memory foam, produce a similar effect through their proportional compression and body cradling.
• Quality Materials: If you want a mattress that is durable and helps relieve pain, it’s important to look for quality components in all layers of the mattress. Low-quality materials in even just one layer can be a weak link that drags down the bed’s overall performance.
• Firmness Level: The right comfort level is a critical part of making sure that a mattress fits with your body and sleeping position. It’s also necessary so that your mattress is welcoming and puts you in the right mindset to drift off to sleep at bedtime each night.