Best Mattress for Neck Pain

Neck pain can really get in the way of a good night’s sleep. But the right mattress can provide some relief by supporting the natural curvature of your neck. Balanced support and contouring are critical for sleepers with neck pain, but what that looks like depends on a person’s body type and preferred sleeping position. Below, we’ll break down our top picks for mattresses for neck pain, explain what to look for, and provide other tips for sleeping with neck pain.

How to Choose the Best Mattress for Neck Pain

Anyone shopping for a new mattress has a number of factors to consider, but those with neck pain often have some pretty pressing priorities. Understanding certain performance characteristics, as well as the different types of mattresses, can help you narrow your search.

“The neck does not work in isolation, rather a part of a kinetic chain,” says sleep medicine physician Lulu Guo, M.D. “Thus, a supportive mattress that keeps your entire spine neutral helps reduce strain on neck muscles, joints, and nerves.”

Firmness Level

We describe mattress firmness on a 10-point scale with 1 being the softest and 10 being the firmest. The ideal firmness for sleepers with neck pain depends on their sleep position and body weight. Most sleepers benefit from a model with enough support and contouring to keep the spine aligned without permitting excessive sinkage, which usually means a medium-firm mattress. 

Pressure Relief and Contouring

Pressure relief depends on how well a mattress redistributes weight from the sleeper’s wider, heavier body parts so force is spread more evenly across the mattress surface. This reduces pressure around any one body part and makes it easier to maintain good posture. Since spinal alignment is important for sleepers with neck pain, pressure relief is often a high priority.  

A lot of a mattress’s pressure relief comes from contouring. By conforming to a sleeper’s body, a mattress can ease pressure points. Like mattresses for arthritis pain, most mattresses for neck pain offer moderate to significant contouring. However, sleepers with neck pain generally need contouring balanced with stable support to maintain good posture.

Temperature Regulation

Temperature regulation is a mattress’ ability to remain at a neutral temperature. This quality is often closely linked to breathability, since airflow helps dissipate heat. However, some models also include special technology designed for cooling, such as gel infusions or phase change material. We recommend that anyone with neck pain who is also prone to overheating consider a mattress with strong temperature regulation, like a hybrid or latex model.

Price

Most mattress models range from around $1,000 to $2,000 for a queen size. While price is an important factor, you can often get a better value for your money by prioritizing quality and performance over the up-front ticket price. If you’re on a limited budget, you can always supplement your new mattress with a pillow for neck pain or a mattress topper.

Quality Materials

Quality materials can enhance a mattress’ performance and durability by resisting degradation. Lower quality materials may break down and develop significant sagging or indentations, limiting the bed’s usable lifespan for sleepers with neck pain who need consistent support.

Motion Isolation

When a mattress absorbs vibrations rather than transferring them across the surface, it’s referred to as motion isolation. Motion isolation is usually important for people who wake easily and share their bed with a partner. With strong motion isolation, you may be less likely to notice when your partner changes positions or gets up, allowing you to get more sleep.

Edge Support

Edge support is how sturdy the mattress feels when you sit or sleep along its perimeter. The more supportive the mattress edge, the easier it is to get in and out of bed. It also means you have more of the mattress surface to sleep on without feeling like you might roll off.

Mattress Warranty and Other Policies

No matter your reasons for buying a new mattress, it’s always a good idea to check the details of your mattress’ warranty. While coverage differs among brands, warranties typically cover manufacturing defects and sometimes premature sagging, but they usually don’t apply to everyday wear and tear. Double-check what’s covered by your mattress warranty and for how long.

Similarly, almost all online mattress brands offer a sleep trial of at least 90 days that allows you to try out your mattress in your home and return it if it doesn’t work for you. Sleep trials are especially helpful if you want to make sure your new mattress is a good fit for easing your neck pain.

What Type of Mattress Is Best for Neck Pain?

The type of mattress you eventually purchase depends on your body type, sleep position, needs, and preferences. Each type of mattress has general features that are consistent among most models, but there’s also plenty of variation among models based on their materials, quality, and design.

Hybrid

Description: Hybrid mattresses combine foam or latex comfort systems with coil cores. This design is intended to provide the conforming quality of foam or latex models with the responsive support of innerspring models. 

Highlight: For sleepers with neck pain, this combination often equates to a balance of cradling and support that relieves pressure, promotes spinal alignment, and facilitates movement without trapping a lot of heat.

Foam

Description: Foam mattresses typically consist of several layers of different types of foam. The comfort system may contain memory foam or polyfoam, while the core generally contains high-density polyfoam. 

Highlight: All-foam mattresses are most well-known for their contouring, pressure relief, and motion isolation. When a sleeper with neck pain selects the right firmness level for their body type and sleep position, they often benefit from how a foam model molds to the shape of their spine to promote good posture. 

Innerspring

Description: Innerspring models are a more traditional option, consisting primarily of robust coil systems. That said, many of today’s models also include a pillow-top or other cushioning material to ease pressure. 

Highlight: Innerspring models are often more affordable than other types and their coil systems promote breathability. Their notable bounce and edge support may also appeal to individuals who experience neck pain while changing positions or getting out of bed. 

Latex

Description: Latex models use layers of natural, synthetic, or blended latex, though natural latex is the most common. It’s derived from the sap of rubber trees, so it’s widely considered an eco-friendly option. 

Highlight: Latex contours and redistributes weight without the hug of foam. While this means it usually doesn’t relieve pressure to the same extent as foam, it provides a more supportive feel that many sleepers with neck pain prefer. The material is also responsive and limits sinkage, making it easy to change positions. 

Airbed

Description: Airbeds use an air chamber support core, allowing sleepers to adjust the firmness by filling or emptying the chambers. Sizes built for two sleepers (queen and larger) usually use separate chambers on each side so that partners can select their own firmness levels. 

Highlight: Sleepers with neck pain who share their bed with a partner can pick their ideal firmness without their partner having to compromise. They can also change the firmness whenever they like to select the optimal level for their current symptoms and sleep position. However, airbeds are usually among the most expensive models.

How Does Neck Pain Affect Sleep?

Chronic neck pain is closely linked with poor sleep quality and an increased risk of insomnia.

“Neck pain can lead to frequent awakenings from discomfort or adjusting positions which can interrupt the brain from cycling through essential sleep stages,” Dr. Guo says. “Pain also causes higher cortisol levels, keeping the body in a heightened state of alertness which decreases the time spent in deep, restorative sleep.”

In turn, insufficient sleep is associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease and all-cause mortality. It can also lead to daytime sleepiness, resulting in irritability, lowered vigilance, distractibility, reduced concentration, lack of motivation, fatigue, malaise, and poor coordination. 

“Chronic pain can lead to sleep deprivation, which can lower pain tolerance, creating a vicious cycle where pain feels worse, and sleep suffers further,” Dr. Guo says.

While getting enough quality sleep can be difficult when managing chronic pain, improvements in sleep quality are associated with reduced neck pain. Because spinal pain and sleep difficulties so frequently appear together, effective pain management often requires addressing sleep problems. 

Common causes of neck pain include injuries, arthritis, muscle spasms, cervical spondylosis, cervical spinal stenosis, ruptured or herniated disks, and fibromyalgia. Consult a physician with any concerns. They can help diagnose the cause of your pain and suggest potential treatment options. 

Can a Mattress Cause Neck Pain?

A mattress with improper support can cause or aggravate neck pain. Just as poor posture during your waking hours can contribute to neck pain, poor sleeping posture also has consequences. 

When a mattress lacks proper support, it becomes increasingly difficult to maintain good posture while you lie on it. If a mattress is too soft, uneven, or allows heavier regions of your body to sag excessively, disrupting the alignment of the entire spine. This unnecessary stress and strain can contribute to neck discomfort.

How Does Sleep Position Affect Neck Pain?

Stomach sleepers often turn their heads sharply to the side to breathe, which can put significant strain on the neck, resulting in discomfort. If you use a pillow that’s excessively thick, it may also force your head too far back, adding to the strain. Sleepers who favor an undesirable/provocative position, in which the upper body is on its side while the hips twist, also tend to experience more neck pain. 

While awkward sleep positions can increase neck pain, more neutral positions may help alleviate it. However, the best sleeping position for your neck pain ultimately depends on what’s causing it, Dr. Guo says.

Side sleeping may be particularly beneficial for sleepers with neck pain because it takes pressure off the spine. Some individuals with neck pain also find relief by sleeping on their backs, as it distributes weight evenly, reducing pressure points, Dr. Guo says. It’s important for the position to maintain neutral spine alignment to reduce neck pain.

Tips for Alleviating Neck Pain During Sleep

While selecting the ideal mattress is a step in the right direction, there are other ways to help relieve nighttime neck pain. Whether you’re replacing your mattress or just finding ways to make your current sleep surface more comfortable, we’ll share tips that can help. 

Buy a Mattress Topper

A mattress topper is an additional layer of material that rests on top of the mattress surface, essentially acting as an extra comfort layer. Most often, they add cushioning and pressure relief, making the sleep surface feel slightly softer. However, exceptionally firm models can help limit sinkage to some extent. 

Mattress toppers can make your existing mattress more comfortable without the expense of a full mattress replacement. They can also fine-tune the feel of a new mattress. Since getting the right balance of cradling and support is critical for most sleepers with neck pain, a mattress topper is an excellent option. 

Use the Right Pillows

The right pillow is a critical element of maintaining good posture, so sleepers with neck pain should carefully select a model with an optimal loft and appropriate materials. 

Sleep position is one of the most important factors in determining the optimal pillow loft. For instance, the best pillow for side sleepers is usually medium to high loft, measuring at least 4 inches thick. Individuals with broad shoulders may need something closer to 6 inches. Ideally, the pillow should perfectly fill the gap between the sleeper’s head and the mattress surface without angling the head upward and straining the neck. 

Pillow material can also make a big difference. Supportive pillows that don’t go flat, such as spring and rubber models, are generally best for individuals with neck pain. However, stomach sleepers who benefit from a flatter surface may find a lower loft down or feather pillow suitable. 

Try a Different Sleeping Position

Sometimes, neck pain is related to sleep position. Stomach sleeping is particularly associated with neck pain. Stomach sleepers might try sleeping on their sides or backs. If you struggle to make the switch, you might try using a pillow to prop yourself up as you transition.

How We Test: Your Comfort Is Our Science

Our industry-leading product testing team cares deeply about improving your sleep. Having a holistic understanding of a mattress’s role as part of a sleep system is paramount to our testing process. Since a bed’s comfort and feel depend largely on body weight and sleeping position, our testing team represents a wide range of body types, sleep positions, and comfort preferences.

In our Seattle-based Test Lab, we use an objective, hands-on process to evaluate mattresses across performance categories. The following are the key guidelines that inform our performance ratings. Our ultimate goal is to ensure you have all the information you need to make the best purchase decision for you.

How We Determine Our Overall Scores

Dive Deeper – In-Depth Mattress Guides

For more help deciding which mattress is right for your specific needs, check out the guides below.