Best Mattress for Back Sleepers Canada: Our Top Picks (September 2024)

According to third-party engineer testing (commissioned by us), the best mattress for back sleepers is Douglas Original. It’s also our pick for the best mattress in Canada. This cooling gel foam mattress has a medium-firm feel that’s ideal for all sleep styles, including back sleepers. Douglas Original delivers superior edge support, motion isolation, pressure-point relief, and body-contouring support to keep your spine aligned while you sleep.

If you’re a back sleeper, the best mattress is also one that prevents back pain. Best Health Magazine and Canadian Living Magazine have both named Douglas as the best choice for back pain relief. Douglas is also our pick for the best mattress for back pain in Canada.

Douglas Original earns top scores for its extensive list of features, as well as its use of high-quality, eco-conscious materials, overall comfort, and excellent value at just $799 for a queen size. It comes with a 365-night sleep trial, 20-year warranty, and free bedding bundle with your purchase.

The best mattress for back sleepers provides the right kind of support for your body and has enough pressure-point relief to take the strain off your joints. These are the best mattresses for back sleepers:

• Douglas Original is a medium-firm mattress made with cooling gel foam and pressure-relieving Elastex® foam. This mattress provides exceptional edge support, motion isolation, body contouring, and pressure-point relief, all for just $799 for a queen size.
• Need extra help staying cool? Check out Octave Vista. Octave is a medium-firm mattress with advanced cooling features, including a nanofibre cover and copper-infused gel memory foam treated with phase-change material. Octave also has multi-zone support and air channels for added circulation. Even with all these features, Octave Vista only costs $899 for a queen size.
• Juno is a great mattress for back sleepers on a budget. It offers a medium-firm feel that works for all sleep styles, as well as a layer of full-body cooling gel foam for a more comfortable sleep. Juno is affordably priced at just $499 for a queen size.
• Looking for a hybrid mattress? Meet Logan & Cove Choice. This medium-firm mattress comes with luxury detailing, premium cooling foams, a layer of individually wrapped coils, and zoned support. Logan & Cove offers a luxury sleep without the luxury price tag and costs just $999 for a queen size.

(Not sure what mattress size you need? Check out our guide to mattress sizes in Canada.)

The best mattress firmness for back sleepers is medium-firm. While many people think a firmer mattress is better for back sleepers, a mattress that’s too firm can be as bad as one that’s not firm enough. A too-firm mattress can affect your spine’s natural curvature and cause back pain.

You’ll probably sleep better with some level of pressure-point relief and body-contouring support, so the mattress needs to have a little “give” without having too much sinkage. Your mattress should also have enough responsiveness to help you shift sleep positions more easily during the night.

It’s a good idea to compare foam densities, too. A higher foam density means that a mattress will retain its firmness level for longer. This research is often easier to do on an e-commerce website than in a physical store, since many mattress companies publish their product specifications online.

READ MORE: Buying a mattress online vs in store

Mattresses fall into many different categories. Each has different characteristics that are a good fit for a variety of sleep styles. Here are just a few types of mattresses:

• Hybrid: Hybrid mattresses like Logan & Cove combine innerspring layers with foam or latex for a perfect pairing of contour and support. They tend to have better edge support and lower temperatures than memory foam, but this comes with reduced motion isolation for a slightly less peaceful sleep. (Shopping for a hybrid? Check out our list of the best hybrid mattresses.)
• Cooling Gel Foam: Some sleepers find normal memory foam too hot, so cooling gel foam mattresses like Douglas can be a great alternative. This type of mattress combines memory foam with cooling gel to keep temperatures comfortable while you sleep.
• Innerspring: Innerspring mattresses support your weight with metal coils. This makes the mattress bouncy and provides good edge support, but you might find this type of mattress less comfortable if your body needs more contouring.
• Memory Foam: Memory foam mattresses like Octave “hug” your body to relieve pressure and keep your spine aligned. They usually have good motion isolation, which is good for couples. While memory foam is known for trapping heat, Octave is actually our pick for Canada’s best cooling mattress with advanced features like a cooling nanofibre cover, copper-infused memory foam treated with PolarMAX® phase-change material, and multi-zone support foam with air channels.
• Latex: Natural or synthetic latex mattresses can relieve pressure in any sleep position. They have a reputation for comfortable temperatures and can last longer than other types of mattresses. However, latex mattresses can also be more expensive and may not be ideal for some people with latex allergies.

When you’re choosing a mattress, it’s important to consider more than just how comfortable it is. There are a whole range of factors to keep in mind, which we list below. (And when you’re ready to buy, make sure you buy a mattress online vs. in store.)

• Budget: Set a budget for your new mattress and stick to it. You might even be able to make this budget go further by finding limited-time deals and promotions online.
• Construction: Figure out what type of mattress you want, whether it’s foam, hybrid, or innerspring. There are pros and cons for each construction style, and knowing what you want will help narrow down your options.
• Firmness: Choose a mattress with the right firmness level for your sleep style—that is, whether you sleep on your side, back, or stomach. For example, side sleepers often want a softer mattress, while back sleepers may prefer something firmer. (Did you know that a medium-firm feel is ideal for most sleep styles? Get our guide to the best medium-firm mattresses.)
• Motion Isolation: Pay close attention to motion isolation if you share your bed with a partner, kids, or pets. The higher the isolation score, the less you’ll notice movement from the other side of the bed.
• Edge Support: Are you in the habit of sitting or sleeping near the edge of the bed? Look for a mattress with good edge support so you feel supported in any position.
• Bounce: If you have trouble getting out of bed in the morning, you might prefer a mattress with extra bounce. (Your inner child will enjoy it, too!)
• Contouring: Contouring materials like memory foam help support your body in all the right places. That said, too much “hug” can cause overheating and make it hard to move, so find the level of contouring that’s best for your body.
• Temperature: Speaking of overheating—if you’re a warm sleeper, look for a mattress that promotes airflow and reduces heat. Octave Vista is a great choice with its cooling nanofibre cover, copper-infused memory foam treated with phase-change material for temperature balance, and multi-zone support foam with air channels.
• Responsiveness: A responsive mattress allows you to change positions without feeling stuck. Often found in hybrid designs, a responsive mattress can help you enjoy certain activities in bed even more.
• Noise: Nobody likes a squeaky or crinkly mattress. Get a quiet night’s sleep with a mattress made from noise-quieting materials like foam or latex.
• Company Policies: Get details about the manufacturer’s sleep trial, return policy, and product warranty so you know what you’re getting into.