The 5 Best Mattresses for Back Sleepers in 2025
Top pick
This Costco favorite is made from layers of foam that are as dense (and probably as durable) as the foam in mattresses costing twice as much. Testers loved its cuddly-yet-supportive feel, though some found it to be too firm.
Who it’s for: The Novaform ComfortGrande 14” Advanced Gel Memory Foam Mattress is a good memory-foam mattress for back sleepers who need a little cushioning because they sometimes sleep on their sides. This all-foam mattress is likely to hold up better for those under 200 pounds.
How it feels: This mattress feels medium-firm.
Why it’s great
It can support your back and cushion your pressure points. Generally, when it comes to memory foam, you want to pay attention to the foam density. The higher the density, the longer-lasting and more durable your mattress is likely to be. Because the Novaform mattress has foam with densities of 3 to 3.5 pounds, we think it will provide good support and proper spinal alignment for those under 200 pounds. It’s been one of our top picks since 2020, and our testers like that it cradles without swallowing you whole.
It’s a really great value. Despite being less than half the price of most of our picks, this mattress has been popular with our testers over the years, and they often prefer it to options that are thousands of dollars more. And it’s even cheaper if you buy it with a Costco membership. Non-Costco members will need to pay an additional 5% fee when ordering online (and they can only shop in-store with a shop card gifted by a Costco member).
You won’t disturb your bed partner. The memory foam offers good motion isolation, and it has just a hint of bounciness, which makes it easy to move around on.
Costco offers an excellent warranty and return window. The mattress comes with a 20-year warranty, and the store’s generous return policy allows you to return the mattress any time. The only caveat: If you purchase the mattress in-store, to return it you’ll have to bring it back to the store yourself. In practice, one Wirecutter staffer found this to be a challenge once the mattress was no longer roll-packed. But if you purchase online, you can schedule a pickup.
Flaws but not dealbreakers
It’s not ideal for sleepers over 200 pounds. While the foam density is great for the price, it likely won’t feel supportive enough for those weighing more than 200 pounds. And it may sag quickly (we’d recommend for sleepers in that weight range to look for an option with a foam density of 4 to 5 pounds per cubic foot).
It may sleep hot. While our testers didn’t particularly call this out, we’ve seen several online reviews mentioning this. This is typical of memory-foam mattresses. So if it’s a dealbreaker, you may want to consider a foam mattress with a lower density, or go for an innerspring or latex mattress.
It doesn’t have great edge support. The bed’s edges tend to cave under weight. While this is not completely surprising for a foam mattress, it can make for an uncomfortable sitting experience. However, it’s not so bad that you’ll be in danger of falling off the edge if you like to sleep right on the perimeter of the mattress.
We’ve heard about quality-control issues. We’ve seen some buyers complain that this mattress initially gives off a chemical smell, sometimes for as long as several weeks. (We noticed a smell, but only for a day or two.) Others said the mattress was slow to inflate, and a few noted that it never reached its full 14 inches.
Key specs
Materials: gel-infused memory foam, polyfoam
Thickness: 14 inches
Firmness options: only one available
Return or exchange policy: According to Costco policy, you can return the mattress for a full refund at any time. Note that if you buy the mattress in-store, you’ll have to bring it back to the store yourself to return it.
Warranty: 20 years
