Back pain affects millions of Australians. The right mattress can significantly reduce morning stiffness and improve spinal alignment. We specifically tested for lumbar support and pressure relief to find the best options available in Australia right now.
The most important factors when choosing a mattress for back pain are spinal alignment, pressure relief at hips and shoulders, and consistent support across the sleeping surface. Medium-firm options tend to work best for the majority of back-pain sufferers, though side sleepers often benefit from slightly softer options.
For back pain, a medium to medium-firm feel (around 5–7 out of 10) works for most people. A mattress that is too soft allows the hips to sink too deep, misaligning the spine. One that is too firm creates pressure points at the hips and shoulders.
Look for high-density foam or pocketed coil systems in the support layer. These maintain consistent spinal alignment regardless of sleep position.
All leading Australian mattress brands offer at least 100-night trials. Back-pain relief can take 4–6 weeks to assess properly, so a generous trial period matters.
We evaluated each mattress over a minimum 30-night trial with testers who report chronic lower back pain. We assessed pressure mapping at the lumbar region, hip sinkage depth, and ease of position changes during the night. See our full testing methodology for details.