Best Mattress for Sciatica Relief: 5 Options Tested

Living with sciatica pain is not pleasant at all. The excruciating pain that shoots down your lower back to your legs every time you try to move around or get up. The pain can also sometimes be felt if you were to cough and sneeze. It can highly affect your sleep at night, especially when you need to change sleep positions. This is where having a good mattress can help relieve some pressure and reduce the pain.

In this article, I’ve listed down 5 of the best mattresses for sciatica based on their key features, user ratings, and prices. Check out the list below.

Our Top Picks

Best Overall: Saatva Classic Mattress

Best Pressure Relief: Nectar Premier Memory Foam Mattress

Best Cooling: Helix Dusk Luxe

Best for Side Sleepers: Nolah Evolution

Best Budget Option: DreamCloud Hybrid Mattress

What is Sciatica?

Sciatica is a condition in which the sciatic nerve is injured or irritated. This results in radiating pain in the lower back, hips, and legs.

Besides pain, some other symptoms of sciatica may include the feeling of “pins and needles,” which is a tingling feeling that happens when you apply too much pressure on a specific part of your body, numbness, muscle weakness, and urinary or fecal incontinence.

Having such symptoms can make it difficult for you to get a good sleep [1].

How Does a Mattress Affect Sciatica Pain?

The type of mattress that you use is not a direct cause of sciatica pain, but having a supportive mattress can make a huge difference in helping you better manage the pain.

A good, supportive mattress helps to maintain proper spinal alignment and also reduces the pressure on your sciatic nerve. When the nerve is not being compressed, you’ll likely experience less pain and discomfort. This also means better sleep quality.

On the other hand, a bad mattress is one that does not support your spine properly and adds further discomfort. For instance, a mattress that’s too soft might cause your spine to sink, increasing the weight and tension on the sciatic nerve. A mattress that’s too firm can create more pressure points, especially for side sleepers, leading to further discomfort and poor sleep quality.

If you have sciatic pain, the mattress firmness that you want to go for is a medium-firm mattress that will contour to your body enough to relieve the pressure off your spine and lower back. It may also be helpful to look for a mattress that absorbs motion.

Discover ways to sleep peacefully with ShutEye! 

Try For Free

1. Best Overall: Saatva Classic Mattress

User Rating: 4.8/5 Stars | Price: $1,199 – $2,698

The Saatva Classic Mattress is a luxury innerspring mattress that is designed to support healthy spinal alignment and relieve back pain. This is made possible by a durable dual-coil system that adapts to the natural curve of your spine, combined with patented Lumbar Zone® technology layered into five supportive levels of the mattress.

The mattress is made with lumbar zone coil from durable 14.5-gauge recycled steel and spinal wire to provide adequate lumbar support. At the base, it’s supported by a base coil unit to prevent sagging of the bed from prolonged use. The edges of the mattress consist of high-density foam rails for stable, firmer edge support.

To top it off, it features a Euro pillow top that cushions the impact on your pressure points, while still ensuring the right firmness to support your spinal alignment. You also get to choose between three firmness options, which are ‘Plush Soft’, ‘Luxury Firm’ and ‘Firm’. For sleepers with sciatic pain, opting for Luxury Firm offers a good softness to reduce tension while still promoting a healthy posture. In case you’re not convinced, you’ll also be able to find multiple positive reviews left by users on how it relieved their sciatic pain.

Our review

I was thoroughly impressed by how well designed the mattress was. Looking at the precise design details of the mattress and reviews left by users, it confirms the fact that Saatva puts a lot of thought and care when it comes to creating a comfortable mattress for all kinds of sleepers.

Each of the 5 layers serves a purpose in relieving the pressure on the shoulders, back, and hips without sacrificing user comfort. Saatva also goes the extra mile with a free white-glove delivery and old mattress removal, which is a huge plus point if you’re a senior or if you lack the physical ability to haul a mattress. They’re also CertiPUR-US certified, GREENGUARD Gold certified and endorsed by the American Chiropractic Association.

Key specifications:

• Size options: Twin (38″ x 75″), Twin XL (38″ x 80″), Full (54″ x 75″), Queen (60″ x 80″), King (76″ x 80″), Split King (76″ x 80″), Cal King (72″ x 84″), Split Cal King (72″ x 84″)
• Mattress height: 11.5″ or 14.5″ (except for Split Cal King option)
• Firmness options: Plush Soft, Luxury Firm, Firm
• Warranty period/ Trial Option: Lifetime warranty and 365-night home trial period

2. Best Pressure Relief: Nectar Premier Memory Foam Mattress

User Rating: 4.3/5 Stars | Price: $549 – $1,498

The Nectar Premier Memory Foam Mattress is crafted for sleepers who need deep pressure relief—especially those with sciatica or chronic pain. Its multi-layered memory foam construction is designed to cradle your body, relieving tension at key pressure points like the hips, shoulders, and lower back.

The mattress features Nectar’s 3 inches of gel-infused memory foam comfort layer, which contours closely to your body while regulating temperature. Beneath that lies a dynamic response layer for added support and motion isolation, followed by a sturdy base foam layer that maintains mattress shape over time. This structure ensures you stay comfortably aligned throughout the night, especially if you’re a side sleeper or experience nerve pain flare-ups.

The cooling cover, made with a breathable polyethylene fiber, helps to wick away heat, so you won’t wake up sweaty. While this is an all-foam mattress, it doesn’t sink excessively like traditional memory foam—thanks to its firmer edge support and medium-firm feel, which gives you the best of both comfort and structure.

Another standout feature is Nectar’s 365-night trial and lifetime warranty, giving you an entire year to test the mattress risk-free—perfect for those who are unsure if memory foam is the right fit.

Our review

We found the Nectar Premier to be a standout for pressure relief. Its generous memory foam layers do a great job of relieving tension across the body without making you feel “stuck” in bed. While it doesn’t offer the bounce of an innerspring model, it excels in contouring and motion absorption—an ideal pick if you sleep with a partner or wake up easily from movement.

The slow-response foam hugs the curves of your body and offers a weightless feel, which many people with sciatica find therapeutic. Its price point, with that long trial period and lifetime guarantee, offers real value for those looking for pressure relief and long-term support. The only downside to this is a lack of firmness options, with only the medium-firm model available.

Key specifications:

• Size options: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, Split King, California King
• Mattress height: 13”
• Firmness option: Medium-firm
• Warranty period/ Trial Option: Lifetime warranty and 365-night home trial

Discover ways to sleep peacefully with ShutEye! 

Try For Free

3. Best Cooling: Helix Dusk Luxe

User Rating: 4/5 Stars | Price: $1,077 – $2,155

If you’re looking for a mattress that stays cool all night while still providing excellent support for sciatica pain, the Helix Dusk Luxe is a top-tier option. This hybrid mattress blends responsive foam with individually wrapped coils to promote airflow, making it ideal for hot sleepers who also need pressure relief and proper spinal alignment.

The Dusk Luxe features a Tencel™ cover, known for its moisture-wicking and breathable properties. Underneath, you’ll find layers of Helix Dynamic Foam and high-grade polyfoam, both designed to cushion pressure points while preventing excessive sinkage. The support system includes zoned lumbar coils that target the lower back, perfect for easing sciatica symptoms.

Another thoughtful addition is the zoned support, which provides firmer coils in the center of the bed to help maintain healthy posture while sleeping. This design ensures your hips don’t sink too far into the mattress, which can aggravate sciatic pain.

For those seeking even more cooling, you can upgrade to the GlacioTex™ Cooling Cover, which further enhances heat dissipation and maintains a refreshing surface feel throughout the night.

Our review

The Helix Dusk Luxe strikes an impressive balance between contouring and responsiveness. It doesn’t have the deep sink of memory foam, so you’ll feel supported without feeling stuck. We found the medium-firm feel comfortable for most sleep positions, especially side and combination sleepers who need cushioning at the shoulders and hips but also lumbar support.

What really stands out is the mattress’s ability to regulate temperature. Whether you’re naturally a warm sleeper or going through hot flashes or night sweats, the breathable cover and coil-based structure help air circulate throughout the night. The zoned coils give extra support right where your body needs it, especially helpful if you’re dealing with sciatica or lower back pain.

Another great thing about this mattress is that you can try it out for a total of 100 nights, and if you decide that you don’t like it, you can always return it. Otherwise, you have a 15-year warranty period if you face any problems. Though this is much shorter in comparison to other brands. If you’re looking for a premium hybrid mattress that focuses on comfort and cooling, this is still a solid pick nonetheless.

Key specifications:

• Size options: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, Split King, California King, Short Queen, RV King
• Mattress height: 13”
• Firmness option: Medium-firm
• Warranty period/ Trial option: 15-year warranty + 100-night sleep trial

4. Best for Side Sleepers: Nolah Evolution 15

User Rating: 4.7/5 Stars | Price: $949 – $2,245

The Nolah Evolution 15 stands out as one of the best mattresses for side sleepers, especially those suffering from sciatica pain. This luxury hybrid mattress is thoughtfully engineered to offer plush contouring at the shoulders and hips while delivering targeted lumbar support that helps reduce pressure along the sciatic nerve.

Its standout feature is the use of AirFoamICE™, Nolah’s proprietary graphite-infused memory foam. This material not only contours to your curves but also draws heat away from the body for a noticeably cooler sleep experience. Beneath this comfort layer lies a high-resilience transition foam, followed by HDMax™ Tri-Zone coils that offer adaptive support across the shoulders, back, and hips.

The zoned coil system does a great job of minimizing sagging in the lumbar area, which is essential for side sleepers who often experience uneven spinal alignment. Around the perimeter, the mattress features Edge-Tech™ support, which prevents roll-off and gives you more usable sleep surface. This is ideal for couples or for those who toss and turn a lot during their sleep.

Our review

What we love most about the Nolah Evolution is how plush and pressure-relieving it feels without sacrificing support. It hugs your body in all the right places, which is exactly what you need when sleeping on your side. The hip and shoulder contouring felt luxurious, while the tri-zone coils provided that extra lift in the lower back that makes a real difference for sciatica relief.

Despite being 15 inches tall and layered with foam, the mattress sleeps surprisingly cool thanks to the AirFoamICE™ and breathable Euro top. We also found the reinforced edge support to be a plus, especially if you share your bed or tend to sit along the edge.

It comes in three firmness levels— Plush, Luxury Firm, and Firm. The Luxury Firm option is the most balanced for side sleepers with back pain. Nolah also offers a 120-night trial and lifetime warranty, making this a low-risk investment in long-term comfort.

Key Specifications:

• Size options: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, Split King, California King
• Mattress height: 15”
• Firmness options: Plush, Luxury Firm, Firm
• Warranty period/ Trial option: Lifetime warranty + 120-night home trial

5. Best Budget Option: DreamCloud Hybrid Mattress

User Rating: 4.3/5 Stars | Price: $399 – $1,098

If you’re looking for a high-quality mattress that won’t break the bank, the DreamCloud Hybrid Mattress delivers premium features at a more affordable price point. It combines the contouring benefits of memory foam with the responsive support of individually wrapped coils, making it a great budget-friendly pick for those dealing with sciatica pain.

This medium-firm mattress is constructed with five layers, including a cashmere-blend quilted top, gel memory foam, and a targeted support coil system. The coils are designed to respond individually to pressure points, ensuring your hips and shoulders get the cushioning they need while keeping your spine in proper alignment.

Another key advantage is motion isolation. The foam layers are designed to help absorb movement so that you’re less likely to be disturbed during the night. For those dealing with back or nerve pain, the balanced feel of the DreamCloud offers just enough firmness to reduce pressure without feeling too hard.

Our review

For the price, we were genuinely impressed by how much value the DreamCloud Hybrid offers. The quilted Euro top feels plush and welcoming as soon as you lie down, and the memory foam layers start contouring to your shape quickly. That’s a big plus for sleepers with sciatic nerve pain, as it helps alleviate pressure in key areas without sinking too deeply. It’s also good for back sleepers.

The coil support base holds its shape well and promotes airflow, so the mattress doesn’t sleep hot. We also found the edge support to be solid, which is great if you tend to sit or sleep near the edge of the bed.

DreamCloud backs this mattress with a 365-night trial and lifetime warranty, giving you plenty of time to decide if it’s the right fit.

Key Specifications:

• Size options: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, California King
• Mattress height: 14”
• Firmness options: Medium-firm
• Warranty period/ Trial option: Lifetime warranty + 365-night trial

Discover ways to sleep peacefully with ShutEye! 

Try For Free

How to Choose the Best Mattress for Sciatica Relief

When dealing with sciatica pain, the right mattress can make a big difference in how you sleep and how you feel during the day. A good mattress should provide proper spinal alignment, cushion pressure points, and reduce tension in your lower back. Look for mattresses that combine support and comfort, especially those with responsive foam or hybrid coil layers designed to adapt to your body’s natural shape.

Features to Look for in a Mattress

If you’re dealing with sciatica or lower back pain, finding the right mattress can really help. Here are a few features that can make a difference:

• Zoned Support: Some mattresses are designed with different support zones to ensure that your spine maintains proper alignment. Additionally, extra support around the lower back can help reduce pressure and improve comfort.
• Medium-Firm Feel: A mattress that’s too soft may make your hips sink in too much, while one that’s too firm may create even more pressure on different parts of your body. Medium-firm tends to offer a nice balance of support and cushioning.
• Pressure-Relieving Materials: Try to go for memory foam or latex options as they gently contour to your body. These materials help ease pressure on areas like your hips and shoulders, which can be sensitive when you’re in pain.
• Strong Edge Support: If your mattress sags at the sides, it can make getting in and out of bed harder than it needs to be. A sturdy edge gives the mattress more usable space and adds stability.
• Good Motion Isolation: A mattress with motion isolation helps prevent movement from waking you up. That’s especially helpful if pain already makes it tough to fall back asleep.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Here are also some common mistakes that you want to avoid or take note of before purchasing a new mattress to relieve your pain:

• Choosing One That’s Too Soft or Too Firm: Extreme firmness levels can mess with your spinal alignment. Go for something that supports your body without creating pressure points.
• Not Considering Your Sleep Position: Side sleepers, back sleepers, and combo sleepers all have different needs. A mattress that works for one position might not be great for another.
• Skipping the Trial Period: It takes time to know if a mattress is helping or making things worse. Always choose one with a trial period so you can test it out properly. To be extra safe, do look out for options that offer both a trial period and a warranty period.
• Holding On to an Old Mattress: If your mattress is sagging or feels uneven, it could be contributing to your pain. Replacing it might be a bigger help than you realize.

Can Your Sleep Position Affect Sciatica Symptoms?

Yes, your sleep position can significantly impact sciatic pain. Sleeping on your stomach, for example, often leads to a misaligned spine, which can aggravate the sciatic nerve. The best positions for sciatica relief are either on your back with a pillow under your knees or on your side with a pillow between your legs to keep your spine neutral and hips balanced.

Other Tips to Improve Your Sleep

Getting a good night’s sleep can be tough when you’re dealing with discomfort or pain, especially from something like sciatica. But a few small changes to your routine and sleep setup might help you rest easier:

1. Stick to a consistent sleep schedule

Going to bed and waking up at the same time every day helps your body get into a rhythm. Over time, this can help reduce pain and support your body’s natural recovery process.

2. Do some light stretching before bed

Gentle stretches, especially for your lower back and hamstrings, can help release tension and relax your muscles. Just a few minutes before bed can make a difference.

3. Use heat or cold therapy

A heating pad or ice pack can help calm down pain before you sleep. Heat relaxes tight muscles, while cold helps reduce inflammation. Try both to see which feels better for you.

Conclusion

For back pain sufferers or those with sciatica pain, the best way to manage it starts with choosing a good mattress. A supportive, pressure-relieving mattress can help to align your spine, reduce tension, and make it easier for you to fall asleep. However, a good sleep setup doesn’t just stop there. Pairing your new mattress with healthy sleep habits and tools can help with relaxation and consistency.

If you’re looking for extra help improving your sleep quality, try incorporating a sleep app like the ShutEye® app into your nightly routine. From soothing sleep sounds to personalized sleep tracking, ShutEye helps create a calming environment so you can get a good night’s sleep. Download now, FREE for a limited time!

Discover the power of sleep with ShutEye App!

Download Now