When you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. Products or services may be offered by an affiliated entity. Learn more.

/ Best Mattress / Best Mattress for Shoulder Pain

Best Mattress for Shoulder Pain

By and

Updated February 29, 2024

Why Trust Sleep Foundation

Shoulder pain is an all-too-common occurrence for sleepers with incompatible beds. For this reason, it’s important to find a bed that cushions your shoulders properly — without giving up too much support.

Our team has personally tested hundreds of mattresses. To bring you the picks below, we chose beds that excelled at cushioning and pressure relief for the shoulders. Testers with existing shoulder pain reported whether their discomfort was alleviated or aggravated. Other testers documented any new shoulder pain that occurred while lying on the mattress. We also used body-mapping technology to determine areas where pressure buildup was most prevalent.

Best Mattress for Shoulder Pain of 2024

Winkbed

The WinkBed is a well-rounded luxury hybrid with a wide range of firmness options to accommodate different sleep positions and body types, making it our best overall choice for people with shoulder pain.

See The Top Pick

The Best Mattresses for Shoulder Pain

Didn’t see one you liked? Try the Mattress Match.

Answer three questions to find mattresses that matches your sleep style. Our recommendation for you is based on over 450 different mattress options.

I sleep on my

I have pain in my

My preferred mattress type is

These mattresses earned the highest ratings from our team after testing them for shoulder pain relief. We’ve awarded each one an accolade to showcase one of its biggest strengths. Below, we’ve included product profiles with more information about our standout picks. Further down, you’ll find a detailed buyer’s guide geared toward mattress shoppers with shoulder pain. We’ll cover which mattresses alleviate shoulder pain – and which ones might worsen the problem – as well as pricing and size information, other considerations for mattress buyers, and a rundown of mattress sleep trials and warranties.

In-Depth Reviews

Data-Driven Results You Can Trust

We’ve personally evaluated hundreds of mattresses, and each one undergoes a rigorous testing process that looks at various facets of construction, durability, and overall performance. Our team consists of people who belong to different weight and sleep position groups. This versatility allows us to make product recommendations for all types of sleepers. For this particular guide, we largely drew from testers who experience chronic or occasional shoulder pain.

How Our Testing Process Works

To choose the best mattresses for shoulder pain, we focused on models with features that alleviate existing pain and help prevent new aches and pressure points. Mattresses that cater to sleepers with shoulder pain typically require a balance of contouring and even support, so you’ll notice all of our top picks are considered middle of the road in terms of firmness and conforming level. While our mattress testing process includes many different stages, for this guide we focused on pressure relief, ease of movement, expected lifespan, and edge support.

For a more in-depth look at how we test mattresses, read our product research methodology below:

motion isolation

We perform various standardized tests to measure how much movement a bed absorbs when sleepers move on the surface. Mattresses that excel in this category are ideal for couples who tend to wake each other up with nighttime movement.

temperature control

To gauge how well a mattress can stay cool at night, our team runs thermal tests on the surface. We also consider the bed’s construction, since materials like latex and cotton promote ventilation better than others.

pressure relief

Pressure relief is one of the most important mattress criteria we consider for sleepers with shoulder pain. We test how closely and evenly a bed conforms to a sleeper’s shoulders, thus reducing pressure buildup.

Off-Gassing

Many mattresses, especially those made with synthetic materials, give off an unpleasant odor after you remove them from their packaging. This odor is temporary and should dissipate in a matter of days.

ease of movement

We perform tests to evaluate how easily sleepers can move on a bed’s surface. Latex and innerspring models typically outperform foam beds in this category.

edge support

This criteria is important for people who sleep or sit near the edge of the mattress, or who have trouble getting in and out of bed. We measure the degree of sagging when testers sit on the edge, while also considering construction features aimed at bolstering perimeter support.

sex

To determine a bed’s suitability for sex, we consider factors such as bounce and responsiveneness, noise reduction, and temperature neutrality. That said, sleeper preferences for beds in this category will vary.

body weight

The amount of support and cushioning you need from your mattress will depend in part on your body weight. For this reason, our testers keep this criteria in mind when evaluating mattresses.

Dive Deeper – In-Depth Mattress Guides

If you need further help deciding which mattress is right for you, check out our recommendations broken down by mattresses for specific uses.

Best Mattress by Specific Purpose

How to Choose a Mattress for Shoulder Pain

If you’re dealing with chronic shoulder pain, you’ve probably experienced firsthand how a good or bad night’s sleep can affect your pain levels. With the right mattress, you can give your body the support it needs to recuperate and recover.

Finding the right mattress, though, requires understanding the relationship between sleep and pain and knowing what to look for when mattress shopping.

Why is Sleep Important for Pain?

Sleep is a fundamental biological need that affects all aspects of health, including pain. Research indicates that sleep and pain have a bidirectional relationship, meaning that each influences the other.

Getting good sleep has been found to reduce perceived daily pain levels of chronic pain sufferers. Quality sleep may reduce anxiety, stress, and other negative emotions that can exacerbate pain.

In addition, being in pain can make it harder to sleep. Physical discomfort may prevent falling asleep or lead to nighttime awakenings. Worries about pain can spread to sleep, complicating a person’s ability to get consistent rest.

The fact that sleep and pain are so interlinked means that taking steps to sleep better, including choosing an optimal mattress, can provide a welcome means of pain relief. That pain reduction can facilitate even better sleep, fueling a positive cycle of nightly rest and decreased pain.

“Sleep and pain have a bidirectional relationship, and the current data suggest that the effects of sleep on pain are likely stronger than the effects of pain on sleep. Focusing on improving your sleep quality may help with your overall pain level. Common changes to sleep quality could include difficulty falling and/or staying asleep, more sleep fragmentation (i.e., more awakenings during the night), early morning awakenings, and unrefreshing/non-restorative sleep.”

– Sarah Silverman, Psy.D., a licensed psychologist and holistic sleep wellness consultant who treats patients in New York and Florida.

Why Buy a New Mattress?

Some people purchase new mattresses to replace beds that have grown too worn, while other sleepers invest in new mattresses to find a model that can help relieve physical pain. We surveyed thousands of Sleep Foundation readers to find out some of the most common reasons people decide to buy new beds.

What to Look for in a Mattress for Shoulder Pain

To identify the best mattress for shoulder pain, you need to know what factors are most important. The mattress industry is replete with marketing jargon that has the potential to lead shoppers astray, but only a handful of factors are most likely to influence your satisfaction with a new mattress.

Price: No matter how great a mattress might be, if you can’t afford it, then it’s not really worth your time to consider. Your available budget is an easy-to-use filter to reduce the number of mattresses to research, but keep in mind that it’s very rare to pay the full mattress sticker price. Coupons and discounts are almost always available when shopping online. Most online mattress brands will ship for free anywhere in the contiguous U.S., and some extend this offer to Alaska and Hawaii. The mattress will be compressed, shrink-wrapped, and shipped as a “mattress in a box” before being delivered to your doorstep.
Sleeping Position: The way that you position your body during sleep can have an immense effect on your pressure points. Shoulder and hip pain is more common in side sleepers who put more impact on the mattress in those areas, and as a result, they usually need a softer, more contouring mattress. Lower back pain is more common in stomach and back sleepers who usually do best with a firmer bed.
Mattress Type: Each mattress type has pros and cons for different sleepers. Knowing which provides the characteristics you’re looking for makes it easier to narrow your options and find a mattress that you’ll be satisfied with.
Contouring: The ability of a mattress to conform to the body plays a big part in how well it can relieve pressure. With more hug, a mattress can deliver enhanced cushioning to heavier parts of the body, such as the shoulders and hips of side sleepers. But not everyone wants or needs deep contouring because it can sometimes create a feeling of being stuck in the bed.
Quality Materials: If you want high-end performance and durability, then it’s important to look for a mattress that doesn’t skimp on its materials. People with pain count on their mattress to function properly, and quality materials make that more likely. Some customers may also want materials that are produced to high standards of sustainability, such as those that are certified organic.
Firmness Level: How hard or soft a mattress feels is integral to your comfort. This is subjective, so every shopper should consider what feels right to them. In addition, proper support to relieve back, shoulder, and hip pain in some sleeping positions may require a mattress of a certain firmness level.
Pressure Relief: If you have ongoing shoulder pain, a mattress that provides pressure relief around the shoulders is crucial. Not only can this reduce impact and friction in that area, but solid pressure relief to the whole body can keep the spine well-aligned and avoid other potential sources of aches and pains.
Motion Isolation: Motion isolation is an important factor for people who share a bed. On a bed with good motion isolation, it’s easy to keep sleeping without feeling the tossing and turning of a person on the other side of the mattress. Of all mattress materials, memory foam usually offers the strongest motion isolation.
Ease of Movement / Sex: For many people, it’s important to be able to move easily on a mattress. A responsive mattress facilitates changing sleeping positions (especially important for combination sleepers) and sexual activity. Bouncier materials like latex and innerspring coils normally are the best at enabling movement.
Edge Support: Without enough edge support, it can feel like you may roll off the bed if you are trying to sleep or sit near its perimeter. Foam beds tend to have reduced edge support because of how the foam compresses while hybrids, innersprings, and latex beds typically hold up better in this area.
Temperature Regulation: Overheating at night can be incredibly disruptive to a good night’s sleep, and mattress selection can determine how likely you are to sleep hot. Memory foam beds tend to retain more heat than hybrid and latex mattresses. Many manufacturers employ special materials or features to try to improve temperature regulation.
Noise: A noise-free mattress can prevent unwanted awakenings at night. The most common culprit for a noisy mattress is an innerspring design, but many modern mattresses use improved coils and other manufacturing techniques to help keep beds quiet.

Importance of Pressure Relief for Shoulder Pain – Video

A mattress with strong pressure relief can help avoid or alleviate shoulder pain. Watch the video below to learn more about pressure relief and to see how we evaluate this performance feature in our lab.

Which Mattress Firmness is Best for Shoulder Pain?

In most cases, a medium or medium firm mattress is best for shoulder pain, but the ideal firmness level for any person depends on their sleeping position and body shape.

Firmness is ranked on a scale of 1-10, with 1 being the softest. A mattress that is too soft may cause the body to sink out of alignment, but one that is too firm may create heightened impact on the shoulder.

Firmness is a subjective preference and should be considered along with other factors, such as mattress type, price, pressure relief, and motion isolation, to choose the best mattress for any individual.

Which Type of Mattress is Best for Shoulder Pain?

Figuring out which type of mattress best suits your needs can simplify mattress shopping and guide you toward a top choice.

Mattresses that are built in a certain way will share some characteristics, but they won’t all be the same. Within each type, there is notable variation based on exactly how any specific model is built.

Hybrid

Definition: For a mattress to be a hybrid, it needs two components: a coil-based support core and a significant comfort system. That comfort system may be made with one or more layers and can feature materials like memory foam, polyfoam, microcoils, latex, cotton, wool, and/or other fabrics.
Blend of Features: A hybrid is designed to generate the bounce, stability, and temperature control found in innersprings while using the comfort system to strengthen pressure relief and motion isolation. This allows people with pain to take advantage of balanced and robust features offered by a mix of materials.

Innerspring

Definition: An innerspring mattress has a coil-based system as its only or primary component. These beds, a mainstay in the industry for decades, don’t have any significant comfort system and provide support almost exclusively through compression of the coils.
Economical and Modifiable: Most sleepers with shoulder pain won’t get enough pressure relief from an innerspring mattress alone. But these beds are often economical, and a latex or foam mattress topper can be placed on top to create a DIY comfort system. Some people find that this is a lower-cost way to construct a mattress that suits their needs.

Latex

Definition: When the interior components of a mattress are all made with latex, we refer to it as an all-latex, true-latex, or just simply a latex mattress. In most beds, manufacturers use natural latex, but some lower-cost options use synthetic materials. More than one type of latex is frequently layered within the bed to create a distinct support core and comfort system.
Responsive Support: Latex is a durable material that provides both bounce and mild conforming. With these characteristics, it can provide cushioning at the shoulders without any bothersome sinking or “quicksand” feeling.

Airbed

Definition: Airbeds have a distinct design based upon a support core of air chambers. In most airbeds, there is one air chamber on each side, and the inflation of that chamber can be adjusted in real-time to modify the firmness. In addition to this support core, there may be a comfort system using materials like foam or latex.
Full Firmness Control: People with pain may find that their firmness needs change based on how sharp their pain is at that moment. With an airbed, you can use a remote or smartphone to quickly and easily give the bed a different feel to provide comfort and pain relief.

Foam

Definition: In foam mattresses, there is no coil-based layer. The support core is almost always a high-density polyfoam, and the comfort system can include one or more layers of memory foam, polyfoam, latex, or textiles like cotton and wool.
Conforming For Pressure Relief: People with the sharpest pressure points, including at the shoulders, may need deep contouring to cradle the body and relieve pressure. Memory foam is a standout material for pressure relief. In general, foam beds provide high levels of hug and cradling.

Mattresses for Shoulder Pain FAQ

Can sleeping on a bad mattress cause shoulder pain?

Whether a mattress is “good” or “bad” depends on your individual sleep preferences. However, if you sleep on a mattress that is a bad fit for your body weight and sleep position, the mattress can cause pain in the shoulders as well as other areas of the body.

If you are wondering whether your mattress is causing your shoulder pain, pay close attention to when you experience the pain. If the pain is substantial soon after waking but eventually subsides throughout the day, your mattress is likely to blame. In these instances, it might be time to find a mattress that better suits your needs.

Why can a mattress cause shoulder pain?

Because you spend so many hours lying in bed every night, mattresses can contribute to unexplained shoulder pain. Mattresses cause shoulder pain by exerting prolonged excessive pressure on the shoulders during sleep. This pressure typically builds up when a mattress is too firm or offers insufficient cushioning for the shoulders.

There are many factors to consider if you are looking for a mattress that does not create pressure build-up in the shoulders. Your body weight and preferred sleep position are two major factors. Side sleepers lay on their shoulders and are thus more susceptible to shoulder pain than back and stomach sleepers, and heavier sleepers may require firmer beds to receive the right balance of support and contouring.

Can a mattress topper help if my mattress is causing shoulder pain?

If your mattress is the source of your shoulder pain, a mattress topper can help. Since shoulder pain typically occurs when a mattress is too firm or provides insufficient cushioning, you can purchase a mattress topper that includes the features your mattress lacks. A mattress topper is a relatively quick way to adjust the firmness and feel of your bed surface to alleviate shoulder pain. It is also a more affordable solution than purchasing an entirely new mattress. Keep in mind that mattress toppers are temporary solutions and do not replace the eventual need for a new mattress.

Still have questions?

Our product experts have extensive experience testing just about every sleep product on the market.

Send an email to [email protected] with your questions and we’ll help you find exactly what you’re looking for.

Written By

Jackson Lindeke, Executive Product Director

Jackson leads editorial product recommendations at Sleep Foundation, transforming the data from our sleep product test lab into real world takeaways for consumers. He has spent over half a decade developing protocol to evaluate and measure the impacts of products on sleep quality. As a cited sleep product expert, Jackson helps guide millions of shoppers to find personalized recommendations for everything from pillows to bedding to mattresses.

Medically Reviewed by

Dr. Jenny Iyo, Physical Therapist DPT

Dr. Iyo is a Doctor of Physical Therapy at an orthopedic clinic in Seattle. She specializes in hands-on therapy and tailored exercise programs.

Learn more about our Editorial Team

On This Page:

The Best Mattresses for Shoulder Pain

Didn’t see one you liked? Try the Mattress Match.

In-Depth Reviews

Best Mattress Overall

WinkBed

Best Value Mattress

Nectar Mattress

Most Comfortable Mattress

Helix Midnight Luxe

Best Mattress for Side Sleepers

Nolah Evolution 15

Best Soft Mattress

Helix Sunset

Best Mattress for Pressure Relief

Leesa Sapira Hybrid

Best Mattress for Couples

Bear Elite Hybrid

Best Mattress for Combination Sleepers

Saatva Memory Foam Hybrid

Best Luxury Mattress

Birch Luxe

Best Temperature-Regulating Mattress

Brooklyn Bedding Signature Hybrid