How to Choose a Hybrid Mattress for Back Sleepers

Hybrid mattresses combine springs and foam for a balanced sleep experience. They're beneficial for back sleepers as they provide cooling, reduce motion transfer, and offer excellent support. Features to look for in a hybrid mattress for back sleepers include individually wrapped coils, a slightly firmer comfort level, and added lumbar support.

Innerspring mattresses have come a long way from the days when the springs inside were notorious for popping through the mattress’s outer covering. Nearly all of them on the market today feature a layer of cushiony memory foam or latex for added pressure relief and comfort. Because these mattresses combine springs and foam for a “best of both worlds” sleep experience, they’re often referred to as hybrid mattresses.

But the right hybrid mattress for you may not be the best choice for someone else. If you sleep mainly on your back and are interested in trying a hybrid mattress, there are a few things to consider in deciding for yourself: Are hybrid mattresses good for back sleepers?

Here, learn about the benefits of a hybrid mattress and how to choose the best hybrid for back sleepers.

What is a hybrid mattress?

Technically, a hybrid mattress can be any mattress made from more than one material. But, as Better Sleep Council board member and director of mattress education Mary Helen Rogers explains, the term “hybrid mattress” is most often associated with innerspring mattresses that contain a coil support system along with another material, such as memory foam.

This combination of traditional coil support with the contouring comfort of foam is what gives a hybrid bed mattress its appeal. “Many will say that hybrids bring the best of both worlds together,” says Rogers.

Of course, the specific feel of any individual hybrid mattress depends on the type of materials inside it. But it will usually be different from what you feel if you lie on a traditional innerspring or a pure foam mattress, explains Mark Kinsley, vice president of marketing for the Bedding Group at Leggett & Platt, a company that manufactures bedding components (including some of the materials used in Saatva mattresses).

Initially, you’ll experience the soft feeling that foam provides. But you’ll also feel reinforced support from the coils, making it easier to move around and change sleeping positions than on an all-foam mattress. Kinsley says the foam-spring combination makes you feel more elevated and buoyant—instead of sinking, as you would on an all-foam mattress.

Hybrid spring-foam mattresses also tend to sleep cooler than all-foam mattresses, because more air can circulate through the springs than is be able to circulate through foam layers.

Benefits of a hybrid mattress

These are the top benefits of sleeping on a hybrid mattress if you’re a back sleeper:

Ensures a cool night’s sleep

You get airflow from the coils, and even more cooling if you choose a hybrid with a layer of natural latex. If you decide on a hybrid mattress with a memory foam comfort layer, look for one infused with cooling gel or graphite, as traditional memory foam tends to sleep hot.

Reduces motion transfer

The added layer of foam on top of the mattress helps reduce the sensation that you’re riding a wave as your sleep partner moves around in the middle of the night—and likewise, if you’re the one who moves.

Provides excellent support for back sleepers

The top foam layer in a hybrid mattress contours to your body and provides pressure relief for your back and joints, which is especially important if you’re prone to back pain.

Best hybrid mattress for back sleepers

Generally speaking, the best mattress for back sleepers will provide a balance of comfort and support. Back sleepers do well on just about any surface—innerspring, memory foam, or latex—but hybrid mattresses are a popular choice because they combine what you love about an innerspring mattress with the pressure-relieving qualities of foam.

If you’re a back sleeper shopping for a hybrid mattress, look for the following features:

  • Individually wrapped coils. The best hybrid mattresses feature individually wrapped coils, which move independently and reduce motion transfer. (The
    Saatva Classic
    saatva classic innerspring mattress
    Saatva Classic

    America’s best-selling online luxury innerspring

    includes a “coil on coil” system: a base support layer of tempered steel coils, plus another layer of individually wrapped coils in the top portion of the mattress.)
  • Slightly firmer comfort level. As a back sleeper, you need a hybrid mattress that is firm enough to support your lumbar spine. When a mattress is too soft, the weight of your hips will pull you down into the bed. When a mattress is too firm, on the other hand, that will put too much pressure on your shoulders and back, leading to soreness in the morning. A medium-firm mattress is ideal for back sleepers of average weight. Heavier sleepers should opt for a slightly firmer mattress comfort level. (Here’s how to find the best mattress for your body type.)
  • Added lumbar support. Lumbar support is one of the most important features to look for in a hybrid mattress if you’re a back sleeper. Lumbar support will ensure your spine is kept in neutral alignment while you sleep. A memory foam hybrid mattress will include added lumbar support from denser foams or gels in the center third of the mattress. In a
    latex hybrid mattress,
    saatva latex hybrid mattress
    Latex Hybrid

    Our hand-tufted, organic natural latex hybrid innerspring for buoyant, cooling comfort

    lumbar support is often referred to as “zoned” support. This means the mattress has firmer foams in the center third.

Our best hybrid mattresses for back sleepers

Saatva Classic Innerspring Mattress

Our flagship luxury mattress is expertly engineered with coil-on-coil construction for durability, a layer of memory foam for enhanced back support, and a cushiony Euro pillow top for extra comfort.

Saatva HD Mattress

This luxury hybrid innerspring mattress is specifically engineered to support people weighing between 300 and 500 pounds. Plush upper layers made of foam and latex deliver comfort, while a high-durability coil base offers support.

Latex Hybrid Mattress

This hybrid mattress combines the pressure-free support of natural latex with the classic innerspring feel. Handcrafted with pure materials for the ultimate in cool and healthy sleep.

Memory Foam Hybrid Mattress

This memory foam hybrid mattress features the perfect balance of body-contouring and responsive feel. Enjoy the innovative cooling system, which prevents overheating.

Still trying to decide if a hybrid mattress is right for you? Here’s how it compares to other mattress types:

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