Best Mattress for Arthritis

Arthritis inflames your joints — and inflamed joints don't respond well to pressure. Whether you have osteoarthritis in your hips and knees, rheumatoid arthritis, or psoriatic arthritis, the problem at night is the same: your mattress is pushing against joints that are already sore. Add to that the fact that inflammation runs hot. A well-chosen mattress won't treat the underlying condition — but it can take pressure off your joints, keep your spine aligned, and manage heat so your body can actually rest.

How to Choose the Right Mattress for Arthritis

The right mattress depends on where your arthritis is and how you sleep:

• Pain in your hips or shoulders? Go softer. Those joints need to sink slightly into the mattress rather than bearing direct pressure — especially if you're a side sleeper.
• Pain in your lower back? Stay closer to medium-firm. You need your hips level and your lower back curve supported. Most back sleepers with lower back or hip arthritis do best here.
• Wake up hot? Make cooling a priority. Inflammation generates body heat, and a mattress that traps it makes everything worse overnight.
• Hard to reposition? Avoid very slow memory foam — it can feel like you're stuck. A responsive latex or hybrid lets you shift more freely, putting less strain on your joints.
• Struggle to get in and out of bed? Test edge support. Sit on the side of the mattress and stand up. If it collapses, you'll feel that every single morning.

Our Picks for Arthritis Customers

Tempur-Pedic — Overall Joint Relief

Tempur-Pedic has done more arthritis-specific research in partnership with credible third parties than most brands we carry. In a survey conducted with the Arthritis Foundation, 75% of Tempur-Pedic owners surveyed reported their mattress helped with joint discomfort. The TEMPUR material responds to your body's weight and temperature, conforming closely to your joints and distributing pressure evenly — particularly helpful for hip and shoulder arthritis. The Breeze collection is designed to keep the sleep surface up to 10° cooler than standard Tempur-Pedic models.

Purple — Heat + Pressure Relief

Purple's GelFlex Grid doesn't trap heat the way traditional foam can. In independent SleepScore Labs testing, Purple sleepers reported a 63–68% reduction in self-reported pain, and the grid dissipated heat 2–4x more effectively than competing brands in that study. The grid adapts under different pressure points — firm where you need support, soft where you need relief.

Avocado — Lower Back & Hip Arthritis / Natural Materials

For arthritis in the lower back, hips, or tailbone area, Avocado's latex-over-coil construction is a strong fit: natural Dunlop latex takes pressure off the surface while individually wrapped coils give zoned support that keeps your hips and spine in line. Endorsed by the American Chiropractic Association, with five independent certifications including GOLS, GOTS, and GREENGUARD Gold. Best for back sleepers with lower back arthritis — side sleepers with significant hip or shoulder involvement should try it in store first.

Sealy — Broad Support & Value

Sealy has partnered with orthopedic surgeons on mattress design since 1950. Their Posturepedic technology focuses on lower back support, which benefits arthritis sufferers whose pain stems from or radiates through the lower back. The most reliable starting point for customers managing arthritis on a tighter budget.

Technogel — Temperature-Sensitive Arthritis

For arthritis flares tied directly to sleeping hot — common with rheumatoid and psoriatic arthritis — Technogel is worth a close look. Independent peer-reviewed research found Technogel conducts heat 10 times more effectively than standard foam and reduces surface temperature by up to 2–3°C. In the same study, sleepers fell asleep 33% faster and spent 45% more time in deep sleep. Getting more deep sleep may help you feel better when you wake up.

Common Mistakes We See In Store

• Going too firm because "it's better for your back." If you have arthritis in your hips, shoulders, or knees, firm concentrates pressure exactly where it hurts. A medium or medium-soft mattress can give you good back support without that.
• Choosing feel over mobility. A very soft mattress might feel great lying down, but if you're struggling to push yourself up in the morning, that's a real problem. The right mattress has to work when you're moving, not just when you're still.
• Ignoring heat. A mattress that traps warmth will interrupt your sleep and make pain worse overnight. If you're waking up hot, that's worth fixing.
• Skipping the edge test. Sit on the side of the mattress and stand up. If it collapses, you'll feel that every morning.
• Buying online without testing. With arthritis, your needs are specific to your joints and sleep position. Fifteen minutes in store tells you things a description never can.

— Drew Miller, Vice President, Sit 'n Sleep

Why Test In Store for Arthritis

How a mattress feels depends on your body weight, where your arthritis is, and how you sleep. The only reliable way to know if it will work is to lie on it in your actual sleep position for several minutes and pay attention to what you feel at your hips, shoulders, and knees.

At Sit 'n Sleep, BedMATCH measures your body profile and sleep position to narrow the field before you start testing. Our sleep consultants average over 10 years of experience — they've worked with thousands of customers dealing with arthritis and know what tends to work and what doesn't. With 37+ stores across Los Angeles, Orange County, the Inland Empire, and Ventura County, there's a location near you. Every purchase comes with a 120-night comfort trial.

Find your nearest Sit 'n Sleep store →