Back sleepers may be a minority in the mattress world, but they’re a reliable group that sleep companies go out of their way to cater to.

There is a reason to differentiate mattresses by sleeping style. Back sleepers have different needs from their side or stomach sleeping counterparts; they need a mattress construction that favours the right firmness and support levels to keep the spine in proper alignment and weight centres from developing pressure points.

So as a back sleeper, where do you start in your search to find the best mattress for your sleep style? Typically, a medium-firm mattress is the best starting point for back sleepers, or anyone who suffers back pain in general. Both groups are often worried about sinkage – how deep you descend into the mattress. But a little sinkage is just fine so long as you get a mattress with high-density foams designed to contour your body. If there’s one key takeaway here, it’s that you need proper support.

We’ve reviewed dozens of mattresses and hired third-party engineers to test perform a variety of tests. Here are our recommendations for the Top 3 Best Mattresses for Back Sleepers.

As a back sleeper, you need to be most careful when selecting your mattress firmness. Why’s that? Because lower back support is so critical. Too soft a mattress can pull your spine away from its natural arch, causing misalignment and pain. A mattress that is too firm will also cause your back to ache since there is no give in the top comfort layer.

Octave, Mattress Reviews’ #1 Pick for Best Cooling Mattress, contains a layer of premium Elastex® foam designed to target pressure points in your shoulders, back, and hips. It also features a multi-zoned support foam layer with five pressure-relief zones to help with spinal alignment.

Octave mattresses are all medium-firm and engineered with leading-edge cooling features like a CryoFusion™ cooling nanofibre cover, heat-dissipating copper-infused memory foam, and phase-change material to offer an unmatched experience of coolness and comfort. Priced at just $899 for a Queen, each Octave mattress also comes with a 365-night sleep trial and FREE bedding bundle.

The best mattresses for back sleepers are usually memory foam and latex mattresses. Both feature slow-response, high-density foams designed to slowly contour to the shape of your body. The end result is a mattress that supports the natural curvature of your spine.

The Douglas is a medium-firm mattress designed to hit that sweet spot back sleepers search for on the firmness spectrum. Thanks to the ecoLight® foam comfort layer, back sleepers can take advantage of the high-density top layer of memory foam which is designed specifically to cradle and support the body. While this is occurring, the transition layer mimics the reactive and supportive properties of natural latex. As a back sleeper, you couldn’t ask for a better combination.

All things considered, the Douglas gives back sleepers the support necessary to sleep comfortably through the night, while also providing enough softness and comfort for those who love an extra snuggly feeling to their bed. And if you’re just not sure when choosing a mattress sight-unseen, Douglas offers an industry-leading 365-night sleep trial.

Proper spinal alignment should be the number one priority when lying in bed. Compromise this objective and you are just asking for back pain that flares up during the day. Easier said than done sometimes.

The only hybrid mattress to make our list is the Logan & Cove. Hybrids usually offer more contouring than traditional innerspring mattresses. They also keep a bit of the bouncy response that many mattress shoppers generally enjoy. Back sleepers who are not 100% comfortable with a foam mattress and want the tried and tested sturdiness of springs ought to take a closer look at this model. With its four-layer composition, the Logan & Cove is characterized by its innovative zonal pocketed coils (which conform with the sleeper’s movements), as well as its adept use of memory foam. Offering the best of both worlds, the pocketed coils and plush memory foam work in sync to relieve your body where pressure points are most likely to develop.

Chronic back pain is one of the leading reasons why people choose to sleep on their back. According to Sleep.org, back sleepers make up about 8% of the population. Lower back discomfort is one of the top causes of disability worldwide, so picking a proper mattress has all sorts of implications for your quality of life. Here are some pros and cons of sleeping on your back:

As a back sleeper, be sure to the get the mattress that best supports the natural alignment of your spine. This will help you reduce the likelihood of developing or aggravating existing back pain. A mattress with poor contouring and support forces your body to rest at an unnatural angle, and this prevents your tired muscles from relaxing completely.

The three mattresses featured above are sure to provide your entire body with the comfort and support it needs. Most importantly, they’ll increase the likelihood of getting a great night’s sleep. And you don’t need to be a back sleeper to appreciate that!