Hip pain can make it difficult to get comfortable at night, particularly if lying in your usual position puts pressure on the painful area. Your mattress cannot treat the cause of hip pain, but the surface you sleep on can affect how well supported you feel in bed.

If you’re looking for the best mattress for hip pain, there is no single firmness or mattress type that will suit everyone. A useful starting point is to look for a mattress that balances pressure distribution, cushioning and support for your body, sleeping position and personal preference.

Here are a few of the best mattresses for hip pain to consider from Opera Beds:

Memory Adjustable Mattress - a medium/firm mattress with a visco memory foam topper over a high-density foam base, moulding to your body to relieve pressure while keeping you well supported.

Cool Gel Adjustable Mattress - a soft/medium hybrid combining gel-infused foam with 1,000 micro-springs, with a cooling IceWeave cover for anyone who tends to feel warm at night.

Premium Hybrid Adjustable Mattress - a medium hybrid with two layers of springs (2,000 micro-springs and 2,000 pocket springs) beneath gel-infused and supportive foams, adapting to your body for pressure relief and responsive support.

You can also explore our full range of adjustable bed mattresses to compare different firmness levels and constructions. If reduced mobility means pressure management is a particular concern, our pressure-relieving mattresses include options designed for different levels of pressure risk.

In the rest of this guide, we explain what to look for in a mattress for painful hips, how sleeping position can affect comfort and when an adjustable bed may be worth considering.

What can cause hip pain at night?

There are many possible causes of hip pain, from injuries and strains to longer-term conditions such as arthritis. The NHS advises against trying to diagnose the cause yourself, as different conditions can produce similar symptoms.

Pain may also feel more noticeable at night because of the position you sleep in. Lying directly on a painful hip, for example, places pressure on that side of the body and may feel uncomfortable for some people.

If hip pain is persistent, worsening, severe or affecting your mobility and everyday activities, speak to an appropriate healthcare professional. Sudden severe hip pain following an injury or fall may require more urgent medical attention.

Can your mattress affect hip pain?

A mattress is unlikely to be the underlying cause of persistent hip pain, but an unsuitable sleep surface may make it harder to find a comfortable position.

If the surface feels too firm, you may notice uncomfortable pressure around the hip you are lying on. If it feels too soft for your body, you may sink further into the mattress than you find comfortable. An older mattress can also become less supportive as it wears, particularly if it has developed dips or sagging.

This is why the best mattress for painful hips is not necessarily the softest or firmest option. What matters is how well the mattress balances pressure distribution, cushioning and support for you.

What should you look for in a mattress for hip pain?

Pressure distribution

Pressure distribution is particularly important if your hip feels uncomfortable when you lie directly on it. A mattress with cushioning comfort layers can help spread your body weight across a wider area rather than concentrating it around prominent areas such as the hips and shoulders.

For people with limited mobility or those who spend long periods in bed, pressure management can become a more specific care consideration. In these circumstances, a specialist pressure-relieving mattress may be appropriate following an individual assessment of pressure risk.

The right level of firmness

There is no single mattress firmness that will suit everyone with hip pain. A very firm mattress may feel uncomfortable if it does not allow enough cushioning around the hips, while a very soft mattress may allow some sleepers to sink further into the surface than they find supportive.

A medium or medium-firm mattress can provide a useful balance for many people, but body weight, sleeping position and personal preference all matter. Rather than choosing a mattress simply because it is described as firm or orthopaedic, consider how the complete construction supports and cushions your body.

Comfort layers and mattress construction

Materials such as memory foam, gel-infused foam and other responsive comfort foams are designed to adapt to the shape of the body. This contouring can help distribute pressure across the mattress surface, while deeper support layers provide stability underneath.

Hybrid mattresses combine comfort materials with springs, which can provide cushioning with responsive support. Neither foam nor hybrid construction is automatically the best mattress for hip pain. The overall feel and support of the mattress are more important than any single material.

Ease of movement

If hip pain makes turning over or changing position uncomfortable, think about how easy the mattress is to move on. Some people enjoy the close contouring sensation of softer foam, while others prefer a more responsive surface that makes repositioning feel easier.

Mattress condition 

Even a mattress that was once comfortable may no longer provide the same support after years of use. Check for obvious sagging, permanent impressions, damaged springs or areas that feel noticeably different from the rest of the mattress.

What should side sleepers look for?

Side sleeping places one hip directly against the mattress, making cushioning around this area particularly important. If the mattress feels too firm, the hip and shoulder may feel as though they are pressing against the surface rather than settling comfortably into it.

NHS physiotherapy guidance for some forms of hip pain suggests avoiding the painful side where possible and placing a pillow between the knees when lying on the other side. The right advice will depend on what is causing your hip pain, so follow any specific guidance given by your doctor or physiotherapist.

What should back sleepers look for?

Back sleeping spreads your weight differently and removes the direct pressure created by lying on one hip. The mattress should still feel supportive through the hips and lower back without creating uncomfortable pressure.

Some NHS guidance also suggests placing a pillow underneath the knees when sleeping on your back. This may provide a more comfortable resting position for some people with hip problems.

What about front sleeping with hip pain?

Front sleeping may be less comfortable for some people experiencing hip or lower-back discomfort because of the position in which it places your pelvis and spine. If this is your usual sleeping position, pay attention to whether your hips sink deeply into the mattress or whether you find yourself twisting to become comfortable.

There is no need to force yourself into an unfamiliar sleeping position purely because you have hip pain. If a particular position consistently makes your symptoms worse, a healthcare professional or physiotherapist may be able to suggest alternatives appropriate to the cause of your pain.

What is the best adjustable bed position for hip pain?

An adjustable bed gives you more control over your resting position by allowing the back and legs to be raised independently. There is no single best adjustable bed position for hip pain, because the most comfortable setup will depend on the individual and the cause of their symptoms.

Some people may find that slightly raising the legs when lying on their back creates a more comfortable resting position. This follows a similar principle to placing a pillow underneath the knees, which is suggested in NHS guidance for some hip conditions.

The main advantage of an adjustable bed is flexibility. Rather than relying on pillows to change your position, you can make smaller adjustments until you find a setup that feels comfortable. An adjustable bed may also be worth considering if reduced mobility makes sitting up or repositioning in bed more difficult.

An adjustable bed should be paired with a compatible adjustable bed mattress that is flexible enough to move with the bed base.

Is an adjustable bed better than changing your mattress?

They solve different problems. A new mattress changes the surface supporting your body, while an adjustable bed changes the position in which that surface supports you.

If your current mattress is sagging, damaged or feels uncomfortable around your hips, replacing the mattress may be the more obvious starting point. If the mattress itself feels comfortable but you struggle to find a suitable resting position, rely on several pillows for support or find repositioning difficult, an adjustable bed may offer useful additional flexibility.

For some people, the right setup may be a combination of a supportive adjustable mattress and an electric adjustable base.

Other ways to sleep more comfortably with hip pain

• Change sides: if lying directly on the painful hip feels uncomfortable, try sleeping on the other side.
  

• Use a pillow between your knees: this may help support the hips when side sleeping.
  

• Support your knees when back sleeping: placing a pillow underneath the knees may feel more comfortable for some people.
  

• Check your mattress: look for sagging, dips or other signs that the surface is no longer supporting you evenly.
  

• Make repositioning easier: if turning in bed is difficult, consider whether the mattress or bed setup is making movement unnecessarily challenging.

These adjustments are about finding a comfortable sleeping setup rather than treating the underlying cause of pain.

When should you seek help for hip pain?

Hip pain has many possible causes, so a mattress should never be treated as a substitute for appropriate healthcare.

The NHS recommends speaking to a GP if hip pain is affecting normal activities or sleep, is getting worse or keeps coming back, or has not improved after trying home treatment. More urgent medical advice may be needed if you develop sudden severe hip pain, a hot or swollen hip, feel unwell with a high temperature, or cannot walk or put weight on your leg. Severe pain following a fall or injury also requires urgent assessment.

Choosing your next mattres with Opera Beds

If you have painful hips, the right mattress will depend on your individual needs, including the level of comfort, support and pressure distribution that feels right for you.

Opera offers a range of mattresses designed for different comfort preferences and care requirements. You’ll find:

• Adjustable mattresses in a choice of firmness levels and constructions
  

• Hybrid options combining cushioning comfort layers with pocket springs
  

• Mattresses designed to flex with an adjustable bed
  

• Specialist pressure-relieving mattresses for people with additional pressure-care needs
  
  

If changing your sleeping position could help you feel more comfortable, you can also explore our adjustable beds, which let you raise your back and legs with the touch of a button.

Choosing the right setup is personal, particularly when pain or reduced mobility is involved. Explore our adjustable bed mattresses and pressure-relieving mattresses to compare your options, or speak to the Opera team if you need help deciding which type of mattress may suit your needs.