Written by Loren Bullock, Lead Product Tester
Back pain is no joke. It’s one of the leading reasons people go to the emergency room and generates the most workman’s compensation1 claims. If you are among the millions who have experienced back or joint pain, the Saatva Rx mattress may be precisely what you’ve been looking for. This bed was designed for people with chronic back pain seeking relief.
Although I’m not a doctor, I am a professional mattress tester. I tested the Saatva Rx to see how it lives up to the manufacturer’s claims. Read my review to hear more about the bed’s construction, performance, pros and cons, and whether or not it’s a truly painless purchase.
Saatva Rx Mattress
The Saatva Rx mattress offers exceptional support for those with back and joint pain.
Save up to $600 off
Material
Hybrid
Trial Period
365 nights
Shipping Method
Free white glove delivery
Firmness
Medium-firm: 6/10
Warranty
Lifetime warranty
Price Range
$$$$$
We recommend this mattress for the following sleeper types:
Hip Pain
This bed is perfect for anyone suffering from hip pain.
Back Pain
This bed is perfect for anyone suffering from back pain.
Back Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight and average weight back sleepers.
Side Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight and average weight side sleepers.
Stomach Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight and average weight stomach sleepers.Financing Options
Financing options are available for this mattress.
Saatva Rx Mattress
The Saatva Rx mattress offers exceptional support for those with back and joint pain.
Material
Hybrid
Warranty
Lifetime warranty
Firmness
Medium-firm: 6/10
Shipping Method
Free white glove delivery
Trial Period
365 nights
Price Range
$$$$$
We recommend this mattress for the following sleeper types:
Hip Pain
This bed is perfect for anyone suffering from hip pain.
Back Pain
This bed is perfect for anyone suffering from back pain.
Back Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight and average weight back sleepers.
Side Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight and average weight side sleepers.
Stomach Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight and average weight stomach sleepers.Financing Options
Financing options are available for this mattress.
Saatva Rx Mattress
The Saatva Rx mattress offers exceptional support for those with back and joint pain.
Material
Hybrid
Firmness
Medium-firm: 6/10
Trial Period
365 nights
Warranty
Lifetime warranty
Shipping Method
Free white glove delivery
Price Range
$$$$$
We recommend this mattress for the following sleeper types:
Hip Pain
This bed is perfect for anyone suffering from hip pain.
Back Pain
This bed is perfect for anyone suffering from back pain.
Back Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight and average weight back sleepers.
Side Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight and average weight side sleepers.
Stomach Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight and average weight stomach sleepers.Financing Options
Financing options are available for this mattress.
Saatva Rx Mattress Performance Ratings
Who I Recommend the Saatva Rx For:
- Those with back pain – Saatva designed this bed for people with back and joint pain, and I was impressed with how they delivered on these intentions. The Rx is exceptional for pressure relief, spine alignment, and responsiveness.
- All sleep positions – It is rare to find a mattress that works equally well for all sleep positions, but the supportive construction and approachable firmness level make this a solid choice for back, side, and stomach sleepers.
- Shoppers who want white glove delivery -The Saatva Rx is delivered and set up for you free of charge. They will also remove your old mattress.
Who I Don’t Recommend the Saatva Rx For:
- Couples – The Saatva Rx performs well in most categories but falls short in isolating motion. It’s not terrible, but I recommend keeping this in mind if you’re part of a couple with a light sleeper or a partner who tosses and turns.
- Budget shoppers – Given this is a specialty mattress that uses high-quality materials, it is not surprising that the Saatva Rx has a hefty price tag. While this is to be expected, it may put it out of some shopper’s mattress budgets.
Customer Reviews of the Saatva RX
Customers on Saatva’s website have awarded the Saatva Rx 4.8 out of 5 stars on average. Multiple testimonies praise the bed for helping with chronic back and neck pain, with only a few mentioning drawbacks such as lackluster edges.
Testing the Saatva RX Mattress
Sleep Advisor’s Testing Methodology
To bring you a comprehensive and unbiased breakdown of this mattress, I performed a series of hands-on tests to evaluate how this bed performed during a series of tests. Additionally, I examined its construction and features to understand the type of sleeper who would enjoy and benefit from this mattress.
For our full methodology, please visit our product review process page.
Firmness & Feel
Firmness Scale: 6/10 (Medium-Firm)
Please remember that firmness is a subjective characteristic and your body type will dictate how you experience a bed. A heavier person whose weight can more easily push through softer comfort and support layers might experience a bed as softer than a lightweight person. The way you are shaped could also play a role here. Consider your weight, shape, and size when evaluating firmness scores.
A mattress’ firmness refers to how hard or soft it feels, and Sleep Advisor uses a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 being the softest. The Saatva Rx has an approachable and appealing medium-firm feel, and I put it at a 6 out of 10 on the firmness scale.
With a 6 out of 10 firmness rating, that means the Saatva Rx has a medium feel to it. Many beds have a medium feel because this can appeal to more people and sleep positions.
How Does It Feel?
When you first lie down on the Saatva Rx, the soft pillow top wraps you in a comforting hug that relieves pressure. As I began to settle into the mattress, I was impressed with how supported I felt thanks to the solid coils, and the longer I was on the mattress, the more I appreciated them. The approachable firmness kept my hips elevated and my spine aligned in all sleep positions. I enjoyed the overall springy and opulent feel.
Sleeping Positions for Different Body Types
According to Saatva customer service, the Saatva Rx can hold up to 300 pounds per sleeper.
Side Sleepers
- Lightweight Sleepers – The construction of the mattress works well to help preserve spinal alignment, and the pillow top and coils help keep pressure off the hips and shoulders. The Saatva Rx should be an excellent bed for lightweight side sleepers.
- Average-Weight Sleepers – Average-weight side sleepers should experience solid spine alignment and a nice sink from the bed’s surface. I noticed a little more sinkage around the hips, but it was not enough to add pressure or negate alignment.
- Heavyweight Sleepers – Side sleepers who weigh over 230 pounds may notice a bit of sinkage around their hips on the Saatva Rx, but this shouldn’t be a significant issue.
Discover the best mattresses for side sleepers.
Back Sleepers
- Lightweight Sleepers – Lighter back sleepers should experience balanced weight distribution and great lifting around the lumbar (lower back) area.
- Average-Weight Sleepers – This mattress delivers quality support for average-weight back sleepers. My weight distribution was very even while I was on my back.
- Heavyweight Sleepers – When heavyweight back sleepers are on the Saatva RXx they might experience some initial sinking, but there is a balanced feel that emphasizes this bed’s incredible support.
Browse our picks for the best beds for back sleepers.
Stomach Sleepers
- Lightweight Sleepers – The soft pillow top is comfortable around the hips of lightweight stomach sleepers, and the coils should keep the hips lifted and the spine comfortably aligned.
- Average-Weight Sleepers – The pillow top gives this bed a softer feel, so average-weight stomach sleepers will likely notice some sink. It isn’t enough to be a dealbreaker, but I recommend that these sleepers use a low loft pillow to help them maintain proper alignment.
- Heavyweight Sleepers – Similar to average-weight sleepers, heavier stomach sleepers will also need a flat pillow to maintain proper alignment. These sleepers should find this bed comfortable, but it could be too soft if this is the preferred sleeping position.
Explore the best beds for stomach sleepers.
Pressure Relief
5/5
When it comes to pressure relief, the Saatva Rx earned high marks from the other testers and me. It performed as well as any mattress I’ve tested in this category, and I appreciated that the pressure relief stayed consistently good in all sleep positions.
All of my fellow testers loved this mattress; Sleep Advisor’s heavyweight tester noticed slight pressure around the hips, but he was still a fan of this mattress. Overall, it is exceptional when it comes to this category’s performance.
More: Best Mattress for Pressure Relief
Is the Saatva Rx Mattress Good for Pain Relief?
The Saatva Rx was designed for those with back and joint pain. However, I wanted to test this for myself. After doing so, I can confidently say that the Saatva Rx delivers on its claims as this is one of the best mattresses for back and pain relief I have ever tested.
Back Pain
If you experience chronic back pain, I highly recommend this mattress. Its design targets the lumbar region by using specially zoned micro-coils, among other features, to ensure proper spinal alignment, balanced support, and pressure relief.
Hip Pain
Although our heavyweight tester noticed some pressure buildup around his hips, this mattress is still a standout for those with hip pain. The soft pillow top contours and cushions the hips, while the targeted support of the coils prevents the midsection from sinking too far down. The Saatva Rx should do an exceptional job of alleviating and preventing hip pain.
Shoulder Pain
The Saatva Rx may concentrate on the lumbar region, but it doesn’t miss when it comes to shoulder pain. Those who sleep on their side can experience pressure buildup from placing a lot of their body weight on a small joint. However, similar to hip pain, the soft pillow top helps relieve pressure while the sturdy coils keep sleepers from pushing through the layers, which would otherwise leave their spine in an awkward position.
Support
5/5
The Saatva Rx’s design allows people to sleep in any position and still experience proper spinal alignment. The coils give targeted support to the areas that need it the most and help keep an even distribution of weight.
In addition to these features, I was particularly impressed with the Lumbar Zone® Quilting and how Saatva uses individual pieces of foam within each coil. These elements provide additional support that isn’t found in many other mattresses. The Saatva Rx earned a well-deserved perfect score for support.
Motion Isolation
3/5
Sleeping through a partner’s or pet’s nocturnal twists and turns appeals to couples and co-sleepers. This can be accomplished by sleeping in a bed with sound motion isolation.
Unfortunately, this is one area where the Saatva Rx needs to catch up. During testing, I noticed more movement happening at the surface. The coils tend to react to the movement rather than absorb it. I was happy that major movements were stifled, but couples may want to consider a mattress that isolates all motion better.
Temperature Regulation / Cooling
4/5
The Saatva Rx has an organic cotton cover, and the inner construction utilizes micro coils. The micro coils allow air to move freely, and the breathable organic cotton cover allows it to escape. Both of these elements prevent heat from being trapped in the mattress. This bed isn’t cool to the touch, but the temperature-regulating materials keep it from sleepers feeling overheated throughout the night.
Learn more: Best Cooling Mattresses
Bounce
5/5
The micro coils and pocketed coils with foam give the Saatva Rx plenty of bounce. It reacts instantaneously to movement.
I had fun bouncing around on this bed while testing it. Even the slightest movements made me feel like I was being launched. The extra bounce makes it easier to move around, so I recommend this bed for sexually active couples and combination sleepers.
Related: Best Mattress for Sex
Edge Support
4/5
The firmer coils at the outer perimeter of the Saatva Rx keep you supported while lying on the outer edge. This makes this bed good for couples who like to spread out or those who like to sleep toward the outside of the bed in general. However, I noticed more sinkage when I was sitting on it, and because of this, I advise those with mobility issues to look at Saatva’s flagship bed as it may be more beneficial if you have problems getting in and out of bed.
Performance for Couples
4/5
In many ways, Saatva Rx is a solid choice for great mattress for couples, especially if one or both people experience back or joint pain. It has incredible bounce and support, as well as above-average edge support.
While it is not designed as a cooling mattress, it does implement several cooling features that should keep co-sleepers from overheating. As far as couples are concerned, the only issue I found with this bed is that it allows for a good bit of motion transfer. This means that one partner could be disturbed by the movements of the other.
Preference-Based Features
Guardin™ Botanical Antimicrobial Treatment
The Saatva Rx is treated with a botanical antimicrobial treatment that inhibits the growth of bacteria, mold, and mildew.
Therapeutic Support Core
This unique feature contours to your body’s curves and alleviates pressure on your joints.
Adjustable Base Compatible
You can use the Saatva Rx with an adjustable base. Check out the Saatva Adjustable Base.
Construction: What’s Inside the Saatva Rx?
The Saatva Rx mattress has a tall, 15-inch profile and is covered in a breathable organic cotton cover for cooling right at the surface. Additionally, this cover is treated with Guardin™ botanical antimicrobial treatment, which helps prevent bacteria, mold, and mildew growth. The cover is also a pillow top, with Lumbar Zone® Quilting that gives more lifting in the middle third of the mattress for additional spinal support.
- Below the pillow top, there is a .5-inch gel-infused memory foam lumbar crown that draws heat away from sleeper(s) and helps prevent body impressions from forming over time.
- Moving further down, you’ll find a 2.75-inch layer of high-density foam that cradles the body and adds extra support.
- The next layer is made up of a multitude of 1-inch micro-coils. These coils are more flexible than other coil types and are designed to help prevent pressure from building up.
- The Therapeutic Support Core is 2 inches thick and features Saatva’s Rx Foam Module that is individually encased on top of each coil. The gel is infused with graphite for additional cooling.
- The sturdy and responsive coils are 8 inches tall and made from triple-tempered recycled steel. These coils are durable and respond to your movements.
- Under the pocketed comfort coil unit, there is an eco non-woven base layer that stabilizes the coils.
Unboxing & Off-Gassing
The Saatva Rx arrives via white-glove delivery and professional delivery workers will set up a fully formed mattress. Therefore, you don’t have to concern yourself with unboxing, waiting for the mattress to expand, or off-gassing.
Certifications
- CertiPUR-US® certified – The foams in this bed are CertiPUR-US® certified. CertiPUR-US® is a third-party program that ensures the foams meet rigorous health and safety standards. This means they don’t contain harmful substances like ozone depleters, PBDEs, heavy metals, formaldehyde, and phthalates. They should also have low volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions.
- Congress of Chiropractic State Association Seal of Approval
Coupons, Trials, Warranties, and Shipping
- White Glove Delivery – Free delivery and professional installation are included with the Saatva Rx. The professional delivery drivers will also haul away your old mattress.
- Trial – After purchasing this mattress, you can try it out for a year to make sure it is the right choice for you.
- Warranty – Saatva provides a lifetime warranty for this product.
- Return Policy – If you’re not satisfied with the Saatva Rx, you can return it during the trial period. You’ll pay a $99 processing fee for pickup and haul away.
Sizes & Prices
| Size | Dimensions (inches) | Price (w/o discount) |
| Twin | 38” x 75” x 15” | $1,995 |
| Twin XL | 38” x 80” x 15” | $2,195 |
| Full | 54” x 75” x 15” | $2,695 |
| Queen | 60” x 80” x 15” | $3,295 |
| King | 76” x 80” x 15” | $3,795 |
| Cali King | 72” x 84” x 15” | $3,795 |
| Split King | 76” x 80” x 15” | $4,390 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Saatva Rx good for back pain?
Yes, from my experience the Saatva Rx is great for back pain. The Saatva Rx is specifically designed to treat back and joint pain. It implements several features, including a combination of foam, micro coils, and foam-encased coils to provide spinal alignment and pressure relief.
Can Saatva mattresses be flipped?
Saatva mattresses, including the Saatva Rx, should not be flipped. These mattresses have a specific design, and if you flip them, you will be sleeping on the base. This would be uncomfortable for the sleeper and detrimental to the construction.
Does Saatva sell returned mattresses?
Saatva never sells returned mattresses. If a customer returns a mattress, Saatva donates it to veterans’ shelters or offers it to employees.
Saatva vs. Other Brands
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| Saatva Rx Mattress | Helix Midnight Elite | DreamCloud Premier Mattress | |
| Rating | |||
| Firmness | Medium-firm: 6/10 | Medium-firm: 6/10 | Medium: 5.5/10 |
| Material | Hybrid | Hybrid | Hybrid |
| Cooling | — |
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| Warranty | Lifetime warranty | 15-year warranty | Lifetime warranty |
| Shipping | Free white glove delivery | Free shipping | Free shipping |
| Trial Period | 365 nights | 100 nights | 365 nights |
| Best For | Back Pain, Hip Pain, Stomach Sleepers, Side Sleepers, Back Sleepers | Back Sleepers, Side Sleepers, Hot Sleepers | Back Sleepers, Hot Sleepers |
Who I Recommend the Helix Midnight Elite
- Heavyweight back sleepers
- People who sleep hot
- Side sleepers
Read our Helix Midnight Elite mattress review if you think it is right for you.
Who I Recommend the DreamCloud Premier For
- Couples
- Memory foam fans
- Side sleepers
Read our DreamCloud Premier mattress review if you think it is right for you.
Saatva Rx vs. Other Saatva Models
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| Saatva Rx Mattress | Saatva Mattress | Saatva Solaire Mattress | |
| Rating | |||
| Firmness | Medium-firm: 6/10 | Multiple firmness options | Multiple firmness options |
| Material | Hybrid | Innerspring | Other |
| Cooling | — |
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| Warranty | Lifetime warranty | Lifetime warranty | Lifetime warranty |
| Shipping | Free white glove delivery | Free white glove delivery | Free white glove delivery |
| Trial Period | 365 nights | 365 nights | 365 nights |
| Best For | Back Pain, Hip Pain, Stomach Sleepers, Side Sleepers, Back Sleepers | Back Sleepers, Stomach Sleepers, Back Pain, Hot Sleepers | Couples, Hot Sleepers, Side Sleepers, Back Sleepers, Stomach Sleepers |
Who I Recommend the Saatva Classic For
- People with mobility issues who need stronger edge support
- Consumers who want several height options to choose from
- Affordable luxury shoppers
Read our Saatva mattress review if you think it is right for you.
Who I Recommend the Saatva Solaire For
- People looking for customizable firmness
- Those who want an eco-conscious mattress
- Couples seeking exceptional support
Read our full Saatva Solaire mattress review here.
My Verdict
I was a big fan of the Saatva Rx, a bed specifically designed for those with back and joint pain. This mattress had exceptional support and pressure relief, and although it isn’t a cooling mattress, it has enough cooling features that sleepers don’t need to worry about overheating.
My only complaint with the Saatva Rx is that it didn’t do a great job of isolating motion, but that wasn’t surprising since it has incredible bounce. This bed earned an overall rating of 4.4 out of 5, and I think that if you have back pain or joint discomfort or simply want a supportive bed, you should check it out.
Loren Bullock
Lead Product Tester
About Author
Loren is the Lead Reviewer at Sleep Advisor. She has prioritized sleeping for as long as she can remember, rarely deviating from seven to nine hours each night.
Combination Sleeper
Education & Credentials
- Certified Sleep Science Coach