Written by Julia Forbes, Sleep Advisor Mattress Tester
If you’re a side sleeper, you’ve probably woken up with a sore hip or shoulder after sleeping on a mattress that felt too firm. These bony joints need a lot of cushion to feel comfortable—and a stable support system so one part doesn’t sink much more than the other.
Finding that exact balance can be a challenge. Thankfully, as a mattress tester for Sleep Advisor, I lay on more beds in a month than most folks will in a lifetime.
My team and I scouted the best mattresses for side sleeping by focusing on three key components: pressure relief, support, and firmness. These beds should both cradle and lift your joints so that you can snooze on your side without stress.
The Best Mattresses for Side Sleepers
- Helix Midnight – Editor’s Pick
- WinkBed – Best Hybrid Mattress for Side Sleepers
- Nectar Premier – Best Memory Foam Mattress for Side Sleepers
- DreamCloud Premier – Best Firm Mattress for Side Sleepers
- Brooklyn Bedding Signature Hybrid – Best Mattress for Side Sleepers with Hip Pain
- Nolah Evolution – Best Couple’s Mattress for Side Sleepers
- Bear Elite Hybrid – Best Cooling Mattress for Side Sleepers
- Saatva Classic – Best Mattress for Side Sleepers with Back Pain
- Titan Plus Luxe – Best Mattress for Heavy Side Sleepers
- Leesa Sapira Chill Hybrid – Best Luxury Mattress for Side Sleepers
Our Video Review of the Best Mattresses for Side Sleepers
Compare the Best Mattresses for Side Sleepers
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| Helix Midnight Mattress | WinkBed Mattress | Nectar Premier Mattress | DreamCloud Premier Hybrid Mattress | Brooklyn Bedding Signature Hybrid | Nolah Evolution Hybrid Mattress | Bear Elite Hybrid Mattress | Saatva Classic | Brooklyn Bedding Titan Plus Luxe | Leesa Sapira Chill Hybrid | |
| Rating | ||||||||||
| Firmness | Medium-Firm: 6/10 | Multiple Firmness Options | Medium-Firm: 6.5/10 | Medium: 5.5/10 | Multiple Firmness Options | Multiple Firmness Options | Medium-Firm: 6/10 | Multiple Firmness Options | Medium-Firm: 6.5/10 | Medium-Firm: 6/10 |
| Material | Hybrid | Hybrid | Foam | Hybrid | Hybrid | Hybrid | Hybrid | Innerspring | Hybrid | Hybrid |
| Cooling | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| Best For | Back Sleepers, Couples, Side Sleepers | Side Sleepers, Back Sleepers, Back Pain | Side Sleepers, Back Sleepers, Back Pain, Hip Pain | Back Sleepers, Side Sleepers | Back Sleepers, Couples | Side Sleepers, Back Sleepers, Hip Pain, Seniors | Side Sleepers, Back Sleepers, Hot Sleepers, Hip Pain, Seniors | Back Sleepers, Stomach Sleepers, Hot Sleepers, Back Pain, Seniors | Side Sleepers, Back Sleepers | Side Sleepers, Back Sleepers, Stomach Sleepers, Hip Pain |
Our Testing Team
How We Chose the Best Mattress for Side Sleepers
My fellow mattress testers and I spend our days evaluating beds in person at Sleep Advisor’s studio. We’ve tested more than 150 beds and helped more than 2,500 readers find their next mattress over the years we’ve been in operation.
Since I’m an average-weight stomach sleeper, I enlisted the help of my fellow side-sleeping testers of all sizes to get a clear idea of which beds perform best for this group.
We rate mattresses on a variety of general performance factors during testing, but for this roundup, we honed in on pressure relief, support, and firmness to ensure each recommendation will feel comfortable for side sleeping.
Advice from a Medical Expert
Dr. Raj Dasgupta is a quadruple-board-certified physician with more than 20 years of experience in the medical field. When asked what side sleepers should look for in a mattress, he emphasized a balance between soft, contouring materials and spine-aligning support.
“For side sleepers, the perfect mattress is all about cushioning, support, and keeping your spine aligned. Look for one that hugs your curves without feeling too firm. Make sure it isolates motion well, so your partner’s movements don’t wake you up.”
What We Want to See in a Mattress for Side Sleepers
Reliable Pressure Relief
A mattress with best-in-class pressure relief eases tension around the hips and shoulders as side sleepers sink into a mattress. Our testers provide their opinion on whether a bed relieves pressure, while a specialized mat beneath them maps where pressure builds up along the body.
Every bed on this list received at least a 4 out of 5 in the pressure relief category. Our testers’ pressure maps were mostly blue and green, indicating little to no pressure buildup for side sleepers.
Support that Prevents Sinkage
Side sleepers want a mattress that provides enough lift from the bed’s support system for the spine to stay in a relatively straight line from neck to tailbone. If parts of your spine dip too far or feel too lifted, it throws off your alignment and can create pain or discomfort.
Good news: every bed below was awarded at least a 4 out of 5 in the support category.
Cozy Firmness Level
We rate a mattress’s firmness on a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 being incredibly soft and 10 being as hard as the floor. Side sleepers should typically look for a mattress between 5 and 6.5 on this scale—that’s soft to medium-firm.
All of the beds below fall into this range. Some have multiple firmness options, and we’ll generally recommend the softest model.
Best Mattresses for Side Sleepers
Helix Midnight – Editor’s Pick
The Advisor Says: The Midnight has one of the most impressive score spreads of all the mattresses we’ve reviewed. The best word to describe it is “balanced”: it’s got pressure relief, support, and cooling power in spades, plus a versatile medium-firm feel that tends to satisfy lots of sleepers.
Why It’s Great for Side Sleepers
As one of many mattresses in Helix’s Core Collection, the Helix Midnight was created specifically for side sleepers. It has a balanced, medium-firm feel (6/10 on our scale) that preserves both support and a pillowy surface.
During testing, we saw blues and greens across every pressure map, as well as straight spines all the way from our necks to our tailbones.
It’s not an extremely soft mattress—it’s on the gentler side of medium-firm—but I felt just the right amount of cradling around my hips and shoulders. To top it all off, Helix just updated their sleep trial period, so now you get a full year to try out this mattress and decide if it’s the best pick for you.
With all this in mind, it’s no surprise that it earned our top spot.
Testing Studio Soundbite
“With perfect pressure relief and spine alignment test scores, we were massively impressed with the Helix Midnight’s performance for supporting side sleepers of all body types.”
Julia Forbes, Mattress Tester
Our Favorite Feature
Cooling Gel and Supreme Support Memory Foam. These two top layers of foam are unique to the brand. While the former provides cool-feeling contouring, Helix claims that the second has a higher density than traditional memory foams, which ups its durability. I can testify that it felt awesome around my shoulders and hips—I sunk into it a little bit, but not so deep that I felt swallowed up.
Customer Reviews of The Helix Midnight
The Helix Midnight has over 6,500 reviews on Helix’s website, scoring at 4.5 out of 5.
Users on Reddit’s r/Mattress page express worry over heating, with one redditor (u/BrandonR_24) saying, “I love the comfort of it but if I’m sweating in January I can’t imagine what it’d be like in June.” Otherwise, many say they had a “great experience with Helix and their customer service” (u/positmatt), but warn against making a decision until you’ve broken the bed in.
For a closer look: Read our in-depth Helix Midnight review.
For more top-rated beds: Browse our list of the best mattresses.
WinkBed – Best Hybrid Mattress for Side Sleepers
The Advisor Says: Our testers often compare the WinkBed to a luxury hotel mattress, which is no surprise given its handcrafted touches and elegant hybrid design. It’s also one of the most customizable beds out there, with a firmness level for every body type.
Why It’s A Great Hybrid for Side Sleepers
The WinkBed’s Euro pillow top has a dreamy, plush feel that’s perfect for side sleepers. But as a hybrid bed, it also has both foam and coil enhancements that provide specialized support.
These elements make it an appealing choice for side sleepers who want more lift than an all-foam bed can provide. One caveat, though: you’ll want to order the right firmness level for your body type. We tested the Luxury Firm, and as an average-weight sleeper, I felt very cushioned except for the slightest bit of pressure around my shoulder (you can see it on the pressure map to the right).
I think lightweight and average-weight side sleepers should order the Soft model, whereas heavier folks will prefer the Luxury Firm, Firm, and Plus models.
Testing Studio Soundbite
“It’s bouncy, supportive, and cushy from the pillow top. It feels like a luxury hotel bed.”
Loren Bullock, Former Lead Product Tester
Our Favorite Feature
Euro Pillow Top. The WinkBed’s pillow top is made up of multiple pressure-relieving and cushioning foam layers. The brand claims that these don’t hold onto heat like traditional memory foam does. If you’re a side sleeper, we recommend ordering the Soft version of the WinkBed because you’ll get an extra full layer of this plush material to better cushion your hips and shoulders.
Customer Reviews of the WinkBed
On the WinkBeds site, the WinkBed has over 8,500 reviews and a score of 4.8 out of 5 stars. One drawback of the WinkBed mattress is that it might be too expensive for budget-conscious shoppers, but overall it offers excellent durability and customizable firmness options.
For a closer look: Read our in-depth WinkBed review.
For more top-rated beds: Browse our list of the best hybrid mattresses.
Nectar Premier – Best Memory Foam Mattress for Side Sleepers
The Advisor Says: The Premier has a bit more memory foam at the top than the Nectar Classic for a more side-sleeper-friendly feel. Average-weight sleepers will likely enjoy this bed across all three sleeping positions, and the motion isolation is spectacular.
Why It’s A Great Foam Bed for Side Sleepers
The Nectar Premier’s foam layers can feel particularly restful for side sleepers, as they absorb pressure around the hips and shoulders without the sometimes uncomfortable pushback of springs.
Our average-weight tester for this bed, Sosha, felt very cushioned by its upper layers while reassured by the steadiness of the denser base layer.
It didn’t have the same active buoyancy as a hybrid, but it isolated motion pretty much perfectly. If you like to feel cozily nestled into your mattress, the Nectar is a great choice.
Testing Studio Soundbite
“My husband sleeps much like a runaway wrecking ball, and I don’t even think [his movements] would bother me on this bed.”
Sosha Lewis, Senior Staff Writer
Our Favorite Feature
Pressure-Relieving Memory Foam. This 2-inch comfort layer at the top of the mattress is an old standby for side sleepers. It sinks in, surrounding your hips and shoulders and “hugging” your silhouette to relieve pressure.
Customer Reviews of the Nectar Premier
Thousands of reviewers on Nectar’s site have given the Nectar Premier an overall 4.7 out of 5 stars. Customers appreciate the Nectar Premier mattress for its outstanding value, but some have noted a bit of off-gassing odor upon initial setup as a potential drawback.
Curious about this bed? Consult our full Nectar Premier mattress review.
For more all-foam picks: Explore the best memory foam mattresses.
DreamCloud Premier – Best Firm Mattress for Side Sleepers
The Advisor Says: Its fancy quilted cover and generous foam layers make the DreamCloud Premier a slightly softer bed than the original DreamCloud. But, it still skews firm for a hybrid, so it’s best for back and side sleepers who like an initial bit of cushion followed by lots of lift.
Why It’s A Great Firm Bed for Side Sleepers
Typically, side sleepers gravitate toward softer mattresses that prioritize pressure relief. But what if you’re a side sleeper who likes the reassuring feeling of a firmer foundation?
The DreamCloud Premier is an interesting mix: it has a slightly firm feel—I really waffled between giving it a 6.5 or a 7 out of 10—but it has lots of contouring foam layers above its coil unit.
You can see in the pressure map readout that there’s a bit of pressure buildup around my shoulders, but I didn’t find it to be very noticeable. (Lightweight sleepers likely won’t feel it at all.)
Also, compared to the original DreamCloud model, the Premier has an additional inch of memory foam. That extra inch can make a big difference, and this bed did have a more cradling feel than its predecessor.
Testing Studio Soundbite
“It doesn’t sacrifice support for the extra cushion, and the extra padding works great for those with sensitive joints.”
Julia Forbes, Mattress Tester
Our Favorite Feature
Pillow Top and Foam Layers. The DreamCloud Premier boasts multiple foam layers in its thick pillow top, designed to provide deep contouring right at the surface. It also gives the bed a nice buffer between you and the pocketed coils, so side sleepers get plush pressure relief as well as some springiness and support.
Customer Reviews of the DreamCloud Premier
Coming in at 4.5 out of 5 stars on DreamCloud’s site, the DreamCloud Premier receives a majority of positive reviews. Customers praise the DreamCloud Premier mattress for its luxury feel, but some have noted that it may not be the best choice for those on a tighter budget.
Get more details: See our full review of the DreamCloud Premier.
Look at top-rated firm beds: Browse the best firm mattresses.
Brooklyn Bedding Signature Hybrid – Best Mattress for Side Sleepers with Hip Pain
The Advisor Says: For shoppers on a budget, the Brooklyn Bedding Signature Hybrid is one of the top hybrids we recommend. It’s simultaneously soft and bouncy, with three firmness options and decent cooling power.
Why It’s Great for Side Sleepers with Hip Pain
Like a few other hybrids on this list, the Brooklyn Bedding Signature Hybrid is available in multiple firmness levels (Soft, Medium, and Firm). We tested the Medium version, and it honestly felt quite soft.
I felt remarkably lightweight on top of this mattress, and all my pressure points were swaddled nicely. My hips, however, felt especially buoyant, and I’d definitely recommend this bed for someone with aches and pains in that region.
Mark, an exclusive side sleeper, was also pleased. “I really like when I lay down on my side on this bed,” he said, adding that “it doesn’t sacrifice support or pressure relief.”
Note: We tested an older version of the Signature Hybrid, but we expect the newer model to earn the same spot once we test it, since it features enhanced features—like an even thicker pillow top.
Testing Studio Soundbite
“That pillowy surface is putting in the work, because as soon as you lie down it responds to hug around you softly.”
Julia Forbes, Mattress Tester
Our Favorite Featureepers
A Total of 6 Comfort Layers. The Signature Hybrid boasts a whopping six foam layers in its hybrid construction, only bolstering its plush, cushioning surface. This culminates in a super-thick pillow top that should further mold to the contours of your body, allowing for plenty of sinkage around the hips.
Customer Reviews of the Signature Hybrid
On Brooklyn Bedding’s website, the Brooklyn Signature has 4.7 out of 5 stars. The Brooklyn Bedding Signature Hybrid mattress receives praise from customers for its versatility with different firmness options, but some have mentioned that it may produce slight noise when bearing weight.
Want to know more? Read our full Brooklyn Bedding Signature Hybrid review.
Experiencing hip issues? Check out the best mattresses for hip pain.
Nolah Evolution – Best Couples Mattress for Side Sleepers
The Advisor Says: The Nolah Evolution is a team favorite with a highly competitive score spread—our testers gave it at least a 4 out of 5 in every single performance category. It’s definitely a luxury mattress, with the height (and price) to match.
Why It’s Great for Side-Sleeping Couples
The Nolah Evolution is a memorably lofty mattress with all the right ingredients for side sleeping with a partner: great motion isolation, stellar edge support, and a balanced feel that starts with a plush surface, thanks to its soft, breathable foams.
After testing the Luxury Firm, all three testers (including myself) agreed that this bed offers stellar pressure relief, but that the Plush model might be even more cushiony for our shoulders.
However, one of our writers—Sosha Lewis—owns the Luxury Firm version and heartily recommends it for couples and side sleepers. She credits the bed’s motion-isolation capabilities with “saving her sleep marriage.”
Testing Studio Soundbite
“My personal favorite aspect is the pressure relief! As a middle-aged CrossFitter with a janky hip, this bed eases so much of my pain.”
Sosha Lewis, Senior Staff Writer
Our Favorite Feature for Side Sleeper
AirFoam Luxe. Nolah created this special foam in response to many complaints about traditional memory foam. According to the brand, this foam offers better pressure relief and temperature regulation, and has a longer lifespan than similar materials. There are 2 inches of it below the Evolution’s pillow top, and they help you feel like “you’re melting into the bed,” said Sosha.
Customer Reviews of the Nolah Evolution
The Nolah Evolution rates 4.6 stars out of 5 on Nolah’s website. Customers frequently commend the Nolah Evolution mattress for its exceptional pressure relief and cooling properties, but some have noted slight off-gassing upon unboxing.
Get a closer look: Check out our full Nolah Evolution review.
Sharing a bed? See the best mattresses for couples.
Bear Elite Hybrid – Best Cooling Mattress for Side Sleepers
The Advisor Says: This is a memorably bouncy and supportive hybrid with state-of-the-art cooling elements. It had a delightful balance of cushion and lift for back and stomach sleeping in particular.
Why It’s A Great Cooling Bed for Side Sleepers
The Bear Elite Hybrid is often billed as a great bed for athletes, but it also works for hot sleepers who rest on their side.
It performed well during our temperature test, with its surface temperature rising by only 10 degrees after we lay on top of it. There’s phase change material in the cover, and it’s definitely doing something.
As for pressure relief, our only warning is that you’ll want to order the bed in the Soft firmness level if you have shoulder pain. Loren and I could sense a tad of pressure buildup around our shoulders on the Medium version, but a plusher surface should take care of that.
Testing Studio Soundbite
“The surface moves with you and the support is constant. The cushioning surface isn’t detracting from the ease of movement at all.”
Julia Forbes, Mattress Tester
Our Favorite Feature
Celliant Cover and Copper Memory Foam. The Bear Elite Hybrid comes with a proprietary Celliant cover that purportedly converts excess body heat into healing infrared energy to promote muscle recovery for athletes. This could help sleepers, active or not in their daily lives, keep cool throughout the night.
Meanwhile, the memory foam molds to your shoulders and hips while helping you sleep cool. The copper in it resists heat and bacteria—so you get a bonus antimicrobial effect from this foam, too.
Customer Reviews of the Bear Elite Hybrid
According to Bear’s website, the Bear Elite scores about 4.6 out of 5 stars. Some customers find the Bear Elite Hybrid mattress too firm for their liking, but it receives praise in its reviews for its advanced cooling technology and pressure relief.
Learn more about this bed: Read our review of the Bear Elite Hybrid.
Do you tend to wake up all sweaty? Check out the best cooling mattresses.
Saatva Classic – Best Mattress for Side Sleepers with Back Pain
The Advisor Says: The Saatva Classic is the gold standard for lower-back support, strong edges, and customizable luxury. It’s not the softest or most motion-isolating bed out there, but it’s a dependable, bouncy hybrid that consistently impresses our testers with its two coil units.
Why It’s Great for Side Sleepers with Back Pain
The Saatva Classic’s claim to fame is that it contains two innerspring units for enhanced support. This zoned support system provides firmer support in the center to lift the lumbar spine, which can play a big role in preventing lower back pain.
It’s important for side-sleeping, too, because you want your hips to be lifted enough that your lower back stays aligned with your upper back.
But all that support doesn’t mean that the Classic neglects the cushioning that side sleepers crave—its plush pillow top hugs pressure points like the hips and shoulders. All three testers, including myself, felt like we were both lifted and cushioned in a comfortable ratio.
Saatva mattresses also come with some of the best policies we’ve seen: a 365-night sleep trial, lifetime warranty, and free white glove delivery.
Testing Studio Soundbite
“It does a great job of cushioning the body’s pressure points and giving you a cushy place to sleep on. It also works to keep the lumbar supported. The center of the bed has an extra support foam layer so you feel a little bit of extra light lift around your midsection.”
Julia Forbes, Mattress Tester
Our Favorite Feature
3-inch Euro Top. The first layer of the Saatva Classic is a Euro top with an organic cotton cover and built-in comfort foam. It’s the layer that determines how firm your bed is—Plush Soft, Luxury Firm, or Firm—and it’s quilted to provide more support under the low back.
I’d recommend the Plush Soft or Luxury Firm models for side sleepers. While testing the Luxury Firm on my side, I felt a nice amount of buoyancy under my hips that kept my spine aligned, as well as cradling from the Euro top’s comfort foam.
Customer Reviews of the Saatva Classic
With thousands of customer reviews, the Saatva Classic rates 4.8 stars out of 5 on Saatva’s website. One downside is that some customers found the Saatva Classic to be too firm for their liking, while a notable advantage is its high-quality materials, providing durability and support.
Learn more about this mattress: Read our comprehensive Saatva Classic review.
Dealing with a sore back? Browse the best mattresses for back pain.
Titan Plus Luxe – Best Mattress for Heavy Side Sleepers
The Advisor Says: This is a softer, taller bed than its predecessor, the Titan Plus. It’s designed for plus-size sleepers, but its versatile feel makes it approachable for average-weight sleepers, too. It’s a great choice for couples, even ones with different comfort preferences.
Why It’s Great for Heavy Side Sleepers
Sometimes, mattresses designed for plus-sized people end up feeling too unyielding for side sleepers. But the Titan Plus Luxe is different—it preserves the soft, cushy upper layers that side sleepers need as well as the strong support features that are necessary for larger bodies.
Our plus-size tester, Sean, was very impressed by this balance: “If you’re a heavier or extra-tall individual like myself, the Titan Plus Luxe mattress is your best friend—if mattresses could be best friends.”
I’m an average-weight sleeper, and I also appreciated how pillowy the top of this bed was, juxtaposed with the reassuring amount of support from underneath. My team and I ultimately rated it at true medium-firm, 6.5/10 on our scale.
Testing Studio Soundbite
“It was soft, but not too soft. I never felt like I was stuck or that I was sinking into the bed. Even better, this had all the support I’ll ever need from a bed.”
Sean, Sleep Advisor Mattress Tester
Our Favorite Feature
TitanFlex™ Foam. Touted as a pressure-relieving foam with the springiness of latex, the TitanFlex™ foam at the top of this bed gives side sleepers a soothing surface for their hips and shoulders. It bounces back into shape quickly, too, so it shouldn’t hold onto body impressions.
Customer Reviews of the Titan Plus Luxe
Users on Brooklyn Bedding’s site have given the Titan Plus Luxe a 4.5 out of 5 stars. Customers left thousands of reviews, explaining it offers exceptional durability and support, but some mention that it might be too firm for those who prefer a softer feel.
Want to know more? Explore our full review of the Titan Plus Luxe.
For beds designed for larger bodies: Browse the best mattresses for heavy people.
Leesa Sapira Chill Hybrid – Best Luxury Mattress for Side Sleepers
The Advisor Says: The Leesa Sapira Chill is a sophisticated hybrid bed that looks and feels classy. We were especially taken with how well it adapted to back and side sleeping. On her back, our tester felt like the Medium model was stable and supportive; on her side, it seemed to soften up to better cushion her shoulders and hips. One caveat, though, is that it’s not as much of a cooling superstar as its name would suggest.
Why It’s A Great Luxury Bed for Side Sleepers
Perhaps you’re a side sleeper who likes to feel a bit fancy? If that’s the case, the Leesa Sapira Chill Hybrid may be the perfect cloud-like sanctuary for your sleep. It comes in three firmness levels—Plush, Medium-Firm, and Firm—but even while testing the Medium-Firm version in our studio, I found it to be on the softer side.
The explanation for all this cushion? A total of four comfort foams beneath the bed’s cooling cover. Even though you’ll get solid support from the mattress’s individually wrapped coils, these foams stack up to a lovely pillow top that cradles your pressure points.
Testing Studio Soundbite
“The lumbar zone gets plenty of lift, and you have a nice mattress surface that lightly hugs around the body.”
Julia Forbes, Mattress Tester
Our Favorite Feature
Quilt Foam Layer. At 2 inches thick, this initial layer is responsible for much of the bed’s luxurious plushness. To me, it even seemed like the surface of the bed got softer when I switched to my side—although I gave it a 6 out of 10 firmness rating, on my side, it felt more like a pillowy 5 out of 10.
Customer Reviews of the Leesa Sapira Chill
The Leesa Sapira Chill Hybrid rates 4.3 stars out of 5 based on hundreds of reviews on Leesa’s website. Customers value the Leesa Sapira Chill Hybrid for its excellent temperature regulation and comfort, but some mention it’s softer than they anticipated.
For more about this bed: Check out our full Leesa Sapira Chill Hybrid review.
For more luxury options: Look through the best luxury mattresses.
Other Mattresses for Side Sleepers We Tested
While the mattresses below didn’t quite make our list, they’re still a good match for the average side sleeper. Check them out if you’d like to explore even more options.
Product
Type
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Product
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How We Chose the Best Mattresses for Side Sleepers
My fellow testers and I thoroughly evaluate every mattress that comes through our testing studio. We grade them across many general performance categories, but for this roundup, we focused on what matters to side sleepers in particular.
What to Look For in a Mattress for Side Sleepers
Pressure Relief and Contouring
Side sleeping causes a buildup of pressure around two key areas: the shoulders and hips. The downward force that side-sleeping exerts on these relatively small zones can lead to discomfort and pain.
Therefore, a bed that suits side sleepers needs to be excellent at pressure relief. Its comfort layers should absorb the pressure from these “pointy” parts of the body, resulting in a feeling of relaxation rather than strain or soreness.
How Do We Test It?
At Sleep Advisor, we measure how well a mattress relieves pressure by using a tool called a pressure map. It looks like a large, black mat that we unroll and place on the bed. When one of us lays on top of it, sensors inside the mat produce a color-coded image of the person’s silhouette.
The colors tell us where pressure is concentrated: Blue areas on the pressure map signify little to no pressure. Green areas mean there’s a tiny bit of pressure, but not much. Anything on the yellow-orange-red spectrum, on the other hand, indicates a noteworthy buildup of pressure.
Above is the pressure map for the Helix Midnight. You can see that the majority of it is blue and green, with one concentrated yellow spot at the hip. That’s normal—the hips and shoulders will always be high-pressure areas—and this is a very impressive map from a side-sleeping perspective. It’s no wonder the Midnight is at the top of the list!
What About Contouring?
A mattress with a top layer that contours to your body can definitely help with pressure relief and feel great for side sleepers.
Contouring refers to a mattress material—usually foam—conforming to the shape of your body when you lie down. A mattress with high contouring capabilities will mold to your silhouette, almost embracing you as you relax into it.
Of course, different mattresses will have different levels of contouring prowess. Some will compress deeply and contour a lot, whereas others might be springier with less of a hugging feel.
Enough Support
Even though side sleepers gravitate towards the softest mattresses, they have to be mindful of support. A bed’s support system is what keeps your body lifted and aligned, rather than dipping into uneven and uncomfortable angles.
When resting on your side, it’s easy for your hips or shoulders to sink deeply into the mattress. One part may sink more than the other, causing your spine to bend rather than stay in a relatively straight line. This kind of misalignment can lead to pain, especially if it’s happening night after night.
A quality support system—whether it’s made of springs or foam—will keep your spine level. For side sleepers, finding enough lift around the hips is especially important, as this area is most likely to sink too deep.
How Do We Test It?
When we test mattresses, we pay attention to how aligned our spines look and feel. We make note of any inconsistencies in support, and only beds that provide the right amount of strength and buoyancy across all body types earn a 5 out of 5 in this category.
A Comfortable Firmness Level
Side sleepers also need to be mindful of mattress firmness, which is distinct from mattress support. (A soft bed can still have lots of support, and a firm bed can have too little!)
A bed that’s too soft will allow your body to press too deeply into it, throwing off your spinal alignment and placing more pressure on your joints.
A bed that’s too firm will feel uncomfortable and unyielding around the shoulders and hips.
Firmness and Body Type
| Body Weight | Recommended Feel | Firmness Rating |
| Less than 130 pounds | Very Soft to Medium-Firm | 4-6 |
| 130-230 pounds | Slightly Soft to Medium-Firm | 5-6.5 |
| More than 230 pounds | Medium-Firm to Firm | 6-8 |
Side sleepers will find that their experience of a bed varies depending on their body weight.
Heavier side sleepers often prefer a firmer mattress because it will resist an unpleasant sinking feeling. They’ll also need a bed with a weight capacity that will comfortably accommodate them. That being said, they may still want an initially plush surface that cushions their shoulders and hips.
For average-weight side sleepers, the key is finding the right balance of softness and support. A slightly soft or medium-firm bed should strike this harmony nicely.
More petite side sleepers, on the other hand, will want to look at soft or medium-soft beds that make pressure relief their top priority. Lightweight people are very sensitive to unyielding surfaces, and may feel that a medium-firm bed is a bit too hard for them.
In addition to your weight, consider whether you’re a combination sleeper. This means you switch between side sleeping and any other position. For example, stomach and back sleepers may need something firmer. A medium-firm mattress could be a good compromise.
How Do We Test It?
We rate a bed’s firmness from 1 to 10, with 1 being softer than a marshmallow and 10 being as hard as a rock. As a side sleeper, you’ll want to aim for a mattress on the softer side of our firmness scale—probably around 5 (skewing soft) to 6.5 (medium-firm).
We seldom recommend beds with a firmness level of 4 or below, just because they tend to be too soft for good spinal alignment.
However, everyone’s preferences are different! If you know that you like a firmer bed, or that you need lots and lots of cushion, you can still explore mattresses on either side of that window. Just be sure to prioritize that crucial balance of pressure relief and support for your shoulders and hips.
What Else Should You Consider in a Side-Sleeping Mattress
Edge Support
Because you’re lying on a narrow slice of your body, it’s easier for side sleepers (compared to back or stomach sleepers) to tip over the edge of the bed. You’ll want a bed with strong edges that don’t buckle too much under your weight—especially if you tend to migrate to the edge of the bed while you sleep.
How Do We Test It?
At Sleep Advisor, we lie and sit on the edge of each mattress we test to see how its edges hold up under pressure. Most of the beds we’ve recommended here have an edge support score of a 4 out of 5 or above, with the Nolah Evolution and Titan Plus Luxe as top performers in this category.
Motion Isolation
Side sleepers may be more sensitive to movement than back or stomach sleepers, who distribute themselves more evenly across the bed. If you’re easily awakened by a partner’s fidgeting, then you’ll want a mattress that absorbs and isolates motion well.
How Do We Test It?
We grade motion isolation in two ways: by moving around on top of the bed and seeing if other testers can feel lots of shaking, and by using a seismograph.
Mattress Type
You might be asking yourself: what’s the best type of mattress for side sleepers? Mattresses made with foams and plush pillow tops lead the way in the pressure-relief department. For that reason, we recommend hybrid beds with cozy foam upper layers and all-foam mattresses for side sleepers over innerspring and air mattresses.
Hybrid Mattresses
- A hybrid mattress combines the reliable support of a coil system with upper layers of foam for pressure relief and added comfort. The type of foam in these beds varies, but side sleepers will likely prefer hybrids with high-quality memory foam layers on top.
- The coils beneath the foam layers should help keep your spine aligned so that your hips don’t sink too much lower than your shoulders while you rest on your side.
Foam Mattresses
- Foam, and memory foam in particular, is often the material of choice for side sleepers. It contours well around the joints, and is known for its hug-like feel.
- If you’re a side sleeper looking at an all-foam bed, just be sure not to skimp on support or durability. The base foams should keep you from sinking in so low that you compromise your spinal alignment.
Latex Mattresses
- A more “organic” alternative to synthetic foams, latex foam relieves pressure well, promotes airflow, and feels noticeably springy. It should still cushion your shoulders and hips comfortably if you’re a side sleeper.
- You’ll most commonly see latex foam in hybrid models, but there are some beds made entirely out of latex foam, too. Just be aware that natural latex foam tends to up a mattress’s price.
Innerspring Mattresses
- Traditional innerspring mattresses are not the best choice for side sleepers. They have significant support, but not a lot of plushness or cushion.
- If you’re a side sleeper who likes the buoyancy of coils, I recommend looking at hybrid beds with both innerspring units and upper comfort foams instead.
Air Mattresses
- Air mattresses should not be used long-term by side sleepers. They don’t have enough built-in support to encourage spinal alignment, so you’re likely to sink into the bed unevenly.
- It’s also easy to feel wobbly or unbalanced on an air mattress when you recline on your side.
Side Sleeping and Pain
If you feel sore after side sleeping, you may be able to reduce the pain with some adjustments to your bed or posture. However, you should always consult with your doctor if you’re waking up in pain—changes to your mattress and sleeping style may not be recommended or relevant to treatment.
Side Sleeping with Neck Pain
Side sleepers with neck pain should examine their pillows first and foremost. Make sure that your pillow isn’t too tall or too flat, as it might be causing your neck to bend out of alignment with the rest of your spine.
Additionally, check to see if your mattress is too soft. Your body may be sinking lower than your neck and head, which also disrupts your alignment.
Learn more: Read about the best mattresses for neck pain.
Side Sleeping with Back Pain
If you experience back pain as a side sleeper, try to examine your spinal alignment. You may be sleeping with your back very rounded in the fetal position, which can stretch and strain the muscles there.
If you’re placing one leg forward rather than stacking your legs, this can also twist your lower back and put some pressure on your pelvis, interfering with your alignment.
Your hips and lower back might also be sinking too deeply into the mattress. Consider a more supportive bed, or placing a pillow between your knees to help align your spine.
Learn more: Peruse the best mattresses for back pain.
Side Sleeping with Hip and Shoulder Pain
Side sleepers with hip and shoulder pain should look for a mattress with lots of pressure-relieving foams at the top. These foams conform to and cradle your sensitive joints, and can help prevent further discomfort.
At the same time, however, you should make sure that the mattress has a strong enough support system to keep your spine level. If your hips or shoulders are dipping too low into the bed or sinking very unevenly, that could exacerbate your symptoms.
Learn more: Check out the best mattresses for shoulder pain and the best beds for hip pain.
Accessories for Side Sleepers
Side sleepers can derive a lot of extra comfort from accessories that complement their choice of mattress.
Pillows
The best pillows for side sleepers have a decently high “loft” and a medium firmness. They should be tall enough to keep your head and neck in line with the rest of your spine as you snooze.
A pillow that’s too flat may cause your head and neck to dip too low, potentially causing neck pain.
Some pillows, such as the TEMPUR-Neck Pillow, are curved so that the higher portion of the pillow holds your neck in proper alignment with the rest of your spine.
Side sleepers might also want to place an additional pillow between their knees to further promote healthy spine alignment. A firm pillow can prevent the collapse of the knee and hip joints, making the position more comfortable. Hugging a long body pillow with all four limbs can feel nice and cuddly, too!
Mattress Toppers
A mattress topper meant for side sleepers can up the plushness of your mattress by quite a lot. If you’re in need of some extra cushion, look for toppers that advertise their softness and pressure-relieving qualities. Thick, foam toppers that contour to your pressure points are your best bet.
Best Mattress for Side Sleepers FAQs
What kind of mattress is best for side sleepers?
Memory foam or hybrid mattresses (with thick foam comfort layers) are the best types of mattresses for side sleepers. They provide a cushiony, pressure-relieving surface for the hips and shoulders, and should have strong, even support layers at the base.
What mattress firmness is best for side sleepers?
Side sleepers generally need a softer mattress than back and stomach sleepers do. A plush to medium-firm mattress is the best fit for this sleeping position—just make sure that there’s enough support to complement the pillowy surface.
What is the best mattress topper for side sleepers?
Side sleepers benefit most from thick, foam mattress toppers that add lots of softness to a mattress. If your bed feels too firm, a topper provide more cushion for your shoulders and hips, relieving some of the pressure concentrated around these joints.
Learn more: Browse the best mattress toppers for side sleepers.
Best Mattresses for Side Sleepers: Compare Prices and Performance Scores
| Mattress | Price (Queen Size) | Pressure Relief | Support | Motion Transfer | Cooling | Bounce | Edge Support | Couples |
| Helix Midnight | $1,199 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 3.5 | 2 | 3 |
| WinkBed | $1,799 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 4.5 | 4 |
| Nectar Premier | $2,233 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 3.5 | 4 | 4.5 |
| DreamCloud Premier | $1,832 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 3.5 | 3.5 | 4.5 | 3.5 | 4 |
| Saatva Classic | $1,995 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Nolah Evolution | $2,299 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Bear Elite Hybrid | $2,305 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Brooklyn Bedding Signature Hybrid | $1,249 | 5 | 5 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 4 |
| Titan Plus Luxe | $1,599 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 5 |
| Leesa Sapira Chill Hybrid | $2,359 | 4 | 4.5 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
Julia Forbes
Sleep Advisor Mattress Tester
About Author
Julia specializes in testing out mattresses and sleep accessories – she’s in the right line of work, because she loves to sleep.
Stomach Sleeper