Best Mattresses for Side Sleepers
TLDR;
Memory foam mattresses offer a handful of advantages over traditional beds, one of which is a variety of accommodations for various sleep styles. From a range of firmness levels to different blends of materials that help reduce pressure points, memory foam mattresses can provide the ideal support for side sleepers. Read on for more about mattresses for side sleepers, plus our recommendations on the top six options.
What to Look for in a Mattress for Side Sleepers
When you’re sleeping on your side, it’s common to have your hand go numb, your shoulder starts to ache, and your neck to get a cramp in it. Fortunately, you can often resolve these types of issues by buying a new mattress!
But what should you look for if you’re a side sleeper who’s fed up with sleeping uncomfortably every night? First, consider the firmness level of your bed. For side sleepers, a plusher foam surface is ideal because it enables the mattress to conform to your body. This way, you reduce pressure on spots like your shoulders and hips.
Next, you’ll want to consider the thickness of the mattress. In general, the thicker the mattress, the better, especially if you experience soreness in your knees, hips, or shoulders. A thicker bed puts more space between you and the platform it’s on (or the floor), meaning there’s less pressure overall on your joints.
Finally, think about the firmness level that you want and whether a bit firmer bed is better for maintaining adequate support and spinal alignment. If you’re a side sleeper with back pain, you may want more stringent support built into your memory foam mattress.
Best Mattresses for Side Sleepers
Here are our top mattress choices for people who are side sleepers.
Nectar Mattress for Side Sleepers
An 11-inch mattress that’s not unlike sleeping on a cloud, the Nectar bed uses a combination of gel memory foam, and eco-friendly Certi-PUR certified foam to create a responsive and bouncy surface. Multiple layers of foam aid with air circulation, pressure point reduction, and body contouring for maximum comfort while sleeping on your side.
The Nectar bed delivers lower-level firmness that’s comfortable for multiple sleep positions but is responsive enough to accommodate side sleeping positions without creating uncomfortable pressure points. And, a 365-night trial means it outranks every other test from other brands.
Layla for Side Sleepers
With its “flippable” mattress, Layla can accommodate multiple sleep positions and needs, which is why our team considers it an excellent fit for side sleepers. The thick memory foam layers let you sink in enough to reduce pressure at your hips, shoulders, and more, and the foam provides a medium-soft and firm option on either side.
There’s also a 120-night trial that you can use to test out either side of the bed to find the perfect fit.
Saatva for Side Sleepers
With three mattress heights and three firmness options, Saatva offers plenty of choices that are comfortable for side sleepers. While we’d suggest the higher mattress—which measures 14.5 inches tall—all of them contain individually wrapped coils for a hybrid approach to memory foam.
Foam layers help prevent sagging, and internal wire support assists with reducing pressure points and aligning your spine. Also, select from Plush Soft, Luxury Firm, and Firm options to suit your comfort needs—then take 120 nights to try it out.
Tuft & Needle for Side Sleepers
Tuft & Needle gets our team’s vote for its eco-friendly approach to its mattress lines, but it also has a handful of features that are ideal for side sleepers. A cool-sleeping cover with plenty of breathability helps wick away sweat while you sleep, and both mattresses in the Tuft & Needle collection hold OEKO-TEX Class II certification, which means they comply with strict ecological requirements.
With its 100-night sleep trial, Tuft & Needle makes it convenient for you to try out a medium-firm T&N bed or the plusher and self-cooling Mint mattress. Also, the Mint is substantially thicker because it includes another layer of foam, even better for side sleepers.
Helix Sleep Mattress for Side Sleepers
With Helix, there are almost too many sleep options to list, but that’s because they have endless accommodations for all types of sleep preferences and needs. From spinal support to memory foam formulations for cooling and contouring, there’s something for everyone—even couples who can’t agree on firmness levels.
And, the 100-night sleep trial is excellent for giving your custom-designed mattress a spin!
Leesa Mattress for Side Sleepers
Leesa’s two mattress selections feature premium foam, but the Sapira selection is a hybrid with pocket-spring coils. Both beds have pressure-relieving and contouring memory foam for a “hug”-like feeling when you lie down, which is cozy for side sleepers in particular!
The 100-night trial allows you plenty of time to enjoy the medium-soft firmness and slight bounce. And, a proprietary blend of LSA200 Foam is bouncy and has cooling properties, too, in addition to giving further contouring support.
Which Mattress is Best for You?
Side sleepers rejoice: there are plenty of comfortable and accessible options for both you and your bedmate. With pressure point reduction and contouring features, memory foam mattresses are ideal for people who choose to (or need to) sleep on their sides.Why You Should Take Note of Our Opinion
If you are in the market for a mattress, you may have noticed just how many options there are available today, and how confusing it can be. There are numerous brands, each with their own special features or claims, and even within brands, there are many, many mattress options, with different levels of firmness, thickness, comfort and more. Choosing a mattress is not an easy decision, but it’s an important one. Your mattress is where you spend a third of your 24-hour day, and it is a major influence on the quality of your sleep, overall health and mood.The fact that choosing a mattress is such a critical decision is the reason why we created The Mattress Reviews. This is not just an ordinary review site – this is a site dedicated to helping consumers make the best mattress decision, for themselves, their bodies, their partners and their bank accounts! That’s why our review team spends their days learning everything they can about the mattresses available on the market. Everything from construction, materials, firmness and comfort, to more advanced aspects like motion isolation and allergens, to consumer details, including price, warranty and trial period.All these things – and more – are part of the decision-making process of buying a mattress. And if you have specific sleep needs, such as being a side sleeper, then you’ll want to consider other things as well. Check out a brief summary for what side sleepers should look out for.Summary: What Side Sleepers Should Know
The best mattress for side sleepers need to combine two seemingly different things: firmness (support) and soft responsiveness. This is because side sleeping can actually be quite hard on the body. Sleeping on the side can create enormous pressure on the shoulder, hips and knees, while also straining the neck. In order to avoid the physical problems that can arise from prolonged side sleeping, it is best to choose a mattress that offers solid support while also giving definite responsiveness and a slight contoured ‘sinking’ effect to those areas that jut into the mattress and create high pressure. A good way to achieve this is by choosing a mattress that is firm, yet with a plush top, and extra thickness to provide a critical mass of support between your body and the bed frame.Other Important Things to Remember
For side sleepers, there are plenty of good options on the market, however if you share a bed with someone who is not a side sleeper, then you may need to consider purchasing a mattress that can be customized for each side of the bed. Also, you may want to look at a flippable mattress that can offer you different firmness and comfort on each side. Also, don’t forget to check out the home trial period. Side sleeping is one of the trickier positions with lots of different factors that can contribute to comfort levels. The best mattresses for side sleepers are those that offer a long trial period and convenient exchange/return policies, so you can be sure you won’t be stuck with the wrong mattress.
Lee Levy
Lee is an experienced reviewer and passionate about trying new products. She is a side sleeper and always looking to ways to avoid back pains in her sleep. Lee is a mom for two little princesses and a devoted wife, living in Brooklyn, NYC.