Side sleeping is the most popular sleeping position with over 60% of the population opting for it.
Knowing which mattress can help you sleep better and relieve neck and shoulder pain is a must. As certified sleep experts, we’ve tried all of these mattresses to see which is the best mattress for side sleepers and helps you achieve peaceful sleep each night.
Here’s a quick summary of the best mattresses for side sleepers for all the aches, pains and sleeper weights. Hopefully, it helps you pick out the right mattress as a side sleeper.
- Best mattress topper for side sleepers
- Best hybrid mattress for side sleepers
- Best mattress for side sleepers with shoulder pain
- Best mattress for side sleepers with back pain
- Best mattress for heavy side sleepers
- What kind of mattress does a side sleeper need?
- Is a memory foam mattress good for side sleepers?
- Best innerspring mattress for side sleepers
- Best memory foam mattress for side sleepers
- Best mattress for side sleepers with hip pain
Best Hybrid Mattress – Emma Hybrid Mattress
Key Features
- Features high-quality foams with premium pocket springs.
- Offers temperature regulation features for a comfortable sleep during hot weather.
- Offers a dynamic visco-elastic pressure relief system.
- Enables advanced breathability.
- 200 nights trial period
Recommended For
- Restless sleepers: The incredible comfort features of the memory foam stabilise your body while sleeping.
- Couples: The low motion transfer facilities limit the motion flow, and couples can move while sleeping without disturbing their partner.
- Side Sleepers: The memory foam mattress secures a seven rating on the firmness scale, making it a reliable mattress for maximum support, comfort, and firmness for side-sleepers.
Avoid If
- Hot Sleepers: Although the mattress offers enough breathability features, it is not the best suit for hot sleepers who often sweat.
- Heavyweight Sleepers: The firmness levels and pressure relief systems are insufficient to offer a comfortable sleep to heavyweight sleepers.
Mattress Firmness:
Mattress Guarantee:
The Emma Hybrid Mattress stands apart from other hybrid mattresses for many reasons. This includes using superior HRX foam in its foundation to help delay sagging and permanent indentations caused by side sleepers.
Here are the most important layers for side sleepers that stood out when we tested it:
- Airgocell memory foam tries to help with traditional memory foam problems such as overheating. It uses larger ‘pores’ to soak up your body heat, promoting better air circulation than all-foam mattresses.
- Springs in their own pocket help to enhance motion isolation, great if you sleep later than your partner and switching to your side wakes them up. It also gives the Emma Hybrid a bit more of a responsive, bouncy feel.
The zip-able cover of the mattress, made of moisture-wicking, hypoallergenic polyester, is washable at about 60 degrees Celsius. The cover comes in two Emma variants of grey and white so you’ve got some option.
With a 200 nights trial period, it’s more than enough to see if your body can get used to the feeling of the mattress. It is highly durable and lasts for years. Additionally, the mattress needs no flipping over, unlike other foam mattresses.
Luxury Pick – TEMPUR Sensation Luxe Mattress King Size
Key Features
- Offers comfortable motion absorption to ensure disturbance-free sleep.
- Easy to wash and maintain due to washable and easily removable zip-off covers.
- The viscoelastic cell mattress material is effectively engineered to adapt to your body movements in no time.
- 100 nights trial period
Recommended For
- People with sensitive skin: This mattress is made of hypoallergenic materials, allowing it to be safe to use by people with extreme allergies. Moreover, you can wash the mattress’s cover regularly to eliminate allergens.
- Couples: The motion isolation offered by the TEMPUR Sensation Luxe mattress is delightful due to the thin memory foam layer. You do not have to worry about accidentally disturbing your partner’s sleep with this mattress.
- Side sleepers: The mattress lands at seven on the firmness scale. Therefore, it is one of the best options for side sleepers as it will provide a good balance of support, softness, and firmness.
Avoid If
- Lightweight sleepers: Lightweight sleepers will not find adequate pressure relief in the TEMPUR Sensation Luxe mattress due to its high firmness. You can look at the Elite variant if you’re looking for something softer.
- Hot sleepers: TEMPUR does not offer superior cooling technology and can retain a lot of heat while sleeping.
Mattress Firmness:
Mattress Guarantee:
The TEMPUR Sensations Luxe Mattress epitomises luxury due to the high-quality materials used. It comes in two other variations, including the ‘Supreme’ and ‘Elite’, which are less ‘tall’ than the Luxe.
Even though the mattress is firm, it didn’t feel ‘too’ firm where it collapsed our shoulders inwards while in the side sleeping position.
The Sensations Luxe is ideal for lower back pain sufferers, who need a medium to firm feeling. Why? The responsiveness helps the mattress feel less ‘firm’ than it is. The firmness is also great for heavyweight sleepers and keeps their spine aligned for proper support and pain relief.
Since the mattress has easily removable covers, it helps the prolong your mattress life by easing the cleaning routine. Just wash the covers at 60 degrees Celsius to help clear any stains and debris.
The thick Luxe mattress is 30 cm deep. Comprising of four layers – the 7 cm TEMPUR comfort top, 8 cm dynamic support technology with viscoelastic cells, a 7.25 cm thick foam base, and another 7.25 cm thicker and sturdier foam base.
The manufacturer offers a ten-year guarantee and a 100-night trial period that ensures high durability and quality.
Best for Lightweight Sleepers – Helix Midnight
Key Features
- Optimised airflow with the company’s Soft Touch covers that are ultra-breathable.
- Provides support like no other mattress due to the reinforced edge and perimeter.
- It is made with several layers of densities to provide ultimate pressure relief as the material contours around the body.
- 100 nights trial period
Recommended For
- Lightweight sleepers: The Helix Mattress is a medium-firm one that scores around five on the firmness scale. My girlfriend, a lightweight side sleeper, loves how the mattress hugs her body.
- Hot sleepers: I sleep hot at all times and understand the importance of breathable foam and covers. The Helix mattress offers the best sleep for people who sleep hot due to proper ventilation within the mattress.
- Side sleepers: The dynamic and memory plus foams are ideal for relieving pressure from the hips, shoulders, and other sensitive muscles and joints, making them suitable for side sleepers.
Avoid If
- Stomach sleeper: Strict stomach sleepers should look for firm mattresses that allow proper spinal alignment and not let the spine curve unnaturally. The softness of this mattress is, therefore, not ideal.
- Heavyweight sleepers: If you weigh more than 110 kgs (250 lbs), I cannot recommend this mattress since your body will completely sink in, taking away the state-of-art support offered.
Mattress Firmness:
Mattress Guarantee:
Our light and average-weight mattress testers found the Helix Midnight to be incredibly comfortable.
The Helix Midnight is the truest-medium feeling mattress and is ideal for side sleepers. It lets your shoulder sink into the mattress without causing too many issues with neck/spinal alignment.
Its dynamic foam and memory plus foam will ensure that you get a good night’s sleep with optimum pressure relief to wake up without any soreness.
The five-layer mattress consists of a durable and firm, dense bottom foam layer, a thick coiled layer for maximum body support, a thin high-grade ergonomic polyfoam, medium-sized memory plus foam, and a breathable cover.
If great support gets softness are what you’re looking for, I gladly recommend the Helix Midnight mattress to you. The wrapped coils paired with edge reinforcement allow maximum support with medium-softness and comfort.
The memory foam plus layer adapts to body contouring and heat almost instantly. Therefore, it allows maximum pressure relief, allowing your joints to ease in the back and side positions. If you’re a stomach sleeper, you will like sleeping on the mattress, but your spine will not be happy in the morning.
All the materials used to make the Helix Midnight mattress are free of harmful chemicals and safe sleep. All the materials are certified by OEKO-TEX standard 100 and CertiPUR-US.
Even though the mattress is a medium-range one, you have several financing options to simplify your purchase. Moreover, the manufacturer offers a 100-day trial period and 15 years of warranty. Therefore, durability is not something you need to be worried about while purchasing the Helix Midnight mattress.
Best for Sensitive Skin – Otty Pure Hybrid (Bamboo & Charcoal)
Key Features
- Features a bamboo memory foam and charcoal-infused 7 layers.
- Features an antibacterial layer that also absorbs moisture.
- There are over 4000 pocket springs.
- 100 nights trial period.
Recommended For
- Back sleepers with pain: The medium firmness of the mattress makes it comfortable for back sleepers with pain to sleep comfortably.
- Side sleepers: With the uniform distribution of the weight and the conformation to the body, the mattress supports the hip and shoulder of side sleepers.
- People with asthma, sensitive skin, allergies: The environmentally friendly layered mattress is ideal for you if you have sensitive skin, allergies, or asthma.
Avoid If
- Front sleepers: The medium firmness of the mattress is not suitable for front sleepers. A softer choice would be better for you!
- Combination sleepers: You would prefer a more responsive and softer material than this one.
Mattress Firmness:
Mattress Guarantee:
The charcoal-infused bamboo memory foam mattress is one of the U.K.’s firsts and has won several awards for its performance. Known to be the best find for people with asthma or skin issues, the construct of the hybrid mattress contains seven layers of different foams.
Related Read: Best Mattress For Front Sleepers
Being a side sleeper, it is a plus point that the mattress scores a medium rank on the firmness scale. Due to its firmness, I get enough support to my hip and shoulders. Additionally, the Otty Pure Hybrid mattress works well for back pain, which does wonders for me as I have back pain due to sports injuries.
The foam of the mattress is antibacterial and hypoallergenic, so you can rely on it if you have sensitive skin or any skin allergies. In addition, the mattress is also moisture-wicking, keeping the body cool with its temperature regulating features.
The cover features a layer of charcoal-infused bamboo foam material, making it eco-friendly. This is also one of the reasons why I like the mattress. This layer has air mesh on the cover that offers easy airflow.
One of the seven layers of the mattress is a high-density support foam that supports the 16 cm high pocket springs. These pocket springs offer you adequate bounciness while minimising the motion transfer effects. It makes it great for me to share my bed with my girlfriend!
With Otty’s solid foundation, you can expect an edge-to-edge foam sleep surface support, making sleeping comfortable without the fear of rolling over to the floor.
The mattress’s 135 x 190 cm double size dimensions make tossing and turning on the bed easy when alone while also conveniently comfortable when sharing the bed. Additionally, the 28 cm depth of the mattress makes pressure relief capacities adequately sufficient.
On top of that, the 100 nights trial period makes it even more convenient to test the features to your satisfaction levels.
Best for Heavyweight Sleepers – DreamCloud Luxury Hybrid Mattress
Key Features
- Memory foam allows your body weight and heat to be distributed evenly throughout the mattress.
- Comes with a breathable and quilted cover allowing comfortable airflow and a soft feel on the skin.
- The mattress’s pocket springs made of the ActiveEdge design offer the exact support any heavyweight sleeper needs.
- 365 nights trial period
Recommended For
- Heavyweight sleepers: The pocket springs offer maximum support and keep your weight evenly distributed. That, paired with the medium firmness of the mattress, allows it to be ideal for heavyweight sleepers.
- Side sleepers: Whenever I sleep on DreamCloud, I wake up with no pain around my shoulders and hips, owing to its fantastic pressure relief.
- Couples: The DreamCloud Luxury Hybrid mattress does a great job cutting motion, allowing it to be ideal for couples. The quilted pillow top offers maximum bounciness while isolating motion.
Avoid If
- Stomach sleeper: This mattress is designed to contour according to your body. Therefore, stomach sleepers will find their hips protruding throughout the night, keeping their spine out of alignment.
- Hot sleeper: Even with the temperature-regulated quilted top, the mattress sleeps a bit hot, making sleeping uncomfortable for people who already sleep hot.
Mattress Firmness:
Mattress Guarantee:
If you weigh over 104 kgs (230 lbs), you will need a mattress to maximise support and comfort. A softer mattress will not work for you since it will make your body sink in, disturbing your spinal alignment and waking you with pains and sore muscles.
This bed-in-a-box style mattress provides an outstanding balance between coil support and memory foam pressure relief. However, you will get that slight sinkage that will make you feel like you’re sleeping on a cloud due to the quilted top.
With a firmness score of 6.5 out of 10, the DreamCloud Luxury Hybrid mattress is ideal for heavyweight sleepers. Its pocketed coils are meant to provide maximum support. At the same time, the contouring and soft memory foam are suitable for giving a peaceful and comfortable night’s sleep.
One of the things I like about this mattress is that its design accommodates several sleeping positions. This versatility, paired with the superior motion isolation, allows the mattress to be an excellent option for couples.
You both will be comfortable sleeping, regardless of whether you sleep on your back or side. Also, you will not disturb your partner if you’re a combination and restless sleeper.
This five-layer mattress is a luxurious quilted top, a breathable memory foam layer, a dense support foam, ActiveEdge coils, and a dense support foam base. All these layers come together to form a motion isolating, supportive, and soft mattress.
The mattress is designed to absorb all the weight from your shoulder. Therefore, even if the shoulders bear heavy body weight, they will not succumb to the weight and hurt in the morning. Instead, they will be cradled by this medium-form mattress.
The manufacturer offers a 365-night trial period and a lifetime warranty. Therefore, you do not have to think twice before putting your money into this mattress since return and durability are a piece of cake.
Best for Sleepers with Back Pain – Ergoflex 5G
Key Features
- Made of proper HD proprietary foam.
- Features a Cool-Sleep Airflow System.
- It is constructed of naturally anti-allergenic materials.
- 30 nights trial period.
Recommended For
- People with back pain: The three-layered memory foam is designed to bring people with back pain relief.
- Back sleepers: The mattress conforms well with the body, properly aligning your spine while sleeping.
- Side sleepers: The foam is dense enough to support your hip, shoulder, and torso if you are a side sleeper. It works wonders for me!
Avoid If
- Hot sleepers: If you are a hot sleeper, you better go for other mattresses that do not sink your body like this one.
- Stomach sleepers: It would be best to look for a more medium-soft mattress, unlike this one!
Mattress Firmness:
Mattress Guarantee:
The CertiPUR-certified memory foam mattress by Ergoflex is a medium-firm mattress made of naturally anti-allergenic materials. This makes the mattress hypoallergenic.
Additionally, the mattress is made for people with back pain or severe orthopaedic surgery on their back. The medium-firmness of the memory foam mattress lets you sink in it gradually while allowing the spine to align correctly.
The mattress is perfect for back sleepers while the mattress distributes your weight throughout the mattress evenly. I have had back issues since my childhood sports injury. I’ve always preferred a mattress that eases my back pain while sleeping.
Amazingly, I found the correct match for my needs as this mattress complements my back pain and supports my hip joints and shoulders as a side sleeper.
Do you sleep with a partner? The Ergoflex 5G mattress has low motion transfer meaning that your partner’s movements are kept to themselves.
Your partner shall sleep without any disturbance. This is a plus point for my girlfriend and me. However, we love the mattress for the gradually sinking feeling it gives while we like to cuddle and sleep.
But I happen to sweat quite quickly, and my girlfriend often complains about the same because she is a cuddler.
The cover comprises a 5G high-density premium memory foam that allows adequate breathability, letting air flow through the mattress throughout the night.
With the decent edge support that Ergoflex allows, I can sleep peacefully without the fear of tumbling over to the floor because I’m a side sleeper.
Moreover, the 135 x 190 cm Dimensions of the double size Ergoflex mattress offer a spacious zone of comfort to sleep. Also, the 23 cm thickness of the mattress allows enough bounciness for you to utilise the most out of the mattress.
Although the trial period of 30 nights is relatively minor, it is still sufficient to test the mattress’s essential to your satisfaction levels.
Best for Hot Sleepers – Puffy Mattress
Key Features
- High-end memory foam with hypoallergenic cover.
- Features additional cooling technology.
- Dynamic pressure relief system.
- 101 nights trial period
Recommended For
- Side sleepers: The memory foam’s firmness and support features work accurately for side sleepers.
- Hot sleepers: The airflow between layers offers a cooling technology that enables maximum breathability, keeping the body cool while sleeping.
- People with back pain or arthritis: The ergonomically built design, especially for back pain, shoulder pain, or arthritis.
Avoid If
- Combination sleepers: The softness of the memory foam may not be ideal enough for combination sleepers who expect more responsiveness from the foam.
- Strict stomach sleepers: With the firmness levels of the mattress, it won’t be a good fit for the hip support of strict stomach sleepers.
Mattress Firmness:
Mattress Guarantee:
I am thankful to the Puffy Mattress. It is an ideal find for side sleepers like me, but it is also perfect for hot sleepers. I sweat a lot, and my girlfriend mostly complains about that because she likes to cuddle while sleeping. Well, the problem’s solved now!
With the three-layered high-end memory foam mattress, the pressure relief system and the firmness level of five on the scale conform to the body accurately. Moreover, the breathability features with efficient airflow between the all-foam version mattress keep the body cool while sleeping.
Nevertheless, the low motion transfer abilities of the mattress make it easier to share my bed with my girlfriend without disturbing each other while sleeping. The minimum transfer of motion takes time to impact and limits the movement to the confined area.
I’ve seen injuries due to my sports career and my travelling schedule. This is why this mattress helps me at my convenience. It supports my back and shoulder, easing my pain in the areas while sleeping and allowing me to have a comfortable sleep.
Additionally, suppose you have arthritis or any other kind of body pain. In that case, you can trust the Puffy mattress to offer you a comfortable sleep.
Moreover, you can use this mattress to its maximum levels utilising its softness and minimum responsiveness levels with the most comfort.
However, suppose you are a strict stomach sleeper. In that case, I suggest you go for a firmer material as the Puffy mattress won’t be the right fit to support your hip in bed.
The 135 x 190 cm Dimensions of the double size mattress enable enough space for you to toss and turn while you sleep alone and when you share your bed with your partner.
Plus, the 25 cm thickness of the bed provides enough firmness for side sleepers and lightweight sleepers. It also offers the conditions for pressure resistance while keeping the comfort to your convenient levels.
What’s more? The 101 nights trial period offers ample time in your hands to test it for different features that conform to your body.
The CertiPUR-certified memory foam mattress by Ergoflex is a medium-firm mattress made of naturally anti-allergenic materials. This makes the mattress hypoallergenic.
Additionally, the mattress is made for people with back pain or severe orthopaedic surgery on their back. The medium-firmness of the memory foam mattress lets you sink in it gradually while allowing the spine to align correctly.
The mattress is perfect for back sleepers while the mattress distributes your weight throughout the mattress evenly. I have had back issues since my childhood sports injury. I’ve always preferred a mattress that eases my back pain while sleeping.
Amazingly, I found the correct match for my needs as this mattress complements my back pain and supports my hip joints and shoulders as a side sleeper.
Do you sleep with a partner? The Ergoflex 5G mattress has low motion transfer meaning that your partner’s movements are kept to themselves.
Your partner shall sleep without any disturbance. This is a plus point for my girlfriend and me. However, we love the mattress for the gradually sinking feeling it gives while we like to cuddle and sleep.
But I happen to sweat quite quickly, and my girlfriend often complains about the same because she is a cuddler.
The cover comprises a 5G high-density premium memory foam that allows adequate breathability, letting air flow through the mattress throughout the night.
With the decent edge support that Ergoflex allows, I can sleep peacefully without the fear of tumbling over to the floor because I’m a side sleeper.
Moreover, the 135 x 190 cm Dimensions of the double size Ergoflex mattress offer a spacious zone of comfort to sleep. Also, the 23 cm thickness of the bed allows enough bounciness for you to utilise the most out of the mattress.
Although the trial period of 30 nights is relatively minor, it is still sufficient to test the mattress’s essential to your satisfaction levels.
Best for Side Sleepers with Hip Pain – Brooklyn Bedding Signature Hybrid
Key Features
- The quilted top is ideal for increasing the mattress, breathability, and motion impressions.
- The memory foam imitates the contouring qualities of latex bedding.
- High firmness and motion isolation.
- 120 nights trial period
Recommended For
- Couples: The Brooklyn Bedding Signature Hybrid is one of the firmest mattresses on this list and has superior motion isolation. Therefore, you do not have to worry about disturbing your partner as you move.
- People with hip pain: The mattress is firm and supports the hips, especially while sleeping on your stomach. It will make your spine align appropriately while ensuring that no additional pressure is put on your hips while you sleep on your side.
- Combination sleepers: Since combination sleepers do not sleep in one strict position, they will be more than happy with this mattress. It is ideal for side sleepers, back sleepers, and combination stomach sleepers.
Avoid If
- Stomach sleeper: Strict stomach sleepers will find issues with this mattress. It can make the chest and hips sink in and disturb spine alignment.
- Hot sleepers: The coil layer is ideal for making the airflow perfectly inside the mattress. However, the mattress might get a bit warm for hot sleepers.
Mattress Firmness:
Mattress Guarantee:
I love the Brooklyn Bedding Signature Hybrid mattress because it comes with three firmness options. You can choose the mattress that will best suit your requirements. Therefore, if you are a lightweight sleeper, you can select the soft mattress, the medium mattress as an average weight sleeper, and the firm mattress as a heavyweight sleeper.
However, if you are looking for the right mattress for joint pain, I recommend buying a medium mattress. With a firmness score of about 6.5, this mattress is ideal for letting your hips perfectly sink into the mattress, allowing the sensitive joints to be free from stress and weight.
The memory foam top allows the mattress to contour according to your body weight while the springs insolate in motion. Every time you move on this bed, it will help the foam contour your body’s shape, but it will provide you adequate pressure relief on the areas that need it.
This mattress is ideal for stability and balance in almost all sleeping positions. However, if you choose the medium or hard variants, you will not feel comfortable as a side sleeper.
I found this mattress an excellent pick for combination sleepers and couples, primarily because of its superb motion isolation.
Unlike many competitors, the Brooklyn Beeding Signature Hybrid offers a 120-night trial period. If you do not feel comfortable in this duration, you can get a full refund after as little as 30 nights. The company also offers a 10-year warranty on this mattress, regardless of the firmness you choose.
Frequently Asked Questions
While searching for the best mattress for side sleepers, I had several questions, and I know you might have some too.So, I will answer some of the most commonly asked questions on the Internet without taking much of your time.
Should side sleepers prefer firm mattresses?
My major shoulder pain issue due to a teenage sports injury has taught me that firm mattresses are not for me. Soft mattresses can cause an array of physical problems while sleeping for me. Therefore, I would recommend side sleepers only sleep on medium-firm mattresses.
Any mattress ranging from three to seven on the firmness scale of ten should be ideal for side sleepers. Such mattresses can provide adequate pressure relief to the shoulders while offering enough support to present muscle pain.
However, if you are a fan of soft mattresses, that will be a better choice than a firm mattress. Even if you sink into your bed, your shoulders will not have to bear the extra pressure from your body, and your neck will not hang over your pillow.
Should I use a memory foam mattress as a side sleeper?
I have been a fan of memory foam since I first slept on a mattress with a single thin layer of memory foam. My heart goes to memory foam mattresses for side sleepers because they help maintain the spine’s natural curvature. Therefore, if you are like me and constantly wake up with pain and aches, you will start liking your morning with a memory foam mattress.
When you have at least a single layer of memory foam on your mattress, it will evenly distribute your weight on it. When I wake up with a sore back or shoulders, I detest it, and most memory foam mattresses have helped alleviate that issue.
What kind of mattress can I use as a side sleeper with back pain?
You know about my shoulder issues very well. In my experience, I believe memory foam mattresses have always worked well for me. However, I found latex mattresses much more beneficial during my intense back pain.
Latex mattresses provide good pressure relief, and pressure relief is one thing you should never negate as a side sleeper. You can also try some polyurethane mattresses if you sleep cold. However, my final suggestion will remain to be latex mattresses.
What kind of mattress can I use as a side sleeper with hip pain?
My brother has some hip pain issues as he sleeps on his side. Hybrid mattresses are the best way to avoid hip pain while sleeping on one side. Hybrid mattresses work in this regard because their pocketed coils allow maximum spine alignment and pressure relief.
A mattress on the firmer side of the scale will help release pressure on the lumbar muscle and other pressure points that cause hip pain. Your best choice of a comfortable mattress as a side sleeper with hip pains will be a hybrid coil mattress. However, you can also place a pillow between your knees while sleeping to sleep pain-free.
