Like to sleep on your side? You’re not alone. According to the National Sleep Foundation (NSF), the majority of people are side sleepers. And, compared to back or stomach sleeping, there are definite perks like decreased risk of acid reflux, less chance of waking up with back and neck pain and a lowered chance of snoring. But side sleeping isn’t perfect: It can leave you feeling a little sore in the morning, especially if you have arthritis in your joints or back. Which is why finding the best mattress for side sleepers is important to your overall sleep health.
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Given that around 70% of Americans sleep on their side, many mattresses are tailored to this sleep style. Still, there are a lot of mattresses out there, and it can be difficult to know where to start. Finding an option that’s plush enough to let your pressure points sink into the mattress, while also providing even support along your side to bring your spine into perfect alignment is a good place to start. But there are a number of other factors to consider, too, including thickness and material.
Here are the best mattresses for side sleepers according to rave online reviews; use this list as a resource to find the best option for you. All prices listed are for a queen mattress and accurate at the time of publication.
Best Mattress For Side Sleepers Overall
Helix Midnight Mattress
- Materials: Memory foam, Helix dynamic foam, wrapped coils
- Sizes: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, California King
Helix markets their Midnight mattress as the ideal solution for side sleepers. The mattress’ memory foam relief layer is specifically designed to cushion your pressure points, including your hips and shoulders. The top of the bed is medium-firm, meaning you’ll gently sink into the mattress instead of floating on top. The breathable two-cover design is also meant to keep you cool through the night while promoting airflow.
People are pretty impressed with this mattress in the reviews. “It’s like sleeping on a cloud. Can’t wait to go to bed at night,” one wrote. Others raved about how easy the mattress is to set up. Some said the Helix Midnight even helped with chronic pain. “I no longer have pain in my neck and shoulder, which is amazing!” a reviewer said. “This mattress has made such a difference.”
Most Flippable Mattress For Side Sleepers
Layla Memory Foam Mattress
- Materials: Memory foam, support foam
- Sizes: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, California King
Layla’s mattress comes with a unique feature that side sleepers will love: it’s double-sided, with one firm and one medium-soft side, letting you flip between preferences. While you probably won’t be turning your bed over every night, it’s nice to have options. This mattress is built with copper gel-infused memory foam, which molds to your body while also pulling away excess heat for a cool and comfortable sleep.
Reviewers rave about the mattress’ quality and comfort. “It’s definitely helped my back and neck pain. Kind of amazing,” one five-star reviewer wrote. “The pain in my shoulder, as I’m a side sleeper, is gone,” another said. “Been sleeping through the night now which hasn’t happened in years,” a happy customer wrote.
Best Memory Foam Mattress For Side Sleepers
Nectar Memory Foam Mattress
- Materials: Memory foam
- Sizes: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, California King
The Nectar mattress contours to heavier parts of the body while also supporting lighter parts, ensuring you feel balanced all over. It’s also built with multiple layers of memory foam: adaptive hi-core memory foam for rebound and bounce; gel memory foam for molded support; and quilted gel memory foam to lift you up and promote air circulation. The company offers an impressive 365-day trial period and a forever warranty, so you have plenty of time to try this one out.
One side sleeper wrote in the reviews that they “still love” this mattress, even after two years of use. “Love, love, love my new mattress! Back pain gone! Good night sleep at last!” another said. “I sleep so well on this comfortable, supportive mattress. It hits just right on all the pressure points,” a five-star reviewer said.
Most Comfortable Mattress For Side Sleepers
Brooklyn Bedding Signature Hybrid
- Materials: TitanFlex foam
- Sizes: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, California King
While Brooklyn Bedding lets customers choose between three levels of firmness, they highly recommend their soft option for side sleepers. This mattress also features a top layer of TitanFlex foam. Built with memory foam and latex, which is responsive and durable, TitanFlex lets you sink slightly into the mattress without feeling stuck.
People rave in the reviews about the mattress’ comfort. “Even more comfortable than I expected,” one five-star reviewer said. “We were unsure about buying a bed in a box but wow!! This bed is awesome! So supportive and comfortable!!” another wrote.
Best Hybrid Mattress For Side Sleepers
Saatva Mattress
- Materials: Memory foam, wrapped coils
- Sizes: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, California King
If you’re a side-sleeper, you need stability and responsiveness — and this mattress can provide it. It’s built with double-layer coils, and can easily conform to your body when you sleep. The Saatva mattress has a number of layers, too, including layers of memory foam, polyfoam and pocketed coils. There’s even a layer of padding on top to make for a very comfortable sleeping experience. The Saatva mattress is available in three different firmnesses, including plush soft, luxury firm and firm.
“This was the best decision ever,” one five-star reviewer said. “No more aches and pains when we get up in the morning.” Another reviewer said that they “particularly love the lumbar support in the center of the mattress.”
Best Cooling Mattress For Side Sleepers
Leesa Original Mattress
- Materials: Memory foam
- Sizes: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, California King
Leesa’s mattress is crafted entirely from memory foam, for a soft, plush, supportive feel. The mattress has a gray twill cover that’s breathable, nestled on top of an airy layer of responsive foam, so you won’t get sweaty while you sleep. And a foam base layer provides support and durability while you snooze.
Reviewers talked up the mattress’ support and comfort. “It gives me just the support I need for a good night’s rest,” one five-star reviewer wrote. “Feels like a cloud but not too soft where you are swallowed up,” another said. “So cool and comfortable. The best sleep I’ve ever had!” someone else wrote.
Best Luxury Mattress For Side Sleepers
Tempur-Breeze
- Materials: Tempur CM+ foam and Tempur PureCool+
- Sizes: Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, Split King, California King, Split California King
Tempur-Pedic is a big name in luxury sleep, and with good reason: The company delivers a quality product and the Tempur-Breeze, which is one of the best mattresses for side sleepers thanks to its high-quality memory foam, is no exception. This cooling mattress is made with six different layers, all designed to keep you up to eight degrees cooler while you sleep.
And people swear in the reviews that the mattress actually helps keep them cool. “I was pleasantly surprised by this cooling material on the top that regulated my sleep temperature. No more night sweats,” one wrote. “We no longer wake up sweaty,” another said. And, while the mattress is pricey, several reviewers said the tag is justified. “Worth every penny,” one wrote.
Do side sleepers need a firm or soft mattress?
It depends. Side sleepers need cushioning around the shoulders, hips, and knees, but not so much that it throws the body out of alignment. That’s why many side sleepers tend to prefer mattresses in the medium-soft to medium-firm range. Still, a lot comes down to personal preference.
Are firm mattresses bad for side sleepers?
Not necessarily. Side sleepers need some type of cushioning around their shoulders, hips, and knees, so an ultra-firm mattress might not have enough give to contour the body properly. If the mattress is too firm, you can wake up with numbness and tingling in your arms. If the mattress is too soft, it can cause back pain.
When it comes to firmness, there’s no single answer to pin down the best mattress for side sleepers. It ultimately comes down to comfort, personal preference and how your body is responding.
How do I choose the right mattress?
Your personal preference is important here, along with how you feel about your current mattress. If it feels like you’re sinking into it too much, you may need to go with a firmer type or, conversely, a softer mattress might be needed if it feels like you’ve been sleeping on a rock.
A lot comes down to testing, which can be difficult to do online, says Neel Anand, M.D., professor of orthopedic surgery and director of spine trauma at Cedars-Sinai Spine Center in Los Angeles. Luckily, many mattress companies have good return policies, so you can ship your mattress back within a set period of time if it’s just not working for you. But, in general, side sleepers want to start with something in the medium to medium-firm range.
How long does it take to break in a new mattress?
Mattresses you buy online often have a period of time where they need to expand (check the manufacturer’s label for more). After that, it’s more about your body adjusting to the mattress. That can take about 30 days, but sometimes longer. It really depends on how different your new mattress is from your old one.
Can you return a mattress if you don’t like it?
Most of the time, yes, but it’s important to read the company’s return policy in advance, just in case. Many mattresses that you buy online have a solid return policy that allows you to ship back the product after weeks or even months if it’s not a good fit.
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