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Best Mattress For Side Sleepers in 2024

Dr. Jennifer Miller, PT, DPT: Expert Physical Therapist and Pelvic Health Specialist

Dr. Jennifer Miller, PT, DPT: Expert Physical Therapist and Pelvic Health Specialist

Dr. Jennifer Miller is a compassionate and skilled outpatient physical therapist with nine years of experience in the field. She earned her Doctor of Physical Therapy from Elon University and holds a Bachelor of Science in Health Science from Minnesota State University-Mankato. Dr. Miller specializes in Neurological, Geriatric, and Vestibular Physical Therapy and serves as […]

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Sleeping on your side is one of the healthiest ways to sleep. Side sleeping promotes better spinal alignment, reduces lower back pain, lessen snoring, and can prevent symptoms of sleep apnea. Despite all of its benefits, side sleeping comes with a few drawbacks, such as the potential for neck pain (though generally that signals you’re sleeping on a pillow that is too thin or too thick for your head).

To get a good night’s sleep, side sleepers should look for the best mattress for side sleepers and pillows to support neutral spinal alignment, alleviate pressure, and prevent pain points— especially since side sleepers are more prone to pressure points in the shoulders and hips than back or stomach sleepers.

In this guide, we discuss our recommended best mattresses for side sleepers and touch on the main things side sleepers should look for before buying a new bed.

Best Mattress for Side Sleepers Overall:

Amerisleep AS3

Amerisleep AS3
  • Price Range: See Price
  • Mattress Type: Memory Foam
  • Thickness: 12 Inches
  • Firmness: 5 to 6 out of 10 (Medium)
  • Available In: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, California King, Split

Warranty

10 Years

Sleep Trial

100 Nights

Shipping

Free

Mattress Highlights
  • Bio-Pur® foam cool and responsive
  • Five zones of targeted support from Affinity
  • Resilient foam base known as Bio-Core®
Recommended For
  • Side sleepers seeking a medium bed that's not too soft
  • Petite side sleepers
  • Side sleepers who switch to other positions

Amerisleep AS3 Overview

Amerisleep offers a line of different mattresses, each ranging in firmness from soft to firm. Using your sleep style and body type, it is easy to determine which Amerisleep mattress for side sleepers is right for you. For side sleepers, we recommend the Amerisleep AS3 because it offers unbeatable cushioning for the shoulders and hips.

All Amerisleep mattresses come with a 100-night sleep trial and a 20-year warranty.

The Editors at Sleep Junkie recommend the Amerisleep AS3 as the best mattress for side sleepers overall of 2024.

  • Organic Materials

    Features plant-based, pressure-relieving memory foam.

  • Soft Surface Promotes Healthy Sleep

    HIVE® technology prevents pain points and promotes healthy sleep styles.

  • Excellent Support

    Medium feel is comfortable for side sleepers who need some cushioning and support.

While yes, the AS3 is soft and cloud-like, it’s also supportive to promote proper spinal alignment. Customer reviews of the AS3 note that this mattress cradles sensitive areas like the hips and shoulder, but that it also limits sinkage so the spine is never forced to bow unnaturally. This balanced medium feel can provide what most people need in a mattress for side sleepers.

  • Star: Terrific nights sleep in our as3. We bought a queen sized liberty mattress from amerisleep 7 years ago.
  • Beckyann31: I get the best nights sleep on this mattress!! I have a bad back and neck, and this mattress helps tremendously.
  • Josh S: My wife and I have loved our AS3 Hybrid mattress since our purchase in 2020. My wife still says it is like sleeping on a cloud. I tried Amerisleep to help with low back pain.

 

Comfort Layers

The first layer of the AS3 is 3 inches of pressure-relieving Bio-Pur®, a plant-based memory foam. When you lay down on the AS3, the layer molds to your body and offers immediate comfort, allowing the shoulders and hips to receive plenty of cushioning comfort. Plus, Amerisleep designs Bio-Pur® to be ultra-responsive, so while it allows you to sink, it won’t cause uncomfortable sinkage.

Transition Layers

Below the layer of memory foam is the Affinity layer featuring HIVE® technology. HIVE® is a surface modification technology used to offer dynamic support.

Under your torso, head, and feet, HIVE® is fashioned to feel firmer and maintain healthy sleeping positions; this prevents your midsection from dipping below your hips. Oppositely, HIVE® is softer and allows for deeper compression beneath your hips and shoulders to prevent pain and pressure build-up.

Support Layers

The third and final layer of the AS3 is durable Bio-Core® to serve as a supportive base. Bio-Core® reinforces the two layers above and prevents sagging, indentations, and premature wear and tear.

Pros

  • Plant-based memory foam fixes a lot of traditional memory foam’s inherent issues
  • Zoned transition layer provides ideal support to each area of your body
  • Highly dense base foam keeps you lifted onto the sleep surface and your spine aligned

Cons

  • Not entirely synthetic-free

Best Memory Foam Mattress for Side Sleepers:

Zoma Mattress

Zoma Mattress
  • Price Range: See Price
  • Mattress Type: Memory Foam
  • Thickness: 11 Inches
  • Firmness: 5 out of 10 (Medium to Medium-Soft)
  • Available In: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, California King, Split

Warranty

10 Years

Sleep Trial

100 Nights

Shipping

Free

Mattress Highlights
  • Heat-wicking gel infusion increases comfort
  • Contouring cutouts boost pressure relief
  • Adaptable transition layer responds to sleepers
Recommended For
  • Side sleepers who tend to run hot
  • Side sleepers who spend some time on their backs
  • Side sleepers who enjoy a touch of softness with support

Zoma Mattress Overview

The Zoma Mattress is specifically designed to help athletes get deeper sleep, so they can recover faster and perform better. Because this foam mattress for side sleepers is engineered to nurture a healthy spine and alleviate pain points, it’s perfect for side sleepers.

The Zoma Mattress comes with a 100-night sleep trial.

The Editors at Sleep Junkie recommend the Zoma as the best memory foam mattress for side sleepers of 2024.

  • Cold Comfort

    Sleepers will quickly relax on the mattress’s cool surface.

  • Soft Surface Hugs the Body

    Plush but not too plush, the Zoma has contouring cutouts to boost pressure relief.

  • Buoyant for Easy Movements

    Triangulex™ technology promotes a healthy spine and eases pressure points.

Quite a few customer reviews on the Zoma website note that the reviewer invested a lot of time, sometimes months, searching for the right mattress for side sleepers and ultimately settling on one of Zoma’s mattresses. They then went on to note how happy they were with Zoma’s affordable prices, full-body support features, and the bed’s gel-infused cushion that gives the mattress a pillow-like feel. Many noted their sleep quality dramatically improved after switching to a Zoma mattress for side sleepers.

  • Stephen F: I had taken an online quiz and was instructed that the Zoma mattress would be the best fit for my lifestyle as I’m highly active. It’s perfectly supportive of me as a side sleeper, I would highly recommend this mattress!
  • Claudia H: I expected to take 5-7 days to adjust to a new mattress. This was not true with my new Zoma hybrid. I slept good the first night. I’m happy with my mattress.
  • David S: I have tried inner coil and latex. This is a perfect blend of the best of both of those!
Comfort Layers

The first layer is 2 inches of gel-infused memory foam with Triangulex™ technology. When you lay down on this mattress for side sleepers, the foam molds to your curves to offer instant cushioning comfort. The cooling gels infused in this layer combat body heat and promote a cooler sleeping surface. Side sleepers will feel a refreshing chill when they first lie down, helping their bodies relax and drift off to sleep.

Triangulex™ comes into play to offer zoned support. The foam near the midsection of this layer feels a bit firmer to offer extra support for your torso. Around your shoulders and hips, this layer has triangle-shaped cutouts to offer better contouring. These cutouts also boost this layer’s breathability, preventing heat build-up.

Triangulex™ technology is perfect for side sleepers because it prevents pain in your shoulders and hips in addition to offering better spinal support. A side sleeper lying down on the Zoma Mattress can feel a responsive hug that supports their body’s most sensitive areas. Even heavier side sleepers will feel supported and should wake up free of back pain, thanks to the consistently supportive surface under the torso.

Transition Layers

The second layer of the Zoma Mattress is dense Reactiv™ foam— a latex-like poly-foam offering reinforced support. Reactiv™ is designed to feel more responsive than memory foam, so it offers cushioning comfort while still feeling bouncy. This layer holds you more “on top of” the mattress for side sleepers and prevents uncomfortable sinkage. It also increases the overall “bounce” of the bed, making it easier to adjust sleeping positions.

Support Layers

The third and final layer of the Zoma is the Support+ foam, a durable poly-foam core. The Support+ foam offers structural support for the layers above and prevents premature sagging. Zoma also backs their mattress with a 10-year warranty, should your bed develop a sag greater than 3/4 inch.

Pros

  • Cooling graphite infusions offer protection from microbes and overheating all at once.
  • Multiple layers of foam work with a sturdy support to offer lift and cradling at the same time.
  • Highly responsive transition layer increases bounce over what coils alone could provide.

Cons

  • Not firm enough for back or stomach sleepers

Best Budget Mattress for Side Sleepers:

Vaya Mattress

Vaya Mattress
  • Price Range: See Price
  • Mattress Type:
  • Thickness:
  • Firmness:
  • Available In: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, California King, Split

Warranty

10 Years

Sleep Trial

100 Nights

Shipping

Free

Mattress Highlights
  • Airy, soft cover with a cooling surface
  • Vaya Comfort Foam cushions the body
  • Base foam endures years of use
Recommended For
  • Budget shoppers who sleep on their sides
  • Couples where one or both are side sleepers
  • Hot side sleepers

Vaya Mattress Overveiew

The Vaya Mattress is a budget-friendly option for side sleepers avoiding night sweats. We love the Vaya Mattress because it allows for superb pressure relief while preventing heat retention—its breathable construction keeps hot air flowing out of the mattress.

The Vaya is sold online only and comes with a 100-night sleep trial. If you don’t absolutely love it after a couple of months, you can return it for free.

 

The Editors at Sleep Junkie recommend the Vaya Mattress as the best value mattress for side sleepers of 2024.

  • Budget-Friendly, High-Quality Construction

    Simple design uses exceptional materials for enduring comfort

  • Cooling Comfort Materials

    Cotton and airy comfort foam conform to sleepers’ bodies.

  • Supportive Wrapped Coils

    Designed with breathability in mind.

People who have left reviews on the Vaya website have called it “comfy” and “one of the softest beds I’ve ever laid on.” One person noted it matched the experience of lying on their previous bed, a plush pillow-top mattress, while another confessed they worried it would be too soft to sleep on but was still sufficiently supportive.

  • Misty A: We’ve had our hybrid Vaya for 3 years. It’s fantastic. I sleep hot and I am very comfortable. Soft and supportive at the same time. It’s like the Goldilocks of mattresses. It’s just right. Perfection.
  • Gail H: I’m still getting used to my new mattress, but I think it will be perfect once I get a body pillow to cushion my knees when I sleep on my side.

 

 

Comfort Layers

The Vaya Mattress has two layers and is 12 inches thick. The comfort layer is 3 inches of cushioning Vaya Foam to contour to your body, distribute your weight, and keep you lifted. Vaya Foam is different than memory foam because it’s a bit bouncier, so it doesn’t have a “cradling” feel. The thickness of this layer is perfect for side sleepers because it allows the hips and shoulders to sink just enough to total comfort.

Support Layers

The core of the mattress is 9 inches of sturdy poly-foam to resist sagging and prolong the bed’s lifespan. In addition to using high-quality core foam, Vaya backs their mattress with a 10-year warranty.

Pros

  • The simple design of this mattress allows the manufacturer to maintain quality and affordability.
  • The highly porous memory foam keeps cool air flowing to wick away both heat and moisture.
  • The pocketed coils move independently for superior adaptability and motion isolation.

Cons

  • No range of firmness options

Best Hybrid Mattress for Side Sleepers:

Amerisleep AS5 Hybrid

Amerisleep AS5 Hybrid
  • Price Range: See Price
  • Mattress Type: Hybrid
  • Thickness: 14 Inches
  • Firmness: 3 out of 10 (Soft)
  • Available In: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, California King, Split

Warranty

20 Years

Sleep Trial

100 Nights

Shipping

Free

Mattress Highlights
  • Plush top layer of plant-based foam
  • Minimal chances of sinkage due to middle layer
  • Buoyant coils boost pressure relief
Recommended For
  • Plus-size side sleepers seeking plush support
  • Side sleepers with petite body frames
  • Side sleepers seeking a luxuriously soft mattress

Amerisleep AS5 Hybrid

From Amerisleep’s line of mattresses, the AS5 is their softest mattress for side sleepers. Now, they offer the AS5 as a hybrid. This mattress combines a plush memory foam comfort layer and pocketed spring coil base. The AS5 Hybrid is a luxuriously soft mattress for side sleepers designed to offer incredible comfort for the shoulders and hips, perfect for side sleepers. We also love the AS5 Hybrid because it’s a great option for plus-size sleepers who prefer a softer mattress. With the slight bounce of the spring coil base, heavier sleepers are less likely to experience excess sinkage and spinal misalignment.

The AS5 Hybrid can be bought in the Amerisleep showroom or online—no matter how you buy, it comes with a 100-night sleep trial.

The Editors at Sleep Junkie recommend the Amerisleep AS5 as the best hybrid mattress for side sleepers overall of 2024.

  • Medium-Firm Feel for Back Support

    Gently firm feels are usually best to prevent spine misalignment.

  • Eco-Friendly Comfort Foam

    While most memory foams are wholly synthetic, Amerisleep uses plant oils in theirs, along with more traditional ingredients.

  • Zones of Targeted Support

    The surface feels softer and firmer under the body as needed.

The AS5 Hybrid is Amerisleep’s softest hybrid, but despite its softness, this bed is responsive and supportive. It contains bouncy Active Flex foam and pocketed coils to deter uncomfortable sagging and keep you side sleeping in a healthy position.

  • Tucson: We love our bed, whenever we got out of town and stay in a nice hotel with the nice bed they offer, we are always so excited to get home and get back in ours.
  • Stef: I have recommended to many friends. It is very comfortable and all the people that try it love it.
  • Ciceroczech: We have switched from a firm tempur pedic mattress due to hip and neck pain. My wife is a side sleeper and this mattress has definitely helped her sleep better.
Comfort Layers

The first layer of the AS5 Hybrid contains 3 inches of pressure-relieving Bio-Pur® and 2 inches of Active Flex. Active Flex serves two purposes: it gives the bed a little bounce and it allows for better pressure relief under the shoulders and hips. Side sleepers will love the extra cushion Active Flex offers.

Transition Layers

Below the comfort layers lies the 8-inch pocketed coil system, designed to deliver targeted support. These coils act a little like the HIVE® technology we discussed with the AS3. Under the head, torso, and feet, these coils are firmer, whereas these coils are softer and allow for more pressure relief under the shoulders and hips.

Support Layers

At the base of the AS5 Hybrid, Amerisleep includes a thin core layer of foam for added support, and around the edge of the bed is a foam perimeter to reinforce the sides of the mattress. Plus, Amerisleep backs their mattress with a 20-year warranty, too.

Pros

  • Plant-based memory foam fixes a lot of traditional memory foam’s inherent issues
  • Zoned transition layer provides ideal support to each area of your body
  • Highly dense base foam keeps you lifted onto the sleep surface and your spine aligned

Cons

  • Not entirely synthetic-free

Best Mattress for Side Sleepers with Hip Pain:

Nolah Original 10” Mattress

Nolah Original 10” Mattress
  • Price Range: See Price
  • Mattress Type: Foam
  • Thickness: 10 Inches
  • Firmness: Medium (5 or 6 on the firmness scale)
  • Available In: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, California King, Split

Warranty

Lifetime

Sleep Trial

120 Nights

Shipping

Free

Mattress Highlights
  • AirFoam™ reduces pressure points effectively
  • Latex-like transition foam for responsiveness
  • Removable sleep trial for extra discount
Recommended For
  • Side sleepers who wake up with sore hips
  • Combination sleepers
  • Hot sleepers

Nolah 10″ Overview

The next mattress on our list is the Nolah Original 10”, designed specifically to cater to back and side sleepers. In this mattress for side sleepers, Nolah uses their proprietary Nolah AirFoam™ instead of memory foam or latex to offer the sleeper a contouring but cool sleeping environment.

Nolah offers a 120-night sleep trial, which you can remove for a lower price. We recommend the sleep trial because it lets you thoroughly test out the mattress; no one wants to spend a lot on a mattress only to experience buyer’s remorse. If you decide not to keep your mattress within that time period, they’ll pick it up for free and give you a refund. If you do decide to keep the mattress, it’s backed by a 15-year warranty.

The Editors at Sleep Junkie recommend the Nolah Original as the best mattress for side sleepers with hip pain overall of 2024.

  • Highly Advanced Cooling Design

    Features Nolah’s AirFoam™, which offers 4x more pressure relief traditional memory foam.

  • Three Zones of Targeted Support

    Mattress feels firmer under the back and softer in the head and foot of the bed.

  • High Tech Foam

    Nolah uses their proprietary Nolah AirFoam™ instead of memory foam or latex to offer the sleeper a contouring but cool sleeping environment.

Their comfort layer, Nolah AirFoam™, is also built to reduce pressure points four times better than comparable materials, which is crucial for side sleepers.

  • Myrna: I bought this for my guest room just before Christmas. Its so comfy that I haven’t slept in my own bed since! Clearly, it’s time to order a second one for myself.
  • Margerita: In retrospect maybe I should have gone for the 12″ mattress. This mattress is softer than I anticipated; however, I’ve slept better and longer on Nolah 10 than I had on any I’ve owned in the past 10 years.
  • James: My daughter has back issues going from a standard bed to this has made a world of difference. For the price this beats the other big brands.
Comfort Layers

The layers of the Nolah are constructed to alleviate pressure in the shoulder and hip region, furthering its benefits for side sleepers. The first layer of this bed is Nolah’s AirFoam™ material, which contours to your body as memory foam would, but it is more responsive and holds you up on the mattress’s surface.

Transition Layers

The next layer is a high-resilience foam designed to give latex-like bounce, which reinforces the AirFoam™ above.

Pros

  • Designed specifically for side and back sleepers.
  • Features Nolah’s AirFoam™, which offers 4x more pressure relief traditional memory foam.
  • Medium firmness.

Cons

  • Buyers report off gassing.

Best Foam Mattress for Side Sleepers:

Tuft & Needle Original Mattress

Tuft & Needle Original Mattress
  • Price Range: See Price
  • Mattress Type: Foam
  • Thickness: 10 Inches
  • Firmness: Medium-firm (6 or 7 on the firmness scale)
  • Available In: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, California King

Warranty

10 Years

Sleep Trial

100 Nights

Shipping

Free

Mattress Highlights
  • T&N Adaptive™ foam with temperature-neutral gels
  • Base layer of supportive poly-foam
  • Available at different mattress retailers
Recommended For
  • Side sleepers looking for a bargain
  • Side sleepers interested in a firmer mattress
  • Side sleepers sensitive to natural materials

Tuft & Needle Original Mattress Overview

The next mattress on our list is the budget-friendly, luxury-firm Tuft and Needle mattress, or T&N. If you’re looking for a top-rated mattress at a lower price point, this bed is excellent, as it costs under $800 for a queen.

For a few years, T&N beds were sold only online. However, now you can buy their beds both online and at various mattress retailers. Every T&N mattress comes with a 100-night trial period and a 10-year warranty.

The Editors at Sleep Junkie recommend the Tuft & Needle Original as the best  mattress for side sleepers of 2024.

  • Exceptional Pressure Relief

    Features pressure-relieving T&N Adaptive® foam.

  • Cool to the Touch Surface

    Gel-infused foam helps keep you cool keep the bed cool

  • Budget Friendly

    Budget-friendly yet luxurious choice.

The T&N is soft and pressure-relieving without pulling the user too far into the mattress for side sleepers, making it perfect for side sleepers. The two-layer design of this bed is relatively simple compared to other mattresses on our list. “Comfortable” was a word often echoed by many who reviewed the original Tuft & Needle mattress.

  • Charlie D: We purchased 2 Queen original T&N mattresses from Lowe’s 5 year’s ago. To this day, they are by far still the best mattresses we’ve ever purchased. Now we will be replacing a 2yr old King size Beautyrest Back hybrid with a T&N.
  • Lizbet: This is my second Tuft & Needle original mattress. I did a fair amount of research before ordering, and believe there isn’t a better quality mattress for the money.
  • Thao: Bought this mattress for my son a few years ago, and my daughter asked to get her one after trying it out. The ease of buying the mattress online (without breaking the bank) and receiving it a few days later in the mail is a no brainer.
Comfort Layers

The top layer of the Tuft and Needle is their T&N Adaptive™ foam, a poly-foam designed to feel like a combination of memory foam and latex foam. It offers better pressure-relief than either material and feels cushioning but bouncy, soft but supportive.

Transition Layers

This five-zone comfort layer sits atop a layer of gel memory foam to enhance contour and draw body heat away from you.

Support Layers

The base layer is a solid high-density poly-foam to support the T&N Adaptive® foam and sleeper above.

Pros

  • Budget-friendly yet luxurious choice.
  • Gel-infused foam helps keep you cool.
  • Features pressure-relieving T&N Adaptive® foam.

Cons

  • Some reviewers say firmness varies

Best Flippable Mattress for Side Sleepers:

Layla Hybrid

Layla Hybrid
  • Price Range: See Price
  • Mattress Type: Hybrid
  • Thickness: 13 Inches
  • Firmness: 4 (Soft) and 7 (Firm) out of 10
  • Available In: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, California King

Warranty

10 Years

Sleep Trial

120 Nights

Shipping

Free

Mattress Highlights
  • Copper improves memory foam's support
  • Targeted support on both sides of the mattress
  • Pocketed coils limit motion transfer
Recommended For
  • Side sleepers seeking a soft mattress
  • Side sleepers who enjoy a bouncy bed
  • Side sleepers curious about other sleep positions

Layla Hybrid Overview

Many hybrid and pure foam mattresses have a top-to-bottom construction that prevent them from being flippable. The Layla Hybrid does not, offering a firm side and soft side for sleepers to experiment with their preferred styles. We recommend the plush side only for side sleepers since the firm side can cause pressure to build up, leaving the sleeper sore in the morning.

The Layla Hybrid is packaged with a 120-night sleep trial and a 10-year warranty. Shoppers can also add on a pillow, foundation, or sheets for further savings.

The Editors at Sleep Junkie recommend the Layla Hybrid as the best dual-sided mattress for degenerative disc disease of 2024.

  • Two-In-One Mattress

    Torn between soft and firm feels? You can have both with the Layla Hybrid!

  • Comfortable Copper Infusions

    Copper infusions ensures a cool, clean mattress surface.

  • Supportive Foams and Pocketed Coils

    Both sides feature pressure-relieving foams and a base of wrapped coils.

The hybrid’s cover is soft, breathable fabric and removable for easier care. The mattress has handles along the side to make flipping the bed a simpler task.

  • Angela B: Surprisingly heavy. Very comfortable on both sides. I prefer the firm side. I had a serta icomfort mattress and prefer layla.
  • Brian G: 1 month so far very good. Medium soft side for me. Other family members tried the firm side and reported to firm for them and flipped back.
  • Lynne E: We did try the mattress on the firm side for the first 3 nights. But then flipped it over and have found it absolutely perfect, set up was a breeze.
Comfort Layers

Starting with the soft side, the Layla Hybrid features a layer of copper-gel memory foam that draws body heat away from you.

Transition Layers

This heat gets pushed into the Max Airflow foam underneath, where it can be pushed out of the mattress by the cooling air circulation.

Support Layers

The core of the mattress is made of zoned coils that provide more support in the center and more pressure relief on the ends. This layer also features a double coil perimeter for enhanced edge support.

The Layla features mirrored construction. This means the support core sits in the middle between the comfort and transition layers. The firm side features a layer of Max Airflow and copper memory foam as well.

Pros

  • Copper infusions fight overheating and allergens all at once
  • Zoned coils provide enhanced lumbar and edge support
  • Flippable firmness allows you to choose your own feel

Cons

  • No medium to medium-firm side

Best Mattress-in-a-Box Mattress for Side Sleepers:

Purple® Mattress

Purple® Mattress
  • Price Range: See Price
  • Mattress Type: Foam
  • Thickness: 9.25 Inches
  • Firmness: Medium (5 to 6 on the firmness scale)
  • Available In: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, California King, Split

Warranty

10 Years

Sleep Trial

100 Nights

Shipping

Free

Mattress Highlights
  • Purple Grid™ flexes and adapts to movements
  • Two layers of poly-foam for support
  • Compact, low-profile design for a lower bed height
Recommended For
  • Side sleepers who want a mail order mattress
  • Side and combination sleepers
  • Hot Sleepers

Purple® is a popular mattress-in-a-box brand that specializes in selling an exceptionally pressure-relieving mattress. In fact, the Purple® was created as the world’s first “No-Pressure” bed.

You can buy a Purple® mattress on their website or at select Mattress Firm locations. Every Purple® bed comes with a 100-night sleep trial and a 10-year warranty.

The Editors at Sleep Junkie recommend the Purple Mattress as the best mattress for mattress-in-a-box mattress for side sleepers of 2024.

  • Superior Comfort

    Features a thick layer of their Smart Comfort Grid™.

  • Exceptional Cushioning

    Designed to provide a weightless, zero-gravity experience.

  • Cooling design

    Temperature regulating design.

Featured as the top layer in every Purple® mattress is their Smart Comfort Grid™. The founders of Purple® patented a whole new mattress material, hyper-elastic polymer, to create this grid. On their website, they boast the benefits of their innovative mattress technology.

  • Joan B: We would just like to say that your product is truly like floating on air! My spouse & I love our new mattress and have been having incredibly restful sleeps.
  • Ciara R: Got it for the guest room and EVERY person has said they’ve had the best sleep ever on this mattress! Would definitely recommend.
  • Megan V: Best decision we have made in a long time! So comfortable and I feel so much better going into the day.

Comfort Layers

The Smart Comfort Grid™ is adaptable to most body types, so it’s a great fit for side, stomach, or back sleepers. Plus, its grid shape promotes airflow through the bed and prevents hot air from being trapped within. The grid limits motion transfer throughout the bed, so it’s a great mattress for couples, too. However, the most important sleep-promoting benefit this bed offers to side sleepers is its ability to relieve pressure points under your shoulders and hips while maintaining a healthy posture.

Transition Layers

Below the Purple Grid™ in this bed is a transition layer of cushioning poly-foam to act as a barrier between the comfortable grid and the core of the mattress. The last layer of the Purple® is a high-density poly-foam in place to give the bed shape and structural support.

Pros

  • Features a thick layer of their Smart Comfort Grid™.
  • Designed to provide a weightless, zero-gravity experience.
  • Temperature regulating design.

Cons

  • Not optimal for side and back sleepers.

Best Mattress for Side Sleepers with Shoulder Pain:

Helix Midnight Luxe

Helix Midnight Luxe
  • Price Range: See Price
  • Mattress Type: Hybrid
  • Thickness: 12 Inches
  • Firmness: 5.5 out of 10 (Medium)
  • Available In: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, California King, Split

Warranty

15 Years

Sleep Trial

100 Nights

Shipping

Free

Mattress Highlights
  • Pressure-relieving Memory Foam Plus
  • Gel foam promotes compression for comfort
  • Pocketed coils with targeted support
Recommended For
  • Side sleepers with frequent shoulder pain
  • Hot side sleepers
  • Side sleepers who enjoy a bouncy hybrid mattress

Helix Midnight Luxe Overview

Shoulder pain is a common issue for side sleepers because it’s one of the areas that bear the brunt of their body weight. Many mattresses feature extra cushion or contouring in the mattress’s head to prevent shoulder pain, such as the Helix Midnight Luxe does. The bed’s pillow top is covered with ventilated Tencel™ fabric for a cool night’s rest.

You can buy a Helix mattress online at their website or through select showrooms across the USA. The Helix Midnight Luxe includes a 100-night sleep trial and a 15-year limited warranty.

The Editors at Sleep Junkie recommend the Helix Midnight Luxe as the best mattress for side sleepers with shoulder pain of 2024.

  • Firm Quilted Pillowtop Surface

    Many pillowtop mattresses can feel too cushy under the body, but the Dawn Luxe is pleasantly firm.

  • Multiple Certifications

    Certified by CertiPUR-US® and OEKO-TEX® Standard 100.

  • Zoned Pocketed Coil Support

    Coils are arranged for extra back support under the body.

Best for side sleepers and people who toss and turn at night. The Helix Midnight Luxe has luxury Memory Foam for pressure point relief on your hips and shoulders.

  • Todd S: I absolutely love this mattress. It is perfect for me. I just hope it lasts. However the delivery with fed ex was terrible they took it to the wrong address and I had to pick it up myself. That has nothing to do with helix. But fed ex at least in my area is a last resort delivery service.
  • Margot S: Love the firm mattress.
  • Katie D: Best mattress I’ve ever had. I no longer wake up with extreme back and hip pain. 10/10 recommend!
Comfort Layers

The bed’s pillow top is covered with ventilated Tencel™ fabric for a cool night’s rest.

Underneath the pillow top is medium-feel Memory Foam Plus, ready to conform to a side sleeper’s body for pressure and pain relief. Next is gel foam and transitional poly-foam to improve the mattress’s compression.

Support Layers

The support core is numerous pocketed coils, with the coils providing a plusher feel under the shoulders than elsewhere across the mattress. The base layer of DuraDense foam keeps the coils straight and bouncy.

Pros

  • The firm feel is perfect for heavier sleepers and stomach sleepers alike.
  • Enhanced support in the middle offers perfect spinal alignment.
  • The choice of cooling covers offers options for cooling and breathability.

Cons

  • Too firm for side and back sleepers

Best Mattress for Active Side Sleepers:

Bear Mattress

Bear Mattress
  • Price Range: See Price
  • Mattress Type: Memory Foam
  • Thickness: 10 Inches
  • Firmness: 7.1 out of 10 (Medium-Firm)
  • Available In: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, California King, Split

Warranty

10 Years

Sleep Trial

100 Nights

Shipping

Free

Mattress Highlights
  • Gel-infused memory foam
  • Restorative Celliant® fabric cover
  • Poly-foam base deepens contouring
Recommended For
  • Active and athletic side sleepers
  • Hot side sleepers
  • Side sleepers who tend to move onto their backs

Bear Mattress Overview

Bear is a memory foam mattress designed to help athletes sleep better and wake up pain-free, but we like this mattress for side sleepers because it contains extra pressure-relieving foams to prevent discomfort and promote better rest. Many reviews of the Bear Mattress mention it feels on the firmer end of medium and doesn’t allow for much sinkage. If you’re a side sleeper who prefers a firmer mattress for side sleepers, Bear could be right for you.

Bear sells their mattresses online-only, offering a 100-night sleep trial and a 10-year warranty with each bed.

The Editors at Sleep Junkie recommend the Bear Mattress as the best mattress for for active side sleepers of 2024.

  • Antimicrobial Copper Infusion

    Copper naturally repels microbes that can settle and cause a stink in the mattress.

  • Cool to the Touch Surface

    Phase change technology and thermoreactive minerals keep the bed cool

  • Responsive Transition Foam and Coils

    Hybrid delivers bouncy comfort underneath the body.

The Bear mattress has three layers: a comfort layer of cooling graphite-infused memory foam, a cushioning transition layer of poly-foam, and a high-density support core. Bear also uses Celliant® fabric in the cover of their mattress to promote deeper sleep and prevent night sweats.

  • Libertine L: The Bed firm but at the same time is comfortable to sleep in. I got it together with the free pillows (which were fluffy) and a bedsheet set. Overall, I had a relaxing sleep in this mattress.
  • Josh M: Incredible mattress! Honestly haven’t had the level of sound (and comfortable) sleep like this in quite some time! Highly recommend!
  • Alicia B: No complaints here with our bear original! Our youngest agrees! Great support and feels good knowing it’s made safe! Arrived quickly and easy to unpack!

Comfort Layers

The first layer of the Elite is it copper gel memory foam comfort layer. This is the layer that draws heat away from your body, and it’s also the layer that keeps you cool while you sleep. It works with the highly breathable cover to both draw heat away from you and keep cool air flowing.

Transition Layers

Underneath the copper memory foam, you’ll find a layer of dynamic transition foam. This transition foam offers ergonomic support and provide seamless progression to the coils below.

The Elite’s pocketed coil support layer works with your body to keep your spine aligned and offer pressure relief at the same time. This is thanks to its unique system of coils that are reinforced through the middle and around the perimeter. The reinforced coils offer extra lumbar and edge support, while the softer coils provide pressure relief to the areas that need it.

Pros

  • Copper infusions in the comfort layer fight both overheating and microbial growth.
  • Zone coils provide ideal support to each area of your body.
  • Dynamic transition foam offers seamless progression and ergonomic support.

Cons

  • No medium-firm option

Side Sleeping Positions

Side sleeping is the most popular sleeping position, but not every side sleeper is the same. In fact, the term side sleeping usually refers to one of four positions.

  • In the fetal position, both legs are bent at the knees, and the back is curled down to the legs. 40% of side-sleepers sleep this way, making it the most common sleeping position. For those with arthritis or other chronic pain issues, this position can leave the sleeper with morning soreness.
  • The log is the next most common side sleeping position. In the log position, the arms and legs are stretched out from the body and the spine is straight.
  • In the yearner position, the arms are stretched out, whereas the back and legs are straight. Only about 5% of the population sleeps like this.
  • In the sprinter position, the sleeper is posed with the arms and back straight, and one leg bent at the knee and the other straight. This is the least common side sleeping position.

While none of these sleeping positions are worse or better than the other, the positions requiring extended legs can induce misalignment by shifting the hips out of place. Using pillows to keep the hips aligned will reduce the sleeper’s risk of developing sciatica and arthritis. Dr. Jennifer Miller, Physical Therapist, says, “I recommend sleeping with a body pillow to my patients with joint pain. It helps to relieve pressure on the joints by placing the body pillow between the knees and having the top arm rested on the pillow.”

Is Side-Sleeping Healthy?

Side sleeping is healthy because it improves your breathing. Side sleepers also snore less and face fewer instances of lower back pain.

Those with sleep apnea can benefit from side sleeping because it opens the airways and alleviates sleep apnea symptoms. This position can also improve acid reflux when sleeping on your right side. However, the Editors of Sleep Junkie suggest sleeping on the right side as it takes undue pressure off the heart, alleviates heartburn, and improves blood pressure.

However, side sleeping also has drawbacks. Side-sleepers have a higher risk of acne breakouts thanks to being in consistent contact with their bedding. They can get premature wrinkles on one side due to sleeping with their face pressed up against the pillow, as well.

Side sleepers also have more pressure points than other sleeping positions. The pressure builds up on their sides, causing sore muscles and stiff joints.

ProsCons
Reduced snoring
May alleviate lower back pain
Easier digestion
Increases proper lymph node drainage
Increased acne breakouts
Premature wrinkles
More pressure points on the side

What to Look for in the Best Mattress for Side Sleepers

As a side sleeper, you should keep three main points in mind when mattress shopping: support, pressure relief, and spinal alignment. Maintaining an aligned spine and pressure relief through sufficient support will improve your quality of sleep.

Spinal Alignment

Visualize this: you’re sleeping on your side with your arms in front of you. Your hip furthest from the mattress is rotated forward, twisting your lower back. To balance out your spine, you rotate your shoulder in the opposite direction of your hips. While this position is comfortable, it can produce negative medical results in the future.

Paying attention to your pelvic rotation and ensuring your spine is in alignment will reduce your risk of developing bursitis, sciatica, arthritis, and other chronic pains.

A mattress with a plush firmness or a Euro or pillow-top will envelop the hips and shoulders and allow them to sink, maintaining spinal alignment.

Support

You can’t maintain spinal alignment without a supportive sleeping surface. Side sleepers need softer mattresses; however, if the mattress is so plush their body bows, than an unhealthy spine will result in shoulder and hip pain.

Side sleepers need a mattress with enough support in the hips and shoulders to prevent them from sinking too far into the mattress and keep the spine in its natural shape. Zoned mattress technologies give customized support to the sleeper. In the hips and shoulders, a firm transitional layer will offer support and prevent the spine from arching, while the other areas of the body will receive softer support and better pressure relief.

If you share your bed with a partner, look for a mattress with edge support to ensure you don’t roll to the middle of the bed or get “stuck.”

If you feel or notice your mattress sagging, we recommend buying a new bed (or, if you’re within your warranty period, having your mattress repaired or replaced) to avoid pain in the hips and lower back. While a sagging mattress might not feel terribly uncomfortable, it does more harm to your quality of sleep than you may initially notice. Sagging mattresses often offer uneven or lumpy support and create pressure points, something side sleepers are already prone to. To get the best sleep and prevent pain, make sure your mattress offers healthy support.

Pressure Point Relief

While side sleeping can eliminate snoring and ease symptoms of sleep disorders such as sleep apnea, it does come with its drawbacks. The most common problem many side sleepers face is pressure points, resulting in hip pain, shoulder pain, and sometimes neck pain, too. That’s why it’s important to find a mattress that’s compatible with your body type and includes zoned support.

When you sleep on your side, your hips and shoulders bear most of your body weight. If your mattress is too firm, the excess weight on your shoulders and hips can cause painful pressure points under those joints; this can cause you to toss, turn, and wake up to resituate yourself in an effort to get comfortable— ultimately, disturbing your night’s rest.

A mattress designed for pressure relief, such as memory foam, is best for side sleepers. These mattresses contour to the body, closing the gaps between your body and the bed, and alleviate tension. Memory foam mattresses are also superb at isolating motion and evenly distributing weight, too.

Memory foam distributes your weight evenly across the mattress to further prevent pressure points, pain, or soreness; this also helps prevent uncomfortable sagging in just one area of the mattress.

These mattresses also promote undisturbed sleep, as memory foam responds to each sleeper individually, isolating motion. If you share the bed with a partner, a bed offering good motion isolation prevents their tossing and turning from keeping you up at night.

What’s the Best Mattress in a Box for Side Sleepers?

Most beds we covered in this guide are mattress in a boxes. Deciding which one is best comes down to personal preference. Really, the only difference between a “mattress in a box” and a traditional mattress you’d buy in a store is the method of delivery. So there’s no way to answer “what’s the best mattress in a box for side sleepers?” accurately, as there’s no “one-size-fits-all” mattress out there.

If you prefer the convenience of shopping online and don’t want to arrange delivery times, a mattress in a box is right up your alley. However, if you’re looking for mattress removal or set-up services, you’ll want to shop with a brand offering White Glove Delivery, as this delivery method includes the set-up of your new bed and removal of any packaging as well as your old bed.

Mattress Types

As you can probably imagine, the type of mattress you buy plays a significant role in your overall comfort. Different mattress types have different pros and cons, so it’s best to educate yourself on your options and choose which mattress type you’re interested in before you get too deep into your search.

Whether you’re shopping in-store or browsing online mattress-in-a-box reviews, there are four main types of mattresses on the market today: memory foam, latex, hybrid, and innerspring.

Memory foam

Memory foam mattresses are regarded as some of the best for pain relief. These cushioning beds mold to your body to offer unsurpassed pressure relief and disperse body weight, which is ideal for side sleepers who need cushion under the shoulders and hips. If you experience frequent pains, a memory foam mattress is perfect for you.

Typically, we recommend memory foam mattresses of medium firmness to side sleepers, as these beds offer a good amount of cushion to alleviate pressure yet are still firm enough to facilitate healthy side sleeping and prevent uncomfortable sinkage.
Often people associate a “cradling” feeling with memory foam because it hugs your body and creates a more “in the mattress” feel.

Latex

Latex mattresses are excellent for eco-friendly shoppers, or those looking for a hypoallergenic mattress. Latex is more buoyant than memory foam, so it keeps you more lifted on top of the mattress rather than cradled. A latex bed usually feels more bouncy and responsive than other foams.

Hybrid

Hybrid mattresses combine cushioning foam layers with a pocketed coil system to offer a responsive but conforming bed. If you’re interested in a foam mattress but don’t want to sacrifice the bouncy feel of an innerspring system, a hybrid mattress is a great option as it combines the best of both. Because hybrid materials require a variety of high-quality materials, they are often a bit pricier than all-foam or innerspring mattresses.

Innerspring

Innerspring mattresses are centuries old but have stood the test of time because they offer a bouncy, comfortable sleep surface. Innerspring beds can’t mold to and cushion your body like foam beds, so they’re not the best for pain or pressure relief— which is something side sleepers need. Instead, quality innerspring beds are usually better suited for back or stomach sleepers because they promote neutral spinal alignment and are typically firmer.

To get the most comfortable sleep and wake up every morning pain-free, read our guide on finding the best mattress for back pain.

What Should Side Sleepers Consider Before Buying?

Before deciding on your next bed, there are a few things to take a step back and consider to ensure you’re getting the most comfortable mattress at the best value. These factors include your sleeping position, mattress type, and different firmness options.

Spinal Support

It’s essential to find a bed that won’t allow your torso to sink too far into the mattress, as it can put extra stress on the spine.

However, your mattress still needs to let your shoulders and hips sink a little because if it’s too firm, the resistance will cause painful pressure points. Typically, quality memory foam mattresses are great for side sleepers because they can contour to your body in a way most materials can’t; this helps release pressure and tension while preventing the misalignment of your spine.

Body Type & Firmness

Firmness refers to how firm or soft a mattress is, and body weight determines how firm or soft a bed feels.

If you have a petite build and do not weigh much, most mattresses will feel firm, so it’s best to get a plusher bed for comfort. On the other hand, people who weigh 250 pounds or more will need more support from their mattresses to prevent them from sinking far into the bed; therefore, heavier sleepers should choose firmer mattresses. Side sleepers of average body weight are typically most comfortable on a medium mattress, as soft mattresses can feel too sinking and firm mattresses can cause pressure points.

Side Sleeper WeightBest Mattress FirmnessWhy?
Petite: Less than 130 poundsMedium-softMedium-soft mattresses will offer better contouring for lightweight sleepers, improving comfort and preventing pains.
Average: 130-230 poundsMediumMedium mattresses offer a good balance of comfort and support for average-weight sleepers, so the bed will never feel too soft or too firm.
Heavy: 230 pounds or moreMedium-Firm to FirmPlus-size sleepers need a firm mattress to prevent uncomfortable sagging and maintain healthy spinal alignment.

In general, side sleepers are usually most comfortable on medium to medium-firm mattresses because they’re soft enough to relieve pressure points but still supportive enough to promote a healthy spine.

Before deciding how firm your bed should be, consider your preference for firmness. If you like a more cradling, “in the bed” feel from your mattress, choose a softer mattress. Alternatively, if you prefer a firmer feel from your bed, choose a more supportive option.

Responsiveness

How quickly a bed responds to movement is a good indicator of how much the bed will sink. Those who like a cradling, or hugging, feel from their mattress usually want a bed that is slower to respond.

However, it’s important for side sleepers to pick a mattress with quick pressure response so they can easily switch from side to side while they sleep. Plus, faster response times detract from the feeling of being “stuck” in the mattress, and offer a more “lifted” feeling instead.

Cooling and Airflow

As hot sleepers probably already know, temperature control is an important thing to look for in a new mattress. It’s not uncommon for people to report overheating or experiencing night sweats, which can throw a wrench in your sleeping schedule.

As we just mentioned, side sleepers are best suited for medium mattresses because they have adequate cushioning under the shoulders and hips. Because a side sleeper’s shoulders and hips sink down into the mattress and are surrounded by foam, there is a greater risk of their bed becoming a heat trap. This is why it’s especially important for side sleepers to find a bed with cooling technologies.

When looking for a cooling mattress, keep an eye out for gel swirls, gel beads, plant-based or latex foams, and ventilated air channels. All of these features contribute to temperature regulation, and ultimately, sound sleep.

Price

Getting a quality side-sleeping mattress will require a budget between $1000 and $2000.

Certain mattress types and materials cost more simply because of their manufacturing processes and durability. For instance, if you want organic materials in your mattress, you’ll be looking to spend closer to $2000 than $1000. We advise against purchasing a mattress less than $500 since most of the materials will be synthetic and low-quality.

Sleep Trial

When searching for your new mattress, we encourage you to consider the sleep trial that comes with your potential new mattress. Mattresses aren’t cheap, and the last thing you want to do is drop a thousand dollars on an uncomfortable bed.

Whether you’re buying in-store or online, it’s hard to get a good feel for how comfortable a bed is before purchasing it. To help shoppers feel more confident in their purchase, many online mattress brands have started offering risk-free sleep trials with their beds.

Sleep trials let you buy your new mattress and try it in your home commitment-free for a period of time. If you decide against keeping the mattress within the sleep trial, most brands will refund you.

On the other hand, if you feel the bed you bought is the best one for you, then you’re set! Always read the fine print regarding the sleep trial information before buying so you’re aware of how the process works and any fees you’re responsible for.

Warranty

Beyond the sleep trial, the warranty your bed comes with plays a significant role in the overall value of the mattress. If your mattress comes with a warranty that only lasts for a couple of years and doesn’t cover much, you’re ultimately out of luck if something were to happen to your mattress.

Buying a mattress with at least a 10-year warranty is the best way to make sure you’re getting your money’s worth from your new bed. Before buying, read the warranty information to have an understanding of what is covered and what the warranty process entails, so you’re not surprised years down the road should you ever have to submit a warranty claim.

Best Pillows for Side Sleepers

As side sleepers are vulnerable to shoulder and hip discomfort, they need extra help alleviating pressure and maintaining a healthy sleeping position. Pillows are often the best way to eliminate these concerns.

For instance, a proper side sleeping head pillow will sport a higher loft in the neck area than the head. This varied loft will alleviate stress in the neck and allow for muscle relaxation. The correct pillow can be pricey— around $50 to $150— although a good contoured memory foam pillow is worth the extra cost.

A knee pillow is a small pillow with an indentation on the pillow’s surface. It pulls the hips into alignment and prevents the hips from rotating awkwardly. Knee pillows come in a range of materials and firmnesses and often can be bought for less than $50. Some knee pillows even offer a cooling effect, which can help sleepers who run hot.

A body pillow can substitute for both head and knee pillows and gives extra support to the sleeper so they don’t stress out their back muscles to keep balance on their side. Body pillows are often used to switch from one sleeping position preference to another or by pregnant women to support their bellies.

Morning and night stretching is another way to alleviate muscle and joint soreness. Stretching irons out muscle knots. After stretching nightly, you’ll find your mobility in the morning is far greater than usual. Stretching in the morning can increase your mobility even more for the rest of the day.

Best Mattress Toppers for Side Sleepers

Even if your new mattress isn’t comfortable and has lost its cushion, you might not be ready to replace it. People who need to improve their sleep quality on a tight budget might want to try a mattress topper for side sleeping. A mattress topper usually costs only a few hundred dollars, a fraction of what a quality mattress costs. Side sleepers should seek thick toppers, between 2 to 4 inches tall, with soft to medium feels.

Companies produce mattress toppers with a variety of materials. Memory foam is a common fill, along with latex foam, poly-foam, and gel foam. Eco-conscious side sleepers might want to try a natural latex topper, although it often costs more than a synthetic foam topper. Memory foam mattress toppers are a great choice for budget shoppers.

As with a regular mattress, a topper should include an extensive warranty. We suggest looking for toppers that are protected for at least 5 years.

A mattress topper is also convenient to keep on hand for visitors, allowing you to dress up a guest room mattress or pull-out bed. You can store a mattress topper rolled up in a protective cover and bring it out when you need it.

Saving on New Mattresses

Frequently Asked Questions

What mattress is best for a side sleeper with back pain?

Side sleepers with a stiff back often find relief on a supportive mattress with a medium feel. Extra support features such as targeted back support and pressure relief can increase the bed’s ability to reduce back pain. Side sleepers experiencing back pain may also want to pair their mattress with an adjustable bed, allowing them to elevate their bodies and ease pressure on their lower backs.

What mattress is best for side sleepers with hip pain?

If you just experience occasional discomfort or pressure points, you can avoid hip pain by sleeping on a mattress soft enough to contour to and take pressure off of your hips. However, if you have a pre-existing condition causing your hip pain or you’ve recently had surgery, there might not be any magic trick to easing hip pain immediately. If a doctor recommends, it may be better to sleep on your back for a while and give your hips a break. That’s not to say you’ll have to ditch side sleeping forever, though.

What mattress is best for side sleepers with shoulder pain?

Side sleepers often experience stiff shoulders when their mattress is too firm and unable to cushion their heavy joints. Many mattresses for side sleeping include targeted cushion in the shoulder area for extra pressure relief. This feature reduces the sleeper’s chances of waking up in pain.

What mattress is best for side sleepers with neck pain?

Neck pain and shoulder pain are often related due to how these parts of the body are connected; therefore, a mattress with extra cushion in the shoulder area often helps prevent morning neck pain. Side sleepers should also consider their pillow and ask themselves if it offers proper neck support. A high-loft pillow with a firm feel usually does the best job of maintaining a side sleeper’s cervical spine.

How firm should a mattress be for a side sleeper?

Side sleepers are going to want a bed with some cushion to alleviate pressure under the shoulders and hips. Most side sleepers like mattresses that are medium in firmness for their mix of comfort and support. That said, heavier side sleepers like firmer beds and petite side sleepers usually opt for something softer.

Is memory foam good for side sleepers?

Many side sleepers love memory foam because of its pressure-relieving abilities. Memory foam mattresses mold to your body and distribute your weight evenly, preventing pressure build-up under one particular area. Sleeping on a memory foam mattress is an easy way to avoid pressure points and pain as a side sleeper.

Can a side sleeper sleep on a firm mattress?

We don’t recommend firm mattresses for side sleepers because they don’t provide adequate cushion for the shoulders and hips. Side sleepers over 230 pounds will need a firmer bed to receive proper support and maintain alignment, but even then, very firm mattresses aren’t necessary. Usually, plus-size side sleepers find medium to medium-firm mattresses best.

What kind of pillow should a side sleeper use?

Side sleepers usually find mid-loft pillows the most comfortable. When it comes to materials, memory foam, buckwheat hulls, down, and feathers are good options. As we mentioned above, many side sleepers love contoured memory foam pillows, as well.

Did You Find Your Next Mattress?

Because side sleeping is such a popular sleep position, there are a variety of mattresses sold today specifically tailored to side sleepers. When you’re searching, keep your budget and personal sleep preferences in mind, and it will help guide you towards the right mattress. Don’t be afraid to ask retailers questions and read online mattress reviews during your search to make sure you’re buying the best mattress for a good night’s sleep.

Meg Riley Certified Sleep Science Coach

Meg Riley is a Certified Sleep Science Coach and a full-time writer focused on sleep and mattresses. She is currently the Editor-in-Chief of Sleep Junkie.

Meg started to focus on the sleep industry in 2018. Since then, she has written over 70+ articles on sleep hygiene, product reviews, and the newest trends in the mattress and bedding industry.

A non-exhaustive list of some of the topics she has written on: the effectiveness of alarm clocks, how to prevent jet lag, the NREM & REM Sleep Cycle, and causes and treatments of Restless Legs Syndrome.

Meg Riley has her undergraduate degree from Pennsylvania State University where she studied Advertising and Public Relations and wrote articles on the student experience for College Magazine.

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