Best Mattress For Side Sleepers 2021 – Our Top 10 Picks!

Sleeping on your side can be a very comfortable sleeping position; lying down and sinking into a mattress, it is so nice to drift off into a long night of sleep.

While sleeping on your side can feel fantastic, not every bed are made for side sleeping; side sleepers are usually going to want a softer mattress that provides exceptional pressure relief. Since there are so many online mattresses out there, I wanted to compile a list of the best mattresses for side sleepers to help people sleep better!

There is something here for everyone; those who prefer super soft memory foam and those who are ready to try something different. Read on to find the best mattress for side sleepers!

Our Top Picks

The best mattresses for side sleepers are:

• Saatva – Editor’s Pick
• Helix Midnight – Most Comfortable Mattress
• Leesa Hybrid – Best Mattress For Side Sleepers with Back Pain
• GhostBed Luxe – Best Cooling Mattress
• WinkBed – Best Firm Mattress
• DreamCloud Premier – Best Soft Mattress
• Puffy Royal – Best Luxury Mattress
• Layla – Best Memory Foam Mattress
• Bear Hybrid – Best Hybrid Mattress
• Nectar – Best Value Mattress

 

I have reviewed a number of mattresses that claim to be good for side sleepers, and I have narrowed down the extensive list to my top ten to help people get some sleep!

Editor’s Pick

Saatva

Memory foam is great, but not everyone wants a mattress that gives in too easily; that’s where Saatva comes in. It features two layers of high-density memory foam that offer more support and pushback than other types of memory foam. 

Lying on a Saatva, the mattress feels firm at first – after a few moments, the mattress starts to soften and let one slowly sink into the mattress. Side sleepers should feel almost no pressure on their shoulders and hips. 

At the same time, the Saatva provides a good amount of support for back sleepers and will fill in the gaps for many side sleepers. 

Those side sleepers who want fantastic pressure relief with a good deal of support should take a look at the Saatva. 

What Makes The Saatva Mattress Good For Side Sleepers?

• The Saatva is a good option for side sleepers who need more support and pushback. 
• The high-density memory foam found in the mattress are very durable and shouldn’t sag as quickly as other types of memory foam. 
• Heavier sleepers should feel nice pressure relief on the Saatva mattress. 
• The Saatva should not sleep too hot. 

Check out our full Saatva review. 

Most Comfortable Mattress

Helix Midnight

For those side sleepers who just don’t know what to get, Helix is here to help; the company is all about customization and flexibility and will actually help people find a mattress to meet their specific needs. 

Side sleepers can also select the Helix Midnight, one of the company’s mattresses made specifically for this sleeping position. The Midnight offers great pressure relief but also good support to keep sleepers in proper alignment. 

Looking for a more luxurious mattress? Shoppers can make their Helix Midnight mattress into a “Luxe” model which will contain more premium comfort and cooling components.

What Makes The Helix Midnight Mattress Great For Side Sleepers?

• The Helix mattress can be customized to match whatever a particular sleeper is looking for. 
• The Helix Midnight is one of their best options for side sleepers as it provides excellent pressure relief.
• The Midnight features a breathable cover and coils that help promote airflow through the mattress – it shouldn’t be trapping too much heat. 

Read the full Helix mattress review

Best Mattress For Side Sleepers with Back Pain

Leesa Hybrid

The Leesa Hybrid a high-quality hybrid mattress that offers sleepers a balanced feel of comfort and support, perfect for those who sleep on their side! The durable support system of coils and high-density foams crease a solid support core that assists with spinal alignment and can handle heavier weights, so it’s also a good fit for heavy people and/or couples who share the bed. 

Although it offers a ton of support, the Leesa Hybrid also offers a comfortable feel. While it will feel more like you’re sleeping “on” your mattress rather than fully sinking in (a feel many sleepers prefer), the top foam layers contour your body in all the right places to relieve pressure in the shoulders and hips, especially for side sleepers. This helps keep your back in a neutral position.

If you’re in the market for a great value mattress, the Leesa Hybrid is a good choice. This durable mattress makes for a great investment that should last you for many years to come.

What Makes The Leesa Hybrid Mattress Great For Side Sleepers?

• The Leesa Hybrid is a luxury mattress with a number of high-quality components.
• It is a supportive mattress and should be able to handle even much heavier weights.
• The mattress features contouring foams on top that should relieve most pressure on the shoulders and hips.

Read our full Leesa Hybrid mattress review to learn more. 

Best Cooling Mattress

GhostBed Luxe

The GhostBed Luxe is great for those side sleepers looking for the plush comfort of an all-foam mattress without having to deal with the drawbacks of heat retention in their mattress causing them to sweat in their sleep. 

This mattress uses special GhostBed Ice Fabric that’s cool to the touch to top the bed. Underneath, there are even more cooling layers including a cool fiber layer, gel-infused memory foam, and a ghost ice layer with Phase Change Technology. All this combined makes this bed super breathable so side sleepers can get a cool night’s sleep. 

The GhostBed Luxe also offers good support for side sleepers with its resilient Ghost Bounce foam and high-density foam support core. With a medium firmness around 5.5-6/10, the GhostBed Luxe balances comfort and support nicely.

Why Is The GhostBed Luxe Mattress Good For Side Sleepers?

• The GhostBed Luxe offers an exceptionally cool sleep experience for an all-foam mattress.
• It’s made with high-quality materials so this mattress should last you a long time.
• GhostBed offers a 101-night sleep trial period and a very long 25-year warranty.

Read the full GhostBed Luxe mattress review

Best Firm Mattress

WinkBeds

The WinkBed is a luxury innerspring mattress that should be a great fit for side sleepers. It features two sets of supportive coils and a plush pillow top on top. You have a selection of four firmnesses and, if you are a side sleeper, we recommend the Softer or Luxury Firm. The Luxury Firm model in particular gets our vote for the best firm mattress for side sleepers.

The WinkBed mattress also features zoning so that it will feel firmer or softer depending on your sleeping position. So, when you are side sleeping, you should feel less pressure on your shoulders and hips. At the same time, when you move to your back stomach, you should feel properly supported. 

Being an innerspring mattress, it is also very breathable and should be a good fit for hot sleepers. The coils leave a good deal of room for airflow, so the WinkBed shouldn’t trap heat during the night. 

What Makes The WinkBed Mattress Good For Side Sleepers?

• The mattress features a zoned construction that is softer under the shoulder, making it a good fit for side sleeping.
• The WinkBed should also be supportive enough for most back sleepers and some stomach sleepers. 
• It is one of the best firm mattresses for side sleepers to choose.
• The mattress has a luxury look and feel, similar to what you would find in a nice hotel. 

Read the full WinkBed mattress review.

Best Soft Mattress

DreamCloud Premier

If you are a side sleeper, a soft mattress is usually a great fit. A soft mattress can provide the pressure relief you need for your shoulders and hips. With that in mind, we would definitely recommend the DreamCloud Premier for side sleeping. 

The DreamCloud Premier is a hybrid mattress that features supportive coils and multiple layers of plush foam right on top. When you add in the quilted cover and tufted top, the DreamCloud is a soft mattress that will provide great pressure relief. 

It is also one of the more luxurious mattresses on this list. The DreamCloud features high-density foam and a cashmere cover. These materials give the mattress more of a high-end, hotel mattress look and feel. 

What Makes The DreamCloud Premier Mattress Great?

• The DreamCloud Premier is a great soft mattress for side sleeping. 
• This is a hybrid mattress with a good balance of comfort and support.
• The DreamCloud Premier is a luxury mattress sold for a value price. 

Read the full DreamCloud Premier mattress review

Best Luxury Mattress

Puffy Royal

Puffy has become a popular choice among side sleepers for its memory foam designed to feel like “sleeping on a cloud.” The brand’s luxury mattress, the Royal, adds further support with a bottom layer of strong coils. 

The foam and coils balance each other out, with the top comfort layers providing plenty of contouring for the hips and shoulders while the springs give a slight lift from below. While lying down, side sleepers should feel a nice combination of comfort and support.

As for the foam construction, each layer has a different function. The plush cooling foam contains beads that help dissipate heat. After that comes a layer of more responsive reflexive memory foam, followed by Climate Comfort foam to wick away moisture. Finally, a layer of Cloud Air Technology Foam has zoned support, meaning it’s softer in certain areas and firmer in others.

What Makes The Puffy Royal Mattress Great For Side Sleepers?

• The hybrid construction has a lot of give and take. Side sleepers should find the softness and pressure relief they need without sinking too far into the bed. 
• The zoned support targets specific parts of the body, its dynamic structure well-suited for both side sleepers and back sleepers.
• The bottom layer of springs is made from Contour-Adapt coils, which adapt to the body. 

Read the full Puffy Royal mattress review

Best Memory Foam Mattress

Layla

People are going to flip for this mattress – literally. The Layla is flippable and provides two firmnesses in one mattress; the firm side is an exceptional match for back and stomach sleeping. 

However, the soft side is what side sleepers are going to want to focus on; it is about a 5.5/10 on the firmness scale and features 5″ of comfort material. Most side sleepers should sink into the soft memory foam and experience excellent pressure relief. 

The Layla is simply one of the most comfortable mattresses I have reviewed – it’s memory foam really lets sleepers slowly sink into the mattress and feel any pressure melt away. 

Finally, the Layla’s memory foam is infused with copper, a material that is both anti-microbial and cooling; side sleepers shouldn’t be sleeping hot on the Layla. 

Why Is The Layla Mattress Great For Side Sleepers?

• The Layla is an exceptionally comfortable mattress that should be a very good match for most side sleepers. 
• The mattress is flippable, so people can choose from two firmnesses. 
• The copper infusion should help with heat dissipation and keep the mattress from sleeping too hot. 

Check out our full Layla mattress review.

Best Hybrid Mattress

Bear Hybrid

The Bear Hybrid mattresses features materials that offer a perfect balance of comfort and support; the Comfort Foam in the top layer is soft and comfortable, and the 8″ coils are quite supportive. 

This design makes the Bear Hybrid a fantastic option for side sleepers – the hybrid mattress performed quite well on our pressure map test, and I personally felt little pressure on my shoulders and hips while side sleeping on the Bear Hybrid. At the same time, the coils should support back sleepers while the Comfort Foam offers some significant contouring.

On top of the mattress, there is a Celliant Cover; this material has been shown to improve blood flow and speed up recovery and even help with cooling!

There’s a lot to love about the Bear Hybrid, so those who desire a mattress that is comfortable and supportive should check it out! 

What Makes The Bear Hybrid Mattress Good For Side Sleepers?

• The Bear Hybrid features an excellent balance of comfort and support; it should relieve pressure well while still being able to handle heavier weights. 
• It’s one of the best mattresses for athletes.
• The Comfort Foam should provide superior pressure relief, making this an excellent option for side sleepers. 
• The Celliant cover and open-celled foam should work together to keep sleepers from overheating at night. 

Read the full Bear Hybrid mattress review

Best Value Mattress

Nectar

When people are seeking a mattress for side sleeping, they also want to make sure they are getting the best bang for their buck. Nectar is all about value and, while their mattress is not the most affordable option on the market, it is one of the best values. Just looking at its construction and materials, we would expect it to be much less affordable. 

The Nectar features two layers of memory foam in its construction – one is softer gel-infused memory foam, and the other is firmer Hi Core memory foam. Both offer excellent pressure relief for side sleepers. People should slowly sink into the Nectar and feel that pressure melt away. 

One of the drawbacks of memory foam mattresses is that they trap heat. However, this should not be much of an issue with the Nectar mattress. Its breathable cover and gel-infused memory foam should keep all those side sleepers from overheating at night. 

Why Is The Nectar A Good Fit For Side Sleepers?

• The Nectar’s multiple layers of memory foam should provide excellent pressure relief for side sleepers. 
• The Nectar is a high-quality memory foam mattress that is affordably priced. 
• The mattress should not trap too much heat and could be a good option for hot sleepers. 
• For even more comfort, read our Nectar Premier mattress review and Nectar Premier Copper mattress review. 

Read the full Nectar mattress review 

Why Side Sleepers Need A Good Mattress

Despite side sleeping being extremely common, every mattress isn’t going to be a good fit for side sleepers. There are important considerations that you should look for in a mattress if you primarily sleep on your side to make sure you’re getting just the right amount of support that you need while you sleep.

If a mattress is too firm or too soft, it won’t be a good fit for side sleepers. It’s important that a mattress for side sleepers offers good contouring around the shoulders and hips to keep the spine aligned, but it shouldn’t be so soft that you feel your whole body sinking in and getting stuck in the mattress. If your mattress causes an unnatural alignment when you sleep, you may wake up with pain and have trouble sleeping comfortably throughout the night.

To find the right fit, you should consider the type of mattress you’re shopping for and look out for a few key performance factors. Keep reading to learn what to look for in the best mattresses for side sleepers.

Best Types Of Mattresses For Side Sleepers

Memory Foam Mattresses

It’s no coincidence that there are multiple memory foam mattresses on this list – memory foam does a fantastic job of relieving pressure when compared with other types of materials, and it also gives great motion isolation. So which of these memory foam mattresses should you get?

If you’re looking for the truest memory foam feel where you slowly sink into the mattress and pressure really melts away, then you should take a look at the Layla mattress. The Layla is a flippable mattress, and the soft side is definitely softer-than-average and does an excellent job of eliminating any pressure points.

A lot of memory foam owners complain about “sleeping hot,” and that is because memory foam can trap heat more than other mattress materials – if you want a memory foam mattress but are worried about sleeping hot, then you should look out for specific cooling materials like gel-infused or copper-infused foam like the foam used in the Layla mattress. A breathable mattress cover is also important to look out for.

If you want a mattress with a little bit of firmness that’s still a good choice for side sleepers, then take a look at the Saatva. It’s a unique all-foam bed that feels medium firm at first, but then starts to soften, causing you to slowly sink into the layers.

Latex Mattresses

Latex beds are becoming more and more popular, and natural latex mattresses are really the only way for you to get a truly organic mattress, despite what some companies may claim on their website. Many companies will claim that they have “green” products, but in reality, those claims are dubious at best. Natural latex mattresses, however, are actually quite “green.”

Latex mattresses have a good amount bounce to them, are durable, and they also conform well to the curves of the body – in addition, the foam is open-celled, meaning they are more breathable than many other types of mattresses.

At the same time, latex mattresses don’t relieve pressure as well as memory foam does; there’s a reason why there are no latex mattresses on our main list in this article.

Innerspring Mattresses

Innerspring mattresses are very popular and are what most sleepers are used to – the pocketed coils spring support system can make them good choices for back and stomach sleepers, but the materials on top of the springs are what can make them good for side sleepers too.

Of our top picks list, the Helix Midnight and Bear Hybrid mattresses both contain coil layers that add more support to the mattress. These hybrid mattresses blend coil layers with comforting foam to provide a nice balance of contour and pushback that side sleepers need.

What Side Sleepers Should Look For In A Mattress

Best Mattress Firmness For Side Sleepers

A bed’s firmness level will significantly impact how comfortable it is. Of course, firmness is highly subjective, and it greatly depends on body type. But overall, we recommend side sleepers look for a mattress that’s slightly softer than average – about 6/10 on our firmness scale.

Softer mattresses typically have thick comfort layers, which help alleviate pressure along shoulders and hips. If a bed is too firm, you may sink straight through the comfort layers into the support section. This could strain pressure points and cause pain over time.

You’ll want to avoid especially soft mattresses, too. It’s important to sleep on a supportive foundation so the body stays in the proper alignment.

Cooling Capabilities

People who sleep hot and also sleep on their side might find it particularly difficult to find a mattress that is a good fit – memory foam can be a fantastic option for side sleepers, but it is known for trapping heat. While side sleepers might get the pressure relief they are looking for, they might find themselves waking up hot and sweaty!

RELATED: Best Cooling Mattress

Luckily, I believe that the GhostBed Luxe mattress is a great fit for both side sleepers and hot sleepers as well. The GhostBed Luxe mattress features exceptional pressure relief and its gel-infused memory foam and Phase Change Material are designed to keep you cool through the whole night. The Layla mattress is also a great fit that incorporates copper-infused gel for extra cooling.

To get the coolest night’s sleep, you might want to sleep on a hybrid mattress. The base layer of coils allows for better airflow than a standard memory foam mattress.

Great Pressure Relief

If you sleep on your side, you are going to be naturally putting a lot of pressure on your hips, shoulders, and neck, which can cause tension throughout the spine.

To sleep comfortably, you’ll want a mattress that is soft enough to relieve those pressure points; foam mattresses tend to be great at relieving pressure points and can be ideal for side sleepers.

If a mattress is too firm, it will cut off a lot of the blood circulation in the body, and it will potentially cause major aches and pains because it doesn’t contour to the widest points in the hips and shoulders – it could cause side sleepers to wake up in the middle of the night and change positions as well.

We’ll share tips for finding the best pressure-relieving mattresses for side sleepers to avoid neck pain, back pain, and hip pain.

Support To Avoid Neck Pain

If you have neck pain and sleep on your side, it is quite possible this is due to your pillow, not your bed or mattress – if your pillow isn’t supportive enough, then your neck will be angled downward in an uncomfortable position, and this can easily cause neck pain issues. Similarly, if your pillow is particularly thick, then your neck might be pushed upwards, causing even more annoying pain issues.

So, instead of recommending a bed or mattress to alleviate neck pain, we would rather encourage you to check out our article on the best pillows for side sleepers – any of the recommendations in our informative roundup should help alleviate any sort of neck pain issues that you may have from your bed.

Spine Alignment Support

First off, if you struggle with lower back pain, you should consult with a doctor for a professional opinion; this information does not constitute medical advice, and we can only give my general opinion on the relationship between back pain and mattresses.

The best mattress for back pain is something that is medium firm and more supportive, and this is definitely the case for back/stomach sleepers.  It gets a little tricky when it comes to sleeping on your side, however, because side sleepers are usually going to want to find a mattress that is on the softer side with a thicker comfort layer to keep the right spine alignment throughout the night.

Essentially, those with back pain are going to want a measured balance of pressure and relief and support; they don’t want the comfort layer to be too soft or too thin.

Contouring To Avoid Hip Pain

If you struggle with hip pain, it might be because of your mattress. However, I would still first consult a doctor before anything else – again, this information does not constitute medical advice.

If you have hip pain because of your mattress, it is either because it is too firm or you are “bottoming out” – bottoming out occurs when someone presses through the top comfort layer(s) and hits the firmer support layer(s) beneath. If you are bottoming out, you should look for a mattress with a thicker comfort layer – also, if the top layer of a mattress is super soft, you can still feel a lot of firmness if you bottom out.

RELATED: Best Mattress For Hip Pain 2021

Spinal Alignment

It is critical for your health that you find a mattress that contours well to your body and supports the natural alignment of your spine in your sleeping position. If you sleep on your side and the mattress is too firm, your neck won’t be properly supported and your spine will be thrown off its natural alignment; this could lead to back and neck pain fairly easily, which may compound over time. That’s why it’s so important for side sleepers to pay attention to the difference between a firm vs soft mattress.

If the mattress is too soft, you could sink in too much and your spine will be too curved, which could similarly lead to pain across the body; a mattress that is too soft is not ideal either, because you could sink too for into the mattress and throw your spine out of alignment. This can lead to lower back pain and sciatica, which can be extremely uncomfortable.

Matching Your Budget

From my personal experience, budget mattresses aren’t always the best for side sleeping because they don’t have many comfortable materials in them – usually, they are really firm and don’t have much of a comfort layer, creating pressure points. This can make it difficult for side sleepers to find good mattresses in a box for under $700.

Having said that, the Nectar mattress is a good value pick for side sleepers. It has two layers of memory foam – one that’s gel-infused and another made out of Hi Core memory foam. The comfort layers should provide excellent pressure relief and prevent you from overheating at night.

Best Mattress Accessories For Side Sleepers

Mattress Toppers

If you don’t want to purchase a brand new mattress yet, not to worry! You can easily extend the life of your current bed with a mattress topper. Some toppers make mattresses feel firmer, and others make them softer. Most side sleepers, though, will want something that provides soft cushioning and pressure relief.

The Saatva mattress topper has 3″ of graphite-infused memory foam. This material not only keeps sleepers cool at night – it alleviates pain on pressure points! This topper will make a bed feel 2.5 points softer, so it’s great for side sleepers who need relief along their shoulders and hips.

The Amerisleep Comfort mattress topper is another great choice for side sleepers. This 3″ topper features HIVE technology, which means it feels firmer in some areas and softer in others. Its slow-moving memory foam feel is especially great for those who want some additional body contouring from their mattress.

Pillows

Choosing the right pillow is especially important for side sleepers. If your pillow is too thin or too thick, it could get your neck out of alignment and cause pain over time.

The Eli & Elm Cotton Side Sleeper Pillow provides a great balance of comfort and support. It’s made out of latex foam and polyester fiber, and it gently curves along the shoulder area.

We also recommend the Casper foam pillow. It has a unique core made with three layers of ventilated foam. If you’re looking for a supportive and firm pillow that won’t flatten over time, the Casper is an excellent pick.

Final Thoughts

Here’s a summary of our top picks for the best mattresses for side sleepers:

Mattress	Best For
Saatva	Editor’s Pick
Helix Midnight	Most Comfortable Mattress
Leesa Hybrid	Best Mattress for Side Sleepers with Back Pain
GhostBed Luxe	Best Cooling Mattress
WinkBed	Best Firm Mattress
DreamCloud Premier	Best Soft Mattress
Puffy Royal	Best Luxury Mattress
Layla	Best Memory Foam Mattress
Bear Hybrid	Best Hybrid Mattress
Nectar	Best Value Mattress

This is indeed a lot of information, but side sleepers should definitely take note – a mattress with excellent pressure relief can mean the difference between a night in dreamland and a night of tossing and turning. If you’re still looking for your next perfect mattress, take our mattress quiz. By answering a few short questions, you can receive tailored mattress recommendations to help you along your mattress buying journey.

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