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According to our survey of 600 recent mattress shoppers, almost 50% of respondents preferred sleeping on their side throughout the night
[1]
NCOA Adviser Mattresses Survey. 600 respondents. Conducted using Pollfish. Launched January 2024.
. If you’re like half of our survey respondents, you need a mattress with adequate support at your midsection to prevent sag, and enough cushion under your joints for comfortable sleep.
After researching and testing different mattress brands and models, consulting with health experts, and interviewing a small group of recent mattress shoppers, our team developed a list of the best mattresses for side sleepers. Our picks are primarily based on support and pressure relief, but we also highlight great options for higher-weight people, couples, and combination sleepers who frequently sleep on their side. If you’re a side sleeper shopping for a new mattress, we hope our review helps you make an informed purchase.
The Saatva Classic is the best overall mattress for side sleepers because it offers a high amount of support and good pressure relief at the hips and shoulders. It also comes in three firmness levels, so you can opt for the softer feel for added cushion without sacrificing support.
| Mattress type | Innerspring | Hybrid | Memory foam | Hybrid | Hybrid | Hybrid | Hybrid | Hybrid |
| Firmness | Plush-soft | Medium | Medium | Luxury-firm (medium) | Luxury-firm (medium) | Medium | Medium | Firm |
| Trial period | 365 nights | 100 nights | 365 nights | 120 nights | 120 nights | 120 nights | 120 nights | 120 nights |
| Warranty | Limited lifetime | 15 years | Limited lifetime | Limited lifetime | Limited lifetime | 10 years | Limited lifetime | 10 years |
| White-glove delivery | Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes | No |
The Saatva Classic mattress is our top pick for side sleepers because it’s highly supportive in the midsection and offers good pressure relief at the shoulder and hip. Our team also recommends Saatva because the brand offers free in-home delivery (known as white-glove delivery) for all its mattresses, which means you don’t have to lift a finger when it’s delivered.
This mattress comes in plush-soft, luxury-firm, and firm comfort levels. Our team found the luxury-firm version feels slightly firmer than a true medium ⓘ Brands rate firmness on a scale from one to 10. One is the softest, and 10 is the firmest. It’s generally accepted that 6.5 is considered medium on this scale. (7 out of 10 on the firmness scale) and is comfortable in most positions, but our pressure map ⓘ A mat with sensors that detects pressure buildup when someone lies across it. testing revealed slight pressure build-up at the shoulder during side sleeping. Although the pressure build up was minor, our testers recommend that regular side sleepers opt for the plush-soft version, especially if you have a history of shoulder discomfort.
Testers also noted the Saatva Classic’s standout support, particularly at the midsection while lying on their side. Its zoned lumbar support consists of a targeted foam layer and reinforced coils along the center of the mattress. It also has a spinal wire, which further reinforces the center of the mattress to maintain spinal alignment and prevent uncomfortable sagging over time.
During our testing, we noted how easy it was to reposition our bodies and get out of bed. Combination sleepers who transition in and out of side sleeping will appreciate how this mattress offers excellent functional supportⓘ We developed this score to determine how well the mattress supports bed mobility, like changing positions or getting out of bed. The higher the score, the more assistance the mattress provides. support. And if you get too close to the edge, the Saatva Classic offers some protection from rolling off. Its wall of dense memory foam along the mattress’s perimeter gently pushed our testers back to the center when we approached the edge.
Not only does Saatva offer free white-glove delivery, but you also get a limited lifetime warranty and a one-year trial period to see if the mattress is right for you. To our knowledge, this is the only brand offering such generous perks.
Who may love it
Who may want to avoid it
The Helix Midnight Luxe is our team’s top hybridⓘ Hybrid mattresses combine the features of both innerspring and foam mattresses, with springs surrounded by a thick comfort layer of foam or latex. mattress for side sleepers because it offers great support under the midsection and high pressure relief at the shoulder and hip. This mattress offers more gentle zoned support compared to the Saatva Classic, but thanks to its soft pillow top, you get more pressure relief.
Since its hybrid design includes three layers of conforming memory foam, you’ll sacrifice some firmness and functional support. Our team found that the Helix Midnight Luxe felt medium (but relatively softer than the industry-standard true medium) at 5.5 out of 10 on the firmness scale. And although it scored well in functional support, you lose some of the responsiveness you’d get from a coil-dominant design. For many side sleepers, a more forgiving surface is a welcome tradeoff for additional comfort.
When you purchase this mattress, you get 100 nights to try it out at home, which is the industry standard for a trial period. It also has a 15-year warranty. Helix doesn’t offer an option for white-glove delivery, so you’ll need to hire a local mover or recruit people to help move this mattress-in-a-box into your bedroom and onto your bed frame.
Who may love it
Who may want to avoid it
If you love feeling hugged by a conforming memory foam mattress, the Nectar Premier is our top choice for you. Its springless design allows you to sink into the surface, which testers found relieved pressure well. Despite its soft feel, the mattress still offered a decent amount of support at the midsection to prevent uncomfortable sag throughout the night (a notorious characteristic of softer memory foam mattresses).
If your main priority is pressure relief from a conforming mattress, this is a great option. But if you’re concerned about mobility—that is, your ability to change positions or get out of bed easily—you may need to opt for the hybrid version (about $300 more). All-foam mattresses don’t have the bounciness you get with coils, so repositioning isn’t as easy.
“This mattress took more effort to roll over than hybrid models we’ve tested,” said one tester, “I didn’t feel stuck, but you have to lift yourself out of the material to move, which is a little harder compared to the more responsive coil surfaces.”
The lack of coils means this mattress transfers less motion across the surface, making it ideal for couples who sleep light.
This mattress has a generous one-year trial period, so if you’re concerned with bed-sag over time, you get a full year to try it out at home before fully committing. You also get a limited lifetime warranty, and the option to add white-glove delivery to your purchase for $199.
Who may love it
Who may want to avoid it
If you and your partner are sensitive to each other’s movements throughout the night but enjoy the support offered by a hybrid mattress, The WinkBed (in luxury-firm) is a great option. Our testers appreciate how it offers side sleepers a great amount of targeted coil support under the midsection without sacrificing the pressure relief provided by the Euro pillow topⓘ A style of pillow top that provides an added layer of plush. The extra layer of padding is stitched beneath the mattress cover, so it’s flush with the edges of the mattress without adding extra height. . Most importantly, The WinkBed was the only hybrid mattress with great motion isolation ⓘ The ability of a mattress to keep movement on one side of the bed from affecting the other side. during our testing, making it one of our favorites for couples.
Combination sleepers or those who like to switch sides throughout the night may prefer a responsive surface to help reposition easily, but a responsive mattress with great motion isolation is hard to find. Luckily, The WinkBed has layers of motion-dampening memory foam and individually encased coils to help prevent your partner’s movements from transferring across the surface. We tested this by placing a glass of water on the bed to see if it would rock or tip in response to our movement. Sitting and repositioning our bodies on the opposite side of the mattress barely moved the water at all, which was a surprising result for such a bouncy surface.
The WInkBed comes in four firmness options: softer, luxury-firm, firmer, and plus (for higher-weight people). After you’ve purchased The WinkBed, you get 120 nights to try it out at home. If you’re unhappy with your choice, WinkBeds offers a $49 exchange program, where it will send you another firmness level to try for up to 60 days. During this time, you can keep both mattresses as you decide which one to keep and which to return.
Like many bed-in-a-box companies, WinkBeds doesn’t offer white-glove delivery, so you will need to hire or recruit help when setting up your mattress.
Who may love it
Who may want to avoid it
Finding a mattress to accommodate your back pain is a highly individual experience. No back pain is the same, and a mattress that benefits one person may not benefit another. But according to research, some sleepers with generalized lower back pain benefit from a medium-firm mattress with zoned support. We like the luxury-firm Nolah Evolution 15″ because it offers near medium firmness (7 out of 10 on the firmness scale) and double-zoned support from its unique coil and foam layers.
Consult your health care provider (like a physical or occupational therapist) before purchasing any mattress to address your back pain. It’s important to receive a full evaluation to discover the root cause of your discomfort. A new mattress may or may not be recommended, depending on your condition and the age of your bed. It’s best to discuss this decision with a medical professional.
Nolah mattresses are made with a patented type of foam called AirFoam, which is more dense in the center of the mattress and less dense along the shoulder and hip sections to support and relieve pressure at these common pressure-point ⓘ The parts of the sleeper’s body that are in direct contact with the mattress, such as the backside, shoulder, hips, and ribcage. areas. Plus, the center of the mattress has reinforced coils to add more support to your midsection and maintain a neutral spine ⓘ The spine’s natural curves at the neck, middle, and lower (lumbar) sections. while side-lying.
Similar to the Saatva Classic, you get multiple layers of zoned support, but the Evolution 15″ is comparatively gentle. If you’re switching from an unsupportive mattress to this one, it’ll be less of an adjustment.
Our team also noted how easy it is to move on the Nolah Evolution 15″. “It didn’t take much effort to roll over, push up, or move,” said one tester. Those with back pain may like how this mattress boosts bed mobility, making it take less effort to change positions or get out of bed.
Your mattress comes with a limited lifetime warranty and a 120-night trial period, so you can try it at home before committing and return it after 30 days if it’s not the right fit for you. Nolah also offers a white-glove delivery option through a third party called LoadUp, which is highly recommended because this mattress is bulky. White-glove delivery through LoadUp will cost between $150–$300, depending on whether you need old mattress removal, mattress set-up, or both. And if you know you’ll enjoy your new bed, you can remove the trial period and save up to $150 off your purchase.
Side sleepers with back pain can try placing a pillow between their legs to promote a neutral spine, which may help them to sleep more comfortably throughout the night. Try using pillows, wedges, and mattress toppers as temporary accommodations to see if it helps before investing in a new mattress.
Find more options in our review of the best mattresses for back pain.
Who may love it
Who may want to avoid it
Side sleepers who weigh more than 250 pounds (considered higher-weight or heavier-weight) may struggle to find a supportive, durable mattress that is not prone to sag, but is soft enough to relieve pressure. If you can relate, our Reviews Team recommends the Titan Plus Luxe.
This hybrid mattress offers supportive coils under three layers of conforming memory foam to balance support and pressure relief for higher-weight people. Typically, higher-weight people need firmer surfaces for durability, but our testers felt that the medium firmness of the Titan Plus Luxe (6.5 out of 10 on the firmness scale) offers the ideal balance for higher-weight side sleepers. But combination sleepers who switch between stomach and side may find this mattress too soft.
Since the Titan Plus Luxe strikes a good balance of support and pressure relief, it’s also great for couples with different sleep preferences and body types. Average-weight people who weigh between 130–250 pounds should also feel comfortable in most sleeping positions, but lighter-weight sleepers weighing less than 130 pounds may perceive this mattress as too firm (unless it’s what they prefer).
Couples may also enjoy this mattress’s above-average motion isolation. Our testers were impressed with the Titan’s motion isolation despite its bouncy springs. They noted only feeling large movements, like when their testing partner jumped into bed.
When you purchase the Titan Luxe Plus, you get a 120-night trial period and a 10-year warranty. Like many bed-in-a-box companies, Titan doesn’t offer white-glove delivery, so be sure to arrange a local moving service or recruit help to set it up when it arrives.
Who may love it
Who may want to avoid it
Finding a mattress to accommodate shoulder and hip pain is a personal experience, similar to finding a mattress to accommodate back pain. But if you experience pain from joints that are sensitive to pressure, you may benefit from a mattress with maximum pressure relief, like the Bear Elite Hybrid.
Before purchasing a mattress to accommodate painful joints, ask your doctor if physical therapy is appropriate for you. Purchasing a new mattress may be unnecessary unless your current one needs replacement due to its condition. Your physical therapist can help you find sleeping positions and activities to support your recovery. And if you need temporary relief to help you sleep better, a mattress topper could be a less expensive alternative.
During our pressure map testing, this mattress scored maximum marks in pressure relief for back and side sleeping.
“I’m cradled by this mattress,” said one of our testers. “I feel mostly on top of the surface, but I’m sinking just into the quilted top and memory foam, so not too deeply that it’s effortful to reposition. The material pops up immediately, so it’s pretty responsive.”
We also noticed its above-average zoned support, which can provide better relief for sensitive joints than a mattress with strong support. For example, the Saatva Classic has strong zoned support along the center of the mattress, but people who shift positions throughout the night may accidentally end up with their shoulder or hip on the reinforced center of the mattress, leading to uncomfortable force buildup. This is less likely to happen with only a gentle amount of zoned support, which is what the Bear Elite Hybrid offers.
The Bear Elite Hybrid is available in soft, medium, and firm options, so you can choose the one that’s best for you. We recommend the medium or soft version if you’re looking for maximum pressure relief.
Your purchase comes with a 120-night trial period and a limited lifetime warranty. You also have the option to add white-glove delivery for $175, which we highly encourage if you’re experiencing hip or shoulder pain.
If you’d like to see other mattresses our Reviews Team has tested for people with joint pain, check our review of the best mattresses for arthritis.
Who may love it
Who may want to avoid it
Leaning toward the firmer side at 7.5 out of 10 on the firmness scale, the medium version of the Brooklyn Bedding Aurora Luxe is our best firm mattress for side sleepers. Typically, firm mattresses aren’t recommended for side sleepers because they tend to lack pressure relief at the hip and shoulder. But the Aurora Luxe is an exception.
Our testers were surprised to find maximum pressure relief at the hips and shoulders during our pressure map testing for side sleepers. We noticed almost no pressure buildup at the joints, likely due to its dense but forgiving memory foam layers. You also get a gentle amount of zoned support from the center of the mattress in particular.
Like the Bear Elite Hybrid, the Brooklyn Bedding Aurora Luxe could benefit people with joint pain—if you’re able to go a little firmer for a mattress with more functional support. This mattress is slightly better for people with generalized weakness, making it easier to roll, push up to sitting, and stand from the reinforced edge.
As an added bonus, the Aurora Luxe is notably cool to the touch. Our team doesn’t often emphasize cooling since your experience will change based on your bed sheet material, but this mattress’s ice-cold cover shocked our testers. It’s one of the coolest bed surfaces we’ve come across, which could be due to its thick layer of coils, which allows airflow, or its cooling cover and gel-swirl foam, which is designed to disperse heat away from your body.
We tested the medium version of the Aurora Luxe, which felt firm to us. But you have the option to go softer, or even firmer, during checkout. Your purchase comes with a 120-night trial period and a 10-year warranty. Brooklyn Bedding doesn’t offer an option for white-glove delivery, so you’re responsible for hiring or recruiting people to bring the mattress into your home and set it up for you.
Who may love it
Who may want to avoid it
| Mattress | Twin* | Full* | Queen* | King* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saatva Classic | $1,395 | $1,995 | $2,095 | $2,595 |
| Helix Midnight Luxe | $1,373.80 | $1,998.80 | $2,373.80 | $2,873.80 |
| Nectar Premier | $1,049 | $1,349 | $1,499 | $1,799 |
| The WinkBed | $1,149 | $1,499 | $1,799 | $1,999 |
| Nolah Evolution 15″ | $1,499 | $2,299 | $2,499 | $2,699 |
| Titan Plus Luxe | $899 | $1,274 | $1,599 | $1,799 |
| Bear Elite Hybrid | $1,893 | $2,108 | $2,305 | $2,762 |
| Brooklyn Bedding Aurora Luxe | $999 | $1,599 | $1,865 | $2,265 |
These are our Reviews Team’s top considerations when forming our list of the best mattresses for side sleepers.
Side sleepers need a bed with enough contour to relieve pressure from the shoulder and hip. Our team tests this using a pressure-mapping system, which tells us where force builds up and where weight is distributed well. A mattress without adequate pressure relief will feel uncomfortable throughout the night and disturb your sleep.
The right mattress for side sleepers should offer reinforcement at your midsection, preventing you from sinking too far into the surface. This supports a neutral spine. Poor midsection support can make you feel like you’re crunched to the side. Many of the mattresses in our roundup have zoned support, which selectively reinforces the middle of the mattress and encourages a more comfortable sleep for side sleepers—particularly if you have generalized back pain [3] Bolton R, et al. Effects of Mattress Support on Sleeping Position and Low-Back Pain. Sleep Science and Practice. May 10, 2022 .
Mattresses with a soft to medium firmness level are ideal for side sleepers because they tend to offer the right balance of pressure relief and support, especially if the bed features zoned support. Don’t choose an excessively soft mattress because it won’t support your body well enough for long-term comfort. For this reason, most of the mattresses in our review err on the medium side.
Mattress composition matters when you’re shopping for the best option as a side sleeper. Some materials work better at providing pressure relief and support where you’ll need it most.
Foam mattresses contour the body well, allowing you to sink into the surface for a cloud-like feel. This allows for better pressure relief away from prominent joints like the shoulder and hip. But not all foam mattresses provide support at the midsection to promote a neutral spine and prevent mattress sagging over time.
Consider the Nectar Premier listed in this review if you’re a side sleeper who loves all-foam mattresses. According to our testing results, it’s one of the best all-foam mattresses for side sleepers because it balances pressure relief with support.
Many innerspring mattresses are uncomfortable for side sleepers because they tend to be on the firmer side and don’t provide enough sinkage to give relief to pressure points. This can leave you tossing and turning for a more comfortable position.
The Saatva Classic is a good innerspring for side sleepers because it offers a softer firmness level and a 3-inch Euro pillow top for added pressure relief. It also supports the midsection better than most, which is why it’s high on our list.
According to our testing, many of the best mattresses for side sleepers are hybrids. This is because hybrids offer the support of an innerspring with the pressure relief of foam. They also tend to accommodate other sleep positions well, making them a great choice for combination sleepers who frequently lie on their side, or couples with different sleep preferences.
Latex mattresses are a natural alternative to foam. These beds are less common, but they can be a good option if you’re looking for an eco-friendly option. Latex has the pressure-relieving properties of foam with the responsiveness of springs, but to some, this may feel denser under the joints. It’s best to try out latex mattresses in the store before ordering online to make sure you like the feel as a side sleeper.
It’s important to balance support and pressure relief for optimal comfort in your preferred position. Otherwise, you’re left tossing and turning throughout the night.
“To a large degree, your sleep posture dictates what type of mattress you should buy,” said Ben Carvosso, chiropractor at Mornington Peninsula Chiropractic in Mornington, Australia.
“For side sleepers, a mattress that provides support and cushioning is ideal. I recommend a medium mattress with enough cushioning to relieve pressure on hips and shoulders,” said Carvosso. “Of course, factor in your size as well. Typically, larger builds need firmer surfaces, whereas smaller builds may need to go slightly softer. Remember, weight will affect support level.”
The best mattress for side sleepers has the right balance of support and cushioning. Cushioning gives relief to joints and pressure points in the shoulder and hip, while supporting structure reinforces the bed’s midsection to prevent sag.
Many clinicians and mattress experts refer to “spinal alignment” when it comes to finding the right mattress. This means the spine is in a neutral position throughout the night. While achieving perfect spinal alignment doesn’t need to be the ultimate goal for every sleeper, it can help you feel more comfortable, especially for those with hip or back pain. Improved comfort means fewer disruptions, better sleep quality, and often, less pain [4] Staffe A, et al. Total Sleep Deprivation Increases Pain Sensitivity, Impairs Conditioned Pain Modulation, and Facilitates Temporal Summation of Pain in Healthy Participants. PLOS ONE. Dec. 4, 2019 .
“A mattress that’s too firm will lead to increased pressure on the shoulders and hips, often leading to discomfort and potential numbness,” said Carvosso. “But a mattress that’s too soft can lead to back pain and a ‘stuck’ feeling, particularly in older adults. It’s all about striking that balance between support and cushioning.”
Carvosso also highlighted the importance of pillows. “Many side sleepers benefit from a lofty pillow that holds its shape, but it’s up to you and what feels most comfortable,” he said.
See our review of the best pillows for options.
Our best overall mattress for side sleepers is the Saatva Classic, which comes in multiple firmness levels to help you find the right balance between cushioning and support. We also like the Nectar Premier, a supportive all-foam option, and the Helix Midnight Luxe, a balanced hybrid.
Ultimately, the best mattress for you depends on your preferences. Try out a few mattresses in-store to find the feel you like, and take advantage of trial periods to test out your purchase.
Typically, side sleepers benefit from a mattress with enough support at the midsection to prevent uncomfortable sagging and adequate pressure relief at the hip and shoulder. Hybrid mattresses are often a good option because the coils provide decent support while the memory foam relieves pressure in the joints.
Most side sleepers need a medium-soft to medium-firm mattress to maintain a neutral spine. This allows them to sink into the mattress slightly, with the mattress contouring to their body and providing pressure relief for their shoulders, hips, and back.
Memory foam can be a good option for side sleepers if you feel supported by the material. An all-foam mattress that feels too soft could leave you sinking too far into the surface, which can feel uncomfortable. Soft memory foam can also make it more difficult to switch sides if you like to shift around, since it’s conforming in nature.
A one-size-fits-all solution doesn’t exist for those with back pain. Our testers selected the Nolah Evolution 15″ as one of the best options due to the dual-zoned support from its coils and foam and its excellent pressure relief, but what works for one person may not work for another. If you’re looking for a new mattress to address ongoing pain, it’s best to talk to your doctor to understand the root cause of your pain before committing to a new mattress.
Because a pillowtop mattress’s plushness cushions the body, providing pressure relief on the shoulders and hips, it is a good choice for people who prefer to sleep on their sides.
Have questions about this review? Email us at reviewsteam@ncoa.org.
