If you’re looking to save on a new bed, many of these top-rated mattresses are deeply discounted for Memorial Day, which is traditionally one of the best times of the year to buy a new mattress. Read on for details or check out our full roundup of all the Memorial Day mattress sales going on now.
If you’re part of the majority of adults who prefers sleeping on your side, it’s crucial to keep this in mind when you’re shopping for a mattress. The best mattresses for side sleepers strike a balance between softness and support, sinking enough to cradle joints while keeping the spine aligned. Softer mattresses are generally preferred by side sleepers, as firm beds can cause pressure points where the mattress doesn’t give. So if you’re a side sleeper and you regularly wake up with shoulder, hip or neck pain, your mattress could be to blame.
The cloud-like pillow top of the DreamCloud Premier Rest cradles joints, making it side-sleeper … [+]
ILLUSTRATION: FORBES / PHOTO: RETAILER
Thankfully, there are plenty of top-notch mattress brands with beds that offer the ideal plush-to-support ratio. Side sleepers should consider soft or medium firmness, and whether you choose body-contouring memory foam or a supportive-yet-cushy hybrid is completely up to you.
Below, we’ve rounded up the best mattresses for side sleepers according to research, reviews and editor testing. For more in-depth guidance on making your final selection, scroll to our buying guide at the bottom of this story.
Best Mattress For Side Sleepers Overall
Responsive Foam, Supportive Coils And A Just-Right Price
USA-Made
- Materials: Memory foam, wrapped coils
- Firmness level: Medium
- Trial period: 100 nights
Memorial Day sale: Depending on how much you spend, you can save up to $400 on a Helix mattress during its Memorial Day Sale with the corresponding promo code. As a further bonus, the brand is giving away two free Dream Pillows with any mattress purchase and offering free delivery, too.
Helix’s Midnight mattress is dubbed the “ideal solution for side sleepers.” The memory foam relief layer is specifically designed to cushion your pressure points while lying on your side, including your hips and shoulders. And if you toss and turn at night, Helix has your back—literally. The middle layers of the Midnight mattress support your body contours and react quickly to movement so you feel cradled as you change positions. The top of the bed is medium-firm, meaning you’ll gently sink into the mattress instead of floating on top, and the breathable two-cover design promotes airflow and keeps you cool throughout the night. For the ultimate in comfort, consider the Helix Midnight Luxe, which is plusher and cooler with two additional layers and targeted lumbar support.
What the Reviews Say: Buyers confirm that the cushion-to-support ratio of the Helix Midnight makes it extra comfortable for side sleeping. One reviewer calls it the “perfect blend of firmness and softness” while another adds that it’s “super comfortable without sinking” and it “sleeps cool as promised.” A final customer reports, “Before this mattress I was having pain in my back and shoulders. Within a week of using the mattress my aches and pains were gone.”
Most Comfortable Mattress For Side Sleepers
A Hybrid Mattress That Cushions Your Pressure Points
USA-Made
- Materials: Individually-wrapped coils, foam
- Firmness level: Soft, medium or firm
- Trial period: 12o nights
Memorial Day sale: Brooklyn Bedding is currently offering 30% off its entire site with promo code MEMORIAL30 until May 30.
While Brooklyn Bedding lets customers choose between three levels of firmness, the soft option is highly recommended for side sleepers. This hybrid mattress features five layers: First is the “flex base” that’s topped with individually wrapped coils that provide stability and minimize motion transfer. Next is transitional foam for added softness and support. The upper layer is a proprietary foam that has the contouring properties of memory foam, but the quicker response time (and additional comfort) of latex. And to top it all off, a quilted cover provides softness and breathability throughout the night.
The end result? A supportive but comfortable hybrid mattress for single or partnered snoozers. In short, it’s a dream for side sleepers, especially at this affordable price.
What the Reviews Say: Reviews praise this bed for its joint-cradling cushioning. “From the first night it’s been a heavenly sleep,” says one. “No more pressure on my knees and hip when I sleep on my side.” Another self-proclaimed side sleeper raves, “We love this bed. My husband is 6-foot-4 and 320 pounds and has had three back surgeries. This bed is phenomenal. It has great support but [is] still soft.”
Best Memory Foam Mattress For Side Sleepers
A Temperature-Regulating Mattress With Extra Support
- Materials: Memory foam
- Firmness level: Medium
- Trial period: 365 nights (one year)
Memorial Day sale: Nectar is offering $100 off mattresses and throwing in their best accessories for free, including pillows, a sheet set with pillow cases and a mattress protector, which can add up to about $500 in savings.
Combining just-right medium support with foam-contouring coziness, the Nectar Premier Memory Foam Mattress is an ideal pick for side sleepers. A firm bottom layer ensures a stable base, while the self-adjusting upper layers cradle your body for made-for-you comfort.
Sleep hot? The Nectar Premier Memory Foam Mattress is topped with gel-infused memory foam and an airy cooling cover to keep night sweats at bay. This combination promotes temperature regulation and head-to-toe support for better sleep all around. Plus, the company offers an impressive 365-day trial period and a forever warranty, so you have plenty of time to see if it’s a good fit for you.
What the Reviews Say: Many side-sleeping buyers say that the Nectar’s responsive memory foam has drastically improved their sleep. “Wowed,” begins one reviewer. “No more shoulder pain sleeping on my side and no backaches.” Another combo sleeper adds that it has “really helped my back. I sleep on my back, side and belly. It is comfortable every which way.”
Best Pillow Top Mattress For Side Sleepers
A Cashmere-Blend Topper Offers Luxurious Sink-In Softness
Best Mattress For Side Sleepers With Back Pain
Body-Contouring Memory Foam Takes The Pressure Off
USA-Made
- Materials: Memory foam, contour-adapt coils
- Firmness level: Medium-plush
- Trial period: 101 nights
Memorial Day sale: Puffy is taking $750 off any mattress purchase with promo code SAVE750 and adding in a complimentary bundle of accessories, including a sheet set, mattress protector and pillows.
If you’re a side sleeper with back pain, the Puffy Lux Hybrid Mattress is the one for you. The hybrid mattress is designed with body-contouring memory foam and an adaptive coil base that conforms to the curves of your body and minimizes strain on your pressure points. A Firm Core Support Layer, which keeps your spine aligned and eliminates pressure points, sits in the middle of the mattress so you wake up rested and pain-free.
Also worth noting: The Puffy Lux regulates temperature, is made in the USA and comes with a lifetime warranty. And, unlike other bed-in-a-box mattresses, it’s designed to work with any type of bed frame so you don’t have to upgrade your entire setup if you don’t want to.
What the Reviews Say: “My king size Puffy replaced a much more expensive bed that seemed to deteriorate far before its time,” says a buyer. “I have gone through three lumbar back surgeries and I knew I had to make a change. I love this bed and the memory foam. I am sleeping well because the pain is now far less. It’s nice to know that my daily pain ends at bedtime.”
Best Luxury Mattress For Side Sleepers
A Pressure-Relieving Mattress With Materials Developed By NASA
USA-Made
- Materials: Foam, cooling cover
- Firmness level: Medium
- Trial period: 90 nights
Memorial Day sale: Tempur-Pedic is offering $300 off any mattress purchase, free shipping and doorbuster deals, including buy-one-get-one-free on select Tempur pillows and an additional $500 off adjustable mattresses.
Tempur-Pedic is a big name in luxury sleep, and with good reason: The company delivers a quality product and the Tempur-Breeze LuxeBreeze, one of the best mattresses for side sleepers thanks to its high-quality memory foam, is no exception. Like many top side sleeper mattresses, this one is built in layers–eight, to be exact–including foams that relieve pressure with plush softness and contouring support. (In fact, the NASA-developed materials may be the closest you come to experiencing zero gravity).
Tempur-Pedic’s Breeze line was also developed for its exceptional cooling abilities. The LuxeBreeze feels a full 8 degrees cooler than a standard mattress thanks to a combination of ventilation and heat-absorbing materials. If that seems too chilly for you, the ProBreeze (pictured), which sleeps 3 degrees cooler, should do the trick. Both are available in either all-foam or hybrid options.
What the Reviews Say: “I am a side sleeper so this ProBreeze Medium is perfect,” a buyer shares. “I also suffer from lower back pain and after a few weeks I have noticed this mattress has helped diminish the pain.” Another comments on the temperature regulation, saying, “We love our Tempur-ProBreeze king mattress! The cooling benefits of this model are amazing! We are so happy that we decided to invest in ourselves and the benefits of a great night’s sleep!”
Best Mattress For Heavy Side Sleepers
A Plush Option That Won’t Buckle Or Sag
MOST POPULAR
- Materials: Memory foam
- Firmness level: Soft
- Trial period: 100 nights
Memorial Day sale: Save $450 off your mattress purchase and get free shipping with promo code AS450.
The AS5 is Amerisleep’s plushest mattress. It’s made of several layers of ultra-soft, pressure-relieving memory foam that provide enough give for your shoulders and hips—areas that can go numb when you’re sleeping on your side on a mattress that’s too firm. Underneath the memory foam lies a support layer called Active Flex that reinforces the foam and prevents it from sagging, including under heavier weights. This ensures that your spine stays aligned, regardless of your size.
The memory foam also has an open cell design, so it’s more breathable than traditional foam to keep you cooler during the night. With the addition of its heat-wicking Refresh Cover, this mattress can feel a full 7 degrees cooler than other mattresses on the market. It’s also available in hybrid.
What the Reviews Say: One buyer raves, “My aching lower back and arthritic left hip pain immediately diminished to almost nil the first night I slept on this mattress, plus my shoulder joint pain is completely gone. The mattress supports my heavy weight and lumbar region without putting my joints into agony like traditional mattresses. I’ve tried memory foam toppers, and mattresses with memory foam tops already built in, but they are nothing like this mattress.”
Best Flippable Mattress For Side Sleepers
A Mattress That Has A Soft And A Firm Side
USA-Made
- Materials: Memory foam, support foam
- Firmness level: Firm on one side, medium-soft on the other
- Trial period: 120 nights
Memorial Day sale: Save up to $200 off Layla’s Memory Foam and Hybrid mattresses and get two free Layla Memory Foam pillows through May 30.
Layla’s mattress is built with copper gel-infused memory foam, which molds to your body while pulling away excess heat for a cool and comfortable sleep. Side sleepers will especially enjoy its responsive firmness, which cradles your body for customized support. Plus, it comes with a unique feature that commitment-phobes will love: It’s double-sided, with a soft and a medium-firm side, which lets you flip depending on your preferences.
In addition to its memory foam mattress, Layla also has a hybrid version. Just note that both sides are a tick or two higher on the firmness scale; for reference, the memory foam soft side is the softest of them all.
What the Reviews Say: Most side sleeping reviewers say the soft side suits them best. “I wanted to find something that was soft but still supportive for someone with a bad back who sleeps on their side,” one explains. “This mattress has been great. With my old one, I would wake up in pain if I slept too long, but not anymore.”
Best Hybrid Mattress For Side Sleepers
An Option With Gel Pods That Support Your Lower Back
USA-Made
- Materials: Memory foam, gel pods
- Firmness level: Medium
- Trial period: 100 nights
Memorial Day sale: Save up to $800 on select mattress purchases and get free shipping until June 7.
The Casper Wave mattress is a hybrid, so like many on this list, it offers the best of both worlds (specifically, structured support and contouring upper layers). However, what sets the Wave apart is its built-in gel pods, which provide gentle-yet-firm support for the waist and lower back for proper spinal alignment. Then, the uppermost layers consist of marshmallowy foam to cradle side sleepers’ joints.
The Wave will also keep night sweats at bay with proprietary technology (called Airscape 3) that directs heat away from your body and gives the mattress a cool-to-the-touch feel. Plus, its base of foam-encased springs promotes airflow; one huge plus of hybrid mattress models, in general.
What the Reviews Say: Shares one reviewer, “I used to not be able to sleep on my right side due to my shoulder feeling like it wanted to pop out of the socket, but on the Wave Hybrid I sleep on either side comfortably!” And, when experiencing back pain from painting their home, “I would wake up and it was like my back had been freshly aligned by a chiropractor, except that it didn’t start hurting a couple hours later like a chiropractor adjustment does.”
Best Mattress For Side Sleepers With Partners
A Mattress Made Without Springs To Minimize Motion Transfer
USA-Made
- Materials: Memory foam
- Firmness level: Medium-firm
- Trial period: 100 nights
Memorial Day sale: Leesa is reducing prices on all its mattress until May 30. Depending on the size and model you choose, you can wind up saving up to $700.
Leesa’s mattress is crafted entirely from foam for a cozy-yet-supportive feel. (That said, it’s firmer than other picks on this list, so if you’re set on getting a softer bed, you may want to consider another contender.) Although it’s all foam, it’s made with four different layers to offer the balance of support and comfort that side sleepers crave. Further, the absence of coils means it’s less springy than traditional mattresses, so it excels at minimizing motion transfer—a huge plus for couples. On that note, if you share your bed and your partner isn’t a side sleeper, that’s okay; this pick is medium-firm and provides pressure relief for all sleeping positions.
And while it’s made of memory foam, it doesn’t trap heat. The Leesa mattress has a top layer of airy foam that stays cool while providing responsive contouring and its gray twill cover is refreshingly breathable.
What the Reviews Say: “Best mattress for side sleepers!” says one buyer who adds that side sleeping isn’t their only preferred position. “I’m all over the place, sometimes stomach and back, and I feel really supported. It’s definitely a medium-firm mattress, which is perfect.”
Best Pressure-Relieving Mattress For Side Sleepers
A Bouncy (In A Good Way) Mattress That’s Unlike Any Other
USA-Made
- Materials: Proprietary Purple Grid, support coils
- Firmness level: Medium-soft
- Trial period: 100 nights
Memorial Day sale: Purple is taking up to $300 off its mattresses (you’ll save the most on the Premier models) and offering $500 off the Ascent Adjustable Base with every purchase.
The Purple Hybrid Premier 4 offers the most pressure reduction of all of Purple’s mattresses. It has a 4-inch thick Purple GelFlex Grid (the others have two or three inches) that cradles your hips and shoulders when sleeping on your side and gives a zero-gravity feel so you can leave the pressures of the day behind when you crawl into bed. The grid is set on top of support coils that respond quickly to movement, react to pressure and give this mattress a more buoyant feel than traditional memory foam.
The other benefit of the Purple’s coil-and-grid structure is that it’s designed to allow airflow. Additionally, the GelFlex material won’t retain heat so you’ll stay cool all night long.
What the Reviews Say: “It can be hard to find a mattress that is soft enough for side sleepers to not feel hip pain, but firm enough to not cause back pain for stomach sleepers,” says one formerly skeptical buyer and multi-position sleeper. However, “This is perfection!”
Best Memorial Day Sales On Mattresses For Side Sleepers
Take 30% Off Plush Comfort You Can Customize
For a restorative night, side sleepers need a balance of softness and support. Dreamfoam’s Copper mattress lets you customize your level of firmness and minimizes motion transfer, if you turn from your left to right side, along with the cooling benefits of a copper-graphite composition and individually encased coils.
Spend Less On Maximum Layers of Memory Foam
Beautyrest’s top selling mattress is constructed of three different types of memory foam—gel memory foam, Dynamic Response memory foam and Micro Diamond memory foam—that all work together to cradle your body. This helps prevent spine stiffness or neck pain, which can happen if you’re a side sleeper who has a too-firm mattress.
Save On A Hotel-Level Mattress Ideal For Side Sleepers
Everybody has aches and pains occasionally, but if you think your mattress is to blame, consider the WinkBed, which is specifically designed for sleepers with back pain, hip pain, or shoulder pain. You can customize the level of firmness—side sleepers will appreciate the softer cushioning option—and the mattresses are hotel-quality at an affordable price.
Take $200 Off A Mattress That Improves Sleep
Side sleepers like Saatva’s Classic mattress since you can choose from three different levels of firmness and it comes with a 3-inch Euro pillow top that lets you nestle into your preferred position without any coils digging into your body. There’s also built-in Lumbar Zone Technology to help with spinal alignment and back support so you can wake up without any stiffness.
Save Even More On An Already-Affordable Organic Mattress
For those who prefer an organic option, Avocado’s new hybrid Eco mattress is ideal for side sleepers: It offers a contouring, medium-firm feel with pocketed coils and 100% GOLS certified organic latex sourced from the brand’s own sustainable farms in India and Guatemala. This pick is also free of toxic chemicals, off-gassing, chemical flame retardants, fiberglass and polyurethane foams, and you can also feel good about the 100 night trial and free shipping and returns.
Score 30% Off A Top Pick For Plus-Size Side Sleepers
Titan’s newest mattress is ideal for plus-size sleepers and offers medium-level firmness with pressure point relief. The added layer of quilted, gel memory foam helps cradle your body without creating indentations if you sleep on your side; it also provides the right amount cooling comfort if you tend to get hot at night.
Save More Than 40% Off An Ultra-Plush Pick
With a 3-inch top comfort layer of 100% natural latex and a supportive, fabric-encased coil core, PlushBeds’s hybrid organic latex mattress molds to your body so you can switch positions comfortably during the night. Also nice: It’s covered with an organic cotton that’s super smooth for an extra layer of softness.
Save On A Popular Option That Keeps Your Spine Aligned
Nolah’s well-reviewed AirFoam mattress is a top pick for side sleepers since it provides both pressure relief and a 20% thicker core base than the brand’s other models, which can help keep your spine aligned during the night. For comfort, it’s got an organic cotton cover and upgraded cooling features.
Get 30% Off Plus Complimentary Bedding Accessories
Bear’s bestselling hybrid mattress is made with a Responsive Comfort Foam that adapts to different body types and sleep positions while also boosting airflow and pressure relief, which is great for side sleepers in particular. It’s also embedded with an antimicrobial element to eliminate unwanted body heat and odors.
Get $400 Off This Eco-Rest Mattress Along With Two Free Pillows
For a side sleeper who wants to prioritize a top-notch night’s rest and sustainability, Birch’s mattress delivers on both fronts. This pick is made from organic cashmere, naturally breathable layers and responsibly-sourced, non-toxic materials (that have passed rigorous testing for safety) with a medium-firm feel, all features that highly upgrade your sleep experience.
For even more Memorial Day savings opportunities, head over to our Memorial Day weekend coupon page to check out deals from some of our favorite retailers.
What To Consider When Buying A Mattress For Side Sleepers
Shopping for mattresses online has its pros and cons; On one hand, you can’t try them out in person. On the other hand, there are so many quality models to choose from, you’re bound to find one that’s tailored to your specific needs. To help you narrow your search, consider the following factors as you browse for your next bed.
Firmness
While the level of firmness that’s most comfortable for you is ultimately a matter of preference, medium or medium-soft mattresses are usually best for frequent side sleepers. This ensures that there’s enough plushness to alleviate pressure points plus the right amount of support to keep the spine aligned.
Materials
Mattresses that offer the ideal firmness for side sleepers can be made with different materials. Here is a breakdown the two most popular types of mattresses:
- Foam: Usually made with memory foam and/or latex, foam mattresses are known for their responsive, body-contouring properties. This can be an excellent choice for side sleepers because the foam molds to every unique body and position. Foam also eliminates motion transfer so you won’t feel your partner moving at night. However, there are some downsides. Foam mattresses have a reputation for trapping heat, although top brands have developed proprietary materials and cooling technology to alleviate this issue. While some people love the feeling of sinking into a mattress, others feel like they’re being “swallowed” by their bed. And finally, when assembling your bed, foam mattresses are particularly heavy, so keep this in mind if you plan on hauling it into your bedroom yourself or moving in the near future.
- Hybrid: If you don’t want a traditional innerspring mattress but you’re unsure whether an all-foam mattress is right for you, you can’t go wrong with a hybrid mattress. These combine a base of coils to offer support plus upper foam layers to provide the plush pressure relief you need—and they don’t sink in quite as much as foam mattresses do. Additionally, hybrids tend to be cooler than foam mattresses because the springs allow for more airflow. One of the few downsides is that they can be slightly bouncier than foam mattresses, but quality picks are designed to keep motion transfer to a minimum.
Delivery Method
When ordering a mattress online, it’s important to consider delivery; either you’ll be hauling your mattress indoors or you’ll have to be home for delivery and set-up. For buyers who prefer the do-it-yourself route, many top brands offer bed in a box delivery, in which the mattress is vacuum-sealed in a compact box so it’s easier to maneuver. With this, there are two things to keep in mind: one, the box will still be heavy, so enlisting help for set-up is strongly encouraged; and two, the mattress will take anywhere from a few hours to a day to fully expand once it’s released from its packaging. Bed in a box options on this list include the Nectar Premier Memory Foam Mattress, Helix Midnight Mattress, DreamCloud Premier Rest, Casper Wave Hybrid, Layla Memory Foam Mattress, Amerisleep AS5, Purple Hybrid Premier 4, Leesa Original Mattress, Puffy Lux and the Brooklyn Bedding Signature Hybrid.
Another option is to go with a brand that does the hard work for you. Tempur-Pedic offers free white glove delivery service on select mattresses, foundations and adjustable bases. Leesa also offers optional white-glove delivery for an additional fee. The service includes removal of your old mattress and box spring if you wish.
Trial Period And Warranty
One of the biggest challenges of buying a mattress online is not being able to try it out first. And, companies understand that. That’s why many offer generous trial periods—some for as long as a year—to try out your new investment and make sure it’s the right fit. When picking your mattress, be sure to review the brand’s trial period and procedure before making your purchase.
You’ll also want to make sure your mattress has a warranty that covers defects or premature wear for at least five years.
Other Features
Today’s top mattress models offer a handful of other features that are worth considering to help you achieve a comfortable night’s sleep. If you share your bed with a partner, look for a bed that minimizes motion transfer. Foam mattresses are ideal for this, and many hybrids are designed with wrapped coils and movement-absorbing layers that also do the trick. (To that, if you get a great mattress that works for the both of you, hopefully there will be less tossing and turning to begin with.)
Sleeping hot is another common gripe, and major mattress companies have invented high-tech materials designed to wick away heat and moisture and feel cool to the touch. Copper fibers are a trendy mattress and pillow material thanks to their temperature-regulating and antimicrobial properties.
Frequently Asked Questions About Mattresses For Side Sleepers
What Type Of Mattress Is Best For Side Sleepers?
Side sleepers need cushioning around the shoulders, hips and knees, but not so much that it throws the body out of alignment. Finding the proper firmness is key, as well as comparing the features of foam and hybrid mattresses with your sleep preferences.
The Helix Midnight Mattress nabbed our top spot as the best mattress for side sleepers overall because of its hybrid construction, zoned support, medium firmness and luxe materials— all of which should contribute to a better night’s sleep for most side sleepers.
What Mattress Firmness Should A Side Sleeper Use?
In general, medium or medium-soft mattresses are the most comfortable for side sleepers, offering the right balance of softness and support. But at the end of the day, it all comes down to personal preference.
Are Firm Mattresses Bad For Side Sleepers?
Not necessarily. Side sleepers need some type of cushioning around their shoulders, hips and knees, so an ultra-firm mattress might not have enough give to contour the body properly. If the mattress is too firm, you can wake up with numbness and tingling in your arms. On the other hand, if the mattress is too soft, it can cause back pain. That’s why medium-soft to medium mattresses usually strike the best balance for side sleepers. If you find you need more support, consider a medium-firm or luxury-firm option, like the DreamCloud Premier Rest.
Is Memory Foam Better For Side Sleepers?
Side sleepers should definitely consider memory foam when mattress shopping, whether in an all-foam mattress or the upper layers of a hybrid. The responsive material cradles joints, which is essential for comfortably sleeping on your side. It also supports the natural curvature of your spine, which helps to alleviate back pain and other aches.
How Long Does It Take To Break In A New Mattress?
Mattresses you buy online often have a period of time where they need to expand (check the manufacturer’s label for more). After that, it’s more about your body adjusting to the mattress. That can take about 30 days, but sometimes longer. It really depends on how different your new mattress is from your old one.
The break-in period is so important that most mattress retailers won’t let you return a mattress until you’ve had it at least 30 days.
