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Your brain needs sleep just like your phone needs to be charged. Research shows that poor sleep can have a negative impact on your mental health, with people who don’t sleep well experiencing higher rates of depression and anxiety. While there are a number of ways you can address poor sleep, ensuring your mattress is right for your sleeping position is an important consideration and can actually improve your sleep quality.
If you’re a side sleeper, you’ll need a mattress that offers plenty of body contouring and pressure relief. But with so many mattresses on the market, it can be difficult to find the perfect fit.
Fortunately, the Handbook Team has personally tested hundreds of mattresses and rounded up a list of the 10 best mattresses for side sleepers in 2024. No matter your body type and personal preferences, you should be able to find a mattress that will work for you.
Best mattress for side sleepers overall
The Saatva Classic is the best mattress for side sleepers because it cushions joints and offers ample pressure relief—side sleepers are especially prone to pressure on their shoulders, hips, and other joints. The Saatva Classic is made with high-quality materials, like organic cotton and zoned coils, so it should last at least 10 years.
Our pick of the best mattresses for side sleepers
- Saatva Classic: Best overall
- Helix Midnight: Best mattress for side sleepers with shoulder and hip pain
- Nectar Hybrid: Best hybrid mattress for side sleepers
- The WinkBed: Best mattress for side sleepers with lower back pain
- Nolah Hybrid: Best mattress for side and back sleepers
- Titan Plus Luxe: Best mattress for heavy side sleepers
- Puffy Cloud: Best memory foam mattress for side sleepers
- Leesa Sapira Chill: Best cooling mattress for side sleepers
- Bear Elite Hybrid: Best mattress for couples
- DreamCloud Premier: Best mattress for combination sleepers
Our testing experience
The Handbook Team hand-tests every mattress we review. We evaluate brands and models by recording our findings on a 42-question standardized testing form to identify standout features and services, document issues with each product, and describe our personal experience lying on each mattress. For example, we record:
- Firmness score and whether the mattress is best for back, side, or stomach sleepers.
- Starting temperature of the mattress and how much it heats up after two testers lie on the mattress for five minutes.
- How many times a 10-pound ball bounces on the mattress after dropping from a height of 2 feet in order to arrive at a mattress bounce score.
We paid close attention to specific considerations that sleepers of all ages seek, as identified by respondents in our survey of 600 mattress owners. This included price, features, and the set-up process. We also interviewed real people to better understand the motivations behind shopping for a new mattress as well as the benefits of purchasing one.
According to our survey
According to our survey, about 80 percent of all respondents said their new mattress helps them sleep better, and 65 percent reported improved mental health.
As our testers evaluated each brand and its features, we considered why many people choose a new mattress in the first place. Of our respondents, 42 percent decided to purchase a new mattress for “improved comfort and support for better sleep,” while only 7 percent did so for “pain relief and targeted support.” The most common pain respondents wanted relieved was lower back pain.
Despite only 42 percent of respondents prioritizing comfort and support for better sleep when shopping for a new mattress, 68 percent reported they sleep longer on their new mattress and 49 percent and 45 percent, respectively, said their stress and anxiety had improved after switching to their new mattress. Almost all mattress owners we surveyed (95 percent) were at least somewhat satisfied with their new mattress. We consulted sleep experts, physical therapists, occupational therapists, and pain specialists to understand what mattresses offer that make an overwhelmingly positive impact.
In order to focus on the mattresses themselves, we structured our test designs to objectively rank each one based on a range of criteria. For example, we tested things like bounce, edge support (the sturdiness of your mattress edge), and cooling capabilities the same way on each mattress and compared the results. That way we can accurately compare each mattress’ score in an unbiased way while also sharing our subjective point of view as mattress testers and experts.
Lastly, we compared warranty lengths, trial periods, and white glove delivery (in-home delivery and setup) options. While most brands offer warranties, not all are comprehensive. And many brands on the market don’t have free white glove delivery. This could be a deal-breaker if you’re nervous to invest in a new mattress because you’re worried the bed won’t get set up properly or offer what you need.
From our tester
“During our research, we realized that the brand’s firmness scale and perceived firmness aren’t always the same. We decided to report how firm we thought the mattress felt so that you can gain a different perspective, but more importantly, feel confident about what you’re purchasing.”
A note on our testing
We acknowledge that every body is different, and what feels comfortable to one person may not feel comfortable to another. Throughout our reviews, we refer to weight categories as light (below 130 pounds), average (130 to 250 pounds), and heavy (above 250 pounds) to distinguish between body weights.
Typically, lighter sleepers perceive mattresses to feel firmer than they are, and higher-weight sleepers perceive mattresses to feel softer than they are. Keep in mind that most mattresses are designed for the average-weight person.
Why HelpGuide cares about a good night’s sleep
Quality sleep is a key part of mental health, physical health, and overall well-being. Sleep helps us reset our bodies, process our emotions, and ease daily stress. Without it, we are at an increased risk of developing anxiety and depression, according to research.
But there are medical conditions that can make sleep difficult. Chronic pain, acid reflux, loud snoring or sleep apnea, and insomnia are issues that can keep you up at night, tossing and turning.
Finding solutions for better sleep can be frustrating, but we’re here to help. The HelpGuide Handbook Team wants to empower you to make the right decision by providing the most honest information about sleep-related products, like mattresses.
In order to recommend the best options to fit your needs, we sought to better understand how sleep impacts overall health. We consulted with mental health experts, researchers, and industry leaders in sleep and ergonomics to connect the dots about what really matters in a mattress.
Ultimately, all of our research is directed at taking the stress out of finding the highest-quality products that can support your sleep health—and in turn, your overall mental well-being.
What you need to know about the best mattresses for side sleepers
Here’s five things you should know about the best mattresses for side sleepers:
- We chose the Saatva Classic as the best mattress for side sleepers overall.
- Side sleepers need softer mattresses that offer pressure relief and body contouring. If a mattress is too firm, it could cause joint pain.
- Most brands run sales and promotions that significantly lower the price.
- All of the mattresses on this list have sleep trial periods, which give customers several months to try out the mattress and see if it’s a good fit. If the mattress doesn’t work out during the trial period, customers can return it and get a refund.
- Consult your doctor if you have a specific concern, such as lower back or hip pain. Our recommendations should not replace medical advice.
Compare the best mattresses for side sleepers in 2024
Price | $1,295–$2,790 | $936.30–$1,748.80 | $749–$1,998 | $1,149–$2,049 | $999–$2,398 | $899–$1,948 | $1,949–$4,198 | $1,499–$1,919 | $1,893–$3,920 | $1,169–$2,998 |
Firmness | 6/10 (Plush Soft model) | 6/10 | 6/10 | 6/10 (softer model) | 6.5/10 | 6.5/10 | 6/10 | 6/10 | 6/10 | 7/10 |
Material | Innerspring hybrid | Hybrid | Hybrid | Hybrid | Memory foam | Hybrid | Memory foam | Hybrid | Hybrid | Hybrid |
Warranty | Lifetime | 10 years | Forever warranty | Lifetime | Lifetime | 10 years | Lifetime | 10 years | Lifetime | Lifetime |
Trial period | 365 nights | 100 nights | 365 nights | 120 nights | 120 nights | 120 nights | 101 nights | 100 nights | 120 nights | 365 nights |
Best for | Sleepers who like bouncy beds | Side sleepers with shoulder and hip pain | Side sleepers who like hybrid mattresses | Side sleepers with lower back pain | Side and back sleepers | Higher-weight side sleepers | Side sleepers who like memory foam mattresses | Side sleepers who overheat at night | Side sleepers who share a bed with a partner | Combination sleepers |
The best mattresses for side sleepers reviews
Best mattress for side sleepers overall: Saatva
Best mattress for side sleepers with shoulder and hip pain: Helix Midnight
Best hybrid mattress for side sleepers: Nectar Hybrid
Best Mattress for side sleepers with lower back pain: The WinkBed
Best mattress for side and back sleepers: Nolah Original
Best mattress for heavy side sleepers: Titan Plus Luxe
Best memory foam mattress for side sleepers: Puffy Cloud
Best cooling mattress for side sleepers: Leesa Sapira Chill
Best mattress for couples: Bear Elite Hybrid
Best mattress for combination side sleepers: DreamCloud Premier
Frequently Asked Questions
Side sleepers should look for mattresses with thick comfort layers. It doesn’t matter if the bed contains coils or foam for support, as long as the top layers offer enough pressure relief for the shoulders and hips.
Soft and medium-firm mattresses work best for side sleepers. Look for something that falls between 5.5 out of 10 and 6.5 out of 10 on our firmness scale. Firm mattresses could put pressure on the shoulders and hips, which can cause joint pain over time.
Memory foam is a great material for side sleepers because it cushions joints and alleviates pressure. That said, you don’t need to get an all-foam mattress if you’re a side sleeper. Hybrid mattresses with coils at the bottom and foam on top can also work well.
Side sleepers with back pain should look for a medium-firm mattress with a zoned support system, such as the Saatva Classic or The WinkBed. Mattresses with zoned support feel firmer toward the center of the bed, which helps keep the spine in the proper alignment. This, in turn, can help alleviate back pain over time.
The best mattress for heavy people is the Titan Plus Luxe mattress. This bed was made specifically for people who weigh more than 230 pounds. It has a strong coil system that won’t sag as time goes on, and it has a plush comfort layer that helps cushion joints.
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