Most adults sleep on their sides at least some of the time, and there's no shortage of mattresses that manufacturers claim are designed for this demographic. But if you spend most of the night on your side, you know that not every mattress is a good fit for a true side sleeper. A mattress that's too firm will create pressure points at the hips and shoulders, while one that's too soft won't offer enough support to keep your spine aligned. Either way, you'll lose out on sleep and wake up sore.
While the options may feel endless, there are a few key considerations for side sleepers. Where firmness is concerned, we recommend medium-plush mattresses for lighter to average-size side sleepers, medium ones for average and heavier side sleepers, and medium-firm options for heavier side sleepers. Foam, hybrid, and innerspring mattresses can all be a good fit for side sleeping. However, the combo of foam and springs in hybrid mattresses works particularly well to support your hips and shoulders, so we've offered a few hybrid options below. Finally, we've included options with enough contouring for even weight distribution, and mattresses with good cooling, since closer contact with the mattress's surface makes it feel warmer.
We've tested more than 30 mattresses, and below are our recommendations for the best mattresses for side sleepers. If you want to learn more about choosing the right mattress for your needs, check out our mattress shopping guide, mattress size guide, or our rundown of the different mattress types. For a wider view of the mattress market, see our recommendations for the best mattresses. If you prefer the contouring feel of memory foam, check out our picks for the best memory foam mattresses.
Quick Look
We've recently started testing mattresses. We independently purchase each unit from major retailers, just like you, to keep our reviews free from manufacturer influence. Each mattress goes through the same tests to measure objective data for characteristics like firmness, cooling, and motion isolation, so you can easily compare the results. Since we buy all our mattresses, we can tear them down layer by layer and isolate the mechanical properties of every component: quilted tops, foams, coils, and any special materials.
Want to learn more about how we operate? Check out our about us page
Best Mattress For Side Sleepers
Sleeping (In Development)8.3Cooling7.8Motion Dissipation8.0Edge Support9.0Responsiveness8.5Bounciness LevelModerate (17 cm)Sinking LevelModerate (5 cm)Contouring LevelModerate (28 cm)See all our test resultsFirmness LevelMedium-Plush (38 Pa/mm)The best mattress for side sleepers we've tested is the Sealy Posturepedic Hybrid. This medium-plush model is a good choice for average to lighter side sleepers, while heavier side sleepers may need something with a bit more support to keep the spine aligned. From the bottom up, this mattress features a support layer of pocket coils, a polyfoam transition layer, and a memory foam comfort layer. Together, they produce a balanced-feeling mattress with moderate sinking, contouring, and bounce, so you feel cushioned and hugged, but not too tightly.
This mattress stands out for its fantastic edge support and excellent responsiveness. Despite its layer of memory foam, a typically slow-moving material, the mattress's surface bounces back very quickly when compressed, making it easy to shift sleeping positions. The edges are reinforced with pocket coils, so you can sleep right next to the side without worrying about slipping off, too. If you're a light sleeper, you'll appreciate this mattress's impressive motion dissipation. You still feel larger movements, but only a small amount of motion travels throughout the mattress, and it dissipates quickly. And while it's not quite cool enough for hot sleepers, it transfers enough heat to keep most people comfortable. The biggest downside of this mattress is that it uses low-quality foam in its construction, so the foam layers will begin to sag faster than denser, higher-quality foams. Still, with that caveat in mind, it's a solid option for side sleepers at a budget-friendly price.
If durability is a priority for you, consider the Beautyrest Black, a responsive model with medium firmness. It's suitable for average and heavier side sleepers, and while it's not as cooling, it has good motion dissipation, so it's a good choice for light sleepers. While it still uses some lower-quality foam, most of the layers are good-quality and should resist sagging and indentations.
Best Foam Mattress For Side Sleepers
Sleeping (In Development)8.1Cooling7.3Motion Dissipation8.6Edge Support8.0Responsiveness9.1Bounciness LevelVery Low (2 cm)Sinking LevelModerate (5 cm)Contouring LevelModerate (26 cm)See all our test resultsFirmness LevelMedium-Plush (41 Pa/mm)The best all-foam mattress for side sleepers we've tested is the Nectar Premier Copper. Like the Sealy Posturepedic Hybrid, it's medium-plush, so it's a good choice for lighter and average-sized side sleepers, while heavier side sleepers might need more support. It has an all-foam construction with polyfoam support and transition layers and a gel-infused memory foam comfort layer with ActiveCool HD, a phase-change material that can absorb and release heat depending on its state. This mattress offers moderate sinking and contouring, so you feel lightly cushioned and hugged, but it's not very bouncy, so it feels somewhat static, which is typical of a foam mattress.
This mattress is remarkably responsive, especially for a memory foam mattress. This is likely thanks to the gel-infused memory foam, which maintains more resilience compared to typical memory foam. It's easier to move around on, so you don't feel 'stuck in place' when you toss and turn. At the same time, it has excellent motion isolation, so you're not likely to wake up when your sleeping partner tosses and turns. It has great edge support, too, so you can sleep near the sides without worrying about falling off. Unfortunately, this mattress is just decent at cooling, so if you're a hot sleeper, you'll likely need something with better performance in this regard. Another downside is that it uses less dense, lower-quality foams that will begin to degrade faster than denser foams.
If you're looking for a more durable mattress, consider the Novaform Serafina Pearl. This medium model is suitable for average-sized and heavier side sleepers. Its responsiveness and edge support are less impressive, so it's harder to switch sleeping positions and get in or out of bed, but it's also more cooling and uses good-quality foam.
Best Innerspring Mattress For Side Sleepers
Sleeping (In Development)8.5Cooling7.7Motion Dissipation7.4Edge Support9.8Responsiveness9.8Bounciness LevelHigh (24 cm)Sinking LevelLow (4 cm)Contouring LevelModerate (26 cm)See all our test resultsFirmness LevelMedium-Firm (53 Pa/mm)Our top innerspring pick for side sleepers is the Beautyrest Silver BRS900. This mattress is medium-firm, making it well-suited to heavier side sleepers, while lighter and average-sized side sleepers may need something softer to sink further into. Its spring layer is very bouncy, and with just a few inches of foam in its comfort layers, it leads to a highly responsive, bouncy mattress, making it easy to shift sleeping positions. It's also moderately contouring, providing a good amount of cushioning for your shoulders and hips.
This mattress has extra polyfoam built into the border, giving it superb edge support, so you can sleep right next to the side without feeling like you might slip off. It's also quite cooling, especially as the night goes on, though if you sleep hot or live in a hot climate, it might not be effective enough to keep you cool at the beginning of the night. One downside to this mattress is its motion dissipation performance, though this is common in innerspring mattresses because of the inherent bounciness of mattress springs. Unfortunately, unlike the options above, this innerspring mattress uses less dense, low-quality foam in its comfort layers. This could lead to indentations and sagging, and shorten the overall lifespan of your mattress. Still, it's a great pick if you're a side sleeper looking for a bouncy, responsive innerspring model and don't mind the trade-off.
Best Cooling Mattress For Side Sleepers
Sleeping (In Development)8.6Cooling9.7Motion Dissipation7.7Edge Support7.3Responsiveness9.8Bounciness LevelModerate (14 cm)Sinking LevelLow (3 cm)Contouring LevelVery High (23 cm)See all our test resultsFirmness LevelMedium-Firm (51 Pa/mm)The best cooling mattress we've tested for side sleepers is the Purple Mattress. This medium-firm model is a solid option for most heavier side sleepers. That said, lighter and even average-sized side sleepers may find this mattress too firm. It's topped with a proprietary Gel-Flex Grid: springy, flexible plastic molded into a layer of waffle-like material. Underneath, you find polyfoam transition and support layers. The purple grid completely compresses beneath you, conforming to your hips and shoulders to relieve pressure, while the polyfoam layers below work together to provide support and keep your spine aligned. It's also moderately bouncy, which is uncommon for a foam mattress and makes it feel livelier than other foam options.
Along with its exceptional cooling performance, it's also remarkably responsive. This is surprising for a foam model since foam tends to trap heat and absorb motion. This performance is likely due to the Gel-Flex Grid, which bounces back almost instantly when compressed and allows air to circulate. In fact, with this waffle-shaped layer on top, this mattress cools more effectively than most hybrid and even innerspring mattresses. It offers good motion isolation, too, which is handy if you sleep with a partner or have a pet who likes to jump on the bed late at night. Unfortunately, it struggles with edge support, which limits the usable space and makes it tougher to get in or out of bed. This mattress uses good-quality foam. It will resist indents and sagging longer than lower-quality foam mattresses, making it a great option for side sleepers looking for a long-lasting foam mattress.
Best Plus-Size Mattress For Side Sleepers
Sleeping (In Development)8.2Cooling7.3Motion Dissipation8.2Edge Support8.5Responsiveness9.8Bounciness LevelHigh (27 cm)Sinking LevelModerate (5 cm)Contouring LevelModerate (26 cm)See all our test resultsFirmness LevelMedium (47 Pa/mm)The Big Fig Mattress is the best plus-size mattress we've tested for side sleepers. This mattress has medium firmness and can support up to 550 lbs per sleeper (1,100 lbs total), about twice as much as most other mattresses, making it a good choice for average-sized and heavier side sleepers. Lighter side sleepers will likely find this mattress too firm, especially since it's designed to support larger body weights. It features a pocket coil support system, polyfoam transition and comfort layers, and a latex upper comfort layer. It's a really bouncy option with moderate sinking and contouring, so you get some cushioning and the sensation of being hugged, without feeling constrained or engulfed.
The dense layer of pocket springs and latex upper comfort layer help this mattress adapt to your movements fast, so every move feels supported when you toss and turn. At the same time, it isolates motion impressively well, too. If you sleep with a partner, you only feel larger movements, and they don't last long. This mattress also provides excellent edge support, so you can sit or sleep comfortably near the edge of the bed. If you don't mind the heat or tend to feel chilly overnight, its cooling performance should be sufficient, but it may not be cooling enough for hot sleepers. You can also expect this mattress to resist body impressions and sagging because it uses only dense, good- or high-quality foam. It's a great choice if you're looking for a responsive and bouncy plus-size mattress (and you're not a persistently hot sleeper).
Best Budget Mattress For Side Sleepers
Sleeping (In Development)8.0Cooling7.5Motion Dissipation6.6Edge Support9.4Responsiveness9.3Bounciness LevelModerate (14 cm)Sinking LevelModerate (5 cm)Contouring LevelHigh (25 cm)See all our test resultsFirmness LevelMedium-Plush (40 Pa/mm)The best budget mattress for side sleepers we've tested is the Serta Perfect Sleeper Innerspring. It's medium-plush, so it's ideal for lighter and average-sized side sleepers, while heavier side sleepers may sink too far in for comfort. Despite its name, this model fits our definition of a hybrid: it has a layer of pocket springs and more than two inches of foam. It has a polyfoam transition layer, both memory foam and polyfoam comfort layers, and additional polyfoam in its quilted top. All this foam contours your body very closely, taking pressure off your shoulders and hips. You sink far enough in to maintain spinal alignment, though with the close hug of the foam layers, it might feel too snug for some. Its moderate bounciness makes the mattress feel more lively.
This budget-friendly mattress has a lot going for it. It actually outperforms our top pick, the Sealy Posturepedic Hybrid, in both responsiveness and edge support. You feel comfortable and supported when shifting sleeping positions, getting in and out of bed, and sleeping right next to the edge. Unfortunately, it struggles with motion dissipation, which is a big downside for light sleepers and partnered sleepers. You feel most movement throughout the mattress, though luckily, it dissipates quickly. It doesn't keep you as cool as our top picks, but it transfers more heat away from you than the Big Fig Mattress, so while it may not be cut out for hot sleepers, it maintains a neutral temperature for most people. With a mix of poor- and good-quality foam, this mattress won't last as long as options with high-quality foam, but considering the accessible price, it may be a worthwhile compromise. Overall, this mattress is a great option for solo side sleepers who are shopping on a budget.
Notable Mentions
- Casper Snow:
The Casper Snow is a medium hybrid with a prominent memory foam feel. While it doesn't match the cooling performance of the Purple Mattress, it's still cooling enough even for hot sleepers. It's a decent choice if you prefer the slow-moving sensation of memory foam and want excellent cooling.
See our review - Casper Snow (Canadian Version):
The Casper Snow (Canadian Version) is a medium-plush hybrid available on the Canadian market. It can't quite compete with the Purple Mattress's cooling performance, but if you live in Canada and prefer a hybrid model, it's a great option for side sleepers who tend to overheat.
See our review - Bear Elite Hybrid:
The Bear Elite Hybrid is a medium-firm mattress that stands out for its excellent responsiveness and edge support. It keeps you just as cool as the Sealy Posturepedic Hybrid and isolates a bit more motion. While it's not ideal for lighter and average-sized sleepers, it's a good fit for heavier side sleepers.
See our review
Recent Updates
Sep 15, 2025:
We replaced the Boring Mattress with the Sealy Posturepedic Plus, as the former has been discontinued. We also made the Purple Mattress our 'Best Cooling' pick and added the Nectar Premier Copper as our top foam pick to give users more foam options. Finally, we added the Bear Elite Hybrid as a Notable Mention for side sleepers who need firmer support and updated the table tool to better reflect the best options for side sleepers.
All Reviews
The recommendations above are what we think currently represent the best mattresses for most side sleepers. We factor in performance, price, availability, and feedback from our visitors.
Of course, the best mattress for you depends on your specific needs and preferences. If you'd like more options to consider, here's a list of all our mattress reviews so you can find the right fit.
