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 purpose. Side sleepers need mattresses that allow the arm and shoulder to sink in enough to relieve pressure, while still offering enough support for spinal alignment. While 'Medium' and 'Medium-Plush' mattresses are often the best firmness level for side sleepers, it depends on the specific mattress's performance and your weight. We recently updated our testing methodology so you can see how a mattress performs based on your sleeping position and weight, and you can read all about it in our Test Bench 1.1 Changelog.
We've tested more than 45 mattresses, and below are our recommendations for the best mattresses for side sleepers. 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, or see the best cooling mattresses for more options for hot sleepers.
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.
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Best Mattress For Side Sleepers
Firmness LevelMedium (47 Pa/mm)Side Sleeping8.3Pressure Relief8.3Longevity5.3Motion Dissipation8.5Cooling8.9See all our test resultsResponsiveness5.0The best mattress we've tested for side sleepers is the Casper Snow. This mattress's upper comfort layer is made of very soft memory foam, which helps make it suitable for a wide range of side sleepers. It offers decent body conformity for lighter side sleepers, and even better conformity for average-weight and heavier individuals, so regardless of your weight, it'll do a decent job of relieving pressure on your arm and shoulder.
It also offers excellent cooling, so it's a good choice for hot sleepers, and its amazing motion dissipation means you can sleep peacefully with a partner. However, keep in mind that its soft, slow-moving memory foam comfort layers give it an enveloping feel. It's not very responsive, which makes it feel harder to move around on, and if you prefer to sleep 'on' and not 'in' your mattress, you might find it constricting. The mattress's comfort layers are also made of low-quality memory foam, and it may form permanent indentations sooner than mattresses that use higher-quality foams.
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Best Upper Mid-Range Mattress For Side Sleepers
Firmness LevelMedium (46 Pa/mm)Side Sleeping7.9Pressure Relief7.9Longevity8.4Motion Dissipation9.0Cooling8.4See all our test resultsResponsiveness8.7If you're looking for a slightly cheaper option, the Tuft and Needle Mint is the best upper mid-range mattress for side sleepers. This mattress has a 'Medium' firmness level, but like the Casper Snow, its upper comfort layers are very soft. This helps it offer decent body conformity for lighter individuals, and even better pressure relief for average-weight and heavier side sleepers. It also offers at least satisfactory support for most people, which helps keep your hips aligned with the rest of your body. Most of the foam layers are made of good or high-quality foam, which will help it resist sagging for longer.
It's cooling enough for hot sleepers, and also stands out for its fantastic motion dissipation performance, which makes it a great option for sleeping with a partner. It has a more responsive feel than the Casper, and fewer contouring comfort layers, making it feel less enveloping, but also less constricting. That said, it's not very bouncy, which can make it feel more difficult to change sleeping positions.
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Best Mid-Range Mattress For Side Sleepers
Firmness LevelMedium-Firm (51 Pa/mm)Side Sleeping7.3Pressure Relief7.4Longevity4.0Motion Dissipation8.2Cooling7.9See all our test resultsResponsiveness8.8The best mid-range mattress for side sleeping is the Beautyrest Mattress. This mattress is a good option for side sleepers in the average and heavier weight categories who prefer a firmer, less enveloping feel. It offers fantastic body conformity for heavier people and very good conformity for average-weight people, so it won't put much pressure on your arm and shoulder. Its responsive, slightly contouring upper comfort layers help with pressure relief, but don't make you feel stuck in place or hugged.
Its impressive motion dissipation performance makes it a good option for sleeping with a partner, since movement is less likely to wake you. Its very good cooling performance is enough to keep most people comfortable, and its sturdy edges mean you can sleep near the side without feeling at risk of sliding out of bed. Unfortunately, its foam layers are mostly made of lower-quality foam, so it's not the most durable mattress. Also, unlike the Tuft and Needle Mint, it doesn't offer enough pressure relief for lighter side sleepers.
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Best Budget Mattress For Side Sleepers
Firmness LevelMedium (44 Pa/mm)Side Sleeping8.1Pressure Relief8.2Longevity5.3Motion Dissipation7.9Cooling7.8See all our test resultsResponsiveness8.5The best budget mattress for side sleepers is the Brooklyn Bedding Signature Hybrid. This Medium hybrid mattress is best-suited for average-weight and heavier side sleepers, as you'll sink into it enough to relieve pressure. It's adequately conforming for lighter side sleepers as well, so it's not a bad option if you're an occasional side sleeper. Its bouncy, responsive feel helps ensure you don't feel stuck in place, while its contouring upper comfort layers help with pressure relief.
While it's not ideal for hot sleepers, its cooling performance is still very good, so it shouldn't make you feel overheated if you don't usually sleep hot. It's also a good choice for sleeping with a partner, since its very good motion dissipation means you won't feel every move your partner makes. Unfortunately, although it includes one layer of good-quality foam, most of the foam layers are made of lower-quality materials.
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Best Cheap Mattress For Side Sleepers
Firmness LevelMedium-Plush (39 Pa/mm)Longevity5.5Motion Dissipation7.6Cooling7.8See all our test resultsResponsiveness9.3The DreamCloud Classic Hybrid is the best cheap mattress for side sleeping that we've tested. This hybrid mattress has a 'Medium-Plush' firmness level that makes it suitable for light and average side sleepers. Its plush comfort layers allow your whole body to sink in a bit, which helps relieve pressure on your arm and shoulder. Its responsive comfort layers also contour around you quite closely, without making you feel stuck in place.
It offers a good enough cooling performance for most people, although hot sleepers may need a more cooling mattress. Its good motion dissipation performance also makes it a good option for sleeping with a partner, and its edges are reinforced with firmer coils, so you can sit or sleep comfortably on the side of the bed. However, it's not a very durable mattress, as most of its foam layers are made of low-quality foam.
Notable Mentions
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Saatva Classic (Plush Soft):
The Saatva Classic (Plush Soft) is a 'Medium-Plush' mattress that offers slightly better body conformity for lighter people than the Casper Snow, making it a good choice for side sleepers in that weight category. It's cooling enough for hot sleepers as well, but its weaker motion dissipation makes the Casper a much better option if you sleep with a partner.
See our review
Recent Updates
Jan 28, 2026:
We've updated the article to present recommendations by price. The Casper Snow, Tuft and Needle Mint, Beautyrest Mattress, Brooklyn Bedding Signature Hybrid, and DreamCloud Classic Hybrid were added as picks.
Jan 13, 2026:
We removed the Sealy Posturepedic Plus Hybrid as the 'Best Medium-Plush Mattress For Side Sleeping' as it offers similar body conformity and doesn't perform as well as the Nectar Premier. We added the Brooklyn Bedding Signature Hybrid as an alternative for lighter side sleepers. We also added the Casper Snow as a memory foam pick, since it performs well for many side sleepers, and added the Saatva Classic (Plush Soft) to the Notable Mentions.
Nov 27, 2025:
We've reorganized the article to focus on 'Medium' and 'Medium-Plush' mattresses and to include price-based picks. Removed the Purple Mattress and Beautyrest Silver BRS900, as most side-sleepers need a softer mattress. Also removed the Nectar Premier Copper, which has been discontinued. Added the Sealy Posturepedic Hybrid and Nectar Premier as options under $1,000 and the Stears & Foster Lux Estate as the 'Best Medium-Plush Mattress For Side Sleepers.'
Oct 22, 2025:
We replaced the Sealy Posturepedic Plus with the Helix Midnight Luxe 2025 for our top pick, as it offers a firmer 'Medium' feel that many side-sleepers may prefer, as well as better cooling, and uses higher-quality foams.
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.