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 put pressure on your arm and shoulder, 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.
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.
While 'Medium' and 'Medium-Plush' mattresses are often best-suited for side sleepers, it depends on the specific mattress's performance and your body type. We recently updated our testing methodology to allow you to see a mattress's performance for your sleeping position and weight, and you can read all about the update in the Test Bench 1.1 Changelog.
We've tested more than 40 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.
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Best Mattress For Side Sleepers
Sleeping (In Development)8.4Cooling8.1Motion Dissipation8.2Edge Support9.0Responsiveness8.4Longevity6.8Bounciness LevelModerate (15 cm)Sinking LevelModerate (5 cm)Contouring LevelModerate (27 cm)See all our test resultsFirmness LevelMedium (44 Pa/mm)The best mattress for side sleepers we've tested is the Helix Midnight Luxe 2025. This mid-range mattress has a medium firmness level, so it's best-suited for average and heavier side sleepers (if you're lighter, you may prefer one of the medium-plush options below). This hybrid mattress's construction includes quilted, memory foam, and polyfoam layers, with pocket coils for support. Most of the foam is dense and of good quality, which will help the mattress resist sagging for longer than lower-quality foams, so you can expect it to be reasonably durable. Despite its memory foam layer, it's responsive and moderately bouncy, so while it doesn't have an extreme 'push-back' feel, it responds quickly to your movements, making it feel easy to change sleeping positions. Its balanced feel makes you feel lightly cradled but not hugged or enveloped.
It offers a great overall performance. Its great cooling performance means it dissipates heat efficiently enough to keep hot sleepers comfortable. It also has a strong motion isolation performance. You'll only feel bigger movements close to the source. While some mattresses dissipate motion faster, and you may feel the mattress wobble a little with bigger movements, overall, motion isn't likely to wake you. This mattress also offers very sturdy edges, so you can comfortably sit or sleep on the side of the mattress. While it uses some low-quality foam in its quilted layer, most of the foam in the mattress is good-quality, suggesting it'll resist sagging for longer compared to mattresses that only use low-quality foams.
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Best Medium-Plush Mattress For Side Sleepers
Sleeping (In Development)8.1Cooling7.9Motion Dissipation8.1Edge Support8.3Responsiveness8.4Longevity6.5Bounciness LevelModerate (12 cm)Sinking LevelModerate (5 cm)Contouring LevelModerate (28 cm)See all our test resultsFirmness LevelMedium-Plush (40 Pa/mm)The best medium-plush mattress that we've tested for side sleepers is the Stearns & Foster Lux Estate. This softer mattress is more suitable for lighter side sleepers, who may need a plusher mattress for pressure relief. While it's a pricier mattress, it's fairly durable, with good-quality latex and polyfoam layers. You'll sink moderately into its upper layers, which contour around you closely, creating a slightly hugging feel. It's also bouncy and quite responsive, so it's easy to move around in your sleep.
Its great motion dissipation performance means you won't feel most movements, and won't feel like the mattress wobbles whenever your partner moves. It also offers impressive edge support, which helps increase the comfortable sleeping surface and gives you a sturdy surface for getting in and out of bed. Unfortunately, it's not quite cooling enough for hot sleepers, but it still dissipates heat efficiently enough to keep most people comfortable.
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Best Mattress Under $1000 For Side Sleepers
Cooling8.0Motion Dissipation8.8Responsiveness8.6Longevity5.7See all our test resultsFirmness LevelMedium (45 Pa/mm)If you're looking for a mattress for under $1000, the Nectar Premier is the best budget mattress for side sleeping that we've tested. This 'Medium' all-foam mattress is a good option for heavier and average side sleepers. Its memory foam upper comfort layer creates a contouring feel, but it's still responsive and moderately bouncy, so you can still easily move around in your sleep. It's cooling enough even for hot sleepers and offers excellent motion dissipation, so you can peacefully sleep with a partner.
However, edge support is a weak point, so it's not a good option for people with mobility issues or if you want to maximize the comfortable sleeping surface. Aside from its good-quality polyfoam support layer, it uses lower-density, low-quality foam that will start showing signs of wear sooner compared to higher-quality materials.
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Best Medium-Plush Mattress Under $1000 For Side Sleepers
Cooling7.8Motion Dissipation8.0Responsiveness8.3Longevity2.9See all our test resultsFirmness LevelMedium-Plush (38 Pa/mm)If you're looking for a softer mattress under $1000, consider the Sealy Posturepedic Hybrid. This medium-plush mattress is a better option for lighter side sleepers, since it has a plusher feel than the Nectar, which allows your shoulder to sink in more. Its upper comfort layers create a contouring feel, and it has a bouncy, responsive feel that prevents you from feeling constricted. Unlike the previous pick, it has very sturdy edges. Its motion dissipation performance is also great, so it's a good option for sleeping with a partner.
Its very good cooling performance means it won't make most people feel overheated, but hot sleepers may need something that dissipates heat a bit more efficiently. Unfortunately, it's not as durable as the other mattresses recommended here. Both of its foam layers are made of lower-quality foam, which makes it more prone to sagging and forming body indentations sooner.
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Best Durable Mattress For Side Sleepers
Sleeping (In Development)8.2Cooling7.3Motion Dissipation8.2Edge Support8.5Responsiveness9.8Longevity7.6Bounciness LevelHigh (27 cm)Sinking LevelModerate (5 cm)Contouring LevelModerate (26 cm)See all our test resultsFirmness LevelMedium (47 Pa/mm)If durability is your highest priority, consider the Big Fig Mattress. This mattress has medium firmness and is marketed for plus-size people. According to the manufacturer, it can support up to 550 lbs per sleeper (1,100 lbs total), about twice as much as most other mattresses. Its 'Medium' feel makes it best-suited for heavier as well as average side sleepers. It features a pocket coil support system, polyfoam transition and comfort layers, and a latex upper comfort layer. The foam layers are all made of good or high-quality foam, which is quite rare even with higher-end mattresses, and means it should resist sagging or forming permanent body impressions for longer compared with the other mattresses listed here.
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.
Notable Mentions
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Casper Snow:
The Casper Snow is a medium hybrid with a prominent memory foam feel. While it's not as responsive as the Helix Midnight Luxe 2025, 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. Its edges aren't very sturdy compared to the Stearns & Foster Lux Estate, but it's cheaper and has significantly better cooling, so if you live in Canada, it's a great option for side sleepers who tend to overheat.
See our review
Recent Updates
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.