The quick list
1. Best overall
2. Best affordable
3. Best luxury
4. Best for combi sleep
5. Best memory foam
6. Best budget cooling
7. Best for joint pain
8. Best motion isolation
9. Best luxury cooling
10 Best budget organic
11. Best soft
12. Best cheap
13. How we test
14. FAQs
Many of our expert testers are side sleepers, so what do they look for in a mattress? Ample pressure relief for their shoulders, hips, and knees is a must, along with proper alignment for their spines. You’ll find those elements among our selections of the best mattresses for side sleepers, which are based on our testers' first-hand experiences and feedback from discerning shoppers like you.
The Helix Midnight Luxe is our top mattress for side sleepers overall. According to our testers, its plush pillow top offers exceptional pressure relief, while the enhanced lumbar support and excellent motion isolation make it a standout choice for back pain sufferers and couples, respectively. Those features have earned the Midnight Luxe a spot in our guide to the best mattresses of 2024, as well.
Performance is important, but so is budget. Timing your purchase to coincide with a mattress sale is an excellent way to keep costs down – and this weekend's Labor Day mattress sales include markdowns on all our top picks. So, without further ado, let’s explore the best mattresses for side sleepers, as ranked by our sleep experts…
Best mattress for side sleepers: Quick list
If you're short on time, browse our quick list for the highlights of each of our top picks. Keen to learn more? Click 'read more' for additional details, including our first-hand experiences.
Price: from $1,373.80
Trial: 100 nights
Warranty: 15 years
The Helix Midnight Luxe is our overall top choice for side sleepers in 2024. It's the newer, plusher, taller version of the original Midnight, offering outstanding pressure relief and enhanced lumbar support. It's more expensive too, though so if you want the pressure relief of a Helix without the extras, check out the original Helix Midnight at #2.
Price: from $936
Trial: 100 nights
Warranty: 10 years
The Helix Midnight offers plenty of support for the lower back with just enough sinkage along the hips and shoulders — and at an affordable price, too. It's among the softer beds on our list (6/10 firmness) so if you're a combination sleeper or just want a little more support on your side, consider a firmer model like the Awara (#10).
Price: from $1,395
Trial: 365 nights
Warranty: Lifetime
The Saatva Classic offers a traditional innerspring feel and comes in three firmness options. (Side sleepers should go for soft or luxury firm.) Saatva also offers free in-home delivery, a one-year trial, and a lifetime warranty. Plus, you can choose between an 11.5 or 14.5 bed height with the Saatva. However, it won't have the sink of an all-foam bed or a foam-heavy hybrid, even if you opt for the softest version, so keep that in mind if you like to be hugged by your mattress.
Price: from $359
Trial: 365 nights
Warranty: Lifetime
Unlike the Helix Midnight (#2), the all-foam Nectar offers a slight sink-in sensation with a more noticeable amount of firmness so you feel supported. A lower mid-range price plus industry-best amenities (1-year trial, Forever Warranty) make the Nectar one of the best mattress values out there, rivaled only by the Cocoon Chill (#6).
Price: from $1,495
Trial: 100 nights
Warranty: 10 years
If sore joints are a problem when sleeping on your side, the Purple Original boasts incredible pressure relief. A hyper-elastic Gel-Flex Grid flexes under pressure to give you the support you need – and as a bonus, it aids in good airflow, too. On the flip side, edge support is weak here so if that's a priority for you, look at the Saatva (#3) or Helix Midnight Luxe (#1)
Price: from $619
Trial: 100 nights
Warranty: 10 years
The all-foam Cocoon Chill is priced similarly to the Nectar (#4) but has more cooling prowess thanks to a phase-changing cover that wicks away heat and moisture. It always comes with free sheets and pillows and is a great pick if you're a hot sleeper on a budget – just know the pricier GhostBed (#9) will feel even cooler.
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Price: From $1,699
Trial: 90 nights
Warranty: 10 years
The Tempur-Pedic Tempur-Cloud is one of the brand's more affordable options (by their standards anyway). This 10" deep mattress boasts bags of sink-in support to ease shoulder, hip and knee pain. However, it can trap a bit of heat and edge support could be better. If you need a cooling bed with a sturdy edge, try the Midnight Luxe at #1.
Read more below
Price: From $1,349
Trial: 100 nights
Warranty: 10 years
The Leesa Sapira Hybrid is the brand’s best selling bed, with its outstanding pressure relief for side sleepers and superb motion isolation making it a popular choice for couples. Stomach and heavier weight sleepers may require something a little sturdier, though, like the Awara at #10.
Price: from $2,595
Trial: 101 nights
Warranty: 25 years
Side sleepers seeking relief from overheating are bound to find it with the GhostBed Luxe, which is normally 50% off, reducing the price of a queen to $1,598. This medium (6/10) hybrid is loaded with advanced temperature-regulating tech and remains cool to the touch. If you're on a strict budget and only need minimal cooling, try the Cocoon Chill (#6).
Price: from $1,099
Trial: 365 nights
Warranty: Lifetime
Most of the picks on our list skew soft, but the Awara is decidedly firm at an 8 out of 10 on the firmness scale. However, this organic mattress features Dunlop latex, which offers subtle contouring with loads of support, no matter your position. It's a great pick for combination sleepers or side sleepers who don't want to sink too deeply into their bed.
Price: from $1,299
Trial: 100 nights
Warranty: 10 years
While the Awara (#10) will appeal to side sleepers who want to sleep on top of their bed, the super plush mattress from Kiwi Sleep (formerly SleepOvation) will allow you to sink right into it. Fortunately, it won't be at the expense of proper support and alignment – after all, this mattress was developed by a sleep industry vet to alleviate back pain.
Price: from $399
Trial: 100 nights
Warranty: 10 years
If you're looking for a quick upgrade to your primary bedroom or a guest room, then the Zinus memory foam mattress is a solid choice. For most adults, the 10" or 12" models offer adequate support and pressure relief. However, if you can invest a bit more, consider the Nectar (#4) or Cocoon Chill (#6).
The best mattresses for side sleepers, reviewed by experts
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Recent updates
We have recently tested the Helix Midnight Luxe and have added it to this guide as our overall top mattress choice for side sleepers.
The best mattress for side sleepers overall
The Helix Midnight Luxe is the newer, taller and plusher version of the original Helix Midnight and has recently knocked its predecessor off the top spot of our best mattress for side sleepers buyer’s guide. The Midnight Luxe is a 13.5 inch tall hybrid mattress made with a mix of Helix Responsive Foam, Copper Gel Memory Foam, plus DuraFoam and up to 1,000 individually wrapped coils for enhanced lumbar support and four-sided edge support (something that was lacking slightly in the original). This enhanced support is topped off by an ultra plush pillow top cover, which is wrapped in a hypoallergenic Tencel cover (which is another upgrade on the original).
Despite the deep pressure relief the pillow top provides, this is still a mattress that you sleep on top of as opposed to sinking too deeply into, thanks to the responsive memory foam layer underneath, which is underpinned by steel coils and dense foam base layer. Helix rates this mattress as 5-6 out of 10 on the firmness scale, but we rate it as a slightly firmer 6 out of 10, placing it in the true medium-firm category. This firmness, in addition to the enhanced lumbar support, means that it’s suitable for back sleepers, too. It’s plush, but surprisingly supportive.
The Helix Midnight Luxe boasts outstanding motion isolation, which is great news if you’re a restless sleeper who shares their bed. The strengthened edge support means you can sleep up to and sit comfortably on the bed’s edge without it slowly feeling it dip or collapse beneath you (there is a bit of sink, but that’s down to the squishiness of the pillow top).
In terms of temperature regulation, the Tencel cover is an improvement on the breathable cover included as standard on the Helix Midnight. It’s hypoallergenic and cool to the touch, and our testing panel felt comfortably cool throughout the testing period. However, if you're prone to overheating, you might want to upgrade to the GlacioTex cooling cover for an additional $249. Our only real niggle is the lack of handles on the side, which make moving this bed a little arduous. That aside, we highly recommend the Midnight Luxe if you want a plush hybrid bed for comfier, cooler side sleeping.
- Read more: Helix Midnight Luxe review
The best affordable mattress for side sleepers
The Helix Midnight is a highly rated hybrid, and it's our top affordable choice for side sleepers guide thanks to the perfect amount of sinkage at the shoulders and hips to keep your spine in neutral alignment when you're snoozing in this position, at a competitive price. Our testers loved sleeping on this mattress and found that it delivered plenty of support for the lower back, too.
At the top of the Helix Midnight mattress, you'll find a layer of blended memory foam that contours to your body and relieves pressure points when sleeping on your side. This works with various other foams to effectively deliver cushioned comfort. Don't worry – you won't feel as though you're being swallowed alive here, as the memory foam layer isn't hugely thick. Alongside these foams, the Helix Midnight mattress includes a layer of individually wrapped, 8" pocketed coils, which boost airflow through the mattress as well as limiting motion transfer within the mattress. That's great news if you've got a restless bedmate, as this bed will absorb motion and prevent their wriggling from disturbing your rest.
You'll also find a range of temperature-regulating materials, which we found worked effectively to keep our testers comfortably cool at night. The soft-touch stretch cover stays cool to the touch, even during warmer weather, although very hot sleepers may wish to upgrade to the GlacioTex Cooling Cover for an extra $249.
Rated 6/10 on the firmness scale, the Helix Midnight's medium softness offers the pressure relief you need around your hips and shoulders. However, it is on the softer side of what we'd recommend for side sleepers, and indeed being too soft is one of the main complaints from those people who didn't get on with this mattress. If you prefer a firmer feel, or if you also like to sleep on your front or sleep on your back sometimes, you should look for a mattress that's more like a 7 or even 8/10 (check out the Awara Natural Hybrid at #9 on this list). Note it also might not be supportive enough for those over 250lb (head to our best mattress for heavy bodies guide for recommendations there).
- Read more: Helix Midnight mattress review
The best luxury mattress for side sleepers
If you prefer a more traditional innerspring feel, the Saatva Classic is well worth a look. There is a little bit of foam in this mattress (a thin layer to offer extra lumbar support in the middle third, and rails around the perimeter for stability), but the main body of the mattress is mostly springs, with a pillow top for cushioning. This is a mattress you sleep on top of, rather than sinking in too deeply.
One big draw is that the Classic can be customized to your preferences, with two heights and three firmness levels to choose from. For side sleepers, we'd recommend either the soft (rated 3/10 on the firmness scale) or Luxury Firm (5-7), depending on your body weight and whether your preference is for a plusher or firmer feel. (We rank the 8/10 version as one of the best firm mattresses, but it likely cause pressure to build up in the shoulders for most side sleepers.)
We tried out the Luxury Firm option and found it delivered fantastic pressure relief, with the dual-coil system providing buoyant, firm support, and a little bounce. We rate it amongst the best mattresses for back pain, too.
The abundance of springs inside this model provides plenty of space for air to circulate, and the Classic sleeps nice and cool, with no issues trapping heat. (This can be an issue with all-foam models.) If you want that memory foam feel but struggle with sleeping hot, check out the GhostBed at #8.
Price-wise, this sits in the premium range, but the build quality is impeccable and there are perks like white glove delivery included for free. If you have the budget, the Saatva Classic is a worthwhile investment. As a slightly cheaper, yet still luxurious alternative, check out the Brooklyn model at #4.
- Read more: Saatva Classic mattress review
The best mattress for side and back sleepers
Nectar's popular memory foam mattress offers a slight sink-in feel but with a more noticeable amount of firmness compared to squishier side sleeper mattresses like the Helix Midnight above. This medium-firm bed-in-a-box balances comfort and support brilliantly. It'll contour to the shape of your body to relieve pressure on your shoulders, hips and knees, so you won't wake up with aches and pains in those places, but it's still firm enough that you'll feel well supported. You won't sink deeply into this mattress, but you can still expect some cradling.
Our testers also found that the Nectar mattress does a brilliant job at minimizing motion transfer, so you won't feel your partner (or pet) move around in bed next to you. Because it's slightly firmer, it's also suitable for combi-sleepers who sometimes like to lie on their back or stomach, making it a versatile choice overall.
This bed is entirely foam (in fact, we think it's one of the very best memory foam mattresses you can buy). At the top, you'll find 3 inches of high-density gel memory foam, which Nectar has designed to work in tandem with 2 inches of adaptive response memory foam for extra support. At the base are 7 inches of standard foam to provide you with a sturdy sleeping space.
All-foam mattresses can trap body heat and sleep warm. We didn't have any particular issues with this when we tried the Nectar, but if you know you sleep hot, consider the Cocoon (#3) instead. This is a similar all-foam design, but for a slightly higher price, you get a specialist cooling cover. Or if you have the budget, the GhostBed Luxe (#8) offers excellent cooling.
The Nectar mattress also receives top marks for added extras: there's a 365-night mattress trial period and a Forever Warranty, which is the best you'll find anywhere. This mattress is basically never sold at MSRP – it's one of the best mattress in a box models when it comes to sheer value for money.
- Read more: Nectar Memory Foam mattress review
The best memory foam mattress for side sleepers
If you tend to wake up with hip and knee pain from lying on your side, the Purple Mattress might well be the best option for you. We tested this mattress across all sleeping positions and it was particularly comfortable for side sleeping, thanks to Purple’s own Gel-Flex Grid technology; a durable hyper-elastic gel that flexes under pressure to deliver tailored support where you need it most.
While we found the edge support to be a little weak compared to similar mattresses, there's little else to complain about on the award-winning Purple Original. The combination of hyper-elastic polymer material and dual layers of foam reduce all pressure on your main impact points, and our testers felt supported from head to toe when sleeping on this mattress. It delivers good airflow too, making it an excellent choice for restless side sleepers who toss and turn at night because they’re overheating.
We found it to have a true medium-firm feel; we didn’t sink in too much at the hips and back, so our spine stayed in neutral alignment and we didn't feel any stiffness upon waking up. Overall we found it supportive, comfortable and cool, and liked the responsive yet firm feel. You'll have 100 nights to trial it at home, with Purple refunding your money if you change your mind during the trial.
- Read more: Purple Mattress review
The best budget cooling mattress for side sleepers
Made by industry giant Sealy, the Chill is a medium firm, all-foam mattress that delivers a lot for a mid-range price. Our reviewers all agreed that it's especially well suited to side sleepers, providing plenty of cushioning and support in this position. An upper layer of memory foam contours comfortably to the sleeper's body to provide tailored support, although you won't sink in as much as you will with some of the other models in our list.
The real star of the show is the phase-change material in the stretch-knit cover, which does a great job of regulating the temperature and wicking away heat. In our review, even our hot sleeper didn't wake up feeling sweaty once. (That cover is the main reason to choose the Chill over the Nectar (#2), an otherwise very similar mattress for a slightly lower price.)
While the Chill doesn't have quite the chilling powers of the GhostBed (at #8), it sleeps impressively cool for an all-foam model at a lower-mid range price. In fact it's excellent value all round – the Chill is far cheaper than most specialist cooling models, and we rank it amongst the best mattresses under $1,000.
The Cocoon by Sealy Chill also absorbs motion extremely well, making it a great choice for light sleepers who share a bed. We wouldn't necessarily recommend this model to heavier weight individuals, though, who may sink through the memory foam layer and not get those body-contouring benefit.
- Read more: Cocoon Chill Memory Foam mattress review
