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I test mattresses for a living — this is the one key thing side sleepers need from their bed to boost their chances of falling asleep fast and avoiding nighttime wake-ups
I’ve tested and reviewed many mattresses. From all-foam, squishy marshmallow beds to firmer latex hybrid mattresses. But what’s the secret to falling asleep fast and sleeping through the night as a side sleeper?
It’s a question I often hear from family and friends who have spent countless nights tossing and turning or waking up to the dreaded dead hip or arm. But the answer is fairly simple. While the best mattress for your body and sleep depends on your personal preferences, there are certain things you should look for if you’re a side sleeper.
Here, I’m sharing the one key thing I think makes the most difference to my sleep as a side sleeper, plus the three features that make a bed suitable for this sleeping position.
The one thing side sleepers need from their bed
Mattresses are made up of two main parts: the comfort layers and the support core. Comfort layers are often made from softer materials that cushion or contour around your body, like memory foam, foam, wool, and latex. Whereas the support core is usually made from firmer foam, firm latex or coils.
I've slept on and tested some of the best mattresses for side sleepers and the one thing all these beds all have in common is excellent pressure relief. Plenty of pressure relief and contouring support helps relieve pressure in the hips, shoulders and knees.
While this is true for all sleepers, not just side sleepers, our body weight is less evenly distributed when we’re on our side, which can lead to painful pressure points.
While most people assume pressure relief comes from softer beds, medium-firm beds can work for lighter-weight side sleepers, too. The most important thing is to consider how well the mattress ‘gives’ around your body, while still keeping your spine held in correct alignment with the rest of your body.
For this reason, it’s unlikely a super soft or super firm bed will be comfortable. Most likely, a mattress that sits somewhere in the middle of the firmness scale will best suit side sleepers.
Why pressure relief will help you fall asleep fast and avoid nighttime wakeups
A bed without enough pressure relief will result in you tossing and turning to get comfortable. As pressure builds in the hips and shoulders, you’re likely to shift around and switch position until it happens again.
This can increase your sleep latency (the time it takes to fall asleep). The feeling of pressure building can also wake you up in the night, as well as waking with hip, knee and shoulder pain in the morning (the touch points of a mattress when side sleeping).
When you experience a mattress that has both excellent pressure relief and support, you realise it’s much easier than you think to sleep through the night. In fact, when I tested the DreamCloud Classic, a mattress that scored excellently for pressure relief in our new mattress testing methodology, I pretty much stayed in the same position all night.
What to look for in a mattress for side sleepers
With most mattress shopping taking place online, it’s difficult to know how to tell if a mattress is good for side sleepers. Aside from reading our mattress reviews, there are a few things you should look out for.
A firmness rating of 5-8
The mattress firmness scale generally used by most mattress companies runs from 1-10. One is as soft as a marshmallow, and 10 is as firm as a plank of wood.
Now, of course, mattress firmness is subjective, but the scale is there to help guide you.
Generally, I’d advise side sleepers to opt for mattresses that fall anywhere between five and eight on the firmness scale. Consider browsing the best medium-firm mattresses of the year.
Too soft, and your hips may sink too far into the bed, putting strain on your spine. Too firm, and pressure will build in the shoulders and hips almost immediately, leading to pain and discomfort.
At least 12” thick
A mattress below eight inches will rarely offer enough support for most people. Most standard mattresses range from eight inches to 16” thick. However, I’d generally advise side sleepers to avoid mattresses under 12” thick.
Without that depth, it’s unlikely the mattress will have the right balance of comfort layers and support core to keep pressure from building in your hips, shoulders and knees.
However, there are some exceptions. For example, we were really impressed when we tested the Zinus Green Tea Memory Foam mattress — a 10” budget bed. Despite the smaller profile (and firm feel), our side-sleeper mattress testers found that it was actually excellent at pressure relief.
Memory foam comfort layers
I do want to preface this by saying that, as a side sleeper, I sleep on a wool and latex mattress that is pretty firm. It doesn’t contour around my body, but I still find it comfortable.
However, most side sleepers will benefit from the contouring feel of memory foam. This material is slow moving and adapts to your body and movements. This means that it has plenty of ‘give’ around the hips, shoulders and knees, but can remain supportive – not sinking so much that your spine shifts out of alignment.
Ultimately, if you choose one of the best memory foam mattresses, the feeling is akin to sleeping on a cloud. You often feel weightless because the foam holds you in one position all night. The best hybrid mattresses often have comfort layers made from memory foam, so they’re a great option for side sleepers, too.
Latex, found in most of the best organic mattresses, has a firmer, bouncier feel. It doesn’t contour or cushion the body, but keeps you elevated. As I mentioned, this works for me, but I know most side sleepers prefer something that has a little more ‘give’.
