Yes, you can create a complete side sleeper setup for under $500 this Black Friday — here’s how

A man and woman looking at a book while laying on their fronts on king size 12" Zinus Green Tea Cooling Memory Foam mattress

(Image credit: Amazon)

Let's say you're a side sleeper browsing the Black Friday sales on a tight budget. It may feel like you have to pick between a mattress, a pillow, or a piece of sleep tech. But what if I told you that you can actually get all of those items together for under $500?

As a veteran deals hunter, I'm here to help you get the most for your money — and as a side sleeper myself, I understand how important it is to strike that keen balance of proper support and pressure relief. Those considerations are reflected in my recommendations.

Keep in mind that these are budget picks; if you have the means to spend a little more on the very best mattress then go for it — there are Black Friday mattress deals on all of those too (and hopefully some of them will roll straight into the Cyber Monday mattress sales).

The ultimate side sleeper setup for under $500

1. The mattress

Our favorite budget mattress for side sleepers is this popular all-foam model from Zinus. Tester Ruth Jones praised its 'high level of pressure relief' for side sleepers in her Zinus Green Tea Memory Foam Mattress review — and I'm inclined to agree. I spent a weekend with this mattress during a stay at a vacation home and was pleasantly surprised by how well it contoured my body while keeping me properly aligned. This outrageously low price is unlikely to last through the holiday weekend, so I recommend acting on this one sooner rather than later.

2. The pillows

Since the Zinus mattress has a medium to plush tension, you'll want to go for a firmer pillow — on the other hand, firmness is subjective. We rate this the best pillow for side sleepers for its adjustable firmness and loft, allowing you to tailor it to your body and sleep surface. I'm also a fan of the ergonomic design, and tester Terri Williams appreciated its "contouring support to [her] neck and shoulders" in her Nest Bedding Easy Breather Side Sleeper Pillow review. A 30% discount for Black Friday puts it at one of the lowest prices we've tracked.

While I don't sleep with a body pillow, several of my side-sleeping colleagues swear by using one because it helps keep everything in proper alignment. (Plus, it's just so fun to cuddle!) I've tried the Coop Sleep Goods' Cool+ Pillow and think it lives up to the 'Cool+' portion of the name. I'm recommending this body pillow in particular because all-foam beds (such as the Zinus) tend to trap heat. The cool-touch cover and cooling gel foams here will work to keep you at a manageable temperature. Save 25% on this soothing body pillow in the Coop Sleep Black Friday sale.

3. The headphones

If you like to wind down by listening to calm sounds or meditation music, as I do, you'll need a pair of sleep headphones that are comfortable enough to wear when on your side. These headphones are actually built into a headband, which also has a sleep mask so you can block out the light. As tester Ruth Jones says in her MUSICOZY Sleep Headphones review, you'll want to temper your expectations as the sound quality won't be on par with your AirPods, but it's still an excellent value. It comes in a wide array of colors, and it's great for travel, too.

Based in Philadelphia, writer and editor Alison Barretta has been sharing buying advice and retail news for over 15 years. Since 2020 she's been helping Tom's Guide expand its robust library of sleep content by researching the latest trends, speaking with renowned experts, and going behind the scenes at Saatva, Casper, Sleep Number, Tempur-Pedic, and 3Z Brands. Alison has reviewed everything from budget mattresses to immersive luxury smart beds that automatically adjust to your every move. When she isn't reviewing mattresses or searching for great deals to save you money, Alison can be found practicing yoga and martial arts, experimenting with recipes, getting too invested in the Philadelphia Flyers, and snoozing with her cat / assistant mattress tester Alex.

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