Sleeping on their side can feel comfortable, yet this position may cause spine misalignment. Therefore, side sleepers must choose a mattress which supports neutral spinal alignment while providing pressure relief on hips and shoulders.
Certified-organic latex provides a resilient yet flexible surface that gently conforms to your body without feeling sinky, earning high marks in our tests for movement isolation and breathability.
Support
As side sleepers, one of the key considerations when selecting a mattress should be adequate support, with soft yet firm enough feel to properly align and alleviate pressure on hips and shoulders. Memory foam mattresses often provide this support; hybrid or innerspring models may as well, depending on materials or construction details.
Contouring is another essential aspect of sleeping on your side. Sleeping this way creates uneven space between hips and shoulders that can result in lower back ache; contouring fills this void to provide a more comfortable sleeping experience.
Memory foam or adaptive polyfoam mattresses offer great contouring capabilities, adapting closely and slowly to movement to provide a fluffy surface that reduces pressure points on sensitive areas. Furthermore, these materials can mold closely around body contours for maximum support while still accommodating side sleepers without an uncomfortable sagging effect in the middle of their mattress.
Hybrid and innerspring mattresses often offer excellent contouring capabilities. These types of mattresses use multiple coil layers to provide an responsive surface. In general, hybrid and innerspring mattresses tend to provide more structure for heavier individuals that need additional support compared to all-foam models such as Puffy Lux or Helix Midnight which offer excellent side sleeping comfort.
For side sleepers who prefer innerspring mattresses, the Saatva Classic mattress is an excellent option. Featuring two durable coil layers and an organic latex layer – making it one of our softest options – it makes this model one of the best options when looking for comfort but without sinkage.
Tuft & Needle Hybrid Titan Plus mattress provides exceptional side sleeping support. Constructed for larger individuals with its sturdy innerspring base and thick coils, as well as featuring plush latex cushioning on top to cushion any sagging at the center of the mattress, this hybrid features additional plush latex cushioning to cushion and prevent sagging while keeping sag-prone areas at bay.
Contouring
Sleeping on your side places extra strain on the hips and shoulders; therefore, an effective mattress must contour to these areas to alleviate pain while keeping the spine properly aligned. Although different kinds of mattresses can conform to the shape of a sleeper’s body, memory foam and latex mattresses have the greatest ability to do so; hybrid and innerspring styles also offer some degree of conforming abilities; these superior options perform as promised when it comes to conforming.
Side sleepers benefit from choosing a softer mattress as it provides additional cushioning to their hips and shoulders, relieving pressure from those areas. However, be wary of selecting an overly soft bed as this may start to sag and inhibit proper spinal alignment instead of exaggerated bending of their spines.
Mattress firmness should also be taken into consideration when searching for an appropriate side sleeping mattress. While no single firmness mattress fits every sleeper perfectly, medium-firm models tend to provide optimal comfort. Such mattresses typically feature layers of foam with zoned support for hips and shoulders as well as soft enough materials that allow sleepers to sink into bed comfortably.
Some foam mattresses — like our top choice from Puffy — feature memory foam layers with contouring properties and enhanced feel, making this mattress an excellent option for side sleepers who like the feeling of sinking in. Plus, its four different layers of foam atop its coil system provide ample support while remaining breathable so as to not make sleepers too hot while resting.
Helix Midnight Luxe mattress offers plush side sleeping support that’s sure to please most side sleepers, even at a more expensive price point than some of its alternatives on this list. Our tests showed it performed admirably for side sleepers with its unique lumbar support helping ease back pain. Furthermore, its airflow-enhancing layers and TENCEL cover promote cool temperatures for increased sleeper comfort; plus its innovative Helix construction uses multiple layers of foam that provides optimal spinal support in its most natural state.
Foam
Ideal mattresses for side sleepers should feature soft, cushiony layers to protect the shoulders from jamming together and avoid undue hip pressure, while being firm enough to maintain neutral spinal alignment; additional support may be required around the neck and shoulders if necessary.
As such, many of the best mattresses for side sleepers are memory foam or latex models with high compression resistance that won’t form indents easily; plus they respond quickly when your position shifts, quickly springing back.
These features can help you wake up feeling rejuvenated and pain-free, alleviating any aches or discomforts caused by sleeping on an unsupportive mattress. However, mattress firmness is very personal so be sure to choose a model that feels right to you.
Memory foam mattresses are ideal for side sleepers because of its natural contouring capabilities, providing outstanding pressure relief. Furthermore, its responsive nature enables it to respond well to body movement while providing exceptional lumbar support.
However, if you prefer firmer mattresses or are heavier sleeper, opting for one with extra layer of dense foam can prevent too much sinkage into the mattress.
Another viable choice is a hybrid mattress that combines traditional innerspring support with soft layers such as foam or latex for optimal side sleeping comfort. Such mattresses provide both support and softness – ideal for side sleepers!
Hybrid mattresses offer one of the most adaptable sleeping surfaces for all types of sleepers and provide excellent edge support. One of our top picks, the Nolah Evolution was one of Jaclyn’s preferred side sleeping options due to its medium level sinkage/bounce ratio as well as excellent response/cooling/lumbar support/pressure relief features.
If you’re shopping online for mattresses, it’s essential that you choose a brand with a generous trial period to test out your mattress in your own home and be confident it is suitable. This ensures you can return it and receive your money back should something not work out as intended.
Latex
As side sleeping is the most prevalent sleeping position, side sleepers typically need a mattress with additional contouring around their hips and shoulders. For optimal results in this position, mattresses that combine softness with firmness will provide both stress relief as well as enough give to prevent you from sinking too deep into it and creating alignment issues with their spines.
Memory foam and latex mattresses are two excellent materials to consider for side sleepers, since both provide extra contouring while still offering great support. Latex mattresses differ from memory foam by offering more resilient cushioning and bounce, making it an excellent option for heavier sleepers or those who prefer firmer surfaces. Many manufacturers now include natural or synthetic latex in their offerings. Natural latex is harvested from rubber trees (Hevea brasiliensis) grown on tropical climate plantations farms and harvested as a renewable, sustainable resource. Synthetic latex, however, is often made of petroleum-derived chemicals and less eco-friendly than its all-natural counterpart. Most mattresses featuring all-natural latex use it in their comfort layers while hybrid mattresses using both types in their support cores are more eco-friendly overall.
Other mattress types, including hybrids and innerspring mattresses, can provide contoured support for side sleepers as well. Some beds like the Puffy Hybrid feature an innerspring base with memory foam or latex layers on top; these beds may be ideal for hot sleepers because they promote airflow while minimising heat retention. Others like Casper have only foam comfort layers but are still highly supportive when sleeping this way.
No mattress type will fit every person perfectly; therefore, personal preference is the cornerstone of selecting an appropriate bed. If an all-foam mattress feels too soft or firm for you, consider adding a mattress topper to customize its feel. In addition, consider your sleeping style, weight and mattress size when making this important decision. Finally, when shopping with someone else consider hybrid or innerspring mattresses with better motion isolation for couples sharing beds.
The Sleep Loft - Online mattress showroom 