The Best Mattresses for Side Sleepers
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If you're looking for the best side-sleeper mattresses, welcome. You’re in good company, as many of the WIRED Reviews team are also side sleepers. So are most Americans. The numbers vary across studies and depend on how rigidly you define “side sleeper,” but between half and three-quarters of people sleep on their side for at least part of the night.
If you're a side sleeper, you know how crucial it is that your bed keeps your back aligned while the hips and shoulders get some cushioning. Otherwise, it's a disaster. Without enough lumbar support, your middle is sinking in way farther than the rest of your body. Meanwhile, your hips and shoulders get that much more strain placed on them, especially if the bed is not forthcoming with pressure relief. It doesn't paint a cozy picture, which is why we side sleepers want something that accomplishes the lumbar support, pressure relief, and comfort trifecta.
Many of our testers side-sleep and can speak to the necessity of these mattress performance factors firsthand, including director Martin Cizmar and reviewer Julia Forbes, a certified sleep science coach. It's never so simple as just lying down on a mattress and saying “Eureka!” That's why we spend at least a week with each model to monitor our daily sleep and feelings toward each one. We as a team have collectively spent years testing hundreds of mattresses. Of those hundreds of options, we whittled it down to our 12 that we wholeheartedly can say are the best mattresses for side sleepers.
Be sure to check out our other sleep guides, including the Best Mattresses, Best Organic Mattresses, and the Best Body Pillows for Side Sleepers.
Updated April 2026: We’ve added Sleep Number's new ComfortNext Lux model, updated the honorable mentions section, and ensured that all links and prices are up to date.
Jump to Section
- Compare Our Top Picks
- Honorable Mentions
- How We Test Mattresses
- Is Sleeping on Your Side Good for You?
- How Firm Should a Mattress Be for Side Sleepers?
- What Will a Mattress Topper Do for Side Sleepers?
- What Kind of Mattress Is Best for Side Sleepers: Memory Foam or Hybrid?
- What Do “Pressure Relief” and Other Testing Terms Mean?
- What Certifications Do I Need to Look for With My New Mattress?
- How Did WIRED Select Mattresses to Be Reviewed?
- How Does WIRED Acquire the Mattresses?
- What Does WIRED Do With the Mattresses After Testing Them?
Best Overall
One mattress made specially for side sleepers, coming right up. The design of the Nolah Evolution is meant to promote pressure relief, from the Euro pillow top to the pocketed coils in the very center of the mattress.
Of the three firmness levels offered, luxury firm does well with keeping the shoulders and hips level so that the lower back doesn't dip into odd angles (to prevent lower back pain). When it comes to lower-back support, the middle of the bed is purposefully firmer, thanks to zoned AirFoam right under the Euro pillow top and firmer zoned coils at the bottom. The pillow top conformed around my body, but overall, the mattress still retained a noticeably firmer feel. If you are a side sleeper who needs something softer, either for hip or shoulder pain, or that's just what you prefer, the plush soft version may be a better fit for you.
Spine alignment and pressure relief are two standout features side sleepers need, and it's not the only area where the Nolah Evolution stands out. The coil core makes it incredibly responsive (meaning, bouncy), which is great, since I move around seemingly nonstop as I sleep. It also stays relatively cool, especially when I throw on cooling sheets. Oh, and be sure to check out my Nolah Evolution mattress review while you’re at it. —Julia Forbes
Nolah Evolution ranges from $1,610 for a twin mattress to $3,754 for a split king.
Mattress type Memory foam hybrid Materials Organic cotton or GlacioTex cover, AirFoam Luxe memory foams, gel memory foam, AirBreath border gusset, pocketed coils Firmness Three options, luxury firm is a 7.5/10 Height 15 inches Certifications CertiPur-US, GreenGuard Gold Trial period 365 nights Shipping Arrives in a box as part of standard shipping; white-glove delivery available (mattress setup and old bed removal) for $225 Warranty Limited lifetime WIRED/TIREDWIRED- Memory foam maintains pressure relief, but doesn't take away from a supportive feel
- Extra lumbar support via zoned coils
TIRED- Cooling pillow top is an upcharge
Best Mattress for Side Sleepers With Back Pain
The Helix Midnight Luxe is our favorite overall mattress and has been for years. Other testers rate this best hybrid as a popular pick for side sleepers, as you get serious spinal alignment that can help with avoiding back pain. A layer of super-dense foam along your torso is key for this, and offers lots of support while leaving plenty of give for your hips and shoulders. I tuck my arm under my pillow while on my side, and it slipped in perfectly on this mattress, leaving me with no shoulder pain.
The only downside is that such a dense layer of foam means that if you roll far enough out of position, you end up with a relatively firm section under the wrong part of your body. I sometimes roll halfway across the bed and sideways, and found myself with a creaky back after doing so. But if you're looking for spinal alignment and will stay relatively close to the same position throughout the night, this is just the right mattress. —Martin Cizmar
Helix Midnight Luxe ranges from $1,685 for a twin mattress to $3,173 for an RV king.
Mattress type Memory foam hybrid Materials Tencel cover or GlacioTex cooling cover (extra fee), memory foams, pocketed coils, CoolForce layer (extra fee) Firmness One option is 6.5/10 Height 13.5 inches Certifications CertiPur-US, GreenGuard Gold Trial period 100 nights Shipping Free for customers in the contiguous US Warranty Limited lifetime WIRED/TIREDWIRED- Center of the mattress has firmer zoned coils, and firmer foam with ErgoAlign
- Tons of pressure relief for the hips and shoulders
TIRED- ErgoAlign is an upcharge
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Best Firm Mattress for Side Sleepers
Side sleepers may look toward softer mattresses, just to give their pressure points a break. The trade-off is that softer beds aren’t always able to maintain spinal alignment. Medium-firm is a wise choice for maintaining both pressure relief and lumbar support, but some sleepers may just want a straight-up firm bed. Several teammates have tested the Bear Elite Hybrid, but for WIRED reviewer Nena Farrell, the Bear in Firm was a noteworthy experience.
Nena is a side sleeper who suffers from spondylosis and scoliosis—firm mattresses are nonnegotiable for her, as they ensure that she gets enough spine support to sleep well. In her words, the Bear Elite Hybrid was “insanely firm” for the first few nights. However, it didn’t prove challenging to her hips and shoulders, and she woke up without any aches or pains during testing. The top quilted pillowtop was essential for this, as it’s meant to cradle these sensitive areas without allowing unnecessary sinkage around your midsection. There is also copper-infused foam for cooling, and zoned coils for dedicated, firmer lumbar support. —Julia Forbes
Bear Elite Hybrid ranges from $1,998 for a twin mattress to $2,570 for a California king.
Mattress type Memory foam hybrid Materials Phase change material (PCM) cooling cover, copper-infused memory foam, dynamic memory foam, pocketed coils Firmness Soft, Medium, Firm (7/10) Height 14 inches Certifications CertiPur-US, GreenGuard Gold Trial period 120 nights, 30-day break-in period required before initiating return Shipping Free for customers in the contiguous US Warranty Limited lifetime WIRED/TIREDWIRED- Medium firmness good for getting just enough pressure relief without throwing spine alignment out of sync
- No “stuck” feeling for sleepers who move around often
TIRED- If you want the cooling Celliant cover, expect to pay extra for it
Best Cooling Mattress for Side Sleepers
Most mattresses aiming to solve sleeping problems target one issue—back problems, say, or preventing motion transfer to stop disturbances from a partner. The Leesa Sapira Chill Hybrid is special for solving two big problems by offering excellent spinal alignment for side sleepers and using cooling fibers that will maintain a surface temperature of 88 degrees Fahrenheit.
The Sapira Chill has an attractive European-style quilted top with nice deep divots from the stitching, which also seems to help hot air escape. The cooling cover is made from polyethylene and polyester with a dash of Lycra, and while it's not icy to the touch, it did keep me comfortable during two weeks of testing. What I really liked, though, was the way two layers of springs separated by one of three layers of foam added up to a medium-firm feel, with my hips sinking deep but not too deep. It was the best at cooling among the side-sleeper mattresses I've tested. —Martin Cizmar
Leesa Sapira Chill ranges from $1,599 for a twin mattress to $2,689 for a California king.
Mattress type Memory foam hybrid Materials Phase change cooling cover, cooling memory foams, pocketed coils Firmness Three options, firm is a 7/10 Height 14 inches Certifications CertiPur-US, GreenGuard Gold Trial period 100 nights Shipping Free for customers in the contiguous US Warranty Limited lifetime WIRED/TIREDWIRED- Surface designed to keep an even temperature
- Distributes body weight well
TIRED- Pillow top addition can make bed feel softer, so be mindful of choosing your firmness level
Best Latex Mattress for Side Sleepers
- Photograph: Martin Cizmar
- Courtesy of Naturepedic
- Courtesy of Naturepedic
Before I started testing mattresses professionally, I spent a decade sleeping on a heavy old latex mattress that slowly grew to have a me-shaped divot in it. The Naturepedic EOS reminds me a lot of that mattress—partly because it has a 3-inch layer of natural latex, and partly because it's aged very well over nearly a year of long-term use anytime I'm not actively testing something else.
The EOS is an organic hybrid that puts the latex layer on top of 8-inch encased coils and below a cover made from organic cotton with wool batting. This bed is extremely comfortable for me as a side sleeper, with the springs helping dissipate body heat in a way an all-latex mattress does not, and the only real downside is that because the parts of this bed need to be zipped together, its edges can get a little wonky unless you're very careful about how you arrange the parts. —Martin Cizmar
Naturepedic EOC Classic ranges from $2,399 for a twin mattress to $4,699 for a California king.
Mattress type Latex hybrid Materials Organic cotton cover, plant-based PLA layer, organic wool batting, organic latex, organic cotton batting, organic cotton fill and fabric, pocketed coils Firmness Customizable firmness for each side Height 12 inches Certifications Global Organic Latex Standard (GOLS), Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS), Made Safe, EWG verified, GreenGuard Gold, Formaldehyde-Free Claim Verified by UL Environment, Organic Content Standard certified, Organic Trade Association certified, Responsible Wool Standard Certified, Forest Stewardship Council certified Trial period 100 nights Shipping Arrives in a box as part of standard shipping. For contiguous US shoppers, mattress setup is $299; setup and old bed removal is $349 Warranty 25 year WIRED/TIREDWIRED- Incredibly customizable
- Sturdy pieces zip together to closely resemble a traditional mattress
TIRED- If you don't spend a lot of time aligning the parts while putting it together, you can end up with sloppy edges
Best Memory Foam Mattress for Side Sleepers
The Contour5 is Saatva's all-foam successor to the discontinued Loom & Leaf, which you will no longer find on the menu of the company's site, but it's still for sale here. Like all Saatva mattresses, it comes delivered on a moving truck instead of roll-packed—you can sleep on it right away instead of having to let it puff back up.
The Contour5 is quite similar to its predecessor and the Saatva Classic I've tested. There are now two firmness options instead of one, and it stands a half-inch taller than its predecessor. It also has updated cooling tech that utilizes airflow channels in the gel foam layer, and that gel foam is a half-inch thinner than the old version, which means less mass to retain heat. In my two weeks of testing, I found it was very good at remaining cool through summer nights when my power company kept hijacking my Ecobee, which is impressive given that it uses extra-dense 5-pound-weight memory foam (that's the 5 in the name).
The Contour5 performs very much like the other two Saatva mattresses I've tested. It's soft enough for side sleeping without feeling like a saggy hammock. It has excellent build quality and a very sturdy, solid feel. That's especially impressive on the Contour5 given that it's an all-foam mattress without a layer or two of springs. I prefer a hybrid with microcoils, but Saatva is popular for a reason, and as all-foam mattresses go, it has a true luxury feel. —Martin Cizmar
Saatva Contour5 ranges from $1,899 for a twin mattress to $3,649 for a California king.
Mattress type All-foam Materials Organic cotton cover, plant-based flame barrier, phase change material “CoolVent” layer, 5-pound memory foam layer, gel memory foam, high density memory foam Firmness Two options, firm is an 8/10 Height 12.5 inches Certifications CertiPur-US, GreenGuard Gold Trial period 365 nights Shipping White glove delivery included with purchase Warranty Lifetime WIRED/TIREDWIRED- Softer feel, but still supportive
- Stays relatively cool
TIRED- Soft may not be the best option for those with back pain
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Best Mattress for Side Sleeper Couples
Casper's Dream Hybrid might be the epitome of what I would recommend for a side sleeper—the memory foam within this hybrid hits the mark for pressure relief without overdoing it. Side sleepers typically do well with softer mattresses, provided there are enough back-support materials involved to ensure lumbar support. But softer mattresses can feel downright gelatinous to many, with overly squishy layers you have to fight to settle into.
That was not the case for me with the Casper Dream Hybrid, which did a wonderful job delivering gentle pushback and keeping my body feeling lifted and weightless. What stood out to me was how well the foam and coils kept the bed from jostling too much as I moved around. This level of motion isolation can be really helpful for couples who don't want disruptions from their partner getting comfy in the wee hours.
I also enjoyed how the foam layers contoured around my hip and shoulder when I was on my side. The foam’s zoned design kept firmer support around my lower back. This is actually a key feature of the mattress. Pocketed coils can adjust to varying degrees of body weight across the mattress’s surface, putting firmer support on high-weight areas and softer pushback elsewhere. The zoned foam only furthers this design feature, ensuring that support stays at the forefront. —Julia Forbes
Casper Dream Hybrid ranges from $1,495 for a twin mattress to $3,190 for a split king.
Mattress type Memory foam hybrid Materials Knit cover, memory foam, zoned memory foam, pocketed coils, foam rail edge support Firmness Medium firm Height 12 inches Certifications CertiPur-US Trial period 100 nights Shipping Arrives in box as part of standard shipping; Alaska and Hawaii involves separate shipping fee Warranty 10-year limited WIRED/TIREDWIRED- Poster child for pressure relief
- Temperature-neutral for hot sleepers
TIRED- Cooling cover upgrade is an extra $150
Best Organic Mattress for Side Sleepers
The standard model from Birch has long been our pick for side sleepers who want an organic mattress, but Birch's new higher-end Luxe Natural model impressed over my month of testing, thanks to its medium-firm feel and structured support. The Luxe Natural is GOTS-certified organic and uses natural latex with no polyurethane-based foams.
Like the standard Birch, the Luxe has multiple layers of wool plus a layer of individually wrapped coils for support and cushioning. It adds a pillowy Euro top for firmer edges. For side sleepers, the coils offer full lumbar support and are arranged to effectively cradle you after a break-in period of two weeks. —Martin Cizmar
Birch Luxe Natural ranges from $1,624 for a twin mattress to $3,124 for a California king.
Mattress type Latex hybrid Materials Organic cotton cover, wool, organic latex, pocketed coils Firmness One option is a 7/10 Height 11.5 inches Certifications Global Organic Latex Standard (GOLS), GreenGuard Gold Trial period 100 nights Shipping Arrives in a box as part of standard shipping; white-glove delivery available for $199 Warranty Limited lifetime WIRED/TIREDWIRED- If you can’t commit to one way of sleeping, latex is the material for you
- Highly responsive—bouncy—which makes it adaptable
TIRED- Initially has a “natural” smell to it … like wool fresh off the farm
- Very heavy and tough to move compared to hybrids
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Best Mattress for Heavy-Bodied Side Sleepers
Let’s say you're both tall and packing some extra body mass. I get it—I come from a family of very tall individuals. Regular mattresses don't cut it, feeling either too soft, unsupportive, or a bit of both. This is where firmer beds are actually the move for heavier-bodied sleepers. With more weight pressing into the bed, it actually feels softer to the sleeper in question.
The WinkBed mattress has always been a standout option to me as a professional mattress tester. It's not only because it has a Plus setting especially for heavier-bodied sleepers, but its luxury firm and firm offerings are quite supportive, too. WIRED reviewer Julian Chokkattu is 6'4" and did some long-term testing (two years, to be exact) of the luxury firm version of The WinkBed. He found that the pillow top hit the mark for pressure relief, but firm support was more evident. —Julia Forbes
The WinkBed ranges from $1,427 for a twin mattress to $2,856 for a California king.
Mattress type Five-layer hybrid Materials Tencel cover, gel memory foam, pocketed coils Firmness Softer, luxury firm, firm, plus Height 13.5 inches Certifications CertiPur-US, Forest Steward Council-certified Tencel cover Trial period 120 nights Shipping Free shipping via UPS ground for contiguous US Warranty Limited lifetime WIRED/TIREDWIRED- Four firmness levels to suit different sleepers
- Enhanced lumbar and edge support
TIRED- Breathable, but not explicitly a cooling mattress
Best Hybrid Mattress for Side Sleepers
- Photograph: Julia Forbes
- Photograph: Julia Forbes
- Photograph: Julia Forbes
- Photograph: Julia Forbes
Even though I tested the Wolf Memory Foam Hybrid Premium Firm Mattress last year, I've been singing its praises ever since. With its two mattress materials at work that are both side-sleeper friendly, you glean all the benefits of a memory foam mattress and an innerspring one. The Wolf had a firmer feel, but it did not feel abrasive against my hips and shoulders. Rather, my body was kept evenly aligned so that my spine wasn't hurting, and my joints felt painless.
Nine layers go into this bed, with a lot of cooling and comfort foams stacked on pocketed coils. The cooling cover was something else, maintaining a cool feel that I could detect through my sheets. These components did a fabulous job of not only supporting me but also helping me wake up refreshed each morning. —Julia Forbes
The Wolf Memory Foam Hybrid Premium Firm Mattress ranges from $1,049 for a twin mattress to $1,399 for a king.
Mattress type Hybrid Materials Cooling cover, gel memory foam, support foam, pocketed coils Firmness Medium firm Height 13 inches Certifications CertiPur-US Trial Period 101 nights Shipping Arrives in a box as part of standard shipping Warranty Limited lifetime WIRED/TIREDWIRED- Helps with spinal alignment
- Compatible with adjustable base
TIRED- Can be too firm for some
Most Unique Mattress for Side Sleepers
A struggle side sleepers know all too well is the feeling of their shoulder jutting awkwardly into their mattress. That's where the Sonu Sleep System aims to change the game. As a side sleeper myself, I had to know what it was like.
The premise of this mattress is that your arm tucks into a carved-out space directly underneath your pillow. This way, cushioning and support are still maintained around your hips and lower back, but your shoulder isn't a single big pain point. It's pretty ingenious, but it works best if you only side-sleep. After a few nights, my husband started having back aches, as he didn't get as much lift under his lumbar zone while sleeping on his back. —Nena Farrell
The Sonu Sleep System ranges from $2,099 for a twin XL mattress to $4,049 for a split king.
Mattress type Hybrid Materials Cooling cover, “Comfort Channel” internal structure, and support foams that contain “Support Pillows”; cooling foam, support foam, pocketed coils Firmness Firm, 8/10 Height 14 inches Certifications CertiPur-US-certified foams Trial period 100, return fee is $99, and can go up to $250 Shipping Free delivery within the contiguous US Warranty 10 years WIRED/TIREDWIRED- Unique design
- Can layer any pillows on top of the cut-outs
- Super soft feel
TIRED- Can use with existing sheets, but best to buy Sonu's sheets
- No separation between each side of the bed in the shoulder cavity
Best Smart Bed for Side Sleepers
- Photograph: Julia Forbes
- Photograph: Julia Forbes
- Photograph: Julia Forbes
- Video: Julia Forbes
One of the newest additions to the Sleep Number smart bed fleet, the ComfortNext Lux means business when it comes to softness and pressure relief. Softer beds are ideal for side sleepers who need pressure relief, as a bed that's too firm can lead to joint aches and pains. The flip side is that if a bed is too soft, it can throw your spine's natural alignment off, potentially leading to back pain. The ComfortNext Lux did a wonderful job of balancing both of these things in testing.
Armed with built-in sleep tracking, the ComfortNext Lux monitors your nightly sleep score, labeled “Sleep IQ” number within the app. That data is compared to the firmness level you choose, otherwise known as your “Sleep Number” setting. This helps you dial in the firmness that, according to your sleep-tracking data, bodes well for better sleep. This smart bed already feels pretty sumptuous thanks to a thick layer of foam on top, to the point that you sink in a good 3 inches or so. I was blown away when the app suggested that I go even softer. I kicked off testing at the firmest setting, 100, which felt ultimately like a medium-firm. However, the app suggested I go down to 35, and I had consistently high sleep reports from both the bed and my other sleep tracker, my Apple Watch SE. —Julia Forbes
The Sleep Number ComfortNext Lux ranges from $3,599 for a twin XL to $9,398 for a FlexTop California king.
Mattress type Smart bed Materials Soft cover, cooling foam, support foam, pocketed micro coils, air chambers, foam base layer, underbed pump Firmness 100 firmness levels Height 13 inches Certifications CertiPur-US Trial Period 100 nights Shipping Free white-glove delivery when you purchase a base for an additional fee Warranty 10-year limited WIRED/TIREDWIRED- Exceptional pressure relief materials
- Very little motion transfer, if any
- Adjustable firmness levels (100) on each side of the bed
TIRED- Even at the firmest setting, it caps out at an overall medium-firm feel
- Runs warm due to thicker memory foam
- Softer feel makes it a bit harder to move between sleeping positions
Compare Our Top Picks
| Mattress | Mattress type | Materials | Firmness | Height | Certifications | Trial Period | Shipping | Warranty |
| Nolah Evolution | Hybrid | Organic cotton or GlacioTex cover, AirFoam Luxe memory foams, gel memory foam, AirBreath border gusset, pocketed coils | Plush, luxury firm, firm | 15 inches | CertiPur-US, GreenGuard Gold | 120 nights; 30-day break-in period required before initiating return ($99 shipping fee) | Arrives in a box as part of standard shipping; white-glove delivery available (mattress setup and old bed removal) for $225 | Limited lifetime |
| Helix Midnight Luxe | Hybrid | Tencel cover, memory foams, pocketed coils | One option is 6.5/10 | 13.5 inches | CertiPur-US, GreenGuard Gold | 120 nights; 30-day break-in period required before initiating return | Free for customers in the contiguous US | Limited lifetime |
| Bear Elite Hybrid | Hybrid | Phase change material (PCM) cooling cover, copper-infused memory foam, dynamic memory foam, pocketed coils | Soft, medium, firm | 14 inches | CertiPur-US, GreenGuard Gold | 120 nights; 30-day break-in period required before initiating return | Free for customers in the contiguous US | Limited lifetime |
| Leesa Sapira Chill | Hybrid | Phase change cooling cover, cooling memory foams, pocketed coils | Plush, medium firm, firm | 14 inches | CertiPur-US, GreenGuard Gold | 120 nights; 30-day break-in period required before initiating return | Free for customers in the contiguous US | Limited lifetime |
| Naturepedic EOS Classic | Hybrid | Organic cotton cover, plant-based PLA layer, organic wool batting, organic latex, organic cotton batting, organic cotton fill and fabric, pocketed coils | Plush, medium, cushion firm, firm, extra firm (each side can have different firmnesses) | 12 inches | Global Organic Latex Standard (GOLS), Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS), Made Safe, EWG verified, GreenGuard Gold, Formaldehyde-Free Claim Verified by UL Environment, Organic Content Standard certified, Organic Trade Association certified, Responsible Wool Standard Certified, Forest Stewardship Council certified | 100 nights; 30-day break-in period required before initiating return | Arrives in a box as part of standard shipping. For contiguous US shoppers, mattress setup is $299; setup and old bed removal is $349 | 25-year limited |
| Saatva Contour5 | Memory foam | Cotton cover, memory foam | Medium, firm | 12.5 inches | CertiPur-US, GreenGuard Gold | Year-long sleep trial; $99 return fee | White glove delivery included with purchase | Lifetime |
| Casper Dream Hybrid | Memory foam hybrid | Knit cover, memory foam, zoned memory foam, pocketed coils, foam rail edge support | Medium firm | 12 inches | CertiPur-US | 100 nights | Arrives in box as part of standard shipping; separate shipping fee for Alaska and Hawaii | 10-year limited |
| Birch Luxe Natural | Hybrid | Organic cotton cover, wool, organic latex, pocketed coils | Medium | 11.5 inches | Global Organic Latex Standard (GOLS), GreenGuard Gold | 120 nights; 30-day break-in period required before initiating return ($99 shipping fee) | Arrives in a box as part of standard shipping; white-glove delivery available for $199 | Limited lifetime |
| The WinkBed | Hybrid | Tencel cover, gel memory foam, pocketed coils | Softer, luxury firm, firm, Plus | 13.5 inches | CertiPur-US | 120 nights; 30-day break-in period required before initiating return | Free shipping via UPS ground for contiguous US | Limited lifetime |
| Wolf Memory Foam Hybrid Premium Firm Mattress | Hybrid | Cooling cover, gel memory foam, support foam, pocketed coils | Medium firm | 13 inches | CertiPur-US | 101 nights; 30-day break-in period required before initiating return | Arrives in a box as part of standard shipping | Limited lifetime |
| Sonu Sleep System | Hybrid | Cooling cover, “Comfort Channel” internal structure, and support foams that contain “Support Pillows”; cooling foam, support foam, pocketed coils | Firm, 8/10 | 14 inches | CertiPur-US | 100, return fee is $99, and can go up to $250 | Free delivery within the contiguous US | 10 years |
| Sleep Number ComfortNext Lux | Smart bed | Phase change cooling cover, copper gel memory foam, support foam, Ultra-Flex air chambers, rail system, comfort foam, bottom cover, air control unit | 45 firmness levels | 13 inches | CertiPur-US | 120 nights | Arrives in a box as part of standard shipping | 5 years full coverage, 20 years prorated coverage |
Honorable Mentions
Here are mattresses we liked for side sleepers, but weren't the best of the bunch.
Personal Comfort the Rejuvenate for $4,700: There's no denying that the cushy, foam-forward feel of this smart bed is great for side sleeping. It gently contours around the hips and shoulders, while the 45 adjustable firmness levels let you make it softer or firmer as needed. Don't expect sleep tracking with the Rejuvenate, as Personal Comfort doesn't offer this with its beds. —Julia Forbes
Saatva Rx for $3,449: In cases where side sleepers are dealing with some pretty advanced joint pain, you have to call in reinforcements. Luckily, the Saatva Rx was made for this and helps with gentle cushioning and support. It has specialty therapeutic foams and microcoils, which helped keep my back- and joint-related pain flare-ups to a minimum. —Nena Farrell
Puffy Cloud for $1,049: The Puffy Cloud’s all-foam construction offers a softer feel to sleepers, but doesn’t overdo it so that spine alignment’s an afterthought. It does a good job of keeping pressure off the hips and shoulders for side sleeping, like a soft hug. —Julia Forbes
Casper the One for $999: This all-foam mattress from Casper had a firmer feel and delivered on pressure relief, but not as well as the brand’s Dream Hybrid. Still, it’s a good option for those who want an affordable memory foam mattress that’s easy to move around. —Julia Forbes
FAQs
How We Test Mattresses
Testing mattresses isn't a one-and-done situation, where we sleep on it once before giving a full evaluation. Good things take time, after all, which is why we spend a week or more on each mattress we test. We track our sleep patterns with sleep trackers and record that data to see how we fared with each mattress.
Is Sleeping on Your Side Good for You?
If you've ever tried to consciously change your sleeping position because of something like a medical procedure, you know how hard it is to fight your natural inclinations. The good news for side sleepers is that most experts agree that sleeping on your side is at least as good as any other position.
Sleep experts at Houston Methodist say side sleeping has “the least negative impact on health." Things worse for you include not sleeping enough or sleeping in any other position—namely, back sleeping. Sleeping on your back is the “worst position,” according to the Mayo Clinic, which recommends side sleeping.
How Firm Should a Mattress Be for Side Sleepers?
The short answer is: the firmest you can go while remaining comfortable.
The long answer is that many side sleepers gravitate toward a soft mattress, which usually means medium-soft memory foam. But it's important to be sure you have a mattress with enough support or even extra support in key areas like the lumbar zone. Pay close attention to the firmness level the company advertises and take your body type into account, as the more body weight you have, the firmer the mattress you’ll want.
One other thing worth considering is that it's easier to make a mattress softer with a topper. If you're spending a lot of money on a high-quality mattress made with good materials and you feel it's too firm, it's relatively cheap and easy to add a mattress topper, since almost every topper has the effect of softening your sleeping surface. However, you can't make a mattress firmer—if you found a firm mattress topper and put it on a soft foam bed, it would still have a squishy base, which would lead to sinkage and likely pull your back out of alignment. So our advice as mattress testers is to always err on the side of too firm.
What Will a Mattress Topper Do for Side Sleepers?
Mattress toppers often give you that “new bed” feel at a fraction of the price and can help correct issues with a mattress you generally like.
For side sleepers, pairing a very supportive, firm mattress with a cushy topper is often just the right blend of softness and support. If you only take one piece of advice from this article, it's that you should always buy the firmest mattress you think you can tolerate and then soften it up with a topper if you have issues.
What Kind of Mattress Is Best for Side Sleepers: Memory Foam or Hybrid?
Side sleepers should stick with hybrids in most cases. Given that you're putting more weight on a smaller surface area, you might think that memory foam is nicer than a hybrid mattress that has a layer of springs (often called coils), imagining that memory foam allows you to sink into a fluffy little cloud.
The problem is that when you’re sleeping well and not moving much, over the course of a night, that foam will slowly compress under you. If it’s just one layer of foam, after a while it will feel like you're sleeping on a yoga mat. That's why mattresses with multiple layers of foam of various weights are better, and it’s why we like hybrids better yet. That layer of springs means the foam doesn't compact nearly as much, in our experience.
A good hybrid gives you a chance to sleep for a solid six hours without needing to change position, which isn't necessarily the case for most sleepers on an all-foam mattress. Hybrids also tend to sleep cooler because there's less mass of solid foam absorbing heat throughout the night.
How Did WIRED Select Mattresses to Be Reviewed?
We work with many mattress brands, which are constantly dreaming up new models to meet consumer needs. The bed-in-a-box mattress business has exploded since the pandemic, and there are always new brands to test. We are always researching the landscape and looking for new mattress companies to investigate.
What Do “Pressure Relief” and Other Testing Terms Mean?
It may seem like a bunch of gibberish, but there are important terms to keep in mind while mattress shopping. Pressure relief describes whether a bed is able to keep tension off of more sensitive areas of the body, like the hips or shoulders. These areas are also known as pressure points and require heightened softness. Durability is another term that refers to how well materials hold up. Edge support determines how well a bed supports you on the outer edges, whether you're sitting or lying on them.
What Certifications Do I Need to Look for With My New Mattress?
CertiPur-US is the most important one when it comes to memory foam. It's third-party verification that your mattress isn't holding potentially harmful chemicals. Other certifications authenticate whether a product was tested by a third-party lab, is truly organic, or passes a certain test for health and safety standards.
How Does WIRED Acquire the Mattresses?
Most of the mattresses reviewed in this guide were provided as samples to WIRED by the company, with no obligation to cover or promises of what that coverage would look like. A few mattresses were also purchased and expensed. We won't ever say we like something we don't based on the commission rate.
What Does WIRED Do With the Mattresses After Testing Them?
The majority of mattresses are considered samples and are provided by companies. Sometimes we send them back after testing, but given that mattress companies cannot resell used mattresses and shipping is expensive, our team typically passes them on to the community without personal benefit.
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