Buying guide for best mattresses for side sleepers
![Eliza McGowen]()
Written by Eliza McGowen
Updated December 2024
Side sleeping is the most popular sleeping position among adults, with nearly 55% of the population choosing to sleep in this position. The benefits of sleeping on your side include minimized neck and back pain and easier breathing – which decreases the likelihood of snoring.
If you’re a side sleeper in search of a new mattress, the buying process can feel overwhelming – especially since hundreds of mattress brands claim to sell the best bed for side sleepers. If this sounds familiar, then you’ve come to the right place.
More than 100 different mattresses were reviewed and compared on qualities that are favorable for side sleepers. This guide will make it easy for you to find the best mattress for your side-sleeping style and help you get the quality sleep you deserve.
First, let’s take a look at important considerations for buying a mattress when you sleep on your side.
Key considerations
Materials
Side sleepers need a mattress that is both supportive and responsive, meaning it adjusts to the natural curve of your body and responds to your movements if you shift around or change positions throughout the night.
The types of mattresses that accomplish this best are usually made with at least one layer of memory foam, whether that’s standard memory foam, latex foam, or gel memory foam.
Memory foam also distributes body weight evenly throughout the mattress, which alleviates pain and discomfort around pressure points.
Pressure Relief
Pressure relief is an important consideration for all sleepers, but it’s especially crucial for side sleepers who put added pressure on their hips and shoulders. If you’re a side sleeper, you’ll want a mattress that will hug your body to help support these high-pressure points while keeping the rest of your body elevated. This will also help keep your spine in a natural position while you sleep and prevent you from waking up with aches or pains.
Firmness
Most mattress retailers describe the firmness of their mattress on a scale from one to ten, with ten being extremely firm. Side sleepers tend to prefer mattresses that fall in the middle of that spectrum (four to six) – not too firm, and not to soft. Some may even prefer something a bit softer to help cradle pressure points.
If you’re a side sleeper, you’ll likely be uncomfortable on the extreme ends of the firmness scale. You might sink in too deeply on a mattress that is very soft, and you might experience joint pain or tension on a mattress that is too firm.
Size
Choosing the best mattress size is a personal preference that depends on three main factors:
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The size of your bedroom. While a king mattress might sound tempting, make sure you’re choosing a mattress that can comfortably fit in your bedroom and still allow the appropriate amount of space to move around or open closets and doors freely.
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The size of the people who will be sleeping on it. If you’re sharing your bed with someone, a queen mattress is probably the smallest you’ll want to buy. A king mattress offers more width for people who want some extra space or sleep with a pet. California kings offer more length, which is ideal for taller people.
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Your budget. The larger the mattress, the more expensive it will be. If you’re on a tighter budget and can still sleep comfortably on a smaller bed, a full or even a twin-sized mattress might be the way to go. Keep in mind that if you upgrade the size of your mattress, that also means an investment in new sheets and bedding, as well as a new bed frame.
Here are the standard sizes for mattresses measured by width and length. Mattresses tend to differ most in height, but they usually range from 9” to 12”.
We look at how highly each mattress is rated at providing pain relief — a key consideration for side sleepers because they put more strain on their hips and shoulders.
We research mattresses to help consumers identify which type is best for those who sleep on their sides.
Price is a key factor in our research. Queen mattresses are available for less than $700, but larger, longer-lasting mattresses tend to cost between $800 and $2,000.
How well the mattress keeps the spine aligned is important. Keeping the spine in a natural position helps provide a painless night’s sleep.
We evaluate hybrid mattresses, which combine layers of foam with innersprings, to assess how comfortable they are for side sleepers.
We look at the mattress’ delivery policies to help consumers find the best service and setup options.
We research how responsive the mattress is — how well it adjusts to the shape of your body as you move around during the night.
Side sleepers tend to prefer medium firmness, which is between four and six on the firmness scale.
We check that the brand’s trial and return policies allow you to test a mattress for an appropriate amount of time — and send it back for a refund if it doesn’t work out.
We look at the availability of various sizes in a given brand. Many factors can shape your preference, and it often comes down simple personal preference.
Trial period and return policy for mattresses
While it might sound strange to buy a mattress without ever lying down on it, almost every mattress you can buy online comes with a generous risk-free trial period, typically around 100 days. This means you’ll have time to actually sleep on the mattress in your own home to determine if you like it or not. If it turns out the mattress isn’t for you, you can return it for a refund.
All of the mattresses we’ve included in this guide offer a full refund if you decide to return your mattress. If your mattress is shipped in a box, you won’t need to worry about trying to get it back in – a representative will come pick it up from your home in its full size.
After sleeping on a mattress for 100 nights, you should have a pretty good idea if the mattress is right for you. Sometimes it can take up to 30 nights to fully break in a new mattress, so make sure you look for a mattress that offers at least 30 nights – and don’t forget to keep track of how many days are left in your trial period in case you do need to return it.
Mattress prices
The price of a mattress can have a pretty wide range depending on the materials used in the mattress and where you buy it from. Buying a mattress online from a retailer who ships directly to the consumer is going to be significantly less expensive than buying a mattress from a bricks and mortar store. The price ranges listed below reflect online, direct-to-consumer mattresses.
Keep in mind that many mattress retailers offer discounts or promotions around holidays like New Years, Black Friday/Cyber Monday, Memorial Day, Labor Day, President’s Day and Independence Day.
Inexpensive
You can pay as low as $500 to $700 for an inexpensive queen mattress. Typically, these will be memory foam mattresses. Mattresses that cost less than $500 for a queen might feel comfortable at first, but they usually won’t last long.
Mid-range
A majority of online mattresses cost between $800 to $1,200 for a queen. These are great quality mattresses offered in different firmness levels and materials.
Expensive
Luxury mattresses can cost as much as $1,500 to $2,000 for a queen. These are usually mattresses that come with all the bells and whistles to provide a comfortable night’s sleep with added benefits, like high-end organic materials or superior cooling technology.
Tips
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If you’re buying a mattress online, look for brands that offer a risk-free trial period so you can test out the mattress and be sure it works for you.
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Avoid mattresses that are very cheap (less than $500 for a queen). This usually means they’ve cut corners on quality and durability.
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Avoid mattresses that are extremely firm or extremely soft. Side sleepers tend to prefer mattresses that fall in the middle when it comes to firmness.
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If your mattress comes in a box, make sure you let it air out for at least a few hours before putting sheets or bedding on it. If you’re able to open a window, that’s even better.
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Remember that most mattresses have an adjustment period – it can take up to 30 days to get used to a new mattress.
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If you’ve slept on your mattress for a few weeks and feel like it’s too soft or too firm for your taste, you can try adding a mattress topper to adjust the firmness before you resort to returning it.
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Keep in mind that if your new mattress is a different firmness level or is made of different materials than your old mattress, you may need to change the pillow that you use to better compliment your new mattress and provide the right level of support for your head and neck.
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A good rule of thumb when selecting a pillow for side sleeping is to look for one that is thicker or higher under the neck than the head in order to keep your spine aligned.
Did you know?
Side sleepers need a mattress that will keep the spine in its natural alignment. This helps your body get proper rest and prevent you from feeling achy in the morning.
STAFF
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FAQ
Q. Which type of mattress is best for side sleepers?
A. Mattresses that are made with at least one layer of supportive memory foam and are medium-firm tend to be the best options for side sleepers. Side sleepers also want a mattress that relieves pressure, particularly in high-pressure areas like hips and shoulders.
Q. Is it better to buy my mattress online or in a store?
A. You can expect to save a significant amount of money by buying a mattress online versus in a store. You aren’t paying for most of the overhead fees that brick and mortar stores tack onto their prices. While you won’t have the opportunity to lie down on a mattress before buying it, you should have a trial period to test out the mattress in the comfort of your own home.
Q. How will I know if my mattress is right for me?
A. The easiest way to tell if you’re sleeping on the right mattress is to pay attention to how you feel when you wake up. If you wake up feeling refreshed and pain-free, that’s a good sign that your mattress is doing its job. You’ll also want to pay attention to how often you wake up in the middle of the night. If you find yourself tossing and turning trying to find a comfortable position, then your mattress might actually be harming your sleep.
Keep in mind that it might take up to 30 days to break in a new mattress. Your body will need time to get used to the new feel of your mattress and the materials in your mattress will need time to fully settle.
