The Best Mattresses For Side Sleepers

This content originally appeared on Mashable for a US audience and has been adapted for the UK audience.

When it comes to online mattress reviews, it really does seem like side sleepers have a lot to complain about.

If you’re in the habit of sleeping on your side, as the majority of people are, you’re not going to be satisfied by most mattress models on the market. You’re essentially looking for the Goldilocks of mattresses — one that’s not super-firm and not super-soft, but just right.

This sounds like an impossible task, but it’s really not. There are absolutely loads of high-quality mattresses out there from a wide range of top brands, offering just what you need to finally get a good night’s sleep. It is possible. We promise.

Why is it important to invest in a high-quality mattress?Side sleepers need a bed with that rare mashup of balanced plushness and support to keep their spine adequately aligned throughout the night.

If your vertebrae aren’t properly positioned as the result of your pelvis sitting too high (on a too-hard mattress) or too low (on a too-squishy mattress), you’ll put unnecessary pressure on your shoulders and/or hips while you sleep in that lateral position. You’ll likely wake up feeling sore, or toss and turn throughout the night as a result of that annoying “dead arm” feeling stemming from the pressure. 

All of this probably sounds fairly familiar. Why else would you be here? Fortunately for you, all of these issues can be tackled with a high-quality mattress that provides the right amount of support in all the right places. This is great news for anyone who is struggling to sleep comfortably, but is a new mattress your only option?

Is it possible to improve your sleep without buying a new mattress?There are lots of ways to improve your sleep quality besides investing in a new and improved mattress. You can avoid caffeine in the late afternoon and evening, for instance, or get more exercise throughout the day, invest in a pair of blue light blocking glasses, or simply put down your phone a few hours before bedtime to start reaping some of the benefits of a good night’s sleep. In case you didn’t know, these include reduced stress, a decreased risk of depression, and boosted memory, to name a few.

Still, those methods will only help to an extent, and they don’t address one of the average side sleeper’s main sources of slumber woes, which is a lack of sufficient spinal alignment. Therefore, looking into a better bed is definitely the route to go if that’s your preferred sleeping position.

What is the best mattress for side sleepers?Shopping for a new mattress is not easy. There are a lot of options, each promising a bunch of different benefits. What are the best brands? How firm should your mattress be? What materials should you consider? It’s perfectly normal to have a lot of questions, because a mattress is an important purchase.

To try and make your life that little bit easier, we have tracked down a selection of the best mattresses for side sleepers who are lightweight, heavy, sweaty, in a relationship, and beyond. There should be something for everyone and every budget in this list. You just need to consider all of the options and pick a favourite.

We have highlighted impressive mattresses from top brands like Leesa, Casper, and many more popular names. You should sleep easy with this selection.

These are the best mattresses for side sleepers in 2023.

Best For Comfort

Specs

Dimensions: Twin (96.5 x 190.5 cm), Full (134.5 x 190.5), Queen (152.5 x 203.5 cm), King (193 x 203.5 cm) The Nectar Mattress(opens in a new tab) offers three foam layers with an adaptive high-core memory foam layer that supports your body without sinking. The gel memory foam evenly distributes your weight and a quilted gel memory foam increases breathability and air circulation. There’s a lot of technology that goes into giving you a good night’s sleep. 

Setup is easy, and all you have to do is remove the packaging and plastic cover, let the mattress expand, and then you can use it on your bed. It’s not difficult, but it’s still your responsibility. 

Nectar has a forever warranty, which means that if you bought a mattress and it experiences wear and tear over time, Nectar will replace the mattress at no charge. No, we’re not kidding.

Best For Pain

Specs

Dimensions: Single (90 x 190 cm), Double (135 x 190 cm), King (150 x 200 cm), Super King (180 x 200 cm) The Eve Original(opens in a new tab) mattress has a top layer of memory foam that hugs the sleeper, providing proper support and pressure relief. There is still sinkage, but with the Eve Original it is a slow process.

The level of support is where this mattress stands out from the others in this roundup. This mattress offers support to side, stomach, and back sleepers, with pressure relieving qualities letting you be flexible with your sleeping style.

You can also get a 100-night trial to see if you really like it, with hassle-free returns if you’re not totally satisfied. 

Best For Durability

Specs

Dimensions: Single (90 x 190 x 25 cm), Small Double (120 x 190 x 25 cm), Double (135 x 190 x 25 cm), King (150 x 200 x 25 cm), Super King (180 x 200 x 25 cm) The Emma Original(opens in a new tab) uses Conformable Next Generation Airgocell foam that adapts to any body shape thanks to its point elasticity. This means that pressure distribution on your body is improved which supports adjustment, so you can sleep well on your side (and in any position, really).

This popular mattress combines different materials and structures for optimal pressure distribution, which in turn creates an ideal condition for a good night’s sleep.

Bhe breathable foam allows proper ventilation thanks to its open pores, and a cover with climate control fibre provides moisture removal. Say goodbye to sweaty nights.

Best For Tight Budgets

Specs

Dimensions: Single (91.44 x 190.5 cm), Double (137.16 x 190.5 cm), King (152.4 x 198.12 cm) The Silentnight Studio Eco(opens in a new tab) mattress is the cheapest option on this list, but that doesn’t mean it’s lacking.

It’s made from two layers of synthetic fibres and one layer of pocket springs. It has an “eco comfort” top layer that’s made from a mixture of materials. There are more comfortable mattresses out there, but this offers a decent level of comfort for side sleepers.

The layers around the 1000 individually pocketed spring network are made from 100% recyclable plastic bottles. This means that every mattress prevents hundreds of plastic bottles from ending up in landfill sites. 

Best For Restless Sleepers

Specs

Dimensions: Single (90 x 190 x 25 cm), Small Double (120 x 190 x 25 cm), Double (135 x 190x 25 cm), King Size (150 x 200 x 25 cm), Super King Size (180 x 200 x 25 cm) The Simba Hybrid(opens in a new tab) mattress combines memory foam with micro pocket springs, striking an excellent balance between comfort and support.

It’s one of the best ‘bed-in-a-box’ options, unless you get very warm in bed. In this case you should probably avoid memory foam completely, because it can heat up in higher temperatures. This mattress would also benefit from some handles to make manoeuvring it easier. 

That’s enough negativity, because you’ll be hard pressed to find a more comfortable pocket-sprung mattress for the same price. It also comes with a 100-day money-back guarantee.

Joseph joined Mashable as the UK Shopping Editor in 2018. He worked for a number of print publications before making the switch to the glittery world of digital media, and now writes about everything from coffee machines to VPNs.

Dylan Haas is a Lead Shopping Reporter for Mashable, where he covers all things gaming, pets, fitness, and sleep. Before joining the team at Mashable, Dylan received a B.A. in Communications from Pace University and contributed to publications like Paste Magazine, Bandsintown, and others following a brief stint as a Marketing and Management Assistant in the music industry.

When he’s not writing or testing products, you can find Dylan playing lots of video games, working out, spending time with loved ones (especially his dog, Stevie), or watching reality TV. Follow him on Twitter at @iamdylanhaas(opens in a new tab), or send him an email at [email protected]

Haley is a Mashable shopping reporter based in Chicago. Before joining the team, she covered politics for The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, wrote about exotic pet ownership for the Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism, and blogged for several Jersey Shore stars. In her free time, she enjoys playing video games and hanging out with her parrot (Melon) and dog (Pierogi). You can follow her on Twitter at @haleyhenschel(opens in a new tab) or reach her via email at [email protected](opens in a new tab).

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