Best Mattress for Side Sleepers: What Should You Look For?
If you're a side sleeper, choosing the right mattress can make a big difference in how comfortable you feel throughout the night.
Because side sleeping places more pressure around areas such as the shoulders and hips, a mattress should provide enough cushioning to relieve pressure while still offering the support needed to keep your body comfortably aligned.
So the real question is: What should side sleepers look for when choosing a mattress?
Quick Overview
A good mattress for side sleepers should provide a balance of cushioning, contouring, and support.
Cushions areas such as the shoulders and hips.
Adapts to the natural curves of your body.
Helps prevent your body from sinking too deeply.
Soft enough to cushion pressure points while still feeling supportive.
Especially useful if you share your mattress with a partner.
What to Look for in a Mattress for Side Sleepers
Pressure Relief
Pressure relief is one of the most important considerations for side sleepers.
When you sleep on your side, more of your body weight is concentrated around your shoulders and hips. A mattress with good pressure relief allows these areas to settle comfortably into the surface rather than feeling excessive pressure.
What to Look For
- Comfortable cushioning around the shoulders and hips
- Materials that contour to your body
- Enough support to prevent excessive sinking
- A comfort level suited to your body and personal preferences
The Right Firmness
Side sleepers often prefer a mattress with enough softness to cushion the shoulders and hips.
However, that doesn't mean every side sleeper should choose the softest mattress available.
A mattress that is too soft may allow your body to sink too deeply, while one that is too firm may create uncomfortable pressure around the shoulders and hips.
For many side sleepers, medium to plush comfort levels can be a good place to start, although body weight and personal comfort preferences also matter.
Contouring & Support
Side sleepers need both cushioning and support.
Materials that contour around the body can help accommodate the shoulders and hips while supporting the waist and other areas of the body.
Memory Foam
Memory foam is particularly well known for its contouring characteristics and pressure relief. It can closely adapt to the shape of your body and is also known for strong motion isolation.
Shop Memory Foam Mattresses →Hybrid Mattresses
Hybrid mattresses combine cushioning comfort layers with coils underneath. This can provide pressure-relieving comfort while offering a more responsive and supportive feel.
Shop Hybrid Mattresses →Prefer deeper contouring? Memory foam may be worth considering.
Prefer cushioning with more responsiveness? A hybrid mattress may be a better fit for the feel you want.
Motion Isolation for Couples
If you sleep with a partner, motion isolation may also be important.
A mattress with good motion isolation can help reduce how much movement you feel when your partner changes positions or gets in and out of bed.
Memory foam mattresses generally perform well in this area because the material absorbs movement. Many hybrid mattresses can also provide good motion isolation depending on their construction.
Mattress Collections Side Sleepers Should Consider
Rather than choosing based on brand alone, consider the comfort level, pressure relief, support, and overall feel that work best for you.
Here are a few Mattress Nation collections worth exploring.
Tempur-ProAdapt
The Tempur-ProAdapt collection is available in Soft, Medium, Medium Hybrid, and Firm comfort options.
For side sleepers, the Soft and Medium models may be worth considering if you prefer deeper contouring and cushioning around your shoulders and hips.
Explore Tempur-ProAdapt →Tempur-LuxeAdapt
For sleepers looking for a more premium Tempur-Pedic option, the LuxeAdapt collection offers multiple comfort choices.
The softer options may be particularly appealing to side sleepers who prefer a more conforming and pressure-relieving feel.
Explore Tempur-LuxeAdapt →Plush & Pillowtop Mattresses
If you prefer a softer, more cushioned sleep surface, Mattress Nation also offers dedicated collections organized by comfort level.
Compare Plush (Medium) mattresses for a balance of cushioning and support, or explore Plush Pillowtop (Soft) mattresses for a more cushioned sleep surface.
What About Combination Sleepers?
Side Sleeper Who Changes Positions?
Not everyone stays on their side throughout the entire night.
If you frequently switch between your side and back or stomach, you may prefer a mattress with a little more responsiveness. This can make changing positions easier while still providing cushioning when you're sleeping on your side.
A medium mattress or responsive hybrid can be worth considering for combination sleepers.
Explore Hybrid Mattresses →Final Verdict: What's the Best Mattress for Side Sleepers?
There isn't one mattress that's best for every side sleeper. Instead, focus on finding the right combination of comfort and support for your body and sleep preferences.
- Pressure relief around the shoulders and hips
- Contouring comfort that adapts to your body
- Balanced support without excessive sinking
- A comfortable firmness level for your personal preferences
- Motion isolation if you share your bed
For many side sleepers, medium to plush mattresses can be a good starting point, particularly when they provide enough cushioning around key pressure points.
If you prefer deeper contouring, consider memory foam. If you prefer cushioning with more responsiveness, consider a hybrid.
Most importantly, choose a mattress based on your body, comfort preferences, and the way you actually sleep.
Find the Right Mattress at Mattress Nation
Ready to find a mattress that fits the way you sleep?
Explore the Mattress Nation Mattress Collection to compare soft, plush, medium, memory foam, hybrid, and other mattress options from leading brands.
Shop online or visit your nearest Mattress Nation store to try different comfort levels and find the mattress that feels right for you.
Shop All Mattresses → Visit Mattress Nation →Questions? Call us: (408) 394-2534
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