The Best Mattresses for Side Sleepers
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The best mattress for side sleepers for most people is the Helix Midnight: a medium hybrid built specifically for side sleeping, with enough cushion at the shoulder and hip and coils underneath to keep your spine level. If your shoulders or hips ache, look at the softer Brooklyn Bedding Aurora Luxe. If you also deal with back pain, the WinkBed's zoned support is the stronger fit.
On your side, your weight lands on the shoulder and hip. Too firm jams the shoulder; too soft lets the hips sink. Every pick below sits in the medium range and scores well for pressure relief.
We haven't slept on these mattresses ourselves. Picks are based on the specs, brand policies and 1-5 performance ratings compiled from independent reviewers. Not sure where you land? Take the quiz first.
Our picks at a glance
| Pick | Mattress | Firmness | Queen | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best overall for side sleepers | Helix Midnight | 6.5 | $1,183 | Check price |
| Best for side sleepers with shoulder and hip pain | Brooklyn Bedding Aurora Luxe | 6.5 | $1,026 | Check price |
| Best for side sleepers with back pain | WinkBed | 6.2 | $1,499 | Check price |
| Best luxury mattress for side sleepers | Saatva Classic | 5.8 | $1,895 | Check price |
| Best all-foam mattress for side sleepers | Leesa Original | 6.0 | $769 | Check price |
| Best budget mattress for side sleepers | Zinus Original Green Tea Memory Foam | 5.5 | $359 | Check price |
| Best for hot side sleepers | Purple Restore Hybrid | 5.5 | $2,399 | Check price |
Our picks, in detail
Helix Midnight
Hybrid · Medium
- $1,183 queen
- 100 nights
- 10 years
- 11.5″ tall
The Midnight is the rare mattress designed around side sleeping rather than adapted to it. Independent testers put it around 6.5/10 firm, which is the sweet spot for an average-weight side sleeper: gel memory foam cushions the shoulder while pocketed coils stop the hips from sagging.
Motion isolation and edges are good, too. Expect to pay about $1,478 for a queen at list price, and it is often on sale for around $1,183.
The trade-off: it is a generalist. If you have sharp shoulder pain, a softer feel will relieve more pressure, and the 100-night trial is shorter than some rivals. Stomach sleepers and people over about 250 lb should look firmer. Compare it with its siblings on our Helix brand page.
Brooklyn Bedding Aurora Luxe
Hybrid · Soft / Medium / Firm
- $1,026 queen
- 120 nights
- Lifetime
- 13.3″ tall
If your shoulder goes numb or your hip throbs by morning, watch pressure relief. The Aurora Luxe earns 5/5. Choose the Soft version (rated about 5/10) and you get deep foam cushioning over zoned coils that stay firmer under the lower back.
Edge support is also strong. The value is good: about $1,465 for a queen at list price, often around $1,026 on sale, with a 120-night trial and a lifetime warranty.
The trade-off: the brand markets it as cooling, but one independent reviewer found it only average, so very hot sleepers should look at our cooling picks. Lightweight sleepers may find the Firm version too stiff at the shoulder.
WinkBed
Hybrid · Luxury Firm (also Softer, Firmer, Plus)
- $1,499 queen
- 120 nights
- Lifetime
- 13.5″ tall
Side sleepers with a sore lower back need two things at once: soft shoulders and firm lumbar support. The WinkBed does that with a Euro pillow top over zoned coils that are stiffer in the middle. The Luxury Firm feel sits around 6.5/10, and a Softer version (about 4.5/10) suits lighter side sleepers.
It scores 5/5 for both edge support and motion isolation, so it works well for couples. It runs about $1,799 for a queen at list price and is often on sale for around $1,499, with a 120-night trial and a lifetime warranty.
The trade-off: it is a tall, heavy, pillow-topped bed, so it costs more than most and is harder to move. If you want a close-hugging foam feel, this isn't it.
Saatva Classic
Innerspring · Plush Soft / Luxury Firm / Firm
- $1,895 queen
- 365 nights
- Lifetime
- 11.5″ tall
The Saatva Classic is a coil-on-coil innerspring with a 3-inch Euro pillow top. Its Plush Soft option (rated about 3/10 by one reviewer) suits lighter side sleepers, while Luxury Firm (about 6.5) suits most people who switch between side and back. It earns 5/5 for pressure relief, edges and cooling.
The policies are the best in this list: a 365-night trial, a lifetime warranty and free white-glove delivery. Expect about $2,229 for a queen at list price, often around $1,895 on sale.
The trade-off: it is the priciest pick here, and it feels like a springy hotel bed, not a sink-in foam bed. If you want deep contouring, look elsewhere. See how it stacks up in Saatva vs Helix.
Leesa Original
Memory foam · Medium
- $769 queen
- 365 nights
- Lifetime
- 10″ tall
The Leesa Original is a medium all-foam bed at about 6/10, with 2 inches of memory foam that gives the shoulder and hip a soft landing. It rates 5/5 for motion isolation, so you won't feel a partner turning over.
The value is strong: about $967 for a queen at list price, often around $769 on sale, with a 365-night trial and a lifetime warranty.
The trade-off: at 10 inches tall it has less support depth than the hybrids here, and one reviewer felt it on the firmer side of medium. Side sleepers over about 200 lb, or anyone who wants bounce, should choose a hybrid. Read our Leesa Original review for more detail.
Zinus Original Green Tea Memory Foam
Memory foam · Medium-firm
- $359 queen
- 100 nights
- 10 years
- 10″ tall
At around $359 on sale for a queen (about $718 list), the Zinus Green Tea is the cheapest bed that still suits side sleepers on paper. It's soft for its price, rated about 5.5/10 by an independent reviewer, and earns 4/5 for pressure relief and 5/5 for motion isolation.
It suits lighter side sleepers, guest rooms, teens or a first apartment.
The trade-off: this is a thin, simple foam bed with average cooling and edges. Sleepers over about 200 lb will likely sink through the comfort layer, and the 100-night trial and 10-year warranty are shorter than pricier picks offer.
Purple Restore Hybrid
Hybrid · Medium
- $2,399 queen
- 100 nights
- 10 years
- 11.5″ tall
Side sleepers sink deeper into a mattress than anyone else, which can trap heat. The Purple Restore Hybrid puts a 2-inch GelFlex Grid over 8-inch coils. The grid flexes under your shoulder rather than hugging it, and its open structure lets air move. It rates 5/5 for cooling.
Purple sells it as a Medium feel, though no independent firmness score exists for this exact version. Expect about $2,699 for a queen at list price, often around $2,399 on sale.
The trade-off: the grid has an unusual, springy feel some people don't like, and the 100-night trial and 10-year warranty are short for the price. If cooling isn't your main problem, the Helix Midnight costs much less.
How to choose the best mattress for side sleepers
Start with firmness, then match the build to your body and any pain you have. Our mattress firmness scale guide explains the 1-10 numbers used throughout this page.
The mattress firmness scale
- Soft (1-3) Deep hug. Mostly lighter side sleepers.
- Medium-soft (4-5) Cushioned shoulders and hips. Side sleepers.
- Medium (5-6) Balanced. Combination sleepers. Examples: Purple Restore Hybrid, Saatva Classic, Sleep Number c2, Zinus Original Green Tea Memory Foam
- Medium-firm (6-7) The most popular range. Back and combination sleepers. Examples: Bear Elite Hybrid, Birch Natural, Brooklyn Bedding Aurora Luxe, Cocoon by Sealy Chill Memory Foam
- Firm (7-8) Flat support. Stomach sleepers and heavier back sleepers. Examples: Allswell 10" Hybrid, Amerisleep AS2, Avocado Green Mattress, Casper The One
- Extra-firm (8-10) Minimal sink. Some heavier stomach sleepers. Examples: Siena Signature 10" Memory Foam
Firmness ranges for side sleepers by body weight
- Under 130 lb: aim for about 4-5.5. Light bodies don't press far into the comfort layer, so a firmer bed feels hard at the shoulder.
- 130-230 lb: aim for about 5-6.5. This is where the Helix Midnight, Leesa Original and WinkBed Luxury Firm sit.
- Over 230 lb: aim for about 6-7 with coils underneath. You need more support so your hips don't sink, and thicker comfort layers so the shoulder still has room.
Hybrid vs memory foam for side sleepers
Memory foam contours closest and isolates motion best, but can trap heat. Hybrids add coils, so they feel bouncier, sleep cooler and have firmer edges (see hybrid vs memory foam). As a rule, lighter side sleepers do well on foam, while heavier or hot side sleepers usually prefer a hybrid. For a wider list, see the best hybrid mattresses and the best memory foam mattresses.
Best mattress for side sleepers with shoulder and hip pain
Pain at the shoulder or hip usually means too much pressure on a small area. Look for a pressure relief rating of 4-5 and a softer setting within your weight range. The Aurora Luxe Soft and the Saatva Classic Plush Soft are the strongest options here. A mattress that is too soft can also hurt, though: if your hip sinks well below your shoulder, your lower back will complain.
Best mattress for side sleepers with back pain
Look for zoned support, such as the WinkBed's zoned coils or Saatva's Lumbar Zone. Zoned support stays slightly firmer under the waist so your spine stays straight while the shoulder sinks in. Our full list of the best mattresses for back pain goes deeper. If pain lasts more than a few weeks, see a doctor or physical therapist, because a mattress can ease discomfort but won't fix an underlying problem.
Hybrid options for side sleepers
Five of our seven picks are hybrids or innersprings. If you want to compare them directly:
| Spec | Helix Midnight | Brooklyn Bedding Aurora Luxe | WinkBed | Saatva Classic | Purple Restore Hybrid |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Type | Hybrid | Hybrid | Hybrid | Innerspring | Hybrid |
| Firmness | 6.5/10 (Medium-firm) | 6.5/10 (Medium-firm) | 6.2/10 (Medium-firm) | 5.8/10 (Medium) | 5.5/10 (Medium) |
| Queen price (approx.) | $1,183 | $1,026 | $1,499 | $1,895 | $2,399 |
| Height | 11.5″ | 13.3″ | 13.5″ | 11.5″ | 11.5″ |
| Sleep trial | 100 nights | 120 nights | 120 nights | 365 nights | 100 nights |
| Warranty | 10 years | Lifetime | Lifetime | Lifetime | 10 years |
| Pressure relief | 4/5 | 5/5 | 4/5 | 5/5 | 4/5 |
| Cooling | 4/5 | 4/5 | 4/5 | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| Motion isolation | 4/5 | 4/5 | 5/5 | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| Edge support | 4/5 | 5/5 | 5/5 | 5/5 | 4/5 |
| Price check | See today’s price | See today’s price | See today’s price | See today’s price | See today’s price |
Prices are approximate queen prices when we last checked and change often. Ratings are 1-5 from published specs and independent test results: see how we score.
Also worth a look: the Nectar Premier Hybrid (medium, 5/5 motion isolation, lifetime warranty) and the Bear Elite Hybrid (5-zone coils, three firmness options).
Skip firm all-foam beds like the Siena memory foam mattress. One reviewer flagged it as lacking pressure relief for side sleepers. Those belong on our best firm mattress list.
Before you buy
Check return fees in our trial and return policies guide, confirm your mattress size and time it with the best time to buy a mattress. Replacing an old bed? See how long mattresses last and how to dispose of a mattress. For the full picture, read how to choose a mattress.
Frequently asked questions
What firmness is best for side sleepers?
Most side sleepers do best between about 5 and 6.5 on a 10-point scale, which mattress brands usually call medium or medium-soft. Go lower, around 4-5, if you weigh under 130 lb or have shoulder pain. Go a little higher, around 6-7 with coils, if you weigh over 230 lb so your hips don't sink out of line with your spine.
Is memory foam or a hybrid better for side sleepers?
Both work. Memory foam contours closely and isolates motion well, which suits lighter side sleepers and couples. Hybrids add a coil layer, so they sleep cooler, offer stronger edges and support heavier bodies better. If you sleep hot, weigh over 230 lb or move around a lot at night, a hybrid is usually the safer choice.
Can the wrong mattress cause shoulder pain for side sleepers?
It can contribute. A mattress that is too firm pushes the shoulder up and concentrates pressure on the joint, which is a common reason side sleepers wake with a sore or numb shoulder. A softer comfort layer or a medium-soft setting usually helps. If shoulder pain persists or is severe, see a doctor or physical therapist.
Are firm mattresses bad for side sleepers?
Generally, yes. A firm mattress, roughly 7 or higher on the scale, doesn't let the shoulder and hip sink in, so your spine bends and pressure builds at those points. Heavier side sleepers can handle a bit more firmness because they compress the comfort layers further. Most other side sleepers should stay in the medium range.
How long should a mattress for side sleepers last?
A well-made hybrid or innerspring often lasts about 7-10 years, and all-foam beds can soften sooner. Side sleepers tend to notice wear first, because body impressions form at the shoulder and hip. If you wake up stiffer than you went to bed, or can see dips, it's time to shop.