The Best Mattresses for Side Sleepers
A good side sleeper mattress has to do two things really well: cushion your shoulders and hips while still supporting the rest of your body. Here's what actually matters and a few of our favorite mattresses to start with.
What should a side sleeper look for?
Side sleeping puts more direct pressure on your shoulders and hips than sleeping on your back. That's why the right mattress usually needs a little more give at the surface without sacrificing support underneath.
You'll often hear that side sleepers need a soft mattress. We don't think it's quite that simple. A mattress can be soft and still not support you well, or it can feel more supportive while doing an excellent job relieving pressure.
Your shoulder and hip need enough room to settle into the mattress without feeling like they're pressing against a hard surface.
You still want your midsection supported so your hips aren't sinking dramatically farther than the rest of your body.
Side sleepers often benefit from substantial comfort layers that provide room for the shoulders and hips before reaching the firmer support system.
If you sleep warm, consider airflow, cover materials and mattress construction right alongside firmness.
If you share your bed, good motion isolation can keep your partner's movement from becoming your movement.
Firmness numbers are helpful, but they're only a starting point. Your body and comfort preference matter more.
Does body weight matter?
Yes, but it's only one factor. Body weight changes how deeply you compress the mattress, which changes how firm or soft that mattress feels to you.
| Body Weight | Good Starting Point | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Under 130 lbs. | Soft to Medium | Lighter sleepers don't compress the comfort layers as deeply, so the same mattress may feel firmer. |
| 130–230 lbs. | Medium to Medium-Firm | This range often balances shoulder and hip cushioning with support underneath. |
| 230+ lbs. | Medium-Firm with stronger support | More substantial support can help prevent excessive sinking while maintaining pressure relief. |
These aren't rules. Think of them as a place to start before factoring in your build, firmness preference and the way you actually like a mattress to feel.
Our favorite mattresses for side sleepers
These aren't seven versions of the same mattress. Each one has a different feel, which is exactly why we like having them available to compare.
| Mattress | Feel | We'd Try It If... |
|---|---|---|
| Helix Midnight Luxe | Balanced + cushioned | You want a great middle ground |
| Helix Midnight Elite | Deep + luxurious | You want a premium, more substantial feel |
| Nolah Evolution | Deep + pressure relieving | You enjoy more contour around your body |
| Puffy Legacy | Plush-medium + cradling | You want a softer luxury feel with strong pressure relief |
| WinkBed Luxury Firm | Supportive + traditional | You don't want a heavy memory-foam feel |
| Leesa Sapira Chill | Cushioned + contouring | Cooling and pressure relief are priorities |
| WinkBed Blue Series 2 | Responsive + buoyant | You prefer latex over a slow-sinking foam feel |
Helix Midnight Luxe
If someone tells us they're primarily a side sleeper but isn't sure what kind of mattress they like, the Midnight Luxe is a natural place to start.
It lands in that comfortable middle ground: enough cushioning for the shoulder and hip without feeling excessively soft. Underneath, the hybrid construction provides the support that keeps it from feeling like you're simply sinking through the mattress.
Try this if: You want a balanced combination of pressure relief, cushioning and support.
Helix Midnight Elite
The Midnight Elite takes the general idea of the Midnight Luxe and makes it feel deeper and more substantial.
Its layered construction gives the body plenty of room to settle into the mattress, which can be especially appealing for side sleepers who want more cushioning around the shoulders and hips.
It also has a more substantial, luxury-mattress feel than the Luxe. If you're comparing the two, the difference is something we'd rather have you feel than try to explain with a firmness number.
Try this if: You want a deeper, more luxurious mattress and pressure relief is high on your list.
Nolah Evolution
The Nolah Evolution is a really nice option for side sleepers who like more cushioning around their body.
The thicker comfort system gives your shoulders and hips room to settle in, while the coil system underneath keeps the mattress supported.
It's a different experience than something more responsive like the WinkBed or Blue Series 2. If you like a more noticeable contour around your body, we'd put this one on your list.
Try this if: You want deeper cushioning and contour around your shoulders and hips.
Puffy Legacy
The Puffy Legacy is one we'd put on the list for a side sleeper who wants something a little more plush and luxurious.
It has a plush-medium feel with a memory-foam comfort layer that gives the shoulders and hips room to settle in. Underneath, individually pocketed coils provide support so you still get structure beneath that softer surface.
It also stands apart from the other mattresses here because of its materials. The cashmere-wool cover and breathable horsehair layer give it a different, more natural luxury feel while also helping with temperature regulation.
We'd especially consider this one for lighter to average-weight side sleepers who want noticeable pressure relief without moving into an ultra-soft mattress.
Try this if: You want a plush-medium, cradling feel with premium materials and plenty of shoulder and hip pressure relief.
WinkBed Luxury Firm
Not every side sleeper wants to sink deeply into foam.
The WinkBed Luxury Firm gives you cushioning at the surface with a more responsive, supportive feel underneath. You tend to feel more on top of this mattress than you do with some of the deeper-contouring options.
It's one of our favorite mattresses to show someone who says, “I want a really nice mattress, but I don't like that memory-foam feeling.”
Try this if: You want pressure relief with a more traditional, supportive luxury-mattress feel.
Leesa Sapira Chill
Two things we hear all the time are “I'm a side sleeper” and “I sleep hot.” The Sapira Chill is worth trying when both are priorities.
It has substantial comfort layers for cushioning around the shoulders and hips paired with a pocketed-coil support system underneath.
Compared with the WinkBed, expect more contour and a more cushioned feel around your body.
Try this if: You want plenty of cushioning and pressure relief while also prioritizing temperature regulation.
WinkBed Blue Series 2
The Blue Series 2 is the different one in this group and that's why we like having it here.
Latex has a more buoyant, responsive feel than traditional memory foam. Instead of slowly sinking into the mattress, you get cushioning with more immediate pushback.
It's also easier to move around on, making it great for side sleepers who change positions during the night.
Try this if: You want pressure relief but prefer a responsive, buoyant feel over a deeper memory-foam hug.
Not sure where to start?
What about shoulder and hip pressure?
If your shoulder or hip feels uncomfortable at night, don't automatically jump to the softest mattress you can find.
Look at how your body is settling into the mattress. Your shoulder needs room to sink in and your hip needs cushioning, but your midsection still needs support.
Sometimes going a little softer helps. Other times, choosing a mattress with better or deeper comfort layers makes a bigger difference than simply choosing a softer firmness.
Don't forget your pillow
Your pillow and mattress work together.
Side sleepers typically need enough pillow height to fill the space between the head and mattress. But how much you need depends partly on your mattress.
If your shoulder sinks deeply into a plush mattress, you may need less pillow height. On a firmer mattress where your shoulder stays closer to the surface, you may need more.
So, what's the best mattress for a side sleeper?
There's no single answer and we think that's a good thing.
Start with pressure relief and support. Then think about how much contour you like, your body weight, whether you sleep hot and whether you prefer the deeper feel of foam or the responsiveness of coils and latex.
Most importantly, lie on them. A firmness number on a website can't tell you what your shoulder, hip and back are going to feel when you're actually on the mattress.
Try Them in Green Bay
At The Online Mattress Store, you can compare popular online mattress brands side by side before deciding what actually feels right for you.
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