Best Mattresses for Side Sleepers
Side sleepers put more pressure on their hips and shoulders than any other sleep position. The wrong mattress creates painful pressure points that disrupt sleep and leave you sore in the morning. The best mattresses for side sleepers offer a soft-to-medium feel that cushions those contact points while keeping the spine aligned. We evaluated 195+ mattresses on pressure relief, conforming ability, motion isolation, and support layer integrity.
How We Ranked
- ✓Excellent or good pressure relief rating
- ✓Firmness 3–6.5 (plush to medium)
- ✓Motion isolation: good or excellent
- ✓Hip and shoulder contouring
Top Picks at a Glance
Compare top 3 side-by-side →| Rank | Mattress | Price | Firmness | Cooling | Trial | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Helix Sunsethybrid | $1,099 $1,374 | 2.5/10 | low | 100n | 6.7 |
| #2 | Tempur-Pedic TEMPUR-LuxeAdapt Softfoam | $4,299 | 2.5/10 | average | 90n | 7.6 |
| #3 | Helix Moonlight Luxehybrid | $1,899 $2,374 | 3/10 | good | 100n | 8.5 |
| #4 | Tempur-Pedic TEMPUR-ProAdapt Softfoam | $3,299 | 3/10 | average | 90n | 7.6 |
| #5 | Amerisleep AS4foam | $1,149 $1,649 | 3.5/10 | average | 100n | 7.8 |
The Helix Sunset is a hybrid mattress at $1,099 (Queen) with 2.5/10 firmness. Side sleepers love it for its contouring comfort layers that relieve hip and shoulder pressure. It earns its place thanks to softest model in standard helix line.
- ✓Softest model in standard Helix line
- ✓Excellent pressure relief for lightweight sleepers
- ✓120-night trial
The Tempur-Pedic TEMPUR-LuxeAdapt Soft is a foam mattress at $4,299 (Queen) with 2.5/10 firmness. Side sleepers love it for its contouring comfort layers that relieve hip and shoulder pressure. It earns its place thanks to thickest tempur layer in the non-cooling lineup — maximum plush comfort.
- ✓Thickest TEMPUR layer in the non-cooling lineup — maximum plush comfort
- ✓Zero motion transfer — exceptional for light sleepers sharing a bed
- ✓SmartClimate dual cover is washable
The Helix Moonlight Luxe is a hybrid mattress at $1,899 (Queen) with 3/10 firmness. Side sleepers love it for its contouring comfort layers that relieve hip and shoulder pressure. It earns its place thanks to softest helix luxe — maximum pressure relief for side sleepers.
- ✓Softest Helix Luxe — maximum pressure relief for side sleepers
- ✓Tencel moisture-wicking cover
- ✓Zoned pocketed coils prevent bottoming out under soft comfort layers
The Tempur-Pedic TEMPUR-ProAdapt Soft is a foam mattress at $3,299 (Queen) with 3/10 firmness. Side sleepers love it for its contouring comfort layers that relieve hip and shoulder pressure. It earns its place thanks to maximum pressure relief for side sleepers — softest proadapt.
- ✓Maximum pressure relief for side sleepers — softest ProAdapt
- ✓SmartClimate dual cover removes for washing
- ✓TEMPUR-APR+ support layer prevents complete sinkage despite soft feel
The Amerisleep AS4 is a foam mattress at $1,149 (Queen) with 3.5/10 firmness. Side sleepers love it for its contouring comfort layers that relieve hip and shoulder pressure. It earns its place thanks to medium-soft feel excellent for side sleepers who need shoulder and hip relief.
- ✓Medium-soft feel excellent for side sleepers who need shoulder and hip relief
- ✓HIVE® hex cutouts in the base layer provide zoned support
- ✓Plant-based Bio-Pur foam more breathable than traditional memory foam
The Purple Restore Premier Soft is a hybrid mattress at $2,878 (Queen) with 3.5/10 firmness. Side sleepers love it for its contouring comfort layers that relieve hip and shoulder pressure. It earns its place thanks to 4" gelflex grid — the thickest grid layer across the purple lineup for maximum pressure relief.
- ✓4" GelFlex Grid — the thickest grid layer across the Purple lineup for maximum pressure relief
- ✓Grid technology simultaneously supports and relieves — unique to Purple
- ✓Exceptional temperature regulation — open grid structure doesn't trap heat
The Amerisleep AS5 is a memory foam mattress at $1,599 (Queen) with 4/10 firmness. Side sleepers love it for its contouring comfort layers that relieve hip and shoulder pressure. It earns its place thanks to plush pressure relief.
- ✓Plush pressure relief
- ✓Plant-based foam
- ✓20-year warranty
The Keetsa Cloud is a foam mattress at $599 (Queen) with 4.5/10 firmness. Side sleepers love it for its contouring comfort layers that relieve hip and shoulder pressure. It earns its place thanks to icoil springs embedded in foam layer — responsive bounce at foam price point.
- ✓iCoil springs embedded in foam layer — responsive bounce at foam price point
- ✓CertiPUR-US certified — no harmful chemicals in foam
- ✓Excellent pressure relief for the price
The Purple Luxe is a hybrid mattress at $4,999 (Queen) with 4.5/10 firmness. Side sleepers love it for its contouring comfort layers that relieve hip and shoulder pressure. It earns its place thanks to 4" gelflex grid — most pressure-relieving purple mattress ever made.
- ✓4" GelFlex Grid — most pressure-relieving Purple mattress ever made
- ✓Premium-grade coil system with reinforced edges
- ✓Virtually zero heat retention
The Beautyrest Black K-Class Medium Pillow Top is a hybrid mattress at $2,599 (Queen) with 5/10 firmness. Side sleepers love it for its contouring comfort layers that relieve hip and shoulder pressure. It earns its place thanks to thicker blackice cooling system vs c-class.
- ✓Thicker BlackICE cooling system vs C-Class
- ✓Higher coil count — more targeted pressure relief
- ✓Substantial pillow top with advanced contouring foam
Frequently Asked Questions
What firmness is best for side sleepers?
Side sleepers typically do best with a soft to medium firmness (3–6 on a 1–10 scale). This softness allows the hips and shoulders to sink in slightly, keeping the spine aligned horizontally without creating painful pressure points at those joints.
Is memory foam good for side sleepers?
Yes — memory foam conforms closely to the body's curves, relieving pressure at the hips and shoulders. The main consideration is cooling: opt for gel-infused or open-cell memory foam to prevent heat buildup.
Can a firm mattress cause hip pain for side sleepers?
Yes. A firm mattress doesn't allow the hip to sink, creating concentrated pressure at the greater trochanter (outer hip bone). Most side sleepers who sleep on a firm mattress wake with hip or shoulder pain within weeks.
How long should a side sleeper mattress last?
A quality mattress should last 8–12 years for most sleepers. Take advantage of the 90–365 night trial periods offered by top brands to confirm the mattress works for your body before the return window closes.
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