Best Mattress for Side Sleepers (2025): Supportive and Gentle at the Hips and Shoulders

When it comes to side sleeping, pressure relief is one of the most important factors to look for. The hips and shoulders are two very sensitive pressure points, so it’s crucial to find some sinkage and contouring in those areas to prevent pain. We chose the Helix Midnight Luxe as the best overall mattress for side sleepers because of its 4-star pressure relief that gently cradles these sensitive joints. As the luxury upgrade of Helix’s medium-firm option, the standard Helix Midnight, the Luxe has more memory foam in its construction for additional contouring, and we rated it a 6 out of 10 on our mattress firmness scale. This places it in the category of medium soft.

Our team of certified sleep science coaches tested the Helix Midnight using a specialized mat that senses pressure. First, we roll the mat onto the surface of the mattress. Then, we lie on it in different sleeping positions. The mat then translates the results into an easy-to-read graphic using thermal imaging. Areas displaying blue and green indicate low pressure, while areas displaying yellow and red indicate high pressure.

As you can see on the pressure map, there’s only blue and green along the body in the side-sleeping position. This means there’s enough sinkage to cradle the hips and shoulders and prevent pressure from building. Our tester Caitlin Giddings said, “The marshmallowy pillow top cushioned my shoulder and hip when I lay in a side-sleeping position. It filled in the gap at my hip and contoured me in a way that was really comfortable.” Since this bed provides gentle cradling at the shoulders and hips, we gave it 4 stars for pressure relief.

Additionally, a strong support system is important for achieving spinal alignment. Although you want to see sinkage and contouring, you also need enough lift at the hips and lower back to keep them in line with the shoulders. The layer of individually wrapped coils inside the Helix Midnight Luxe is zoned for support, meaning the coils are firmer in certain areas and more flexible in others. We think it’s even supportive enough for heavy sleepers, who tend to sink too far into a bed’s layers. Our larger tester Caine Wilkes said, “I’m a side and back sleeper, and I think this one is pretty good for heavy side sleepers. The cushioning up top lets you sink in a little bit, but I still feel well supported.”

Something to keep in mind is this bed’s price. As a luxury mattress, it’s more expensive than the standard model, going for $2,373.75 at full retail for a queen size. You may also want to consider whether you sleep with a restless partner, as our testers found a higher rate of motion transfer on this bed. This means you’re likely to feel your partner’s movement on the other side of the mattress, which may disrupt your sleep.

If you’re interested in the Helix Midnight Luxe, head over to our full Helix Midnight Luxe review. For more support for heavy sleepers, check out the Helix Plus mattress (which was designed for larger body types) or read our best mattress roundup.

Although it’s an all-foam mattress, the Nectar bucks the trend of ultra-soft, slow-moving memory foam in favor of something more supportive. While we found the bed to offer the necessary contouring for side sleepers at the shoulders and hips, our testers still got a nice lift that also makes this bed a good choice for back sleepers. Certified sleep science coach Sosha Lewis had this to say: “I think this bed is pretty good for side sleeping. It’s firm for a foam bed, but I sink into it further the longer I lie here. My hips are elevated and in line with my shoulders, creating fantastic spinal alignment.”

Even our tester Caine Wilkes, who falls into the heavy-sleeper weight class (over 230 pounds), found the Nectar to be comfortable on his side. “It feels more supportive than I was expecting,” he said. “Everything feels in line on my side. While I feel a little pressure on my shoulder, it isn’t uncomfortable.”

Our pressure map results reflected their results, with mostly blue across the entire graphic, including at the shoulders and hips. This indicates little to no pressure for side sleepers.

That said, our lightweight sleeper, Asha Birjah, felt some discomfort while on her side and longed for something a little softer. “My hips feel lower than my spine,” she said. “I feel pressure on my shoulder even with a pillow. I noticed more pressure in my hips.” This checks out, as lightweight sleepers often need something extra-soft with deeper pressure relief.

As far as other testing categories go, we pay special attention to cooling with memory foam beds, since they have been known to trap heat. We tested the Nectar’s cooling with a thermal gun, which we use to first take the initial temperature of the mattress, then again after a tester lies on the bed for 5 minutes. The Nectar only heated up by 4.5 degrees, which indicates excellent cooling abilities, so we gave it 4.5 stars for cooling.

If you’re looking to use this mattress with an adjustable base, you may be disappointed. While it may work with some slight head or leg elevation, we don’t recommend using this bed in Zero-Gravity or TV settings, as it doesn’t fully conform to the base. We don’t recommend this bed to people with mobility issues who rely on strong edges to get in and out of bed. While the edges are supportive while lying down, there’s some significant sinkage when sitting directly on the edge.

If you’re ready to dive into this bed, read our full Nectar mattress review. For a memory foam mattress with more softness, check out the flippable Layla mattress (it comes with a “soft” side) or read our best memory foam mattress roundup.

If you switch between your side, back, or stomach, you’re a combination sleeper, and a bed with a bit of bounce can help aid the transition between these different sleeping positions. Without such mobility, combination sleepers may find themselves feeling trapped in the foam and unable to easily move around. The Saatva is an innerspring mattress with not one but two layers of coils, giving it excellent bounce and a 5-star rating for responsiveness. We recommend the Plush model for side sleepers because it also offers 4.5-star pressure relief and 5-star support.

We tested pressure relief on the Luxury Firm model of the Saatva Classic. Looking at the pressure map below, we see blue and green across the body when side sleeping, with just a little bit of yellow at the hips. But the Plush model is much softer and likely to give side sleepers the contouring they need in this area. Those who switch between their side and stomach could also enjoy this bed, but strict stomach sleepers will find better alignment on the Firm model.

Our testers gave this bed 5 stars for responsiveness because its coil-on-coil construction provides plenty of bounce, which makes it easier to roll over to a different sleeping position. Additionally, this innerspring bed doesn’t contain a ton of foam, so you won’t have to worry about the quicksand feel of memory foam inhibiting your movement. When our tester Kenny Timper tested the Saatva Classic, he said, “I had no trouble at all switching from my back to my side to my stomach. It was also very easy to hop in and out of bed and roll from one side of the mattress to the other.”

Although responsiveness is one of this bed’s strengths, it can also be considered one of its weaknesses. The bouncy construction and lack of foam makes the bed less capable of isolating motion. When we performed our three motion isolation tests, we found poor results. When Kenny lied on the bed with a partner tossing and turning next to him, he said, “I can feel every little movement my partner made and could tell exactly what she was doing despite being blindfolded” We gave the Saatva 2.8 out of 5 stars in this category, which you should consider if you sleep with a partner who tosses and turns and you’re easily woken up.

We also want to reiterate that the Saatva is an innerspring mattress with a plush pillow top. If you’re looking for deep sinkage and body contouring, you may be seeking a memory foam mattress.

Interested in the Saatva? Read more in our full Saatva Classic mattress review. For a bed with better motion isolation, check out the Nolah mattress or head to our best mattress for combination sleepers roundup.

Can’t decide between a cushiony all-foam bed and a supportive innerspring bed? Consider a hybrid mattress — the supportive yet pressure-relieving blend of the two major mattress types. When it comes to side sleeping, we think the WinkBed is the best hybrid bed because of its high-quality materials and that it comes in several different firmness levels. For side sleepers, we recommend the Softer model. For context, we tested the Luxury Firm model and gave it 3.8 out of 5 stars for pressure relief, which means the Softer model would get closer to a 4 or higher.

Even on the Luxury Firm model of the WinkBed, the pressure map below shows almost all blue at the shoulders and hips in the side-sleeping position. So there’s a chance side sleepers might like this model if they prefer a firmer mattress, though we still recommend the Softer firmness level. When our tester Riley Otis tried the bed on her side, she said, “The pillow top shines in this position, providing nice cushioning at the hips and just a bit of sinkage. I did feel a bit of pressure starting to form at my shoulders, so those with sensitive shoulder joints may want the softer model.” The WinkBed also showed promising results in the back-sleeping position, making it a good choice for combination sleepers.

As a bouncier hybrid, so you won’t find the slow-moving, sinking feel provided by memory foam mattresses. The WinkBed’s tall layer of coils provide a more supportive “on” the bed feel. This isn’t necessarily a con, but it is something to keep in mind if you prefer a hugging, “in” the bed feel. When Riley tested how easy it was to move around on the bed, she said, “My mobility is inhibited by the pillow top. I was able to move around and switch positions, but it did require noticeable effort. However, I didn’t feel trapped in the foams when rolling around”

While this bed is a good match for side sleepers who prefer a firmer feel, it’s not quite firm enough for stomach sleepers, especially those who fall in the average and heavy sleeper category. We recommend opting for the Firmer or Plus models.

For a closer look at the WinkBed, read our full WinkBed mattress review. For a memory foam option, check out the WinkBed GravityLux or head to our best hybrid mattress roundup.

If you find yourself overheating at night and struggling to stay cool, you’re probably a hot sleeper. But fear not! The right mattress can help combat heat and keep you from waking up sweaty. The Nolah Evolution is one of our favorite mattresses for side sleepers, and it just so happens to have a construction that promotes airflow, earning it 4.5 stars for cooling. This bed also comes in three firmness levels. While we recommend the Plush model for side sleeping, we still found 4.3-star pressure relief on the Luxury Firm model.

The Nolah Evolution’s construction is typical of a hybrid bed — a few layers of foam up top resting on a sturdy coil system. The cover is made from organic cotton, which tester Sosha Lewis said was “cool to the touch.” The two comfort layers (made with proprietary cooling materials) provide some initial sinkage and body contouring, in addition to temperature regulation. Underneath is a final layer of foam and 8 inches of springs that lift the body and prop the spine into a neutral position.

To test the Evolution’s pressure relief, we put our pressure mat on the Luxury Firm model, which comes in at a 6.5 out of 10 on our mattress firmness scale, making it a medium-firm bed. Looking at the results, we saw minimal pressure building at the hips and shoulders when side sleeping. Our lightweight tester, Asha Birjah, said, “I really like this mattress in the side sleeping position. It has a great balance between firmness and contouring, and I’m not experiencing any pressure or pain.” Based on these results, we think most side sleepers should be comfortable on this model. However, side sleepers with sensitive joints or preexisting pain may want to opt for the Plush model, which can offer a bit more sinkage.

One caveat of this bed is the price. While not the most expensive bed on the market, the Evolution still doesn’t qualify as a cheap mattress. If you’re a shopper on a budget and looking for a mattress under $1,000, it may not be the right fit. We also didn’t find the best compatibility with an adjustable base, which is something to keep in mind if you’re seeking head and leg elevation.

For more about the Nolah Evolution, read our full Nolah Evolution mattress review. For a more affordable hybrid option, check out the Silk & Snow Hybrid mattress or head over to our best cooling mattress roundup.

With the Saatva Rx, you get all the perks of a luxury mattress at a more affordable price. This bed received an overall score of 4, with a whopping 4.8 stars for pressure relief. This makes it an excellent choice for side sleepers who want a lot of bang for their buck.

The luxury feel of this mattress can be credited to its unique construction, which sandwiches foam modules between two layers of innerspring coils. One layer is made of micro coils for some initial support, and the other is composed of taller, individually pocketed coils. There’s also a half-inch layer of gel-infused memory foam that offers extra support and cushioning at the lumbar region, which is great for sleepers struggling with back pain. On top of the coils are foam caps, which are infused with graphite and a phase change material to help with cooling. Our tester Erin Chiles said, “While it’s not cool-to-the-touch, I didn’t notice the bed warming up as I lay there.” These are features not typically found in standard, non-luxury mattresses.

Looking at the pressure map for the Saatva Rx, we see impressive results. There’s not too much pressure building at the hips and shoulders when side sleeping, so pain in these areas shouldn’t be a concern. Our tester Riley Otis said, “I am getting a lot of plush cushioning around my shoulders and hips and I’m not experiencing any discomfort anywhere. I typically feel pressure in my shoulders but I am not feeling that on this mattress.”

While this is a great bed for side sleepers, we think lightweight side sleepers (those weighing under 130 pounds) may find it a tad too firm. These sleepers won’t sink in as much as average-weight and heavy sleepers do, so they might want a bed that’s slightly softer. We also only awarded this bed 3.2 stars for edge support, so couples may not be able to fully spread out and still feel supported next to the edge.

Interested? Learn more in our full Saatva Rx mattress review. For a better option for lightweight sleepers, try the Helix Sunset Luxe or check out our best luxury mattress roundup. 

If you’re a side sleeper struggling with back pain, it may be because your current mattress lacks proper spinal support. If the hips and shoulders aren’t aligned properly, the spine begins to bend unnaturally, which can lead to pain over time. We think the Bear Elite Hybrid is the best mattress for side sleepers with back pain because it earned 3.9 stars in pressure relief while still being a highly supportive mattress. This means the bed has enough lift and support to prop the spine into the proper position while still providing the hip and shoulder cushioning side sleepers need.

Bear is also a company that caters specifically to athletes, so they know a thing or two about pain. They even have a Celliant cooling cover available for purchase at checkout — clinical trials support the claim that this phase change material can assist with muscle recovery. Though we haven’t verified these claims ourselves, our tester Sosha Lewis said, “The mattress didn’t noticeably heat up while I was lying on it.”

The Bear Elite Hybrid earned 4.5 stars in support due to its coil-on-coil construction. One layer of coils can help a lot with spinal support, but two coil layers make for an ultra-supportive mattress. The coils are zoned for support, meaning their firmness fluctuates depending on which part of the body they’re supporting. Dr. Raj Dasgupta, our chief medical advisor, says the best mattress for back pain is not too soft and not too firm in order to properly distribute weight and align the spine, thus reducing muscle strain.

In terms of firmness, Bear offers the Elite Hybrid in three different firmness levels: Soft, Medium, and Firm. We tested out the Medium’s firmness and scored it a 7 out of 10 on our mattress firmness scale, which means the Soft model should land closer to a 6 — just the number you want if you’re a side sleeper.

Although this bed has a lot of lift and support, it doesn’t lack pressure relief. We tested pressure relief on the Medium model and found good results in the side-sleeping position. As you can see on the pressure map below for our lightweight tester, Asha Birjah, there’s mostly blue and just a touch of green in this position, indicating low pressure. “My hips feel more elevated in this position, and I feel comfortable,” she said. “I don’t feel any pressure on my shoulders.” That said, we still recommend side sleepers go with the Soft model.

You’ll also want to note that the Bear Elite Hybrid is Bear’s “ultra-luxurious” mattress, which means it comes with a higher price tag. A queen mattress goes for $2,305 before discounts, so budget shoppers may be deterred from this bed. But, keep in mind that Bear (as well as the other brands on this roundup) runs frequent sales, so you’re likely to get this bed for cheaper. You can also check out our coupon page to save a bit of money. 

While this bed is firmer than average, it may not be quite firm enough to support stomach sleepers’ hips and keep them in line with the shoulders. Lightweight stomach sleepers may find enough lift at the hips, but average and heavyweight stomach sleepers may want a slightly firmer mattress.

Interested in the Bear Elite Hybrid? Read our full Bear Elite Hybrid mattress review. For a more affordable choice, check out the Brooklyn Bedding Signature Hybrid or head to our best mattress for back pain roundup.

When side sleeping, the majority of your weight is placed on your hips and shoulders. If your bed is too firm or doesn’t have enough sinkage and contouring, pressure can build up and cause joint pain. The Brooklyn Bedding Aurora Luxe tackles this issue head-on by offering three firmness levels — Soft, Medium, and Firm, with the Soft model catering to side sleepers. This mattress offers 4.2-star pressure relief that can help take tension away from the hips, plus 5-star support that promotes spinal alignment at every turn. Additionally, this bed earned 5 stars for responsiveness, making it a good choice for sleepers who switch between their side and another sleeping position.

We tested pressure relief on the Medium model of the Brooklyn Bedding Aurora Luxe. As you can see below, the pressure map for our average-weight tester is almost entirely blue, with just a smattering of green at the shoulders and hips. Our tester Sosha Lewis said, “My spine feels neutral and aligned in this position.” While side sleepers will likely be comfortable on the Medium model, they’ll get some extra relief at the joints on the Soft model.

The hip pain relief comes from three layers of foam that rest upon a layer of steel coils. These are Brooklyn Bedding proprietary foams: CopperFlex foam, TitanFlex foam, and visco-gel elastic memory foam. All you really need to know is that these foams provide cushioning around the pressure points and help ease your body onto the support layer. For an additional cost upon checkout, you can purchase a pillow top, which can provide even more cushioning around trouble areas. 

The cushioning foams are balanced by the innerspring coils, which lift the sleeper up and out of the mattress and keep the spine in a straight line — one of the keys to avoiding lower back pain. Our testers found this bed super-supportive due to the zoned support, which is softer or firmer depending on which part of the body needs more lift. Sosha said, “The support feels like it’s filling in the space at my lower back. It’s so balanced. I don’t feel any extra pressure on my lower back and hips — it actually seems to be alleviating some pain in my lower back.”

Although this bed is very supportive, we don’t think it’s compatible with sleepers who weigh over 230 pounds. These sleepers should get a mattress with even more firmness and support to prevent excess sinkage and ensure proper spinal alignment. We also want to call out the slight noise we heard during testing. Tester Carter Coughlin said, “The mattress makes a slight crinkling sound when compressed. Sitting on the mattress or changing positions creates the noise, but it is not likely to be disruptive to sleep.”

For more on the Aurora Luxe, read our full Brooklyn Bedding Aurora Luxe review. For an option for heavy sleepers, check out the Titan Plus or head over to our roundup of the best mattresses that won’t sag.

Your body weight is a main factor that determines how a bed feels and performs for you. If you weigh over 230 pounds, you fall in the heavy sleeper category. For these folks, our Chief Medical Advisor, Dr. Raj Dasgupta, recommends mattresses that use thick, durable materials that offer strong support and reinforced edges to prevent sagging. Our other advisor Dr. Shelby Harris seconds this statement and says a firmness of 7 to 8 out of 10 is ideal for this body type. We chose the Leesa Sapira Chill Hybrid as the best mattress for heavy side sleepers because it earned a near-perfect 4.5 out of 5 stars for pressure relief and 4.5 stars for support. This bed offers great contouring around the sensitive pressure points while providing plenty of sturdy support.

The Leesa Sapira Chill Hybrid’s support system is a layer of tall, zoned support coils. The firmness of the coils fluctuates depending on which part of the body it supports, which helps provide lift in all the right places while promoting proper spinal alignment. I personally tested this bed and found great lift at my hips that propped them in line with my shoulders. We evaluated the Medium-Firm model, which falls at a 6 out of 10 on our mattress firmness scale. While I think sleepers with larger bodies will find enough support from this model, they may prefer the Firm model, which could offer even more support. 

We performed the pressure map test on the Leesa Sapira Chill Hybrid in the Medium-Firm model. Based on the blue and green thermal imaging along the body in the side-sleeping position, we can tell that this bed is relieving pressure quite well. Our heavy tester Caine Wilkes said, “I’m getting relief for my hip and shoulder pain, and my spine feels really aligned.” 

Riley thought this hybrid mattress offered the plush, cushiony feel that many memory foam beds have, but the coils helped lift her body up and out of the mattress. These coils also help supplement the bed’s edge support, with Riley saying, “The strong coils below the foam layer do a nice job adding lots of lift and support to both the center and edge of the mattress.”

If you’re a combination sleeper, you might have a harder time moving around on this mattress. It only received 2 stars for responsiveness because our tester felt a bit trapped in the foams when switching from her back to her side to her stomach. We also found subpar motion isolation during testing, meaning couples may be awoken by their partner tossing and turning.

Want to know more about the Leesa Sapira Chill? Read our full Leesa Sapira Chill mattress review. For an all-foam bed that’s suitable for heavy sleepers, try the Plank Firm mattress or head to our best mattress for heavy people roundup.

While we recommend mattresses with plenty of sinkage and contouring to side sleepers, not every sleeper likes a soft mattress. But don’t worry — soft mattresses aren’t the only beds that offer sinkage and pressure relief. Take the Silk & Snow Hybrid. This bed sports a medium-firm feel, as well as 3.9-star pressure relief and 4.5-star support. It also makes a great pick for couples, as a medium-firm feel can appeal to a variety of sleeping positions and body types. The affordable price, 4.7-star motion isolation, and 4.5-star cooling also make this a desirable bed.

When we test firmness, we always have multiple expert testers lie on the bed in a variety of sleeping positions and then give the mattress a firmness score. Our mattress firmness scale goes from 1 to 10, where 1 is the softest and 10 is the firmest. We then average the testers’ scores to create our final firmness rating. The Silk & Snow Hybrid falls at a 6.5 on the firmness scale, which marks it as a true medium-firm mattress. A medium-firm feel is often popular because it provides a balance between pressure relief and support, which creates comfortable cushioning, as well as spinal alignment.

When we tested this bed for pressure relief, we found good results in the side-sleeping position. When we take a look at the pressure map, we see blue and just a touch of green along the body in the side-sleeping position, which indicates low pressure. We do see more green than blue at the shoulders, which doesn’t indicate high pressure but does mean some sleepers could feel pressure there. Tester Caine Wilkes, who has a larger body, even said, “I feel more contouring in my hips than in my shoulders. I actually feel a little bit of pressure on my shoulders.” For those with preexisting shoulder pain, we recommend a mattress that’s more medium soft or soft, rather than medium firm like this bed.

Something to keep in mind is the Silk & Snow’s edge support score, which is 3.6 out of 5 stars. Strong edges can be important to couples and sleepers who like to spread out, as it allows them to use the entire surface area and sleep right up to the edge. Edge support can also be crucial to sleepers with mobility issues who rely on strong edges to get in and out of bed. Our tester Dan Caffrey tested the edge support and said, “When sitting on the edge of the mattress, the layers collapsed quite a bit.” While this isn’t the worst edge support we’ve ever seen, it is something to consider.

This isn’t the bounciest bed on the market, and its memory foam layer takes several seconds to return to its original shape after weight has been applied. While some sleepers enjoy this feel, those seeking a buoyant mattress that springs you out of bed may be disappointed with the slow sinkage.

For a closer look at the Silk & Snow Hybrid, read our full Silk & Snow Hybrid mattress review. For a medium-soft option, try the Bear Star Hybrid or check out our best medium-firm mattress roundup.