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 as the best overall mattress for side sleepers because of its 4.5-star pressure relief that gently cradles these sensitive joints. This bed also scored well in our support category, earning 4 stars, which is crucial for spinal alignment and weight distribution.

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 Nichole Mondshein said, “Immediately when I laid on this mattress for the first time, I felt it relieved a lot of stored pressure from my back and hips, which is a huge plus as someone who suffers from chronic pain in the lower lumbar region.” Since this bed provides gentle cradling at the shoulders and hips, we gave it 4.5 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 was able to lift our testers and prop their spines into neutral alignment, which is necessary for avoiding back pain and earned the bed 4 stars for support. However, this mattress is likely not supportive enough for heavy sleepers who weigh over 250 pounds.

If you’re interested in the Helix Midnight, head over to our full Helix Midnight review. For more support for heavy sleepers, check out the Brooklyn Bedding Signature Hybrid mattress or read our best mattress roundup. 

If you love the soft, slow-moving feel of memory foam, then look no further than the Nectar Premier mattress. This material is known for its soft and cushioning foam that provides pressure relief by contouring around your body’s curves. The memory foam in the Nectar Premier is no different, earning the bed 4.5 stars for pressure relief. Although memory foam is also known for trapping heat, this bed was given 4.5 stars for cooling, so you shouldn’t have to worry about getting too warm at night.

The Nectar Premier falls at a 6 out of 10 on our mattress firmness scale, where 1 is the softest and 10 is the firmest. According to Sleepopolis Director of Sleep Health Dr. Harris, side sleepers should opt for softer mattresses that contour the body and prevent pressure building at the joints. When we take a look at the Nectar Premier’s pressure map, we see low pressure across the entire body in the side-sleeping position. In fact, we think this bed could provide relief to side sleepers struggling with hip and back pain. Our tester Nichole Mondshein said, “Anyone who loves the feel or memory foam should enjoy this mattress. It uses plenty of thick memory foam to offer the hug-like feel these folks are looking for.”

One perk of memory foam is its ability to isolate motion at the source and prevent it from disturbing the sleeper on the other side of the mattress. The Nectar Premier performed very well in our motion isolation tests, earning it 4.5 stars. We think couples will be able to sleep soundly without disturbance from a partner’s tossing and turning.

We also pay special attention to cooling with memory foam beds, since they have been known to trap heat. We tested the Nectar Premier’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 Premier only heated up by 4.3 degrees, which indicates excellent cooling abilities, so we gave it 4.5 stars for cooling.

One downfall of memory foam is its lack of responsiveness. This bed doesn’t have a lot of bounce, so combination sleepers may find it difficult to easily switch from one sleeping position to the next. Those looking for lots of bounce may want to try a mattress that includes latex foam, which feels similar to memory foam but has more buoyancy. 

If you’re ready to dive into this bed, read our full Nectar Premier mattress review. For a latex alternative, check out the Saatva Latex Hybrid mattress 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, we see blue and green across the body when back and side sleeping, indicating low pressure buildup. This model could be a great choice for those who switch between their back and side, as the balance between support and pressure relief is ideal for back sleepers, as well. 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 Nichole Mondshein tested the Saatva Classic, she said “The mattress responded well to my movement, and I didn’t sink in too deep. I was able to turn over and switch from my back to my side to my stomach with ease.”

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 only average results. We gave the Saatva 3 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.

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.

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 WinkBed 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 Softer model for side sleeping, we still found 4.5-star pressure relief on the Luxury Firm model, which is supplemented by its 4.5-star support system.

The WinkBed contains several materials that are designed to promote cooling. The extra-tall layer of pocketed coils provide space inside the mattress for air to flow without becoming trapped. More breeziness comes from the Tencel cooling cover, which is naturally moisture-wicking, and the gel-infused Euro pillow top. Our tester Nichole Mondshein said, “The moisture-wicking Tencel cover feels very breathable and airy when you rest on it.” When we used a thermal gun to record the mattress’s temperature, we found it only increased by 7 degrees after 5 minutes of resting on it. This indicates good temperature regulation. We even thought the bed was cool to the touch.

We tested pressure relief on the Luxury Firm model of the WinkBed. Looking at the pressure map, we see an even distribution of weight and pressure for back sleepers, but there is a bit of pressure forming at the hips and shoulders in the side sleeping position. Because of this, we recommend choosing the Softer model at checkout. This model should be soft enough to add a bit more sinkage and prevent any pressure from building in those areas. When I lay on my back, the map was nearly all blue, indicating little to no pressure buildup in this position. On my side, I saw more green and yellow, especially around my hips and shoulders.

This is an innerspring mattress, so you won’t find the slow-moving, sinking feel provided by memory foam beds. The WinkBed’s tall layer of coils provide a bouncier, 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.

For a closer look at the WinkBed, read our full WinkBed mattress review. For a cooling memory foam option, check out the WinkBed GravityLux or head to our best cooling mattress 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 Nolah Evolution is the best hybrid bed because of its high-quality materials, which we gave 4.5 stars. We also appreciated the 5-star pressure relief that soothes the hip and shoulder joints. This combined with a 4.5-star support system makes for a balanced bed that prevents pain and promotes proper spinal alignment.

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 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 tester Bridget Chapman said, “While laying on my side, the pressure was relieved at my shoulders and hips, resulting in comfortable sinkage.” 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.

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 hybrid mattress 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 4-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, 4.5-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 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. Our tester Amelia Jerden said, “I felt a good amount of sinkage and overall felt comfortable, although there was a small amount of pressure on my shoulders. Still, I think many side sleepers could sleep comfortably on this bed.” 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 3.5 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. We saw a decent amount of sinkage when testing the Silk & Snow Hybrid’s edges. While this isn’t the worst edge support we’ve ever seen, it is something to consider.

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.

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 4.5 stars in both pressure relief and support. 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).

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. The Bear Elite Hybrid falls at a 6 on our firmness scale, making it medium soft and great for side sleeping.

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, there’s mostly blue and just a touch of green in this position, indicating low pressure. However, our tester Nichole Mondshein wasn’t a big fan of the Medium model, saying, “Even though the Bear Elite Hybrid is soft, I didn’t get quite enough contouring at my shoulders and hips while in the side-sleeping position. That said, I could see side sleepers being comfortable on the Soft model.”

While we still think most side sleepers will find plenty of pressure relief on the Medium model, those with sensitive joints or anyone seeking more cushioning should look into Nichole’s advice and try 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. 

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 4.5-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 on the pressure map, there’s a bit of yellow and even a speck of red forming at the shoulders, which is why we recommend opting for the Soft model for more relief at the joints. Our tester Nichole said, “I think side sleepers wanting a bit of a firmer feel should like this mattress, although they may want to go with the Soft model over the Medium model, especially if they experience joint pain.”

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.

Although this bed is very supportive, we don’t think it’s compatible with sleepers who weigh over 250 pounds. These sleepers should get a mattress with even more firmness and support to prevent excess sinkage and ensure proper spinal alignment.

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.

With the Saatva Rx, you get all the perks of a luxury mattress at a more affordable price. This bed received a 4 or higher in all performance categories, including 5 stars in materials, support, trial, and warranty, and a 4.5 star value. We also gave this bed 4.5 stars for pressure relief, making 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. 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 Amelia Jerden said, “While lying on the bed, I experienced plushness and cushioning from the quilted cover and upper foam layers, but I felt firmly supported by the coils below. I think the unique design of this bed contributes to this very balanced feel.”

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 heavyweight sleepers do, so they might want a bed that’s slightly softer.

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. 

Your body weight is a main factor that determines how a bed feels and performs for you. If you weigh over 250 pounds, you fall in the heavyweight 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 Director of Sleep Health, 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 perfect 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. I evaluated the Medium-Firm model, which falls at a 6 out of 10 on our mattress firmness scale. While I think heavy sleepers will find enough support on this model, they may also like 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. I personally felt a lot of cushioning at my hips and shoulders from the pillow top and thick foam layers. This bed felt especially comfortable when I slept on my side, and I felt like I could really get cozy without worrying about placing too much weight on my joints. 

I thought this hybrid mattress offered the plush, cushiony feel that many memory foam beds have, but the coils helped lift my body up and out of the mattress. If you want a true memory foam feel, you may want to opt for an all-foam mattress.

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.