Written by Amelia Jerden, Senior Staff Writer
Looking for the best mattress topper for side sleepers? You’ve come to the right place.
If you tend to sleep on your side, it’s easy for pressure to build up on joints like shoulders and hips. This is especially true if your mattress is too firm or doesn’t offer enough pressure relief. Your best bet is usually a new mattress — take a peek at our best mattresses for side sleepers — but if that’s not an option for you, a mattress topper can do the trick!
Many mattress toppers add an additional comfort layer to the top of a mattress, allowing for more contouring, pressure relief, and overall softness. We’ve rounded up our top nine best mattress toppers for side sleepers to make a less-than-stellar mattress work for them.
Best Mattress Topper for Side Sleepers 2024
- Best Overall – Saatva Graphite Mattress Topper
- Best Soft – Nolah Mattress Topper
- Best Gel Memory Foam – Brooklyn Bedding Gel Swirl Memory Foam Mattress Topper
- Best Hypoallergenic – Helix GlacioTex Premium Mattress Topper
- Best for Back Pain – TEMPUR-Adapt Mattress Topper
- Best Luxury – Coop Sleep Goods Retreat Mattress Topper
- Best Value – ViscoSoft Serene Hybrid Mattress Topper
- Best Memory Foam – Puffy Mattress Topper
- Best for Combination Sleepers – Layla Mattress Topper
Best Mattress for Side Sleepers Video Review
Best Overall Mattress Topper for Side Sleepers – Saatva Graphite Mattress Topper
Saatva Graphite Mattress Topper
This high-quality topper is made with an organic cotton cover, graphite-infused memory foam, and elastic straps.
Sleepopolis Score
4.80 / 5
Read Full Review
Saatva offers a few different versions of their mattress topper: one is memory foam, one is latex, and one is graphite-infused memory foam. Our team chose the Saatva Graphite mattress topper as the best overall mattress topper because it uses high-quality materials, resulting in what we found to be an incredible sense of comfort. It’s made with an organic cotton cover, three inches of graphite-infused memory foam, and features anchor bands to secure the topper to your mattress. We loved how luxurious and cooling this topper felt during testing.
What our testers say: “I found the Saatva mattress topper really comfortable. The foam feels thick and high-density, so you have a lot of room to sink in for body contouring and pressure relief, while still getting support. The cover is soft and I thought the topper maintained a nice, temperature-neutral feel.” – Amelia Jerden, senior staff writer
You Should Buy the Saatva Graphite Mattress Topper If
- You experience joint pain. The Saatva mattress topper’s foam feels thick and high-density, allowing lots of room to sink in for luxurious body contouring. This should give side sleepers plenty of relief at the shoulders and hips — the areas where they put the most pressure while sleeping.
- You’re a hot sleeper. The breathable cotton cover and cooling graphite infusions provide a temperature-neutral sleep experience.
- You’re wanting a long-lasting option. The Saatva mattress topper also feels durable and well-crafted.
You Should Keep Shopping If
- You’re a budget shopper. This is a high-quality, luxurious option. Saatva’s prices do indeed reflect this.
- You’re a stomach sleeper. As this topper softens rather than firms up a mattress, it’s not going to provide the lift for folks in the prone position.
Want to learn more? Read our full Saatva Graphite mattress topper review to get all the details.
Best Soft Mattress Topper for Side Sleepers – Nolah Mattress Topper
Nolah Mattress Topper
The Nolah Mattress Topper is a high-quality product boasting a CertiPUR-US certification. Nolah's signature foam is described as more durable, plush, and cooling than other foams on the market.
Sleepopolis Score
4.90 / 5
Read Full Review
Side sleepers tend to need more pressure relief than other sleepers, as they rest on their shoulders and hips. If a bed is too firm, it can cause excess pressure to build up at those sensitive areas, sometimes even resulting in joint pain. However, we tested the Nolah mattress topper in our lab and found that the dense foam provided us with plenty of softness and contouring to these areas. It’s even available in two different firmnesses, Plush and Luxury Firm, but we of course recommend the Plush for most side sleepers.
What our testers say: “Overall, I found it to feel like a classic memory foam mattress topper, but slightly more elevating. It offered some contouring and pressure relief, but I didn’t find myself sinking into the topper very deeply. It is only two inches thick, so there isn’t a ton of room to sink into the foam.” – Amelia Jerden, senior staff writer
You Should Buy the Nolah Mattress Topper If
- You sleep hot at night. The foam in this topper is CertiPUR-US certified and specially designed to wick away moisture from hot sleepers.
- You want the topper to secure to your bed. It comes with elastic straps, so you won’t have to worry about this topper sliding around on your mattress.
- You’re on the hunt for great policies. Nolah offers a 10-year warranty and free shipping, showcasing the company’s confidence in its product and its dedication to customers.
You Should Keep Shopping If
- You’re partial to a memory foam feel. We didn’t feel much sinkage on the Nolah mattress topper, and thought it gave much more of a lift while testing. So, if you prefer that memory foam hug, we suggest looking elsewhere.
- You require extra support. As heavier sleepers compress mattress layers more than the average sleeper, they might be comfortable with a topper that’s a bit denser and plusher.
Read our full Nolah mattress topper review to learn more.
Best Gel Memory Foam Mattress Topper for Side Sleepers – Brooklyn Bedding Gel Swirl Memory Foam Mattress Topper
Brooklyn Bedding Gel Swirl Mattress Topper
The Brooklyn Bedding Gel Swirl Topper is made with a 2.5-pound layer of gel memory foam pairs ultimate optimal pressure point relief with just the right amount of responsiveness.
Read Full ReviewThe Gel Swirl Memory Foam mattress topper from Brooklyn Bedding is made with gel-infused memory foam, which you might recognize as a technique used to cool down comfort layers in mattresses. The gel infusions are designed to draw heat away from your body and reduce how much heat the memory foam traps. Heat trapping is a natural feature of most traditional memory foam, but when we were testing, we couldn’t help but think how well this topper does at breaking this reputation.
What our testers say: “I felt this topper had a pretty plush feel. It allows you to sink in for some contouring and overall has a fairly classic memory foam feel. I definitely felt some pressure relief on key pressure points, like my shoulders and hips.” – Amelia Jerden, senior staff writer
You Should Buy the Brooklyn Bedding Gel Swirl Memory Foam Mattress Topper If
- You wanting different firmness options. This topper is available in two different thicknesses: two inches and three inches. You can choose the 2-inch for a lower profile or the 3-inch for more room to sink in for pressure relief. Side sleepers may want to opt for the 3-inch for lots of room for body contouring.
- You’re seeking lots of pressure relief. The Gel Swirl Memory Foam topper has a plush feel that allows for contouring, particularly around pressure points like shoulders and hips.
- You’re a back sleeper or side sleeper. The balanced feel of this topper should contribute comfort and support to anyone resting on their back or side.
You Should Keep Shopping If
- You toss and turn a lot at night. Due to this topper’s sinkage, we found it difficult to switch sleeping positions while testing. This isn’t the best news for combination sleepers.
- You sleep in the prone position. This topper, like many others on the market, is made to make a mattress plusher than it was before. So, for stomach sleepers or anyone preferring something firm, this isn’t the model for you.
Keep on reading in our full length Brooklyn Bedding Gel Swirl Memory Foam mattress topper review.
Best Hybrid Mattress Topper for Side Sleepers – Helix GlacioTex Premium Mattress Topper
Helix GlacioTex Premium Mattress Topper
Luxury mattress topper built with a hybrid construction of steel coils and premium memory foam.
Many of the toppers on this list are made entirely of foam. But the GlacioTex Premium Mattress Topper from Helix stands out for having a core of individually wrapped microcoils. That means side sleepers should get pressure relief from the foams on both sides of the coils, while also getting some sturdy support for their spine.
You Should Buy the Helix GlacioTex Premium Mattress Topper If
- You find yourself overheating at night. The cover is made of GlacioTex — a patented material meant to assist with cooling, which is good news for hot sleepers.
- You want to firm up your bed. There are two different firmness options available: a Luxury Plush topper that softens your mattress and a Luxury Firm topper that makes it firmer.
- You’re worried about your topper sliding around. The topper comes with straps that secure the topper to the mattress.
You Should Keep Shopping If
- You’re wanting extended policies. While Helix does offer a warranty, it’s only for a year. So if you’re looking for longer protection, consider other brands.
- You’re a budget shopper. With all of these cooling features and an innovative hybrid construction, it’s no surprise that it all comes at a luxury price.
Our full review is coming soon.
Best Mattress Topper for Side Sleepers With Back Pain – TEMPUR-Adapt Mattress Topper
TEMPUR-Adapt + Cooling Mattress Topper
The TEMPUR-Adapt is a great mattress topper with a soft memory foam feel that offers impressive pressure relief!
Sleepopolis Score
4.50 / 5
Read Full Review
The TEMPUR-Adapt mattress topper, from memory foam mogul Tempur-Pedic, is made with a polyester blend cover and three inches of TEMPUR Material foam. This topper has a thick, dense feel. When our tester first laid on it, she found it to be very supportive, but as the foam warmed up around her, she ended up sinking in quite deeply for lots of contouring. That contouring provided our tester with lots of pressure relief on the shoulders and hips. This is great news for side sleepers, as it promotes proper alignment to alleviate back pain.
What our testers say: “Laying on the topper, I could tell the foam felt thick and dense. This is fairly typical for TEMPUR Material foam, based on my experience testing other Tempur-Pedic products. The dense foam is supportive and takes awhile to sink into, but as it warmed up around me, I ended up sinking in quite deeply for lots of contouring.” – Amelia Jerden, senior staff writer
You Should Buy the TEMPUR-Adapt Mattress Topper If
- You prioritize convenient care. The cover of this topper is removable and machine washable.
- You love a memory foam feel. The TEMPUR Material foam provides serious conforming and body contouring, which is not only cozy, but can make a too-firm mattress feel much more comfortable for side sleepers.
- You want something hypoallergenic. It’s a good choice for sleepers with allergies because the cover is resistant to mold, allergens, and dust mite dander.
You Should Keep Shopping If
- You’re a hot sleeper. Because of its traditional memory foam traits, this topper does have the tendency to trap heat quite a bit.
- You want a more affordable option. As a leading memory foam brand, the high-quality materials and thoughtful construction Tempur-Pedic provides does drive up the price a bit.
Want to learn more about this cozy foam topper? Check out our full TEMPUR-Adapt mattress topper review for more. If you’re interested, you can also check out our TEMPUR-Adapt mattress review.
Best Luxury Mattress Topper for Side Sleepers – Coop Sleep Goods Retreat Mattress Topper
Coop Retreat Mattress Topper
This Coop Sleep Goods topper is filled with cross-cut foam and microfibers, using a baffle box construction for even distribution.
Sleepopolis Score
4.90 / 5
Read Full Review
For a mattress topper to be considered “luxury,” its materials need to be of a certain quality. In the case of the Retreat topper from Coop Sleep Goods, its construction consists of a cover made of 100 percent brushed microfiber polyester, with a filling made mostly of cross-cut memory foam. All of these materials give it an extra-soft feel that contoured our shoulders and hips when we laid in the side-sleeping position.
What our testers say: “” –
You Should Buy the Coop Sleep Goods Retreat Mattress Topper If
- You want a sturdy fill. Its elegant touches include baffle box stitching that keep the fill from shuffling around.
- You’re wanting additional support. Although this topper is soft, it’s also supportive enough for back sleepers and stomach sleepers.
- You’re a light sleeper. The topper has four elastic straps to keep it secured on top of the mattress. So, if you wake easily at night, you shouldn’t be disturbed on the Retreat.
You Should Keep Shopping If
- You want something machine washable. This topper doesn’t have a removable cover and should be spot cleaned only
- You want a variety of size options. The Coop Sleep Goods Retreat is only available in king and queen sizes.
Read our full Coop Sleep Goods Retreat mattress topper review to learn more.
Best Value Mattress Topper for Side Sleepers – ViscoSoft Serene Hybrid Mattress Topper
ViscoSoft Serene Hybrid Mattress Topper
The ViscoSoft Serene Hybrid is a dual layer mattress topper featuring a pillow top and gel foam interior.
Read Full ReviewThe ViscoSoft Serene Hybrid mattress topper combines a memory foam mattress topper with a pillow top layer for a super comfy sleep experience. But, it does so while providing a fair price. It balances quality and affordability, offering its queen size at a cost of $225 or less after discounts. The brand also offers its topper in two different heights (three inches and four inches), with the three-inch topper being an even cheaper option. Even with this fair price, our testers still found it to be luxurious in its own right; this topper includes a down-alternative pillow top cover that allows for breathability and hugs the mattress like a fitted sheet.
What our testers say: “When I was lying on it, I didn’t feel that I was sinking into the topper very deeply — it felt like I was lying on top of the bed, rather than in it. The foam layer is very squishy and was easy to make an impression in when I pressed into it, but adding the pillow top layer over the foam dampens that effect and spreads your body weight across the foam more evenly.” – Amelia Jerden, senior staff writer
You Should Buy the ViscoSoft Serene Hybrid Mattress Topper If
- You’re seeking a balanced feel. Pillow top or down mattress toppers can lack in support and pressure relief, but memory foam toppers can sometimes feel too “foamy.” This topper strikes a balance between both of these styles for support and pressure relief, but a pillowy feel.
- You prioritize convenient care. The cover is also machine washable, so you can toss it in the wash with your other bedding to keep your topper squeaky clean.
- You rest on your back or side. The balanced feel of the ViscoSoft makes it an excellent topper for both back and side sleepers. It contours pressure points but still keeps the body lifted into alignment.
You Should Keep Shopping If
- You sleep hot at night. While it does have gel-infused memory foam and shouldn’t sleep quite as hot as some brands, we still didn’t find it to have an overly cooling construction.
- You’re a stomach sleeper. Due to the plush pillow-top feel, our testers don’t recommend this model to stomach sleepers, who need to feel super lifted at night.
Learn more about this unique topper in our full ViscoSoft Serene Hybrid mattress topper review.
Best Memory Foam Mattress Topper for Side Sleepers – Puffy Mattress Topper
Puffy Deluxe Mattress Topper
The Puffy mattress topper is a great solution for those looking to firm up a soft mattress, or soften a firm mattress! It has an anti-slip grip to keep it from falling off your bed.
Sleepopolis Score
5.00 / 5
Read Full Review
Memory foam is a popular material for mattress toppers, because it can provide extra cushioning and pressure relief to a too-firm mattress. The Puffy mattress topper is an excellent choice for a memory foam topper, because it not only provides that cozy memory foam feel, but has a cooling cover with a skirt to secure the topper to your mattress. Too often, memory foam traps heat, but Puffy makes sure to break that pattern.
What our testers say: “I thought the Puffy topper had a plush, pressure relieving feel. The foam feels dense, so it doesn’t immediately feel super soft, but it conforms around you more the longer you lay on it. To me, this type of topper is great for providing cushioning around pressure points without making the bed feel too squishy.” – Amelia Jerden, senior staff writer
You Should Buy the Puffy Mattress Topper If
- You sleep on your side. The Puffy mattress topper has a plush, pressure-relieving feel. The longer you lay on the topper, the more it conforms around you. That’s a big plus for side sleepers who need additional pressure relief and softness around their joints.
- You’re a hot sleeper. The cover is made with a blend of bamboo viscose, which is a cooling material. That helps counteract the heat-trapping tendencies of the memory foam.
- You value easy cleaning. The cover can be removed and machine washed — a great bonus for keeping your topper super clean.
You Should Keep Shopping If
- You have a distaste for memory foam. That hug-like sinkage isn’t for everyone. If you’re wanting a more lifted feel, consider a hybrid topper or one made of latex.
- You’re a heavier sleeper. If you weigh around 250 pounds or more, you may not get enough pressure relief, as you’ll likely need a thicker foam layer.
Learn more in our full Puffy mattress topper review.
Best Mattress Topper for Combination Sleepers – Layla Mattress Topper
Layla Mattress Topper
A memory foam topper from Layla is a great way to extend the life of your current mattress.
Sleepopolis Score
4.20 / 5
Read Full Review
The Layla mattress topper features two inches of memory foam, infused with copper gel beads for cooling and antimicrobial properties. The cover is made from a soft fabric that is a blend of polyester, viscose, and lycra. It also has straps on each corner of the topper to secure it to the top of your mattress and prevent shifting.
What our testers say: “The foam itself had a pretty slow-sinking-in feel to me. It felt like a higher density foam to me because it felt quite supportive, and I didn’t just immediately sink into it. Rather, the longer I laid on it, the more I could feel it molding around me to provide some cozy contouring.” – Amelia Jerden, senior staff writer
You Should Buy the Layla Mattress Topper If
- You value a balanced feel. The foam used in this topper has a high-density feel that makes it supportive, but still allows for some slow sinking in.
- You’re a back or side sleeper. It’s comfortable for both back and side sleeping because it has such a balanced feel. You’ll get the pressure relief for sensitive joints and the support for proper spinal alignment.
- You change sleeping positions at night. Because it is thinner, the foam doesn’t envelope the sleeper’s body and it’s still easy to switch between sleeping positions — you shouldn’t feel stuck.
You Should Keep Shopping If
- You’re a stomach sleeper. While the Layla mattress topper has a firmer feel than other toppers, it’s still too soft to support stomach sleepers.
- You’re looking for the cheapest option. While there are frequent discounts, the cooling properties and other luxury features do drive up the price of this model.
Learn more in our full Layla mattress topper review.
Benefits of Mattress Toppers
- Alters a bed’s feel for a lower price: If you’re wanting to change the feel of a mattress, it’s definitely cheaper to purchase a mattress topper rather than a whole new mattress. This makes it a fantastic way to upgrade your mattress on a budget, whether you want a softer or firmer feel. Compare prices across several different brands and use our coupons to get the best deal.
- Relieves pressure: Toppers can soften your mattress and make it feel more comfortable. They’re especially nice options for those in need of additional pressure relief, such as side sleepers or folks with joint pain.
- Makes for convenient storage and transport: It’s much easier to move and store a topper than it is to move an entire mattress, so these accessories are ideal for upgrading beds you’ll use for a year or two.
How To Choose A Mattress Topper for Side Sleepers
As you are researching to determine which mattress topper is best for you, as a side sleeper, it’s important to know what factors to consider in your search. Let’s go over some of the factors we look at here at Sleepopolis.
Materials
As with most bedding and sleep accessory products, materials are an important factor to consider when shopping for a mattress topper. Common materials used in mattress toppers include memory foam, latex foam, down, and down alternatives.
Memory Foam
Memory foam is one of the most common materials — as you can see from the toppers featured in this roundup. Memory foam contours around the body, providing cushioning and pressure relief. That’s especially important for side sleepers, whose entire body weight rests on their shoulders and hips. Pressure can build up easily on those joints, but memory foam can relieve some of that pressure.
Memory foam does naturally trap a lot of heat, so many mattress toppers feature cooling infusions like graphite, gel, or copper. Check out our best memory foam mattress toppers to learn more.
Latex Foam
Latex foam is similar to memory foam, but it is derived from rubber tree sap. It’s commonly used for eco-friendly and natural products, but it’s also valued for being bouncier, more responsive, and more cooling than memory foam. Latex often doesn’t offer quite as much pressure relief or body contouring as memory foam though, so it might not be the best choice for side sleepers. Learn more in our best latex mattress toppers roundup.
Down and Down Alternatives
Down and down alternatives, such as polyester fiber fill, can be used to create plusher, feather bed/pillow top style mattress toppers. These also tend not to provide quite as much pressure relief as memory foam toppers, unless they are extremely thick. Learn more at our best down mattress toppers to learn more.
Thickness
Mattress toppers come in a variety of thicknesses, but for side sleepers, you should look for a thickness of at least two inches. That’s because side sleepers are generally needing more pressure relief, so you want to have enough material to sink into before you hit the firm mattress below. Two inches works well for more lightweight side sleepers, who don’t sink in as much, but for average to heavyweight side sleepers (weighing 130+ pounds), I would recommend looking for a topper that is three to four inches thick.
Firmness
Firmness is also important to consider. Since side sleepers do generally want more cushioning and pressure relief, we recommend a topper that is somewhere between soft and medium-firm, as long as it allows for lots of pressure relief. A firm mattress topper won’t do much for side sleepers, as it won’t provide any more relief for their hips and shoulders than their current bed does already.
Price
As with any purchase, price is important to think about when shopping for a mattress topper. Most people looking to buy a mattress topper want to improve the comfort of their mattress without investing in a brand new mattress. For a queen size mattress topper, I would be prepared to spend at least $80 to $100 for something of good quality. However, for higher quality materials, toppers can easily be $200 to $300. There’s something that works for every budget, so start shopping with an idea in mind of what is reasonable for you.
How Side Sleepers Can Improve Their Sleep
Mattress toppers are just one way that side sleepers can improve their overall comfort and quality of sleep.
Pillows for Side Sleepers
Side sleepers should also consider whether their pillow is offering enough support for their head and neck to maintain spinal alignment. We recommend a firm, high loft pillow for side sleepers to ensure their neck isn’t dipping down while they sleep, which can lead to strain and neck pain. Check out our best pillows for side sleepers to see our favorites.
Pillows can also be handy for providing body support to side sleepers. Sleeping with a pillow between the legs can offer pressure relief to side sleepers’ knees, can promote better hip alignment, and help prevent lower back pain. Body pillows are another good choice for side sleepers, as they can provide support and prevent side sleepers from twisting their spines as they sleep.
Mattresses for Side Sleepers
Of course, instead of a mattress topper, you can always look into a new mattress that is better suited for side sleeping. Although a bigger investment, a new mattress will last longer and be more durable than a new topper. A mattress that offers pressure relief for shoulders and hips is best, so we often recommend beds that incorporate memory foam, pillow tops, or other soft, contouring materials. Take a look at our best mattresses for side sleepers for some good options.
Best Mattress Topper for Side Sleepers FAQs
What type of mattress topper is best for side sleepers?
Side sleepers should choose a mattress topper that is at least two inches thick. But for more pressure relief, look for a topper three to four inches thick.
Do side sleepers need firm or plush?
Side sleepers generally need a mattress topper that is more plush than firm, to offer pressure relief for their shoulders and hips.
Is a mattress topper the same as a mattress pad or mattress protector?
No, these are three separate products that serve similar purposes. A mattress topper is designed to alter the feel of your mattress — making it feel softer or firmer, adding an additional layer of comfort, or providing a cooling effect. A mattress protector is like a fitted sheet that protects your mattress from spills, allergens, or anything that could cause damage. A mattress pad is like the in-between of toppers and protectors. They provide a small amount of cushioning and a small amount of protection. Learn more in our mattress pad vs mattress topper vs mattress protector article.
Our Methodology
Our team of Certified Sleep Science Coaches has reviewed more than 400 products in our lab, testing each one on different performance factors so we can make informed recommendations.
Because side sleepers tend to need a lot of contouring at their shoulders and hips, we chose mattress toppers that were on the softer end and easily conformed to our body.
Final Thoughts
Hopefully you have found a mattress topper that will help you sleep more comfortably on your side. If not, take a look at our best mattress toppers for more options. There are lots of toppers out there and there’s bound to be one that is just right for you. Happy shopping!
