In our recent surveys of over 10,000 users on our tester panel, an overwhelming majority (over 75%!) said they sleep on their side. Still, not every bed out there is designed for side sleeping, so you’ll want to find the best mattress for your body and sleep style. Remember: For long-term comfort, maintaining a neutral spinal alignment is key — your shoulders should sink into the bed ever so slightly and there should be ample pressure relief around the hips.
Tempur-Pedic Tempur-Cloud
Mattress type: Memory foam | Height: 10 in. | Firmness: Medium | Trial period: 90 days
Who it’s best for: Side sleepers in search of precise pressure relief, couples who need motion isolation and those who want Tempur-Pedic’s memory foam at a more affordable price point.
Who should avoid it: Those who prefer a firmer surface over the sinking-in feel of memory foam or those who need a taller bed.
There’s nothing quite like a Tempur-Pedic mattress. The foam is designed to adapt precisely to your body for tailored support and relief. It also cradles your hips and shoulders, helping promote neutral spinal alignment. And while it certainly comes at a higher price, this option is shipped straight to your door for a lower cost than the brand’s other models with the same proprietary foam.
Tester notes: Several of our panelists described the unique feel as “cloud-like” and one even compared it to “sinking into a warm hug.” Others highlighted its impact on their sleep quality, with some sharing that they couldn’t feel their partners move or get up at all while lying on the bed.
Tempur-Pedic notes that the bed may feel firm when you first lie down, but our testers confirmed that it quickly molds to properly contour your body for personalized support. One tester commented, “I feel like my entire body is supported in a very gentle way.”
Allswell Luxe Hybrid
Who it’s best for: Price-conscious shoppers hoping to spend under $500 without sacrificing comfort. In our tests, this bed was favored by younger adults in their 20s.
Who should avoid it: Older users or those with limited mobility may find the edge support and DIY setup unideal.
This pick proves you don’t need to spend an arm and a leg for comfort. It even outperformed pricier models more than twice the cost. Though it has an overall medium firmness rating, its layers of foam at the top make it feel plush, so it conforms to your pressure points as you lie on your side for cradling comfort.
Tester notes: This mattress ships to you in a box within days, and testers appreciated being able to set it up at their leisure. Several users praised its supportive and pressure-relieving feel with comments like, “I like that it forms to your body,” and “I love that it is comfortable and doesn’t sag in the middle when I sleep on it.”
One panelist even compared it to a luxe hotel bed. The main complaint testers had was that the edges sunk down more than they expected.
Saatva Classic Mattress
Mattress type: Innerspring | Height: 11.5 or 14.5 in. | Firmness: Plush Soft, Luxury Firm, Firm | Trial period: 365 days (with a $99 return pickup fee)
Who it’s best for: Those in search of the breathability and support of a traditional innerspring mattress (plus free in-home setup) or those who prefer a solid feel.
Who should avoid it: Users who prefer the cradling feel of memory foam; this bed may feel too firm for their liking.
If you’re set on a traditional mattress, Saatva makes one of the best innerspring mattresses you’ll find. This model is the brand’s most popular bed and comes in three firmness levels. The Plush Soft option is ideal for side sleepers because it uses softer foams for more flexibility to cradle your body. Our panelists and testers found it ran a bit firm, but many welcomed the supportive feel. It comes with free delivery, setup and old mattress removal, plus a 365-night trial so you can sleep on the mattress at home to make sure you love it. (If you don’t like it, there’s a $99 return pick-up fee.)
Tester notes: Our survey panelists gave Saatva mattresses top scores, especially for comfort and sleep quality. One consumer tester noted, “It offers a mixture of both support and comfort. The mattress has maintained its shape after one year with no indents.”
Another user told us, “I like that it’s soft and supportive. Other mattresses cause me back pain, but this one does not.” Plus, many have highlighted its
Tuft & Needle Original Mattress
Mattress type: Memory foam | Height: 9.5 in. | Firmness: Firm | Trial period: 100 days
Who it’s best for: Shoppers who need a mattress sooner rather than later and side sleepers who prefer all-foam mattresses with a little more support.
Who should avoid it: Those who prefer cushiony memory foam or who need extra edge support.
If you rely on Amazon for fast and free shipping, this all-foam bed-in-a-box is inexpensive and arrives within days. It has an overall medium-firm rating (i.e., slightly firmer than medium), so it’s also an ideal choice if you sleep on your side yet don’t want an overly plush feel.
Tester notes: Users noted that it’s easy to set up and comfortable to sleep on, plus they said the brand’s customer service is friendly and helpful. A few side sleepers said they appreciated its all-foam design. “I don’t feel the springs of a traditional mattress when I sleep on my side,” said one owner.
Another user who’s owned the mattress for over five years said, “My Tuft & Needle mattress is so much more comfortable than any mattress I’ve ever had in the past. My husband and I both experience much less back pain.” The one callout from testers is the lack of edge support.
Puffy Lux Mattress
Who it’s great for: Side sleepers and back pain sufferers who desire a soft, pressure-relieving mattress.
Those who should stay away from it include hot sleepers seeking a cool mattress and side sleepers who need a little more firmness.
Softer mattresses are frequently advised for side sleepers in order to maintain good neutral spinal alignment and prevent further strain on the shoulders, hips, or knees. According to our testers, this Puffy product blends foam and coils to create a cozy, fluffy sensation that is supportive without sagging or sinking.
In recent years, Puffy has made a few updates to this mattress. The most notable feature of the most recent version is the enhanced support, especially in the edges.
Test results showed that the hybrid type provided both cloud-like comfort and support, as several users reported, emphasizing how the cushioning foam molded to their bodies without leaving indentations or sinking in. “I do not wake with any discomfort with the Puffy, yet I feel supported,” one panelist shared with us.
“It is neither too hard and not too soft,” one of our testers stated, and another added, “I am able to sleep more deeply on it.” The primary warning is that some consumers reported that they still experienced nighttime overheating even with the brand’s cooling technology.
