The Best Mattresses For Side Sleepers – 2024 Update

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Choosing the best mattress for side sleepers is crucial for ensuring proper spinal alignment and alleviating pressure points during sleep. Side sleepers often require a mattress that offers a balance of softness and support to contour to the body’s curves, particularly around the shoulders and hips. In 2024, the market features a range of mattresses designed specifically for side sleepers, including options made from memory foam, latex, and hybrid constructions. This guide will help you navigate the top mattresses suitable for side sleepers, highlighting their key features and benefits to ensure you find the perfect fit for your sleep needs.

In this guide, we’ll explore the best mattresses for side sleepers, focusing on essential factors such as firmness, materials, and pressure relief. A mattress that is too firm can cause discomfort in the shoulders and hips, while one that is too soft may not provide adequate support. We’ll also examine important features like motion isolation, temperature regulation, and durability to ensure a restful sleep experience. By comparing these top-rated mattresses, you can find the ideal option that promotes healthy sleep posture and delivers the comfort and support necessary for a rejuvenating night’s sleep.

How We Compared The Mattresses

To identify the best mattresses for side sleepers, we zeroed in on key attributes like firmness levels, pressure relief, and body contouring. We evaluated mattresses typically favoring side sleepers – those with medium to medium-firm ratings. We sought out mattresses that excel in relieving pressure in sensitive areas like shoulders and hips, while ensuring proper spinal alignment.

We also considered each mattress’s conforming abilities, acknowledging that mattresses which adapt well to the body’s curves promote healthy alignment. Other factors like price, warranty, and additional perks were part of our analysis. This comprehensive, yet focused, approach helped us provide a well-rounded comparison, aiming to help you find the ideal mattress for your unique sleep needs.

How To Choose a Mattress For Side Sleepers

Pressure relief is one of the most important factors to consider for side sleepers. A mattress that contours to the body’s shape is ideal for this sleep position, as it helps distribute weight evenly and minimizes pressure on sensitive areas. Memory foam mattresses are often recommended for side sleepers because they conform closely to the body, providing cushioning for the shoulders and hips. Hybrid mattresses that combine foam with pocketed coils can also offer a great balance of contouring support and responsiveness, which is beneficial for side sleepers.

Firmness level plays a critical role in finding the right mattress. Most side sleepers benefit from a medium to medium-soft firmness level, as it allows for adequate sinkage without compromising spinal alignment. A mattress that is too firm can create pressure points, while one that is too soft may lead to improper alignment of the spine, resulting in discomfort. Opting for a mattress within the medium to medium-soft range ensures that the shoulders and hips can sink in while still providing support to the lower back.

Another key consideration is motion isolation, particularly for couples. Side sleepers who share their bed with a partner need a mattress that minimizes movement transfer, allowing for uninterrupted sleep. Memory foam excels in this area, absorbing motion and preventing disturbances from shifting partners. Hybrid mattresses with individually wrapped coils can also offer solid motion isolation while providing a bit of bounce, making it easier for side sleepers to change positions.

Temperature regulation is essential for side sleepers who may experience increased body heat during the night. Look for mattresses with cooling properties, such as gel-infused memory foam or breathable materials like latex. These features can help dissipate heat, ensuring a comfortable sleep environment. By focusing on pressure relief, firmness, motion isolation, and temperature regulation, side sleepers can find a mattress that meets their unique needs, promoting better sleep and overall well-being.

The Best Mattresses For Side Sleepers In Detail

Layla

When it comes to finding the ideal mattress for side sleepers, the Layla mattress stands out for several key reasons. First off, the dual-sided firmness feature offers an exceptional level of adaptability. You can choose between a soft and a firm side, depending on your personal comfort needs, which is incredibly beneficial for side sleepers who often need that extra bit of pressure relief and support.

Moreover, the Layla mattress is infused with copper, which not only aids in cooling but also provides an enhanced level of support where it is most needed. As a side sleeper, the extra support in the shoulder and hip areas can significantly improve sleep quality.

The memory foam used in the Layla mattress also deserves praise. It’s designed to conform to your body shape, cradling your body in all the right places, and ensuring that your spine remains aligned throughout the night. This feature is particularly beneficial for side sleepers, who often struggle with maintaining proper spinal alignment during sleep.

Finally, the mattress also excels in terms of motion isolation – a critical factor for those who share their bed with a partner. The Layla mattress successfully minimizes disturbances from movement during the night, ensuring that both you and your partner can enjoy a peaceful, undisturbed sleep.

In summary, the combination of customizable firmness, copper-infused support, body-conforming memory foam, and excellent motion isolation makes the Layla mattress a superb choice for side sleepers.

Further Reading: Check our full Layla mattress review.

Amerisleep AS4

The Amerisleep AS4 is another remarkable mattress choice, particularly for side sleepers. Its medium-soft feel provides an excellent balance between softness and support, effectively catering to the unique needs of side sleepers.

A standout feature of the Amerisleep AS4 is its Bio-Pur foam layer. This proprietary foam is not only eco-friendly, but it’s also designed to contour to the body, offering pressure relief in key areas such as the hips and shoulders. This is especially vital for heavy side sleepers who require extra support in these areas to ensure proper spinal alignment.

The supportive mattress also incorporates a transition layer, known as the Affinity layer, which further aids in pressure relief while preventing the feeling of sinking too deeply into the mattress. This feature ensures that side sleepers can enjoy a comfortable and restful night’s sleep without the discomfort that can sometimes occur with overly soft mattresses.

Another significant advantage of the Amerisleep AS4 is its Celliant cover. This innovative material has been clinically proven to promote more restful sleep by converting body heat into infrared energy.

When comparing the Amerisleep AS4 to the Layla mattress, several differences and similarities stand out. Both mattresses provide excellent pressure relief and support, crucial for side sleepers. However, the Layla offers dual-sided firmness, which can be beneficial for those who prefer having the choice between a soft and firm sleep surface. The Amerisleep AS4, on the other hand, stands out with its eco-friendly Bio-Pur foam and the unique Celliant cover, which may offer additional benefits in terms of promoting restful sleep.

In conclusion, the Amerisleep AS4 is a fantastic mattress choice for side sleepers, offering a blend of softness, support, and innovative features. Depending on your personal preferences, both the Amerisleep AS4 and the Layla mattress offer unique features that could make either one the best choice for you.

Further reading: Learn more about the AS1-5 in our full Amerisleep mattress reviews.

Bear Hybrid

The Bear Hybrid is another superb mattress option, particularly if you’re a side sleeper. It has a unique construction, blending the best of both worlds – the bounce and support of innerspring and the comfort of memory foam.

The Bear Hybrid features a Quantum Edge Coil System, providing robust support around the edges of the mattress and a flexible, responsive feel. This responsive support is particularly beneficial for side sleepers, as it adjusts to your body’s curves, ensuring correct spinal alignment.

The mattress also includes a layer of gel memory foam that contours to the body, delivering pressure relief in crucial areas, such as hips and shoulders. This is vital for side sleepers who need extra cushioning in these areas to avoid discomfort.

The standout feature of the Bear Hybrid, however, is its Celliant fiber-infused cover. This unique material converts body heat into infrared energy, which can help to promote recovery and improve sleep quality – a feature that could make a real difference for individuals leading active lifestyles.

Comparing the Bear Hybrid to the Layla and Amerisleep AS4 mattresses, it’s clear that all three provide excellent support and pressure relief for side sleepers. The Layla offers the advantage of dual-sided firmness, and the Amerisleep AS4 shines with its eco-friendly Bio-Pur foam. However, the Bear Hybrid distinguishes itself with its blend of innerspring and memory foam, offering a unique feel that combines the best aspects of these two popular mattress types.

For me, the Bear Hybrid’s unique blend of features makes it a noteworthy option, particularly for those who prefer the hybrid feel of foam and innerspring. However, the Layla and Amerisleep AS4 mattresses also have their distinct advantages, and your final decision should hinge on your specific comfort and support needs.

Leesa Original

The Leesa Original mattress is a top-tier choice, especially for side sleepers, due to its excellent pressure relief and contouring features.

The Leesa is a memory foam mattress that utilizes three unique foam layers. The top layer is a breathable, responsive foam that gives the mattress a light, airy feel while providing the sleeper with the necessary cooling effect. The middle layer is a contouring memory foam layer that molds to your body shape, providing excellent pressure relief, especially important for side sleepers. The base layer is a dense support foam that ensures the mattress maintains its structure and provides overall support.

What really sets the Leesa mattress apart, though, is its commitment to social responsibility. For every ten mattresses sold, Leesa donates one mattress to a charitable organization. This dedication to giving back adds an extra layer of value to your purchase.

Comparing the Leesa mattress to the Layla and Amerisleep AS4 mattresses, it is evident that all three are excellent choices for side sleepers. The Layla stands out with its dual-sided firmness feature, while the Amerisleep AS4 excels with its eco-friendly Bio-Pur foam and advanced zoning technology.

However, the Leesa mattress provides a unique combination of excellent pressure relief, cooling features, and social responsibility. It’s a wonderful option for those who appreciate a cooler sleep environment and want to make a socially responsible purchase.

Each of these mattresses brings something unique to the table, and the right choice for you would depend on your specific needs and preferences. Whether it’s the dual-sided firmness of Layla, the eco-friendly approach of Amerisleep AS4, or the socially conscious ethos of Leesa, there’s certainly a mattress to meet every side sleeper’s needs.

Further reading: See what else the mattress has to offer in our full Leesa review.

Tuft & Needle

The Tuft & Needle mattress is a dream come true for side sleepers. Its unique adaptive foam is not just ordinary foam – it’s designed to provide ample pressure relief, especially for the shoulders and hips, which are often pressure points for side sleepers.

The medium firmness level of this mattress strikes the perfect balance. It’s firm enough to keep your spine in proper alignment, which is key for side sleepers, but it’s also soft enough to provide that comfortable, contouring hug we crave when we nestle into bed.

What I particularly enjoyed about the Tuft & Needle was the gel-infused memory foam layer. As a side sleeper, staying cool throughout the night is a big deal for me, and this feature helps keep body heat at bay.

The Tuft & Needle comes at such a reasonable price, without compromising on quality. As a side sleeper, I find this combination of affordability and comfort quite appealing. Plus, with a 10-year warranty and a 100-night sleep trial, it’s a worry-free investment.

Compared to the Leesa, both mattresses are side sleeper friendly, offering great pressure relief and proper spinal alignment. However, the Leesa has a slightly more contouring feel due to its mix of memory foam and polyfoam layers. Some side sleepers might appreciate this extra contouring, but from my perspective, the Tuft & Needle offers a more balanced feel, which can be preferable for side sleepers who don’t want to feel too sunk into their mattress.

In terms of price, the Tuft & Needle is the more budget-friendly option. So if affordability is a priority for you, as it is for many of us, the Tuft & Needle would be an excellent choice. At the end of the day, both mattresses offer great value, and the best one for you would ultimately depend on your personal sleep preferences and budget.

Further reading: Learn more about the T&N Original and how it performs in our full Tuft and Needle review.

Loom & Leaf

The Loom & Leaf mattress is a luxurious, all-foam mattress that combines a high-density foam base layer with a premium gel-infused memory foam comfort layer. As someone who values restful sleep, I find the multi-layered construction of this mattress to be one of its biggest selling points.

For side sleepers, the Loom & Leaf mattress provides exceptional pressure relief. Its top memory foam layer has a softer firmness level, which can be an absolute treat for your shoulders and hips. The high-density foam base gives the mattress a supportive feel that helps maintain a healthy spine alignment – a must-have feature for any side sleeper.

The Loom & Leaf stands out in the cooling department too. Its gel-infused memory foam is great at dispersing body heat, making it a top choice for hot sleepers. And let’s not forget the organic cotton cover, which adds to the overall breathability of the mattress.

In terms of price, the Loom & Leaf falls into a higher price range compared to the Tuft & Needle. However, the luxurious feel, superior comfort layers, and excellent pressure relief it offers can definitely justify the higher price tag for those who are willing to invest more for a premium sleep experience.

When we compare the Loom & Leaf to the Tuft & Needle, both mattresses cater well to side sleepers. They offer good pressure relief and support for spinal alignment. However, the Loom & Leaf’s memory foam comfort layer gives it a more contouring feel than the Tuft & Needle’s adaptive foam, which provides a balanced, medium firm feel.

The Loom & Leaf’s cooling features and luxurious feel make it an excellent choice for side sleepers seeking a more premium experience. On the other hand, the Tuft & Needle delivers excellent value for its price, making it a great option for those looking for a balance between comfort and affordability. In the end, your choice between these two mattresses should hinge on your personal preferences and budget.

Further reading: For a detailed breakdown check our full review of the Loom and Leaf by Saatva.

Saatva Classic

The Saatva Classic is an innerspring mattress that sets itself apart with its dual-layer of steel coils and premium euro pillow top. As a side sleeper, I find the blend of comfort and support offered by this mattress to be a true game-changer.

This mattress offers three firmness levels, and for side sleepers, the Luxury Firm option might be the most appealing. This medium-firm mattress delicately balances comfort and support, providing ample pressure relief for the shoulders and hips while ensuring that the spine remains neutrally aligned – an essential for side sleepers.

The Saatva Classic has a unique coil-on-coil construction that promotes airflow, keeping sleepers cool throughout the night. This feature, combined with the breathable organic cotton cover, makes the Saatva Classic a fantastic option for hot sleepers.

Price-wise, the Saatva Classic falls into a similar range as the Loom & Leaf, making it a premium yet affordable memory foam mattress. Saatva’s white glove delivery and old mattress removal service give it a slight edge in terms of delivery options.

When comparing the Saatva mattress with the Loom & Leaf, both mattresses cater beautifully to the needs of side sleepers, providing excellent pressure point relief and spinal alignment. However, their construction differs significantly. The Saatva Classic’s innerspring design gives it a bouncy, responsive feel, whereas the Loom & Leaf’s all-foam construction offers a more contouring and cradling sleep experience.

For side sleepers who prefer a more traditional, bouncy mattress, the Saatva Classic is a superb choice. Meanwhile, those who prefer the contouring feel of memory foam might lean towards the Loom & Leaf. Both mattresses offer great value for their price, so it truly comes down to personal preferences and sleep needs when choosing between the two.

Further reading: For more information on side sleeper compatibility check our full review of the Saatva mattress here.

Helix Midnight

Helix Midnight is a hybrid mattress that has been specifically designed with side sleepers in mind. My personal experience with this mattress has been fantastic – it provides a great blend of support and pressure relief, which are key factors for a comfortable sleep position as a side sleeper.

The memory foam comfort layer in the Helix Midnight offers excellent contouring, molding to your body and providing pressure point relief to areas like hips and shoulders. The medium firmness of the mattress ensures that while it’s soft enough to provide comfort, it’s firm enough to maintain proper spinal alignment. For side sleepers, this balance is essential.

Another standout feature is the layer of pocketed coils, which promotes airflow and keeps sleepers cool. This is a bonus for hot sleepers who often find traditional memory foam mattresses too heat-retaining.

When it comes to price, the Helix Midnight is a more affordable option compared to the Saatva Classic, while still offering a high-quality sleep experience. The mattress also comes with a 100-night sleep trial and a 10-year limited warranty, offering reassurance for your investment.

Comparing the Helix Midnight to the Saatva Classic, both mattresses shine in their ways. The Saatva Classic’s euro pillow top and dual-layer of steel coils offer a luxurious and bouncy feel, while the Helix Midnight’s memory foam and coil combination offer a perfect blend of contouring and support.

For side sleepers who love the traditional feel of innerspring mattresses, the Saatva Classic is an excellent choice. However, if you’re a side sleeper looking for a hybrid mattress that offers the contouring benefits of memory foam with the responsiveness of coils, the Helix Midnight could be your perfect mattress.

In the end, the decision between the Saatva Classic and the Helix Midnight may come down to personal preferences, sleep needs, and budget. Both are excellent options for side sleepers, offering a comfortable sleep and excellent support.

Further reading: Also check our full Helix Midnight Luxe review.

Conclusion

There are numerous advantages to sleeping on your side. When choosing a mattress specifically designed for side sleepers, it’s crucial to consider factors such as firmness, support, pressure relief, and overall health benefits. If a mattress is excessively firm, it won’t offer the proper support, while a mattress that is overly soft can lead to spine and joint misalignment. Optimal pressure relief should also be taken into account when selecting the ideal mattress for side sleepers, as it helps alleviate joint pain and pressure points.

Out of the eight mattresses I have evaluated, the Layla Mattress emerges as the top choice across several categories, including comfort, support, contouring, edge support, and materials used.

The Layla mattress, which is reversible, stands out due to its innovative blend of layers. I appreciate the utilization of both sides featuring copper-infused gel and support foam, as this ensures excellent support and contouring, which are essential for side sleepers. Unlike traditional memory foam that may require an adjustment period, the Layla mattress delivers the benefits of memory foam without the drawback of trapping heat. Moreover, this combination of materials offers exceptional motion isolation.