Best Mattresses For Side Sleepers 2023 | Reviewed By Forbes Vetted

Type: Hybrid | Firmness: Medium to medium-firm (5 to 6) | Delivery: Bed in a box | Trial: 100 nights | Warranty: 10-15 years

Best for: Almost any side sleeper, couples, hot sleepers

Buy if: You’re a back or side sleeper who tends to sleep hot.

Skip if: You spend most of your night on your stomach.

An upgrade from the Helix Midnight mattress, the Midnight Luxe is thicker, cooler and more layered than its base model. Specifically, it hits the medium to medium-firm sweet spot that works for most people while offering zoned lumbar support to help take pressure off the lower back. It’s also constructed with six layers including a dense 1,500-coil system and cushy surface foams that cradle joints to ease pain points. The finishing touch is the breathable cooling cover that won’t trap heat, and toasty sleepers can add on the GlacioTex Cooling Cover ($199) for more chilling power. Note that the Luxe models are a bit more of an investment than the regular ones, but they come with a generous 15-year warranty (as opposed to 10 years).

What our experts say: “When testing the Helix Midnight Luxe, I found it to be super cushiony thanks to its pillow top and coil base. I think back and side sleepers should really like the contouring and sinkage the Midnight Luxe offers and couples could enjoy its cooling and motion isolating abilities,” says senior mattress and sleep editor Bridget Chapman.

Pros:

• Targeted support help ease low back pain
• Excellent motion isolation; good choice for couples
• Dense coil system keeps the spine in alignment

Cons:

• 100-night trial period isn’t as long as others

Type: Hybrid | Firmness: Plush (4 to 5), luxury firm (6 to 7) and firm (7 to 8) | Delivery: Bed in a box | Trial: 120 nights | Warranty: Lifetime

Best for: Hot sleepers, people who experience back pain

Buy if: You want a hotel-like mattress that you can customize to comfort preferences.

Skip if: You prefer a memory foam feel.

Hybrid mattresses are a natural choice for many side sleepers because they offer the right combo of support and pressure relief, and this is especially true of the Nolah Evolution 15. The mattress combines layers of plush-soft memory foam with thicker, more dense foams, all of which sit atop an 8-inch base of individually-wrapped coils. The result? A bed that provides targeted back support and deep pressure relief for the hips and shoulders.

Although the Nolah Evolution 15 comes in three firmness levels—plush, luxury firm and firm—we recommend the plush and luxury firm models for most side sleepers. If you’re more of a combination back and side sleeper, the luxury firm option is likely a better fit, while lightweight side sleepers may prefer the plush version.

What our experts say: “This bed feels like something I’d come across in a five-star hotel—it offers plush support that feels great. In my testing, I found it to have solid edge support, so you can sprawl out and use the whole surface of the bed. Since it’s offered in multiple firmness levels, I think most people should find a model that works for their needs,” says Chapman.

Pros:

• Great pressure relief for the hips and shoulders
• Cooling; works well for hot sleepers
• Sturdy edge support

Cons:

• 15-inches tall; may not fit your current sheets if they don’t have deep pockets

Type: Memory foam | Firmness: Medium-firm (6.5) | Delivery: Bed in a box | Trial: 365 nights (one year) | Warranty: Forever

Best for: Back and joint pain sufferers, hot sleepers, hesitant shoppers (due to lengthy trial period)

Buy if: You’re a side or back sleeper searching for pressure relief.

Skip if: You mainly sleep on your stomach.

The Nectar Premier Memory Foam mattress combines medium support and foam-contouring coziness to make it one of our favorite memory foam mattresses. A firm bottom layer ensures a stable base while the self-adjusting upper layers cradle your body. While foams can trap heat, the Premier is topped with gel-infused memory foam and an airy cooling cover to keep night sweats at bay. This combination promotes temperature regulation and head-to-toe support for better sleep all around. What’s more, Nectar offers an impressive 365-day trial period, so you’ll be able to test it at home throughout every season. If you elect to keep it, your purchase is backed by an industry-leading Forever Warranty.

What our experts say: “I found the Nectar Premier to have a slightly softer feel in my testing that works well for side and some back sleepers,” says Chapman. “It embodies a traditional memory foam feel that I really liked because I felt like I was being gently hugged while lying on the mattress.”

Pros:

• Comfortable yet supportive; eases back and joint paint
• Cover and gel-infused foam helps the bed feel cool
• Good at limiting motion transfer

Cons:

• Too soft for most combination side and stomach sleepers

Type: Memory foam | Firmness: Medium-firm (5 to 6) | Delivery: Bed in a box; white glove delivery optional for a fee | Trial: 100 nights | Warranty: 10 years

Best for: Couples, fans of firmer beds, budget shoppers

Buy if: You want the benefits of foam but also like some bounce.

Skip if: You’re looking for reinforced edge support.

Leesa’s mattress is crafted entirely from foam for a cozy-yet-supportive feel. (That said, it’s firmer than other picks on this list, so if you’re set on getting a softer bed, you may want to consider another contender.) Although it’s all foam, the mattress made with four different layers to offer the balance of support and comfort that side sleepers crave. Further, the absence of coils means it’s less springy than traditional mattresses, so it excels at minimizing motion transfer—a huge plus for couples. On that note, if you share your bed and your partner isn’t a side sleeper, that’s okay; this pick is medium-firm and provides pressure relief for all sleeping positions. By the way, if you sleep warm, the Leesa mattress has a top layer of airy foam that stays cool while providing responsive contouring, and its gray twill cover is refreshingly breathable.

What our experts say: “The Leesa impressed me in my testing because it’s an all-foam bed that offers a bouncy, responsive feel, which isn’t super common,” says Chapman. “I felt nice contouring on this bed but didn’t feel stuck. I think this makes it a great fit for couples, as long as they like their bed to have more of a doughy, soft feel.”

Pros:

• Medium firm feel accommodates all sleeping positions
• Great motion isolation; Limits the movement you feel when your partner gets up or changes positions

Cons:

• Firmer than other mattresses on this list

Type: Innerspring | Firmness: Plush soft (3), luxury firm (5 to 7) and firm (8) | Delivery: Complimentary white glove delivery | Trial: 365 nights | Warranty: Lifetime

Best for: Couples, fans of firmer beds, hot sleepers

Buy if: You’re a back or stomach sleeper in need of lumbar support.

Skip if: You’re a lightweight side sleeper.

Side sleepers with back pain should consider the Saatva Classic for its incredibly supportive dual-coil system. The Saatva Classic was built with spine alignment in mind, hence its pocketed coil layer, which sits above a second layer of thick steel coils. The result? Superb support and durability.

For side sleepers who like a softer feel to their mattress, the plush offering is your best bet. White glove delivery—which includes free mattress removal—makes set-up a breeze.

What our experts say: “I found the Saatva to have a very classic, luxurious innerspring feel. I felt very lifted on top of the mattress while the Euro top and memory foam cushioned my joints,” says Chapman. “The coil-on-coil design also does a great job promoting airflow through the bed. I love that this bed comes in three different firmnesses, but I did find each model to be slightly firmer than advertised.”

Pros:

• Supportive dual-coil system helps keep the spine aligned
• Top notch temperature regulation; good for hot sleepers
• Plush soft version comes with extra padding for side sleeping

Cons:

• Costs $99 to return

Type: Foam | Firmness: Soft or firm | Delivery: Free white glove delivery on select purchases | Trial: 90 nights | Warranty: 10 years

Best for: Back and joint pain sufferers, hot sleepers

Buy if: You’re a hot sleeper or share the bed with a partner.

Skip if: A bouncy mattress is more your style.

Tempur-Pedic is a big name in luxury sleep thanks to the performance and durability of its products. The Tempur-Breeze LuxeBreeze is the brand’s most cooling model, and it’s on our list of the best cooling mattresses you can buy. Like many top side-sleeper mattresses, this one comes with a multitude of layers–eight, to be exact–including foams that relieve pressure with plush softness and contouring support. (In fact, the NASA-developed materials may be the closest you come to experiencing zero gravity). The LuxeBreeze feels a full 10 degrees cooler than a standard mattress thanks to a combination of ventilation and heat-absorbing materials. If that seems too chilly for you, the ProBreeze (pictured), which sleeps 3 degrees cooler, should do the trick. Both are available in either all-foam or hybrid options.

What our experts say: “I don’t regularly associate all-foam beds with being cooling, but I found the Luxebreeze really packs a cooling punch,” says Chapman. “The cover is literally cool to the touch and it has a ton of cooling tech built in. I really liked the slow deep sinkage I felt on this bed while side sleeping. I also think a lot of couples could like this bed since it tested great for motion isolation.”

Pros:

• Cool-to-the-touch cover keeps you comfort when you first lay down
• Made to be 10 degrees cooler than standard mattresses
• Excels at pressure relief for most side sleepers

Cons:

• Expensive; the most pricy option on this list
• 90-night trail period isn’t as long as other brands

Type: Hybrid | Firmness: Soft (3), medium (5) and firm (7) | Delivery: Bed in a box | Trial: 120 nights | Warranty: 10 years

Best for: RV and camper owners, those who like having options, hot sleepers 

Buy if: You want a good value that can accommodate your sleeping position.

Skip if: You’re looking for a plush pillow top mattress.

The Brooklyn Signature is a hybrid that contains dense layers of memory foam and nearly 1,000 individually-wrapped coils. It comes in soft, medium and firm options, though we recommend the soft model for side sleepers. Side sleepers who like to feel cradled by their mattress should enjoy the plush quilted top and coil layer, which provides just enough pushback to make transitions easy and painless. While some hybrid mattresses can cost up to $2,000 for a queen size, the Brooklyn Signature is often on sale for less than $1,000 which is one of the reasons it’s also featured in our best hybrid mattresses guide.

What our experts say: “Overall, I think the Signature Hybrid is a great value mattress. Not only does it come in different firmnesses, but I also found it to be responsive, cooling and supportive in my testing,” says Chapman. “It may not have all the bells and whistles as some of the more luxurious models, but it gets the job done by being comfy and supportive.”

Pros:

• Bouncy and buoyant feel
• Quilted top provides extra cushioning
• Coils offer breathability for hot sleepers

Cons:

• The soft version of this bed is likely too plush for combination side and stomach sleepers

Type: Hybrid (Purple grid) | Firmness: Soft or firm | Delivery: Bed in a box | Trial: 100 nights | Warranty: 10 years

Best for: Back and joint pain sufferers, plush bed fans, hot sleepers

Buy if: You share the bed with a partner or pet and need both cooling and motion isolation.

Skip if: You prefer a traditional innerspring feel.

This mattress from Purple provides excellent pressure relief, thanks to the brand’s property Gelflex Grid, a bouncy layer that looks a little bit like a silicone ice cube tray and gives Purple mattresses their signature feel. The Restore Premier Hybrid also has foam-topped coils, for additional pressure relief. The grid and coils respond quickly to movement, to give this mattress a more buoyant feel than traditional memory foam.

A number of cooling technologies are worked into different parts of the mattress, including a moisture-wicking finish on the cover and “Coolflex” coils that allow for air flow around the mattress’ base. Additionally, the Gelflex material won’t retain heat to help you stay cool all night long. 

What our experts say: “I found this bed to have a really nontraditional feel that I think a lot of people could like. I tested the soft model and found it to have a squishy, almost waterbed-like feel—but with added support. I also found it to isolate motion really well in my testing, which is nice for couples. And it’s a great cooling pick,” says Chapman.

Pros: 

• Plush and bouncy feel
• Extra pressure relief for side and heavy sleepers
• Good for hot sleepers thanks to the Purple grid

Cons: 

• Expensive; one of the priciest mattresses on our list

Type: Copper-gel memory foam | Firmness: Soft (4) and firm (7) | Delivery: Bed in a box | Trial: 120 nights | Warranty: Lifetime

Best for: Hot sleepers, those who like motion control

Buy if: You want a flippable option with contouring.

Skip if: You’re a heavyweight sleeper in need of extra support.

This mattress gives you a two-for-one deal by providing two firmness levels—soft and firm—in one mattress. For side sleepers with hip pain, the soft side is your best bet. This side is more forgiving and envelopes your body in layers of cushioning memory foam. Since your hips and shoulders bear the brunt of your weight as a side sleeper, this is exactly the type of support these pressure points need.

And although the Layla is made entirely of memory foam, its layers are infused with copper and gel—two materials that help carry heat from the body.

What our experts say: “I was really impressed by how versatile Layla made this mattress to be,” says Chapman. “Its soft side offers soft sinkage, while the firm side keeps you more lifted with cushiony support. Although I didn’t find it to be the most cooling mattress (which is typical of an all-foam bed), I do think it’s more cooling than a lot of its foam competitors thanks to the copper infusions in its materials.”

Pros:

• Reversible with two firmness levels in one mattress
• Soft side contours to the body and relieves pressure on joints

Cons:

• Both sides may be too soft for heavyweight sleepers

Type: Hybrid | Firmness: Medium-firm (6 to 7) | Delivery: Bed in a box; white glove delivery optional | Trial: 100 nights | Warranty: 25 Years

Best for: Eco-conscious shoppers, hot sleepers

Buy if: You’re looking for an eco-friendly bed that can keep you cool at night.

Skip if: Strong edge support is important to you.

This Birch Lux Mattress pairs organic wool, cotton and natural Talalay latex with hundreds of eight-inch steel coils to help you feel comfortable and supported while you sleep. Birch says the Talalay latex is soft enough to cradle your hips and shoulders while being supportive enough to prevent sinking into the mattress, which is ideal for side sleepers looking to maintain proper spine alignment. Birch rates its mattress as a 6 to 7 on a 10-point firmness scale, making it a medium-firm option as is. But to get the softest feel out of this mattress, opt for the add-on topper, which brings the mattress’s firmness down to a 4 to 5 on the 10-point scale. Note that the topper does cost a few hundred dollars extra. 

Besides feel, the mattress meets several high rigor safety standards. This includes being Fair Trade, Greenguard Gold and GOTS certified. And like other high-quality latex mattresses, the Birch Lux’s latex helps promote good temperature regulation and breathability. 

What our experts say: “I found the Birch Luxe to have a slightly firmer feel but with a plush vibe to it. I could move around on the bed easily in my testing—a great perk for combination sleepers,” says Chapman. “I think hot sleepers who want an eco-friendly product should check out the Birch Luxe since its materials are breathable and promote airflow.”

Pros:

• Bouncy and responsive feel
• Breathable; good for hot sleepers
• Eco-friendly; made from natural materials

Cons:

• Not budget-friendly; over $2,000 for a queen

Type: Hybrid | Firmness: Medium-firm | Delivery: Bed in a box | Trial: 100 nights | Warranty: 10 years

Best for: Budget-minded shoppers, hot sleepers, couples

Buy if: You want a memory foam feel with more bounce.

Skip if: You’re under 150 pounds and prefer an ultra-soft bed.

If you’re searching for a quality mattress under $1,000, the Allswell Luxe Hybrid is your best bet. This bed pairs several layers of responsive memory foam with a base of individually-wrapped coils to create just the right balance of comfort and support. Speaking of which, the topmost memory foam layer is two inches thick and infused with copper for deep pressure relief and enhanced breathability. This Walmart-owned brand also offers a 100-night trial period and a 10-year limited warranty, so you can test it out for three months at home.

What our experts say: “For a mattress that retails under $500, it’s truly a great value. It’s one of the nicest beds from Allswell, but you aren’t paying a top-tier price,” says mattress and sleep editor McKenzie Dillon. “It has a neutralized memory foam feel that’s more responsive than the traditional material and a balanced profile that lands somewhere around a medium. This means it’ll offer up ample pressure relief for side sleepers while also feeling supportive—no ‘sink in’ feel here.”

Pros:

• Affordable; under $500 for a queen
• Good for hot sleepers thanks to its copper infused foam

Cons:

• Some customers say it lost its shape within a few months