If you’re someone who prefers sleeping on your side, all mattresses are created equal and support. The wrong mattress leads to shoulder, hip, or back pain that leaves you tossing and turning all night. So what should you look for in the best mattress for side sleepers?

Firmness level

The most important factor for side sleepers is finding a mattress with the right balance of comfort and support. In most cases, a medium to medium-firm mattress 5-7 on the firmness scale is ideal. This provides enough cushioning for pressure points like shoulders and hips without letting them sink in too deeply. It also supports spinal alignment as you sleep on your side. Soft mattresses don’t offer adequate reinforcement for side sleepers while ultra-firm models are uncomfortable.

Contouring ability 

A quality best mattress for side sleepers will have some contouring or cradling properties that will support your body’s natural curves. Memory foam is exceptionally contouring and why it’s so popular among side sleepers. As your weight compresses the memory foam, it reacts and adapts to your unique shape. In addition to memory foam, mattress brands also use contouring foams like latex or proprietary polyfoams. Even traditional innerspring mattresses have contouring ability when they come with foam comfort layers above the springs.

Pressure relief

They are already mentioned, your hips, shoulders, and even arms carry a higher concentration of your body weight while sleeping on your side. This results in painful pressure points that disrupt sleep. Mattresses designed for side sleeping positions effectively cushion these areas. Memory foam is unrivalled at minimizing pressure thanks to its high-density support and close contouring abilities. Other foams like latex or polyfoam also provide above-average pressure relief. Pocketed coil systems react independently to applied weight over a wide range of weights, contributing to less pressure for side sleepers.

Temperature regulation

Temperature neutrality is important for quality sleep, especially for those who run hot at night. Traditional memory foam is known for trapping heat around sleepers. Now most top mattress brands infuse cooling gels, minerals, or phase change materials into their memory foam layers to combat this. Open-cell latex and many new proprietary types of foam also sleep fairly cool for side sleeping positions. If overheating is a major concern, choosing an innerspring model overall foam may be your best route. To improve the breathability of the mattress, the coils themselves are filled with air.

Memory foam mattresses rank as the overall top choice for side sleepers thanks to their close contouring ability and superior pressure relief. Most memory foam beds are available in medium feels around a 5/10 firmness, right in the wheelhouse for side positions. The issue some sleepers run into is feeling “stuck” in memory foam which inhibits movement. The best brands now use gel, copper, graphite, or other cooling substances to make their memory foam layers more responsive. Mattresses like the Amerisleep AS3, GhostBed Luxe, and Nectar Premier offer great blends of contouring and mobility.