Get the deals
Best Mattresses 2026 10 compared

As needed

Best Mattresses for Side Sleepers → Best Mattresses for Back Pain →

By size

Best Twin Mattresses → Best Full Size Mattresses → Best King Size Mattresses → Best Queen Mattresses →
ReviewsIndividual product reviews ComparisonsAll best-of lists in this category
Mattresses coupons & deals Checked codes & offers
Saatva Classic Top Mattresses
Our no. 1

Saatva Classic

8.3/10 Read the review

Coupons & deals

By category

Mattresses coupons & deals 3 codes All coupons →

Brand coupons

Big Fig coupon code → Brooklyn Bedding coupon code → Nolah coupon code → Serta coupon code → IKEA coupon code → Nectar coupon code → All brands →
Brooklyn Bedding ★ Top deal today
Live offer

Brooklyn Bedding

30% off sitewide! Use code VETERANS30 Get it →

Latest articles

All articles →

Comparison

Best Mattresses for Side Sleepers

The best mattress for side sleepers lets your shoulder and hip sink in just far enough to keep your spine straight, which a firm bed resists and a very soft one overdoes. For most side sleepers that means a medium-soft to medium feel with pressure-relieving foam or a pillow top over zoned support, while body weight, shoulder or hip pain and how warm you sleep decide which type of mattress fits. Our ranking compares the reviewed models on exactly those points, from flippable memory foam to coil-on-coil innerspring.

8 Products compared
up to 365 trial nights
02/11/2026 Updated
Ina Updated November 2, 2026
Best Mattresses for Side Sleepers: Reviews & Comparison

Ranking

Best Mattresses for Side Sleepers, ranked and reviewed

Nolah Evolution
Nolah EvolutionNolah EvolutionNolah Evolution
Best overall

Nolah Evolution

Order the Nolah Evolution in its Plush version, rated 4 to 5 on Nolah's 10-point scale, and your shoulder settles into soft copper-infused foam while zoned foam and 8-inch zoned coils hold the hips level. That balance is what most side sleepers are after, and it comes with a 365-night trial and a full refund if it does not suit you.

Pros
  • Strong pressure relief for side sleepers
  • Reinforced edges for sitting and getting up
  • Same price for all three firmness levels
Cons
  • Tall at 14 inches, so you need deep-pocket sheets
  • List price is high when no sale is running
More product details
Material
Organic cotton cover, quilted foam, copper-infused AirFoam Luxe, gel swirl foam, EverAdapt transition foam, Tri-Zone zoned foam, 8 in zoned Ascension pocketed coils with reinforced edge coils, high-density base foam. Optional GlacioTex cooling pillow top.
Height
36 cm
Sizes
97x188, 97x203, 135x191, 152x203, 183x213, 193x203
Made in
United States
Certificates
CertiPUR-US, GREENGUARD Gold
Live Nolah: 35% Off all mattresses and bed bases! Updated on 05/11/2026 View offer
8.2/10 Very good
from $1,046.50 $1,610
View offer → Read the review
Layla Memory Foam Mattress
Layla Memory Foam MattressLayla Memory Foam MattressLayla Memory Foam Mattress
Best value

Layla Memory Foam Mattress

Light and average-weight side sleepers get a soft all-foam cradle for $1,149 in a Queen, well under the price of the hybrids on this page. The Layla is flippable, with a medium-soft side for sleeping on your side and a medium-firm side to turn to if your shoulder ever wants more support.

Pros
  • Partner movement barely felt
  • Zip-off cover
  • Made in the USA
Cons
  • Slim at 10.5 inches, heavier sleepers press through
  • Edges compress when you sit
More product details
Material
Two layers of 3.5 lb copper-infused high-resilience memory foam, one on each sleeping side, around a tri-zoned airflow polyfoam layer and a 1.5 lb polyurethane base. Zip-off hexagon-stitched cover.
Height
27 cm
Sizes
97x191, 97x203, 137x191, 152x203, 183x213, 193x203
Made in
United States
Certificates
CertiPUR-US
Live Layla: Black Friday Sale! $200 off Layla Hybrid Mattress Updated on 05/11/2026 View offer
8.1/10 Very good
from $799
View offer → Read the review
  • Sleep trial: 120 nights
  • Warranty: Lifetime
  • Firmness: Medium soft / Medium firm
  • Certificates CertiPUR-USCertiPUR-US
Saatva Classic
Saatva ClassicSaatva ClassicSaatva Classic
Best for a traditional feel

Saatva Classic

Choose the Plush Soft version, which Saatva rates 3 out of 10 and recommends for side sleepers, and the Classic gives you a cushioned surface over a buoyant coil base that is easy to turn on. There are two catches. The default Luxury Firm is too firm for most side sleepers, so pick the comfort level with care. A return also costs a $99 processing fee, where the other picks here refund in full.

A Queen is $2,229 in the 11.5-inch height.

Pros
  • Euro pillow top over two layers of coils
  • Lumbar zone supports the waist
  • Two heights to match your bed frame
  • Delivered and set up in your room
Cons
  • Taller 14.5-inch version not for adjustable bases
  • Made to order, so it ships later than boxed beds
More product details
Material
Organic cotton blend cover, 3-inch Euro pillow top, Lumbar Zone active spinal wire and memory foam, a layer of wrapped comfort coils over a tempered steel support coil unit (over 1,000 coils in Full and up). CertiPUR-US certified foams.
Height
29 cm
Sizes
91x213, 97x191, 97x203, 137x191, 152x203, 183x213, 193x203
Made in
United States
Certificates
CertiPUR-US, GREENGUARD Gold
Live Saatva: 15% off Orders $1K+ for better sleep! Updated on 05/11/2026 View offer
8.3/10 Very good
from $1,449
View offer → Read the review
  • Sleep trial: 365 nights
  • Warranty: Lifetime
  • Firmness: Soft / Medium firm / Firm
  • Certificates CertiPUR-USCertiPUR-USGREENGUARD GoldGREENGUARD Gold
Helix Midnight Luxe
Helix Midnight LuxeHelix Midnight LuxeHelix Midnight Luxe
Best for lower back pain

Helix Midnight Luxe

If your lower back aches after a night on your side, the Midnight Luxe is the one to look at. Its coils are zoned to firm up under the lumbar area, and a pillow top over dense memory foam softens the shoulder, so the spine stays straighter than on an evenly soft bed. Helix rates the feel medium, 6 out of 10, which suits average and heavier side sleepers better than very light ones.

A Queen lists at $2,498.75.

Pros
  • Breathable cover helps on warm nights
  • Year-long refund trial
Cons
  • Cooling and lumbar upgrades cost extra
More product details
Material
TENCEL pillow top cover (GlacioTex optional), SupremeSupport 4.0 memory foam (4 lb density), cradling and responsive foams, optional CoolForce and ErgoAlign layers, up to 1,000 zoned wrapped coils with lumbar support, DuraDense base. CertiPUR-US foams, fiberglass free.
Height
34 cm
Sizes
97x191, 97x203, 137x191, 152x203, 183x213, 193x203
Made in
United States
Certificates
CertiPUR-US
8.1/10 Very good
from $1,492.50
View offer → Read the review
  • Sleep trial: 365 nights
  • Warranty: Lifetime
  • Firmness: Medium
  • Certificates CertiPUR-USCertiPUR-US
Purple RestorePlus Hybrid
Purple RestorePlus HybridPurple RestorePlus HybridPurple RestorePlus Hybrid
Best cooling option

Purple RestorePlus Hybrid

Hot side sleepers have a reason to pay more here. A 3-inch GelFlex Grid folds away under the shoulder and hip and leaves open channels for air, and three-zone coils underneath keep the lower back up. It is also the most expensive bed on this page, at $3,599 for a Queen. Purple's 100-night trial only lets you return it after 21 nights.

Pros
  • Easy to change position on
  • Moisture-wicking cover
Cons
  • The grid feel takes some getting used to
More product details
Material
3 in GelFlex Grid over Ultra Comfort foam and an 8 in three-zone coil system with an edge support system. Moisture-wicking, antimicrobial SoftFlex cover, fiberglass-free fire sock.
Height
33 cm
Sizes
97x203, 137x191, 152x203, 183x213, 193x203
Certificates
CertiPUR-US
Live Purple: Up to $700 off mattresses and bases Updated on 05/11/2026 View offer
8.2/10 Very good
from $3,099
View offer → Read the review
  • Sleep trial: 100 nights
  • Warranty: 10 years
  • Firmness: Medium soft
  • Certificates CertiPUR-USCertiPUR-US
Puffy Lux Hybrid Mattress
Puffy Lux Hybrid MattressPuffy Lux Hybrid MattressPuffy Lux Hybrid Mattress
Best plush hybrid

Puffy Lux Hybrid Mattress

The Puffy Lux is a medium-plush hybrid, softer on top than the Nolah or the Helix, with gel memory foam and a plush contouring layer over wrapped coils. It suits light to average side sleepers who like to sink into the bed.

Bought during Puffy's current promotion, at $1,549 for a Queen, it costs far less than its list price suggests.

Pros
  • Coils add bounce under the soft top
Cons
  • Too soft for stomach sleepers
More product details
Material
Silky quilted cover with Tencel fibers; Plush Contouring layer; Cooling Cloud gel memory foam; Cloud Comfort foam; Contour-Adapt wrapped coils; Firm Core support foam (8 layers in total).
Height
30 cm
Sizes
97x191, 97x203, 137x191, 152x203, 183x213, 193x203
Made in
United States
Certificates
CertiPUR-US
8.1/10 Very good
from $749 $2,149
View offer → Read the review
  • Sleep trial: 365 nights
  • Warranty: Lifetime
  • Firmness: Medium soft
  • Certificates CertiPUR-USCertiPUR-US
Big Fig Luxe Mattress
Big Fig Luxe MattressBig Fig Luxe MattressBig Fig Luxe Mattress
Best for heavier sleepers

Big Fig Luxe Mattress

Built for bigger bodies, the Big Fig Luxe puts a plush pillow top and gel-infused latex over heavy-gauge pocketed coils. Big Fig describes the support as luxury firm, and that firmer core is what a heavier side sleeper needs, because the pillow top still lets the shoulder sink while the hips stay up.

The trial is on the short side, at 120 nights.

Pros
  • Firm edge for getting in and out
Cons
  • More mattress than light sleepers need
  • Very heavy to move
More product details
Material
LDPE cooling cover over a plush pillow top, perforated gel-infused latex foam, copper, silver and graphite infused foam, two layers of high-density polyfoam and 15-gauge individually wrapped coils with an 80 ILD foam edge, hand-tufted in 16 places.
Height
33 cm
Sizes
97x191, 97x203, 137x191, 152x203, 183x213, 193x203
Made in
United States
Live Big Fig: Save $350 on mattresses + 15% off bedding Updated on 03/11/2026 View offer
7.9/10 Very good
from $1,859
View offer → Read the review
  • Sleep trial: 120 nights
  • Warranty: Lifetime
  • Firmness: Medium firm
Zinus Balanced Comfort Signature Memory Foam
Zinus Balanced Comfort Signature Memory FoamZinus Balanced Comfort Signature Memory FoamZinus Balanced Comfort Signature Memory Foam
Best budget pick

Zinus Balanced Comfort Signature Memory Foam

The cheapest way onto a proper side-sleeper surface here is the Zinus, at $749 for a Queen. Two inches of gel-infused memory foam sit over a high-density layer in a 12-inch medium bed. For a guest room or a first apartment it does the job.

Pros
  • Deep foam eases shoulder pressure
  • Gel top sleeps cooler than basic memory foam
Cons
  • Warmer than a hybrid
  • Slow to move on, like most memory foam
  • Shorter warranty than most picks here
More product details
Material
2 inch Mygel gel-infused memory foam, 3.5 inch high-density foam and 6.5 inch base foam; knitted jacquard cool-touch cover. CertiPUR-US certified foams, OEKO-TEX certified cover, fiberglass free. 12 inches tall.
Height
30 cm
Certificates
CertiPUR-US, OEKO-TEX
7.4/10 Good
from $549
View offer → Ad Read the review

Buying advice

What to look for when buying

Ina Editor
“If you sleep on your side, choose a medium-soft to medium feel with a thick, soft top layer, and step up to a medium hybrid with zoned coils if you are a heavier sleeper.”

Side sleeping is the most common position. In a Danish study that tracked 664 working adults with body-worn sensors, participants spent 54.1% of their time in bed on their side, and the share rose with age and body weight (Skarpsno et al., Nature and Science of Sleep, 2017). Four choices decide which mattress on this page suits you.

Firmness for side sleepers, by body weight

A systematic review of 39 studies found that medium-firm mattresses gave the best comfort, sleep quality and spinal alignment overall (Caggiari et al., Journal of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, 2021). Side sleepers usually do better one step softer than that, because the shoulder is the widest point of the body and needs room to sink. How far depends on your weight.

Your weight Firmness to look for (out of 10) Why
Under 130 lb Soft to medium-soft (3 to 4) A light body barely compresses a firmer top, so the shoulder takes the load
130 to 230 lb Medium-soft to medium (4 to 6) Enough give at the shoulder while the hips stay level
Over 230 lb Medium hybrid (5 to 6) with a pillow top and strong or zoned coils Thin soft foam bottoms out, so the support has to come from the core

Beds above about 7 out of 10 leave the shoulder and hip carrying most of your weight, which can leave you with a numb arm or a sore hip by morning.

Memory foam, hybrid or innerspring

Type How it feels on your side Suits Watch out for
Memory foam Slow, deep cradle around shoulder and hip Lighter and average-weight side sleepers, couples Sleeps warmer, harder to turn over
Hybrid (foam over pocketed coils) Contouring top with more bounce and airflow Most side sleepers, heavier bodies, hot sleepers Heavier and pricier than all-foam
Innerspring with a pillow top Cushioned surface over buoyant coils Side sleepers who like a traditional bed Only the plush version suits side sleeping

If you are torn, a hybrid is the safe answer for most side sleepers. Our hybrid mattress comparison and memory foam comparison rank each type on its own.

Shoulder, hip or lower back pain

Pain changes the priority. Shoulder and hip pain call for a deeper comfort layer, about 3 inches of soft foam or a pillow top, so those two points stop carrying the load. Lower back pain on your side often comes from the waist sagging toward the mattress, so look for coils or foam zoned firmer under the lumbar area. If your back is the main problem, our ranking of mattresses for back pain goes further.

Give your body time, then use the trial

Moving from a firm bed to a softer one takes a few weeks to get used to, so the trial terms matter more for side sleepers than for most buyers. Check how long the trial runs, whether a return is a full refund or carries a fee, and whether there is a minimum number of nights before you can send the mattress back. On this page trials run from 100 to 365 nights. For the wider market across every sleeping position, see our best mattresses ranking.

Methodology

How we rate

Every mattress here went through our test, and for this page it starts with one question. Does the mattress relieve the shoulder and hip while keeping the spine level when you lie on your side? We judge that fit from the comfort layer (how deep and how soft the foam or pillow top is), the firmness the maker states for the version you would order, and whether the support core is zoned to hold up the waist. That fit counts before the overall score, which also weighs support, temperature and value.

Where a higher-scored bed ranks lower, its card says why. Prices are Queen prices on each maker’s own US store at the time of writing (October 2026), and trial and warranty terms come from the same pages. Free shipping and size range did not count, since nearly every mattress here offers them.

Quick overview

All products compared

All Mattresses
# Product Our verdict Material Firmness Sleep trial Warranty Rating Price
1 Nolah Nolah Evolution Best for shoulder and hip relief Organic cotton cover Medium soft / Medium firm / Firm 365 nights Lifetime 8.2 from $1,046.50 Offer
2 Layla Layla Memory Foam Mattress Best value Two layers of 3.5 lb copper-infused high-resilience memory… Medium soft / Medium firm 120 nights Lifetime 8.1 from $799 Offer
3 Saatva Saatva Classic Best for a traditional feel Organic cotton blend cover Soft / Medium firm / Firm 365 nights Lifetime 8.3 from $1,449 Offer
4 Helix Helix Midnight Luxe Best for lower back pain TENCEL pillow top cover Medium 365 nights Lifetime 8.1 from $1,492.50 Offer
5 Purple Purple RestorePlus Hybrid Best cooling option 3 in GelFlex Grid over Ultra Comfort foam and an 8 in… Medium soft 100 nights 10 yrs 8.2 from $3,099 Offer
6 Puffy Puffy Lux Hybrid Mattress Best plush hybrid Silky quilted cover with Tencel fibers Medium soft 365 nights Lifetime 8.1 from $749 Offer
7 Big Fig Big Fig Luxe Mattress Best for heavier sleepers LDPE cooling cover over a plush pillow top Medium firm 120 nights Lifetime 7.9 from $1,859 Offer
8 Zinus Zinus Balanced Comfort Signature Memory Foam Best budget pick 2 inch Mygel gel-infused memory foam Medium 100 nights 10 yrs 7.4 from $549 Offer

Checked automatically

Discounts & offers

All offers
Brand Current promotion Coupon code Benefit
Nolah 35% Off all mattresses and bed bases! – – View offer
Layla Black Friday Sale! $200 off Layla Hybrid Mattress – – View offer
Saatva 15% off Orders $1K+ for better sleep! – – View offer
Purple Up to $700 off mattresses and bases – – View offer
Big Fig Save $350 on mattresses + 15% off bedding – – View offer

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

What is the best mattress for side sleepers?

The Nolah Evolution in its Plush version is the best mattress for side sleepers in our test, because its soft top foam lets the shoulder sink while zoned coils keep the hips level. A Queen costs $1,480.05, with a 365-night trial. The flippable Layla Memory Foam is the value alternative at $1,149 in a Queen.

What firmness is best for side sleepers?

Medium-soft to medium, roughly 4 to 6 on a 10-point scale, suits most side sleepers between 130 and 230 pounds. Lighter people often prefer 3 to 4, and heavier side sleepers do better on a medium hybrid with strong or zoned coils.

Is a firm mattress good for side sleepers?

A firm mattress is a poor match for most side sleepers, because the shoulder and hip cannot sink in and end up carrying most of your weight.

Which type of mattress should a side sleeper choose?

A hybrid with a thick foam or pillow-top layer over pocketed coils suits the widest range of side sleepers, since it combines pressure relief with bounce and airflow. Memory foam is the quieter and usually cheaper choice for lighter sleepers and couples, while a plush innerspring suits people who want a traditional feel.

What is the best mattress for side sleepers with back pain?

Look for support zoned firmer under the lower back, as on the Helix Midnight Luxe, which pairs a pillow top with coils zoned for the lumbar area. If back pain matters more than side-sleeping comfort, compare it with the picks in our ranking of mattresses for back pain.

What is the best mattress for heavy side sleepers?

Heavier side sleepers need a thick comfort layer over strong coils so the shoulder sinks without the hips bottoming out. The Big Fig Luxe is built for that, with a pillow top and latex over heavy-gauge pocketed coils, and a Queen costs $2,299.

More comparisons

Mattresses compared

All Mattresses comparisons

8 products compared Ranking · Updated 30/10/2026 By Ina

Best Twin Mattresses

We compared twin size mattresses for kids' rooms, guest rooms and adults who sleep alone, on length, firmness, height and what the twin size itself costs. …

Read the comparison →

10 products compared Ranking · Updated 30/10/2026 By Ina

Best Hybrid Mattresses

A hybrid mattress sets a real comfort layer of memory foam, latex or gel grid over individually wrapped coils, so you get the pressure relief of …

Read the comparison →

8 products compared Ranking · Updated 29/10/2026 By Ina

Best Queen Mattresses

The queen is the most popular mattress size in America, and also the one where a brand's headline price misleads most, because that figure is usually …

Read the comparison →