We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Learn more. Sleep Products The 11 Best Mattresses for Side Sleepers, Tested and Reviewed These mattresses are the ideal firmness level to bring side sleepers sweet dreams. By Sarah Bradley Updated on December 18, 2023 Medically reviewed by Laura Campedelli, DPT Fact checked by Rich Scherr Print Verywell Health / Alena Kharlamenko Buying a mattress for any sleep position means striking the right balance between support and comfort, but this is especially true when it comes to finding the best mattress for side sleepers. You need enough cushioning under your hips and shoulders to avoid pain in those areas, but not so much cushioning that your spine isn’t held in the correct position while you sleep. According to Shelby Harris, PsyD, clinical associate professor of neurology and psychiatry at Albert Einstein College of Medicine and director of sleep health at Sleepopolis, a mattress with medium firmness that conforms to your body shape is the best option for side sleepers. This is because it will provide pressure relief for your hips and shoulders while also supporting your lumbar region. A too-soft mattress can interfere with spinal alignment, while a too-firm mattress can cause morning aches and pains. To find the best mattresses for side sleepers, we tested over 50 popular mattresses at home. We rated mattresses on criteria like comfort, support, and overall value, and took note of the ones that are truly sleep-changing. We also asked experts for their insights on choosing a mattress that balances support with the comfort side sleepers need. Here are the 11 best mattresses for side sleepers. What Type of Mattress Is Best for Side Sleepers? Side sleepers can choose from a variety of mattress types as long as they get the right combination of support and comfort. Remember, a mattress that conforms and contours to your body is the best way to get both features you need for a good night’s sleep. This might mean looking for a foam or latex mattress, says Chester Wu, MD, psychiatrist, sleep medicine specialist, and medical reviewer at Rise Science. Both of these types of mattresses have good contouring properties that can be beneficial for the hips, shoulders, and spines of side sleepers. If you prefer the feel of a more traditional mattress, Dr. Harris suggests opting for a hybrid mattress, which will combine the pressure relief of memory foam or latex with the support of innerspring coils. Whatever type of mattress you choose, however, Dr. Harris recommends it be medium-firm, with a plush top layer that hugs the curves of your body. How Your Mattress Can Affect You If You’re a Side Sleeper A mattress not designed for side sleepers can cause misalignment of the spine, says Dr. Wu, which can result in back and shoulder pain.A mattress with adequate support for side sleepers will feature pressure point relief to the hips, neck and shoulders, and lumbar region.If your mattress is too soft, says Dr. Harris, your hips will sink too far down—this can throw the spine out of alignment and cause pain.On the other hand, she adds, a too-firm mattress won’t provide enough cushioning for the shoulders and hips (which can also cause pain). Our Top Picks Best Overall Mattress for Side Sleepers: Saatva Zenhaven Latex Mattress at Saatva ($3,295) Jump to Review Best Budget Mattress for Side Sleepers: Linenspa Memory Foam Hybrid Mattress at Amazon ($240) Jump to Review Best Mattress for Side Sleepers with Shoulder and Hip Pain: Purple RestorePlus Hybrid Mattress at Purple (See Price) Jump to Review Best Hybrid Mattress for Side Sleepers: Purple RestorePremier Hybrid Mattress at Purple (See Price) Jump to Review Best Mattress for Side Sleepers with Back Pain: Nolah Evolution Mattress at Nolahmattress.com (See Price) Jump to Review Best Firm Mattress for Side Sleepers: Casper Sleep Original Hybrid Mattress at Amazon ($847) Jump to Review Best Memory Foam Mattress for Side Sleepers: Purple New Day at Amazon ($1,199) Jump to Review Best Plush Mattress for Side Sleepers: Tuft & Needle Mint Mattress at Amazon ($1,271) Jump to Review Best Mattress-in-a-Box for Side Sleepers: SweetNight Breeze Mattress at Amazon ($500) Jump to Review Best Mattress for Back and Side Sleepers: Purple Restore Hybrid Mattress at Amazon ($1,699) Jump to Review In This Article Expand What Type of Mattress Is Best? Our Picks How We Tested What to Look for Our Experts FAQ Why Trust Verywell Health Best Overall Mattress for Side Sleepers Saatva Zenhaven Latex Mattress Saatva View On Saatva $3,295 Our Ratings Comfort 5/5 Support 5/5 Value 4.3/5 Key Specs: Mattress Type: Latex | Firmness: Luxury plush (4–5) or medium firm (7–8) | Available Sizes: Twin, twin XL, full, queen, king, split king, California king, upper-flex king | Trial Period: 365 days | Warranty: Lifetime | Shipping and Returns: Free shipping, $99 return fee, free white-glove delivery and mattress removal Who It’s For Side sleepers worried about buying a comfortable mattress online will appreciate having the choice between sleeping on the plush or firm side of this latex mattress, which is not only pressure-relieving but also bouncy and breathable. Why It’s the Best Mattress for Side Sleepers Latex mattresses have all the contouring power of memory foam, but they generally last longer and are more durable than foam. Latex also tends to be a bit firmer, which can help give side sleepers the right amount of support. The Saatva Zenhaven Natural Latex Mattress is made to be bouncy, with two different types of latex providing firmness and durability, as well as breathable; built-in ventilation channels and a combination of moisture-wicking wool and cotton layers can keep you cooler than the average foam mattress. More importantly, we love how this mattress is flippable: you get a plush side and a firm side, so you can choose the one that works best for you. We also like how the horizontal center of the mattress (the part that aligns with your lumbar region) is designed to be extra supportive. What It’s Made Of Because this mattress is flippable, the center core—rather than the bottom layer—is made from durable latex. That core is surrounded on both sides by additional layers of latex zoned for back support and made with ventilated channels for airflow; this layer also determines the plush versus firm side of the mattress. Additional layers of wool and cotton provide a comfortable sleeping surface, regulate body temperature, and protect against mold, mildew, and dust mites. How It Performed During Testing This mattress improved our sleep at both the one- and three-month testing milestones, helping us sleep more deeply, remain cool throughout the night, and wake up feeling more refreshed without any hip, back, or shoulder pain. After trying both the plush and firm sides, we preferred the plush: It provided just the right amount of support without feeling too hard. That said, the firm side would be beneficial for many side sleepers, too, offering more support to pressure points and also allowing for comfortable back sleeping. Although flipping the mattress over is definitely not a one-person job because of how heavy latex is, we still feel it’s nice to have the option to utilize a firmer side in the future should you ever need more support. What We Would Change It’s heavy and hard to manipulate, plus it’s a bit on the thin side; on a lower platform bed, or without a box spring, the mattress rests low to the ground. We also noted a small amount of sagging after three months around the edges of the mattress. Verywell Health / Bronwyn Barnes Verywell Health / Bronwyn Barnes Best Budget Mattress for Side Sleepers Linenspa Memory Foam Hybrid Mattress Walmart View On Amazon $240 View On Walmart $200 View On Linenspa.com Our Ratings Comfort 4.3/5 Support 4.5/5 Value 5/5 Key Specs: Mattress Type: Hybrid | Firmness: Medium firm (7–8) | Available Sizes: Twin, twin XL, full, short queen, queen, king, California king | Trial Period: 100 days | Warranty: 10-year limited | Shipping and Returns: Free shipping and returns, white-glove delivery and mattress removal available for an added fee Who It’s For Side sleepers who need support and pressure relief and are on a strict budget. Why It’s the Best Mattress for Side Sleepers on a Budget Because the comfort of a mattress is so individualized to the person sleeping on it, an inexpensive mattress can be just as effective for getting a good night’s sleep as a luxury one. We think the Linenspa Memory Foam and Innerspring Hybrid Mattress is the perfect combination of cost and quality, offering side sleepers the mattress qualities they’re looking for with a price tag that’s less than $200 (even for a queen-sized mattress!). It’s also expert-approved, with Dr. Harris noting that the 2-inch memory foam layer provides excellent body-conforming pressure relief while the 6-inch innerspring coil layer brings support and durability. What It’s Made Of There are three layers: a steel innerspring layer, a cushy memory foam layer, and a quilted memory foam topper for a plush sleeping surface. How It Performed During Testing We thought this mattress had just the right amount of firmness; it molded to our body without allowing us to sink too far down. We felt well-supported when sleeping on our back or side, and we were able to fall asleep quickly and stay asleep throughout the night without having to readjust for comfort. However, this mattress is clearly better for a solo sleeper: Whenever we tried to share our bed, there was a noticeable amount of sinking in the middle. And while it is a great choice for a budget-friendly online mattress for the first three to six months, it did not hold up over time—it began sagging heavily, especially in the center, in less than nine months. What We Would Change It would be great if this mattress wasn’t a purely temporary option; at first, we really enjoyed its medium feel and gentle support. But since we were looking for another new mattress after nine months, it just doesn’t have the durability to be a long-term sleeping surface. For that reason, we recommend it for a guest bedroom that experiences infrequent use. Verywell Health / Abigail Moore Best Mattress for Side Sleepers with Shoulder and Hip Pain Purple RestorePlus Hybrid Mattress Purple View On Purple View On Raymourflanigan.com View On Mattresswarehouse.com Our Ratings Comfort 4.8/5 Support 5/5 Value 5/5 Key Specs: Mattress Type: Hybrid | Firmness: Firm (8) | Available Sizes: Twin XL, full, queen, king, split king, California king | Trial Period: 100 days | Warranty: 10-year limited | Shipping and Returns: Free shipping and returns, free white-glove delivery with some mattresses Who It’s For Side sleepers who experience frequent aches and pains along the hip and shoulder pressure points. Why It’s the Best Mattress for Side Sleepers with Shoulder and Hip Pain The top two layers of the Purple RestorePlus Mattress—the patented gel grid layer that Purple is known for and a foam layer—are designed to cradle the parts of your body that experience the most pressure while side-sleeping, like your shoulders and hips. Below those two layers is a third layer of individually wrapped coils that span the full length and width of the mattress, boosting your support even at the outer edges of your sleep surface. What stands out most about this Purple mattress is the honeycomb-style grid, which not only responds well to pressure and conforms to your hips and shoulders, but also allows for extra airflow at night, says Dr. Harris, helping to keep you cool and comfortable. What It’s Made Of This mattress consists of a moisture-wicking antimicrobial cover, a gel grid layer, a memory foam layer, and a layer of wrapped coils that are specially zoned to provide extra support to your lumbar region. How It Performed During Testing This mattress eliminated our shoulder pain in testing, immediately after use and four weeks later. It was the right blend of firm support and plush comfort as it contoured to our body, maintained proper spinal alignment, and helped us sleep more soundly through the night with fewer disturbances. The effects on our joints were noticeable, furthering our recommendation of this mattress as a top choice for side sleepers with hip and shoulder pain. We loved sleeping on this mattress and actually looked forward to getting into bed at night. What We Would Change It’s more of an investment than other mattresses on this list (though we think its value matches its cost). The major downside is how heavy and difficult to manipulate it is. It also doesn’t have the same “bounce” as some other mattresses, which didn’t bother us in testing but is worth noting since some people prefer a bouncy surface. Verywell Health / Lauren Coughlin Verywell Health / Lauren Coughlin Verywell Health / Lauren Coughlin Best Hybrid Mattress for Side Sleepers Purple RestorePremier Hybrid Mattress Purple View On Purple View On Mattressfirm.com $2,849 View On Raymourflanigan.com Our Ratings Comfort 4/5 Support 4.7/5 Value 5/5 Key Specs: Mattress Type: Hybrid | Firmness: Firm (8) | Available Sizes: Twin XL, queen, king, split king, California king | Trial Period: 100 days | Warranty: 10-year limited | Shipping and Returns: Free shipping and returns, free white-glove delivery with some mattresses Who It’s For Side sleepers looking for the full hybrid mattress experience, from relief from hip and shoulder pain to durability to temperature regulation. Why It’s the Best Hybrid Mattress for Side Sleepers All of the experts we spoke to highly recommended hybrid mattresses for side sleepers because they combine the best features of foam/latex mattresses and innerspring ones. Among the hybrid options, though, the Purple RestorePremier Hybrid Mattress stands out for the way it takes every aspect of mattress comfort seriously, from cushioning and pressure relief to support, durability, and cooling. The RestorePremier is very similar to the RestorePlus we’ve also featured in this list, but elevates the mattress’s cooling effects for side sleepers concerned about temperature regulation at night. Its airflow-promoting coils—combined with extra edge support, the gel grid layer, and a moisture-wicking cover—allow side sleepers to remain cool and comfortable. What It’s Made Of Like the RestorePlus, the RestorePremier is made with a moisture-wicking cover, a gel grid layer, a memory foam layer, and a layer of wrapped coils that are specially zoned to provide extra support to your lumbar region. However, the Premier’s coils allow for more ventilation, so any heat generated during the night can be directed away from your body. How It Performed During Testing We had no complaints about this mattress during initial testing or several months later; the combination of the gel grid layer and the foam and innerspring layers not only allowed us to sink comfortably and uniformly into the mattress, it also relieved our hip pain from sleeping on our sides. We also felt like our spine was in perfect alignment, maintaining a comfortable balance between the upper and lower parts of our body. To top it off, we appreciated how weightless we felt when sleeping on this mattress, and how durable it was in terms of never forming any indentations or sinking spots. What We Would Change We were extremely happy with this mattress, but we did think the gel grid layer could be a problem for some sleepers; it does feel noticeably bumpy like a springy web is stretched across the surface. Though it didn’t interfere with our sleep, some people might not like the physical sensation. Verywell Health / Taylor Calta Verywell Health / Taylor Calta Verywell Health / Taylor Calta Best Mattress for Side Sleepers with Back Pain Nolah Evolution Mattress Nolah View On Nolahmattress.com Our Ratings Comfort 4.3/5 Support 4.5/5 Value 4.3/5 Key Specs: Mattress Type: Hybrid | Firmness: Plush (4–5), luxury firm (6–7), firm (7–8) | Available Sizes: Twin, twin XL, full, queen, king, split king, California king | Trial Period: 120 days | Warranty: 25-year limited | Shipping and Returns: Free shipping, $99 return fee, white-glove delivery and mattress removal available for an added fee Who It’s For Side sleepers who experience back pain and need extra support to the lumbar region. Why It’s the Best Mattress for Side Sleepers with Back Pain The Nolah Evolution Mattress is plush enough to offer pressure-relieving contouring for your hips and shoulders, but also firm enough to keep your spine in alignment all night long—which is one of the most important features for avoiding morning back pain. It accomplishes this by combining five different layers of foam and coils within the mattress, all of which are designed to achieve different goals: cooling, pressure relief, bounce and motion transfer, and durable support. These, on top of several features designed for extra cooling and temperature regulation, make the Nolah an ideal mattress for side sleepers looking to relieve back pain. What It’s Made Of There are a lot of layers to the Nolah, so it’s made from a variety of different materials, including graphite-infused foam, transition foam, individually wrapped coils, recycled plant fibers, and organic cotton. How It Performed During Testing The plush yet supportive comfort of this mattress truly impressed us during testing, effectively eliminating the frequent back pain we experience from sitting in front of a computer all day. It literally felt like sleeping on a cloud, but only in the best possible ways—we never experienced any sinking or sagging, just perfect responsiveness. It was wonderfully supportive during a pregnancy, even with added pressure on our hips. Nine months after initial testing, nothing had changed: We were still sleeping on the mattress each night and waking up with zero pain. What We Would Change Honestly, not much. It does come in a box, and though we didn’t have any problems with it expanding properly, it might be nice if it was delivered as a traditional mattress. It’s also deep, (more than 15 inches), so we did have to climb into bed each night. Verywell Health / Jessica Mahgerefteh Verywell Health / Jessica Mahgerefteh Best Firm Mattress for Side Sleepers Casper Sleep Original Hybrid Mattress Nordstrom View On Amazon $847 View On Wayfair View On Target $716 Our Ratings Comfort 4/5 Support 4.5/5 Value 4.5/5 Key Specs: Mattress Type: Hybrid | Firmness: Medium firm (7–8) | Available Sizes: Twin, twin XL, full, queen, king, California king | Trial Period: 100 days | Warranty: 10-year limited | Shipping and Returns: Free shipping and returns, free white glove delivery and mattress removal Who It’s For Side sleepers looking for a sleep surface that feels more medium-firm than plush, but who still need foam-like cushioning for comfort. Why It’s the Best Firm Mattress for Side Sleepers How plush or firm you like your mattress to be is fairly individualized, but the experts we consulted all agree that most side sleepers will benefit from a mattress that is more firm than plush. If you’re looking for a sleep surface with a good amount of stability, the Casper Original Hybrid Mattress is a hybrid mattress that delivers a good amount of firm support without sacrificing comfort. It accomplishes this with two layers of foam designed to promote airflow and cushioning, and one layer of wrapped innersprings surrounded by a border of firm edge support. What It’s Made Of There’s one layer of ventilated foam for airflow and cooling, one layer of contouring foam zoned for pressure point relief around the shoulders, hips, and back, and a layer of wrapped innersprings for firm support. How It Performed During Testing Consistent support across the entire surface of this mattress was the feature that stood out to us most in testing: Rather than feeling like we were either sinking into the mattress or floating across the top of it, the Casper Original simply held us in comfortable alignment all night long. It also was great at reducing motion transfer, and we preferred the lack of “bounce” in this mattress since it made the sleep surface feel more secure and supportive. Two months after our initial testing of this mattress, we noticed no change in its quality and we were still happily sleeping on it. We do want to note, however, that our sleep partner often found this mattress too firm and would have preferred a little more cushioning. That reinforced our decision to choose the Casper Original as the best firm mattress for side sleepers, but be aware that it could feel too firm for some people. What We Would Change Our primary complaint about this mattress is its sizing: The mattress was a bit small for our bed and left a gap between the top end of the mattress and our headboard. Plus, as we noted, it rates high on the firmness scale—which means some sleepers simply won’t like the feel. Verywell Health / Sheena Chihak Verywell Health / Sheena Chihak Best Memory Foam Mattress for Side Sleepers Purple New Day Purple View On Amazon $1,199 View On Walmart $1,000 View On Purple Our Ratings Comfort 4.5/5 Support 5/5 Value 5/5 Key Specs: Mattress Type: Memory Foam | Firmness: Medium firm (7–8) | Available Sizes: Twin, full, queen, king | Trial Period: 100 days | Warranty: 10-year limited | Shipping and Returns: Free shipping and returns, free white-glove delivery with some mattresses Who It’s For Side sleepers who prefer not to have the bounce of an innerspring mattress, and instead want 100% contouring memory foam. Why It’s the Best Memory Foam Mattress for Side Sleepers If you think the Purple New Day Mattress is just a solid hunk of memory foam, think again: We selected it as the best memory foam mattress because it’s a dynamic combination of features, like the gel grid layer, a thick layer of supportive memory foam, and a border of edge support foam for extra stability. Since one of the biggest complaints many people have about all-foam mattresses is how hot they get during the night, we appreciate that the grid layer of the New Day mattress allows for airflow and additional cooling. What It’s Made Of Purple’s patented honeycomb-style gel grid is layered on top of a 6-inch layer of durable memory foam; in between, a foam border of firm edge support keeps the top layer from sinking or sagging down too much toward the bottom layer. How It Performed During Testing Our sleep transformed for the better when using this mattress: We stopped waking up frequently during the night and found ourselves in the exact same position in the morning as when we fell asleep. On top of effectively eliminating tossing and turning, we woke up feeling more refreshed than usual, with no aches and pains or tension headaches. The amount of support and degree of firmness were perfect, providing enough contouring to hug our body without allowing us to sink too deeply into the mattress. In our follow-up testing several months later, we hadn’t noticed any significant changes to the mattress other than a bit of softening (which hasn’t changed how we sleep on it). We were still sleeping quite soundly and rarely waking up during the night. What We Would Change We would have loved for this mattress to be thicker; while it was plenty comfortable, it was much smaller and thinner than we were used to, and we found our high-loft pillow wasn’t compatible with the mattress. Verywell Health / Samantha Aronson Verywell Health / Samantha Aronson Verywell Health / Samantha Aronson Best Plush Mattress for Side Sleepers Tuft & Needle Mint Mattress Nordstrom View On Amazon $1,271 View On Wayfair $1,495 View On Raymourflanigan.com Our Ratings Comfort 5/5 Support 5/5 Value 4.9/5 Key Specs: Mattress Type: Memory foam | Firmness: Medium (6–7) | Available Sizes: Twin, twin XL, full, queen, king, California king | Trial Period: 100 days | Warranty: 10-year limited | Shipping and Returns: Free shipping and returns Who It’s For Side sleepers who want to feel supported, but need plush comfort and extra cushioning. Why It’s the Best Plush Mattress for Side Sleepers Three layers of memory foam give the Tuft + Needle Mint Mattress a cushier, more adaptive feeling than many other types of foam mattresses, which is why we’ve selected it as our best plush mattress for side sleepers. We also like that while the top two layers are designed to promote cooling, provide pressure relief, and reduce motion transfer, a thick layer of firm foam (more than 6 inches) sits at the bottom of this mattress to ensure that side sleepers still get plenty of the support and stability they need to sleep comfortably. What It’s Made Of There are three notable layers here: an airy layer of foam infused with graphite to keep you cool, a 2-inch layer of foam infused with gel for pressure relief and contouring, and a 6.5-inch layer of foam at the foundation for support. How It Performed During Testing Our first impression of this mattress was that it was a soft, cushioning sleep surface designed to adapt to our body and provide just enough support. We were pleasantly surprised to find that we could sink just a bit into the top layer, so the foam hugged our curves, without feeling any negative impacts on our spine. It excelled at reducing motion transfer, a feature that helped us sleep more soundly during the night with fewer wakeups, and it was comfortable to sleep in literally any position, including our back and stomach. We also clearly noticed the cooling effects of this mattress, a huge bonus for an all-foam mattress. What We Would Change Because it’s all foam, the mattress is heavy—but it doesn’t have any handles to make moving it around easier, so we struggled a bit to position it. Verywell Health / Katrina Cossey Verywell Health / Katrina Cossey Best Mattress-in-a-Box for Side Sleepers SweetNight Breeze Mattress Amazon View On Amazon $500 Our Ratings Comfort 4.3/5 Support 4.5/5 Value 5/5 Key Specs: Mattress Type: Memory foam | Firmness: Medium (6–7) | Available Sizes: Full, queen, king | Trial Period: 100 days | Warranty: 10-year limited | Shipping and Returns: Free shipping and returns Who It’s For Side sleepers looking for comfort as well as the price and convenience of a mattress-in-a-box that can be shipped quickly from Amazon. Why It’s the Best Mattress In a Box for Side Sleepers A mattress-in-a-box that’s primarily sold on and shipped from Amazon may not sleep like a $2,500 mattress that comes with white-glove delivery, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be comfortable. The Sweetnight Queen Mattress surprised us with how quickly and easily it transformed into a comfortable sleep surface after delivery, expanding to its full size in less than half the time stated by the manufacturer and having no unpleasant chemical smells or odors. It’s also a thicker-than-average mattress for one that comes in a box: it measures 12 inches and consists of several types of foam layers. What It’s Made Of Three layers of memory foam are stacked inside this mattress: a 3-inch layer of gel-infused foam, a 3.5-inch layer of ventilated foam, and a 5.5-inch layer of high-density foam for support. How It Performed During Testing We were impressed by the quality and comfort of this mattress both initially and after several months of testing. The mattress molded around our body snugly, eliminating back stiffness and neck pain. And it bounced back easily after use rather than leaving indentations. We were still sleeping on it at the 3- and 9-month testing milestones, and continued to be surprised by the quality; for the price and convenience, the Sweetnight mattress outperforms some other more expensive, luxury mattresses, and showed zero signs of wear. What We Would Change Although it has two layers designed to promote cooling—a gel layer and a ventilated one—we still felt this mattress slept somewhat hot. That’s normal for an all-foam mattress, but we would love to see those cooling layers actually do more in terms of temperature regulation. Verywell Health / Jodi Espinosa Verywell Health / Jodi Espinosa Best Mattress for Back and Side Sleepers Purple Restore Hybrid Mattress Purple View On Amazon $1,699 View On Purple View On Raymourflanigan.com Our Ratings Comfort 5/5 Support 5/5 Value 5/5 Key Specs: Mattress Type: Hybrid | Firmness: Firm (7–8) | Available Sizes: Twin XL, full, queen, king, split king, California king | Trial Period: 100 days | Warranty: 10-year limited | Shipping and Returns: Free shipping and returns, free white-glove delivery with some mattresses Who It’s For People who need a mattress that can adapt to their tendency to change positions during the night to sleep on both their back and side. Why It’s the Best Mattress for Back and Side Sleepers We’ve featured several other Purple mattresses on this list, but the original Purple Restore Mattress has the best combination of side sleeping pressure relief and back-supporting comfort. The gel grid in this mattress is a bit thinner than in other models, so while it still offers a contouring sleep surface, it also gives combination sleepers the stability needed to keep their spine in alignment whether they’re sleeping on their side or their back. In the firm option we chose, the mattress was the best of both worlds: a soft surface with some give, but tons of support thanks to the grid design. What It’s Made Of As a Purple hybrid mattress, the Restore is similar to the RestorePlus and RestorePremier in the top layers, but changes a bit in the bottom half: Instead of a foam layer designed to regulate temperature and provide pressure-point relief, the Restore’s foam layer is focused more on plush comfort. Its coil layer is also simplified, focused on airflow and spinal alignment but not on zoned support for the lumbar region. How It Performed During Testing This mattress cradled our body no matter what position we slept in, providing the perfect amount of support and softness. It wasn’t too squishy, but also didn’t have any noticeable resistance; somehow, we were able to sink into the mattress while still feeling supported. We were especially impressed, though, by how well this mattress relieved our lower back pain. We used to feel a gap between our lower back and our old mattress and often placed a pillow under our knees to help align the spine. But the Purple Restore supported the curve of our body so well that we no longer needed it. We also started sleeping more soundly, waking up more refreshed, and experiencing less overall joint pain and muscle stiffness. What We Would Change Our biggest complaint is simply how low it sits to the floor, at least when using the adjustable Purple mattress base. We would have liked to see longer legs on the base, so it could be raised several inches higher. Verywell Health / Mary Honeyman-Speichingner Verywell Health / Mary Honeyman-Speichingner Verywell Health / Mary Honeyman-Speichingner Best Mattress for Stomach and Side Sleepers Casper Nova Hybrid Mattress Casper View On Amazon $2,340 View On Casper View On Wayfair $1,995 Our Ratings Comfort 5/5 Support 5/5 Value 5/5 Key Specs: Mattress Type: Hybrid | Firmness: Medium firm (7–8) | Available Sizes: Twin XL, full, queen, king, California king | Trial Period: 100 days | Warranty: 10-year limited | Shipping and Returns: Free shipping and returns, free white glove delivery and mattress removal Who It’s For Combination side and stomach sleepers will love the way this mattress can provide flexible levels of support and firmness. Why It’s the Best Mattress for Stomach and Side Sleepers Stomach sleepers need firmer-than-average support, so with its firm sleep surface, the Casper Nova Hybrid is a better choice for combination stomach- and side-sleepers than the other Casper mattress we featured on this list, the Original Hybrid. Dr. Harris says the combination of thin memory foam layers and a dense layer of innerspring coils also provides excellent support, pressure relief, and bounce. At the same time, the top layer of the Nova Hybrid, a ventilated piece of foam made to be extra comfortable, offers a soft sleep surface for stomach sleepers to sink into. What It’s Made Of With this hybrid mattress, three layers of memory foam are designed to achieve three different goals: cooling and airflow; ergonomic support for the shoulders, hips, and back; and extra-stable spinal support. Beneath those layers is a thick layer of wrapped coils surrounded by firm edge support acting as the foundation for this mattress. How It Performed During Testing We thought we preferred a soft, squishy mattress until we tried the Nova Hybrid; its soft-but-firm support completely changed our perspective on mattress comfort, eliminating the lower back pain we would frequently experience when sleeping on less supportive mattresses. We could literally feel the mattress rising up to support our stomach, relieving the pressure and pain that stomach sleeping puts on our lower back. It also eliminated numbness and tingling in our arms and the pressure felt on our shoulders when sleeping on our side. We were shocked by how quickly we felt pain relief with this mattress—and that effect lasted throughout subsequent testing milestones. We’re still sleeping on this mattress, and still benefiting from back pain relief. It’s also effective at regulating temperature and keeping us cool at night. What We Would Change We truly didn’t have many notes on how this mattress could improve; we would recommend it across the board to all types of sleepers, though in the larger sizes (like queen and king), the price point definitely increases into a more “luxury mattress” bracket. Verywell Health / Sarah Felbin Verywell Health / Sarah Felbin How We Tested the Best Mattresses for Side Sleepers To find the best mattresses for side sleepers, we slept on over 50 popular mattresses in our homes, evaluating their performances after one month of testing and then again, at least one more time, between the three- and nine-month marks. We then rated each of the mattresses based on the following criteria: Comfort: We noted how well each mattress conformed to our body and how well it relieved aches and pains. We also paid attention to how we would feel when we woke up in the morning after sleeping on the mattress.Support: We examined how soft or firm a mattress felt, how well it maintained spinal alignment throughout the night, and how well the mattress retained its shape over time or whether we observed any sagging or loss of firmness.Value: To assess whether each mattress is worth the purchase, we compare the overall cost of a mattress with its quality, including how much wear and tear was seen in the mattress over time, if we found ourselves sleeping better than we did on our old mattress, and whether or not we would recommend the mattress to family and friends. What to Look for in a Mattress for Side Sleepers Mattress Type: According to Dr. Wu, memory foam offers great pressure relief for side sleepers but can sometimes trap heat, while innerspring mattresses are more breathable but have less give. Latex and hybrid mattresses often land in the perfect middle: Dr. Wu says latex provides contoured support with a bit more bounce than foam, and hybrids combine the best of all mattress types. Firmness Levels: A medium to medium-firm mattress is recommended for most side sleepers, says Dr. Wu, though he adds that this recommendation is more based on expert opinion and personal preference than a wealth of scientific evidence. In other words, if a medium mattress doesn’t work for you, it’s okay to find something softer as long as it gives you the comfortable support you need. Support and Pressure Relief: Side sleepers often experience pressure points on their shoulders and hips, says Dr. Harris, which can lead to pain and discomfort. She recommends a mattress with a plush top layer that conforms to the curves of the body, so it can provide pressure relief and help keep the spine in alignment. Motion Transfer: Motion transfer refers to how well the mattress isolates a sleeper from other movements on the mattress, like a tossing-and-turning sleeping partner. If you sleep alone, you probably don’t need to prioritize motion transfer over other features like firmness and pressure point relief, but if you share a bed with someone who moves around a lot at night or you’re a light sleeper, you may need to consider how well the mattress isolates movement. Foam and latex tend to reduce motion transfer, as do innerspring mattresses with individually wrapped coils (versus interconnected ones). Durability: No one wants to spend money replacing their mattress every few years, but how do you know if the mattress you’re shopping for has enough longevity? It isn’t just the cost, but the quality of the construction and the materials. Here’s a tip: Instead of checking online reviews from people who just bought the mattress you’re considering, find people who’ve owned it for one or more years and ask them how it’s held up over time. Cost: Mattresses can cost as little as $300 or as much as $3,000, so here’s what to keep in mind: A mattress is an investment piece designed to last for many years rather than being discarded in two or three, and you’ll have to spend more than a monthly car payment on it. But that doesn’t mean you need to shop for the most expensive mattress to get the best quality—many middle-of-the-road options, costing around $1,000, are well-made enough to outlast their expense. Warranty: Most mattresses have at least some window of time for returns as well as a warranty for defects or damage. Ideally, the more expensive your mattress is, the longer your warranty should last; this helps you avoid the unfortunate scenario of spending $4,000 on a mattress only to have it start sagging as soon as its 1-year warranty is up. Our Experts Chester Wu, MD, psychiatrist, sleep medicine specialist, and medical reviewer at Rise Science Shelby Harris, PsyD, clinical associate professor of neurology and psychiatry at Albert Einstein College of Medicine and director of sleep health at Sleepopolis Angelie Mascarinas, MD, physical medicine and rehabilitation physician at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York City Frequently Asked Questions What type of mattress is best for side sleepers? Side sleepers tend to do best with a mattress that’s made at least partially of foam or latex. These mattresses offer the comfortable but firm support side sleepers need. Is a memory foam or hybrid mattress better for side sleepers? This is fairly individualized: Some side sleepers like all-foam mattresses, while others prefer the more traditional mattress feeling that comes with a hybrid. Typically, the only mattress that might be less comfortable for a side sleeper is all-innerspring mattress. Do side sleepers need a firm or soft mattress? Side sleepers should aim for a medium to medium-firm mattress or at least one that’s more firm than soft. What mattress should you get if you’re a heavier side sleeper? In general, mattresses tend to last from six to eight years, but it varies according to the quality of the material, whether you rotate it every few months. and the body weight of those sleeping on it. When your mattress starts to feel saggy, becomes noisy, or causes you to wake up achy, it may be time to replace your mattress. Why Trust Verywell Health Sarah Bradley has been a freelance writer since 2017, tackling health commerce articles, product reviews, and shopping guides on everything from dry skin moisturizers and wart removers to menstrual cups and toothbrushes for braces, but she has been sleeping on her side much longer than that. Thanks to frequent neck pain, she takes the relationship between sleep position and mattress comfort pretty seriously (just ask her husband, who had to review her Excel spreadsheet of mattresses when it was time to buy a new one). Sarah has also written about mattresses for back sleepers, stomach sleepers, and people with arthritis, so she knows what goes into the making of a product that can help you sleep more peacefully. See Our Editorial Process Meet Our Medical Expert Board Share Feedback Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! What is your feedback? Other Helpful Report an Error Submit