The best mattresses for side sleepers

This content originally appeared on Mashable for a US audience and has been adapted for the UK audience.

When it comes to online mattress reviews, it really does seem like side sleepers have a lot to complain about.

If you’re in the habit of sleeping on your side, as the majority of people are, you’re not going to be satisfied by most mattress models on the market. You’re essentially looking for the Goldilocks of mattresses — one that’s not super-firm and not super-soft, but just right.

This sounds like an impossible task, but it's really not. There are absolutely loads of high-quality mattresses out there from a wide range of top brands, offering just what you need to finally get a good night's sleep. It is possible. We promise.

Why is it important to invest in a high-quality mattress?

Side sleepers need a bed with that rare mashup of balanced plushness and support to keep their spine adequately aligned throughout the night.

If your vertebrae aren’t properly positioned as the result of your pelvis sitting too high (on a too-hard mattress) or too low (on a too-squishy mattress), you’ll put unnecessary pressure on your shoulders and/or hips while you sleep in that lateral position. You’ll likely wake up feeling sore, or toss and turn throughout the night as a result of that annoying “dead arm” feeling stemming from the pressure. 

All of this probably sounds fairly familiar. Why else would you be here? Fortunately for you, all of these issues can be tackled with a high-quality mattress that provides the right amount of support in all the right places. This is great news for anyone who is struggling to sleep comfortably, but is a new mattress your only option?

Is it possible to improve your sleep without buying a new mattress?

There are lots of ways to improve your sleep quality besides investing in a new and improved mattress. You can avoid caffeine in the late afternoon and evening, for instance, or get more exercise throughout the day, invest in a pair of blue light blocking glasses, or simply put down your phone a few hours before bedtime to start reaping some of the benefits of a good night’s sleep. In case you didn't know, these include reduced stress, a decreased risk of depression, and boosted memory, to name a few.

Still, those methods will only help to an extent, and they don’t address one of the average side sleeper’s main sources of slumber woes, which is a lack of sufficient spinal alignment. Therefore, looking into a better bed is definitely the route to go if that’s your preferred sleeping position.

What is the best mattress for side sleepers?

Shopping for a new mattress is not easy. There are a lot of options, each promising a bunch of different benefits. What are the best brands? How firm should your mattress be? What materials should you consider? It's perfectly normal to have a lot of questions, because a mattress is an important purchase.

To try and make your life that little bit easier, we have tracked down a selection of the best mattresses for side sleepers who are lightweight, heavy, sweaty, in a relationship, and beyond. There should be something for everyone and every budget in this list. You just need to consider all of the options and pick a favourite.

We have highlighted impressive mattresses from top brands like Leesa, Casper, and many more popular names. You should sleep easy with this selection.

These are the best mattresses for side sleepers in 2025.