Best Mattress For Side Sleepers In 2024 - The Finest Choice for Your Next Purchase

Love curling up each night and sleeping on your side? So do most other people. Whether you're the big spoon, little spoon (or solo spoon) - sleeping on one's side is ultra cozy and it's also good for your back!

We’ll help point you in the right direction on your search for the best mattress for side sleepers.

One of the biggest challenges that modern-day side sleepers face is finding the most comfortable mattress that also delivers suitable support to shoulders and hips.

The best mattresses for side sleepers have a few tailored features that are specially designed to give side sleepers the cushioning they need to wake up well-rested and pain-free.

You may feel overwhelmed in your search to find a perfectly plush, supportive, and pressure-relieving mattress - but here is a good place to start.

We’re covering all the best mattress options for side sleepers so you can kick back, relax, and make the best decision for your next mattress upgrade.

Best Mattress Types For Side Sleepers

Around 74% of people sleep on their side. That’s no small number; it's actually the most sleepers. And it’s not surprising that sleeping on one's side is so common. Side sleeping is widely regarded as one of the healthiest sleeping positions.

Side sleeping alleviates pressure from the spine - for even better results, placing a pillow between the knees keeps the pelvic and hip area aligned to reduce twists and turns that may strain the back.

There’s another big reason why so many people are side sleepers - it's the best sleeping position to reduce snoring.

Side sleeping keeps airways open and reduces the likelihood of the tongue to narrow the air passage at the back of the throat. So side sleeping has many benefits, and it is a very common way to sleep - but what is the best mattress for side sleepers?

Side sleepers who spend time on the wrong mattress often wake up with soreness in the hips, shoulders, and neck. If you're sore in these areas - it's a tell-tale sign that you need a different mattress.

Let's take a look at the most popular types of mattresses in 2024 and see how they fair up for side sleepers.

Memory foam mattress

Never heard of a memory foam mattress? There's a lot to get excited about. Fairly new to the mattress industry, memory foam is a NASA-developed material that has ‘viscoelastic properties.’ This means it’s highly adaptive and has a unique ability to contour to the body, rather than bounce off the body like traditional foams.

The adaptive contouring capabilities of memory foam makes it a top contender for the best mattress for side sleepers award.

Soft to medium feel memory foam mattresses deliver perfect plushness for irresistible comfort no matter what side you sleep on. Memory foam is also considered the best cooling mattress material - a good benefit for hot sleepers who have night sweats.

Hybrid mattress

Hybrid offers the best of both worlds. The combination of memory foam and coils has the stability the people often look for in a spring mattress, with the added benefits of layers of memory foam to ensure the body gets the right type of support.

Many consider hybrids as the best mattress for side sleepers. Hybrid mattresses offer a little bounce (but not too much) and greater body-adaptive contouring so pressure points get the best type of relief.

One of the standout benefits of hybrids compared to memory foam mattresses is better edge support.

Many side sleepers can venture close to the edge of the bed. The stability of coils helps to make sure the edges of the bed don't collapse under pressure and strain joints.

Traditional spring mattress

If it’s been many years since your last mattress upgrade - you might still be sleeping on a traditional spring mattress. Squeaking, poking out springs, feeling the bounce of your partner, and lack of contouring support - any of this resonate?

These are common complaints side sleepers have after spending many years on a spring mattress.

Despite coming with a heavy price tag (and heavy construction) spring mattresses can deteriorate quite quickly, that’s why they are rarely recommended as the best mattress for side sleepers.

Side sleepers should think twice before purchasing a traditional spring mattress as they lack the plush comfort that is required for side-body support. 

Best Mattress Features For Side Sleepers

Now that you've got a good idea about the best mattress for side sleepers - and the worst, we'll take a closer look at specific mattress features that are must-haves if you’re looking for better and more luxurious sleep.

Firmness

Not too soft, not too firm - just right. Side sleepers benefit from finding the perfect middle ground between soft and firm mattress options. Plush comfort is always best - look for firmness options between 4 to 7 on the firmness scale and always steer towards plush memory foam (at least on the top layer).

Motion Isolation

With over 61% of Americans currently experiencing worse sleep, minimizing disturbance in bed is a top priority, for troubled sleepers in particular. Motion isolation is a unique mattress benefit that helps couples experience dreamy sleep without feeling each other's movement.

Mattresses with motion isolation absorb the vibrations of movement, so when your partner moves in bed or gets up, you won't feel that mattress bounce or shake. Too much mattress bounce isn't good for side sleepers as it can jolt and cause friction on their shoulder and hip joints.

How To Choose A Mattress

When you’re ready to buy the best mattress for side sleepers and you have narrowed down your mattress types to the best of the best, consider the following brand features that come with the mattress.

Trial period

A long trial period is essential because buying a new mattress is an investment. If you don't have the ability to test the mattress you want in your own home and the freedom to return it if you’re not sleeping better - then steer clear.

The best mattress brands - like Puffy - will offer a lengthy mattress trial so you have maximum peace of mind that it's the best bed for how you like to sleep.

Where it’s made 

Locally made bed-in-a-box mattresses deliver more benefits than just supporting the local economy.

When you choose to buy an American-made mattress, you can rest easy knowing that it's freshly vacuum-sealed and has low VOCs. The mattresses will come without any overpowering ‘foam’ smell which can happen when they are vacuum-sealed for too long.

Warranty

Most mattresses should last up to 7 years - the best ones will last longer. It depends on the quality of the constitution, as well as how well you look after it. Regardless, look at the mattress warranty period closely to ensure the mattress has a quality guarantee.

Warranty periods can differ significantly between brands. We're happy to report we have one of the best - all Puffy mattresses and accessories come with a lifetime warranty. For as long as you use it, we’ve got you covered.

Price

The great thing about buying a mattress online is that you have endless choices. You can get the best mattress for side sleepers - with a big or small budget.

It’s easy to find a mattress deal online, better yet, you can even explore a range of mattress financing options to sleep sooner, and pay in easy installments over time.

Ready for bed?

By now, you must be more than ready for a snooze. Take any Puffy mattress for a test sleep for 101 nights. Puffy's signature ‘sleeping on a cloud feeling’ is sure to steal your heart as the best mattress for side sleepers.