Best Mattress for Side Sleepers: What to Look For

Quick Answer: The best mattress for side sleepers offers enough cushioning around the shoulders and hips to relieve pressure while providing enough support to keep the spine comfortably aligned all night.

Finding the right mattress isn't always straightforward, especially since your sleeping position affects how a mattress feels. If you naturally curl up on your side, you've probably noticed that some mattresses feel wonderfully comfortable, while others leave you constantly shifting to find the right position.

Side sleeping is popular, but it puts different demands on a mattress than sleeping on your back or stomach. Your shoulders and hips carry more concentrated pressure, so finding the right balance of cushioning and support matters most.

The good news is that understanding what makes a mattress comfortable for side sleeping doesn't have to be complicated. From firmness and materials to body weight and pressure relief, consider several factors before you decide.

Why Side Sleeping Needs a Different Kind of Mattress

When you sleep on your side, your body contacts the mattress differently than when you lie on your back.

Instead of spreading your weight over a larger surface area, much of the pressure concentrates around your shoulders, hips, and sides.

This means your mattress needs to support these areas without letting the rest of your body sink too deeply.

If a mattress feels excessively firm, your shoulders and hips may not settle comfortably. On the other hand, a mattress that's too soft may let your body sink unevenly, making it harder to stay in a comfortable sleeping position.

Neither extreme is necessarily ideal, which is why balance matters.

Ultimately, the right mattress should let your body rest naturally, cushioning where it's needed while maintaining consistent support elsewhere.

Shoulder and Hip Pressure: What Is Happening

One of the biggest considerations for side sleepers is how the mattress distributes pressure.

Because your shoulders and hips are often the main contact points, they can take more pressure on the sleeping surface.

On a particularly firm mattress, these areas may feel compressed because the surface doesn't give enough to accommodate your body's shape.

You might find yourself changing positions frequently or waking up feeling uncomfortable.

A mattress with good pressure-relieving properties lets the surface respond more closely to your body, helping distribute weight over a wider area.

However, pressure relief shouldn't mean unrestricted sinking.

The goal is a comfortable balance: your shoulders and hips can settle without compromising the support beneath them.

Remember that comfort is personal. Two people sleeping in the same position might experience the same mattress differently, depending on their build, preferences, and existing sleep setup.

What to Look For in a Mattress for Side Sleepers

No single mattress works perfectly for everyone who sleeps on their side.

However, understanding three key characteristics can make it much easier to narrow your options.

Pressure Relief

Pressure relief refers to how effectively a mattress accommodates the areas of your body that press most firmly against its surface.

For side sleepers, this matters most around the shoulders and hips.

Materials that respond to your body's contours can help spread weight more evenly instead of concentrating it at individual contact points.

Memory foam is commonly associated with pressure relief, though other mattress constructions can also cushion.

When comparing mattresses, consider whether the surface feels accommodating without making you feel like you're sinking too far into it.

Support and Spinal Alignment

While cushioning is important, support matters just as much.

A supportive mattress helps prevent your body from settling unevenly during sleep.

For side sleepers, the goal is to maintain relatively natural alignment from the shoulders through the hips, rather than letting the middle of the body dip excessively.

This doesn't necessarily mean choosing the firmest mattress available.

A mattress can feel relatively soft on the surface while still providing effective support underneath.

The relationship between the comfort layers and the support structure determines how the mattress responds.

Firmness

Firmness describes how soft or firm a mattress feels when you lie on it.

For many side sleepers, a medium or medium-soft feel is a good starting point because it cushions key pressure points.

However, there's no universally correct firmness.

Your body weight, personal preferences, and the mattress's construction can all influence what feels comfortable.

Firmness ratings also aren't standardised across manufacturers. A mattress one brand calls medium may feel noticeably different from another.

Our Mattress Firmness Guide explores this in more detail and explains how different firmness levels can affect mattress comfort.

Memory Foam vs Other Mattress Types for Side Sleepers

Mattress materials play an important role in how a sleeping surface responds to your body.

Side sleepers often consider memory foam because it contours around areas like the shoulders and hips. However, it's certainly not the only option worth exploring.

Different constructions offer different sensations, and understanding these differences can help you decide which characteristics matter most.

Memory foam tends to conform closely to body shape, appealing to people who prefer a more cushioned sleeping surface.

Pocket sprung mattresses can provide responsive support, although their comfort also depends on the materials placed above the springs.

Hybrid mattresses combine different technologies, potentially offering characteristics associated with both foam and spring systems.

Meanwhile, latex generally feels more responsive, which some sleepers prefer when changing positions.

None of these constructions is automatically superior for every side sleeper.

Our Memory Foam vs Hybrid Mattress Guide looks more closely at the differences between these popular mattress types.

How Body Weight Changes What Suits You

Your body weight can affect how deeply you sink into a mattress and how firm it feels.

Generally, lighter individuals may find a mattress firmer because they apply less pressure.

This can mean certain comfort layers compress less, making the mattress feel less accommodating around the shoulders and hips.

Heavier individuals may compress the same materials more deeply, feel softer support, or need additional underlying support to stay comfortable.

However, body weight alone doesn't determine the right mattress.

Height, weight distribution, preferred sleeping position, and individual comfort preferences all shape the overall experience.

For example, two people with similar body weights may still prefer different mattresses because their proportions or sleeping habits differ.

Instead of relying solely on weight recommendations, consider how a mattress feels in your usual sleeping position.

Pillows, Bed Bases and Other Things That Matter

While choosing the right mattress matters, it's only one part of a comfortable sleeping environment.

Your pillow can make a noticeable difference, especially when you sleep on your side.

A pillow that's too low may tilt your head downward, while one that's too high can push it upward.

Ideally, your pillow should comfortably fill the space between your head and the mattress, accounting for how far your shoulder settles into the surface.

Your bed base matters too.

Different bases can affect a mattress's overall feel, so follow the manufacturer's recommendations for compatibility and support.

An unsuitable or uneven base may affect how consistently the mattress performs.

Even your bedding can influence comfort. Thick mattress protectors or extra toppers can change how closely you feel the mattress underneath.

Before deciding a mattress isn't comfortable, consider whether another part of your sleep setup might be contributing to the problem.

How True Rest Is Built for Pressure Relief

At True Rest, we combine different layers to provide cushioning and support.

The True Rest mattress features a three-layer construction, including a pressure-relieving memory foam middle layer.

This layer works alongside the others to create the mattress's overall feel.

The mattress has a medium firmness rating of 6 out of 10, where 1 is firm and 10 is soft.

It's also tested to BS EN 1957, a recognised standard for assessing mattress durability and firmness.

These details explain how the mattress is constructed and assessed, though personal comfort always depends on individual preferences.

You can learn more about the materials and construction in the Science of Sleep section, or visit the True Rest mattress product pages for full specifications.

How to Test a Mattress Properly at Home

Choosing a mattress based on specifications and descriptions helps, but nothing replaces spending time sleeping on it.

A mattress that feels comfortable for a few minutes may feel different after several full nights.

When testing a new mattress, try to sleep in your usual position rather than deliberately changing how you lie.

Pay attention to whether your shoulders and hips feel comfortably cushioned and whether you're able to settle without repeatedly adjusting your position.

Give yourself time to adjust to the new surface.

If you've been sleeping on an older mattress for several years, the difference in firmness and support may initially feel unfamiliar.

True Rest offers a 100-night trial, allowing customers time to experience their mattress at home.

It also includes a 30-night settling-in period, recognising that adjusting to a different sleeping surface can take time.

Instead of deciding after the first night, consider how your comfort develops over several weeks.

For full details of the trial, settling-in requirements and return conditions, visit the True Rest Returns page.

Conclusion

Finding a comfortable mattress for side sleeping comes down to understanding how cushioning, support and firmness work together.

Your shoulders and hips need enough give to settle naturally into the surface, but the mattress should also provide sufficient underlying support to prevent excessive sinking.

Materials, body weight, pillows, and bed bases can all affect how comfortable a mattress feels, so consider your entire sleeping setup rather than focusing on firmness alone.

Most importantly, remember that mattress comfort is individual.

Taking the time to understand different constructions and properly test a mattress at home can help you make a more informed choice.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What firmness is best for side sleepers?

Many side sleepers find medium or medium-soft mattresses comfortable because they cushion the shoulders and hips while maintaining underlying support.

However, the best firmness depends on body weight, mattress construction, and personal preference. The True Rest mattress has a medium firmness rating of 6 out of 10, on a scale where 1 is firm and 10 is soft. This is a factual rating of our mattress, not a recommendation for any particular sleeper.

Is memory foam good for side sleepers?

Memory foam can be a comfortable option for side sleepers because it responds to body contours and helps distribute pressure across the sleeping surface.

However, comfort depends on the mattress's overall construction, not just whether it contains memory foam.

Other materials, including pocket springs, latex and hybrid constructions, can also provide comfortable cushioning and support.

Should a side sleeper choose a soft mattress?

Not necessarily.

Although side sleepers generally benefit from some cushioning around their shoulders and hips, an excessively soft mattress may allow too much sinking.

The aim is to find a mattress that accommodates prominent pressure points while maintaining consistent support.

For some people, that means a softer mattress, while others prefer a medium or firmer feel.

How long does it take to adjust to a new mattress?

Adjusting to a new mattress can take several nights or a few weeks, especially if your previous mattress felt noticeably different.

Your body may need time to become accustomed to the new surface, so initial unfamiliarity doesn't necessarily mean you've made the wrong choice.

True Rest includes a 30-night settling-in period within its 100-night trial, giving customers time to experience their mattress before deciding under the trial terms.

Can the wrong mattress cause shoulder pain?

An unsuitable mattress may contribute to shoulder discomfort for some people, particularly if it creates excessive pressure or doesn't provide comfortable support.

However, shoulder pain can have several causes, so don't assume your mattress is responsible.

If you're experiencing persistent, worsening or recurring shoulder pain, speak to your GP or a qualified physiotherapist for appropriate advice.