Find The Best Mattress For Side Sleepers: Bed Review Guide
Contents
- Different Types of Mattresses for Side Sleepers
- Memory Foam Mattress
- Coil or Spring Mattress
- Gel or Gel/Foam Mattress
- Infused Mattress
- Tuft and Needle Mattress
- Shiloh 12-inch Memory Foam Mattress by Sleep Innovations
- 12-Inch Memory Foam Mattress with CertiPUR-US Certified Foam by Signature Sleep
- Contour 8” Independently Encased Coil Mattress by Signature Sleep
- Memory Foam 12 Inch Green Tea Mattress
- Pinzon Overfilled Microplush Mattress Pad
- Best Price Mattress 8 Inch Memory Foam
- Best Price Independent Operating Coil
- Sunbeam Quilted Polyester Heated Mattress Pad
- Casper Sleep Mattress
- The Side Sleeper Mattress Buying Guide
- So What is the Top Rated Mattress for Side Sleepers?
- Sources
Side sleeping is the most common sleeping position. Surveys often claim that 65% of the US population sleep on their side.
In a study that tracked adults with body sensors, people spent about 54% of their time in bed on their side, 38% on their back and 7% on their front.
There are a number of factors to consider when you’re trying to find the ideal mattress if you’re a side sleeper. The more you know, the more informed your final decision will be.
A mattress can be a big investment, so it’s a good idea to make sure that you consider your options before making a purchase. Side sleeping can lead to hip and shoulder pain if you don’t have the proper support to help align your spine and maintain good body posture.
With so many different brands and types out there at your disposal, it can be hard to figure out which one's the best for you, but we’ve made it easy. Check out our bed and mattress review guide and find out how to get better sleep.
Different Types of Mattresses for Side Sleepers
Let’s explore the variety of options you have to choose from. Mattresses are made from different products and come in soft, medium or firm support. There isn’t a “one mattress fits all” scenario.
Many of us sleep on our left or right sides, and many of us are “flip floppers” who change position through the night. Because of differences in weight, shape and pressure points, two people can sleep very differently on the very same mattress.
Support means different things for different people. Read below and consider the options for the best mattress for side sleepers.
Memory Foam Mattress
You’ve probably heard a lot about memory foam when it comes to mattresses, and you’ve probably experienced the comfort it can provide.
Did you know that memory foam was first invented for airline seats in the 60’s?
Once the benefits were realized, memory foam started to be used in helmets, shoes, for prosthetics, and in a host of other products. In a mattress, memory foam responds to the heat in our bodies and softens, thus providing us with a bed that molds to our bodies. This reduces the likelihood of painful pressure points.
We love the way memory foam sinks in response to our weight and then bounces back into place – it’s a durable and super comfortable way to get our rest!
Coil or Spring Mattress
Coil mattresses have been around since the mid 1800’s. Coils were used in other furniture long before they made their way to our beds. In comfort and flexibility, they’ve sure come a long way!
Generally if you’re looking at a coil or spring mattress, it’s most likely to be a pocket spring or “independent coil” mattress, where each spring is surrounded by a pocket of material and kept isolated from other springs.
This helps increase durability and also helps to keep the disturbance of each partner’s tossing to a minimum. Some designs use zoned springs that are firmer in some areas than others.
There are a number of options in coil mattresses on the market today. Designs such as pocket on pocket (2 layers of springs, one atop the other), to small or larger coils. These mattresses provide lots of comfort and tend to sleep cooler than all-foam beds.
Gel or Gel/Foam Mattress
This might be more appropriately named “gel foam” as most mattresses made with gel are actually a combination of both materials. The gel acts mainly as a cooling agent, so you don’t “sleep hot”, which tends to be a common complaint.
Gel is made into beads which allow for greater air circulation, cooling down your nights rest while providing the comfort of a memory foam bed. Gel foam can feel a bit firmer than standard memory foam, so if you’re someone who likes the comfort of memory foam but wants to “sink” a bit less into the bed, gel might be a great compromise!
Infused Mattress
Some mattresses are infused with green tea, charcoal or other extracts. Manufacturers mainly use green tea to keep the foam smelling fresh.
There's no evidence that sleeping on an infused mattress gives you the health benefits of drinking green tea, so choose it for comfort and scent, not for health.
For the best mattress for side and stomach sleepers, give infused mattresses a look. We’ve already seen manufacturers’ responses to the cry against using harsh chemicals and compounds in our beds. With an increasing consumer demand for more natural quality products, it'll be interesting to see where these infusions lead in the hunt for a great sleep!
Tuft and Needle Mattress
Tuft and Needle has designed a mattress that solves numerous common sleeping issues. With its foam that adapts to body weight, it’s a good mattress for side sleeping.
On the hunt for the best side sleeping mattress? Then you’ll want to consider one like this, which isn’t too firm and reduces the likelihood of pressure points.
You’ll stay nice and cool as this mattress distributes heat evenly away from your body. It even prevents disturbing your sleep partner with localized movement support. Check the current trial and returns policy before you buy, since these terms change.
Shiloh 12-inch Memory Foam Mattress by Sleep Innovations
Whether you sleep as soundly and still as a rock or toss and turn through the night, this is a mattress you won’t want to skip.
With its DuoComfort Design (it has a cooling memory foam top with deep under layer of support-plus foam) you’ll get a great rest. The foam is designed to relieve pressure points, so this mattress was a no-brainer to include on our list of the best type of mattress for side sleepers.
12-Inch Memory Foam Mattress with CertiPUR-US Certified Foam by Signature Sleep
Signature Sleep uses CertiPUR-US certified foam, a program that tests foams for certain chemicals and emissions.
The memory foam in this mattress molds to your body’s natural shape and is backed by 8.5 inches of high density foam for great support.
Wrapped in a knitted, super soft fabric cover, this is a mattress that guarantees sweet dreams.
Contour 8” Independently Encased Coil Mattress by Signature Sleep
There’s a reason Signature Sleep appears twice on this top 5 list! As with their 12” mattress, it uses certified foam.
Signature Sleep combines two layers of foam (both at the top and the bottom) with a layer of coils in the centre. These coils provide a combination of comfort and support that’s hard to surpass.
The coils are independently encased, ensuring an even distribution of body weight, and the foam helps to reduce pressure points by contouring to the curves of your frame.
This is truly a mattress they can stand behind!
Memory Foam 12 Inch Green Tea Mattress
An infused mattress?
You’ve probably never experienced the zen provided by a quality mattress with an infusion of natural green tea.
The green tea infusion is there to keep the foam smelling fresh. It won't give you the benefits of drinking green tea.
This 12 inch foam mattress has been built to reduce pressure points and allows for superior durability and stability with its airflow high density foam layer! You’ll feel refreshed after a night on Zinus' contribution to the best mattress for side sleepers.
There's such a nice array of quality mattresses out there that I couldn’t stop at just five. With a variety of foams, coils, gels, and even infused products on the market, on the list below are just as worthy of your attention in this best mattress for side sleepers’ review.
I’ve also included two great mattress pads for those who might be looking for a boost in sleeping comfort but who feel their existing mattress has a few years left in it. Take a look and see what other options you've got.
Pinzon Overfilled Microplush Mattress Pad
Maybe you’ve got a mattress with a few years left but are looking to boost your comfort?
Check out Pinzon’s overfilled mattress pad as the possible answer to your night time prayers!
Get the benefits of a plush bed without the hassle of changing your entire mattress.
Best Price Mattress 8 Inch Memory Foam
If you like a soft, sink-in feel, this budget mattress is worth a look.
Best Price uses 3 layers of foam to cushion pressure points.
Best Price Independent Operating Coil
Best Price has done it again, this time with their Independent Operating Coil Mattress, ensuring that you and your partner sleep undisturbed.
The coils are topped with 3-inches of comfort foam in varying layers of support and the mattress exceeds industry durability standards! Hands down the best innerspring mattress for side sleepers!
Sunbeam Quilted Polyester Heated Mattress Pad
If you’re a side sleeper whose sleep is disturbed by night time chills, or you just enjoy the luxury of climbing into a preheated bed, this is the product for you!
Great for those who want added support for side sleeping but who want to minimize the hassle of a complete mattress change over.
Follow the safety instructions for any heated pad. Don't use one for babies, or for anyone who can't feel heat well, such as people with diabetic nerve damage.
Casper Sleep Mattress
Casper includes four individual layers of foam including responsive memory and open cell latex foam so that you get the best rest possible.
If you’re looking for the best mattress for a side sleeper, this one should be on your radar.
The Side Sleeper Mattress Buying Guide
The two most important factors in buying your mattress will be firmness level and filler (what the mattress is made of).
Firmness
The support your mattress gives will have a huge impact on how you sleep. There's a range from super soft to hard, and each will support your body in different ways. Think about the mattress you already have and in which ways the support is lacking.
Can you remember when you got your best sleep and what type of support the bed gave you?
This is a great starting point.
Filler
If you have any allergies, then it’s obvious which mattress type you should avoid.
But which is the best mattress for a side sleeper?
Do you sleep hot or cold?
A gel mattress will help cool you down while a memory foam mattress tends to hold in more heat. If you want the ease of never having to turn your mattress, or if you move often, a lightweight coil might be your best bet. There are a variety of foams and gels and it helps to know which suits you best.
So What is the Top Rated Mattress for Side Sleepers?
Ultimately, only you can decide, but we hope we’ve given you enough to think about and enough material to help you make an informed decision.
The absolute best mattress is up for debate, but with our list of the 10 best products on the market today, you’ll have a variety to pick from.
With a third of our lives spent sleeping, you want the best rest possible.
If hip or shoulder pain keeps waking you up even after a mattress change, see a doctor or physical therapist to find the cause.
Sources
- Sleep positions and nocturnal body movements based on free-living accelerometer recordings, Nature and Science of Sleep (PMC)
- Neck Injuries and Disorders, MedlinePlus
