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What type of mattress is best for side sleepers?

Author

James Craig

Updated on March 15, 2026

What type of mattress is best for side sleepers?

Generally, side sleepers find foam, latex, andhybrid mattresses to be the most supportive. Although, somesleepers prefer the traditional feel of an innerspringmattress. The Saatva mattress is an innerspringbed, and it's our top pick for side sleepers ofaverage weight!

Also, what mattress is best for side sleepers?

How the Mattress Type Affects Side Sleepers

  • Memory Foam. The most popular choice when it comes to thiscategory, a great memory foam mattress (for side sleepers) issomething that you might want to consider.
  • Innerspring.
  • Hybrid.
  • Latex.

Additionally, what type of mattress is best for side sleepers with hip pain? The Layla mattress is a cool option because ithas flippable firmness, so one side of themattress is firm and the other side is soft. Forthose with hip or joint pain, we recommendchoosing the soft side, which they rate as a 4.5 outof 10 on the firmness scale.

In respect to this, how firm should a mattress be for a side sleeper?

For most side sleepers, a soft to medium-firmmattress works best, ranging from a 3-7, with most peoplegetting the best results in the middle of that range.

Should side sleepers have a firm or soft mattress?

Side sleepers are most comfortable on a softmattress. Latex memory foam and memory gel foammattresses tend to work best for side sleepers.Stomach sleepers are most comfortable on a firmmattress. Latex memory foam and memory gel foammattresses are usually best for stomachsleepers.

Is a firm mattress good for side sleepers?

Choosing the Best Mattress for SideSleeping
Firmness is assigned using a 1 to 10 scale, with 1being the least firm and 10 being the firmest. Mostmattresses sold today range from 3, or 'Soft,' to 8, or'Extra Firm.' For most side sleepers, a 'medium' or'medium firm' mattress will be mostcomfortable.

How do I know if I need a firm or soft mattress?

The obvious difference between a firm on softmattress is the feel. A firm mattress is more rigid tothe touch and has less give. A softer mattress will compressmore easily when pressure is applied. However, amattress can also include an outer layer or some upholsterywhich affects the perceived firmness.

Can a firm mattress hurt your back?

Usually, back pain isn t caused by a sleepingsurface that is too hard, per se, but rather by impropersupport that causes the spine to rest in an unnaturalposition. A mattress that is too soft or too firm forhow you sleep can cause dips and gaps in support, focusingpressure or bending segments of your spine.

How do I know if my mattress is bad?

Keep an eye out for these five warning signs that suggestyour mattress has officially kicked the bucket:
  1. You consistently wake up sore.
  2. Your allergies are acting up.
  3. You toss and turn throughout the night.
  4. It begins to sag or have lumps.
  5. You hear a lot of creaking.

What is the top rated mattress for 2019?

The Top Mattresses of 2019
ProductHighlightsPrice (Queen)
Sleep On Latex - Pure Green™Best latex mattress$795
Nest Bedding - Love & SleepBest foam mattress$699
Sealy - Response - PremiumBest innerspring mattress$1,499
Lull - The Lull MattressBest mattress for back pain$950

Is memory foam better for side sleepers?

“Sleeping in” is actually about how agood mattress will use its memory foam to contour toyour body. This takes the pressure off aside-sleepers hips and shoulders, places that cantraditionally feel sore after a night sleeping on a traditionalmattress.

What is the best mattress to buy 2019?

Best Mattress Reviews 2019 (Sorted by Categories)
  1. 1 Nectar. Nectar is an affordable memory foam mattress withmedium firmness.
  2. 2 Brooklyn Bedding Signature. Brooklyn Signature is a hybridmattress made from quality foams and pocket coils.
  3. 3 DreamCloud. DreamCloud offers great comfort, luxury, andvalue.

What mattress firmness do hotels use?

Marriott also offers an Innerspring bed which ispreferable for those who prefer a firmer mattress. You canfind the extra plush mattress topper that is used inMarriott Hotels, the ExceptionalSheets PillowtopMattress Pad with Fitted Skirt, on Amazon in varioussizes.

What is the best mattress for side sleepers with back pain?

Some experts say medium firmness mattresses,especially those with memory foam, are the best bet forside sleepers with chronic back pain. Hybrid modelscan also provide additional support while eliminating pressurepoints on shoulders and hips.

Do pillow top mattresses wear out faster?

Pillow tops aren't durable. While it's true thatany mattress you sleep on will eventually wear out,some people complain that pillow tops compress and losetheir effectiveness in a shorter amount of time. Pillow topmattresses sag.

Is a firm or medium mattress better?

People who sleep on their stomachs or backs are moreinclined to find medium-firm mattresses abetter fit for their sleep needs. These mattressesprovide abundant support without sacrificing the comfort theaverage person seeks in a mattress. It offers more firmnessthan the medium without being too firm forcomfort.

Are hotel mattresses firm or soft?

Sometimes, an outer layer of fabric and other materialcan affect the perceived firmness. For instance, a pillow topmattress may actually be firm, but feel softto the touch, while a memory foam topper may give the feeling offirmness without the mattress actually offering propersupport.

Are pillow top mattresses bad for your back?

Pillow top beds are on average about 30% moreexpensive than non-pillow top beds. Sagging of pillowtops can undermine support and possibly cause back pain asa result. The conforming ability of mostpillow tops can be beneficial to backsleepers.

How firm should mattress be?

Side Sleepers = Medium Soft
Your shoulders and hips are also going to take thebrunt of gravity, and a mattress that is too firmwill make your night seriously uncomfortable. If you sleep on yourside, it's best if you look into a mattress that falls inthe medium to soft firmness range.

Is a firm mattress better for lower back pain?

Sleeping on a mattress that is too firmcan cause aches and pains on pressure points. Amedium-firm mattress may be more comfortable because itallows the shoulder and hips to sink in slightly. Patients who wanta firmer mattress for back support can get one withthicker padding for greater comfort.

How do I know if my mattress is too soft?

Is Your Mattress Too Soft?5 Signs You Need a FirmerBed
  1. Sign #1: You wake up with a stiff and sore lower back.
  2. Sign #2: You have a hard time getting comfortable.
  3. Sign #3: You sleep on your stomach, and often wake with neck orshoulder pain.
  4. Sign #4: You struggle to get in and out of bed.
  5. Sign #5: You feel like you're “bottoming out” whenyou hop into bed.

Can a hard mattress cause hip pain?

Hip pain. More specifically with hip pain,the cause can lie in your mattress. Having amattress that's too hard or too soft might not begood for your body's natural alignment, meaning they willache. A poor quality mattress can also cause this asit will not give the proper support that your bodyneeds.

How should I sleep to avoid hip pain?

If hip pain wakes you up, you can try these things to getback to sleep:
  1. Change your sleeping position.
  2. Place wedge-shaped pillows under your hip to providecushioning.
  3. Sleep with a pillow between your knees to reduce stress acrossyour hips.
  4. Put one or more pillows under your knees.

Is a firm or soft mattress better for hip pain?

The bed has a Medium Firm feel that isoptimal for those who weigh 130 to 230 pounds, as well as lighteror heavier individuals who prefer a more balanced firmnesssetting. Despite its pressure-relieving abilities, themattress has a below-average price-point – making itour Best Value pick for those with hip pain.

Do mattress toppers help hip pain?

While a firm feel can support a neutral spine,softness can provide contouring pressure relief. Both of thesefactors can help with hip pain, so the firmness levelyou choose should come down to your personal preference and thecause of your hip pain. The topper you pick shouldalso depend on how firm your mattress is.

Can a soft mattress cause back pain?

Sleeping on a soft surface
As illustration A shows, the spine is not alignedcorrectly and will not relieve back pain. Amattress support that is too soft, would contour thebody too extensively, causing a limited freedom of movementand limited moisture drainage.

What is the best mattress for aching hips?

Best Mattress For Hip Pain
  • Hybrid Mattress For Hip Pain – Nest Alexander.
  • Best Soft Foam Pick – Nolah Mattress.
  • Best Memory Foam Option – Layla Sleep.
  • Chiropractor-Endorsed – Level Sleep.
  • Heavy People With Hip Pain – Brentwood Oceano.

What type of mattress is best for lower back and hip pain?

Based on everything we've looked at, medium-firm memoryfoam mattresses are perfect for those sufferingback pain. Memory Foam contours the entire body without anygaps unlike innerspring mattresses. Most often, medium-firmmattresses let the spine to rest in a naturalposition.

Can your mattress cause shoulder pain?

A poor mattress can also contribute toshoulder pain due to the incorrect positioning head,neck, and back. A too firm mattress will not contourto our body. A sagging mattress may not provideenough support for the back and shoulders. Too manyor overstuffed pillows can cause back and shoulderpain.

Can a soft mattress cause shoulder pain?

Pain or discomfort from shoulder pressureis often reported as a cause of sleep disruptions. If youare a side sleeper and your mattress is too firm in theshoulder area, your shoulder alignment will beoff center and irritated structures will becompressed.