Best Mattresses for Side Sleepers
Our rigorous tests zero in on mattresses that offer the support side sleepers need to wake up pain-free and refreshed
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If your go-to position is to sleep on your side, finding the right mattress can be tricky. You need a mattress that keeps your spine aligned while also offering the pressure relief your shoulders and hips require to avoid feeling sore in the morning. That may sound like two contradictory goals, but with help from our ratings, you can find mattresses that can do both for you.
In fact, says Chris Regan, the senior test project leader who oversees CR’s mattress testing, contrary to popular belief, this doesn’t necessarily require a super-soft mattress. “The average firmness of the models on this list is right around 5,” he says.
Support and pressure relief aside, side sleepers should also look for the qualities that everyone wants in a mattress, such as good motion isolation, durability, and comfort. Have a back-sleeping partner? That’s okay, too. Many of our side-sleeper picks offer great support for them as well. (For additional tips on sleep compatibility, see "How to Avoid a Sleep Divorce.")
How Consumer Reports Picks the Best Mattresses for Side Sleepers
Our mattress tests assess a range of factors, including support for back and side sleepers. But in this roundup, we focus on each mattress’s ability to support side sleepers specifically.
To test this, we map points on the spine while subjects lie on their side on each mattress. We then connect those dots and compare how much the spine diverges from a horizontal line. The better the spinal alignment, the better the support. This test is performed for small and large side sleepers; we then use these data points to calculate a score for average-sized sleepers.
Best Innerspring Mattresses for Side Sleepers
Innerspring mattresses consist of a layer of steel coils topped with fiber padding or (in the case of hybrids) foam. The coils offer contouring support and a buoyant feel, while the padding or foam provides some level of pressure relief for a side sleeper’s shoulders and hips.
Best Foam Mattresses for Side Sleepers
Foam mattresses offer a cuddling feel as well as high stabilization scores, which means you’re less likely to wake up your partner when you shift positions. Like the foam or fiber layers in innerspring mattresses, all-foam mattresses provide pressure relief for a side sleeper’s shoulders and hips.
Best Adjustable Air Mattresses for Side Sleepers
Adjustable air mattresses are typically pricey, but they allow couples to adjust each side of their bed individually.
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