November 7, 2025
Best Mattresses for Side Sleepers: Pressure Relief & Support in 2025
Side sleepers need targeted cushioning and support. Discover the best Amazon mattresses that prevent shoulder and hip pain.
Why side sleepers need special consideration
Side sleeping creates concentrated pressure on shoulders and hips while leaving gaps under your waist and neck. The wrong mattress causes numbness, pain, and spine misalignment that leads to morning stiffness and long-term issues.
You need a mattress that cushions shoulders and hips deeply enough to keep your spine straight from head to tailbone. At the same time, the waist needs support to prevent sagging into a C-curve that strains your lower back.
Ideal firmness for side sleepers
Most side sleepers thrive on medium to medium-soft mattresses rated 4-6 out of 10 on the firmness scale. This range allows adequate sinkage at shoulders and hips while maintaining enough support to keep your spine neutral.
Lighter sleepers (under 150 lbs) often prefer the softer end around 4-5, while heavier side sleepers (over 200 lbs) need closer to 6-6.5 to prevent bottoming out. Your body weight compresses foam more, so you need a firmer base to start.
| Body Weight | Ideal Firmness | Mattress Type |
|---|---|---|
| Under 130 lbs | Soft to medium (4-5/10) | Memory foam, soft hybrid |
| 130-230 lbs | Medium (5-6/10) | Hybrid, balanced foam |
| Over 230 lbs | Medium-firm (6-6.5/10) | Firm hybrid, high-density foam |
Best mattress types for side sleeping
Memory foam excels at conforming to side sleepers' curves and relieving pressure points. Look for models with at least 3 inches of memory foam in the comfort layer and high-density support foam underneath to prevent excessive sinkage.
Hybrid mattresses with plush tops offer the best combination of pressure relief and support. The coils prevent the trapped feeling some side sleepers dislike about all-foam beds while the comfort layers cushion your shoulders and hips.
- Memory foam: Best pressure relief, great motion isolation.
- Hybrid with pillow top: Combines support with targeted cushioning.
- Latex: Natural bounce with pressure relief, cooler sleep.
- Avoid: Firm innerspring mattresses that don't contour.
Critical features for side sleepers
Zoned support systems place softer materials under shoulders and firmer support under hips and lower back. This targeted approach maintains spinal alignment better than uniform surfaces that either crush shoulders or let hips sag.
Look for thick comfort layers (3-5 inches) that allow enough sinkage without bottoming out on the base layer. Edge support matters if you sleep near the side of the bed, as weak edges can cause your body to roll toward the center.
Preventing common side sleeper problems
Shoulder pain from side sleeping usually indicates your mattress is too firm or lacks sufficient cushioning in the top layers. Numbness or tingling in arms means you're compressing nerves due to inadequate pressure relief.
Hip pain suggests either too much sinkage (mattress too soft) or not enough cushioning (too firm). Lower back pain often results from poor lumbar support when your waist isn't properly filled by the mattress.
- Test: Lie on your side for 15+ minutes in the store or during trial.
- Use a pillow between your knees to maintain hip alignment.
- Choose pillows that fill the gap between shoulder and head.
- Rotate your mattress every 2-3 months to prevent uneven wear.
Pairing with the right accessories
Side sleepers need thicker, loftier pillows (4-6 inches) to fill the space between shoulder and head. Too flat and your neck bends downward; too high and it angles upward, both causing strain over time.
A thin pillow between your knees keeps hips stacked and reduces lower back stress. For more guidance on testing and adjusting your setup, check our Mattress Firmness Guide and Cooling Innovations articles to optimize comfort.