Different sleep positions require different firmness levels as well as pressure point relief and support for the neck, shoulders, and hips.. In the USA and Canada, a vast majority of sleepers prefer sleeping on their side, and unfortunately, they may suffer from pain due to sleeping on the wrong mattress.

So what makes the best mattress for side sleepers and what will ensure a better quality of sleep?

This useful guide to mattresses for side sleepers will answer your questions and list the top 3 mattresses for side sleepers in North America.

Side sleepers must be very careful to avoid mattresses that are too firm or too soft. Too much or too little sinkage in mattresses may not alleviate the pressure points in the neck, shoulders, and hips. As such, a mattress with multiple firmness options is a great place to start. Mattress retailers who provide multiple firmness options often recommend a particular firmness based on the sleeper ’s sleep position.

Novosbed is one of the few mattress brands to offer multiple firmness options. The Novosbed contains high-density foam which has a slower response to your body weight, allowing your body to ease into the mattress and allowing the pressure on the neck, shoulders, and hips to spread out as it contours to your body. Novosbed is the only mattress to offer adjustable firmness, so even after you purchase a Novosbed, as a side sleeper, the firmness can be adjusted with the free Comfort+ layer. Of all the firmness options Novosbed offers, the soft version is most often recommended for side sleepers.

With most of the online mattresses in North America following the ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach, finding the perfect single firmness mattress can be especially challenging for side sleepers. Single firmness mattresses are designed to cater to a combination of side sleepers, back sleepers, and stomach sleepers, and the majority of these mattresses aim to hit the medium firmness sweet spot.

The Douglas mattress is a medium firmness mattress designed to hit that sweet spot for an optimal single firmness mattress. Thanks to the ecoLight™ foam comfort layer, side sleepers can take advantage of the faster responding top layer of memory foam which is specifically designed to cradle and support the body. The central transitional layer in the Douglas mattress is also great for side sleepers, as it mimics the reactive and supportive properties of natural latex. So, all in all, the Douglas offers an excellent medium ground that offers the conforming necessary for side sleeping while also offering adequate support.

Over 70% of sleepers still sleep on mattresses containing springs. Whether an innerspring mattress, hybrid mattress, or pillow-top mattress, the choice can be daunting for side sleepers who want to find a mattress that caters to their specific needs.

The Logan & Cove is the only mattress on this list to feature springs. Side sleepers who are not quite comfortable with pure foam and still want the tried and tested sturdiness of spring might consider this mattress. With its 6-layer composition, the Logan & Cove features a hybrid design characterized by its innovative zonal pocketed coils (which conforms with the sleeper’s movements) and memory foam construction. Offering the best of both worlds, the pocketed coils and plush memory foam work in harmony to comfort your main pressure points. As a side sleeper, this mattress provides the right amount of give while contouring to your unique shape and weight.  

Sleeping on your side is the most popular sleep position and some people will also suggest that it is also the best sleeping position. This is not true. Every sleeping position has its pros and cons, and, as long as the correct mattress is being slept on, side sleepers, back sleepers, and stomach sleepers will be able to get a good night’s sleep, every night. The below list of pros and cons of side sleeping are listed below:

As a side sleeper, be sure to the get the mattress that best supports your neck, spine, and hips collectively. It is also worth looking for a thicker pillow that supports your head and neck. A general rule of thumb is to have your ear, shoulder, and hip aligned with each other, as this will help maintain the natural curve of your neck.

The three mattresses above are sure to provide your body with the comfort and support it needs and, most importantly, allow you a great night’s sleep.