Side sleepers should look out for these three essentials when mattress shopping
Side sleeping is the most common sleep position with 60% of Americans curling up on their sides in bed, but that doesn’t mean all mattresses have the features to accommodate it. If you’re a side sleeper and in the market for a new bed, then you should always check whether a mattress can provide you with the specific comfort and support you need for this position.
So, how can you tell if you’re choosing the best mattress for your sleep style? I write about mattresses for Tom’s Guide and I’ve been rigorously researching side sleeper mattresses, as I’m a side sleeper myself. Here I’ll break down the three most important requirements for a side sleeper mattress, from the right height to the right firmness rating.
Plus, I’ll be rounding up some of the top side sleeper beds on the market. You can find a lot of great options in this month’s mattress sales so you needn’t spend a fortune for comfier sleep.
As mentioned above, 60% of Americans sleep on their side. From my work I know that the best mattresses for side sleepers are designed to provide you with sink-in soft, cushioning pressure relief to soothe your hips, shoulders, and knees, areas where pressure points are found when side sleeping. While a plush sleep surface benefits side sleepers the most, the surface needs to have some firmness to keep your body supported and spine healthily aligned.
To provide comforting but supportive pressure relief, side sleeper mattresses should have multiple comfort layers (usually made from memory foam or latex foam). Side sleepers tend to find memory foam mattresses comfortable as they’re constructed from multiple layers of comfort-boosting foam.
The best hybrid mattresses for side sleepers also contain foam layers for comfort, along with coils for support, which is why hybrid mattresses are better than innerspring mattresses for side sleeping,
Side sleepers need multiple comfort layers — and the more comfort layers, the thicker the mattress. If you’re wondering how thick a mattress should be, a general rule is that side sleepers should sleep on a mattress that 12 to 16 inches in height, which puts the mattress in the thick/deep category.
While 10 to 12 inches can suit most adults and sleep styles, a mattress 12 inches and over is most likely has multiple comfort layers to alleviate pressure from the shoulders and hips.
When deciding how firm a mattress should be, choose a mattress with a medium rating. Choose a medium rating based on your build, how much support you need, and whether you like a sink-in soft feel or not.
A medium-soft (a 4 out of 10 on the firmness scale) is perfect if you have a light body or prefer a plush feel, while a medium firm (7/10) is great for those who prefer a firmer, supportive feel. However, a lot of side sleepers will do well with a medium mattress (5-6/10), which delivers cushioning with the right level of support.
