Top 10 Side Bed Mattresses for 2024 Tested and Approved by Experts

Our sleep experts have been testing mattresses, bedding and sleep technology for years, devoting thousands of hours to perfecting our craft for honest and in-depth reviews of beds and sleep-related products. We tested over 300 beds from dozens of brands such as Casper, Spiral, Nectar, Purple, Lisa and many others.

Our bed testers have different body weights and types, heights, genders and sleep preferences, allowing us to provide a comprehensive assessment of each mattress from different perspectives. We pride ourselves on our mattress testing methodology, which includes analyzing features such as firmness, feel, temperature regulation, motion isolation, edge support and special features.

hardness

One of the main features we look for when choosing the best side sleeper mattresses is hardnesswhich suggests the amount of pressure relief the bed offers. During our testing process, our experts of different weights and body types take turns lying on the bed in each sleeping position to determine how well it will cover our main pressure points – mainly shoulders, hips and knees. When you lie on your side, the mattress should offer some “giveaway” around these areas. If it’s a mattress companyit can push these pressure points too far and cause soreness, pain, and even numbness.

As I mentioned, firmness is subjective and varies from person to person – the driving force behind the creation of our Mattress Smasher 9000. When the mattress is placed on the platform, we activate the device, which presses its hand in the middle of the bed. Our respective software then provides the objective hardness level on a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being the softest and 10 being the hardest.

We never recommend a mattress with a high firmness score side sleepers. The sweet spot for a side sleeper is usually medium-soft, depending on your weight, body type and personal preference.

Feel it

Mattress feel is another important element that we analyze and review. Influenced by the types of foam and coils used in its construction, the feel of the bed is exactly what it sounds like – how does it feel when you lie on it? Is it bouncy and responsive? Is it easy to change position? Or does the dense memory foam cling around your body and hold your shape for a while? Does the mattress have a soft, plush pillow feel or is it more neutral? Are the coils or zoned support noticeable? We do our best to describe exactly what it feels like to lie on each bed to help you determine if it’s right for you without having to test them yourself.

When determining the best side sleeper feel, we look for beds with a softer, plusher feel that hugs your curves and offers plenty of pressure relief for your hips and shoulders.

Read more: Why the foam in your mattress matters

Temperature regulation

Each individual’s preferences, body type, and even health conditions can affect how hot or cold the mattress is. We also found that mattress brands exaggerate the cooling capabilities of their beds. That’s why we describe how hot or cool the mattress is to sleep on during our testing process, so you have a more accurate understanding of what it feels like to lie on it. Does the mattress really feel cool to the touch and does it provide a satisfying cooling sensation for hot traverses? Or will it sleep at a more natural temperature? Do the materials retain body heat and keep you warm?

Other external factors affect the sensation of the bed temperature, such as bedroom environmentthe bedding you use and pajamas you sleep. In our mattress facility, we test beds in temperature-controlled rooms without sheets or bedding to analyze their construction and materials and explain how they affect the overall temperature of the bed.

Traffic isolation

Motion isolation is a simple term for how well a mattress dampens motion across its surface. A bed with good movement isolation is essential for light sleepers or those who share a mattress with a partner or pets. We test the bed’s motion isolation capabilities by having one expert lie on the bed while another tosses around and changes positions. Does the person lying down feel the movement through the mattress or is it subtle and less noticeable?

For the second method, we place a glass of water on its edge, rolling it up and to the side to see if the glass falls or the liquid splashes. Typically, beds with dense memory foam perform best in this category. More responsive mattresses tend to have poorer motion isolation.

Edge support

Edge support refers to the strength of the bed’s perimeter, another important factor to consider if you sleep with a partner or pets or tend to sleep on the edge. Edge support testing involves analyzing how well the mattress holds its shape and structure when we sit and lie around the perimeter. Does it flex and feel like we’re going to roll over, or is it super sturdy and supportive?

We also press the edges with our fists to observe how much it compresses under pressure. Many mattress brands add reinforcements around the edges—whether coils or firmer foam—to improve edge support. The presence of firm edge supports helps create a stable and consistent sleeping surface throughout the mattress.

Special features

Mattress brands often offer beds with special features, such as pillowcases cooling technology for hot sleepers or zoned support specifically for people with back problems such as sciatica. We always test and review these extra features to determine if they live up to the brands claims and to let you know which type of bedding would benefit you the most.

Learn more: How we test mattresses