“For side sleepers, pressure relief and alignment are everything,” says spinal and orthopedic surgeon Dr. Gbolahan Okubadejo. “The Helix Midnight has the right balance of contour and support. Its foam layers cushion the shoulders and hips so they don’t take the brunt of your body weight, while the coil base keeps your spine from bending out of line. I recommend it because it reduces the strain I often see in the lower back and neck from too-soft or uneven surfaces. It’s one of the few mattresses that feels comfortable immediately but still holds up over time.” 

This is “a medium-firmness memory foam option that cushions hips and shoulders and is ideal for preventing the aches side sleepers often get from overly firm beds,” says Dr. Allie Buttarazzi, a Maine-based lifestyle medicine and primary care physician who helps women improve sleep and build sustainable health habits.

“Side sleepers typically need a medium to medium-firm feel and moderate to deep sinkage,” says Derek Hales, professional mattress tester and founder of top mattress-review site NapLab. 

His top pick is this perennial expert favorite from Saatva. “This is a luxury, coil-on-coil mattress, with a medium-firm feel, deep sinkage, and incredible overall performance,” he says.   

Trial period: 365 nights

“For side sleepers, plush mattresses are typically going to be the comfiest and best option due to the amount of cushion they provide,” says Tanneberg, who heartily recommends the Nectar Premier Memory foam mattress for side sleepers. 

“People who sleep on their sides typically do best with plush mattresses as the extra cushion takes pressure off of the major contact points of side sleeping: your hip and your shoulder,” he says. 

Nectar’s model also “contours at the hips and shoulders while maintaining spinal neutrality, ideal for reducing pressure pain,” says Dr. Barbara Sparacino, a triple board-certified physician in adult and geriatric psychiatry who often addresses sleep challenges in work. 

Plus, with Nectar you get to test the mattress at home for 365 nights, and it comes with a Forever Warranty so you can sleep soundly. 

Trial period: 365 nights

“This is actually the mattress that my partner and I sleep on at night,” says Marten Carlson, a certified sleep coach and professional mattress tester. “We are both side sleepers, and the thick memory foam on top relieves pressure on our shoulders and hips. I’m also a bigger person, while she is on the smaller side. We both feel comfy on the Nectar Premier Hybrid even though we have different body types.” 

Trial period: 365 nights