There’s a lot of contradictory advice online about what is the best mattress for side sleepers. You’ll find guides recommending everything from soft to firm mattresses and end up utterly confused.
After much reading, here are my conclusions.
The best mattress for side sleepers
- Regardless of whether you sleep on your back or your side, you need a mattress which suits your build and weight. Heavier people generally need firmer mattresses. Lighter people need softer mattresses to give them a nice straight spine whilst they sleep.
- However, if you sleep on your side, you are better to find one which is a little softer than you might normally choose. This is to avoid too much pressure on your hips and shoulders. So, a heavier person might choose a medium/firm mattress rather than a firm mattress, for example.
- Just to annoy you, there’s no industry standard for what ‘soft’ or ‘firm’ actually means on a mattress. Your best bet is either to try out a mattress in a shop for five minutes or try a mattress with a long home trial.
Here are 5 mattresses worth a look if you’re a side sleeper. Prices are for double mattresses and are correct at the time of typing in 2023. Review scores may have changed since we wrote this guide.
1. Rest Assured British Wool 2000 Pocket Softer Mattress – £909 – good for lighter people who sleep on their sides
If you sleep on your side and you’ve got a lighter build than average, then I would start by looking at a softer mattress like this one by Rest Assured.
This one is described as soft/medium and it’s made by a mid-priced mattress maker. The same company make Silentnight mattresses.
It’s a traditional style mattress which uses natural materials and pocket springs, which are what most of us are used to. The 2000 figure in the name refers to the number of pocket springs. That’s a very high number which will provide plenty of support.
It uses British wool alongside the springs. Wool is popular in mattresses because of its naturally breathable qualities. People also like cute pictures of sheep on the adverts.
A deep mattress for side sleepers
It’s a very substantial mattress at a whopping 37cm deep. That’s a good sign as cheap mattresses tend to be less than 20cm deep. You’ll probably find that you’ll need extra deep fitted sheets for this one. Thankfully, they’re easy to get hold of.
You can turn this mattress over. That is usually seen as a good thing for extending the life of a mattress (assuming you remember to do it).
It comes with a 5 year guarantee which is OK but not spectacular for a mattress nowadays.
Pros and cons – our summary
“The Rest Assured British Wool 2000 has a number of good points. However, it won’t be for everyone.”
“The spring count is impressive and is much higher than the more expensive Vispring Plymouth Supreme Pocket Spring Mattress. However, it doesn’t have the prestige of Vispring and spring count isn’t everything in the mattress market.”
”When we compared measurements, we found that the Rest Assured British Wool 2000 was a whopping 16cm deeper than the Vispring Plymouth Supreme Pocket Spring Mattress. You might assume that’s a plus point. However, the Vispring mattress is certainly deep enough, and you might need to invest in new fitted sheets for the Rest Assured model.
Two notable downsides with this mattress are that it doesn’t have a trial period or a long warranty. You get both of those with the Nectar Mattress.”
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2. Nectar Sleep Memory Foam Mattress – £1199 – good for side sleepers of an average or slightly above average build
Nectar Sleep reckon that a ‘medium-firm memory foam mattress can be your best bet’ if you’re a side sleeper. This is because it ‘will allow your hips and shoulders to sink into the mattress enough to keep your spine in alignment’.
My conclusion is that it’s one to consider if you are average build or slightly above average. As mentioned earlier, the idea is to get a mattress which suits your build. Lighter people need softer mattresses whilst heavier people need firmer mattresses.
There’s no industry-wide agreement on what constitutes soft, medium or firm. However, this is one of many mattresses which now give you a long trial period.
Unusually, the Nectar Sleep mattress gives you a whole year to try it out and you can return it if you decide it isn’t for you. Also, it comes with a ‘forever warranty’ which I’ve not seen offered elsewhere (apart from Dreamcloud, which is made by the same company). I’ve seen Vispring mattresses with a 30 year warranty. There are obviously terms and conditions attached to the ‘forever warranty’.
It’s one of those trendy new mattresses which arrives squashed up in a box and then expands upon arrival. That makes it a bit easier to get up the stairs. They will also take your old mattress away for a fee, whereas some of these online brands leave you to wrestle your old one into the car.
Glowing reviews – is this the best mattress for side sleepers?
Reviews of the Nectar Sleep mattress are averaging 4.2/5 on Trustpilot from more than 12,000 customers. They only make one mattress, so it’s a more useful score than some of the other brand-wide scores. It’s also won a few awards from independent experts.
It’s also worth mentioning a 2020 academic study which was led by researchers in China. It was called ‘The Influence of Mattress Material on Sleeping Comfort of Different Age’ (Hou and Zhang). It compared various age groups, mattress materials and sleeping positions.
The study found that memory foam had a ‘high evaluation’ amongst side sleepers of all age groups that were tested. The summary refers to lateral and supine sleeping positions, which mean side and back sleeping respectively.
It found that ‘The young and middle-aged subjects had high evaluation on memory foam’ in ‘supine and lateral position’. Meanwhile, ‘the young-elder subjects had higher evaluation on memory foam’ in ‘supine and lateral position’. Finally, it found that ‘elder subjects preferred…memory foam and coir mattress in lateral position’ but not whilst on their back.
Pros and cons – our summary
“There are a couple of things about this Nectar Sleep Memory Foam Mattress which are securely in the pros column. The first is the trial period which is the longest on the market at 365 nights. The Vispring Plymouth Supreme doesn’t offer a trial period at all despite being more expensive”.
“The second notable positive is the ‘forever’ warranty. Others in this guide range from 5 to 30 years.”
“The negatives with a mattress such as this are that you can’t flip it over. That is one way of helping a mattress keep its shape. It’s also a relatively new company when compared to the likes of Vispring who have been going for a century”
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3. Vispring Plymouth Supreme Pocket Spring Mattress – £1429 – good for side sleepers of an average weight/build
Next, a mention for posh mattress brand Vispring which scores 3.9/5 on Trustpilot. That’s not as high as some but I wouldn’t obsess over it too much. Vispring has won multiple awards including being named best mattress brand by Which? in 2015, 2016 and 2017.
Many years ago, Vispring invented the pocket spring mattress which became the industry standard. They also have the confidence to offer a 20-or-30-year warranty.
Useful guidance for anyone looking for the best mattress for side sleepers
Another reason I’ve included them in this guide is that they are one of the few mattress companies which offer some guidance on what firmness you should be looking for.
According to a couple of guides online, Vispring suggest that you’ll want a soft Vispring mattress if you’re less than 11 stone. Medium Vispring mattresses are for people who weigh 11-16 stone. Firm Vispring mattresses are suitable for those weighing 16-20 stone and extra firm for 20 stone or above. See our Vispring top 5 which includes a range of firmness levels.
Even so, I would recommend trying out a Vispring mattress in store if you can as they are one of the more expensive mattress brands.
If you do go for a Vispring mattress, such as this Plymouth Supreme model, you’ll get a product which is traditionally made with a tufted finish. That means it has button-like things on top rather than a completely flat top.
Multiple signs of quality
It is pocket sprung, which is certainly preferable to a cheap open coil mattress. It also uses lots of natural materials such as wool and cotton and has ‘hand side stitching’. The former is a time-consuming construction technique which stops the mattress collapsing at the sides like a custard slice when you sit on the edge.
As I said earlier, side sleepers need slightly softer mattresses than people who sleep on their back or front. A medium firmness Vispring mattress (like this one) would likely be a good choice if you’re average weight/build or perhaps slightly above average.
This one can also be turned over. That should reduce the risk of it developing sags and dips over time.
How important is the spring count on the best mattress for side sleepers?
A quick word on pocket spring counts, just in case I haven’t bored you enough.
Firstly, the number you see advertised refers to the number of springs within the king size.
Secondly, most guides I’ve read say that 1000-2000 springs is good. You only really need 2000 if you’re very heavy. This one has about 1200.
Thirdly, when you see a mattress which is 10,000 springs or some other massive number then it means there are several layers of smaller springs. It’s not possible to squeeze that many normal sized springs onto one layer. So don’t get too excited.
Pros and cons – our expert summary. Is this the best mattress for side sleepers?
“Kudos, reputation, prestige and history are words that you’ll see linked with Vispring. These things take years to build and they are all plus points in Vispring’s favour.”
“Other things in the pros column are the naturally breathable materials, the hand side stitching and the fact that it can be flipped over
“The obvious negative is the price. To be fair, this model actually costs a half or a quarter of some of their top models.”
“You get a warranty which is only bettered by the Nectar Sleep Memory Foam Mattress. However, making such a big purchase without a trial period will put a lot of people off”
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4. Studio by Silentnight (medium version) – £679 – good for side sleepers of an average or slightly above average build
I’ve included this Silentnight mattress for a few reasons.
Most experts reckon that these modern foam mattresses are good at offering a consistent level of support compared to spring mattresses. See our comparison of foam v springs for the full story. I’ve read several guides recommending foam mattresses for side sleepers, and not just those trying to sell you their mattress…
This one uses some memory foam, but it isn’t the top layer. As a result, it doesn’t have that sinking feeling you get with a Tempur mattress.
It’s also worth considering because you can try it out for 60 days. You can swap it for another Silentnight mattress if it doesn’t feel right.
My advice would be to consider the Silentnight Studio mattress if you are average weight or slightly heavier than average. As mentioned earlier, there isn’t an industry-wide rule for what constitutes ‘medium’ firmness. However, the 60 day swap option is a good backup.
Regarding reviews and value for money, this one scores 8.5/10 on Silentnight’s own website and 9/10 on Mattress Online. As an overall brand, Silentnight scores 4.1/5 on TrustPilot. However, they are a big company with a big range and that score is for everything they sell. The medium version won a Best Buy award from expert testers.
It should be acknowledged that there are environmental issues raised by academics who have looked at what happens when we’ve finished with a memory foam mattress. In one study, Garrido, Font and Conesa (2017) found ‘relatively high emissions’ of Ammonia, Nitric Oxide and Hydrogen Cyanide during incineration of memory foam mattresses. Their study concluded that emission reduction ‘must be considered’.
Pros and cons – our summary. Is this the best mattress for side sleepers?
“Let’s start with the negatives for this mattress. It shares a lot in design with the Nectar Sleep Memory Foam Mattress but doesn’t have as generous a trial period or as long a warranty”
“However, you are buying a brand name which is longer established in the UK. Nectar Sleep is relatively new.”
“You can argue that the use of foam on a mattress is a pro or a con. Some studies suggest that you get a better level of consistent support with foam. Others point out that your body temperature will be slightly higher. That’s particularly true if it’s the sort of foam which bounces back slowly. (See the 2018 study by Chiba, Yabi et al).”
“Depth is quite important on a mattress. This one is 26cm in total whilst the Nectar Sleep is almost identical at 25cm. However, that doesn’t tell the whole story and you should also compare the depth of the top layers. This one has a 7cm layer combining memory foam and Geltex”
“The lack of a super king size option will be a deal breaker for some people.”
Silentnight is the UK’s biggest mattress maker and this model gets good reviews
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5. Brook + Wilde Sleep Lux Mattress – £899 – good for side sleepers of an average or slightly above average build
If you’re a side sleeper who is average weight/build or slightly above average weight/build, then I would consider one of the award-winning medium or medium/firm mattresses on the market. The Brook + Wilde Sleep Lux Mattress is a good option as it is considered medium firmness.
The general consensus is that you don’t want a very firm mattress if you’re a side sleeper. You’ll end up with a lot of pressure on your hips and shoulder. Equally, you want a straight spine which you won’t get if you’re a seven-foot rugby player sleeping on a cloud-like mattress.
As mentioned earlier though, it’s difficult to offer very precise guidance. Every manufacturer has their own idea of what a ‘soft’, ‘medium’ or ‘firm’ mattress feels like.
The Brook + Wilde Sleep Lux Mattress offers a 200-night home trial, which is one way around this issue. The trial allows you to swap your mattress for a different firmness or ask for a refund. Check the small print of course.
It uses springs and foam together which aims to give a consistent level of support. The top layer is ‘cooling memory foam’. The theory is that you get the support of memory foam without feeling too hot.
Awards and an important update
Brook + Wilde Sleep is another of the ‘bed in a box’ mattresses which have appeared in recent years. The company has won praise from expert testers.
However, customers give the brand a score of 3.2/5 on TrustPilot, which is lower than many rival.
This is a little complicated, so please stop slouching and pay attention.
In 2023, a company called Brook + Wilde went into liquidation. Warranties for mattresses bought from that company are no longer valid, which is bad news. Shortly after, a company called Brook + Wilde Sleep started, offering the same range of mattresses. A lot of negative reviews mention this, which explains why the score has dropped. I thought this was an important update to include.
Pros and cons – our summary
“Strong customer review scores and some key awards are definitely positives. We can put both of those in the pros column for The Brook + Wilde Sleep Lux Mattress.”
“Other important plus points are the trial period and the long warranty. It’s not quite as good in this regard as the Nectar Sleep Memory Foam Mattress. However, it is better than the Studio by Silentnight which has a shorter warranty and less generous trial period.”
“The negatives with this mattress are that you can’t try it out in a shop. The brand also isn’t as long established as big names such as Vispring or Rest Assured. At one stage, the Lux came in several different firmness levels, but it now just comes as a medium mattress”
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Which is right for you? Our head to head comparison of mattresses for side sleepers
| What’s it called? | How much is it? | Warranty and trial | How firm is it? | Type of mattress | Sizes |
| Rest Assured British Wool 2000 | £909 | 5 years, no trial period | Soft/medium | Pocket sprung | Single, Double, King, Super King |
| Nectar Sleep Memory Foam Mattress | £1199 | ‘Forever’, 365 night trial | Medium/firm | Memory foam | Single, Small Double, Double, King, Super King |
| Vispring Plymouth Supreme | £1429 | 30 years, no trial period | Medium | Pocket sprung | Single, Small Double, Double, King, Super King |
| Studio by Silentnight | £679 | 5 years, 60 night comfort trial | Medium | Memory foam | Single, Double, King |
| Brook + Wilde Sleep Lux | £899 | 10 years, 200 night comfort trial | Medium | Hybrid | Single, Double, King, Superking |
Further reading and research about side sleeping
What proportion of people sleep on their side?
If you’re looking for bedtime reading, some interesting academic research into sleeping positions was carried out in Denmark by Skarpsno, Mork et al in 2017. It concluded that ‘participants spent 54.1%…in the side position, 37.5%…in the back position, and 7.3%… in the front position.’
They also found that we tend to change sleeping positions a bit as we age. The study found that ‘Increasing age and BMI were associated with increased time in the side position’.
It’s also worth acknowledging that most people move about a lot during their sleep. Your best bet is to choose the position that you mostly sleep in. I appreciate this may be hard to figure out without filming yourself on a time lapse.
According to the study, ‘there were on average 1.6 position shifts per hour, meaning that people were moving about every 40 minutes’. It also concluded that you are more likely to shuffle around in bed if you are male:
‘Compared to males, females had fewer position shifts…and fewer arm, thigh, and upper-back movements’
You also move around more if you are young (‘participants aged 20–34 years had more arm, thigh, and upper-back movements compared to participants ≥35 years‘).
There are other factors too. If you’re overweight or a smoker than the study found that you move about less. The study said ‘obese participants had fewer shifts in body position but more arm, thigh, and upper-back movements compared to normal-weight participants’. Meanwhile, ‘smokers had fewer shifts in body position than nonsmokers’.
What’s the healthiest position to sleep in?
A 2019 Australian study by Cary, Briffa and McKenna tried to figure out if there is ‘a relationship between sleep posture and spinal symptoms’. To put it another way, they were attempting to determine whether sleeping on your front, back or side is the best way to look after your back.
They looked at four existing studies including two from Australia, one from Portugal and one from Nigeria. A key summary is that ‘side lying was reported as protective of spinal symptoms and participants that slept in supported side lying were found to have less symptoms than those sleeping in ¾ side lying or prone’. However, it also concluded that ‘there were not enough high-quality studies to adequately answer our research question’.
Meanwhile, a study by Defloor in 2000 called ‘The effect of position and mattress on interface pressure‘ reached a different conclusion. The study appeared in a journal called Applied Nursing Research and so has something of a medical angle, but still has some useful principles.
Defloor aimed to find out ‘which positions resulted in the lowest pressures to the skin of persons lying in bed’. More than 60 participants were asked to lie in 10 different positions on two different mattresses.
It concluded that the ’90° side lying position gives the highest pressure readings and thus should be avoided’. Instead, the research advised that ‘the 30° semi-Fowler position and the prone position resulted in the lowest interface pressures’. ‘Prone’ means that you are sleeping on your front whilst the ‘semi-Fowler’ is ‘a position in which a patient, typically in a hospital or nursing home is positioned on their back with the head and trunk raised’ (Wikipedia).