Best mattresses for side sleepers 2023: Banish pins and needles and discomfort

Wondering whether your dream mattress is the best one for side sleepers? It goes without saying that the right mattress for you will largely depend on what position you tend to sleep in, whether it be your back, front, side or a combination of all three.

The mattress market is vast, and the amount of choice can be dizzying for anyone, but if you’re the type of person who likes to sleep on their side, then you might find it difficult to get the right level of comfort from your mattress. Too firm and you could put undue tension on your hips, arms and shoulders. Too soft and your body won’t get the support it needs, especially if you regularly sleep on your front and back too.

Side sleepers are in a particularly tricky situation here, but we’re here to help. We’ve put together this list of the best mattresses for sleeping on your side, as well as a short buyer’s guide, to help the side sleepers among you choose a mattress that is just right.

Best mattress for side sleepers: At a glance

• Best mattress for side sleepers: Brook + Wilde Elite
• Best mattress for a long trial period: Nectar Memory Foam Mattress
  
• Best for couples: Emma Original
  
• A comfortable budget choice: Silentnight Studio Eco
  

How to choose the best mattress for side sleepers

What level of firmness should I look out for?

As a general guideline, you’ll want to look for a medium or soft mattress if you regularly sleep on your side. As a side sleeper, you put more pressure on your hips and shoulders, and a mattress that’s too firm won’t be able to accommodate this, and you may even wake with pins and needles among other discomfort. On the other hand, a slightly softer mattress with more give will mould to the contours of your body, while keeping your spine aligned.

How should I take my build into account?

Naturally, the more weight applied to your mattress, the more it will sink. So, if you’re on the heavier side, you may be fine with a medium-firm – or in some cases even a firm – mattress.

What’s most important is that there are enough comfort layers for your build. If you have a small frame, you’ll definitely want to look for something with plenty of give in its top layers – look for deep soft foam layers as you find in the Nectar mattress – but if you’re of larger stature, then you may find that you can get away with thinner comfort layers, especially if the foundation isn’t excessively firm.

Is there anything else to consider?

If you get on well with your mattress apart from it being a bit too firm, mattress toppers offer an easy way of adding an extra layer of comfort without such a significant outlay as buying a new mattress. If that sounds like you, we suggest checking out our list of the best mattress toppers that you can buy.

Before we get on with our list, it’s also important to mention that since there’s no industry standard regarding just how soft a “soft” mattress is, there will be discrepancies between brands. With that in mind, it’s worth highlighting that the trial periods offered by most bed-in-a-box brands are a great way to try a mattress for yourself without any financial risk.

READ NEXT: Best memory foam, pocket sprung, hybrid and budget mattresses to buy

The best mattresses for side sleepers to buy

1. Brook + Wilde Elite: The best mattress for side sleepers

Price: From £899 (single) | Buy now from Brook + Wilde

One of our favourite things about Brook + Wilde is that customers get a choice of three ‘feel’ options when buying their mattress: soft, medium or firm. This is the case with all three of the brand’s mattresses and, somewhat surprisingly, Brook + Wilde is one of the few bed-in-a-box brands to offer this choice.

When we tested the Brook + Wilde Elite (in the ‘medium’ variant), we found it to be wonderfully supportive. The mattress contains a layer of ‘wave technology’ memory foam, which the brand claims aids spinal alignment. This, coupled with the mattress’ comfort layers, makes the Elite our very top recommendation when it comes to side sleeping.

It’s a level of comfort you pay a rather hefty price for, though, with the Elite costing no less than £900 (single). That said, Brook + Wilde offers a 100-night trial period, while also running regular discounts on its site.

Read our full Brook + Wilde Elite review for more details

2. Nectar Memory Foam Mattress: The best mattress for a long trial period

Price: From £469 (single) | Buy now from Nectar

Built from three layers of foam, it’s the Nectar’s top visco memory foam layer that makes it noticeably softer than rivals the Otty Hybrid and Eve Original, and therefore better for side sleeping. It’s still got a very supportive base layer, but its top is soft enough to sink into.

Indeed, Nectar’s soft foam layer is 90mm deep, so it allows your body to sink a substantial amount before coming up against much resistance. What’s more, we found that this layer softened further as the bed warmed up, making it comfortable and cosy for sleeping on your side.

The really standout benefit of Nectar, however, is its 365-night trial. In other words, you get a full year of sleeping on it before you need to decide if it’s the right mattress for you. If you’re not happy with it for whatever reason, Nectar will take it back and give you a full refund. It's a great perk, though it's worth mentioning that Nectar is no longer alone in offering it. Bed-in-a-box rival Eve also offers customers a year-long trial period with its mattresses.

Read our full Nectar review for more details

3. Emma Original: The best for couples

Price: From £449 (single) | Buy now from Emma

The Original was Emma’s first 100% memory foam mattress. Much like the Nectar, it is made from three layers of foam and we found it notably softer than hybrids from Otty and Eve.

Emma claims that it’s “perfect for all types of sleepers”, and indeed we found it notably versatile, offering comfort and support regardless of how you sleep. For this reason, the Original is a great mattress for couples who are struggling to compromise on firmness. At 200 nights, Emma’s trial isn’t quite as long as Nectar’s, but it’s still plenty long enough to make a decision as to whether it’s the right bed for both you and your partner.

Read our full Emma Original review for more details

4. Silentnight Studio Eco mattress: A comfortable budget choice

Price: From £389 (single) | Buy now from Silentnight

Silentnight only gives you a 60-day comfort guarantee with its mattress, which is strikingly shorter than the other options on our list - and, it’s worth mentioning, that this is only valid when you order directly from Silentnight. That said, you’re not making such an investment, with the Studio Eco starting at just £279 for a single mattress.

The mattress - while not as plush as some - is a good option if you’re on a tight budget. Indeed, side sleepers will be pleased to hear that, although it contains no foam, its “eco comfort” top layer offers decent levels of comfort.

Read our full Studio Eco review for more details

Buy now from Silentnight