Around 50% of people in the UK class themselves as side sleepers (or so a YouGov study says), easily making it the most popular sleeping position around. Throw in another 32% of people who say they vary their position (and therefore occasionally frequent a side sleeping pose), and we'd say there's high demand out there for the best mattresses for side sleepers.
As we so often do here at House & Garden, we took this information as a sign that we had a mission on our hands. A quest, so to speak, to find the best mattress for side sleepers. And ever since the study first landed back in 2022, that's what we've been doing. Testing, reviewing, rating and critiquing as many mattresses on the market as we could with the most brutally honest side sleepers we know. Our conclusion? Simba's Hybrid Pro is the best mattress for side sleepers on the market overall, but we also loved all seven of the mattresses we recommend below.
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Sleeping on your side leaves you open to putting undue pressure on your hips, shoulders, legs, thighs, elbows and even your heels. With so many sensitive joints and limbs to cradle, you need just the right mattress (and pillow) to maintain alignment, otherwise you could miss out on all the health and wellbeing goodness experts suggest come with better sleep.
That leads us here, to our labour of love, the most detailed guide on the market to the best mattresses for side sleepers. Sleep in another position? We've got you covered also, but for the majority of people, the bog-standard side-lovers, this is all of the information you need to find your mattress of dreams.
- Best mattress for side sleepers
- What type of mattress is best for a side sleeper?
- Best mattresses for side sleepers at a glance:
- How we test mattresses for side sleepers? Our methodology
- Our team, who we are and why we're experts:
- Our criteria: Everything we're looking for in a good side sleeper mattress
How we test mattresses for side sleepers? Our methodology
Your mattress makes a huge impact on your daily life, playing a huge role in determining how well you sleep each night, as well as in whether or not you go about your day energised and refreshed, or stuck with aches and pains and what feels like a hangover even though you went to bed at 10 PM. Here at House & Garden, we're therefore very passionate about making sure you get the right mattress to suit your needs. Every mattress in this guide has been personally tried and tested by an editor, writer or contributing expert, specifically side sleepers in the case of this piece. We've slept on them for a substantial period of time (at least 30 days) and then given detailed feedback on all of our key criteria (as listed below) to make sure we're only recommending you the very best mattresses.
Meet our team of expert testers:
Our mattress guides here at House & Garden are edited and overseen by Daphne Bugler, a Senior Commerce Writer who's been writing about mattresses for the past five years. She's reviewed and tested countless mattresses, from traditional pocket springs to the best bed in a box mattresses, and is an expert on how to find the best mattress for you. Daphne works alongside Arabella Bowes, Commerce Editor at House & Garden, who's also been writing and reviewing mattresses since 2020. They've both spend countless hours speaking to experts and medical professionals, visiting warehouses and learning about the production processes involved in different mattresses, and personally testing mattresses against our detailed range of criteria. If you ever have a question about a mattress, they'll have the answer.
When we're testing mattresses, we ask our reviewers to give us detailed feedback on everything from how the mattress felt, to firmness, comfort, pressure relief, aches and pains, back pain relief, contouring, temperature regulation and how seamless and easy the delivery process was. We also ask them to verify that everything the brands are claiming is actually true, and to compare their sleep before and after using the mattresses. Each mattress in this guide has been tested and held to these standards, and we always note down any cons or downsides when we review.
MAY WE SUGGEST: The best pillows for side sleepers to buy now and the UK's best mattress in 2025, tried and tested
What are the best mattress for side sleeper deals?
It might still be mid-December but the Boxing Day and January mattress sales are somehow already in full swing. If you're interested in shopping, we've quickly rounded up the best ones to buy below.
What are the best mattresses for side sleepers?
Best mattress for side sleepers: Simba Hybrid Pro from £799
- Simba offers a Hybrid Firm Pillow that works alongside this mattress to keep your neck aligned.
- Having a generous 200 nights to trial this premium mattress at home makes the investment in your back health virtually risk-free.
- Weight plays a major role in determining whether a mattress is right for a side sleeper, and this mattress may be too firm for lighter people. However, Simba does offer a Hybrid Mattress Topper if you find this mattress to be too firm.
- At over £1,000 for a double when not on offer, this is an expensive luxury mattress.
| Reviewed by: | Arabella Bowes, Commerce Editor |
|---|---|
| Care: | For the first three months, turn it 180 degrees once a month. Then every three to six months after that |
| Mattress depth: | 28cm |
| Trial period: | 200 nights |
| Guarantee: | 10 years |
| Sizes available: | Single, small double, double, EU double, EU queen, king and super king size |
| Type of mattress: | Hybrid |
| Firmness: | Medium firm |
| Delivery: | Free |
When it comes to responsiveness (a critical factor for a side sleeper), any Simba mattress will take a top prize. The Pro sits in the middle of Simba’s price structure, so you’ll get a very impressive 4,800 springs including a double stack of custom ‘Aerocoil’ ones that act specifically to bend and flex with your body’s every movement, all without the price tag of the brand’s more premium models. Our House & Garden tester Arabella had only good things to say about the breathable, body contouring foam surface as well as “the thick layer of wool that makes this medium tension mattress a pleasure to sink into.”
‘Simba offers a range of four hybrid mattresses: Simba Essential, Simba Hybrid, Simba Hybrid Pro and the Simba Hybrid Luxe. As you go up the scale, you get more springs and more comfort layers. Whilst I haven't tried the Luxe, the Pro feels like it's the very best mattress possible. It's incredibly comfortable, providing even support throughout the mattress. I no longer feel my partner toss and turn: he even told me he got up in the night for a glass of water, which I had not felt at all. Temperature wise I didn't overheat - nor was I cold - and I tend to be a very hot sleeper. Ultimately, the Simba Hybrid Pro is great mattress, and well worth its price tag. I'd recommend this mattress over and over again.’
Best value mattress for side sleepers: Origin Hybrid Pro
| Reviewed by: | Daphne Bugler, Senior Commerce Writer |
| Firmness: | Medium firm |
| Type of mattress: | Hybrid |
| Sizes available: | Single, Double, King, Super King |
| Guarantee: | 15 years |
| Trial period: | 200 nights |
| Mattress depth: | 31cm |
| Other features: | Old mattress disposal can be added in, current deal includes two free pillows |
| Delivery: | Free next day delivery |
Landing a few years after the big hitters in the bed in a box mattress world such as Simba and Emma, Origin has easily held the crown for best value mattress ever since it launched. It's layered, thick, very comfortable and incredibly supportive, with just the right amount of give and contouring for side sleepers to really relax into. Keep an eye out for the sales too, as you should be able to get an even bigger discount if you shop during Black Friday.
Having been in the mattress game for the past five years and written about countless hybrid mattresses, none really delivered on value for money in the way Origin's Hybrid Pro does. As a side sleeper myself, this was contouring and incredibly comfortable, with the right balance of support and pressure relief that really helped me sleep through the night. I also got a colleague of mine's older parent to test this out, and she found it helped eliminate aches and pains beautifully, which is definitely a testament to its design and quality.
Best mattress for hot side sleepers: Emma Hybrid Thermosync Mattress, from £519
- This highly awarded mattress strikes a fine balance between comfort and support at an affordable price point.
- Based on the findings of our tester and customer feedback, lighter weight side sleepers may find this medium mattress to be too firm. Emma sends out additional layers to allow you to make this mattress softer or firmer.
| Reviewed by: | Evie Delaney, former Digital Associate |
|---|---|
| Care: | No need to flip |
| Mattress depth: | 27cm |
| Trial period: | All Emma mattresses come with a 200 night sleep trial, to ensure your mattress is right |
| Guarantee: | 10 years |
| Sizes available: | UK single, small double, double, king and super king, EU single, double, queen |
| Type of mattress: | Hybrid |
| Delivery: | Free (you can also spread the cost of your purchase in 3 to 12 months) |
| Firmness: | Medium |
Our House & Garden tester Evie describes this mattress as the “perfect balance of very soft and very firm”–the ideal tension proposition for a side sleeper. Emma's Hybrid Thermosync Mattress is constructed with seven different pocket spring zones, designed to be responsive to the pressure points that tend to ache side sleeper, including shoulders, hips and thighs. Clever temperature regulating technology helps you to maintain your ideal body temperature on the warmest of nights, leading to less tossing and turning and more time spent enjoying the health benefits of staying put on your side.
‘Half a year on and I'm still leaping into bed with delight. Flipping isn't necessary with Emma mattresses, but I have rotated it head-to-toe just to prevent uneven dipping. I was worried that the marshmallow effect of the memory foam might wear off, but it hasn't at all. It's still spongy, with enough resistance from the pocket springs to make me feel supported, and its breathable qualities mean that I avoid overheating, particularly on warmer nights. I upgraded my pillows at the same time and the overall effect has helped my neck pain, which I think came from a super-hard mattress and floppy pillows. My one gripe is that the depth - which offers me so much lovely height and substance - also means my fitted sheets are just a little too short. I would recommend getting slightly deeper fitted sheets if you opt for this mattress, or just go for a large flat sheet.’
Best mattress for side sleepers with back pain: REM-FIT 400 Hybrid Mattress, from £599
| Reviewed by: | Rémy Mishon, Decoration Editor |
| Mattress depth: | 22cm |
| Trial period: | 200 nights |
| Guarantee: | 15 years |
| Sizes available: | UK small single, single, small double, double, king and super king. EU single, double, king. Long small single. |
| Type of mattress: | Hybrid |
| Firmness: | Medium |
| Country of manufacture: | UK |
| Care: | Rotate regularly |
| Delivery: | Free in 1-3 days |
Relieving back pain when you are a side sleeper may be tricky and REM-FIT's 400 Hybrid Mattress is well regarded as a mattress that customers rely on to get this balance right. Made with an emphasis on supporting spine alignment, this mattress features five layers including 2,000 pocket springs and a base of dense foam. Edge to edge support also makes it a great pick for side sleepers.
One of the best parts of Rem-Fit's mattress designs are how well-suited they are to anyone who needs a bit of extra support, or a it of extra help recovering. I particularly liked the zoned support, working to adapt to my own weight and to relieve pressure points throughout the night, while it genuinely struck the balance between being supportive and comfortable really well. It doesn't have a marshmallow feel to it, but I honestly think that extra bit of firmness is for the best, and you really wake up feeling refreshed in the morning. For any side sleepers who carry extra aches and pains, I'd definitely recommend this one.
Best cloud-like mattress for side sleepers: Panda Hybrid Pro mattress
| Reviewed by: | Daphne Bugler, Senior Commerce Writer |
| Mattress depth: | 27cm |
| Trial period: | 100 nights |
| Guarantee: | 10 years |
| Sizes available: | UK small single, single, small double, double, king and super king. EU single, double, king. Long small single. |
| Type of mattress: | Hybrid |
| Firmness: | Medium firm |
| Country of manufacture: | UK |
| Care: | Mattress can be wiped clean, cover can be removed and washed in a machine at 30 degree. |
| Delivery: | To a room of your choice |
In a world where many, many, bed-in-the-box mattresses, it's rare that we actually find a mattress that's offering something a bit different. Panda's entire USP is about how it uses bamboo in its design, capitalising on its sustainability, as well as how naturally antibacterial and odour-resistant it is as a material, while also being kind to your skin, soft and hypoallergenic. We could go on for hours about how much we love the material choices here, but we're also just big fans of how its been incorporated into a six-layer design for an incredibly comfortable mattress. Side sleepers, you're gonna love this one.
I've tested a lot of mattresses in my time, but none have ever created more hype among my friends and family as Panda's Hybrid Pro. So comfortable it was that I had convinced all of my friends to lie down on it when they visited, and it was so consistently met with amazement that a fair few of them have since invested in the Hybrid Pro and sleep on it every single night. It's soft and comfortable on the surface, but firmer and more supportive underneath, helping you still get a semblance of that cloud-like sleep, but without the aches and pains that can often come with these softer mattresses.
Best mattress for side sleepers with shoulder and hip pain: Nectar Premier Hybrid Mattress, from £599
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- Our tester found this mattress to offer outstanding motion isolation and described it as ‘ideal’ for co-sleepers.
- It really doesn’t get much better than a 365 night mattress trial period.
- If you’re a side sleeper who prefers ‘pillow-like softness’ this one isn't for you as our tester found it to be precisely medium firm - not too hard; not too soft.
- Fairly expensive.
| Reviewed by: | Christabel Chubb, Acting Deputy Digital Editor |
|---|---|
| Care: | No need to flip |
| Mattress depth: | 28cm |
| Trial period: | 1 year |
| Guarantee: | Forever |
| Sizes available: | Single, double, king and super king |
| Type of mattress: | Foam hybrid |
| Firmness: | Medium |
Memory foam is considered to be the gold standard for side sleepers given its ability to contour beautifully and Nectar’s Premier Hybrid Mattress earns high praise for its adaptive foam’s ability to relieve common achey areas like shoulders, legs and hips. Constructed with eight layers, our tester praised the ultra-soft top layer that proved to be extra supportive for weary backs.
‘The eight (yes, eight!) layers of breathable foam, micro-springs, memory foam and firm support base have proven themselves to be the magical combination. Don't be deceived by the cloud-like top layer, this is a mattress that offers ample support for me and my weary back. For those who favour an ultra-firm mattress this may not be for you, likewise if you prefer a pillow-like softness. This falls somewhere in the middle: it's comfortable, that's for sure, and certainly soft, but with enough memory foam to ensure that your spine is aligned throughout the night, whether you sleep on your side or back.’
Best organic mattress for side sleepers: Naturalmat The Superb Mattress, from £1,360
- Naturalmat's most popular mattress.
- Handmade in Devon with natural materials.
- Lighter side sleepers who find the medium mattresses too firm have a soft choice option, which is rare amongst Naturalmat’s premium competitors.
- When this mattress arrives it may smell of wool but it soon subsides. Some customers love the smell; others are happy when it goes.
- 45 day sleep trial is not as long as some other brands.
- At nearly £2,000 for a double, this is premium quality at a premium price.
| Reviewed by: | Arabella Bowes, commerce editor |
|---|---|
| Care: | No need to flip |
| Mattress depth: | 25cm |
| Trial period: | All Naturalmat mattresses comes with a 45 day trial period, whereby you can exchange the mattress for a different product |
| Guarantee: | 10 years |
| Sizes available: | Single, double, queen, king, super king and emperor |
| Type of mattress: | Hybrid (Natural latex with pocket springs and organic wool) |
| Firmness: | It comes in three different firmness levels; we tested medium |
With its full lifecycle sustainability ethos, Naturalmat's The Superb Mattress is at home in some of the finest hotels in the world. Offering both medium and harder to find soft tension mattresses, there’s a good chance side sleepers can invest in an option giving a harmonious balance of comfort and support. With a strict ‘no chemical’ approach to crafting their mattresses, Naturalmat treats their cotton and wool covers with natural extracts that are guaranteed to repel dust mites and bed bugs making this mattress a perfect choice for anyone with sensitive skin or allergies.
‘The tension in the medium that I tested overnight is perfect; there was no movement from the mattress overnight, I didn’t dip into any pockets and whatever way you turn, you feel deeply comfortable and supported. It’s so prized that some of the best hotels in the world use this model, from the One and Only resorts to The Hoxton.
I loved the excellent end-of-life policy that takes into account the amount of mattress waste we see: when you need to refresh your mattress you can either get it repaired and ‘restuffed’ or recycle it with them. An excellent initiative that will help you sleep soundly.’
What type of mattress is best for side sleepers?
In terms of mattress tension, the sweet spot for side sleepers is often something that falls in the zone of medium-firm. You need a sleep surface that yields, but not to the point of being downright marshmallowy. Too firm, though, and your mattress won’t adapt to the curvature of your spine and will end up aggravating those pressure points.
What do the medical studies say? According to a study in the Journal of Orthopaedics and Traumatology in 2021, medium-firm mattresses were generally concluded to be best overall for supporting “comfort, sleep quality and rachis alignment”. In simpler terms, this level of firmness was deemed best for ensuring that the spine's natural curves remain in place, helping to prevent any back pain problems. While there aren't any clear or conclusive studies out there specifically on the kind of mattresses that each sleeping position should necessarily be sleeping with, this information on how a mattress can prevent aches and pains does help inform us on what can be best for alignment, for which we'd always recommend listening to the advice of, whatever your sleeping position. The majority of the mattresses we recommend above, are therefore medium-firm, in line with these studies.
What did our testers find? In general, our side sleeping testers all found that medium-firm mattresses felt the best when adopting their usual position. They felt more supported, found they woke up feeling better, and ultimately found it to be more comfortable. We also received more positive reviews on mattresses that had extra temperature regulation, keeping everything from getting too hot, and for mattresses like the Panda Hybrid Pro where there was a bit of extra softness throughout the cover, with a firmer surface underneath.
