Most adults sleep on their sides at least some of the time, and there's no shortage of mattresses that manufacturers claim are designed for this purpose. The best mattresses for side sleeping offer strong pressure relief, since more weight is concentrated on smaller areas of your arm and shoulder when you sleep on your side. That means you'll want a mattress with good body conformity, so you can sink in sufficiently and avoid uncomfortable pressure points. Solid support is also important, so your hips don't sink in overly far and your spine stays aligned. Medium and Medium-Plush mattresses are often best suited for side sleeping, with firmer models often performing better for heavier individuals. If you're interested in how we assess mattress firmness and how it affects mattress performance, check our firmness guide.

We've tested over 60 mattresses, and below are our recommendations for the best mattresses for side sleepers. Our picks include options for people in a range of weight categories, and we've also considered other important aspects like cooling to help you sleep comfortably, motion dissipation so you can sleep peacefully with a partner, and longevity so your mattress maintains its performance for as long as possible.

For a wider view of the mattress market, see our recommendations for the best mattresses or best king-size mattresses. If you sleep hot, you may want to consider one of the best cooling mattresses.