Best Mattress for Side Sleepers UK – 10 Best Picks for 2023
Our list of the best mattresses for side sleepers
Before we go into more detail about what makes a mattress great for side sleepers, let's go through some of our favourites!
Each one is the best in its respective field, so, we're sure at least one is going to catch your eye. Without further ado, here's our list of the top 10 mattresses for side sleepers in the UK.
Mattresses
1
Best Overall
Mattresses
2
Best Value
Mattresses
3
Best for Heavier Sleepers
Mattresses
4
Best for Hip Pain
Mattresses
5
Best Budget
Mattresses
6
Best Cooling
Mattresses
7
Best pressure Relief
Mattresses
8
Best for Back Pain
Mattresses
9
Best Hypoallergenic
Mattresses
10
Best for Couples
Best Overall: Simba Hybrid Luxe
While it's not a very cheap mattress, we think the Simba Hybrid Luxe has the best performance overall when it comes to good mattress picks for side sleepers. And here's why!
Best Overall
The Simba Hybrid Luxe is a premium mattress that's comprised of 11 different layers! And you'll quickly see that the way these layers have been structured makes this the perfect mattress for most side sleepers.
For one, the top two layers are very soft, utilising wool and Simba's famous Simbatex foam. This allows your shoulder and hip to sink into the mattress when you sleep on your side, providing proper spinal alignment.
However, underneath these two layers, you get 3 separate spring layers that provide some much needed support! Not to mention that it also allows the mattress to have great edge support.
Lastly, with so many springs, a wool layer, and specially-treated Simbatex foam, this mattress has superb temperature regulation. So, if you tend to overheat at night, this is a great pick!
Don't forget to see our full review of the Simba Hybrid Luxe mattress to learn more.
KEY FEATURES:
- Type: Hybrid
- Depth: 31cm
- Firmness: 7/10
- Size: Single, Double, King, Super King
Advantages
Amazing for side sleepers
The two soft top layers allow for proper spinal alignment.
Excellent overall durability
This mattress is going to stick around for a while.
Temperature regulation
This mattress can keep you at an optimal temperature year-round.
Disadvantages
Expensive
May be more expensive than some other products in this category
Best Value: Emma NextGen Premium Mattress
If the previous mattress was a bit too expensive for your taste but you still want a premium mattress that can support your side-sleeping ways, this is the mattress for you!
Best Value
The Emma NextGen Premium Mattress is relatively new to the bedding game but it has quickly become one of our favourites. And that's because it expertly walks the line between soft comfort and firm support.
In fact, it suits just about every sleeping position! But side sleepers will likely get the most benefit out of this mattress.
Just like in the previous example, the top layer is as soft as can be, contouring to your body and keeping your spine healthy. And underneath, you get premium-grade springs that can support you all night long!
Plus, the cover is very nice to the touch and cooling. Which only makes sense since the rest of the mattress focuses on temperature regulation quite a bit as well.
Make sure to read our full review of the Emma NextGen Premium Mattress and see why it dominates when it comes to value!
KEY FEATURES:
- Type: Hybrid
- Depth: 25 cm
- Firmness: 5/10
- Size: Single, Small Double, Double, King, Super King, EU Double, EU Queen
Advantages
Good breathability
Highly breathable sleep surface.
Removable cover
This makes cleaning the mattress a lot easier.
Great value
Considering that this is still a luxury mattress, the price is more than fair.
Disadvantages
Slight motion transfer
While it's nothing extreme, it's still worth mentioning.
Best for Heavier Sleepers: Silentnight Geltex Ultra 3000
As we'll discuss later on, not all side sleepers need a soft mattress! In fact, if you're on the heavier side, a firm mattress is a must-have.
Best for Heavier Sleepers
While having a soft mattress might seem ideal for all side sleepers, if you're of a larger build, the Silentnight Geltex Ultra 3000 is a much better choice.
This is because it will prevent your hip and shoulder from completely sinking into the mattress and curving your spine!
Plus, just because this mattress is firm doesn't mean that it's not also comfortable.
As you can tell by the name, this mattress comes with 3000 individually nested pocket springs – 2000 full-sized springs and 1000 mini springs. So, you can expect excellent support all-around.
And it also has a 11cm comfort filling that adds some breathability to the mattress and helps you get comfortable at night.
KEY FEATURES:
- Type: Pocket sprung
- Depth: 38 cm
- Firmness: 7.5/10
- Size: Single, Double, King, Super King.
Advantages
Great for back pain
Good pressure and pain-relieving properties.
Hypoallergenic cover
Anti-dust mite & anti-allergens knitted Purotex cover.
High quality materials
The mattress utilises high-quality materials.
Disadvantages
Slight overheating
Hot sleepers might find it a bit warm.
Best for Hip Pain: Happy Beds Clifton Royale 1000
The best mattress for side sleepers has to take care of your hips and shoulders, as they're the ones taking on most of your weight. And as far as hip pain is concerned, this is the ultimate mattress for side sleepers!
Best for Hip Pain
Hip pain can significantly interfere with our functioning in everyday life. The causes can be different, but a poor quality mattress is the first thing we need to address in order to solve hip pain and achieve a great night's sleep.
An orthopaedic mattress will help you to both provide pressure relief for your hips and to properly align your spine. And with that being the case, sleeping on your side no longer comes with a “hip pain in the morning” guarantee!
The Clifton Royale 1000 Pocket Sprung Orthopedic Mattress is a medium firmness mattress which means that it is suitable for side sleepers, and it is designed to provide orthopaedic assistance.
On top of that, air vents provide breathability and a top layer made of cotton is there for comfort.
Don't forget to check out our Happy Beds Clifton Royale review.
KEY FEATURES:
- Type: Pocket sprung
- Depth: 25cm
- Firmness: 6/10
- Size: Small Single, Single, Small Double, Double, King, Super King
Advantages
Will suit most people
It's a medium firm mattress, which will suit most.
Great for hip and back pain
This is a supportive, orthopaedic mattress.
Decent breathability
While not fully cooling, the mattress is very breathable.
Disadvantages
Not the highest quality materials
There are mattresses with better quality materials.
Best Budget: OYT Memory Foam
If you want a good mattress for side sleepers but don't want to pay out the nose for it, this budget-friendly mattress should be ideal for you!
Best Budget
The OYT mattress may not be as deep as others but that is not to say it isn't supportive enough. It consists of only two layers – a gel memory foam layer and a dense base foam.
The memory foam contours to your hip and shoulder, providing pressure relief and comfort while the denser foam at the bottom gives the mattress stability and support.
Plus, the mattress is topper with a super soft knitted cover, that further boosts breathability and is pretty nice to the touch.
Pain relief and contouring are obviously the strongest points of this mattress, and if you're a side sleeper, this is excellent news!
Plus, if you really want to keep the price down, this is likely one of the best mattresses for side sleepers you'll find.
KEY FEATURES:
- Type: Memory foam
- Depth: 20cm
- Firmness: 6.5/10
- Size: Single, Small Double, Double, King.
Advantages
Hypoallergenic
No need to worry about allergies.
Affordable
This is one of the cheapest mattresses you can get for a side sleeper.
High-quality memory foam
You get 4cm of memory foam, which is a lot more than even some mid-range mattresses.
Disadvantages
Too soft for some
May be too soft for some sleepers.
Best Cooling: OTTY Pure+ Hybrid Bamboo & Charcoal
If you're a side sleeper, the last thing you'd want is to wake up every morning with half of your body drenched in sweat. Luckily, you will no longer feel like Harvey Dent with this cooling mattress!
Best Cooling
The Pure+ is a perfect balance of memory foam and pocket springs, supporting your joints and keeping you comfortable at the same time!
On top of that, thanks to the usage of both bamboo and charcoal, this mattress is among the most cooling mattresses on the market!
And that's not even the most impressive part if we're being honest. The top cover actually contains 2cm of memory foam. And you've probably picked up on how important this is for side sleepers.
Plus, it's designed in a way where each part of the sleeping surface can adapt to your body. So, even if you don't sleep on your side the entire night but rather toss and turn, you'll still be comfortable.
Find out more about this product from our in-depth OTTY Pure+ review.
KEY FEATURES:
- Type: Hybrid
- Depth: 28 cm
- Firmness: 7/10
- Size: Single, Double, King, Super King
Advantages
Good design
The top of the mattress is sectioned to adapt to your body shape.
Warranty
You get a 10-year warranty.
Excellent temperature regulation
Both bamboo and charcoal help with temperature regulation.
Disadvantages
No side handles
This makes turning or flipping the mattress more difficult.
Best Pressure Relief: Nectar Memory Foam
Getting the pressure off your shoulders has never been easier with this Nectar mattress!
Best pressure Relief
Nectar Sleep UK only makes one Nectar mattress, but when that mattress is award-winning – you don't really need another one.
The top of this hybrid mattress is covered with a quilted, cooling cover, and underneath it, we can find three memory foam layers – a dynamic support layer, a pressure-relieving memory foam layer, and a thick, 7-zone supportive base.
The zoned support base and the pressure-relieving memory foam layers are more than enough to make the Nectar mattress the best pressure-relieving mattress for side sleepers.
However, Nectar has another trick up their sleeve. Namely, this mattress comes with a forever warranty! And since you're unlikely to just one day suddenly stop being a side sleeper, this means you're getting comfort for life.
Feel free to check our in-depth review of Nectar Memory Foam mattress to learn more.
KEY FEATURES:
- Type: Memory foam
- Depth: 25 cm
- Firmness: 6/10
- Size: Single, Small Double, Double, King, Super King
Advantages
Good motion isolation
An ideal feature for couples that share a bed.
Good for back, hip or shoulder pain
The zoned support helps with all kinds of aches.
Forever warranty
One of the best warranties on the market!
Disadvantages
Off-gassing
Minor off-gassing early on.
Best for Back Pain: OTTY Hybrid Mattress
Absolutely the best mattress for side sleepers with back pain in the UK!
Best for Back Pain
If you want to wake up every morning without any back pain, you need a mattress that can keep your spine properly aligned! And when it comes to sleeping on your side, this is a very delicate balancing act.
However, we think the OTTY Hybrid nails it!
Starting with the removable, washable cover and temperature-regulating memory foam, all the way down to the HD base foam and the HD support foam base encompassing up to 2000 full-sized pocket springs – this mattress will offer much-needed support and spinal alignment to all side sleepers that suffer from a bad, aching back.
Not only that but thanks to the excellent pressure and pain-relieving properties of this hybrid – you'll say goodbye to hip, shoulder and joint pain, as well.
Having all of this in mind, even the price isn't nearly as high as it could be!
KEY FEATURES:
- Type: Hybrid
- Depth: 25 cm
- Firmness: 7.5/10
- Size: Single, Small Double, Double, King, Super King, Emperor, EU Single, EU Double, EU King
Advantages
Firm & supportive
Very comfortable and supportive.
Great temperature regulation
Can keep you at an optimal temperature.
Removable cover
Removable and washable cover.
Disadvantages
Potential durability issues
Some customers have complained about the durability.
Best Hypoallergenic: Silentnight Just Breathe Hybrid Mattress
For side sleepers with allergies, having a hypoallergenic mattress is incredibly important! After all, unlike back sleepers, you're bound to breathe in dust mites that have accumulated on the mattress cover!
Best Hypoallergenic
With a hypoallergenic, soft knit cover that has even been approved by Allergy UK, this is the ultimate mattress for side sleepers that have allergy issues.
But even as a regular mattress, it's going to make most side sleepers happy. For one, while it is a medium firm model, the Eco Comfort models still allow you to be extremely comfortable.
And the Miracoil spring system was made with side sleepers in mind. This is because they're laid out in such a way that they can properly support your shoulder and hip, keeping your spine straight and healthy.
Plus, you can try out this mattress for an entire year before you have to commit to it being your side sleeping selection! So, there's little to no risk involved.
KEY FEATURES:
- Type: Hybrid
- Depth: 24 cm
- Firmness: 7.5/10
- Size: Single, Double, King
Advantages
Cool
Cool and breathable top layer.
Excellent durability
Can stick around for quite a bit.
Excellent warranty
You can try the mattress out for an entire year.
Disadvantages
Not for everyone
Not soft enough for lightweight side sleepers.
Best for Couples: Simba Hybrid
Side sleeping just got a whole lot more comfortable and spooning just got a whole lot better!
Best for Couples
Side sleepers can move around quite a bit. This is why it's essential for side sleeping couples to get a proper mattress and keep the peace in the bedroom!
If you liked what we had to say about the Simba Hybrid Luxe but didn't feel like you needed so many bells and whistles, this is the mattress for you!
It still has the Titanium Aerocoil spring system to help support your entire body and the fan favourite Simbatex foam to keep you relatively cool during the night.
On top of that, you get a zoned support sustem to keep your spine properly aligned and edge-to-edge support to keep the entirety of your sleeping surface stable.
But most importantly, this mattress offers next-level motion isolation – able to combat even the kickiest of side sleeping partners! And it does all that at a pretty reasonable price.
Click here to read our full review of the Simba Hybrid mattress.
KEY FEATURES:
- Type: Hybrid
- Depth: 25 cm
- Firmness: 6.5/10
- Size: (UK) Single, Small Double, Double, King Size, Super King Size (EU) Single, Double, Queen
Advantages
High quality
One of the top mattress picks in the mattress industry.
Motion-isolating
No motion transfer.
Good for back pain
Very pressure relieving.
Disadvantages
Slight overheating
Unlike the Luxe, there's no wool layer to keep you constantly cool.
Things to consider when shopping for the best mattress for side sleepers
As you can see, sleeping on your side does have some ramifications when it comes to your mattress choice. And while we have presented you with what we feel are excellent mattresses for side sleepers, if you’d like to further explore your options and find the best match- you will want to know what to look for in the best mattress for side sleepers in the UK!
After all, whether you're chosing a topper, a pillow, or a mattress, you have to know what to look out for! So, here's what you should look out for.
Type of mattress
You'll want to start by looking at the right type of mattress. And, if you've been reading carefully, you'll know that the first place to start looking is through memory foam mattresses. But, as we've also mentioned, don't get so hung up on the type, because you can just as easily find a good pocket sprung mattress for people sleeping on their side, as you would a memory foam one.
However, generally speaking, you will have the best chance of finding something suitable if you look for memory foam, a hybrid or a latex mattress – in that particular order. As you've seen from our list, foam mattresses really do dominate the side sleeper market. And here are a few things to specifically look for when getting any of these mattress types.
Memory foam mattress
If you want a memory foam mattress, your process of elimination should be rather swift. The main thing you should focus on is firmness. If you're on the heavier side, look for high-density foam mattresses. And if you're on the lighter side, look for models that incorporate as much memory foam as possible.
With that being said, if you're a hot sleeper, you'll need a cooling mattress. So, look for mattresses that have gel-infused foam or a breathable cover. Bamboo, eucalyptus and cotton are all good choices.
Hybrid mattress
If you think the right mattress for you has to be a hybrid, the most important thing to look out for is the top layer. Most high-quality hybrid mattresses will have sturdy pocket springs. However, make sure that there's also enough cushioning on top to match up with your sleeping position.
Generally, if you're on the lighted side, as long as there's more than a few centimetres between you and the pocket springs, you're golden. And if it's memory foam, even better. But if you're heavier, look for slightly firmer and thinner top layers.
Spring mattress
When it comes to spring mattresses, you'd ideally want a mattress with zoned support. This way your shoulder and hip are supported and your mid-section can sink into the mattress a bit when sleeping on your side.
We'd also suggest looking for good pocket spring mattresses, as they tend to be higher quality than innerspring mattresses. Although they're also sometimes more expensive.
Latex mattress
The difference between latex and memory foam is that a latex mattress will usually be a bit firmer. And this means that they won't always be ideal for side sleepers. However, if you do find a softer mattress that uses latex, it can be quite good.
This is because latex has a bit more bounce than a regular memory foam mattress. And that in turn can help with hip and shoulder pain. So, you can be rather comfortable as a side sleeper if you find a good latex mattress. Just make sure that it's not too firm!
Level of firmness
As you might have noticed by now, mattress firmness comes up quite a bit when looking for the best mattress for side sleepers. And we think it's about time that we properly explained it!
The mattress firmness scale is a 1-10 scale that dictates how firm a certain mattress is (see the picture below). More often than not, mattresses are medium or medium firm, which is around a 6/10.
And mattress firmness is important because it dictates how much you can sink into the top layer of your mattress. So, a firm mattress will resist your weight for the most part, leading to very little sinking.
A soft mattress on the other hand is more willing to “get out of the way” and allow your body to sink into the sleeping surface.
And when you sleep on your side, it's mostly your shoulder and hip that this applies to as they take on the brunt of your weight.
To make sleeping on your side ideal, you want your hip and shoulder to sink in just a little bit so that your back can stay completely straight. However, your weight also plays a part in this.
Your body weight
Now that you understand mattress firmness, you've solved half of the puzzle! However, you'll notice that even a firm mattress will give way if you put something really heavy on it. And on the other hand, even the softest mattress on the planet won't sink from the weight of a feather.
In other words, the heavier you are, the firmer the mattress has to be to stop you from sinking too far into the mattress. And the lighter you are, the softer the mattress has to be so that you can sink in at all!
So, do note that not all side sleepers will benefit from the same mattress. Of course, it's nothing to be ashamed of if you need a softer or firmer mattress than most – it's simply physics! And having a healthy back should be your number one priority!
So, take a look at the table below to see which mattress firmness is ideal for side sleepers of your build.
Pressure relief ability
The best mattress for side sleepers must be able to alleviate pressure points and help you get rid of those early morning aches. That's because, unlike stomach and back sleepers, side sleepers put all of their weight on their shoulder and hip!
So, having a mattress that can take on some of that weight and relieve your hip and shoulder of the pressure is a must-have! And more often than not, you can accomplish this with a relatively thin layer of memory foam.
Of course, other materials can offer pressure relief as well. However, we've found that memory foam typically shows the best results – especially when side sleepers are concerned.
Cooling & hypoallergenic properties
Neither of these features are exclusive to mattresses for side sleeping. Everyone needs proper support, pain relief and contouring, but what they also need is to sleep without any disturbance all through the night. And, well, if you're sweating and having trouble breathing during the night – no amount of pain relief will help you with that.
What will help is getting a cool and hypoallergenic mattress. If you get too hot during the night, you will toss and turn, and not only will you lose sleep because of it – but you will also switch positions, left and right, without ever sleeping in an optimal position for your body.
And, don't even get us started on allergies. You know just how hard it is to sleep with a stuffy, runny nose – let alone a full-blown allergy flare up. However, we would like to recommend you go for bamboo-made products as bamboo is a super-hypoallergenic material. Plus it is cooling, even during the hottest summer days!
2 bonus tips for side sleepers to improve your sleep quality
While you now know how to get the best mattress for side sleepers (at least in the UK), the battle is not over! And that's because there are two other things we'd like to put forth that can further improve your sleep quality.
Firstly, we'll talk about how you can potentially better your current mattress (if it's not time for a new mattress yet) and then discuss the other half of the side sleeping puzzle – your pillow!
Using a high-quality mattress topper
The beaty of mattress toppers is that they can slightly correct certain features of a mattress. And this is especially noticeable when it comes to side sleepers!
For example, let's say that based on everything we've said so far, you've realised you need a softer mattress. Well, if you get a memory foam mattress topper, it provides just enough added cushioning to turn your firm mattress into a medium firm mattress.
And let us tell you, it will be a lot cheaper than buying a completely new mattress!
Of course, not just any mattress topper would do. You generally want to find a high-quality topper that has the correct qualities to balance out your current mattress. And not every feature can be fixed!
However, if your current mattress is relatively new (for example a 3-year-old memory foam mattress) and sleeping on your side is just a bit less comfortable than you'd like it to be, a mattress topper could be the easiest solution. So, if you'd like to see what a high-quality topper looks like, we suggest reading our review of the Simba mattress topper.
And if you want a step-by-step guide, we suggest reading our guide on choosing the perfect mattress topper.
Having an appropriate pillow
We’ve mentioned the best mattress for side sleepers the UK has to offer, but what about the pillows for side sleepers with neck problems? What could they do?
The fact of the matter is that if you sleep on your side, a good pillow is as important for dealing with neck pain as a good mattress is for dealing with back and hip pain. And since pillows should be swapped out every few years, this might be the perfect opportunity to get the perfect pillow for you!
So, what makes a pillow good for side sleepers? The main feature you want to look out for is loft (or how tall the pillow is). This is because, unlike back and stomach sleepers, side sleepers need to cover the distance from their shoulder to their head. So, of the three sleeping positions, side sleepers need the largest pillows!
However, the pillow also needs to be a bit firm and supportive. This is because a high loft is useless if your head just sinks into the pillow and allows your head to be at an angle. So, when looking for a high-quality pillow, make sure that your head can stay parallel to the bed when lying down on your side.
Tips for extending the life of a mattress for side sleeping UK
As we near the end, we wanted to talk to you about making sure your new mattress lasts a long time. After all, we wouldn’t want to see the best mattress for side sleeping end up causing you more pain in only a few years. So, here are some tips for extending the life of a mattress for side sleeping.
- Make sure you place your mattress on a proper base, and don’t keep it on the floor
- Don’t jump on the bed, and don’t let your kids do it either
- Use a mattress protector from the start
- Use high-quality mattress toppers to improve your mattresses’ lifespan
- Don’t share your bed with pets. Get them a good dog bed if you can
- Don’t eat or drink in bed
- Ventilate the bedroom every day, and let the sunlight hit your bed every day
- Flip, turn or rotate your mattress regularly (especially if it's a two-sided mattress)
- Clean your mattress as often as possible
- Pay close attention to the manufacturer’s maintenance and care instructions.
Conclusion
And that's all you need to know to find the best mattress for side sleepers the UK has to offer! So, which mattress are you going to get? Let us know in the comments. And if you have any questions, about side sleeping or mattresses in general, check out the FAQ section or contact us directly.
FAQs about your new mattress for side sleepers UK
In the end, we thought it would be good to wrap things up by answering some questions from curious side sleepers.
What is the best type of mattress for side sleepers?
There is no general right mattress for this type of sleepers, but memory foam mattresses or hybrid mattresses seem to be the favourite to fall asleep easier. A medium-firm mattress is also the safest pick.
Should side sleepers go for a firm or a soft mattress?
When it comes to side sleeping, the most important thing is to keep your spine straight. So, heavier sleepers will need a firm mattress and lighter sleepers will need a soft mattress.
What is the average life expectancy of a mattress for side sleepers?
The sleeping position shouldn't affect the lifespan of a mattress in a significant way. Therefore, the life expectancy will be affected by the quality of the mattress and proper maintenance. As for a number, we'd say 6 to 8 years, as for any other mattress.
What type of mattresses is not good for side sleepers?
Every mattress type could be suitable for a side sleeper, but generally speaking, firm, open-coil mattresses are the least compatible with people who prefer the side sleeping position.
Do these mattresses come with a trial period?
In the vast majority of cases, medium-to-high-end mattresses will have a trial. However, you will have to check case by case.
Are memory foam mattresses good for side sleepers?
For medium to light side sleepers, memory foam mattresses will keep you comfortable as they tend to be medium firm or soft. Heavier sleepers might need a pocket spring mattress as they are on the firmer side.
Should side sleepers use memory foam spring mattresses?
If you can find a mattress with memory foam springs that's of the appropriate firmness level for your build, go for it!
Are hybrid beds good for side sleepers?
A hybrid mattress will usually be at least decent for side sleepers. And if you're looking for a medium-firm mattress, a hybrid mattress can even be the perfect match for you.
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