The Best Mattresses for Side Sleepers, After Testing 200+ Beds
Expert-tested beds with pressure relief for your shoulders and hips.
by Mitchell C. White
A good mattress is key to a good night’s sleep, but finding one that feels comfortable and doesn’t cost a fortune can seem like a daunting task. Our bedding experts in the Good Housekeeping Institute Textiles Lab have run long-term at-home sleep tests on hundreds of models and surveyed thousands of mattress owners on our tester panel to recommend the best options for every type of sleeper.
- Best Overall Mattress: Saatva Classic Mattress
- Best Memory Foam Mattress: Tempur-Pedic Tempur-Cloud
- Best Hybrid Mattress: Bear Elite Hybrid
- Best Mattress Under $500: Allswell Luxe Hybrid
You can learn more about how we test mattresses — and how to find the best one for you — at the end of this article, but first, here’s everything you need to know about our top-tested mattresses (with prices listed for Queen sizes).
1
Saatva Classic Mattress
PROS
- High scores for comfort and support from long-term users
- Excellent customer service with free delivery, setup and old mattress removal
- Good edge support and breathability
CONS
- Less pressure relief and motion isolation than foam mattresses
Mattress type: Innerspring | Height: 11.5 or 14.5 inches | Firmness: Plush Soft, Luxury Firm, Firm | Trial period: 365 days (with a $99 return pickup fee)
Who it’s best for
This Saatva model is best suited for sleepers who prefer a traditional, firm and bouncy mattress instead of the sinking-in feel of memory foam. It even has enhanced edge support, which makes it easier to get in and out of bed. And with the full-service set up and mattress removal available for no extra charge, it’s great for those who can’t (or don’t want to) do a DIY setup.
How it performed in our tests
✔️ Support: We’ve surveyed over 100 Saatva mattress owners, who consistently give it high scores for support. Our testers especially like the fact that it feels firmer and offers more edge support than memory foam mattresses, which is not surprising because it’s construction is primarily made of steel coil.
✔️ Comfort & sleep quality: Despite it feeling firmer than memory foam mattresses, our testers gave it top ratings for comfort and sleep quality, with one saying it was “just the right amount of plush” and another saying, “Not too firm, yet not too squishy.” One user even said it led to “the best sleep I’ve ever had.” Just note that the innerspring construction offers less pressure relief and motion isolation than foam mattresses.
✔️ Breathability: Our testers unanimously say they stay at a comfortable temperature throughout the night on this bed. Because it’s filled with coils instead of foam, it allows for better airflow and less heat retention.
✔️ Durability: Though Saatva costs more than a boxed mattress, you can expect it to last because steel coils tend to hold up better than memory foam. Our testers confirm this to be true, and the craftsmanship stood out to them. One told us, ” It is obvious that a great deal of detail went into making this mattress.”
✔️ Customer service: Ordering and in-home setup went smoothly in our at-home tests, and any issues that came up during the process were quickly resolved. This model is convenient to buy online and includes setup in your home rather than shipping in a box for DIY setup. It offers two heights and three firmness levels to choose from, plus a year-long trial period so you can get a refund if it’s not a good fit (minus a $99 return pickup fee).
Two things to keep in mind regarding the price: First, we’ve seen Saatva prices regularly increasing over the past several years, and we expect this trend to continue. Second, we’ve noticed that it’s almost always marked down, so avoid paying full price for this one.
2
Saatva Classic Mattress
PROS
- High scores for comfort and support from long-term users
- Excellent customer service with free delivery, setup and old mattress removal
- Good edge support and breathability
CONS
- Less pressure relief and motion isolation than foam mattresses
Mattress type: Innerspring | Height: 11.5 or 14.5 inches | Firmness: Plush Soft, Luxury Firm, Firm | Trial period: 365 days (with a $99 return pickup fee)
Who it’s best for
This Saatva model is best suited for sleepers who prefer a traditional, firm and bouncy mattress instead of the sinking-in feel of memory foam. It even has enhanced edge support, which makes it easier to get in and out of bed. And with the full-service set up and mattress removal available for no extra charge, it’s great for those who can’t (or don’t want to) do a DIY setup.
How it performed in our tests
✔️ Support: We’ve surveyed over 100 Saatva mattress owners, who consistently give it high scores for support. Our testers especially like the fact that it feels firmer and offers more edge support than memory foam mattresses, which is not surprising because it’s construction is primarily made of steel coil.
✔️ Comfort & sleep quality: Despite it feeling firmer than memory foam mattresses, our testers gave it top ratings for comfort and sleep quality, with one saying it was “just the right amount of plush” and another saying, “Not too firm, yet not too squishy.” One user even said it led to “the best sleep I’ve ever had.” Just note that the innerspring construction offers less pressure relief and motion isolation than foam mattresses.
✔️ Breathability: Our testers unanimously say they stay at a comfortable temperature throughout the night on this bed. Because it’s filled with coils instead of foam, it allows for better airflow and less heat retention.
✔️ Durability: Though Saatva costs more than a boxed mattress, you can expect it to last because steel coils tend to hold up better than memory foam. Our testers confirm this to be true, and the craftsmanship stood out to them. One told us, ” It is obvious that a great deal of detail went into making this mattress.”
✔️ Customer service: Ordering and in-home setup went smoothly in our at-home tests, and any issues that came up during the process were quickly resolved. This model is convenient to buy online and includes setup in your home rather than shipping in a box for DIY setup. It offers two heights and three firmness levels to choose from, plus a year-long trial period so you can get a refund if it’s not a good fit (minus a $99 return pickup fee).
Two things to keep in mind regarding the price: First, we’ve seen Saatva prices regularly increasing over the past several years, and we expect this trend to continue. Second, we’ve noticed that it’s almost always marked down, so avoid paying full price for this one.