The Best Mattress for Side Sleepers: Our Top Picks at Every Price

Side sleeping is the most popular sleep position out there - and for good reason. It's great for your breathing, digestion, and even snoring. But here's the catch: your mattress matters more for side sleeping than almost any other position. The wrong one leaves your shoulders, hips, and neck screaming by morning. The right one? Total game-changer.

Whether you're a dedicated side sleeper or you just tend to drift that way overnight, we're breaking down the best picks at every price range - from luxury to budget-friendly - so you can find the one that fits your body and your budget.

What Firmness Should Side Sleepers Look For?

Before we dive in, here's a quick note on firmness: Soft mattresses are generally considered the best for side sleepers.

A softer surface lets your shoulders and hips sink in just enough to keep your spine aligned instead of fighting your curves.
That said, medium mattresses can also be a great fit - especially if you're a combo sleeper, or if you want a bit more support underneath. The key is finding a mattress that contours where your body needs it.

Our Best Mattress for Side Sleepers: The Vail® Luxury Soft

At the top end of the lineup, the Vail® Luxury Soft is built to be a “best of the best” option for side sleepers who want indulgent comfort, premium materials, and a refined feel from top to bottom. It’s our luxury pick for side sleepers because it combines deep cushioning with responsive support and thoughtful temperature regulation.

What makes the Vail a side-sleeping standout?

Sumptuous comfort layers: The Vail stacks natural Talalay latex, micro-coils, and USDA Certified Sustain memory foam to create indulgent, multi-dimensional comfort.
Natural temperature control: A luxurious blend of wool and cashmere, combined with a breathable Tencel® fabric cover, naturally wicks moisture and maintains a comfortable temperature.
Individually-wrapped coil support: A 952-count, foam-encased coil unit (queen) provides conforming support with reduced motion transfer.
Hand-tufted craftsmanship: Each Vail mattress is hand-tufted to lock layers in place for long-term durability and a more refined, tailored feel.
Soft, enveloping feel: The overall feel is luxuriously plush and enveloping—ideal for side sleepers who want to sink in without losing underlying support.

If you’re a side sleeper ready to invest in a truly elevated sleep experience—premium materials, hand-crafted details, and a rich, plush feel—the Vail® Luxury Soft is built to deliver exactly that.

Best Mid-Range Mattress for Side Sleepers: Doctor’s Choice® Elite Soft

For side sleepers who want a noticeable upgrade in pressure relief, cooling, and support—but still want to stay in the mid-range price band—the Doctor’s Choice® Elite Soft is a standout pick. It’s built specifically to deliver deeply cushioned comfort at the surface, backed by advanced coil support where your body needs it most.

Why is the Elite great for side sleepers?

Ultra-plush, pressure-relieving comfort: The Elite® Soft layers high-airflow HyperGel® memory foam over premium high-density comfort foam for a deeply cushioned, pressure-relieving feel.
Zoned lumbar coil support: Our most advanced individually-wrapped coil system includes reinforcement through the lumbar zone, adding extra support where side sleepers need it.
Cooling SNOlite cover: The soft knit cover combines antimicrobial foam with SNOlite® cooling fabric to help regulate temperature.
Soft comfort level: It’s designed with a plush, deeply cushioned feel that gently cradles the body.

If you’re a side sleeper who wants more luxurious softness than a value mattress can offer—but you’re not ready to jump to top-of-the-line pricing—the Doctor’s Choice® Elite Soft hits that “sweet spot” of comfort, support, and value.

Best Value Mattress for Side Sleepers: Buena Vista® Medium

If you’re shopping on a budget but still want real contouring and support as a side sleeper, the Buena Vista® Medium is a strong value choice. It delivers a true medium feel that’s comfortably cushioned on top with solid underlying support, making it a great fit for side sleepers who like a softer surface without going ultra-plush.

What makes the Buena Vista® great for side sleepers?

Pressure-relieving comfort foams: The Buena Vista® Medium is topped with upcycled Green Choice® foam that creates a comfy, pressure-relieving surface.
Individually-wrapped coils: 616 individually-wrapped coils (queen) contour to your body and help reduce motion transfer, delivering targeted support.
Foam-encased edge support: Foam-encased construction provides a more stable, edge-to-edge sleep surface, so you can use more of the mattress.
High-density plush foam: A 1.5" layer of high-density 1.8 lb plush foam helps create that balanced medium feel—soft enough for side sleeping, supportive enough for a wide range of body types.

The Buena Vista® Medium is ideal if you’re a price-conscious side sleeper who wants a softer, forgiving feel without stepping all the way up into the Doctor’s Choice or luxury lines.

Find Your Perfect Side-Sleeping Match

No matter your budget, the right mattress is out there waiting to transform your sleep. The biggest thing to remember? Softer and more contouring is almost always the right move for side sleepers - your shoulders and hips will thank you in the morning.

Not sure where to start? Stop by your local Denver Mattress store and try them out for yourself - because nothing beats actually lying down on the one. You can also browse our full mattress lineup online and filter by feel, price, and features. Your best night of sleep is closer than you think!