21 mattresses for side sleepers that help prevent hip and shoulder pain

06 April 2023 , 13:40

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Discover which mattress will give you a great night's sleep

Buying a new mattress can feel like a challenging task as it's not the sort of thing we purchase all that often.

Sleep experts claim that we should be getting between six to nine hours of sleep every night, so in order to give ourselves the best chance of achieving that, finding the best mattress is vital.

Bed experts state that we should be changing our mattresses every six to eight years so if yours has surpassed this amount of time, your mattress is more than likely not serving you well, therefore it's time for an upgrade.

Side sleepers are amongst the majority with half of British adults sleeping this way, and it's recommended that side sleepers use a soft to medium mattress to cushion vulnerable pressure points on the body, with memory foam, latex and gel options being the most popular and best mattress type.

Best mattress for side sleepers 2023

1. THE SIMBA Hybrid Mattress

Best overall hybrid mattress

THE SIMBA Hybrid Mattress - SIMBA (£696.96).

• Type: Spring

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• Firmness: Medium

• Trial: 200 nights

• Guarantee: 10 years

• Sizes: Super king, king, EU queen, double, EU double, small double, single, EU single, kids

The game-changing Simba Hybrid mattress is a five-layered sleeping beauty that offers gravity-defying comfort and innovative solutions to overheating.

Each coil offers individual support for you on your side of the bed, thanks to the unique titanium Aerocoil comfort layer and many other unique Simba features.

2. Emma Original Mattress

Best for spinal support

Emma Original Mattress, £249.50 - Emma

• Type: Memory foam

• Firmness: Medium

• Trial: 200 nights

• Guarantee: 10 years

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• Sizes: Single, small double, double, king, super king

The Emma original mattress provides medium level support which is ideal for side sleepers.

The mattress has four layers which include the Emma ultradry original cover top layer, the halo memory foam layer, the point elastic airgocell, and the high resiliency extra (HRX).

Buy now from (£249.50).

3. THE Simbatex Essential Foam Mattress

Best for quality on a budget

THE Simbatex Essential Foam Mattress, £299.99 - Simba

• Type: Memory foam

• Firmness: Medium

• Trial: 200 nights

• Guarantee: 10 years

• Sizes: Single, double, king, super king

The cooler, fresher foam of the Simbatex foam mattress offers superior support and elasticity that has an open cell structure allowing 30 x more airflow than dense, standard memory foam.

It features three layers of engineered comfort, giving you a trio of carefully designed materials combined to help you achieve your best sleep yet.

Buy now from Simba (£299.99), was £499

4. Nectar Memory Foam Mattress

Best for keeping cool

Nectar Foam Memory Mattress - Nectar (£491.40).

• Type: Memory foam
• Firmness: Medium-firm
• Trial: 365 nights
• Guarantee: Forever
• Sizes: Single, double, king, super king, small double

Nectar’s premium 25cm thick medium-firm memory foam mattress hugs your body whilst also keeping you cool.

The three layers of premium foam have been designed to deliver optimum levels of comfort, providing excellent body support and spinal alignment.

Buy now from (£577).

5. EVE The Lighter Mattress

Best all-round support

EVE The Lighter Mattress, £179 - Eve

This EVE lighter mattress is perfect for foam first-timers. With great quality but at an affordable cos, and with just the right amount of pressure relief, you’ll get all of the comfort and breathability you need to help you achieve a freat night's sleep.

Since side sleepers need pressure and tension relief on their shoulders and hips. The gentle cushioning of the lighter mattress’s top layer and contour zones throughout, do just that.

Buy now from Eve (£179.00), was £299

6. Pillow-Top Open Coil Mattress

Best for comfort

Pillow-Top Open Coil Mattress, £134.99 - Wayfair

Due to the hybrid design it means this mattress combines the traditional comfort of an open spring with the added personalisation of a memory foam mattress.

The top memory foam contours to your body to provide the support you need to sleep soundly through the night, while its open coils create a reliable and breathable foundation. The hypoallergenic design means sensitive sleepers will be just as comfortable.

Buy now from Wayfair (£134.99).

7. Silentnight Moretto Miracoil Mattress

Best for firm support

Silentnight Moretto Miracoil Mattress - Silentnight (£184.21).

The Miracoil springs mattress provides a supportive base underneath the upper comfort layers and also features a unique design that prevents you from rolling towards its centre.

The edges are just as stable and supportive as the middle of the mattress featuring a firmer support that targets your hips and lower back for optimum support.

It's also a single-sided mattress meaning you won't have to go through the effort of flipping it.

Buy now from Mattress Online (£204.95).

8. Blue Elephant Foam Mattress

Best for sensitive sleepers

Blue Elephant Foam Mattressm £165.99 - Wayfair

Whether you sleep on your side, back, or stomach, this 20cm foam mattress will suit your requirements for a good night's rest.

It has been crafted using two layers of gel memory foam, plus, thanks to its odour-resistant, hypoallergenic, and breathable design, sensitive sleepers can rest easy while remaining nice and cool.

Buy now from Wayfair (£165.99).

9. The Premium Hybrid Mattress

Best for comfort

The Premium Hybrid Mattress - Eve (£978).

More springs and more foam - the premium hybrid mattress is Which?'s top scoring mattress.

The premium hybrid mattress is packed with over 1,400 full-sized pocket springs and five layers of foam that will provide you with great sleep.

Snuggle in for immediate pressure relief that gives you weightless support and a top layer of foam that gives you deep, plush cushioning. Bliss.

Buy now from Eve (£599).

10. THE SIMBA Hybrid Luxe Mattress

Best for support and pressure relief

THE SIMBA Hybrid Luxe Mattress, £1,439.40 - Simba

The Simba Hybrid Luxe mattress includes a whopping ten layers of sleep indulgence.

The layers include a breathable sleep surface, a layer of wool, a layer of simbatex, two layers of Aerocoil springs, two Simba-pure support layers, and the Simba-pure base - all guarantee maximum support and pressure relief.

Buy now from Simba (1,439.40).

11. Jasmine Geltex 2000 Pocket Pillowtop Mattress

Best for durability

Jasmine Geltex 2000 Pocket Pillowtop Mattress - Very (£699.00)

The Geltex comfort mattress is an intelligent gel infused comfort filling with a bounce back sensation that actively responds to your body.

The Geltex comfort layer allows you to move freely, so you can twist and turn without waking. Even after eight years of sleep your Geltex mattress will perform as well as it did the day you bought it.

12. Latex Memory Foam Mattress with Pocket Sprung

Best for back pain

Latex Memory Foam Mattress with Pocket Sprung - from - Amazon (£265.99).

This high resilience latex foam core mattress includes a double density system and memory foam open cell technology for optimum comfort.

The float instead of sink natural latex gently conforms to your body and has an excellent airflow.

It comes with a breathable three-layer composite non-woven fabric and knitted top layer, combined with the breathability of latex cotton.

The hyper-elastic memory foam flexes to support your position and springs back into place as you readjust and move overnight, while the responsive support coils are individually wrapped stainless steel coils that are paired with the hyper-elastic memory foam to offer dynamic pressure relief and support. Best of all, each coil is wrapped in premium noise-reducing fabric.

13. Ergoflex 5G Mattress

Best for hip pain

Ergoflex 5G Mattress - £486

The Ergoflex five-layer sleep system responds to support and alleviate pressure points such as the lower back, hips, shoulders and deliver instant and unrivalled comfort that lasts throughout the night.

The 9cm true high-density visco-elastic memory foam top layer provides supportive body-shaping performance and zero partner disturbance ensuring your sleep doesn't get broken.

Buy now from ().

14. Sweetnight King Size Mattress

Best all-round mattress

Sweetnight 5ft Mattress - £463.61

The Sweetnight King Size Mattress includes no motion transfer for a peaceful undisturbed sleep.

The high density foam and gel memory foam have been combined to bring cushy comfort and support that's perfect for all sleep styles and preferences.

Buy now from ().

15. BedStory Memory Foam Pocket Coil Sprung Hybrid Mattress

Best temperature regulating

BedStory Memory Foam Pocket Coil Sprung Hybrid Mattress, £259.99 - Amazon

Each pocket spring in this Memory Foam Pocket Coil Sprung Hybrid Mattress will evenly distributes your weight, whilst providing targeted support for your body.

The breathable 3D bamboo fiber cover is hypoallergenic as well as baby-friendly, enabling you to feel super cosy and comfortable during every sleep.

Its multi comfort layer increases good air circulation and lets go of any body sweat and moisture keeping your body comfortable and dry when sleeping.

Buy now from (£149.99).

16. Super Ortho Spring Reflex Foam Mattress

Best orthopaedic

Super Ortho Spring Reflex Foam Mattress, £139.9 - Happy Beds

The Super Ortho Spring Reflex Foam Orthopaedic Mattress is ideal for those seeking a budget-friendly orthopaedic assistance.

It's made up with a strong network of open coil springs that create a sturdy sleeping surface. The thick layer of reflex foam make the mattress even more secure whilst the hand-tufted finish adds extra durability.

Buy now from (£139.99).

17. Eve The Original Mattress

Best Breathable

Eve The Original Mattress, £377 - Eve

The Eve original mattress comes with a whopping 3 layers of breathable next generation foam that includes unique contour zones that will gives you a whopping 24cm thickness. that fully supports your body.

Side sleepers will benefit from the cushiony softness for their shoulders and hips, while the memory foam will gently contour to your body with its unique zones that have been designrd to relieve pressure. Which also means less aches on your shoulders or hips.

Buy now from ().

18. John Lewis & Partners Pocket 1000 Luxury Pocket Spring Rolled Mattress

Best anti-allergy

Pocket 1000 Luxury Pocket Spring Rolled Mattress, £279 - John Lewis

This king size luxury pocket sprung mattress combines a responsive pocket spring system with a deep layer of soft polyester and extra polyester filling that offers a medium level of support, which is ideal for side sleepers.

It has an anti-allergenic, stretch-knit quilted cover for a smooth finish, as well as vertical quilting around the border, and the good news is, you don't need to turn the mattress, just rotate it regularly to prolong its comfort.

Buy now from John Lewis (£279).

19. Silentnight 3000 Geltex Ultra Medium Soft Mattress

Best Gel

Silentnight 3000 Geltex Ultra Medium Soft Mattress, £550 - Argos

This Silentnight Geltex Mattress is ideal for side sleepers, twisters and turners.

The comfort filling allows you to move freely while you sleep, while the mirapocket zoned springs adjust to your weight and work in harmony with the Ultraflex springs to create an additional layer of comfort.

Buy now from Argos (£550).

20. SleepSoul Balance 800 Pocket Memory Foam Mattress

Best for all-round support

SleepSoul Balance 800 Pocket Memory Foam Mattress, £179 - Amazon

SleepSoul medium firmness mattress provides complete support from head to toe featuring 800 individual pocket springs and an added layer of 2cm of memory foam that responds to your body’s temperature and spreads weight evenly.

Buy now from Amazon (£179).

21. Argos Home Elmdon Sprung Memory Foam Rolled Single Mattress

Elmdon Sprung Memory Foam Rolled Single Mattress, £180 - Argos

The Elmdon rolled mattress features a traditional sprung interior that's surrounded by a soft polyester cushioning, enhanced with a 20mm comfort layer of body conforming memory foam, and the sleep surface is finished in a soft knit fabric - all coming together perfectly to give you the best night's sleep possible.

Buy now from Argos (£180).

What to consider when buying a mattress

• Firmness
• Size
• Durability
• Ailments
• Buy online or in store

Mattress types

• A memory foam mattress combines a layer of memory foam with springs or support foam that uses your body heat to soften and mould to your shape. Once pressure is removed, memory foam will bounce back slowly and over time remembering your body shape and optimal sleeping position.
• ActiGel: An actigel mattress is combined with memory foam, being the most common type. It can also be combined with latex and pocket spring mattresses.
• A latex mattress combines latex foam with either springs or reflex foam to create a supportive and durable sleep surface.
• Hybrid: Includes a layer of coiled springs on the bottom and one to three layers of latex or memory foam on the top.
• Pocket sprung: A pocket sprung mattress is made from individual pocket springs, each enclosed within its own fabric pocket. The spring reacts only to the pressure applied to that area, they don't move as a whole unit.
• An open coil mattress is a supportive, sprung mattress that features coils of high tensile steel that has been wound into hundreds of springs and connected by a wire rod edge. They run from side-to-side and are available in a range of firmness ratings that include soft, medium or firm.

Charlotte Henry