This might not come as a surprise: Different sleep positions put a strain on different parts of the body.

It’s no wonder why we shift around so much throughout the night. But this isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Depending on which position you like most – on your stomach, back, or side – there’s a type of mattress that’s best for your body. Choosing the wrong mattress can be a recipe for soreness and discomfort.

Turns out there is a position people like most. Across Canada and the United States, the vast majority of people prefer sleeping on their sides. This has its advantages for mattress shopping, as plenty of companies prefer to cater to the biggest market segment. Yet side sleepers must also be mindful of where pressure points are likely to form, and which surfaces and pillows will offer the right support for their neck, head, and shoulders.

So what makes the best mattress for side sleepers? What will ensure a better quality of sleep? This useful guide will answer your questions and list three excellent mattresses for side sleepers.

Side sleepers should have two goals in mind to help narrow down their mattress search: keep the spine in proper alignment, and keep pressure points from building up.

Some initial advice is to stay away from the extremes. Side sleepers must be very careful to avoid mattresses that are too firm or too soft. If your body sinks too far or too little into your mattresses, it may not alleviate the pressure points in the neck, shoulders, and hips.

Our top pick, Octave, has a medium-firm feel that cradles side sleepers’ hips and shoulders.

This three-layer memory foam mattress delivers an excellent blend of cool, cushioned support. Octave offers a medium-firm feel and incredible full-body contouring, pressure-point relief, and balanced support, making it an excellent choice for side sleepers.

While similar memory foam mattresses trap heat, Octave Vista is designed to keep you comfortable with the latest cooling technology. Its advanced cooling features include a cooling nanofibre cover, CopperGel™ memory foam infused with phase-change material to balance body temperature, and multi-zone support foam with built-in air channels for better air circulation.

This engineered cooling mattress comes at a competitive price of just $899 for a queen, with a 365-night sleep trial, 15-year warranty, and FREE bedding with the purchase of a mattress.

Single firmness mattresses are designed to cater to a combination of side sleepers, back sleepers, and stomach sleepers. The majority of these mattresses aim to hit the medium firmness sweet spot.

The Douglas is a medium-firm mattress designed to be the optimal single firmness mattress. Thanks to the ecoLight® foam comfort layer, side sleepers can take advantage of the faster responding top layer of memory foam which is specifically designed to cradle and support the body. The central transitional layer in the Douglas mattress is also great for side sleepers, as it mimics the reactive and supportive properties of natural latex. So, all in all, the Douglas offers an excellent middle ground by providing the conforming comfort necessary for side sleeping, along with great support. To top it off, Douglas offers an industry leading 365-night sleep trial.

Memory foam is coming on strong as of late. But the reigning champion of the mattress scene is not yet ready to hand over its title. Over 70% of sleepers still sleep on mattresses containing springs. Whether innerspring, hybrid, or pillow-top, the choice of coil mattress can be daunting for side sleepers looking for a bed that caters to their specific needs.

Logan & Cove is the only mattress on this list to feature springs. Side sleepers who are not quite comfortable going with foam and would rather stay with the tried and tested sturdiness of springs would be wise to give this mattress a close look. Like the best of both worlds, the Logan & Cove is a five-layer hybrid characterized by its innovative zonal pocketed coils and memory foam construction. Two great benefits for the price of one, the pocketed coils and plush memory foam work in harmony to prevent pressure points from forming in the most common places. For side sleepers, this mattress provides the right amount of give while contouring to your unique shape and weight. 

Sleeping on your side is the most popular position, and some people will also suggest that it is also the best sleeping position. There’s some truth to this statement, but it’s not necessarily true overall. Every sleeping position has its pros and cons. As long as they’re on the correct mattress, side sleepers, back sleepers, and stomach sleepers can get a good night’s sleep every night. To drive home this point, let’s consider a list of pros and cons for sleeping on your side:

As a side sleeper, be sure to get the mattress that best supports your neck, spine, and hips collectively. It is also worth looking for a thicker pillow that supports your head and neck. How can you tell when the alignment is good enough? A rule of thumb is to have your ear, shoulder, and hip aligned with each other, as this helps maintain the natural curvature of your spine from your neck down to your hips.

The three mattresses above are sure to provide your body with the comfort and support it needs. Most importantly, you’ll get a great night’s sleep. In the end, isn’t that what it’s all about?