To help us provide you with free impartial advice, we may earn a commission if you buy through links on our site. Learn more
- Best mattress for side sleepers: At a glance
- How we test mattresses for side sleepers
- The best mattresses for side sleepers you can buy
- 1. Best overall mattress for side sleepers: Emma Original Elite
- 2. Best budget mattress for side sleepers: Origin Hybrid mattress
- 3. Best premium bed-in-a-box mattress: Simba Hybrid Pro
- 4. Best mattress for restless sleepers: Tempur Ease
- 5. Best firm mattress for side sleepers: Sleepeezee Regency Kennington 4200
- How to choose the best mattress for side sleepers
- Here at Expert Reviews, we’ve tested and reviewed around 75 mattresses, from traditional and modern bed-in-a-box brands alike
- Our favourite mattress for side sleepers is the Emma Original Elite: a supportive hybrid mattress that offers “exceptional comfort and pressure relief for side sleepers”
- And that’s not all, we’ve also got recommendations for hot sleepers, back pain sufferers, and those on a budget
- Read on for our top picks for side sleepers, alongside our buying guide answering some of the questions you might have when shopping for a new mattress
As decided by our expert product testing, the best mattress for side sleepers is the Emma Original Elite, a comfortable and supportive mattress that provides excellent pressure relief.
Emma aside, we’ve tested around 75 mattresses here at Expert Reviews, from pocket sprung models to all-foam and hybrid bed-in-a-box mattresses. In our roundup below, we’ve picked those that are most suitable for people who sleep on their side, with options for a variety of needs – whether you’re on a budget or you want something to help with temperature regulation.
Below our roundup, you’ll find a buying guide offering advice on what to look for when buying a mattress. We’ve also included information on how we test mattresses and what factors we take into consideration in our reviews
Best mattress for side sleepers: At a glance
| Best overall | Emma Original Elite (£999, double) | |
| Best budget | Origin Hybrid (£496, double) | |
| Best for a cool sleep | Otty Pure Hybrid Bamboo & Charcoal | |
| Best firm mattress | Sleepeezee Regency Kennington 4200 (£1,999, double) |
How we test mattresses for side sleepers
While we test all of the mattresses we review by sleeping on them, there are a number of important factors we look out for as we do so. Comfort and support are the obvious merits of a good mattress, but we also take in consideration firmness and temperature control, as well as value for money. For instance, some mattresses (particularly all-foam ones) will feel warmer than others and are less suited to those prone to overheating.
Firmness is particularly important when recommending a mattress for side sleepers. As we’ve already said above, you want something that will be able to accommodate your hips and shoulders, keeping your spine aligned without letting you sink too deep. And it’s important to bear in mind that the base on which you put your mattress – whether that be a divan, solid or sprung slatted frame – will have an effect on how the mattress feels. We explain this in a bit more detail in our best beds buying guide.
READ NEXT: Best cooling mattresses
The best mattresses for side sleepers you can buy
1. Best overall mattress for side sleepers: Emma Original Elite
Price when reviewed: From £999 (double) | Check price at Emma
Reviewed in June 2025 by Jo Plumridge. The Original Elite was previously called the Hybrid Airgrid. We’ve since been informed that Emma is making improvements to the materials it uses in its mattresses, while the essential construction or the Original Elite remains the same.
- Great pressure relief
- Supportive for side sleepers and back sleepers alike
- Good temperature regulation
- Example CoEdge support is lacking
- Heavier sleepers might find it too soft
- Expensive
As well as impressing in the temperature regulation department, Emma’s Original Elite offers “exceptional comfort and pressure relief”. The mattress is made from layers of foam and pocket springs alongside its “AirGrid” layer: a stretchy gridded material designed to cradle and support your body, while aiding temperature regulation.
Our reviewer judged the Elite to be a great choice for back sleepers as well as side sleepers, and for those with lighter builds. Alongside Simba’s range, it’s one of the more expensive bed-in-a-box mattresses we’ve reviewed, and the double size that our reviewer tested will set you back £999.
But, for the above-mentioned groups, it’s worth the investment. Plus, there’s a 200-night trial and money-back guarantee to fall back on if you decide it’s not for you. Price aside, the only other small caveats our reviewer had to add were that its edge support could be improved, and it might not be the best option for heavier individuals.
Read our full Emma Original Elite mattress review
| Key features | |
|---|---|
| Type | Hybrid |
| Needs turning? | Rotate once/month for the first 6 months; once every 3 months thereafter |
| Sizes | Single to super king |
| Trial period | 200 nights |
2. Best budget mattress for side sleepers: Origin Hybrid mattress
Price when reviewed: £496 (double) | Check price at Origin
Reviewed in June 2024 by Sarah Matthews
- Reasonably priced
- Supportive
- No handles
This is an extremely reasonably priced hybrid mattress (even when Origin isn’t offering one of its promotional discounts). The Origin Hybrid has been one of our favourite budget mattresses for quite some time, and the brand seems to have made some improvements on its design – adding a wool layer and a removable and washable top layer.
When she originally tested it back in 2024, our reviewer found Origin’s Hybrid mattress to be supportive and comfortable, “regardless of whether I was sleeping on my front, side or back”.
Alongside the additional materials I mentioned above, it’s made up of a combination of foam and springs. Our reviewer – who generally prefers a softer mattress – found the mattress cushioning but not claustrophobic. And it’s topped with a “SnowTencel” fibre that – while not quite as cool as its branding seems to suggest – performed well in the temperature regulation department.
Read our full Origin Hybrid mattress review
| Key features | |
|---|---|
| Type | Hybrid |
| Needs turning? | No |
| Sizes | Single to super king |
| Trial period | 200 nights |
3. Best premium bed-in-a-box mattress: Simba Hybrid Pro
Price when reviewed: £1,299 (double) | Check price at Simba
Reviewed in April 2025 by Jane Hoskyn
- Impressively supportive
- Cool and comfortable wool layer
- Expensive
Out of all the mattresses we’ve tested here at Expert Reviews (and, as we’ve already mentioned, we’ve tested a lot), the Simba Hybrid Pro remains one of our favourites. It’s immensely supportive and comfortable and our reviewer found that the mattress’ uppermost wool comfort layer did a great job of keeping them cool throughout the night.
Alongside its wool and foam layers, the Hybrid Pro has two separate layers of micro springs as well as a layer of full sized pocket springs. This helps to give it a decent amount of bounce, which you don’t always get with bed-in-a-box mattresses. As our reviewer said: “the mattress accommodates a variety of different sleeping positions too. Indeed, I found it as comfortable sleeping on my side as on my back.”
Of course, all this comes at a rather considerable cost. It may be one of the best, but the Hybrid Pro is also one of the most expensive mattresses we’ve tested – alongside the Emma Original Elite above and the Sleepeezee mattress below. At its full price, the Simba Hybrid Pro will cost you £1,299 (double). But if your budget can stretch to it, it’s a great premium option, and you’ve always got Simba’s 200-night trial to fall back on.
Read our full Simba Hybrid Pro review
| Key features | |
|---|---|
| Type | Hybrid |
| Needs turning? | Rotate once/month for the first 6 months; once every 3/6 months thereafter |
| Sizes | Single to king |
| Trial period | 200 nights |
4. Best mattress for restless sleepers: Tempur Ease
Price when reviewed: £1,199 (22cm double) | Check price at Tempur
Reviewed in January 2026 by Jo Plumridge
- Comfort for back and side sleepers
- Great motion isolation makes it a good option for restless couples
- All-foam design won’t be for everyone
- Edge support could be better
Tempur was crowned the UK’s favourite mattress brand in our 2026 Sleep Awards. Its mattresses need little introduction, and the brand’s distinctive memory foam is excellent when it comes to motion isolation. While they’ve always come with a very hefty price tag, the Tempur Ease is somewhat of an entry level option for the brand, with a substantially lower price tag compared to other models. It’s still a premium mattress, of course, but if you’re a fan of the Tempur feel, this is a great pick.
It’s a fantastic choice for people who sleep with a restless partner (or who are the restless partner themselves), as it absorbs motion transfer incredibly well. Even the lightest of sleepers shouldn’t be woken by their partner shifting about, and our reviewer couldn’t feel her husband moving during the night, “even when he did his impression of a flailing walrus”.
We thought the Tempur Ease was particularly suited to average and heavier weight side sleepers, with plenty of support and gentle contouring from the foam. You won’t sink into it as much as with some all-foam options, which means back sleepers should get on well with it too.
Prices start at £799 for a small single in a 20cm depth (you can choose from a 20, 22 or 25cm), while the 22cm deep double we tested costs £1,199. It’s a bit irritating that the mattress isn’t available in a standard single size, but you’ve got a choice between small single and long single. You also get a 100-night trial and 10-year guarantee with the mattress.
Read our full Tempur Ease mattress review
| Key features | |
|---|---|
| Type | All-foam |
| Needs turning? | Rotate every three months |
| Sizes | Small single to king |
| Trial period | 100 nights |
5. Best firm mattress for side sleepers: Sleepeezee Regency Kennington 4200
Price: £1,999 (double) | Check price at Dreams
Reviewed in May 2026 by Jo Plumridge
- Excellent lumbar support
- Comfortable pillow top for side sleeping
- Good temperature regulation
- Very expensive, with no money-back trial period
- Heavy
Pros
Excellent lumbar support
Comfortable pillow top for side sleeping
Good temperature regulation
Cons
Very expensive, with no money-back trial period
Heavy
While we’re a bit reticent to recommend a firmer mattress for those who sleep on their side, the Sleepeezee Regency Kennington proved itself in a range of positions – thanks in part to its comfortable pillowtop design. As our reviewer put it: “there’s enough contouring and give from the top layers to cushion pressure points.”
Meanwhile, the pocket sprung core provides excellent support and support that – alongside the REM-Fit mattress featured further down our roundup – makes it a good option for those dealing with back pain. Temperature regulation is impressive too, perhaps owing to the total absence of memory foam.
The terms of Dreams’ 100-night trial period (exchange only, rather than a money-back trial) is a bit disappointing, particularly when you’re forking out this much for a mattress. But per our reviewer’s glowing verdict, Sleepeezee has more than earned its Royal Warrant.
Read our full Sleepeezee Regency Kennington 4200 review
| Key features | |
|---|---|
| Type | Traditional pocket sprung |
| Needs turning? | Rotate every week for the first three months; once a month thereafter |
| Sizes | Single to super king, plus EU sizes |
| Trial period | 100 nights (exchange only) |
6. Best for a cool sleep: Otty Pure Hybrid Bamboo & Charcoal Mattress
Price when reviewed: £625 (double) | Check price at Otty
Reviewed in January 2024 by Christian Hopewell
- Superb temperature regulation
- Solid edge support
- No handles
The Otty Pure Hybrid is another mattress that feels comfortable across a range of sleeping positions. Our reviewer, who usually sleeps on his back and side, found it hit the sweet spot in this respect: “It’s adequately supportive but also accommodates my hips and shoulders while I’m on my side.” It’s also a remarkably cool mattress, which may be in part down to the use of bamboo and charcoal in its composition – or just its overall design. Regardless, the Pure Hybrid is a good choice if you’re prone to overheating during the night. Edge support is excellent too.
The only slight downside is the lack of handles, which can make manoeuvring the mattress quite tricky – particularly considering that Otty recommends rotating it once a month for the first 12 months, then once every three months. It’s a relatively minor oversight though, and moving the mattress is still doable of course – you just might need someone to help you out.
Read our full Otty Pure Hybrid review
| Key features | |
|---|---|
| Type | Hybrid |
| Needs turning? | Rotate once/month for the first 12 months; once every 3 months thereafter |
| Sizes | Single to super king, plus EU sizes |
| Trial period | 100 nights |
7. Best for curbing back pain: REM-Fit 5000 Lux Elite Hybrid Mattress
Price when reviewed: £800 (double) | Check price at REM-Fit
Reviewed in August 2025 by Jo Plumridge . Previously called the 600 Luxe Elite
- Fantastic relief from aches
- Impressive motion isolation
- Contouring foam won’t be to everyone’s taste
The 5000 Lux Elite Hybrid did a fantastic job of relieving pressure and easing our reviewer’s back pain. In fact, it achieved this pretty much overnight – making it one of the best mattresses you can buy for a bad back.
Part of REM-Fit’s ‘Elite’ range of hybrid mattresses, the 5000 Lux Elite does what all good hybrids do – offer a balance of comfort and support – and it’s well suited to both back- and side-sleepers. It’s not a great option for those who get hot at night, however, as one of our testers found that it retained a lot of heat. And the contouring feel of the upper foam layers won’t be to everyone’s taste.
That said, if you’re a side sleeper suffering from back pain, this is our top pick: it contours to the body to provide pressure point relief while also offering enough support. And if you’re concerned about the heat retention we mentioned above, you’ve got a 200-night trial period during which you can return it for a full refund if it’s not for you.
Read our full REM-Fit 5000 Lux Elite Hybrid mattress review
| Key features | |
|---|---|
| Type | Hybrid |
| Needs turning? | Rotate every 3 months |
| Sizes | Small single to super king, plus EU sizes |
| Trial period | 200 nights |
How to choose the best mattress for side sleepers
What sort of mattress do I need if I sleep on my side?
Firmness
As a general rule, you will want to look for either a medium or a soft mattress if you regularly sleep on your side, since you’ll be putting more pressure on your hips and shoulders. A mattress that’s too firm won’t be able to accommodate this and you may even wake with pins and needles, along with other discomfort.
That said, all is not lost for those side sleepers out there who actually prefer a firmer mattress. The Sleepeezee mattress featured in our roundup above, for instance, is a firm option that we’ve still found suitable for side sleeping. This is thanks to its solid support in tandem with its cushioning upper layers. In fact, if you’re on the heavier side, you might want to look for something on the firmer side.
Ultimately, your mattress just needs enough give to accommodate the contours of your body as you lie on your side. By contrast, a mattress that’s too soft won’t offer enough support.
It’s also important to mention that since there’s no industry standard regarding just how soft a “soft” mattress is, there will be discrepancies between brands. With that in mind, it’s worth highlighting that the trial periods offered by most bed-in-a-box brands are a great way to try a mattress for yourself without any financial risk.
Edge support
It might be tempting to think that side sleepers need to look for a mattress with solid edge support. Maybe, but whether this is essential depends on how you prefer to sleep. It’s highly recommended if you like to position yourself at the very edge of the mattress (perhaps you share a bed with a partner and both like to capitalise on your own sides), or if you habitually sit on the edge of your bed.
However, if you prefer to plant yourself somewhere in the middle of the bed, edge support can be ranked as a “nice-to-have”. Indeed, some of our recommendations above are mattresses that we found lacking in the edge support department.
I can’t afford a new mattress – what do I do?
Mattresses – even budget ones – are expensive. If you’ve got a mattress that isn’t quite comfortable, but you can’t quite afford a new one, consider getting yourself a mattress topper. By adding a layer of comfort to your existing mattress, these are (often) an affordable alternative to replacing a hard or haggard mattress.
