Get $300 off all mattresses
Written by
Lauren Fountain, Certified Sleep Coach
Medically Reviewed by
Jenny Iyo, Physical Therapist
We personally test every product featured in our reviews and guide to provide accurate, data-driven recommendations. Learn More
We recently updated this page to include an in-depth video about the role that pressure relief plays in alleviating shoulder pain.
Sleepfoundation.org is reader-supported. We may earn a commission through products purchased using links on this page. Learn more about our process here
The shoulder has been described as the “most movable joint” in the body. With many individual components and advanced range of motion, the shoulder is prone to various pain-inducing problems. The most common cause of shoulder pain is rotator cuff tendinosis, a condition that occurs when tendons around the shoulder socket become inflamed. Rotator cuff tendinosis can arise when the shoulder is held in one position for too long, especially if that position puts pressure on the joint.
To bring you the list of top picks below, our team has personally tested hundreds of mattresses with an emphasis on cushioning, support, and pressure relief for the shoulders. For each mattress, testers with existing shoulder pain reported whether their discomfort was alleviated or aggravated. Other testers documented any new shoulder pain that occurred while lying on the mattress. We use body-mapping technology to determine areas where pressure buildup is most prevalent.
These mattresses earned the highest ratings from our team after testing them for shoulder pain relief. We’ve awarded each one an accolade to showcase one of its biggest strengths. Below, we’ve included product profiles with more information about our standout picks. Further down, you’ll find a detailed buyer’s guide geared toward mattress shoppers with shoulder pain. We’ll cover which mattresses alleviate shoulder pain – and which ones might worsen the problem – as well as pricing and size information, other considerations for mattress buyers, and a rundown of mattress sleep trials and warranties.
Best Overall
The Luxury Firm WinkBed is a hybrid mattress that provides excellent contouring, a feature that’s particularly helpful for people who experience shoulder pain. The mattress is one of four available options that each have a different firmness level. This model has a medium firm (6) feel that’s well suited to sleepers who weigh up to 230 pounds.
What It’s Made of
The comfort system features adaptive polyfoam that is quilted into the Euro-top and an additional polyfoam transitional layer. The foam successfully compresses and contours alongside the body’s pressure-prone areas, including the shoulders and hips. The support core is made up of pocketed coils that are zoned and reinforced around the perimeter, providing substantial edge support. A moisture-wicking Tencel cover wraps the mattress.
How It Performed
The pocketed coils are individually wrapped to minimize motion transfer and zoned to enhance support beneath your lower back and midsection. The mattress also regulates temperature well thanks to its gel-infused foam and hybrid design. Air circulates easily throughout the coil support core, making the WinkBed a viable option for hot sleepers.
WinkBeds offers a 120-night sleep trial to test the bed out at home, and the company includes a lifetime warranty covering defects for as long as you own the mattress. Shoppers in the contiguous U.S. enjoy free shipping.
Lab Notes – What Our Testers Thought
“The Luxury Firm WinkBed’s support system is one of the most robust we’ve experienced. The coils exert the perfect amount of pushback for different areas of the body and the edges feel very secure.”
Best Value
The Nectar Mattress is a good option for anyone with shoulder pain who enjoys the even conforming of memory foam. Compared to other all-foam beds, the Nectar has a very approachable price-point for those on a budget.
What It’s Made of
A memory foam comfort layer molds to the unique contours of your body without sagging or hugging too closely, while denser polyfoam layers provide transitional and base support to prevent you from sinking excessively. A cover made of soft, breathable Tencel fabric encases the entire mattress. The memory foam is also infused with gel for added temperature regulation.
How It Performed
The Nectar Mattress is considered medium firm (6), making it particularly well-suited for side and back sleepers weighing 130 to 230 pounds. A major perk of this mattress is motion isolation. The foam layers absorb movement and nearly eliminate transfer across the surface, resulting in fewer disruptions for couples and co-sleepers. The mattress is also completely silent when in use, so you and your partner can sleep soundly even when the other person gets up during the night. While the Nectar Mattress may retain too much heat for some people, the cooling gel and Tencel fabric help it sleep relatively cool compared to some other memory foam models.
The sticker price for this mattress is quite approachable and Nectar offers free ground shipping anywhere in the contiguous U.S. Each purchase includes a sleep trial that allows you to test out the mattress for up to 365 nights, as well as a lifetime warranty for those who keep the mattress after the return period expires.
Lab Notes – What Our Testers Thought
“We’ve tested a lot of memory foam mattresses and the Nectar is one of the most supportive models in the bunch. This is a true medium firm, with just enough give to cushion your body in sore spots.”
Most Comfortable
The Helix Midnight Luxe is a sophisticated pillow-top hybrid with a balanced design to serve different sleeper types. Most sleepers across weight and sleeping position groups should find the cushioning quite comfortable.
What It’s Made of
Memory foam cushions the pillow-top to give the surface an invitingly plush feel, while the pocketed coil support core is zoned to reinforce the midsection – where many people carry a disproportionate amount of weight – and protect the edges from deep sinkage. The result is a medium firm (6) mattress that is comfortable, stable, and easy to move across for most people who weigh up to 230 pounds. The cover is composed of a silky-soft Tencel fabric.
How It Performed
The Midnight Luxe should feel most comfortable for side sleepers in the range of 130 to 230 pounds, and back and stomach sleepers who weigh less than 130 pounds. These sleep positions need a mix of cushioning and support to maintain healthy spinal alignment, and this mattress provides just that.
The breathability of the Tencel cover and the steady air circulation throughout the coil interior help the mattress maintain a comfortable temperature, especially for those who sleep hot. Couples may also benefit from this mattress due to its above-average motion isolation. While many hybrids are too responsive to reduce much transfer, the Midnight Luxe’s pillow-top absorbs a significant amount of movement.
The Midnight Luxe’s price-point is on par with that of the average luxury hybrid. If you’re shopping with a limited budget, a standard Helix Midnight hybrid is more affordable – though this mattress lacks the pillow-top and zoned coils of its Luxe counterpart. Ground shipping is free of charge for all orders in the contiguous U.S. Each Midnight Luxe is backed by a 100-night sleep trial and a 15-year warranty.
Lab Notes – What Our Testers Thought
“The Midnight Luxe has just the right amount of softness and bounce to cushion my shoulder but also keep me from sinking too deep into the bed.”
Best for Side Sleepers
WinkBed has four models within its flagship hybrid mattress lineup. The Softer WinkBed is the plushest option of the four and is an excellent pick for side sleepers across all weight groups. Its medium soft (4) firmness level and comfortable cushioning are especially well suited to side sleepers who weigh less than 130 pounds.
What It’s Made of
The Softer WinkBed’s construction begins with a Euro-top that offers conforming comfort. Its gel-infused polyfoam contours closely to your body to help evenly distribute your weight and cradle pressure-prone areas like your hips and shoulders. Beneath the Euro-top is a polyfoam transitional layer that increases contouring and helps you stay comfortably on top of the mattress.
The pocketed coil core provides substantial support, especially around the edges, which feature higher-gauge coils. The coils use a zoned support system that increases pushback under the heavier parts of your body in order to keep your spine evenly aligned. The entire mattress is wrapped in a Tencel cover that enhances breathability.
How It Performed
Our trials found that the Euro-top’s adaptive polyfoam successfully relieves the pressure point buildup that often plagues side sleepers. Additionally, the foam increases the mattress’ motion isolation, which is a plus for couples or light sleepers. When you shift sleeping positions, the foam traps that movement rather than transferring it and prevents the disturbance from reaching the other side of the bed.
The Softer WinkBed also regulates temperature very well, thanks to its hybrid design and innovative comfort system. The coil core allows air to move freely so that your body heat isn’t trapped within the mattress, while the gel-infused foam and Tencel cover effectively wick away heat and moisture.
The Softer WinkBed comes with a lifetime limited warranty and a 120-night sleep trial. Sleepers must use the mattress for at least 30 days before initiating a return. Shipping is free to addresses within the contiguous U.S.
Lab Notes – What Our Testers Thought
“The Softer WinkBed is a sure bet for side sleepers. It relieves pressure point aches and pains exceptionally well without sacrificing support. It’s also quite temperature neutral and a great pick for hot sleepers.”
Best Firmness Options
Get an additional $30 off the Nolah Evolution Mattress for total savings of $730 with code: SF730OFF
The Nolah Evolution 15 is a luxuriously crafted hybrid with a thick profile and a foam-padded Euro-top that makes the surface feel quite plush. The soft surface offers excellent relief to painful or uncomfortable pressure points at night. The Evolution 15 is available in three different firmness levels – medium (5), medium firm (6), and firm (8) – so most sleepers can find a comfortable option.
What It’s Made of
The mattress contains a comfort layer of graphite-infused polyfoam that contours to the body without excessive hugging or heat retention, and an additional polyfoam layer provides transitional support and prevents you from sinking too much. The support core consists of pocketed coils divided into different zones based on thickness. Stronger coils bolster areas of the body where people tend to carry a disproportionate amount of weight – such as the torso and hips – and also reinforce the perimeter to prevent sagging whenever you sleep near or sit along the edges.
How It Performed
The plush option is considered medium, making it best suited to side and back sleepers weighing up to 230 pounds. The luxury firm, or medium firm, provides a bit more support for sleepers of any position in the range of 130 to 230 pounds. Lastly, the firm feel offers excellent reinforcement for sleepers weighing more than 230 pounds.
Hot sleepers should also find the mattress appealing. In addition to the graphite-infused comfort layer, the coil system promotes steady airflow to help the mattress maintain a comfortable core temperature. The cover is made of cooling fabric for added breathability.
Nolah offers free ground shipping anywhere in the contiguous U.S. Your Evolution 15 purchase will include a 120-night sleep trial with free returns and a lifetime warranty that covers structural defects for as long as you own the mattress.
Lab Notes – What Our Testers Thought
“The Evolution 15 is a pillow-top mattress that doesn’t sacrifice support. Each firmness option is distinct from the other two, but sinkage was not a major issue for any of them.”
Best Temperature Regulating
All-foam beds adapt to the body to relieve pressure, but this close contouring can sometimes cause sleepers to overheat. The Bear Pro reduces heat retention by using proprietary cooling technology meant to dissipate excess body heat.
What It’s Made of
The mattress is encased in a cover made from a proprietary Celliant and polyester blend meant to regulate temperature. Next is a polyfoam comfort layer infused with copper, giving the surface a plush feel. Underneath is a memory foam comfort layer infused with gel to relieve pressure in the joints.
The responsive polyfoam transitional layer provides a barrier between the comfort system and the support core. This layer also helps keep your weight evenly distributed to maintain healthy spinal alignment. The support core is composed of a layer of high-density polyfoam that limits excessive sinkage in heavier areas of the body.
How It Performed
Thick comfort layers and a medium firm (6) feel make the Bear Pro a strong choice for side sleepers between 130 and 230 pounds. Our testing team also found the mattress supportive for back sleepers under 130 pounds, thanks to the mid-range feel.
The foam comfort layers are excellent at absorbing motion transfer, so couples and co-sleepers should notice very few disturbances when their partner switches positions at night. Copper and gel infusions in the foam keep the mattress cooler than many other all-foam models. Copper is meant to conduct heat away from the body, while gel is designed to dissipate excess body heat. The proprietary Celliant fabric cover is also engineered to absorb body heat and convert it into infrared energy to promote temperature regulation.
Bear offers free shipping to the contiguous U.S. and a 120-night sleep trial. Bear Pro purchases are backed by a lifetime warranty, covering structural defects.
Lab Notes – What Our Testers Thought
“The Bear Pro is a mixed-foam mattress that closely contours the body to relieve pressure without trapping too much heat. Hot sleepers on our testing team found the mattress much cooler than many other all-foam models.”
Best Luxury
People worried about shoulder pain can rest easy on the Saatva Classic, the flagship mattress of one of the most well-known luxury brands in the online mattress industry. The thoughtful coil-on-coil design provides an even balance of contouring and pushback, making this a solid choice for anyone seeking pressure relief.
What It’s Made of
The Saatva uses coil-on-coil construction with two different types of springs. The support core features a layer of hourglass-shaped Bonnell coils. These springs are extra thick and measure shorter in the 11.5-inch model than in the 14.5-inch model. Above this support core is a layer of microcoils that form part of the mattress comfort system. These springs are individually wrapped to provide more relief for the shoulders and other pressure points. Above the microcoils are foam materials, including polyfoam and a memory foam lumbar pad, that are quilted into a Euro-top.
How It Performed
The foam and microcoils work in conjunction to create a high-performance blend of conforming, responsiveness, and motion isolation. At the same time, air flows easily through both coil layers, keeping the Saatva cool along with the bed’s moisture-wicking organic cotton cover. Customers can select between two different height models as well as three firmness levels: soft (3), medium firm (6), and firm (8). Depending on how sharp your pressure points are at the shoulders, the soft and medium firm are most likely to deliver the necessary cushioning.
With free White Glove delivery, the company sets a delivery date for technicians to come to your home, install the mattress, and haul away your existing bed. There is a 365-night sleep trial with a $99 return shipping fee if you decide not to keep the bed. The Saatva has a lifetime warranty that covers mattress defects.
Lab Notes – What Our Testers Thought
“The coil-on-coil design really sets the Saatva Classic apart from a lot of competing innersprings and hybrids. I noticed exceptional support, but the mattress never felt overly stiff on the surface.”
Best Pressure Relief
The Brooklyn Bedding Signature Hybrid comes in three firmness levels to support a wide range of sleepers. Customers can choose from a medium soft (4), medium firm (6), or firm (8) feel to achieve optimal support. Those with pain in their shoulders or hips should appreciate the combination of pressure-relieving comfort layers and supportive pocketed coils.
What It’s Made of
The mattress’ comfort system features Brooklyn Bedding’s proprietary TitanFlex polyfoam. Gel is infused into the foam to absorb and dissipate excess body heat. A transitional layer of VariFlex polyfoam adds cushion between the comfort system and the support core. Pocketed coils make up the support core, with some coils zoned along the perimeter of the mattress for extra supportive edges. The coils rest on a base layer of polyfoam for stability.
How It Performed
Hot sleepers should find they sleep quite cool on the foam hybrid model. The pocketed coils help circulate air throughout the mattress to regulate the temperature. The three firmness options offer benefits to sleepers of differing body weights and preferred sleeping positions. Side sleepers and those under 130 pounds should appreciate the softer model, allowing them to sink deeper into the mattress. Side and back sleepers who weigh at least 130 pounds may prefer the firmer models.
Brooklyn Bedding ships free to the contiguous U.S. and offers a 120-night sleep trial. Signature Hybrid purchases come with a 10-year warranty.
Lab Notes – What Our Testers Thought
“Our testers appreciated the Brooklyn Bedding Signature Hybrid’s range of firmnesses. The hot sleepers on the team also found the pocketed coils in the support core enhance air circulation to keep them cool.”
Most Innovative
30% off all GhostBed mattresses & 2 free pillows. Free weighted blanket ($479 Value) with a minimum $1.5k order.
The GhostBed 3D Matrix is an innovative mattress that offers substantial pressure relief without sacrificing support, making it a worthy contender for people who experience shoulder pain.
What It’s Made of
The bed begins with a comfort layer made of gel-polymer foam, followed by a layer crafted from gel-infused memory foam. This comfort system cradles your body to help relieve pressure beneath your shoulders and hips. Two polyfoam layers provide transitional support to prevent you from sinking excessively, and the pocketed coil support core is reinforced at the edges so that the mattress is easier to get on and off.
How It Performed
This mattress has a medium feel that comes in at 5 out of 10 on the firmness scale. Sleepers under 130 pounds will find it most beneficial, while people who weigh more than 230 pounds may want to look for a firmer GhostBed model. Our in-house testing found that many of the materials featured in this mattress control temperature well, starting with the top layer of gel-polymer foam. This proprietary material is designed to conduct heat away from your body so that you stay cool throughout the night.
GhostBed offers this mattress in five dimensions including split king. Those who wish can add GhostBed bedding or frames onto their order at checkout. Each GhostBed 3D Matrix includes a 25-year warranty and 101-night sleep trial. Customers in the contiguous U.S. qualify for free shipping.
Lab Notes – What Our Testers Thought
“There are hybrids that sleep cool, and then there’s the 3D Matrix. The heat dispersion is next-level, even though the foam layers cradle you closely.”
We’ve personally evaluated hundreds of mattresses, and each one undergoes a rigorous testing process that looks at various facets of construction, durability, and overall performance. Our team consists of people who belong to different weight and sleep position groups. This versatility allows us to make product recommendations for all types of sleepers. For this particular guide, we largely drew from testers who experience chronic or occasional shoulder pain.
To choose the best mattresses for shoulder pain, we focused on models with features that alleviate existing pain and help prevent new aches and pressure points. Mattresses that cater to sleepers with shoulder pain typically require a balance of contouring and even support, so you’ll notice all of our top picks are considered middle of the road in terms of firmness and conforming level. While our mattress testing process includes many different stages, for this guide we focused on pressure relief, ease of movement, expected lifespan, and edge support.
For a more in-depth look at how we test mattresses, read our product research methodology below:
If you’re dealing with chronic shoulder pain, you’ve probably experienced firsthand how a good or bad night’s sleep can affect your pain levels. With the right mattress, you can give your body the support it needs to recuperate and recover.
Finding the right mattress, though, requires understanding the relationship between sleep and pain and knowing what to look for when mattress shopping.
Sleep is a fundamental biological need that affects all aspects of health, including pain. Research indicates that sleep and pain have a bidirectional relationship, meaning that each influences the other.
Getting good sleep has been found to reduce perceived daily pain levels of chronic pain sufferers. Quality sleep may reduce anxiety, stress, and other negative emotions that can exacerbate pain.
In addition, being in pain can make it harder to sleep. Physical discomfort may prevent falling asleep or lead to nighttime awakenings. Worries about pain can spread to sleep, complicating a person’s ability to get consistent rest.
The fact that sleep and pain are so interlinked means that taking steps to sleep better, including choosing an optimal mattress, can provide a welcome means of pain relief. That pain reduction can facilitate even better sleep, fueling a positive cycle of nightly rest and decreased pain.
To identify the best mattress for shoulder pain, you need to know what factors are most important. The mattress industry is replete with marketing jargon that has the potential to lead shoppers astray, but only a handful of factors are most likely to influence your satisfaction with a new mattress.
A mattress with strong pressure relief can help avoid or alleviate shoulder pain. Watch the video below to learn more about pressure relief and to see how we evaluate this performance feature in the Sleep Foundation Lab.
In most cases, a medium or medium firm mattress is best for shoulder pain, but the ideal firmness level for any person depends on their sleeping position and body shape.
Firmness is ranked on a scale of 1-10, with 1 being the softest. A mattress that is too soft may cause the body to sink out of alignment, but one that is too firm may create heightened impact on the shoulder.
Firmness is a subjective preference and should be considered along with other factors, such as mattress type, price, pressure relief, and motion isolation, to choose the best mattress for any individual.
Figuring out which type of mattress best suits your needs can simplify mattress shopping and guide you toward a top choice.
Mattresses that are built in a certain way will share some characteristics, but they won’t all be the same. Within each type, there is notable variation based on exactly how any specific model is built.
Definition: For a mattress to be a hybrid, it needs two components: a coil-based support core and a significant comfort system. That comfort system may be made with one or more layers and can feature materials like memory foam, polyfoam, microcoils, latex, cotton, wool, and/or other fabrics.
Blend of Features: A hybrid is designed to generate the bounce, stability, and temperature control found in innersprings while using the comfort system to strengthen pressure relief and motion isolation. This allows people with pain to take advantage of balanced and robust features offered by a mix of materials.
Definition: An innerspring mattress has a coil-based system as its only or primary component. These beds, a mainstay in the industry for decades, don’t have any significant comfort system and provide support almost exclusively through compression of the coils.
Economical and Modifiable: Most sleepers with shoulder pain won’t get enough pressure relief from an innerspring mattress alone. But these beds are often economical, and a latex or foam mattress topper can be placed on top to create a DIY comfort system. Some people find that this is a lower-cost way to construct a mattress that suits their needs.
Definition: When the interior components of a mattress are all made with latex, we refer to it as an all-latex, true-latex, or just simply a latex mattress. In most beds, manufacturers use natural latex, but some lower-cost options use synthetic materials. More than one type of latex is frequently layered within the bed to create a distinct support core and comfort system.
Responsive Support: Latex is a durable material that provides both bounce and mild conforming. With these characteristics, it can provide cushioning at the shoulders without any bothersome sinking or “quicksand” feeling.
Definition: Airbeds have a distinct design based upon a support core of air chambers. In most airbeds, there is one air chamber on each side, and the inflation of that chamber can be adjusted in real-time to modify the firmness. In addition to this support core, there may be a comfort system using materials like foam or latex.
Full Firmness Control: People with pain may find that their firmness needs change based on how sharp their pain is at that moment. With an airbed, you can use a remote or smartphone to quickly and easily give the bed a different feel to provide comfort and pain relief.
Definition: In foam mattresses, there is no coil-based layer. The support core is almost always a high-density polyfoam, and the comfort system can include one or more layers of memory foam, polyfoam, latex, or textiles like cotton and wool.
Conforming For Pressure Relief: People with the sharpest pressure points, including at the shoulders, may need deep contouring to cradle the body and relieve pressure. Memory foam is a standout material for pressure relief. In general, foam beds provide high levels of hug and cradling.
Whether a mattress is “good” or “bad” depends on your individual sleep preferences. However, if you sleep on a mattress that is a bad fit for your body weight and sleep position, the mattress can cause pain in the shoulders as well as other areas of the body.
If you are wondering whether your mattress is causing your shoulder pain, pay close attention to when you experience the pain. If the pain is substantial soon after waking but eventually subsides throughout the day, your mattress is likely to blame. In these instances, it might be time to find a mattress that better suits your needs.
Because you spend so many hours lying in bed every night, mattresses can contribute to unexplained shoulder pain. Mattresses cause shoulder pain by exerting prolonged excessive pressure on the shoulders during sleep. This pressure typically builds up when a mattress is too firm or offers insufficient cushioning for the shoulders.
There are many factors to consider if you are looking for a mattress that does not create pressure build-up in the shoulders. Your body weight and preferred sleep position are two major factors. Side sleepers lay on their shoulders and are thus more susceptible to shoulder pain than back and stomach sleepers, and heavier sleepers may require firmer beds to receive the right balance of support and contouring.
If your mattress is the source of your shoulder pain, a mattress topper can help. Since shoulder pain typically occurs when a mattress is too firm or provides insufficient cushioning, you can purchase a mattress topper that includes the features your mattress lacks. A mattress topper is a relatively quick way to adjust the firmness and feel of your bed surface to alleviate shoulder pain. It is also a more affordable solution than purchasing an entirely new mattress. Keep in mind that mattress toppers are temporary solutions and do not replace the eventual need for a new mattress.
Our product experts have extensive experience testing just about every sleep product on the market. Send an email to [email protected] with your questions and we’ll help you find exactly what you’re looking for.
Certified Sleep Coach
Lauren is a Certified Sleep Science Coach with extensive experience researching and testing a wide variety of sleep products.
Physical Therapist
DPT
Dr. Iyo is a Doctor of Physical Therapy at an orthopedic clinic in Seattle. She specializes in hands-on therapy and tailored exercise programs.
Not sure which split king mattress to choose? We’ve tested hundreds of models to help you pick the best option…
Searching for an American-made mattress? We’ll share our picks for the best mattresses made in the USA, as well as…
The right mattress can play a key role in preventing and reducing acid reflux symptoms. Keep reading for tips on…
