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Best Mattress for Side Sleepers Under $2,000
As a side sleeper, you probably know that the wrong mattress can leave you with sore shoulders and hips. The good news is that there are many reasonably priced mattresses that offer cushioning and support, so you wake up feeling rested and pain-free.
After extensive testing in our Seattle-based Test Lab, we’ve narrowed down the mattresses that performed best for side sleeping. We’ll share our top picks and explain why they’re suited to this sleep position. We’ll also explain what to look for in a mattress for side sleepers under $2,000.
Our #1 Pick: Helix Midnight Luxe
The Helix Midnight Luxe is a medium firm hybrid mattress sold at a reasonable price considering its merits. This well-rounded mattress offers strong performance across most categories and scores particularly well on the factors that matter most to side sleepers.
Our Top Picks
Best Overall Mattress
:Helix Midnight Luxe
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Best Value Mattress
:Brooklyn Bedding CopperFlex Memory Foam
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Best Cooling Mattress
:Leesa Sapira Chill Hybrid
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Best Mattress for Back Pain
:Bear Elite Hybrid
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Best Mattress for Side Sleepers
:Nolah Evolution 15
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Best Mattress for Spinal Alignment
:Endy Hybrid
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Best Mattress Firmness Options
:DLX Premier Hybrid
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Best Mattress Deals for Labor Day
- Save $625 — Helix Midnight Luxe
$1,874(List Price $2,499) - Save $216 — Brooklyn Bedding CopperFlex Memory Foam
$649(List Price $865) - Save $600 — Leesa Sapira Chill Hybrid
$1,799(List Price $2,399) - Save $799 — Bear Elite Hybrid
$1,485(List Price $2,284) - Save $797 — Nolah Evolution 15
$1,480(List Price $2,277)
How We Test
How We Determine Our Best Overall Score
With each mattress we test, our team follows the same comprehensive research and evaluation methodology to ensure objective, data-based findings. The mattress testing process consists of four stages, beginning with our detailed analysis of the bed’s construction, materials, and firmness. This cursory exam allows us to calculate an expected lifespan to determine our durability score. We also review the brand’s shipping and return policies, as well as its overall reputation for customer service and satisfaction.
The second stage involves hands-on evaluations in our Seattle Test Lab. We use a wide range of tools and technology to determine how well the mattress relieves pressure, isolates motion, regulates temperature, and resists deep compression when weight is applied. Once we’ve finished the lab-based stage, our field testers take the mattresses home and sleep on them in their own bedrooms for 2 to 3 weeks. These in-home experiences capture how the mattress performs night to night in an authentic sleep environment. Lastly, we collect and read verified customer reviews of each product to make sure our findings are in line with the general public.
Throughout this four-step testing process, we record data and notes that contribute to each bed’s overall and individual performance ratings. The graph below shows how every performance metric contributes to product scores.
How We Determine the Best Mattress for Side Sleepers Under $2,000
We’ve tested over 2,000 mattresses in our Seattle Test Lab, where we use industry-standard tools to measure pressure relief, temperature control, motion isolation, and other drivers of mattress comfort. To find the best mattress for side sleepers under $2,000, we paid special attention to the following factors:
- Pressure Relief: Pressure relief is crucial for side sleepers, who often experience sore hips and shoulders if a bed is too firm.
- Support: Without a strong support system, a mattress can’t promote even spinal alignment. For side sleepers, this can mean sinking hips and back strain.
- Value for Money: Thanks to the online mattress industry, it’s now possible to get a very decent mattress for less than $2,000. We analyzed materials and design to find models that are likely to provide reliable and long-lasting performance.
We consider all of the mattresses on this list to be great picks for side sleepers. We’ve also highlighted particular strengths of each model to help you choose the best one for your needs.
Our Testing Team
Logan Foley
Executive Product Director
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Mary Fenton
Head of Product Content
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Jeremy Klein
Product Testing Manager
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Brad Nehring
Product Testing Manager
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Colin Simpson
Product Research Manager
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Rachel Grice
Product Content Manager
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Best Overall Mattress: Helix Midnight Luxe
Best Overall
9.7/10Test Lab Score
Helix Midnight Luxe
A foam-on coil hybrid that excels at pressure relief, motion isolation, and sleeper support.
Key Details
- Who It’s Best For: Side sleepers of all body types, couples, and people who sleep hot.
- Feel: Medium firm (6) design with close contouring from the quilted pillow-top and zoned lumbar support.
- What It’s Made Of: Memory foam and polyfoam over a zoned pocketed coil base.
- What We Don’t Like: A little more expensive than competing models, though it’s built to last and represents a solid long-term investment.
- Why It Won Best Overall: As a hybrid mattress, the Helix Midnight Luxe offers great pressure relief without sacrificing support. The zoned coils are a nice touch, providing reliable spinal support for side sleeping.
Scoring & Reviews
The following ratings show how suitable this mattress is for different sleeping positions and sleeper weights. These scores are determined by how well the mattress supports and relieves pressure for each sleeper type.
In addition to the hands-on feedback from our team, we conduct a number of quantitative tests in our Test Lab. The below ratings are based on the experience of our testers.
Performance
Helix makes a range of mattresses optimized for different sleep positions. The Helix Midnight Luxe was intentionally crafted for side sleepers. This medium firm (6) mattress offers the perfect balance of cushioning and support. During our testing, it received near-perfect scores from our side sleepers across various weight groups.
How It Performed
The Midnight Luxe stands out for its pressure relief, with multiple layers of memory foam and polyfoam to hug your body and soothe pain points in your shoulders and hips.
In addition to being a great fit for side sleepers, this mattress also boasts strong overall performance across key testing categories. The mattress effectively isolates motion transfer and has strong edges that facilitate full use of the bed. If you’re a hot sleeper, you’ll appreciate the effective temperature control.
The only category where the Helix Midnight Luxe didn’t perform as well as competing hybrids was ease of movement. While it shouldn’t make you feel too stuck in the bed, the mattress does conform closely, so combination sleepers might experience some resistance when changing sleeping positions.
What Makes the Midnight Luxe Good for Side Sleepers
Memory foam layers in the Midnight Luxe help eliminate pressure points, while the zoned coils contribute to maintaining healthy spinal alignment when sleeping on your side.
Construction Breakdown
The 13.5-inch Helix Midnight Luxe has a Euro-top construction with a quilted, moisture-wicking Tencel cover. It’s possible to upgrade to a GlacioTex cover or a CoolForce layer with phase change material if you need extra thermoregulation.
The comfort system contains memory foam with gel infusions to battle heat retention. Memory foam conforms closely to the body and therefore excels at relieving pressure. Below the memory foam there is a layer of denser polyfoam, as well as another layer of responsive polyfoam specifically intended to support side sleepers. You upgrade your order to include an additional foam layer for extra cushioning.
The support core features pocketed coils with reinforced edges and zoned support over a layer of high-density polyfoam.
Trial, Shipping, and Warranty
Helix provides a limited lifetime warranty and free shipping to customers in the contiguous U.S. The mattress comes with a 120-night sleep trial, though the company asks that you sleep on the bed for at least 30 nights before making your decision.
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Best Value Mattress: Brooklyn Bedding CopperFlex Memory Foam
Best Value
8.8/10Test Lab Score
Brooklyn Bedding CopperFlex Memory Foam
An all-foam mattress that hugs and soothes pressure points for restful sleep.
Key Details
- Who It’s Best For: Couples, people who like memory foam but don’t want to sleep hot, and people with chronic pain.
- Feel: Initial hug, followed by a touch of bounciness and targeted support from the zoned layer.
- What It’s Made Of: All-foam model made with copper-infused memory foam, polyfoam, zoned transitional foam, and a high-density polyfoam base.
- What We Don’t Like: Back and stomach sleepers over 230 pounds will likely need a firmer, more supportive mattress.
- Why It Won Best Value: The CopperFlex Memory Foam is priced well below average, yet built with quality materials and made by a trustworthy brand.
Scoring & Reviews
The following ratings show how suitable this mattress is for different sleeping positions and sleeper weights. These scores are determined by how well the mattress supports and relieves pressure for each sleeper type.
In addition to the hands-on feedback from our team, we conduct a number of quantitative tests in our Test Lab. The below ratings are based on the experience of our testers.
Performance
The CopperFlex is a budget-friendly foam mattress that delivers exceptional pressure relief without the heat retention or feelings of quicksand that sometimes accompany memory foam.
How It Performed
This bed has a medium firm (6) feel, which keeps you “on” rather than “in” the bed. Sleepers on our testing team were pleasantly surprised to find that the CopperFlex stayed relatively cool and had a slight bounce that made it easy to move around. Both these benefits are fairly unusual for an all-foam bed.
The CopperFlex displayed standout motion isolation during our testing, meaning couples are less likely to wake when the other person moves. This mattress also has good edge support for a memory foam mattress, which can be helpful when you’re getting in and out of bed, but it lacks the coil-based reinforcement of hybrid and innerspring models.
What Makes the CopperFlex Good for Side Sleepers
Like all the mattresses on this list, the CopperFlex boasts above-average pressure relief, which is the first thing side sleepers tend to look for. However, a common issue when side sleeping is that your hips sink in too far, which can strain the back and neck. The CopperFlex includes zoned lumbar support to gently lift this area and ensure healthier spinal alignment.
Construction Breakdown
The 12-inch all-foam CopperFlex Mattress has a GlacioTex cooling cover with fibers designed to pull heat away from your body.
The comfort system is layered with quilted foam, copper memory foam, and polyfoam. The memory foam provides essential pressure relief when side sleeping, with copper infusions intended to draw away heat. There’s also a firmer portion of foam in the middle third of the bed for extra lumbar support.
A high-density polyfoam base layer provides spinal support to prevent you from sinking too deeply into the bed. This layer is 5 inches thick. If you weigh over 230 pounds, the support foam may eventually wear down and affect the overall longevity of the mattress.
Trial, Shipping, and Warranty
Free shipping is included for shoppers in the contiguous U.S. You have 120 nights to try out the mattress in your own home. After the first 30 nights, you can elect to return it for a refund, minus a $99 handling fee. Brooklyn Bedding stands by the mattress with a limited lifetime warranty.
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Best Cooling Mattress: Leesa Sapira Chill Hybrid
Best Cooling
9.0/10Test Lab Score
Leesa Sapira Chill Hybrid
A foam hybrid that cushions your body without trapping heat.
Key Details
- Who It’s Best For: Side sleepers who overheat easily and want to invest in quality sleep.
- Feel: Cloud-like conforming that soothes pressure points while keeping you aloft in the bed.
- What It’s Made Of: Open-cell foams, contouring memory foam, and zoned pocketed coils with perimeter reinforcement, all encased in an actively cooling cover.
- What We Don’t Like: This is one of the pricier models on our list, due to specialty materials including the proprietary foams and phase change material.
- Why It Won Best Cooling: The Leesa Sapira Chill is packed with cooling features, including open-cell foams, steel coils, and phase change material designed to keep the sleep surface cool to the touch.
Scoring & Reviews
The following ratings show how suitable this mattress is for different sleeping positions and sleeper weights. These scores are determined by how well the mattress supports and relieves pressure for each sleeper type.
In addition to the hands-on feedback from our team, we conduct a number of quantitative tests in our Test Lab. The below ratings are based on the experience of our testers.
Performance
The Leesa Sapira Chill is a 14-inch hybrid that comes in three different firmness levels, equivalent to a medium (5), medium firm (6), and firm (7) on our 1-10 firmness scale.
How It Performed
Our testing revealed strong performance in most categories from the Sapira Chill, with slight differences depending on the firmness level. The medium firm and firm versions have good bounce and effectively dissipate heat, while the plush model does a great job of isolating motion if you share the bed.
What Makes the Sapira Chill Hybrid Good for Side Sleepers
The mattress has thick foam layers that help cushion pressure points, and the pocketed coil system provides support for sleepers who sink further into the bed. With three available firmness levels, there’s a fit for side sleepers in every weight category.
Construction Breakdown
The cover incorporates phase change fibers to keep the sleep surface cool. Below this is a 2-inch layer of quilted foam, followed by a 1.5-inch layer of breathable open-cell polyfoam. Next, a 1-inch layer of memory foam supplies a closer contour without that stuck-in-the-bed feeling.
A 1-inch layer of polyfoam helps ease the transition to the 8-inch pocketed coil base, which features thicker coils in the lumbar area and around the edges. The base layer consists of high-density polyfoam.
All three models have the same basic makeup, but the firmer options use denser foams. Side sleepers under 130 pounds do best on the plush option, which allows the hips and shoulders to settle gently into the bed. Side sleepers who weigh 130 pounds or more receive extra support from the medium firm and firm models, with the latter earning a rare perfect score from our side-sleeping testers over 230 pounds.
Trial, Shipping, and Warranty
Leesa offers free shipping to all 50 states, as well as White Glove delivery and shipping to Canada for an extra fee. Your purchase includes a 120-night sleep trial with a 30-night requirement. The mattress also comes with a limited lifetime warranty.
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Best Mattress for Back Pain: Bear Elite Hybrid
Best for Back Pain
8.5/10Test Lab Score
Bear Elite Hybrid
A close-conforming memory foam hybrid offering great pressure relief.
Key Details
- Who It’s Best For: Side sleepers of all body types and people with back pain.
- Feel: The bed conforms fairly closely to your body, but the coils prevent excessive sinkage and add bounce so you don’t feel stuck in the bed.
- What It’s Made Of: Memory foam, polyfoam, and zoned pocketed coils with a Celliant cover.
- What We Don’t Like: The mattress is a little expensive, but it’s still a good deal for what you’re getting.
- Why It Won Best for Back Pain: The zoned coils help deliver support where it’s needed most and keep the spine in healthy alignment.
Scoring & Reviews
The following ratings show how suitable this mattress is for different sleeping positions and sleeper weights. These scores are determined by how well the mattress supports and relieves pressure for each sleeper type.
In addition to the hands-on feedback from our team, we conduct a number of quantitative tests in our Test Lab. The below ratings are based on the experience of our testers.
Performance
The Bear Elite Hybrid Mattress is designed to help muscle and tissue recovery. This zoned foam hybrid provides a balanced feel for side sleepers with back pain that supports while gently cushioning.
How It Performed
The medium firm (6) Bear Elite Hybrid earned high ratings from side sleepers across the board, while the medium (5) and firm (8) options were best suited to sleepers under and over 230 pounds, respectively. Because it contours quite closely, the Bear Elite Hybrid scored lower with our back and stomach sleeping testers, who typically need a firmer surface.
During our tests, the Bear Elite Hybrid delivered decent temperature regulation across all three models. Memory foam has a tendency to trap heat, but the pocketed coils allow this heat to dissipate. If you sleep hot, you can also opt for an extra cooling layer.
The firmest model provides strong edge support, while the medium model offers better motion isolation.
What Makes the Bear Elite Hybrid Good for Side Sleepers
The five-zone construction helps buoy the hips to keep your spine aligned, while softer materials under the shoulders prevent pressure from building up.
Construction Breakdown
This 14-inch mattress comes in three firmness options: medium (5), medium firm (6), or firm (8).
The Bear Elite is notable for its cover, which incorporates Celliant fibers. Celliant is engineered to convert your body heat into infrared energy and reflect it back to improve your circulation and speed up your muscle recovery.
The Euro-top cover is quilted with polyfoam, with an optional upgrade to cooling phase change material. Subsequent layers of copper-infused memory foam, responsive polyfoam, and transitional foam help ensure plenty of cushioning when sleeping on your side.
In the support core, the pocketed coils are zoned into five sections: softer under the hips and shoulders, and firmer around your midsection. This design helps support your spine to ward off back pain while still allowing enough contouring for the hips and shoulders.
Trial, Shipping, and Warranty
Mattresses ship free to the contiguous U.S. White Glove delivery is available for a fee. Bear backs the mattress with a limited lifetime warranty and a 120-night sleep trial with a 30-night break-in period.
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Best Mattress for Side Sleepers: Nolah Evolution 15
Best for Side Sleepers
8.7/10Test Lab Score
Nolah Evolution 15
A cloud-like experience with a plush euro-top in multiple firmnes options.
Key Details
- Who It’s Best For: Side sleepers under 230 pounds, back and stomach sleepers over 130 pounds.
- Feel: The bed feels almost squishy, providing pressure relief with notable pushback.
- What It’s Made Of: Multiple foam layers with breathable open-cell construction and a zoned pocketed coil support core.
- What We Don’t Like: Our testers noticed a bit of motion transfer, especially on the firm model.
- Why It Won Best Pressure Relief: The Nolah Evolution cradles you with thick layers of pressure-relieving foams, while the zoned support system works to maintain healthy spinal support.
Scoring & Reviews
The following ratings show how suitable this mattress is for different sleeping positions and sleeper weights. These scores are determined by how well the mattress supports and relieves pressure for each sleeper type.
In addition to the hands-on feedback from our team, we conduct a number of quantitative tests in our Test Lab. The below ratings are based on the experience of our testers.
Performance
The Nolah Evolution is a 14-inch hybrid mattress offered in medium (5), medium firm (6), or firm (8) options. The zoned construction helps keep the spine aligned to prevent pressure buildup in your back and neck.
How It Performed
The Nolah provides a nice balanced feel, with strong edge support thanks to the reinforced perimeter coils. The coils also provide pushback beneath your midsection to stop the feeling of being “stuck in the bed.” Multiple cooling features such as the breathable gusset and the coil support core help prevent excessive heat retention.
What Makes the Nolah Evolution Good for Side Sleepers
Three zoned layers in the Nolah Evolution work to ensure proper spinal alignment by supporting weight-bearing areas and cushioning the hips and shoulders.
Construction Breakdown
Featuring a Euro-top design with a breathable gusset to let heat escape, this mattress has a moisture-wicking organic cotton cover quilted with 1 inch of polyfoam. You can choose to upgrade to a cooling GlacioTex pillow-top with an additional inch of polyfoam, for a total of 2 inches of extra quilting.
The comfort system features a layer of copper-infused foam with zoned perforations designed to provide more support in the lower back and pressure relief for the shoulders. Gel foam, a denser foam layer, and three-zone transitional polyfoam work in synergy with the coils below.
Individually wrapped coils in the support core reinforce the midsection and offer a gentler feel under the shoulders. The sides are strengthened with thicker springs, and a final layer of high-density polyfoam acts as the base.
Trial, Shipping, and Warranty
Nolah offers a 120-night sleep trial with a 30-night requirement. Returns are assessed a $99 handling fee. Shipping is free to shoppers in all 50 states and Nolah extends a lifetime limited warranty.
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Best Mattress for Spinal Alignment: Endy Hybrid
Best for Spinal Alignment
9.0/10Test Lab Score
Endy Hybrid
An adaptive foam hybrid available in three firmness levels.
Key Details
- Who It’s Best For: Side sleepers of all weight groups, combination sleepers.
- Feel: Responsive, with light contouring that doesn’t make you feel stuck in the bed.
- What It’s Made Of: A quilted surface and pressure-relieving foams over a zoned pocketed coil support core.
- What We Don’t Like: The softest model is priced higher than the other two, and couples may notice some motion transfer on the firmer models.
- Why It Won Best Mattress for Spinal Alignment: The Endy Hybrid leverages zoned coils to bolster the lumbar area and prevent back pain.
Scoring & Reviews
The following ratings show how suitable this mattress is for different sleeping positions and sleeper weights. These scores are determined by how well the mattress supports and relieves pressure for each sleeper type.
In addition to the hands-on feedback from our team, we conduct a number of quantitative tests in our Test Lab. The below ratings are based on the experience of our testers.
Performance
The Endy Hybrid comes in three firmness options: medium soft (4), medium firm (6), and firm (7). All three models offer above-average cushioning, but if you’re a side sleeper seeking extra pressure relief who weighs less than 130 pounds, then it might be worth paying a little more for the plush model.
How It Performed
With three firmness options, the Endy Hybrid offers something for side sleepers of most body types. Contouring foams work together with zoned coils to give you support where you need it most.
Reinforced coils around the edge of the mattress ensure sturdy perimeter support. Like most hybrids, the mattress sleeps cool and offers decent ease of movement.
What Makes the Endy Hybrid Good for Side Sleepers
We like that the Endy Hybrid cushions the body without hugging too much. This makes it a good choice if you tend to sink too far into your mattress, especially around weight-bearing areas like the hips. That said, there is definitely some variation between the firmness options. If you’re the type of side sleeper that likes a plush mattress to envelop you, the softest Endy Hybrid model may be just what you need.
Construction Breakdown
The Endy Hybrid has a quilted cover and a top layer of open-cell polyfoam. The foam is infused with cooling gel, designed to draw heat away from your body. A layer of transitional foam provides additional cushioning while forming a gentle buffer between your body and the support core..
Zoned pocketed coils feel firmer and more robust beneath your midsection for proper spinal alignment. The coils have a reinforced perimeter, plus an additional layer of support foam. The Endy Hybrid is 12 inches tall. While all three models contain the same basic materials, the thickness of each layer depends on which firmness you choose.
Trial, Shipping, and Warranty
Below-average pricing makes this Canadian-made mattress a steal for budget-conscious shoppers. The Endy Hybrid comes with a generous 365-day sleep trial, along with a 15-year manufacturer’s warranty.
Shipping is free to the Canadian provinces and the contiguous U.S. American orders are fulfilled from the North Carolina warehouse, so there aren’t any extra duties or tariffs applied to the purchase for U.S. shoppers.. White Glove delivery is available for $99 in certain Canadian cities.
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Best Mattress Firmness Options: DLX Premier Hybrid
Best Firmness Options
8.6/10Test Lab Score
DLX Premier Hybrid
Versatile hybrid with a handful of single and split firmness options.
Key Details
- Who It’s Best For: Couples with different firmness preferences.
- Feel: All four designs of the DLX Premier Hybrid offer ample cushioning, making the mattress perfect for side sleepers across various weight groups. The softer models allow more sink.
- What It’s Made Of: This is a hybrid mattress made with comfort layers of adaptive polyfoam over a pocketed coil support core.
- What We Don’t Like: The price is a bit steep. The softer models trap heat and are somewhat difficult to move around on.
- Why It Won Best Mattress Firmness Options: You can choose from four firmness levels, and couples can request a different firmness on each side of the bed.
Scoring & Reviews
The following ratings show how suitable this mattress is for different sleeping positions and sleeper weights. These scores are determined by how well the mattress supports and relieves pressure for each sleeper type.
In addition to the hands-on feedback from our team, we conduct a number of quantitative tests in our Test Lab. The below ratings are based on the experience of our testers.
Performance
The DLX Premier Hybrid spans the firmness gamut, offering a choice between soft (3), medium soft (4), medium firm (6), and firm (8). Couples can personalize each side of the bed to align with their individual firmness preferences, effectively giving them a mattress with two firmness levels in one.
How It Performed
The feel and performance of the DLX Hybrid vary depending on the model. The firmer models have strong edge support, while the softer models dampen movements to prevent you and your partner from being awakened when the other person moves in bed.
What Makes the DLX Premier Hybrid for Side Sleepers
With four firmness levels to choose from, side sleepers of all body types should be able to find a DLX Premier Hybrid that feels right. The soft model is one of the plushest hybrids we’ve tested. Even though most people will find it too soft, it might appeal to side sleepers under 130 pounds who live with chronic shoulder or hip pain.
Construction Breakdown
The DLX Premier Hybrid has a stretchy cover padded with breathable viscose fibers. This is followed by two .75-inch layers of pressure-relieving polyfoam. The next 3-inch polyfoam layer drives the bed’s overall firmness, so it feels unique for each of the four designs.
A final .75-inch transitional polyfoam layer rests above the pocketed coil support core. The coils are reinforced around the perimeter. You can choose between two coil heights: 6 inches for a 12-inch mattress profile, or 8 inches of coils for more support and an overall mattress profile of 14 inches. Below the coils lies a final .75 inch of base polyfoam.
Trial, Shipping, and Warranty
The DLX Premier Hybrid ships free and comes with a 120-night sleep trial, subject to a mandatory 30-night break-in period. The manufacturer offers a limited lifetime warranty, or a comfort exchange guarantee with 50% off replacement models.
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What to Consider When Shopping for a Mattress for Side Sleepers Under $2,000
You don’t have to fork out a fortune to find a mattress that’s suitable for side sleeping. We’ll discuss the mechanics of this position and how to find the best mattress for side sleepers.
What Makes a Mattress Good for Side Sleepers
To sleep comfortably, side sleepers need a mattress that keeps their spine in a neutral position and provides ample cushioning.
Whereas back and stomach sleeping spread weight out more or less evenly along the body, side sleeping concentrates weight on the hips and shoulders. These areas dig into the bed and are vulnerable to pressure buildup.
We usually recommend finding a mattress with a comfort system built with soft, pliable materials like memory foam. The closer the materials conform, the more effectively they relieve pressure at contact points.
On the other hand, you don’t want the mattress to conform so closely that you sink in and don’t get enough support. The best mattress for side sleepers also bolsters the middle third of your body to keep your spine on an even plane. If you carry extra weight in the midsection, you may want to consider a zoned mattress with denser materials in the middle third of the bed.
Sleeping Position and Body Weight
Side sleepers already use softer mattresses than back or stomach sleepers, but a side sleeper under 130 pounds will typically prefer a plusher mattress versus a side sleeper over 230 pounds.
The more you weigh, the more pressure you exert on a mattress and the further you’ll sink in. This is why sleepers weighing less than 130 pounds tend to experience a mattress as subjectively firmer, while the same mattress may feel relatively soft to someone weighing more than 230 pounds.
To maintain healthy spinal alignment, look for a mattress that provides sufficient support for your body type without sacrificing on cushioning. If you weigh more than 230 pounds, you should also choose a mattress with a robust support core, such as a hybrid.
| Side Sleeper Weight Range | Firmness Starting Point |
|---|---|
| Less than 130 lbs. | Soft (3) to medium (5) |
| 130 to 230 lbs. | Medium (5) to medium firm (6) |
| More than 230 lbs. | Medium firm (6) to firm (7-8) |
Dig Deeper — More Mattress Guides by Type
For more information on our top mattress picks and how we choose the best mattresses for different types of sleepers, check out the guides listed below.
Shopping Guides by Best Mattress for Sleeper Types
- Best Mattress for Back Sleepers
- Best Mattress for Heavy Sleepers
- Best Mattress for Lightweight Sleepers
- Best Mattress for Athletes
- Best Mattress for Couples
- Best Mattress for Kids
- Best Mattress for Toddlers
- Best Mattress for Seniors
- Best Mattress for Teenagers
- Best Mattress for Shoulder Pain
- Best Mattress for Back Pain
- Best Mattress for Hip Pain
- Best Mattress for Arthritis
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Jeremy is a sleep product tester with a passion for methodology and data collection. He’s spent the last six years at Sleep Foundation testing nearly every mattress, pillow, and sheet on the market, and has gained a holistic understanding of how to get the most accurate and universal results possible. When he’s not working, Jeremy likes to make music, play tennis, and watch old movies.