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Choosing the right feel for your sleep position is essential when finding the perfect mattress.

Are firm mattresses too hard for side sleepers?

A woman wearing green tshirt sitting in bed with her bed tilted and her hand on her neck.

We’ve tested beds from across the firmness scale to find this year’sbest mattressfor all sleep styles.

However, there are some side sleepers who prefer a firm feel from their mattress.

What is a firm mattress?

A hand presses into the surface of the Plank Firm mattress, testing the temperature regulation, pressure relief, and firmness

Firm mattresses have a more traditional feel, as you lie on top of the bed.

The flip-side is that firm mattresses often lack pressure relief.

The cushioning provided by medium and soft mattresses relieves pressure build-up where the body pushes into the surface.

Our tester lies on her side when reviewing the Saatva Classic Mattress

Firm mattresses, which lack contouring, can feel hard beneath the shoulder and hips.

What key in of mattress should a side sleeper use?

When you lie on your side, your shoulders, hips and knees press into the bed.

Siena Memory Foam Mattress pressure relief test

This can result in pressure build-up.

Thebest mattresses for side sleeperscontour to these touch points to relieve pressure, while maintaining support across the spine.

Medium-firm and medium mattresses are often best at balancing both pressure relief and support.

1. DreamCloud Hybrid Mattress: from $1,148$449 at DreamCloud

What should side sleepers look for in a firm mattress?

Side sleepers might prioritize pressure relief, but support is also necessary to limit back ache.

3 firm to medium-firm mattresses for side sleepers

1.

2. Saatva Classic Mattress: from  $1,399$999 at Saatva

It’s also excellent value for money, with the evergreenDreamCloud mattress salereducing a queen size to $665.

This premium mattress is worth the investment and regularSaatva mattress saleshelp you save.

For a more traditional medium-firm foam feel, check out ourNectar Classic Memory Foam Mattress review.

3. Siena Memory Foam Mattress: from $529$179 at Siena

Helix Midnight Luxe Mattress

A collage of our medium-firm mattress testing process

Two women sit on the Helix Dawn Mattress for stomach sleepers, photographed on a light wooden bed frame in a blue bedroom

A woman sleeps on her side on the Nolah Natural 11

The Helix Dusk Luxe Mattress, our top pick for best mattress for stomach sleepers

A man�s hand resting on the surface of a soft memory foam mattress

A split image featuring the Nectar Classic Memory Foam Mattress on the left and the DreamCloud Luxury Hybrid on the right, leading into the DreamCloud Luxury Hybrid vs Nectar Classic showdown

The image shows a woman sitting up in bed and clutching her shoulder in pain

The Tempur-Pedic Tempur-Adapt mattress on a bed frame in a bedroom, a man and his young sun sitting on top of it, smiling. A Tom�s Guide price drop deals graphic (right)

A couple using the Scandinavian Sleep Method

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The Saatva Murphy Bed Mattress on a Murphy bed frame lying flat, in a bedroom

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