Which mattress is really best for side sleepers?

As a side sleeper, how should I position myself on the mattress?

The body should not be balancing on a hard surface, but it should not sink into a soft hollow either.

First check the shoulder, then the pelvis, and finally the waist. This is easier to assess than an abstract measure of firmness.

Ideally, the head and neck form a straight line with the spine, the shoulder can sink in gently without sagging, and the pelvis remains stably supported.

Sleeping on one's side is the most common sleeping position among adults: According to a Danish study of 664 working adults, it accounted for just over 54 percent of the time spent in bed.

• Shoulder: It should give way without a hard edge pressing against it or the shoulder sagging downward.
• Waist: The center of the body should remain in contact with the garment. A noticeable gap or excessive sagging indicates that the fit is incorrect.
• Pelvis: The pelvis is allowed to sink in a controlled manner, but remains stable and level with the torso.

What does my body type need when sleeping on my side?

It varies depending on body type: Broad shoulders need to be able to sink in deeply enough, while a body with a large stomach tends to need more support at the waist. That’s how Stiftung Warentest describes it; the organization tests every mattress against seven body types.

Based on a study of 25 men lying on their sides, the authors state that body-contoured zoning is the more appropriate choice for heavier men with pronounced body contours.

What firmness level is best for side sleepers?

There is no single firmness level that works for all side sleepers. According to Stiftung Warentest, how well a mattress provides support does not depend on its firmness: a soft mattress can support the spine just as well as a firm one. You should therefore choose the firmness based on how comfortable it feels when you lie on it.

Don't rely on the label: According to Stiftung Warentest, the firmness rating provided by the manufacturer often differs from the actual measurement. According to Stiftung Warentest, a mattress with two sides of different firmness increases the chance of finding the right firmness even without trying it out first.

The firmness level is a guideline, not a one-size-fits-all answer. The key is whether your shoulders and pelvis sink in properly and your core remains stable.

Cold foam, gel foam, latex, and pocket spring cores can work well for side sleepers. What matters is how the specific construction supports the shoulders, pelvis, and core.

Read more in the guide

Mattress Firmness Level

Read the hardness levels and match them to the model.

What role does the pillow play?

For side sleepers, the pillow should fill the space between the head and shoulder without pushing the head significantly upward or downward.

The right height depends on your shoulder width, how much you sink into the mattress, and the compression of the pillow. If it’s too low, your head will tilt downward; if it’s too high, it will tilt upward. In either case, your spine may bend unnaturally. Therefore, check the alignment of your head and neck while lying on your side in your normal sleeping position.

Guide Note: Here, we're just explaining why the pillow is included in the mattress test. You can find suitable pillows in the " Side Sleeper Pillows" category.

As a side sleeper, how do I test a mattress?

Four steps are enough as an initial filter.

After a few nights, a mattress may turn out to be unsuitable; Stiftung Warentest therefore advises arranging a return with the retailer. On the Mara Vital website, the product pages for the Geltech Deluxe and the Sleep Balance TFK list a 100-night trial period.

As a side sleeper, how do I interpret a mattress review?

Read the rating for the side sleeping position, specifically for the body type that most closely matches your own. Stiftung Warentest rates the sleeping comfort separately for each of its seven body types in both the side and back sleeping positions.

The seven body types represent height, body shape, and weight distribution, regardless of gender, and, according to the foundation, account for about two-thirds of the population in Germany. If you can’t clearly identify with one type, use the two types that are closest to yours as a guide.

According to Stiftung Warentest, an expensive mattress isn't automatically a good one. The test results themselves are available for a fee; we do not reproduce any of them here.

Which mattress is best for which type of side sleeper?

Once you've carefully assessed your shoulders, hips, and waist, you can narrow down your choices more effectively. These three models represent different approaches: conforming gel foam, varying levels of firmness, or natural latex on a pocket-spring core.

You can also narrow down your selection using the mattress finder or try out the models in the showroom.

Will a slatted frame or mattress topper help before I buy a new one?

It depends on the mattress: If visible indentations remain, it's time for a new one. You can make some adjustments to the base and the mattress topper.

On the RA 400 slatted base, five slats in the shoulder zone can be flipped over; this changes how deeply the shoulders sink into the mattress. Sliders adjust the firmness in the lower back and pelvic areas. A topper adds an extra layer to the mattress: in the case of the Top Hybrid Plus, it features a 7-zone hybrid foam core.

Only the test in your normal side-lying position will show whether this is enough for you. We haven't read any studies on this; the information comes from our product pages.