How to Choose the Right Mattress for Side Sleepers [2025 New Guide]

Side sleeping is the most popular sleep position, favoured by over 60% of adults. It’s a position often praised for reducing snoring, aiding digestion, and benefiting circulation.

However, the side sleeping position is a double-edged sword. While beneficial in many ways, it places unique and immense pressure on two primary points: the shoulder and the hip. Unlike back or stomach sleeping, which distribute weight relatively evenly, side sleeping forces the entire body’s mass onto narrow contact points.

If your mattress doesn’t cater to this unique anatomical challenge, you are setting yourself up for pressure points, shoulder numbness, lower back strain, and a host of other aches that compromise truly restorative sleep.

The quest for the perfect mattress for a side sleeper is a quest for perfect spinal alignment combined with profound pressure relief. This guide will dive deep into the specific criteria side sleepers must prioritise, and how modern hybrid technology is the true game-changer for this sleep style.

Understanding the Side Sleeper’s Anatomical Challenge

When you lie on your back, your spine maintains its natural S-curve easily. When you turn onto your side, the body tries to force the spine into a straight line, parallel to the mattress.

The problem arises because the shoulders and hips are significantly wider than the waist. If the mattress is too firm, the hip and shoulder cannot sink in enough, causing the spine to curve upwards at the waist, leading to lower back pain. Conversely, if the mattress is too soft, the heaviest part of the body—the hips—will sink too far, causing the spine to dip and resulting in mid-back and shoulder strain.

The goal for any side sleeper’s sleep system is to find a surface that can:

1. Cradle the Wider Areas (Shoulder and Hip): Allow just enough sinkage for these primary pressure points to be cushioned.
2. Support the Narrower Areas (Waist and Torso): Provide sufficient push-back and firmness to keep the lumbar region (lower back) lifted and perfectly straight.

This balance between conforming and supporting is the cornerstone of great side sleeping.

The Three Pillars of a Side Sleeper Mattress

When evaluating a mattress, a side sleeper must focus intensely on three key features: Firmness, Support, and Pressure Relief.

1. Firmness Level: The Sweet Spot is Medium Firm

The greatest mistake a side sleeper can make is choosing a mattress that is too firm. Extra firm mattresses are designed for back sleepers who need maximum resistance. For a side sleeper, firm surfaces prevent the hips and shoulders from sinking, leading to painful pressure points and misalignment.

The majority of side sleepers thrive on a medium to medium firm feel (often rated 4 to 6.5 out of 10 on the firmness scale). This range offers the necessary initial give to contour around the shoulder and hip, while still maintaining the integrity required to hold the waist in place. The exact “sweet spot” depends on body weight: lighter individuals may prefer a slightly softer feel, while heavier individuals will need something closer to medium-firm to prevent bottoming out.

2. Support Core: Where the Alignment Happens

Support refers to the foundation of the mattress—the deepest layer that prevents sagging and maintains the spine’s horizontal alignment.

A quality support core should use a technology that offers targeted support. This means the mattress should respond differently to different weights. It needs to be softer under the shoulders and hips where pressure relief is critical, and firmer under the torso where lift is needed. A poor support core (like an old, worn-out innerspring unit) will create a hammock effect, pulling the spine out of alignment.

3. Pressure Relief: The Key to Comfort

Pressure relief comes from the upper comfort layers—typically foams, latex, or specialized fibers. This is the material that directly touches the body and determines how cushioned the shoulder and hip feel.

For side sleepers, memory foam or high-density polyfoam layers are often non-negotiable. These materials excel at conforming to the unique contours of the body, distributing weight widely, and virtually eliminating localized pressure points. A mattress that forces you to shift positions due to a sore shoulder after only an hour is failing its primary pressure relief test.

Best Hybrid Mattress for Side Sleepers

When seeking that perfect mattress for side sleepers, a high-quality hybrid design is simply unmatched, and the Newentor hybrid mattress embodies this ideal combination for side sleepers.

The core benefit of the Newentor hybrid lies in its 7-zoned pocket spring support system. Traditional innerspring mattresses use one type of coil across the entire surface. Modern hybrids, however, utilize pocketed coils—each wrapped individually—that allow for precise, isolated movement.

In the case of the Newentor hybrid, the coils are strategically organized: they are firmer in the lumbar and hip region to prevent dipping and softer under the shoulder and leg areas. This zoning ensures that your heavier pressure points (hip and shoulder) are gently accommodated, while the crucial midsection remains fully supported, keeping the spine in a perfectly straight line. This targeted support mitigates the two main risks of side sleeping: lower back sway and shoulder compression.

Furthermore, the Newentor hybrid design incorporates multiple layers of high-density comfort foam above the coils. These layers:

1. Isolate Movement: Minimizing disturbance if a partner shifts during the night.
2. Provide Cradling: The transition layers work together to contour the body, distributing weight away from the sensitive shoulder joint and across the entire side profile.

By combining resilient, zoned coil support with high-performance cushioning, the Newentor hybrid mattress delivers the essential combination of lift and plushness required for pain-free side sleeping.

Elevate Your Sleep with a Plush Yet Supportive Layer: The Mattress Topper

Even the finest mattress can be elevated with the addition of a mattress topper. Once your base mattress provides the right support, it’s the topper that delivers that final layer of indulgent comfort — the layer that transforms “a good bed” into a luxurious sleep haven.

A premium memory foam topper can rejuvenate your bed instantly — without the expense of replacing your entire mattress. It adds a touch of plushness, enhances pressure relief (especially around the hips and shoulders), improves motion isolation, and helps regulate temperature for a consistently cool and comfortable night’s rest.

Why the Newentor Memory Foam Mattress Topper Stands Out

If you’re after comfort that can be customized to your liking, the Newentor Memory Foam Mattress Topper is a clear winner. Available in 5 cm, 7 cm, and 10 cm thickness options, it offers versatility for all types of sleepers — with the 10 cm version being the go-to choice for those who crave that deep, enveloping softness reminiscent of five-star hotel beds.

This topper features a smart dual-layer construction:

• H2 Gel Visco Foam: A cooling, plush layer that contours to your body and keeps you from overheating.
• H3 Comfort Firm Foam: A supportive base that provides stability and prevents that “sinking” sensation.

Want a softer or firmer feel? Simply flip the layers to find your perfect balance — it’s like having two toppers in one.

The thoughtful design continues with a non-slip base that keeps the topper securely in place throughout the night. No shifting, no bunching, and no creaking — just silent, uninterrupted comfort that feels refined and worthy.

Bottom Lines

Finding the ideal mattress for side sleepers is all about achieving the perfect harmony between support and softness. The Newentor Hybrid Mattress delivers this balance with its 7-zone design, while the Newentor Memory Foam Topper adds an extra layer of personalised comfort.

Together, they provide exceptional spinal alignment, pressure relief, and luxurious coziness. Whether you prefer a firmer lift or a plush cradle, Newentor’s smart, customizable sleep solutions ensure you wake up refreshed, pain-free, and ready to take on the day.